Let's Toggle!

A: Hey dah-lings! Good Jan/Feb? Didn't think so. You would think with the challenge of the big black tidal of a problem called the 'recession', the high street would try to entice the average male consumer with better than sub-par reinterpretations of previous years trends. Thus we have the ever-dreaded 'transitional' phase. So it's up to peeps like moi & C to find some golden threads in the tumbleweed haystacks amounting across high streets around the world. One cute mini-trend that can be eyeballed currently is the duffle coat, especially in the cropped variation, which is actually a nice little alternative for those of us who don't suit Barbour coats (or just can't be bothered to wax them...)

From Left to Right: Topman, Some Catalogue (?!), Asos.com

C: And what about this moody number, from a British label that's new to me, Fullcircle. Browsing their site, that little word that means so much was never far from my lips: WANT

Drop dead gorgeous

C: In Minority Report Samantha Morton lounged about in an industrial bath dreaming about future murders, before grassing up the soon-to-be killer to the authorities. Well, I expect Tom Cruise will be knocking on my door at any moment, because the first guy I see wearing a pair of these will be getting dragged into the bushes. 

Drop-crotch shorts by Phillip Lim

Hit the Decks Boys

C: As with skinny jeans and the white school plimsole, what seems ubiquitous now once sat several seasons on the shelves with no one buying (apart from those surfing the fashion forward). Deck shoes are nothing new of course, but last summer there was a huge increase in available colours and variations on the basic design. There wasn't much take up.

However in the past few months, what was once the preserve of Polo wearing yahoos and jocks, has been increasing spotted dangling from indie gents' pale, limp ankles, usually very worn-looking almost to the point of disintegration. The deck shoe looks certain to replace the tired old plimmy as slip-on of choice. Get wearing now to achieve that desirable knackered look - nothing better than snow and salt to ruin a shoe!

From top: Sebago £119; ASOS £40; Superga £115; Topman £45

A: Well, if we are being totally frank, C&A are a bit late on this one, but before you all start flicking your weaves in utter disgust...... Just know that your beloved bloggers were probably pre-occupied with dumping those post Xmas muffin tops from their torsos. Ciao!

Please tie me up

C: The tie. I can't think of anything more utterly pointless (pun unintended). A fabric noose, snugly girdling the wearer's neck, of no functional use, unless suicide's your task in hand. It's a health & safety accident waiting to happen. It's a leash, a lead, a choker-chain for animal man. An item like no other, loaded with compulsion and compliance: "must wear a tie" "no open necked shirts" "formal attire compulsory" "back tie only". I loath being told what I can and cannot wear. I refuse to wear a tie at work. And yet when not compelled to, I want to wear one. Given all I've said, I love them, and can't stop collecting them. They provide a counter point to the very limited pallet of clothes most men wear; a permissible concession to frippery, extravagance and the sorts of fabrics or prints normally only worn by women. Here are some real sober beauties from the new season, with tartan being the stand-out look for me.

From left to right
Top row: Band of Outsiders, Michael Kors
Middle: both Drakes
Bottom: Lova, Alexis Mabille (genius!)

A: Don't forget this fresh little number from Topman. Only a tenner!

HomoElectric August...

A: While on the trot again on Friday at Manchester's finest underground labyrinth, Legends, possibly the only place in the world where you actually have to queue to have a cigarette(!!!), I noticed a few themes in the clothing department amongst fellow attendees...





A: And then I saw this....


A:...... Hats people, we just don't see enough of them any more don't you think? Especially up here in the north, if it weren't for the camo pants, a gold star would have been awarded.

Plaid, Plaid, Everywhere!!!!

A: Shoes, shirts, hats, trousers, socks, coats, blazers and probably even limited edition cock rings will be covered in plaid or tartan this fall, just remember, the heavier the fabric, the better.

C: Trends in menswear seem to snowball over several season, even a couple of years before becoming omnipresent and almost unavoidable. Skinny jeans, school plimsolls, pointed shoes, slim fit cuts - and plaids. A point comes when you need to ask if you're still happy being part of the herd.

Click the picture to enlarge

Manchester Style at Clique!

A: While on the razz on Friday, I noticed amongst a flux of playsuits and lenseless glasses, a number of drool inducing shirts on the boys of Mancunia, here are a few of my favourites...

A: This Autumn, it's all about plaid & tartan for men, shirts like this are already started to pop up everywhere, from New Look to French Connection. I love how this guy jazzed it up by wearing a bow tie.

A: Usually 2 in 1 shirt combo's make me reach for sick bucket, but this one actually made grab my camera instead. The neckline really makes this top work. I am hoping to see more tops like this on the high street this season.

A: My favourite look of the evening. This vintage ethnic top makes me Hulk-green with envy.

The 'Bass'

A: Whether you love or hate Gossip Girl, you gotta give it its dues for one thing. Not every teenage boy is in a bloody pair of chinos and an over sized gap shirt. One of its main characters, Chuck Bass, rocks more flamboyant looks than a speed addicted queen in a Patricia Field boutique. Keep it up for season 2 GG peeps. Keep. It. Up!

Pan's People

C: When I was just a little boy, I ask my mother - what would I be? Wisely what she didn't say was I'd still be wearing pajamas at the age of 32. This trend has been mooted for about a year, and it's still pushing its sleepy little head out of the fashion pages. I think it's whack. But what do I know? Que sera, sera.