In November, we will mostly be......

WEARING

Yes it's Movember and we are supporting the campaign that aims to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer. We will be stocking some fantastic moustache wax by Captain Fawcett and our store staff will be doing their part to grow some pretty fine moustaches.


LISTENING

Marina and the Diamonds. 

Hot 8 Brass Band

READING
Philip Pullman has chosen his fifty favourite stories from the Brothers Grimm.
Grimm Tales: For Young and Old


SHOPPING
Nottingham -This store has some pretty quirky presents ideas and a lovely scrapbook website. www.lechienetmoi.com
Esher, Surrey - Get your designer fix here. www.bernardboutique.com
Brighton - Badger Clothing. This store of two halves stocks one of the largest collections of designer menswear & womenswear in Brighton. www.badgerclothing.co.uk


EATING
Treacle in Hove for some of the most scrumptious cake and a cup of tea in some lovely old fashioned china.
Pho serves deliciously healthy and authentically prepared Vietnamese food.


DRINKING
The Mesmerist in Brighton is an absinthe inspired wonderland of the weird and burlesque.
Loungelover at No. 1 Whitby Street, London for a truly amazing atmosphere and drinks to match.


LOOKING AT

At the Whitechapel Gallery cult 1960s Aspen Magazine: 1965-1971

Hollywood Costume at The V&A, London where costumes used by famous actors from 1912–2012 tell us about the characters they played.


WATCHING
DVD - The Raven
TV - The Hour
CINEMA - Sam Mendes take on the style icon James Bond in Skyfall and Ruby Sparks
with Steve Coogan, who plays Langdon.


FOLLOWING

Jordan Askill for this beautiful and unusual jewellery.

In October, we will mostly be......

WEARING

Petrol blue rich cotton velvet single  breasted, two button, two piece suit with
contrast grey velvet lapel trim from our AW12 collection.

LISTENING

JJ Doom - Keys to the Kuffs
Andy Williams - Il Padrino (Love Theme from The Godfather)

READING
The new Aston Martin Vanquish catalogue, not just for the car but the lavish descriptions too.

SHOPPING
Birmingham - Everything boutique's and chic, off New Street
London - Burberry's flagship emporium on Regent Street
Hove - City Books; a fellow inclusion in Vogues 100 Best Shops outside of London

EATING
La Choza for Mexican street food in Brighton
Death by Burrito, Mexican grill in Dalston, London

DRINKING
La Choza for Marguerita's to wash down our Quesadilla's in Brighton
The Book Club not just drinks, Shoreditch, London
Cocktails at Happiness Forgets, Shoreditch, London

LOOKING AT

Cecil Beaton: Theatre of War at London's Imperial War Museum
Everything Was Moving: Photography from the 60's & 70's at The Barbican, London
Brighton Comedy Festival, Brighton

WATCHING
DVD - Death Race 2000
TV - Mrs Biggs
CINEMA - Killing Them Softly, Looper, Savages

FOLLOWING

@davidellisltd for amazing photography (and his latest portrait of Gresham)
@manrepeller for fashion fun and games
@highsnobiety for daily streetwear

In September, we will mostly be.......

WEARING



A selection of our Classic ties, now that it's Back to school season, and few of the samples from our forthcoming AW12 collection (blog post to follow soon).


LISTENING
Charles Kinnard - Reelin' With the Feelin'

Public Enemy - Seeing them at The Dome in Brighton next month




READING
City themed this month with;
My Policeman, by Bethan Roberts, this years Brighton & Hove City Reads selection
London Fields, by Martin Amis.

SHOPPING
Harrods gigantic new toy department - London
Harveys of Hove - for fantastic costumes appearing in our next shoot
Berts Homestore - newly opened local gem, Kensington Gardens, Brighton

EATING
Brighton & Hove Food & Drink Festival - Brighton & Hove
Red Market - Shoreditch's gastronomic late night food market
Chicken Shop - Chicken, as presented by Soho House, in London NW5



DRINKING
Feeling all autumnal with super spiced deluxe Bloody Mary's at;
The Basketmakers - Brighton
Redchurch - Brick Lane, London


LOOKING AT
London Design Festival - London
Biba & Beyond: Barbara Hulaniki - Brighton Museum & Art Gallery





















Adrienne Blake - Paintings at our Shoreditch Store


WATCHING
DVD - Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy
CINEMA - The Sweeney, Lawless
TV - Bad Sugar, An Idiot Abroad, Vexed, A Touch of Cloth, The Paralympics

FOLLOWING
With a sporty theme for September;
Neil Adams
Iwan Thomas
Paralympics GB
C4 Paralympics

7 Suits, 7 Days, Madness & Mod-ness

Last weekend’s London Olympic closing ceremony saw our friends Madness performing for the masses, all suited and booted by yours truly. We were delighted to be called upon to take part in what was to be a truly massive cultural event. The challenge was set to tailor seven bespoke suits in just seven days whilst keeping very tight lipped about the whole affair. Thankfully, it all went smoothly, our express service came up trumps and not a baggy trouser in sight!

Here’s a picture of the band, semi suited up, back in the day, and we think you’ll agree that their look has evolved somewhat over the years, becoming slicker and more sophisticated with time (even if we do say so ourselves).

Madness were very much a part of the skinhead subculture which took its influence from Jamaican Rude Boys and British Mods and this August bank holiday weekend see’s the Mod scene return to its spiritual home here at the Brighton Mod Weekender.  

This annual event always generates a really good buzz around the city, with scooters and zoot suits in abundance. Brighton Pier’s starring role in the iconic cult film Quadrophenia, will be a focal point of the along with the Laines, beach and Grand Hotel, where much of the films action took place.

Expect to see plenty of Harrington jackets, Ben Sherman shirts, Fred Perry t-shirts, boating blazers, fishtail parkas, Clarke’s desert boots and zoot suits zipping around town on some elaborately decorated scooters.

There are loads of bands performing and events happening across the weekend as well as a market selling records, vintage clothing, art and memorabilia. For more information about the weekend, what’s on and when, click on the Visit Brighton website link below.

http://www.visitbrighton.com/whats-on/brighton-mod-weekender-p472741

And don't forget, if Mod is your scene, we can tailor you a unique, slim fitting mod suit in the blink of a heavily kohled eye.

Sweeney Style

"Get your trousers on, you sod, you're nicked!"

With the new Sweeney enjoying it's world premiere at the Locarno film festival earlier this month, we set our minds to comparing the look and style of the original TV series with it's 21st Century reincarnation.

Low rent, rough and ready, the 1970’s Sweeney was all daytime drinking, manhandling suspects, and generally breaking the rules. Jack Regan and George Carter dressed to blend in, wearing the age appropriate clothes of the man on the street from the likes of Marks and Spencers, Burton’s and C and A . With patterned polyester the acceptable face of fashion, there were long point shirt collars, worn with wide knot, four in hand ties or daywear cravats, as well as roll neck jumpers. All worn under an assortment of two piece suits, in sludgy colours, featuring wide lapelled jackets and flared trousers. Heavy weight - step up sheepskin, corduroy and black leather - and quilted outerwear appear in the form of long coats and sports jackets.  These boys meant serious business, with denim strictly off duty attire.

Fast forward forty years to a far slicker duo, with style now dictating there is no age to fashion. We see both dressed down in sharp casual wear, still every bit as rough and ready, cranked up with plenty of firepower and  furiously violent encounters, but not a suit in sight. APC and Comme de Garcon style hoodies/sweatshirts are the order of the day, along with dark jeans and Fred Perry tops. Interestingly, leather and quilted jackets are still prominent but with more sophisticated styling from the likes of Belstaff and Barbour. A general monochrome palette sets the tone for a grittier, more edgy, era. And with the film's tag line 'In 2012, to catch a criminal you've got to act like a criminal', it's clear that this time around it's entirely slicker, but equally as serious, business.

We'll leave you with a few choice and memorable quotes from the original. Utterly brilliant.

"We're the Sweeney, son, and we've haven't had any dinner yet, so unless you want a kickin'...."
"I am utterly and abjectly pissed off."
"I'll drink down to the label with you if you like"
"If you weren't who you are I'd kick your arse up to you shoulderblades."
"Look slag, I don't give a toss who you have in your bed."
"The word is you're a right evil bastard."
"Shut it!"

 - from The Sweeney

In August, we will mostly be......

WEARING
Our new printed silk squares, taken from Gresham's uncle's original 1950's paintings.

LISTENING
Mad Men: Music from the Series Volume 1
Frank Ocean's Channel ORANGE



SHOPPING
Vintage motors from Landmark Classic Cars, London

EATING
Champagne and Oysters at;
Riddle and Finns, Brighton
St.Pancras Champagne Bar, London

DRINKING
Smokey Old Fashiond's at The Funfair Club, Brighton
Red Stripe at The Notting Hill Carnival, London

LOOKING AT
Fifty Years of Bond Style, Barbican, London
Utterly Elegant, V&A, London
David Bailey's East End, London

FOLLOWING
Team GB's progress at the London 2012 Olympics

WATCHING
James Bond Skyfall Trailer Part 2
Meltdown Festival at London's South Bank Centre
The Olympics on Brighton's beach front Big Screen

In July, we will mostly be ......

WEARING
Who knows what to wear in this weather?? Best be prepared with our fruity palette of light summer knits. Keeping the breezes at bay, home and away.

Also, our union jack silk squares for sporting and supporting.

LISTENING
Matthew Vankan at Bohemia, Brighton on Thursday 5th July.
The BBC Proms, for true British pomp and ceremony.
Everything by the Stone Roses, reliving 1989!


SHOPPING
La Duree for deliciously colourful macaroon magic. Yum!!
East London's Columbia Road market for flowers, bringing some sunshine, any way we can get it.
Justin Deakin for Spitalfields most stylish mens shoes.

EATING
Sunday brunch at Hawksmoor, Commercial Street, London.
Steak & ribs at The Hove Bank, Palmeira Square, Hove.
Skittles, Ellie started it. We are bouncing off the walls from the sugar, colours and e-numbers.

DRINKING
Cocktails at;

Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, London.
The Black Dove in Brighton.

LOOKING AT
Yoko Ono 'To The Light' along with the Herzog and de Meuron collaboration with Ai Weiwei on the Gallery Pavillion, all at the Serpentine Gallery, London.

The Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts, LondonThe good folks of Brighton playing Ping! for the next six weeks at any of the 36 table tennis tables that have been installed around the city.


FOLLOWING
Jimmy Carr on Twitter, for Tax tips

WATCHING
Plan B (via iPlayer) at the Hackney Weekend
The Euro 2012 football final on the 1st.
Tennis at Wimbledon
The London 2012 Olympic Games