Another dreaded summer day

Finally the summer has hit London town; the girls are half naked, the hot men are out of hibernation and the city is ready to go. The sun has an incredible power to make everything look better, from the streets to run down buildings and sometimes that weird homeless man that pisses on everything.

Although the sun is out, we here in London never really know how long it lasts for; probably a few hours, days, and if we're lucky a few weeks... but lets not jinx it. On a these gracious days, I put my layering aside and delve into simple attire, keeping it subtle with shorts and a t-shirt. But that's not how I ROLL! So in an attempt to spice up my outfits I look for things like jewellery (which will be another post) or hats ( this post). This year I have really been thinking a lot about hats and the lack there of. They are extremely difficult to pull off yet they can really complete a look. I wish more people would were hats. There is an infinite amount of styles and shapes to fit everyone's awkwardly shaped head! So lets go for it guys! lets go crazy. Let the sun frazzle your brain and in that state of insanity, buy a hat!

Here are my two picks for this summer:

Reverting back to my youth, the collaboration with New Era and Kenzo evokes my bad-ass teenage ghetto life. Awww the good old days, when you thought skipping school in baggy trousers and smoking in graveyards was the bee knees. 

Another option, for the more mature or the more dressy up summer days is this sexual hat I bought from a small town in Spain last year. I haven't had the chance to wear it yet, but I'm thinking today might be the day. 

Very Saint Laurent, but very poor quality as its a novelty hat, but hey, who is going to come up THAT close to me to see how its made? If anything it embodies a playful summer day. Not too uptight, if it gets messed up, it only cost me €5 so I wont be losing much, except of course for the memory of the trip...catch 22. Lets just keep our fingers crossed hope that I don't lose it or ruin it.

-andrew

dressed to kill

This all started when I first saw the Balmain collection. Heavily embellished, very structured  somewhat armor like, the Balmain 12-13 collection blow me away. Since then I pondered on how this effeminate look can be translated into menswear? Then a small trip to Spain reminded me that its has already been done! Matadors have been adorning appliqued, embellished uniforms for decades.

In the beautiful city of Nerja, I, together with my partner and his parents, enjoyed the last of the sun, great food and drinks with a constant view of the stunning Mediterranean sea. Little did I know that I would see something that will not only inspire me for my next StitchUp London collection but it made me even contemplate moving to Spain. It's weird the effect clothes have on me, I barely understand it myself.

In a wonderfully elaborate hotel Chris and I came a across this beautiful Matador custom. A piece so stunning, that I had to try to take as many pictures to try to do it justice. In a glass box, treat as if it where a masterpiece, there it stood right by the reception commanding attention, and that is what it got.

Every individual tiny detail in this one piece can create the most romantic collection. So obviously designers have already picked up on this and here are a few things that are my personal favourites.
Lets start with the A.F Vandevorst shoes and make our way through to Balmain.

Unfortunately I couldn't find a Matador jacket to take back with me so I opted for the Spanish Sombrero. This does not mean that my quest for the jacket has ended- this is just the first chapter of my journey to get it. To be continued.