Bond and Tom are back!

    One of the best bits of news I received this year was that Tom Ford would be back dressing Daniel Craig in the new 007 James Bond  film skyfall due to be realised in 2013 ( It says a lot for the news I have received this year!) Here are some early photos from shooting with Mr Craig looking razor sharp as ever!

Lanvin's formal treats

   I am loving Lanvin's formal accessories at the moment after seeing them in Selfridges and on Mr Porter. Below I have shown a pair of gold plated cuff links, a flower buttonhole pin, a tie clip and a tie pin. I have to say I am very tempted to bring Lanvin's elegance in to my formal world right now!

Captain America in Gucci leather!!

  I know the advertising campaign for Gucci's guilty fragrance has been out for a while but Chris Evan's appearance and styling in the ad caught my eye. In the edgy commercial directed by the brilliant Frank Miller, Evans is wearing an awesome Gucci biker jacket which is detailed by numerous zips! I am and have always been a massive fan of the biker jacket and have always loved seeing the elite designers take on and bring out their versions year after year and Gucci have always been particularly good with their leathers.

                                                    Mr Evans and Evan Rachel Wood

             I love Evan's hair in this ad, short and cropped with some stubble really does the trick!

                                                                                 

 In the world of men's fashion its a rarity that a good looking guy with an athletic physic fronts a campaign or runway for a major fashion brand, with the major exception of Dolce & Gabbana and their boys lead by David Gandy. For me Frida Gianinni and her people at Gucci must be applauded for getting Evans in to embody and be a part of their revolution of the new "Gucci man". Evan's has been on my radar before back in 2007 as he did seven or eight shots for American GQ dressed entirely in Tom Ford's debut menswear collection. Still got it Chris!

Paul Weller for pretty green

The mod-father has collaborated with Liam Gallagher's fashion label pretty green for a small collection which includes Indian style shirts, signature double breasted suits and silk scarves. I have to be completely honest to say I'm not a fan of Mr Gallagher's fashion line or his MOD-ified style, but of Mr Weller's dress sense my opinion differs. I am actually a fan of Paul Weller as he enters his later years when it comes to dressing as not many men can pull off a bleach blonde highlights, shades and pinstripe suits at his age!

 A signature Paul Weller pinstripe DB suit with big peak lapels that I love! Also not a bad price at £495?!

Another piece that I like from his collaboration is this black pleated neck scarve which I quite fancy pairing with a tuxedo jacket for a night on the town.

All I want for Christmas are..... shirts!!

 Seriously, all I want this Christmas from the big man in red is one, maybe two, ummm actually three real quality shirts! Like I stated in my A/W wish list I have my heart set on a Smyth & Gibson piccadilly shirt from Selfridges www.selfridges.com for which Mr Barlow has been endorsing on a Saturday and Sunday night.

 Another shirt I am definitely adding to my wardrobe is a Emmett made to measure shirt with a tab collar. I cant explain to you how much I adore this detail as the tabs underneath when fixed give the collar such a great structured, firm finish with a tie. Please check out the Emmett website www.emmettlondon.com where you can browse the made to measure catalogue and the fantastic options to this service.

                                   Dermot in his Emmett made to measure tab collar shirt.

 The last of my three targets is an Ozwald Boateng shirt with chisel tip collar for which I envisage to wear with a one button suit, slim tie and pocket square.

                                        Idris Elba at the Thor premiere head to toe in Boateng.

                   Rio Ferdinand sporting the chisel tip collar shirt with slim tie and pocket square.

Hackett's window inspiration

I have always found walking past a Hackett shop window very inspiring. Their mannequins are always dressed so well from the way they present their "simple but effective" look  through business, seasonal day wear, and evening wear as you can see from the picture above. I know the mannequins are pinned the hell out of but for me personally its how in an ideal world I would like to look in a suit.... strong shoulders, slim line tailored jacket, crisp shirt, and firmly knotted tie. Inspired!

David Beckham in ALLSAINTS

 At the weekend I spotted Beck's while watching his boys play football in an Allsaints polo shirt which for the obvious is great for the brand as it grows across the US but it seems its a new affiliation as I haven't noticed Lord Beckham in the brand before.

                                     As always David rocks this laid back combo so well

 I have to say I was more in to Allsaints when they first came on to the scene a few years ago before the stag skull branding and sewing machines. For me their appeal was great leathers and edgy tailoring way before most high street retailers had the idea of a 'slim fit' suit and very minimal branding. Don't get me wrong the growth of the business has been amazing since then and the more commercial and branded the pieces are, they bring that 'brand idenity' within its market place.

                                                  The Allsaints store in Las Vegas

              There we go... awesome leather biker jacket from last season and not a skull in sight!

The big bang!

Had to post this beauty ... Hublot's Big Bang watch in black and gold with black croc strap. Hublot watches are starting to build a reputation and fan base with their Audmars Piguet-esque looks and strong features they certainly are becoming force to be reckoned with in the time piece world!

Auber-jeans!!

     A massive trend at the moment in women's fashion is auber-jeans! Basically its aubergine coloured denim which colour wise is an interpretation of purple to maroon and I for one want to jump on the band wagon and get these in my wardrobe and not my girlfriends!! I actually purchased a pair of slim fit jeans from H&M about 3 years ago in a colour that was swaying to the purple side more than maroon, but after the twenty eighth wise crack from my pals  (" Dan, the jokers called, he says he wants his trousers back!!") they were exiled! Not that I cave in to peer pressure because if i like something I'll wear it regardless of how much abuse or bad banter comes my way but admittedly they were too purple and a maroon pair I properly would've favoured and would no doubt still own! At the weekend I was actually eyeing a few styles out in a chino and corduroy fabric and the fashion geek I am I've been visualising some looks... Black roll neck and lace ups for winter, then white grandad collar shirt, Tods loafers and shades in the summer with a white v neck tee and blazer for in between seasons. Sorted then!

                             And just for the record I've always thought the joker dressed well..... haha!

get yourself a cable knit people!

While in London town the weather is still pretty mild, I have my radar on a purchase that I wanted over the summer but it has eluded me so far... The cable knit jumper. For this time of year its a great cross over piece that you can layer up with as that temperature drops.

 Mr David Gandy shows us how to wear it in the summer with denim, shades and sandals then how to wear it in the winter dressing the jumper up with tweed jacket and formal trousers.

                                       I love this cashmere Ralph Lauren version in this aqua blue

 Pharell  Williams looking super fly as ever wearing his cable knit with a basic white tee and Ray bans. Imagine this look with loose fit Japanese denim and white high tops..

                                           I also love this Zara cable knit in a nice bronze colour

Beck's new timepiece

 I'm not feeling Mr Beckham's new timepiece from the king of the bling watches Jacob & co. Though admittedly its better looking and more to date than the diamond in crusted bezel's that was featured in every R&B video and footballers wrist in the early naughties. Make your own mind up guys!

what Gary and Dermot have been up to...

One things for sure Dermot O'Leary and Gary Barlow definitely have the X factor when it comes to their weekend television formal attire. Dermot keeps it simple, very new wave savile row as he alternates his suits from Thom Sweeney and Spencer Hart ( my two favourite British tailors at the moment)  as well as E Tautz ties and amazing custom made shirts from Emmett.

 Gary on the other hand goes for the designer heavyweights when it comes to looks. Here we see him in Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli and Yves Saint Laurent paired with great accessories such as tie pins, knit ties and piccadilly shirts.

Steve McQueen collection for Barbour

 Barbour have recently brought out a really cool collection that is based around the icon that is Steve McQueen and the range is based around the clothing he wore when he raced motorbikes.

 Two of the pieces I'm eyeing up is this maroon cardigan and wax jacket which I'm sure you'll agree look pretty special!