Bond at the Barbican

 A few months ago i visited the James Bond exhibition at the Barbican in London with the old man and I have to say it didn't disappoint. I cant say we're massive Bond fans but there is certainly a mutual appreciation for the iconic spy and the legacy the films have built through the years. The main appreciation comes from bonds dress sense which i was looking forward to seeing what was on display.

 It was fantastic to see the first bond suit created by Anthony Sinclair for Sean Connery. Just seeing the evolution from what Connery was wearing to tom fords current creation for Daniel Craig in terms of the cut, silhouette and style. Fascinating. There was also a great display of the roulette table scene in casino royale where Daniel Craig's Brioni tuxedo looked out of this world!

     They even had Mr Craig's La Perla trunks on display next to Connery's Sunspel's from 1965.

a four month catch up

like I said had a lot going on these past few months so I've got a bit of a back log to get through!!  my new role has been pretty intense but I'm loving every minute of it and I'm very excited for what the next 12 months holds for myself and Without Prejudice. Also keep your eyes peeled for an exciting revamp for www.mensfashionmagazine.com for whom I have a number of men's fashion related articles due out in the upcoming months.   

a sincere apology...

Sorry guy's its been a while! Four months to be exact!! And in those four months a lot has happened in my little bubble of life, one of the main things being I now have a new role as Brand Ambassador for British menswear brand Without Prejudice. That's the main excuse for my blogging blackout, though now life has settled down a little I'm glad to say I'm back in the game!

dapper watch

 I thought I'd introduce "dapper watch" to my blog. A post where I select in my opinion the best dressed gentleman out in the public eye through the past month. Where best to start than with the ultimate modern day style icon. David Beckham. During his trip to pick up and bring back the olympic torch, he displayed the three S's. Stylish satorial simplicity. To pick up the torch, its the grey number with the well coupled liliac shirt. That was accesorised with gold tie clip and white pocket square. Then for his return on british soil he opted for a navy number with a sky blue contrast shirt. A style lesson to the masses, keep it simple.

             Even in the rain and holding a brolly, Mr Beckham shows why he always looks dapper!

 Benedict Cumberbatch may have lost out to his fellow Spencer Hart wearing actor Dominic West in the BAFTA best actor catergory. But he lead the way in showing his peirs how to dress appropriately. Again little fuss which when done right equals understated elegance.

 Professor Green is starting to make some noise in the style stakes and in his last few red carpet appearances he has looked razor sharp with a contempary twang. Like the Brit awards he paired a crisp white shirt buttoned up with no tie. A nice coblat blue suit and a beautiful pair of Mr Hare lace ups. Keep up the good work Sir.

 On a night out with team Beckham, Alastair Willis showed why he is one of my favourite stylish gents. A beautiful DB jacket with beige trousers and a gorgeous pair of monk strapped shoes. Class.

 Im liking the longer barnet and designer stubble on Mr Fassbender while at the premiere of his new film prometheus. Also looking the leading man in Gucci.

 You rarely see Ozwald Boateng not at his best. Also at the prometheus premiere, he showed us all again why he is the sharpest on the Row. I love this seperartion of colour and miss paring of jacket and trouser look that I predict will grow in to a mainstream formal trend. You tend to see the look more around spring/ summer but this when done right is definately a look you should consider all year round.

 Not many men can pull off a white jacket and waistcoat number. Mr David Gandy shows he can. Again great example of colour seperation in a formal look.

Mr Gary Barlow looks very dapper in his favourite all in one Vivienne Westwood waistcoat/ jacket and Smyth and Gibson piccadilly shirt. Plus not a bad accessory in Cheryl Cole.

Thomas Codd's Morrissey icon vest

Thomas Codd has done it again. The young, upcoming designer has added to his hit collection of icon vest's with this super cool print of Morrissey. This is definitely on my "to buy" list and for those guy's hitting Ibiza this summer, I 100% recommend one of these icon vest's need to be in your suit case. 

A hint of a blast from the past!

 I've got my stylish peepers on these boys above. I noticed these while walking past the royal exchange in London one night. They were in the shop window of this new boutique store. Harry's of London. Now, I've been looking for a penny loafer with a modern shape for a while but most out there have that traditional bulky look which doesn't suit my size 11 flippers too well! Also these sleek shoes have a practical rubber sole which took me back down memory lane to one of my favourite pairs back in the day! The Prada sport loafer. I absolutely adored these back then and they were hands down the comfiest shoes I ever owned. I hope the Downing loafer from Harry's is at that level.

Daniel Rhone Personal shopping in the city: COMING SOON!

Fingers crossed that in June/ July will see the launch of my new website and personal shopping service based in the city of London. Its a service that will be mainly targeting the modern man, who works long and hard during the week and only has the weekend to aquire something new for the wardrobe. But theres a problem. The modern man is a little short on ideas, inspiration and knowledge of what he needs and where to get it. Thats where I come in! For more information email me at danrhone@hotmail.co.uk

My "9-5" essentials

Please check out my new article for www.mensfashionmagazine.co.uk/ on my "9-5" essentials for the man who wants to impress in the office. Being based in the heart of Londons financial district, it was an apt subject for me to work on as I see and work with the gentleman of the city each day.

London collections for Men: schedule announced

 The British fashion council have just announced the proposed schedule for the London collections for men at London fashion week this June. Men's day has now been scrapped and we have now to look forward to three packed day's of the best of British fashion has to offer. From Friday morning to Sunday evening the schedule is crammed with highlights ranging from Tom Ford's dinner on the Friday night to Sir Paul Smith's Q & A session on the Sunday afternoon. My own highlights and with a bit of luck I will do my best to see is the Spencer Hart presentation. Nick Hart (above) is a genius and I love his Spencer Hart concept where he mixes simplistic, sharp tailoring into the throwback jazz era. Love it! Also I want to see the very talented Mr Adrien Sauvage (below).

Look's like I've got a man crush!

 People, I now know what all the fuss is about regarding one Ryan Gosling. Not only was he devastatingly cool and slick in the movie Drive that I watched a few weeks previous, but now after watching Crazy, Stupid Love you can add ridiculously charismatic and handsome! Enough about his classic Hollywood leading man traits lets get on to his styling. Is it me or is Gosling picking out these ultra stylish parts at will. First he gets to play a get away driver who wears a Patek Phillipe, double denim and a silk blouson with a scorpion on the back! Now he plays a wealthy lothario who wears high end tailoring for fun. Ryan you are one stylish S.o.B.

Spencer Hart's pop up beauty

 Found out last week that one of my favourite brands have opened up a pop up shop right round the corner from my place of work. Spencer Hart and his slick tailoring will be at the one new change shopping centre right by St Paul's cathedral. Better hurry, it's only there until the 17th of May.

A style icon in the making... Mr David Gandy

 Please check out my new article for http://www.mensfashionmagazine.co.uk about one of my style inspirations (a future post to come!) Mr David Gandy. GQ tut, tut, tut. Mario Balotelli better dressed than Mr Gandy??!! I think not.

My style inspirations: Mr James Shepherd

 I first met James Shepherd at my current place of work where he was managing a concession for a Savile Row heavyweight. It was a while before we started talking but after being introduced by a mutual friend and using the aged old male ice breaker subject of football! we immediately hit it off  when we both realised we had another subject in common... Fashion.

James was at work always impeccably dressed and for a 24 year old at the time, was streetwise and fashion savvy beyond his years. Its properly my one regret that i didn't get more information and knowledge about tailoring from him as at the time I was more in to sleek, contemporary fashion and style from the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. Traditional tailoring and "the Row" didn't interest me at that point. To get what I'm talking about take a look at http://anortherndandy.blogspot.com/ its James old fashion blog that due to work commitments he can no longer keep running. Inside the blog you'll see the real passion he has for tailoring and his flair for style. You'll notice through his visuals that he has fantastic attention to detail whether that be through tie and handkerchief combinations to general colour outfitting. James is now a brand stylist for an iconic fashion brand and it gives me great creative motivation and encouragement as I try to find my feet in the world of men's fashion. It just goes to show that your style inspiration doesn't just have to come from a world wide fashion icon, it could be from the guy who gets on the 19 bus every morning to a good friend like Mr Shepherd. 

                                                           Some standard immature behaviour!

Ryan Gosling in Drive

 A few weeks ago I, with the better half thought we'd jump on the Ryan Gosling band waggon and watch Drive to see what all the hype was about ( my girlfriend didn't need much persuading!) I have to say I was very impressed. Although the script could of been stronger, for me its all about how good the ultra-slick mixture of the soundtrack, photography and styling was and Mr Gosling didn't disappoint also! Sporting a silk sports jacket with a giant gold scorpion embroidered on the back for most of the film, he oozed coolness personified. Teamed with double denim (not an easy look to pull off), grandad tee, driving gloves and a gorgeous Patek Philippe time piece.

                                              Not many people look this good behind the wheel.

The designer sneaker

 

Please check out my second article for www.mensfashionmagazine.co.uk/ where I discuss the designer sneaker. Also follow me on Twitter @danielrhone.

something I just threw on

 I thought I'd just post these two looks to get me started as I ease myself back on the blog posting bike. Sorry its been a while!! The first look is a Don Draper, mad men inspired outfit with the vocal point being the Smyth & Gibson piccadilly shirt. Paired with knitted tie and pocket square.

                                        Mr Barlow in his Smyth & Gibson looking super sharp.

 Here is my Tom Stubbs inspired look where I teamed a roll neck with a 3 piece suit and a extravagantly positioned vintage Hermes pochette. More about Mr Stubbs and my admiration for his style in a later blog post.

ClimaCOOL

 I spotted these Adidas climacools from the David Beckham/ James Bond collaboration a few months ago when the promo photos were released for S/S 12 campaign. I have to be honest with you guys, the orange pair has really got a hold on me! Now calling them bold is a slight understatement and is definitely something i would've embraced in my younger years without a second of hesitation. But as i enter the twilight of my twenties and I become more mature and formal with everyday ( I blame David Gandy for his styling influences!!- I'll explain in a future post) I do have to stand back and have a second thought.

 The original climacools which debuted in 2002. I had these and although they were launched as a sports performance trainer, I used to love wearing them with a cool pair of customised Levi's and a white t-shirt. It was my take on the Nike air max look that a lot of guys put together with denim and casualwear from the late nineties.

                                  The David Beckham obyo climacool range for A/W12.

 I am looking at wearing the updated climacools with these Adidas David Beckham L.A. joggers, rolled up track bottoms and some cool PRPS denim.