Pocket Square Notebook

'Write down your thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable' - Francis Bacon At work I am never without a pen and paper but in everyday life it is sometimes cumbersome and impractical to haul around a notebook, this solves the problem in a fashionable solution, available here now...

Dana Lee SS12 Collection

The launch of the brilliant OneEightNine online store has brought a new brand to my attention. New York based Dana Lee has created a superb menswear collection that offers uncomplicated summer style in some of the most interesting colour schemes I have seen. Dana's creative process insures every item is limited, handcrafted and constructed with the upmost care and attention to detail. The thing I enjoy most about the SS12 collection is how the loose fitting light materials, bold colours and the photography conjures up the feeling of 80's American summertime. Look out for it to hit OEN in the next few weeks...

Heather Grey x Mark McNairy

Kazuki Kuraishi is probably best known for his stirling work for Adidas Originals but his concept store 'Heather Grey Wall' in Shibuya Tokyo has been garnering a great deal of attention due to great collaborations including this set of beautiful footwear assembled with Mark McNairy. With two colorways of both Derby Boot and Wingtip Brogue constructed from premium suede and leather in some of the best colorways I have seen even when looking back at the McNairy archives, this is a match made in footwear heaven, feast your eyes on these then get on to HGW as they are already very limited in numbers...

Billy Reid Mens AW12 Collection

Billy Reid initially came on my radar after their very successful collection with Levi's. Since then the brand have become one of my favourite and mot consistent performers in menswear. For AW12 they took it to the catwalk and its no surprise it is their strongest collection to date. It really catapults the brand into the forefront of the current tailoring phenomenon. Their southern american inspired cuts and pastel washed colours that sculpted previous collections are prevalent and bring a refreshing new dimension to the formal looks making them accessible to both casual and formal markets. The knitwear and outerwear was simply brilliance...

Comme des Garcons x Pointer Chester

Pointer continues their successful collaboration with Comme Des Garcons into Spring/Summer 2012 with this beautiful incarnation called the Chester. A clean canvas and suede upper, subtly placed atop a classic tennis sole in beautiful crafted 3 tone double gum & white scheme makes for a seriously nice finish and the perfect alternative deck shoe. Look for these to hit Comme Des Garcons retailers in the very near future...

YMC Mens SS12 Collection

Following the great success and acclaim of their previous AW11 Collection YMC continue in the same vain into their newest offerings. Loose fitting casual cuts are the star of the show and they continue to deliver great combinations of colours. The camel and khaki shades tie the outfits together with a host of blues and burgundies. I think if your going to choose a colour palette for the summer this collection isn't too far from the mark, I particularly like the trousers and the overhead linen shirt which is a compromise between the smart shirt and casual polo...

Nonnative x New Balance CM997/8's

Picked these up from the good folks at Foot Patrol this week, thought it would be ironic to photograph them out in the snow, kind of like putting a camel in the arctic! Hugely impressed by the quality of the materials and I know there have been complaints about the toe box on these but once they are on the feet they look good in proportion...

Engineered Garments Paisley Camp Shirt

Paisley is a pattern which has made a monumental return to designers arsenal in recent seasons and I have already been won over on the pocket squares and ties front. But when it comes to full paisley garments I have never been a huge fan. This is why I was surprised to find myself returning several times to this both Engineered Garments Paisley Camp Shirt. Holiday season for me is just around the corner and im currently on the hunt for short sleeved shirts (partially inspired by the Acne shirt I posted last week). This may surprise you but I don't currently own any short sleeved shirts at all, I prefer to roll my sleeves up. But I think variety is always a good thing therefore this one is on my hit list I can't think of anything looking sharper than this with a nice simple pair of shorts and some new common projects...

Apolis Standard Issue 'American Made' Looks

Apolis are now a relatively well established brand and their recent Standard Issue Collection has very much caught my attention mostly due to its close correlation with what i am currently trying to achieve within my own wardrobe and also because of the highly visible attention to detail which seems to have been put into each product. What interested me most are the great selection of jackets and shirts which have an almost infinite number of layering possibilities, available in a selection of fabrics and a great set of summer colours, the french linen workshirt and civilian blazer are among many highlights...

Robert Montgomery @ KK Outlet

I have been a fan of the artist Robert Montgomery's work for a while now so I was really excited to be walking past the KK Outlet yesterday and see him helping to position his art work on the facade of the building in what I have to say were a pretty fresh pair of pale grey Nike Air Max 1 'Safaris'. I took a sneak peak at the unfinished 'It Turned Out This Way Cos You Dreamed It This Way' exhibition which opens on Thursday night an runs till the 25th. If you get a chance please go down and check it out along with finding his 3 billboards on Old Street, they are very thought provoking and look great in the urban environment...

Cole Haan x Nike Lunargrand Wingtip

Hybrids have always been a somewhat contentious subject in the sneaker world often due to the dismantling of a fan favourite, but when it comes to the above I have to say im converted. After Nike designer Jarrett Reynolds blog revealed his pair of custom lunar saddle shoes in late 2010 it must have got the creative cogs turning in the design kitchen. If like me you are wondering how exactly this collaboration came to fruition the story goes something like this. Founded by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan in Chicago, Illinois, back in 1928, Cole Haan quickly became renowned for making fine quality shoes for men. In 1988 the company was acquired by Nike and began integrating parts of Nikes innovative technology into their own footwear, so with this in mind the Lunargrand Wingtip seems the inevitable next step in a seemingly organic partnership. Bearing in mind that a wingtip and a lunar running shoe are virtually polar opposites in ever way apart from being worn on the feet this shoe does not look wrong at all on the contrary in fact they grow on me more after every viewing. I do think however leather would have been a more appropriate upper material but i'm sure this is not the last we will see of this specimen...

Acne Mens AW12 Collection

Bit late with these posts apologies. Milan to Paris and the AW12 shows roll on, I have only picked a couple of shows as I know the blog has been a bit catwalk heavy but their was a huge amount of interesting collections on offer. Acne are always on the top of my list when it comes to Paris, they always deliver a clean cut collection. This season is no different, the colour combinations were exceptional and with uncomplicated tailoring without the heavy detailing of other shows really let the brands cuts and fabrics do the talking. I was very impressed with the careful layering and monogram patterning which manages to bring a casual aspect into a very suave collection...