Mr. Gentry

Oki-Ni Shofolk suede shoes

2010-04-23T21:24:00.001+01:00

Spring is finally here, which means it's time to put those boots away and slip on something lighter. If boat shoes and sandals aren't doing it for you, check out the The Alaric, by Folk Clothing's sister label Shofolk.

Handmade in Portugal, Shofolk's modern twist on the classic Oxford shoe is an elegant substitute for spring plimsolls when that warmer weather finally arrives. Comfort and a timeless tan colour come together for a clean look, featuring suede on the upper and off-white rubber sole, with a contrasting mid-brown leather heel tag providing a nice detail.

The perfect partner for rolled-up chinos this spring and summer, the Alaric is exclusive to oki-ni, but is only available in limited numbers.

Priced at £125 www.oki-ni.com

Sunspel's first standalone store

2010-04-20T21:17:00.000+01:00

That Sunspel makes the most refined T-shirts and boxers should not be surprising - the Derbyshire-based brand has been refining them for 150 years. Only now though has Sunspel opened a standalone store, in London's Shoreditch, following the success of its pre-Christmas Mayfair pop-up shop. As well as the full collection, including the Riviera polo that Daniel Craig wore inCasino Royale, you can also buy Levi's 501s so you can recreate that iconic ad where Nick Kamen stripped down to his Sunspel smalls in the middle of a laundrette.

7 Redchurch Street, London E2. 0207 739 9729

www.sunspel.com

Useful Wastage

2010-04-16T21:09:00.000+01:00

Though the sentiments behind new art-eco-fashion brand ISSI are truly worthy we cannot accept that ‘waste not, want not’ is a maxim that necessarily rings true. Why? Well, ISSI’s products might all be made from waste but we really, really want them.

The launch collection has been produced in collaboration with a series of award-winning contemporary visual artists. The ‘Volcano’ Messenger bag £260 and Kitbag (above £270) by artist Paul Morrison are made from decommissioned fire-hose and reclaimed parachute silk. Fifty per cent of profits from the ISSI range go back into charities associated with waste.

My favorite is the Kit Bag priced which you can buy online here or find the collection at Selfridges from 4 May.

3 is the magic number

2010-04-14T21:05:00.000+01:00

The three button blazer was seen as the stuff of uptight geography teachers for a long time. But now, with brands like Visvim, Our Legacy and Norse Projects all adapting them for summer, that perception could be about to change.

Visvim and Norse Projects have taken the loud and proud approach to three button tailoring, the only problem with Visvim being that getting hold of it is a rather arduous task. Out of the three, Our Legacy have taken a subtler approach, hiding the third button behind the lapels. Whatever your pick, with all this choice, there’s never been a better time to take style tips from your old teacher.

www.norsestore.com

A Clockwork Orange

2010-04-12T19:09:00.004+01:00

Luxury - a word we find banded around by so many "non-luxury" classified brands these days. To my mind this is a word to be used to pin-point and categorise a very specific type of production quality, expertise's and ultimately the expense paid for such items produced with these points in-mind.

French luxury brand Hermes, who could single handily define the word luxury, stand only for the highest level of quality and have been producing covetable good since it was founded way back in 1837, and in-time for Spring-Summer holiday season continue to reign supreme with the ultimate nautical watch.

Hermes introduced the Clipper watches, which were originally designed by Henri d'Origny in 1981. Named after old three-mastered racing ships, the watches were always nautical in nature - and the newest version arrives in an eye catching 44mm case, suggests that its owner will probably spend most its his time flitting between Mediterranean ports and Caribbean hideaways.

The masculine and sporty design is accentuated by the black free face and orange rubber strap. Inside the steal and titanium case -luxury point proven- there's an automatic chronograph Valjoux movement, which is protected at depths of up to 200 metres.

Priced at £3,700

Available from www.hermes.com

Gentry Quick Fix - Hentsch Man X Garbstore

2010-04-09T14:31:00.002+01:00

The divine genius of Hentsch Man is upon us once again, this time not in a pop-up store format (see Mr.Gentry post from 2nd December 2009) but in the form of 3 beautifully crafted, and exclusive, styles of shorting apparel for online retailer Garbstore.

Hentsch Man - a brand started up with the aim of producing simple, elegant and wearable menswear, has perfect gentlemanly values of simplicity and functionality for young men with a refined aesthetic sense that must be saluted!

The Nantucket shorts by Hentsch Man for Garbstore keep true to their simple tailored ethos and subtly arrive with an equaility simple colour palette to choose from; Coral, navy and a grey-on-grey fine stripe.

Priced at £95

Available exclusively from http://www.garbstore.com

Sperry - Re-building a classic

2010-04-07T16:39:00.001+01:00

April is a confusing month for weather, a most un-profound statement to make i know but having mother natures movements for the week ahead thrust towards me via my morning television, i find it hard to believe we shall be faced once again with any permanent sunshine!?

However, turning the clocks back to embrace what should be Spring, i realise that the seasonal changing over of my winter wardrobe to lighter spring/summer options should not be viewed as a rushed step to far, as i am not the only one waving the flag for the warmer months, having spotted early deck shoe appearances around the feet and streets of London and now its time for a blog post announcing their arrival.

There have been a whole host of respectable options which have fallen into my inbox over the past month; from Lacoste and ASOS, classic Gucci in red and blue rubber, to a beautiful hybrid pair from Opening Ceremony, but the ones to catch my eye, if only for its 75 year heritage, arrive from Sperry Top-Sider.

The brand started when a certain Paul Sperry invented the ﬁrst boat shoe in 1935 after observing his dog's ability to maintain sturdy and not "hit the deck" on the slippery surface! Mr Sperry incorporated the wave like groves found on the dog's paw which have continued to be the inspiration for the Sperry Top-Sider sole that we see today.

To celebrate, Sperry have released a limited edition 75th Anniversary collection consisting of 3 unique styles; the Double-Sole, the Seamate and CVO all reworked for 2010 and packaged in commemorative shoe boxes inspired by the original packaging.

Priced from £50

Available from www.oipolloi.com

www.sperrytopsider.com

Gentry Quick Fix - 3 Best In Show Rings!

2010-03-29T23:21:00.001+01:00

This weeks Gentry Quick Fix focuses around the humble ring and arrives in 3 different forms to suit most peoples taste, up first...

1. Maison Martin Margiela Ring (pictured above)

A more statement focused style, the Margiela ‘tin foil’ finish ring is made from silver coloured brass and is one of the key effect for Margiela’s s/s10 accessories.

Priced at £119.00
Available from http://www.oki-ni.com

2. Chronicles Of Never Signet Ring

The Chronicles Of Never chunky signet ring is the perfect day-to-evening transition piece. It arrives in a black lacquered sterling silver metal and has a brushed/aged detail. Perfect. Simple.

Priced at £195.00

Available from http://www.oki-ni.com

3. Odeur Special Edition Triangle Ring

Made exclusively for Oki-ni, this triangle shaped ring is an unconventional style piece which only some will appreciate. If that someone is you (and indeed myself too) then be quick to snap one up before they sell out.

Priced at 109.00

http://www.oki-ni.com

Up Rising Sleeves!

2010-03-25T14:31:00.004Z

During the hot summer of '77, cap sleeved T-shirts were tough punk symbols of nonconformity - the flashing of biceps marked out a man not to be messed with.

However, with more masculine trends seeping through from the runway, the new macho stance of baring arms to all are abound once more and to save you valuable time trawling around for the key pieces of armless delights, i've selected the most notable, vastly updated "Sid Vicious" style pieces seen across the Spring Summer collections at GUCCI, Lanvin, TIM SOAR, Trussardi, Calvin Klein Collection and Givenchy; all of which should make you proud to poke your arms through... however puny they are!

GUCCI

Calvin Klein Collection

Lanvin

TIM SOAR

Givenchy

Spring Has Sprung!

2010-03-25T00:04:00.002Z

The sun is shining folks and the ever present grey clouds are fast becoming a distant memory. I have noticed a new spring in my step as we enter a new season and it is time to shed off the protective outerwear shell and reveal a little flesh while wearing lighter, more seasonal friendly layers and adding colour to our lives once more! I have outlined a tiny selection of spring essentials to point you in the right direction for the arrival of Spring.

As time is a-ticking lets start with exposing my contradicting beliefs of eco-friendly sustainability and consumerism. Every once in a while there is nothing wrong with what I call a “summer rental” - and at £50, courtesy of ASOS.com, these Time Teller P’s from Nixon definitely fit the bill. Simplistic design, I love that every bit of the watch is the exact same color and does not need to scream for attention. Understated good. Try hard bad. and these definitely fall in the former bracket.

Moving up from the wrist, and keeping a clean crisp spring look, i suggest a visit to the denim and chambray section of dressing, where the good people at Full Circle, who have just launched their new site and denim campaign, have a vast selection of denim apparel in every shade imaginable! Add to this an exclusive 10% discount code for Mr. Gentry readers for any online purchase in the next 3 weeks and you are set. Just log on to www.fullcircleuk.com and enter mrgentry10 at the check out. If you want to make a more confident nod towards the denim, l would urge you to embrace the full 'DoubleDenim' ensemble! (pictured above and below -denim blazer is £100 and the jeans are £90).

Now, even though its spring its also time to be realistic. Unless your reading this post in Miami, LA, Australia or any coast line with an average temperature of more than 15 degrees, most of us can not get to carried away with how lightly we dress. To this end one of the most stand up British brands around, Universal Works, have provided the spring season with a great light weight Chambray "Baker" jacket, which shall see you through the summer months and into early autumn (priced at £99.00 from theglassboutique.com).

Taking a look at spring footwear i came across a whole new direction from Havaiana's (known for their ridiculously comfortable flip-flops). Launching in May exclusively to Harrods London, the SOUL collection includes high tops, lo tops and even espadrilles! I'm not quite ready to advocate an espadrille appearence on your feet in the latter stages of March, so have instead opted for the suggested high tops. Colour favorites are in Blue and a burnished red/navy mix - the High Tops retail at £40 and the Low Tops- £44.

Lastly - it would be a crime to deny yourself a new season accessory - so hop along to ASOS for a low-key holdall in cream cotton from Paul Smith Jeans, (priced at £81.00 from ASOS.com).

http://www.glassboutique.co.uk/

http://www.fullcircleuk.com/

http://www.harrods.com/harrodsstore/

http://www.asos.com/

Kurt Geiger "reboots" Sebago’s Dockside

2010-03-20T09:11:00.001Z

Boat or deck shoes have been on trend for the last few seasons and their ship shows no sign of sailing anytime soon. However, fashionable landlubbers have generally been restricted to wearing them in calm conditions.

Thankfully Kurt Geiger has collaborated with American brand Sebago of New England on an ankle-high "boat boot" version of the latter's classic Dockside. Named Manitou after JFK's yacht, it's perfect for navigating the choppy style waters of the spring/summer transition period here in rainy old England. Put Vampire Weekend's Contra on your iPod and pretend that it's a sunny day in Cape Cod.

Priced at £130
Available at http://www.kurtgeiger.com

Madonna On Your Face

2010-03-18T10:12:00.002Z

Questionable phrase to introduce this post but not totally misleading... The first summer rays of 2010 have been teasing their way through my window this week and so i thought it was time to bring you the latest from the world of designer sunglasses.

The big news is that trend-setter Madonna is putting her commerical weight (and tiny name tag) behind a new Dolce & Gabbana range that will go on sale this May – giving you a handy new option should there be a special birthday coming up.

The collection incorporates a distinctive letter ‘M’ (that will be for Madonna) on the arm and will retail for around £120. It’s the first co-branding venture Madge and the designer range have embarked on to date.

Look out for the advertising images for the MDGs that have been shot by Steven Klein in ‘fim noir’ style and starring – you guessed it – pop star and businesswoman, Madonna. Now all we need is for the sun to come out again...

http://www.dolcegabbana.com/

Gentry Quick Fix - Fred Perry x Raleigh Bike

2010-03-16T10:00:00.001Z

Fred Perry will soon be opening their new online store as part of Zozotown.jp. To celebrate the launch, they have gotten together with Raleigh to produce a limited edition bike. It comes in a classic English racing green colorway and a Brooks leather saddle.

The bike drops along with the new online store on March 30th.

http://zozo.jp

YMC Navajo Style Knitwear

2010-03-14T09:11:00.001Z

Navajo, or Dine as they call themselves, is the largest tribe of North American Indians, and by the looks of things they must have a inspiring style icon amongst them somewhere which has been aptly spotted by the clever design collective over at YMC.

The British brand have taken a classic Navajo style chunky knit cardigan and added a YMC twist to ensure no criminal over-kill in design has been committed - my personal favorite knitwear piece for 2010 so far!

Available from http://www.glassboutique.co.uk

Great Moustache!

2010-03-10T23:21:00.000Z

Gentry quick-whip for all you tea and coffee lovers - If you’ve been too tentative to join the recent moustache renaissance, the 15 great soup strainers on this mug could provide the necessary inspiration!

Priced at £6.99, www.lazyboneuk.com

Emboss-bag!

2010-03-08T09:11:00.001Z

In an era when we are inundated with more and more “stuff”, it can be hard to remember what exactly each bag, compartment, pouch and case we own is actually for, turning the original concept of the accessory – convenience – on its head.

Natalia Brilli’s new leather range, in which the proposed contents of her items are pressed into the façade of each bag, may well be the answer to this very modern dilemma.

http://www.nataliabrilli.fr

Making A Spectacle

2010-03-05T09:11:00.005Z

A new discovery has come upon us by the name of Orgreen, a spectacle brand from Copenhagen. There’s a lot to like about it, chief among which is that it’s a design-driven company that’s as interested in the quality of manufacture as it is in styling.

To this end the shapes, colours and mix of materials leave one in no doubt about the dedication of the three founders, who include the eponymous Henrik Orgreen, to pushing forward with a wearable but contemporary aesthetic. This, however, is balanced by the fact that equal importance is placed on the quality of manufacture.

That’s why the frames are made by hand in Japan from materials that include acetate and titanium, which makes them surprisingly comfortable and light to wear. Production of the frames involves 100 separate operations, over the course of about six months. That makes it even more gruelling than the process of choosing a pair of frames from Orgreen’s vast range.

Style featured; Chill 29, Priced at £280 - available from The Eye Company: 020 7434 0988

http://www.orgreen.dk

Fred Perry Celebrates 100 Years

2010-03-03T09:14:00.000Z

In celebration of the now 100-year-old quintessentially British brand, Oki Ni has launched a Fred Perry archive – an extensive personal collection of Fred Perry clothing and related memorabilia including a signed piece from the very first collaboration with Paul Weller, a Sixties inspired COMME des GARCONS track top and a 1964 edition of The Sunday Times, iconic for Mods the world over.

http://www.oki-ni.com

MENSWEAR DAY London Fashion Week // Reviews

2010-02-26T10:10:00.000Z

There’s a restless spirit at Number One Savile Row judging by the magpie tendencies of Gieves designer Frederik Willems. Rather than settle for a recognisably British look the collection had an international feel, with influences ranging from ultra-modern RAF Simons-style short duo-tone jackets to Fifties Havana in the form of elaborate printed silk shirts.

Eye-catching wine-coloured suits, with strong shoulders, were as close as Gieves & Hawkes got to classic tailoring. The standout pieces were a dandyish cream-coloured double-breasted over coat and a pair of low slung pleated leather trousers that were a major declaration that Gieves’ needn’t be constrained by its Savile Row origins.

http://www.gievesandhawkes.com

MENSWEAR DAY London Fashion Week // Reviews

2010-02-25T20:24:00.001Z

TIM SOAR

The menswear designer showcased a collection that showed just how to execute signature luxury finishing, more likely to been seen at the likes of Lanvin in Paris than on the runways of London's dedicated menswear day.

Tim Soar marked his confident design territory with a condensed yet perfectly concise 14 look collection entitled "Reassembly Of Past Things - Handsome", the starting point of which being a late Victorian dinner suit twisted with Tim Soars personal 70s style, reminding us of what gentlemanly dressing used to be like way back when, and just how it should be in 2010. The collection was a well thought-out mix of boxy wool jackets - one of which displaying vintage-esq leather cuffs - over-wash blue denim becoming almost acid white, electric blue and salt and pepper knitwear, a secret sports jacket creeping into the show helping maintain the Tim Soar sports-lux DNA we have come to love.

Standout pieces included the sheer silk shirting, optioned in a crew-neck finish and with bib-front (a new must for AW10). No Tim Soar collection would be complete without a touch of leather seen lightly applied as applique to the knitwear. The colour palette was relatively sombre in black, camel, greys and vintage cream with the play on texture and fabric being the defining detail of Mr Soars continually impecaable collection.

http://www.soar-london.com

MENSWEAR DAY London Fashion Week // Reviews

2010-02-24T20:16:00.005Z

Carolyn Massey

Inspired by ‘a body of military patterns sourced from an anonymous donor’ Massey takes military to the next level for AW10, including elbow patches and epaulettes on fine rib knits, military inspired jackets with round brass buttons and sturdy utility pockets. Delicate hand-drawn prints were introduced for the first time, on shirts, whilst smudgy stripes in grey appeared on casual t-shirts.

It was the colour palette that was the surprising highlight, eschewing military khaki and the traditional red/navy/gold connotations the reference usually bring to mind, Massey instead opted for light putty shades, including pinks and nudes, which were tempered with shades of grey and matt black, creating an almost nostalgic, vintage feel to some of the pieces. Boxy leather tunics were worn over knits of the finest gauge, textured squares with a delicate sheen were the perfect complement to the luxury fabric. The almost sparkly knit appeared again on an all in one grey jumpsuit, a garment certainly not designed for the faint-hearted.

Layers were fastened with sharply shiny brooches, which recalled medals and badges, designed by Hannah Martin, whilst a collaboration with Tabio (the Japanese sock specialist) saw large fishnet socks worn under slim cropped trousers. This attention to detail further distanced the collection from its grounding in military, but Massey’s skill allowed her to subtly recall traditional motifs, but in a fresh and contemporary way.

http://www.carolynmassey.com/

http://www.fashion156.com

MENSWEAR DAY London Fashion Week // Reviews

2010-02-24T20:02:00.002Z

WINTLE

The show notes described a strong preppy influence on the Jsen Wintle’s collection, which was hard to square with his usual angular aesthetic, but as the show opened with odd (as in non-matching) jackets paired with trousers the collegiate influence was clear. This was preppy style expressed in a sophisticated way with long boxy jackets, rather than the usual brightly coloured polo shirts.

However, the hip-hugging slacks, which puddled around the ankles, were less successful than the jackets. Wintle’s use of colour, in the form of green suits, fawn double-breasted jackets and cream blazers, was adept and he made the shapes his own with unfamiliar lapel shapes, blazers cut as short as mess jackets and futuristic slash pockets cut along horizontal seams. Jsen truly took us back to the future.

http://www.wintle-man.com/

PETROU\MAN FW 2010-11 Collection

2010-02-16T23:30:00.002Z

The seasonal return of PETROU/MAN appeared on our radar whilst in New York for Fashion Week - a collection designed by Nicholas Petrou and styled by Robbie Spencer (menswear editor at Dazed & Confused), was presented at Drive Studios.

The collection, a more tonal and sophomore affair, ratained the technical tailored sports-lux feel we have come to love with PATROU, whilst improving on construction and keeping inline a scattering of signature prints - giving a new take to tie-dye and even hand dyed tartan.

Unusual fabrics, hand detailing in the embroidered shirts and the light use of fur made for a nomad inspired collection - we especially enjoyed the head pieces and customised footwear. This is a collection which seems to be pushed further in the right direction with each passing season - a talent is before us Gentry readers so sit up and take note.

http://www.petrouman.com

Alexander McQueen

2010-02-11T15:36:00.003Z

Mr Gentry is not a place for tragic news stories, but today we all heard the tragic news that British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead after taking his own life.

It begs the question of how fragile we are, and how our industry is so demanding, exhilarating and yet so damming pressures of each season to put out a collection to the gaze of the world's media whilst putting yourself on the line too - we are surrounded by a need for immense change and pushed for drastic finales.

At only 40 years old Lee McQueen was a true original - an irreplaceable visionary creative that the world will be miss, and continue to wonder what would have come next.

The Out-Of-Towners

2010-02-03T09:00:00.001Z

Believe it or not Gentry followers, there is a world of fashion retail to be unearthed outside our fair capitals walls, and here are a selected few:

Bespoke Boutique, Norwich: Co- owned by friends Sean Ward and David Holland, Bespoke Boutique is a relative newcomer, having only launched in summer 2007. Bringing a fresh take on British and European style, they misx up rock ‘n’ roll inspired couture, modern tailoring and matching footwear, as well as accessories. Top-selling brands of the moment include Cheap Mondays and April 77, whilst a more niche audience is catered for with a limited edition Raf Simons collection for Fred Perry.
18B Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EL. 01603 76 66 11. www.bespokeboutique.com

Hip, Leeds: With a stellar reputation in the city, Hip has quickly established itself as the clothing outlet of choice for the Leeds creative set. Doing the tried and tested things well, you can expect Levi Vintage, Barbour and Engineered Garments from the US.
9 & 14 Thorntons Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LQ. 0113 242 4617. www.hipleeds.com

Oi Polloi, Manchester: Home to an extensive variety of must-have labels, including the ever popular full clothing range from APC and hand-dyed Edwin jeans, this has long been a favourite for clued up men in Manchester. For something a little different, you can pick up a pair of Superga super-classic canvas tennis shoes in a variety of colours.
70 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG. 0161 831 7870; www.oipolloi.com

Aitor Throup x England Kit Sneak-Peak!

2010-02-01T09:00:00.001Z

Not being a fan of the game they call football, i always find the fanfare surrounding a new kit astoundingly surprising. However the time it gets interesting, for me, is when a certain Aitor Throup, graduate of the Royal college of art , gets involved.

Famed for his ability for reinterpreting the form of the human body and translating this into carefully engineered garments, he has consulted and worked with the likes of Levis, Stone Island, CP company and even high street wonder TopShop.

Aitor, appointed creative consultant to Umbro in 2008, designed the new look england kit last year entitled "Tailored for England" for which he worked with famed Islington tailor Charlie Allen. This time round, only Throup worked with Umbro to apply his relatively unique approach to contemporary tailoring, constructing the kit around a "unique 3D form, designed for player movement specific to the game of football" - the result is not yet available to see but is apparently form-fitting and performance driven.

I'm not sure whether this kit will become a style icon in the circles of fashion, but i'm sure it will be an innovation masterpiece adored by football fans the world over.

The new away kit will go on-sale March 3rd 2010 and will be revealed shortly before then.

http://www.aitorthroup.com

http://www.umbro.com

The Beginning of Gentry Style Bites // Mismo ‘Boston’ Wrinkle Leather Collection

2010-01-28T09:00:00.000Z

Starting today there will be Gentry Style Bites - a quick fix, if you like, of Gentry style praise for a chosen brand and its worthy product - first up is a sneak peak into the beautifully crafted world of Mismo.

Gentry Style Bite:

Whom? Mismo

What? Maker of fine accessories for gentlemanly folk.

Which? All styles from the shopper and document carrier to the duffle bag.

Why so special? This collection uses full grain ‘wrinkle’ leather specially made for the brand.

Available When? Right about now but limited to 1oo per style worldwide

How Much? £350 - £650

From Where? http://www.mismo.dk

Studio D’Artisan 30th Anniversary

2010-01-27T09:11:00.002Z

Here at Gentry Towers we just adore a celebration of heritage and pain staking yesteryear techniques of producing garments, and so i introduce to you Studio D’Artisan. Founded in a tiny workshop in the traditional cotton weaving area of Okayama prefecture, Studio D’Artisan are celebrating their 30th Anniversary in true style with the release of their 30th Edition jeans.

The brand boasts being stocked at fine establishments such as Self Edge in New York and at the very relevant style emporium PRESENT, based in east London . The 30th Edition jeans are made from 17oz Japanese selvedge denim and dyed with Natural Indigo, the "Kase Zome" dyeing technique is repeated up to 30 times on each of the 200 limited pairs which have been produced, which provides the deep colour. Other refined features include "Tri-colour selvedge intertwined with gold Lame, triple needle dual-colour chain stitching", and pocket bags lined with the 30th Anniversary Jacquard lining.

But its not all denim and indigo dyeing, also available as part of the 'Big 30' offering is the premium grade organic cotton jumper limited to only 180 pieces, each produced using the vintage loopwheel process (a technique Nike use on their premium sportswear produced in Japan) to achieve an extremely soft garment.

Available at www.superdenim.co.uk

Dunhill AW10 Collection

2010-01-26T09:12:00.007Z

The revival of Dunhill is well into its third season and for AW10 the Dunhill man is a suited and booted style chameleon: he’s studious, an explorer, enjoys out doors-y sports and isn’t afraid of dressing appropriately for black tie events.

Kim Jones' third collection for Dunhill looked at exploration, travel and adventure undertaken by Clement Court (general manager of Dunhill’s Rue de la Paix store), and Setsuji Wada (Japanese ‘Maki-e’ lacquer artist) for inspiration. “It is always about a maverick with dunhill, said Kim, ‘and when I found out about Clement Court trekking across Europe and Asia in 1930, taking the Trans-Siberian railway, and saw the detailed diary he kept with photographs, he became the focus and the maverick figure to personify this dunhill collection.”

A profoundly important collection which should be watched, taken in and digested for any man worth his style salt!

http://www.dunhill.com/

Bill Amberg X Jonnie Walker

2010-01-25T10:30:00.007Z

Bill Amberg, one of our most respected accessories designers, has par-taken in a most covetable collaboration with ultra-premium whisky Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

The pairing sees Amberg creating a limited edition branded carry case and weekend bag in beautiful dark blue oil-toned leather. It features adjustable belted-buckle handles, a shoulder strap and a perfectly formed luggage tag just in case (horror of horrors) you manage to lose this brilliant little combo whilst on your travels.

Available at Selfridges, Harrods and www.thewhis kyexchange.com this little pair will set you back £1,200, pricy yes but crack open the whisky whilst you hand over your credit card and you wont feel a thing.

http://www.billamberg.com/

Fueled With A "Stupid" Idea

2010-01-22T09:12:00.005Z

Diesel, like most of us, have decided that 2010 is the time to start all fresh with the appointment of its new artistic director.

This wacky yet genus campaign is the brain child of French publisher and founder of trend magazine WAD, Bruno Collin, who was also former editor in for Sportswear International and is known to be a well respected communication expert; he's clearly been appointed to ensure that Diesel continues to be one of the world’s most innovative brands. The new Diesel brand communication ‘Be Stupid’ will launch with a starting place in Berlin and travel across the world from February onwards with activities of traditional and alternative media, in-store actions and guerrilla stunts bringing the campaign’s to life! With ‘Being stupid’ Diesel communicates more than a traditional advertising campaign, and wants to celebrate Diesel’s brave and edgy spirit.

“More than ever, I want Diesel to express its DNA in the most up-to-date and innovative ways,” says Renzo Rosso, President and founder. “The world of fashion has radically changed therefore also the creative process has to follow. Innovative brands should be managed like magazines – a strong, unique identity with constant external input and collaborations that suit the project at hand.”

Check out the video online at http://www.diesel.com

Thom Browne + Moncler Gamme Bleu SS/2010

2010-01-21T13:39:00.001Z

Okay, heres a simple sum of design collision between Moncler, the Italian brand best known for its luxury puffa jackets in ultra light fabrics, who have previously collaborated with Giambattista Valli, Comme des Garcons and Balenciaga, is now fusing with progressive American design talent Mr Thom Browne.

The collection features simple color schemes of navy, gray, white, and black, peppered with versions of Browne’s trademarked gray flannel, including a tone-on-tone camouflage pattern. 3-button suiting, school boy shorts, full on tuxedo tails, even 3/4 leg gaiters, all filled and quilted in Moncler down insulation. The Moncler Gamme Bleu Collection by Thom Browne will arrive in specialty boutiques towards the 3rd quarter of this year.

If you are unaware of Thom Browne, or Moncler i suggest a cold shower followed by a visit to your nearest google search engine to familiarise yourself with both... or better yet click below and be visually informed!

http://www.thombrowne.com
http://www.moncler.it

Poppin-Up with Original Penguin

2010-01-21T09:12:00.001Z

Bread & Butter, not the delicious pudding your grandmother used to make you or the world wide pre-dinner hunger clencher, i'm talking about the trade show known for its more commercial, urban and denim-wear brands, the power brands such as Levis, G-Star RAW, Adidas, GUESS and even CK Calvin Klien.

However one brand which is huge in the states and quite recognisable around the UK and Europe is Original Penguin, the classic preppy apparel provider for those of a more relaxed style. They have opened up their first Pop-up store in Berlin this week just in time to hit the thousands of international travelers in town for the trading festivities.

The store, located in the “Mitte” a very stylist and culturally rich area of Berlin and is a linkup with the store everyone should have heard about - Trüffelschwein, who's brand stockist list (including YMC, Paul & Joe, Folk) keeps true to the cool of Berlin.

The store will retail select pieces from the current AW09 collection, and will have the brands famous Earl polo in a selection of special colours for the holiday season including; Black & Yellow, Blue & Orange and White & Red.

For those of you who are not able to get out to Berlin, you can either buy online at ASOS.com or visit the London store located in Covent Garden.

Solo Show for TopMan

2010-01-20T16:39:00.004Z

This London Fashion Week is the 5th anniversary of MAN, and will be a first since its conception in 2005 that Topman Design will be showcasing its AW10 collection as a solo show.

MAN was founded to find and nurture the new wave of british talent and has been a success story, helping not only support young brands but give them a chance of a retail outlet through the flag ship TopMan store, Oxford Circus London. “Our decision to show apart from MAN this season has been welcomed by both the MAN and the Menswear Panel who collectively agree that it is the right time for us. We have established a consistent design ethic and have a good following which gives us the confidence we need to move on and allow MAN to continue to nurture new young talent which is after all it’s purpose," said Gordon Richardson, Design Director for Topman.

Last season saw the launch of British Fashion Council’s NewGen Men Award to which Topman remains the sole sponsor and along with the new emerging talent seen each season, the Topman Design collections have evolved season afetr season under the Creative Direction of Alister Mackie - Fashion Director for AnOther Man and Topman Design Director himself Gordon Richardson, plus a little help from the in-house design team.

Both Topman Design and MAN will be part of the second official full day of on schedule LFW menswear. Topman Design will present its collection at 4.30pm on Wednesday 24th February 2010.

To buy pieces from the current collection, click online at http://www.topman.com/

TIM SOAR // Extended Preview to AW10

2010-01-20T09:14:00.012Z

We haven't finished with Milan or Paris yet, but These are the images we have been waiting for from designer Tim Soar, before his show at February's London Fashion Week. They are a clear indication that Aw10 is already looking slick and well constructed even before LFW kicks off!

http://www.soar-london.com/

Milan Fashion Week : David Shrigley’s Pringle Video

2010-01-19T21:49:00.002Z

With Milan fashion week in full swing, yesterday’s Pringle of Scotland menswear show was a clear highlight for most, opening with a video of learning made great by artist David Shrigley, who last year designed a T-shirt line for the brand. With a little bit of historic help from Pringle HQ and a lot of humor, this video is the only way to be taught the road of producing knitwear...

David Shrigley for Pringle from esquireuk on Vimeo.

Seeing "Red" with Wrangler Spring/Summer 2010 Campaign

2010-01-18T09:12:00.001Z

Wrangler, the famous denim brand from the american mid west has produced the latest installment of their “We Are Animals” campaign for Spring/Summer 2010. The campaign, conceived by Fred & Farid Paris, and by Jeff Burton, is certainly a bold statement for the brand even if a little reminiscent of the NIKE football campaign 6 or so months ago - it showcases a classic red dust which is supposed to be symbolism for; love, passion, energy, warmth, life and liberation.

http://www.wrangler.com

Wonderful Day at the Matches...

2010-01-15T10:00:00.000Z

The new year brings with it the perils of having a mid-month zero bank balance and 2 weeks left until the first of 2010's wages land within our overdrawn grasp. Most of us try and stop the spending sprees spilling over from December, attempt to stay in and save! save! save! Well Save was never a work i felt conformable with, and even though I'm all for the wiser folk amongst us trying incorporate this word into their lives, my wondering eye spies the online sales which are taking place, its then just a slippery slope into the "add to basket" button and a click away from the purchase 'shopping cart' button where the magic begins.

Case in point is the Matches online sale of last seasons goodies, which i find hard to believe were missed by the full price shopper before christmas?! First up is the LOT-78 leather jacket, This chef style high-neck jacket gives an original, utilty feel to the leather outerwear trend and is almost half its original price down from £728, now £428. Layer underneath a cashmere t-shirt from the creative team at Commonwealth which costs £118, was £278!

Next inline is the uber denim brand PRPS, the wash is dark and highlighted with some areas of distress to add a smart lightly rock infused feel - these are the best Japanese denim on the block which were £308 and are now £218. Slip on the sleek black GUCCI brogues which are the height of polished sophistication with a fantastic buckle detail, down from £370 to £228.

Finish off belt up with the printed suede belt by YSL which will contrast with the LOT-78 jacket and add a touch of formal texture, down from £168 to £98.

Christophe Lemaire Spring/Summer 2010

2010-01-13T07:00:00.000Z

The Fashionisto gives Mr Gentry their prespective on the Spring/Summer 2010 collection from Christophe Lemaire. “Dressed in a serene color palette of whites, creams and blues, Christophe Lemaire refines his minimalist vision for the spring season. Ushering in a close-fitted, yet relaxed range, Lemaire continues the fusion of Western and Chinese design ideas that see to the construction of simple functional pieces. Finally, by concealing select buttons and zippers, a sleek finish is maintained with overall silhouettes that are representative of the modern man who desires both chic styling and practicality.”

http://www.christophelemaire.com/

http://thefashionisto.com/

Backpacking with Louis Vuitton

2010-01-12T19:37:00.001Z

Never one to go backpacking across the globe when my university years were over, I somehow felt a tad left out from never owning a rucksack or knowing what it must have been like to haul your belongings across various cities for months on end. This feeling did not last long of course, especially when i saw the selection of backpacks which were student standard for this type of 'adventure' - JanSport anyone? I think not.

However, to my pleasure, an honorable rucksack has arisen in the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. If you are not looking for something technical and just want a nice looking premium backpack, you might want to check these out. They come in the standard Louis leather and even Ostrich this season, and in a choice of only 2 colours making the decision process a lot easier.

My advice to any like minded people such as myself, would be to make the wise choice of the Ostrich skin which in years to come it will age to perfection and you can tell your grand children how you backpacked your worldly belongings across many cities in pure luxury style... even if it is from Bond Street to 5th avenue and back again.

http://www.louisvuitton.com/

Edwin x Pendleton Woolen Mills // Collaboration Preview

2010-01-11T18:18:00.000Z

EDWIN have formed what can only be described as a hearty and beautiful alliance with the one and only Pendleton. The Pendleton Woolen Mill, located in Oregon, celebrated their 100th Birthday last year yet despite its old age they continue to be at the forefront of style and the supreme provider of woolen garments from shirting and jackets to their legendary blankets.

The Edwin x Pendleton Woolen Mills shirt is a special project with limited run of 300 pieces. A special and exclusive colour way using japanese Kaihara denim fabric detailing has been utilised. These two attention-to-detail clothing producers have collided to provide us with a plait shirt of neat style.

This is a special preview as the shirt will not be available to buy until July 2010 - however, lusting for a few months will only make you want it more.

http://www.edwin-europe.com/

FABRIS LANE X JAMES LONG

2010-01-08T18:47:00.003Z

James Long is a name on many menswear corners, making a name for himself from his MAN Topman collection and Fashion East involvements, he's the current darling of the young London menswear scene and has now re focused his sights for a second time to pair up with Fabris Lane, the covetable eyewear label for the second time.

They are releasing a range of sunglasses which are in military greens, black and metallic leather. Playing with the aviator shape with camouflage and foiled leather in protective layers, the unique metal-framed glasses combined with two-tone lenses are evidence of Long's creativity combined with Fabris Lane's quality craftsmanship.

http://www.jameslonguk.com/

+J at Uniqlo // part deux!

2010-01-07T17:39:00.034Z

Today heralds the first of the new seasons collection moments going into store for 2010 with the second collection of +J, Uniqlo’s Jil Sander designed range going on sale. The campaign is all over London's Oxford Circus tube station and every piece featured in the posters look to be a delightful head-to-toe must have. Simple lines with classically twisted details and signature sharp tailoring - this is compulsory shopping... see you in there.

http://www.uniqlo.com/

TIM SOAR // Preview to AW10

2010-01-05T18:25:00.001Z

The London based designer teases us with preview of his forthcoming AW10 collection, which shall be shown at London Fashion Week in February this year. The collection is interestingly entitled 'Reassembly Of Past Things - Handsome'.... intrigued doesn't even come close...

http://www.soar-london.com/

Closed For The Holidays : Back On The 4th!

2009-12-24T09:32:00.002Z

I must embrace the festive season, but shall return with prompt and informed style in the new year!

Introducing : Martyn Bal

2009-12-23T09:31:00.003Z

If a man is known by the company he keeps - and the companies that retain his services - then Martyn Bal deserves to be more widely recognised. Having completed an MA at London's Royal College of Art in 2000, the young designer was instantly recruited to assist Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme, helping to make the label arguably the most influential in early Noughties menswear. Bal followed that plum first job with stints as creative director and design consultant at Verri Uomo and Versace respectively before being hired by Burberry as menswear design director. (Burberry Prorsum autumn/winter 2007 was his last collection.)

Bal's constructivist (and unsurprisingly sharp) design ethic is tempered by a certain fluidity of movement and softening details such as raglan sleeves, which filter into his more relaxed spring/summer 2010 capsule collection, featuring lightweight trenches and leathers. His muse for S/S 2010 is musician Erik Hassle, a Swedish singer/songwriter who, although not widely recognised outside his Scandinavian homeland, has recently been signed by Island Records. (His single Pieces is out on 10 February 2010.) Promisingly, the campaign was shot at Knebworth House, which in the past has played host to - or rather been played by - the Rolling Stones.

www.martynbal.com

Dinning Under the Divine

2009-12-21T09:24:00.001Z

St Paul’s Cathedral has been garnering high praise of late, but not (at least as far as we’re aware) for anything liturgical. The object of this newfound adulation is the excellent restaurant in the crypt.

While i struggled slightly to find it (as you’re facing the main door, head left around the building to the discreet entrance), once inside the no-nonsense space you will be in excellent hands.

Its Christmas menu is thoughtfully presented – although a trad dinner of roast goose with bread sauce and Brussels takes the lead role, there are also excellent options such as braised shin of venison or pork belly (with possibly London’s best crackling) for those who have already overdosed on turkey, etc.

Puddings, such as gingerbread and honey ice sandwich, should not be missed. It’s anything but ostentatious: the ingredients have been lovingly selected, are well presented, and details like sides of “forgotten veg” (East Anglian rampart brussel sprouts & chantenay carrots) add extra interest. An excellent addition to east London dining. The Restaurant At St Paul’s,

www.restaurantatstpauls.co.uk

Umbro Archive Inspired Collection

2009-12-18T01:26:00.003Z

The on-pitch power house brand Umbro, has released a sportswear collection inspired by Football and English culture which is the amalgamation of over 85 years of referencing from the Umbro print archives, with style inspirations taken from sport, music and art. The collection offers retro graphic tees featuring prints influenced from the Mancunian music scene, vintage advertising and the ever famous classic tracksuit, depicted in a fun line of male joggers!

The collection is available now launched exclusively with House of Fraser.

http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/

Smythson Lippiatt folder

2009-12-16T09:00:00.001Z

Encased in luxurious dark brown Mara calf leather, inside and out, and housing leather pockets with nubuck lining, this Smythson Lippiatt folder will certainly look more sophisticated under your arm than that Ryman document wallet. It comes complete with one A4 pad of pale blue featherweight paper, a gilt pencil, and plain Kings correspondence cards and envelopes. £415

http://www.smythson.com

Casting A Sunspel

2009-12-14T10:10:00.000Z

Despite producing its wares in the same Derbyshire factory for the last 150 years, t-shirt and underwear specialist Sunspel – official supplier of James Bond’s very own undergarments no less – has taken the modernist view of making its entire collection available online via its new website, which for us ensures we are able to furnish our bottom draws with knitted delights!

http://www.sunspel.com/

Nike Sportswear X Ben Drury Air Max Current

2009-12-11T23:29:00.001Z

Nike Sportswear have released another killer collaboration - the Air Max Current sneaker created in partnership with British designer, Ben Drury,who has worked extensively in the music industry, creating album artwork for the likes of Turin and Dizzee Rascal amongst others. Nike, a brand which has so many iconic products all under the mighty Swoosh, have taken the Air Max 90 and given it the updated treatment.

With a colour combination of jet black and electric blue the details of Drury's Air Max 90 Current reflects his supposed dual inspiration of town and country. Featuring metal D-rings; bright urban light laces and technical fabrics guaranteed from Nike Sportswear, gives this shoe the desirability for...

The Nike Air Max Current will be available exclusively from Nike Sportswear at 1948 Store, Batemans Row, Shoreditch, London from today , 11th December, 2009.

www.nikesportswear.com/1948

Transport Timepieces from TRIWA

2009-12-08T20:50:00.005Z

Todays rat-race of brand messaging means having a unique way of supplying a product with a voice is always a tricky task, and requires a brand to strive for 'the next level' of consumer messaging.

Welcome then, to the simplistic genius of TRIWA - the Italian based watch maker who decided to showcase their sartorially correct and colourful timepieces through the transport system of Stockholm! The hand grips in all inner city buses have been replaced with pictures of their timepieces, showcasing a variety of styles in rainbow colours suiting any day of the week!

This promotional exercise is of course utterly useless for actually telling the time, but perfectly frustrating enough to ensure you stop off at the nearest TRIWA retail outlet to buy one!

Luckily for us the range starts from £55 and are all available online from http://www.triwa.com

A French SixPack

2009-12-07T08:00:00.006Z

A site full of parisian promise holds the key to a much needed gap filler in the jersey-wear, sweaters and t-shirt apparel market. Holding designs that separate them them from the everyday scope of apparel available out there right now, SixPack is an online store which spreads across many towns, countries and continents collecting and recruiting the best creatives to take part in design collaboration.

Take the 'General' t-shirt by Todd James for example, the internationally recognised artist flexes his military artistic passion through this tee (and 2 other designs) with a rich display of medals and a trusty sword, whilst graphic designer Kimou Meyer aka Grotesk from Sweden provides straight-up impact-full garments through simplistic witty font, seen below in the 'Always Remember To Thank' sweater.

The page space of sixpack.fr is extensive, with over 40 artists to choose from and surprisingly light on your wallet for the recessionary season - this means click on and spend! spend! spend!

http://www.sixpack.fr/

Studio D'artisan Knows How To Chambray

2009-12-03T01:05:00.006Z

High quaility chambray does seem to come and go each season from various brands, whom i believe to not know how to distinguish or define the word 'quality', especially when they are flogging some upscale Primark-esque shirt with little or no idea for what quaility craftmanship truly is!

Studio D'artisan however, have produced a fine specimen of Salvage cotton shirting, unquestionable in quality and dyed in an intense indigo wash, it gives me feelings of pleasure even when i see the £165 price tag!

Made in japan, the land of Salvage, it has classic workman pockets, a hidden button down collar and a perfect detail of ye olde chain-stitching (a stitch with a series of loops that lay on the fabric forming a loose style line dating back to the 1800's) this makes for a Gentry Style must have which will provide you with an assured lifetime of style.

Priced £165 and available now from - www.superdenim.co.uk

Hentsch Man Pop's Up!

2009-12-02T10:20:00.004Z

Pop up stores seem to be a continued trend this season, and the latest temporary boutique to open is by menswear brand Hentsch Man, which is open now for business for one month only, located in the Princes Arcade off Jermyn Street London.

The brand started up with the aim of producing simple, elegant and wearable menswear, which the perfect white shirt being their start base classic but soon diversified into everything from perfectly tailored trousers, quirky weekend bags and even authentic venetian slippers.

With brand values of simplicity and functionality we salute you Hentsch Man for making our choices easy with your simplistic no-compromise way about designing for the modern man.

The store will be open from 10am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday until December 23rd so get a skate on down to store now!

www.hentschman.com/

Ben Sherman Arrive On Savile Row

2009-11-30T09:11:00.002Z

Ben Sherman, a brand with a rich heritage firmly placed in Mod culture (my father having been a Mod wore their shirts proudly in his youth as a young twenty something Mod) has sadly never really found a connection with my personal style in any influential way, its not a brand i have followed or would look to delve into...until they arrived on Savile Row last month in a surprise move for a high street brand.

The store, located on the latter end of the 'Row' across from Kilgour and a stones throw from Abercrombie & Fitch (another, more unexpected high street name to enter the area a few years ago to a mass of controversy), is an impressive move for the brand with equally impressive interior credentials.

Taking a visit to the store i saw how the windows are simple yet inspired to stay within the confinements of true Savile Row 'trading standards' welcoming you inside to what feels like a private gentleman's club. The walls have concealed rails behind them holding stock of the new premium collection ready-to-wear tailoring, whilst the interior space houses the specially designed accessories and vast assortment of ties and shirting. Alongside these pieces sits the crucially important made-to-measure service offered with two blocks, forming the basis of the Ben Sherman Savile Row aesthetic. These are the Kings and Camden fits, epitomising the modern day mod; slim line, clean cut and ultra sharp with subtly precise detailing ranging from the specially designed linings to the Corozo nut buttons!

The range is a testament to a well thought about move into the area where Britans suiting heritage was formed and continues to be upheld today. Further more, the prices have certainly been a celver thinking point for the brand with accessibility being achieved on many levels; with the ready-to-wear suiting being offered at £350 - £550, and the made-to-measure service priced at £850 upwards - ready in only 4-6 weeks of taking your inner leg measurements!

http://www.bensherman.com/

http://www.benshermanpresents.com/savile-row/

Twit-Twoo Mr Gentry's Re-commencement on Twitter!

2009-11-28T13:46:00.004Z

Mr Gentry has re-commenced on the social media network they call Twitter and shall be tweeting to the masses each day with new posts and style news to the masses

Follow Style Gentry now at http://twitter.com/StyleGentry

FARAH Vintage Knitted Salvation!

2009-11-27T09:15:00.006Z

The reputation of the chunky shawl-collared cardigan has undergone a remarkable rehabilitation in recent years. Having once typified naff Seventies style, as worn by David Starsky in Starsky & Hutch, everyone from designer cashmere brands to high street chains is selling a version this winter.
However, knitwear is a vital component to the winter wardrobe so what better way to wear a piece than to choose a brand which can provide you with not only style but a vast heritage to back it up? Well thats exactly what FARAH Vintage have managed to do in their AW09 offering. The go-to brand of casualwear are currently celebrating their 90th Anniversary year and have a perfect selection of chunky shawl-collared cardigans in their Aw09 range, providing us with a credible outlet for this opinion dividing style choice.
The 'Fairfax' Shawl cardigan (pictured above) is aptly priced at £90

Available now from http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

www.farah.co.uk

Tom Ford "A Single Man" Movie

2009-11-26T00:53:00.008Z

With Gay Drama, Tom Ford Makes Foray Into Film!

After decades in the world of runways and reams of fabric, Tom Ford will soon release his first work in the world of film. Entitled "A Single Man" and adapted from the British novel by Christopher Isherwood, it stars Colin Firth and Julian Moore and is a pure expression of his artistry and visually creative ability. We Love!

Click link for trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tCxRO67gyk

Heritage & Style from PENFIELD USA

2009-11-24T22:04:00.008Z

Winter time is personally my favorite time for dressing, however it can be (for some) a double edged sward of style choice nightmare. On the one side it can be months of unkind-to-clothes weather, endless trek's on public transport where your freezing one minute and hitting early male-menopause sweats the next, to having 20 pairs of shoes, boots and trainers which never seem to quite work in the style 'vs' weather saga!

On the less sharper side, its the season of a more muted colour palette, simple layering pieces, a good brogue or winter suede boot and of course the choice of winter jackets; this season seeing the return of the classic camel coat and for the weekend a more relaxed statement contained in the "Puffa" jacket.

For this we require a brand which not only has more than 5 wearable styles in its collection, but has the all important heritage needed to back up a style classic. Mr Gentry readers I welcome you meet the brand known simply as Penfield.

Established in Massachusetts in 1975, Penﬁeld have built a reputation for making the highest quality down-ﬁlled jackets, clearly designed to stand up-to the demands of not only the founding hard weather lands of New England's climate but the ever increasing unpredictable climate demands of England itself! Made with premium 80/20 goose down (80% down, 20% feather) and naturally breathable Teflon, these jackets go a long way to help ease the winter months of uncomfortable dressing.

Available from:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/

http://www.selfridges.com/

The A-Z of fragrance

2009-11-16T23:13:00.004Z

Luca Turin, has, with his wife and co-author Tina Sanchez, just published the paperback edition of his revered guide to perfume and aftershave. It’s not easy to explain why a book that basically just reviews hundreds of fragrances is so good, but believe me, it is.

Partly it’s because Turin and Sanchez have approached an apparently gruelling task in such a free-spirited and romantic way, and partly because it’s intriguing to look up their review of one’s own favorites.Needless to say the authors’ opinions aren’t ‘right’, anymore than a music critic’s opinion is ‘right’, but their extraordinary knowledge means that, at the very least, they explain a fragrance’s historical and olfactive context. Combined with the advice given in some essays at the front of the book about how to choose an aftershave this is both a practical guide and a charming flight of fancy.

Perfumes by Luca Turin and Tina Sanchez, £12.99 (www.perfumestheguide.com)

Y-3 Sporting Luxury

2009-11-12T09:12:00.002Z

The Y-3 Sport Luxury line has just been launched in the UK as the perfect combination of luxury and sport. Exclusive for Men, the collection called 'Sport Luxury' develops elegant accessory silhouettes to go hand in hand with exclusive, sumptuous materials. The Sport Lux line consists of a variety of shapes, featuring men's handbags and a light new version of the Messenger. The range offers trims in firm and soft, smooth leather paired with slightly cracked leather or printed wool.

The collection will be stocked at Selfridges and the Y-3 Manchester store, as well as smaller stores across the UK.

Gucci Is App'in...

2009-11-08T09:20:00.001Z

Gucci aren’t the most obvious brand to be launching an iphone app but that is what they have done, getting creative director Frida Giannini and Mark Ronson to collaborate on the content. Features include a virtual turntable which allows you to mix your existing tracks, a playlist picked out by Ronson, a digest of recommended bars and restaurants in 20 cities and updates on the limited-edition collection of the Gucci/Ronson trainer project. And it’s free as well.

Available at www.itunes.com/appstore

Danish Hide!

2009-11-04T12:00:00.001Z

Despite all the inroads men’s fashion has made in recent years, a decent business-like day bag is still hard to come by. Danish bag makers Mismo recognised this fact, prompting co-founder Alexander Bach to create this canvas briefcase as an antidote to the ‘sexless and anonymous’ briefcases that permeate the workplace. Made with the same canvas used by Hermes and Louis Vuitton and full grain leather handles, there are separate compartments inside to handle your laptop, mobile and business cards.

Available from Tres Bien and Oki-Ni from mid-November

http://www.mismo.dk/

Knightsbridge Revamp!

2009-10-30T09:30:00.003Z

Gentry followers, a moment of your time please to tell you that Harrods newly redesigned and refurbished menswear department opens tomorrow (that’s Saturday 31st October) and to mark the occasion, the first 300 people to spend over £50 will go home with a complimentary goody bag including ample bits of goody-ness from the likes of Acqua di Parma and Bond No.9. There’ll also be some in-store exclusives on the day.

http://www.harrods.com/harrodsstore/

BESPOKEN, Passion For The Details...

2009-10-27T23:26:00.004Z

Gentry followers , only a few words are needed to introduce you to the wondrous world of British label Bespoken. By the name you would be forgiven to presume that the shirting they produce is bespoke, but in-fact it is ready to wear with a emphasis on high quality fabrics, classic British cuts and interesting detailing. The video below shows why its very much worth paying the £120 price tag for a crisp hand pressed shirt.

Available at Harrods http://www.harrods.com

Lee Jeans Celebrate a 120 Years Under Their Belt!

2009-10-20T09:00:00.002+01:00

This year Lee celebrate their 120th anniversary in the denim business with a collection based on some of the original pieces that made their name. With 120 years under their belts, they have plenty to draw upon for inspiration. For starters there's the Union all jacket, created when Henry David Lee's chauffeur complained that his clothes were getting dirty when fixing his car. Mr Lee's response was to attach a denim jacket to dungarees, creating the Union all.

Lee have gone back through their archives, including old adverts (see the main image) and trawled denim markets in the American midwest (yes, they actually exist) looking for early examples of Lee jeans. The new collection is based on the cut and fit of the denim that they found and will include jeans with a commemorative button and leather patch featuring the year Lee was founded, 1889, denim jackets and check shirts, all pictured in the gallery below.

The 120 collection is available now at http://www.lee.com

All rise for the Snood!

2009-10-19T00:14:00.003+01:00

Historically worn as a turban-cum-hood contraption by women in cold climates, the Snood has been enjoying something of a resurgence of late.
Fundamentally an all-in-one scarf, some of us will recall the popularity of the men’s snood back in the Eighties, but at least this is one Wham-era re-hash which doesn’t involve embarrassing body augmentations, sequins or neon embellishments. But with roots in the 7th century, the snood has been an (almost) viable accessory for an entire millennia, so who are we to scoff?
Highly practical, incredibly simple and surprisingly dapper, Burberry championed the trend in their Autumn/Winter 09 collection, producing chunky, thickset snoods in a range of understated shades including grey mélange, black, sand, Bordeaux and Burberry’s (once again acceptable) check.
If you’re ready to get involved, i recommend you try the super-soft cashmere/wool blend – once it’s on, it’s not coming off.
Available from £120 at http://www.burberry.com/

Shiseido's ZEN Fragrance

2009-10-13T22:47:00.003+01:00

It’s a bold step to name a fragrance after a 12th Century school of enlightenment, but Shiseido has never shied from a challenge. As well as being the oldest skincare company in the world (imagine trying to explain the virtues of moisturiser back in 1872), the Japanese outfit can also take credit for introducing the humble ice cream to a nation reared on Manju.
Zen may be the brand’s first scent for men, but with a number of iconic fragrance houses already under its wing (from Issey Miyake to Serge Lutens), it has an enviable talent base to call upon. Consequently this woody aromatic - created by Françoise Caron and Francis Kurkdjian - is able to blend the orthodox (bergamot, violet, patchouli) with the unconventional (Nashi pear, rhododendron) with admirable results.
It’s too early to say whether Zen lives up to the press release’s claim of containing “stress-relieving aromachological ingredients to liberate the modern man from his worries,” but i think it smells just great.
From £42 at Harrods

Nike Sportswear Holiday Capsule with Cassette Playa & Parra

2009-10-09T22:16:00.009+01:00

Nike Sportswear has partnered with design talents Cassette Playa of London and Parra of Amsterdam (a personal favorite of mine after meeting him once on a trip to the red lighted city) challenging them to create their own sports team, the result is the Rivalry capsule collection.

Starting with an updated Air Max with speckled sole, jet-black upper and wing-tipped colour laces, this is not a style statement which all should attempt to pull off lightly - myself included, but i adore this design link-up adding new dimensions on updated collaborations from Nike HQ.

The clothing collection provides a technical artist mix of design brilliance, yet with a poke-fun attitude (see the illustration of a runner in high heels!). Both designers are helped to keep true to the Nike master plan of serious sporting wear supplyed with Nike technical spec fabrics, so quality and performance are assured whatever you decide to in these garments!

Both designers have also produced graphic Tees available in a men's and women's cut, with a classic snapback baseball cap rounding off the collection; one from each designer.

The Cassette Playa TZ Dunk, the Cassette Playa and Parra Destroyer jackets and t-shirts all launch today in Europe. The Cassette Playa and Parra Stadium jackets launch October 30th, Another great collection which shall inspire us to get into sporting style.

Available from Nike Sportswear’s 1948 space, Batemans Row, Shoreditch, London.

Nikesportswear.com/1948

The Desert Shoe? Oh Yes!

2009-10-08T09:00:00.002+01:00

Dearest desert boot, how we love you so! But how we love you even more with the arrival of an innovative low-cut desert boot - so desert shoe maybe?! How the talented designer Hiroshi Takahashi must have gone about re-designing the best of British classic i will never know, but this show will work Croute Shoe will work with smart shorts, tailored of course, but without socks, obviously, and could even work with a a tapered legged jean or chino. I'm sure these Verginia Footwear shoes represent progress, some may disagree, and are a useful alternative to the desert boot. One thing for sure - it shows fashion can have many original evolutions!

Priced at £95, Available from http://www.oipolloi.com/oipolloi/shop/home.php

Hardy Amies ABC of Style

2009-10-06T22:19:00.004+01:00

There aren’t very many books about men’s clothes that are worth reading, but Hardy Amies managed to write two of them. They’re both re-published this autumn, to coincide with the re-launch of the Hardy Amies brand under new ownership, after last year’s well-publicised bankruptcy.ABC of Men’s Fashion is an unerringly entertaining gallop through almost every aspect of men’s appearance. While some of the entries are showing their age - the book was written in 1964 - most remain spot on. The information on offer is a mixture of factual stuff useful to anyone interested in clothes, and Amies’ formidable opinions, for example: “Sandals are hell,” and “All short sleeves look ghastly.” It’s all served in easily digestible, but intelligent, bite size chunks.
Amies’ other book, The Englishman’s Suit is something between a history of the suit and a manifesto for the future of style. Written in 1994 the first part of this endeavor is useful and interesting, while the second is less successful. Because he worked in the world of fashion Amies was unable to get over the idea that men’s clothes ought to ‘progress’, which he believed involved raising the buttoning point on suit jackets until they fastened under the chin – the way Chairman Mao liked them. This major error of judgement can’t help but colour one’s view of Amies’ opinions, which is a shame because 90% of the book is superb.
ABC of Men’s Fashion, £9.99 (V&A Publishing) and The Englishman’s Suit, £10 (Quartet Books) are out now

Plastic Fantastic!

2009-10-05T22:21:00.003+01:00

Even though celebrated British architect Will Alsop recently left his practice to concentrate on his painting, i'm glad to see he can still be coaxed from his garret for the odd design collaboration. The “Daytimer” is a polyurethane digital watch co-designed with Frederico Grazzini and produced by Alessi Watches in collaboration with Seiko. Like Alsop’s buildings, it is decidedly bright, futuristic and definitely not for the fainthearted — it would probably go pretty well with the Y-3 trainerswe posted on Tuesday, should you be that way inclined.

“Daytimer” watch by Will Alsop and Federico Grazzini, £79, www.alessi.com

Yves Saint Lauren Personalised Shoe Fettish?

2009-10-01T10:59:00.004+01:00

Yves Saint Laurent is holding two special nights this week, Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd October, to celebrate the new A/W 09 shoe collection. The store event is being held at 33 Old Bond Street and you will be able to design the colour and finish of your chosen pair of shoes as well as have your initials embossed onto the sole of the shoe. A Gentry must!

From 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Yves Saint Laurent
33, Old Bond Street, London, W1

http://www.ysl.com/

Swatch Chrono Automatic Collection

2009-09-28T09:11:00.002+01:00

The Swiss fashion watch and jewelry maker have shaken up their more "fun fashion" watches with the launch of altogether more serious Swatch Chrono Automatic Collection. The debut collection, launching October 15th, comprises five sporty models offering a more expensively styled look.

With a market dominated by upscale brands, the Swiss firm’s ever-inventive and creative designers have managed to keep some of the true Swatch look and feel around a new self-winding movement, putting assured chrono automatic performance and extraordinary style within easy reach of a more cost concerned customer.

There are five models within the collection and at the heart of the Swatch Chrono Automatic is the new self-winding ETA Caliber C01.211, a fifteen-jewel, 3Hz movement with a 46-hour power reserve. The thirty-minute and six-hour chrono counters are positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively, while the continuous seconds counter appears at 9 o’clock. A date aperture appears on all models at 3 o’clock.

As an avid collector of fine watches an accessories, i find myself genuinely adoring the look of this new leap in design, and have just become the first of many Swatch converts which this watch has the Chrono-matic movement to produce!

TIM SOAR & Paul Davis... Illustrated Genius.

2009-09-26T22:56:00.000+01:00

Showcasing key looks from his A/W09 collection, Mr Gentry welcomes the first Viral Movie posting from British designer Tim Soar & illustrator Paul Davis... with a little help from two talented animators Alex Smith & Patrick Vale.

Buy select pieces from this collection at - http://www.asos.com/Men/A-To-Z-Of-Brands/Tim-Soar/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=8788

http://www.soar-london.com/

Martine Rose Padded Circle Shirt

2009-09-25T09:00:00.002+01:00

This piece is from Martine Rose’s third season, a collection of men’s shirts called ‘Pieces’ - an intelligent and inventive combination of slim fitting shirting and modern sportswear texture aesthetic - sports-Luxx at its best and fun too. It comes in Light blue and white pinstripe cotton with the deep blue padded quilting detail beaming from the slim silhouette, the collar and cuffs fasten with pressed studs and placket fastens with clear buttons. It has arrived at Oki-Ni and priced at only £139.

http://www.oki-ni.com/Shirts/Martine-Rose-Padded-Circle-Shirt/invt/ros0001wht

SOARING into SS/10 with TIM SOAR

2009-09-24T14:53:00.003+01:00

Tim Soar, showing for the third time at London Fashion Week, proved his evolutionally qualities as being one of the most serious menswear labels to come out of London in recent years. Opening his SS/10 show, entitled 'Folding Diagrams For A Spread Squash', we saw the designer making a serious move on from his last collection.

Highly technical approaches to fabrics ensured a true sports-lux approach and feel. The footwear was a key element to the aesthetic - a masculine sling-backed lace-up was a brilliant twist for mens footwear. A distant sporty 80's feel flowed through the collection, and with Boy George aptly sitting front row we must applaud the revival of this 80's season seen across many of the LFW shows - with Tim Soar clearly stepping further ahead and leading the way. Jackets and trousers were a focus, outerwear ranged from lightweight rain macs; apart of the collaborative affair with friend and fellow designer Chriostopher Raeburn, to the true Tim Soar inspired waist cropped, waxed-coated cotton styles.

Much pleating and folding of fabric was seen, reflecting his inspiration of the Spread Squash. Shirting was tidy and cleverly constructed with the highest of detail - as expected, Cotton Jersey vests were dotted across the collection in metalics and an impressive Tortoise shell print helping keep the summer structured but light with shorts and short-Suits taking place amongst the smart casual dress code.

The Linda Farrow collaboration of three eyewear styles in Gold, Silver and Jet Black was conceived from the Farrow archives but with additions from Tim, and all showed signs of his origami/folded theme of the collection for perfect summer accessorising.

This collection has once again assured Tim Soar's position as a leading light for London design talent, for which we must stand and salute.

http://www.soar-london.com/