The Out-Of-Towners

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!

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

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

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

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

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.thewhiskyexchange.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

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

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

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

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/