Best of The Week - February Week Three

Buy me Once

Buy me once a new online store set up that collates all the products that are high enough quality that you should only have to buy them once in a lifetime. Forgetting the fast fashion outlets of the high street and moving onto higher quality products isn't a new idea, but it has been rising in popularity, especially after we got over the hump of the recession. The website only has a select amount of items as of yet but they seem to rapidly finding and adding more to their listings. From kitchenwear to tools and clothing to toys, it covers all bases, check it out here.

Skepta - Ladies Hit Squad

Skpeta has unveiled his latest track since the massive 2015 hit Shutdown and he's taken a slightly different turn on this self produced track. Taking not so subtle influences from the states by having A$AP Nast singing the hook. This track features East London's finest D Double E and comes with a suitably sultry poolside video. Check it out below.

Shotta Texts LDN

This Instagram account features some of the capitals most unique businessmen and how they advertise their products. All the images are screenshots sent in from London locals, who've had texts from their drug dealers encouraging them to buy their "power snow" and "bangin piff". These are not the most articulate people but when you want a five minute laugh check out the account here.

A photo posted by Shotta Texts LDN (@shotta_texts_ldn) on Dec 8, 2015 at 5:50am PST

Best of the Week - February Week Two

Mad About the Boy Exhibition

Mad About the Boy is an exhibition currently in the Fashion Space Gallery in London, it explores the relation between teenage youth culture and fashion. Several designers have recently had an obsession with teenage styles and several of these are represented; such as Gosha Rubchinskiy, JW Anderson and Nasir Mazhar. The exhibition has been open since January 8th and finishes on April 2nd, check out more info here.

Grailed 100

The online marketplace Grailed has revealed its own mobile app, with this news they've decided to sell off 100 of the most sought after pieces in male fashion. These include Raf Simons parkas, Palace tees and Visvim shoes. Its all being sold off on the grailed offer basis so that potentially you could grab some of these pieces for the lowest ever price. Check out the whole collection here.

House of Cards Season 4 Trailer

The most ruthless president on television will soon be back on computer and tablet screens, with the new series of House of Cards exclusively on Netflix from March 4th. This new trailer explores the clashing of Frank and Claire. With snapshots of suicide, sex and suspense it looks as if it could be the most intense series yet. Watch the latest trailer below.

Clarks Origingals x The Goodhood Store

You may already know that two of my favourite brands have collaborated, Clarks Originals and The Goodhood Store. I picked up the maple pair of Wallabees. I was a little worried when I heard the shoe involved was the Wallabee as nobody likes a classic to be tampered with, but I was content that it was in safe hands. The collaboration puts a unique twist on this iconic shoe by having painted patterns across the suede and fringed tassels attached to the laces. The guys at Goodhood have also created their own branded hang tags which I think are a great addition. 

There was another Wallabee involved in the collaboraration a fur lined Wallabee boot in Cognac suede. You can check out both pairs here but unfortunately they are no longer available.

A little surprise also came in the box in the shape of a poster.

Best of the Week - February Week 1

Phillip Kremer

I recently came across a very strange, slightly unsettling, Instagram account. It made feel a little on edge and uncomfortable and you're probably wondering why I want to tell anyone else about it. The faces that had been distorted by Houston based artist Phillip Kremer kept me scrolling and scrolling and I felt compelled to follow. Here's a link to both his Instagram and his Tumblr so you can experience his warped perception of life yourselves.

The Lobster is released on DVD

The film from the Dogtooth director is equally as strange as the art from Phillip Kremer, it follows the story of a man from a dystopian near future who is checked into a hotel where he must find a partner in 45 days or be turned into an animal. Lobster will be released on DVD February 8th, you can pre-order it from Amazon now.

Love Will Tear Us Apart/Love Will Keep Us Together

With Valentines Day just around the corner I thought this t-shirt from DARYLSTUDIO was fitting. The unusual pairing of influences from Joy Division and Malcom McLarens' songs grabbed me. With a unique printing design where the image is printed on both sides of the tee you're covered however your plans turn out. Get it now from The Goodhood Store available in three colours.

Christmas Gift Injection

That time of year has arrived again and I'm feeling festive already so I thought I'd do my Christmas gift injection a little earlier this year.

Goodhood Swag Bag

To Kick us off we've got the sawg bag from the Goodhood Store there's two reasons why I'm putting this into my gift selection this year. It contain wigwam socks and it's the closest thing you can get to a Goodhood tote bag, possibly forever. it also includes a candle, a lighter and a mug. Obviously this a is a Goodhood exclusive.

Patta Air Freshener

Just as a little stocking filler this would bring a smile to every Patta fan's face. It would also make their car smell beautifully. Avaiable only at Patta.

Jason Markk Premium Shoe Cleaning Kit

Jason Markk is a great way to keep you sneakers clean, this little gift will set up whoever to keep their collection looking good. Available from End Clothing.

Aeropress Coffee  Maker

This air pressed coffee maker is the most consistent and convenient way of making a great tasting cup of joe. Available through Firebox.

The North Face - Mountain Heritage Four Point Tote Bag

If you're looking to spend a little more dosh this bag would be great gift, perfect for an every day bag and is a little more interesting than your typical backpack. Available directly through The North Face.

Merry Christmas!

5 Pairs of Shoes 5 Stories

I recently watched Patagonia's documentary Worn Wear. It got me thinking that every item of clothing you own has a story to it, not just how it was made and what inspired it but what personal experiences you've had in that item of clothing. So I'm going to share with you 5 pairs of shoes and tell you what's happened whilst I've been wearing them.

Nike Cortez TB

When I was 18 me and 11 of my mates took a trip to Berlin, these were the trusty pair of trainers I took with me. They have seen many beers as well as many sights. The most memorable night of the trip was a trip to YAAM followed by a late night visit to Tresor. YAAM is a beach bar in the heart of Berlin, more of a bar on the riverbank with sand but the atmosphere was incredible. All 12 of us were in a great mood, the beers were flowing, we had met some other travellers and the reggae was blaring. This carried on for a few hours and some of us decided we were going to move on. We made our way across the city and rolled into Tresor. For those of you that don't know Tresor it's an underground techno club, in a renovated power plant. I've never enjoyed dancing to a repetitive beat continuously until 9am so much and I don't think I ever will again.

Nike ID Air 180

The story that comes with these is from New York, I was on a college trip and me and a mate went off by ourselves to go to the Supreme store. We left in awe and were walking down to visit a couple of other shops when we stumbled across the Kate Moss Supreme poster. My friend grabs his pen from his bag and starts tagging it up. The next thing I know sirens are blaring and a police car pulls up. They catch him in the act we're both stood up against the wall with our arms and legs out, starfished against the wall. Eventually he is taken away in the car and I'm given some vague directions to the police station he will be taken to. So here I am running around Chinatown looking for this police station, eventually I stumble across it, I can hear my friend having his mugshot taken on the other side of a wall. I then get the news he wont be coming back with me. The story end with him staying in a cell overnight, being processed through court in the morning with a $150 fine and a ban from the US for 6 months.

Clarks Originals Wallabees

These shoes have seen many sights from Copenhagen to Antwerp, from Amsterdam to London but the story I'm going to tell is of the markets in Marrakesh. Navigating the winding streets of the Medina is not a memory I will be forgetting any time soon. Whilst wondering around avoiding the typical "lookie lookie" shouters and people hounding you to buy fake beats headphones we managed to settle down and dig into a tradition tagine. We later get hounded by a lady with a death grip grabbing my girlfriends hand squirting henna on it with something that resembled a needle. She let go after she realised I wasn't going to pay the 300 Dirham (£20) fee she insisted. We did continue to visit the markets with a little more understanding of what to expect and although it was a strange experience I wouldn't say it was unpleasant, just a different culture.

New Balance 1600 Blue Tab Collection

These shoes have seen well over 50 miles. I trained and ran the Great South Run in these. From waking up early enough to run a few miles before work to the actual day I ran the full race raising £210 for The Big Issue. The inspiration for me to run this race was when I came out from work one day and noticed the amount of homeless people I could see, just in my short walk I couldn't count them on two hands. I decided to set myself a challenge but also do something to help out the community. I managed to complete the 10 miles in 1 hour 27 mins which was in the top 20% of the race which I was really proud of.

Nike Mayfly Woven QS

This is probably not a story many people would tell if it happened to them but I thought I should share my embarrassment as well as my glory. In these trainers me and a couple of my mates were beaten up by a group of lads. There seemed to be more and more of them coming out of nowhere and (for once) I could say that we hadn't done anything to aggravate them. I think it just was a case of in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whilst I was being punched in the face, flailing over a knee hight wall all I could think was how my trainers were going to look after the ordeal. Luckily they ended up alright but I did lose my Gasius Smokey the Cat pin badge whilst I was falling over that wall. RIP

I Washed My Jeans!

As you guys may have seen in my previous posts I've had a pair of APC Petit Standard jeans for a while now, two years to be exact.There comes a time in every pair of raw jeans life when they need to be washed. There are lots of different methods people use to wash their  raw denim from dry cleaning to wearing them into the sea. I decided to soak mine in the bathtub with a little gentle non-bio detergent.

    

Before

   

The 40 minute soak

After

I don't have the opportunity to wear these every day so I haven't build up the same amount of wear as some people but I have created my own fades and marks of wear. This is what I love so much about raw denim, no two pairs will be the same.