Mr. Boy

I've moved! 

You can now find me on www.mrboy.co.uk - the new website which launched early last year. I'm still working out what to do with this brainbox. I'll find something soon.

The new website is currently under way and until then I'd rather leave you with a little place-holder, since I'm taking days and weeks to get posts out these days. Apologies, stay tuned! For the mean time, catch me on social below.

- Mr. Boy

I may have become slightly obsessive with glasses this year, now owning four pairs of prescription glasses and one set of prescription sunglasses. I wouldn't say I was particularly blind either - my prescription is -2.25 in one eye and -0.25 in the other, and apparently I have different levels of astigmatism in each eye (according to Specsavers), which as serious as it sounds it apparently "isn't all that bad". Saying that, living in the generation we do where we're surrounded by digital screens and "forced" to look at the computer and our phones from dawn till dusk, it's wise to take care of your eyes and opt for glasses if you need them, and considering I'm the only person in my family who doesn't wear them on a full-time basis, I'd very much say I should care for my eyes as well.

glasses and sunglasses: c/o Cheap Monday at Specsavers, top and bottoms: Cheap Monday, trainers: Nike via Urban Outfitters

Specsavers got in touch to take a look at their Cheap Monday range, and I think I was drawn in by my previous admiration for Cheap Monday (unfortunately my ex girlfriends have stolen all my favourite t-shirts by Cheap Monday so I seldom get the chance to wear the brand anymore). The style is particularly quirky and something you can imagine to come from Cheap Monday. The shapes are by all means very wearable, but I think what differentiates the collection is its very sleek, metallic frames which seem to have some futuristic vibe around them. The sunglasses are definitely a highlight however, as the kind guys at Specsavers keenly lectured me on. The reasons why Ray Bans are as expensive as they are (aside from the branding) is due to the polarising lens, which reduces glare and retains vivid colour that'd you'd lose from a pair of essentially "coloured lens". The Cheap Monday lens are from the same breed, and while I've always thought prescription sunglasses were pretty unnecessary, I feel like I could see through walls with these things. Everything is clear, slightly muted and better looking. Like I'm looking through a permanent Instagram filter.

I was going through a grey obsession when I took these photos (unaffiliated to 50 Shades) so the glasses came around the perfect time. Cheap Monday has built their reputation on skinny jeans and even skinnier jeans, but they've had some really nice sweaters and parkas in the mix as well. The trousers were a bit of a hidden gem which I found on ASOS, and although they're drop-crotch, you can actually pull them above your waist to replicate high-waisted trousers. You'll need a relatively tight belt or take them in at the waist to emulate the effect, if high-waisted trousers are your thing. 

If you wear glasses and haven't considered prescription sunglasses before, I highly recommend it. There are no reasons at all why you should be squinting behind sunglasses, and when you ones big as these which cover your whole face, you'll never want to wear others again. I even wear these on the tube, because I'm extremely cool like that. (Hint: that was sarcastic).

Thanks Specsavers for opening up my eyes.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook  

As I'm writing this brand feature, I'm listening to the Lost In Translation soundtrack, which is pretty fitting for those who know where I'm coming from - the film is based in Tokyo, which is where Japanese brand Bedwin & The Heartbreakers originates from. I haven't felt the real desire to write a brand feature in a very long time, but after being introduced to the brand last month, I've gone mad for them. For those who have not heard of Bedwin & The Heartbreakers, the brand draws their influences from streetwear and music subcultures, adopting a very much "school boy" aesthetic. By that I mean it's neither too casual nor smart, and incorporates a very playful style catered for both men and women. For this post, I snagged a few pieces to wear for the shoot, venturing out with Joe Harper to one of London's post-apocalyptic-like Paradises.

all: Bedwin & The Heartbreakers SS14

Japanese fashion is a topic I've always wanted to delve into and learn anything and everything about. The fashion scene, from my foreign interpretation, is very much built around culture (not necessarily Japan's) and context. I imagine the fascination with American culture originates from the fact that Japan is very much a segregated island all the way on the other side of the world, and although we live in a world where everything is available on a whim via the Internet, it's hard to forget that it wasn't always like that (and yes, the minutes where I have no battery are probably the most stressful - I'm also, really that sad and modern). I see Bedwin as very much a Japanese brand: it adopts elements from both East and West, showing an appreciation for American culture but retaining this playful-like preppy aesthetic that I believe the Japanese do so well - very few guys can pull off a tie and cropped trouser combination without looking like an overgrown school kid.

The brand has a good blend of tailoring and casualwear, with their latest SS14 collection incorporating single-button shawl lapel jackets (which is what you'd normally find on a tuxedo) with cropped trousers and skinny ties (which is what you'd normally find watching Seth Cohen on The O.C). There's plenty of chambray and denim which the Japanese have become so prestigious for, but there's also suit + suit shorts combinations and varsity jackets, to provide a very diverse collection that would cater to anyone with a playful bone in their body. Footwear is also on the agenda with even flip-flops as an option (with a very cool brogue print on the sole if you ever take them off to show off). What brings this diversity together is the quality - it feels very good, and rightly so, as the brand's slogan is "BEDWIN & THE HEARTBREAKERS: PARAMOUNT QUALITY".

The pieces I'm wearing are from their SS14 collection, and while I've never really been the Hawaiian-print type daredevil, the shirt is probably one of my favourite things I've worn in 2014. I find cropped trousers quite hard to buy in the UK as people are still very much obsessed with rolling up their tapered/skinny trousers (which I like, don't get me wrong), which means if you're looking to get something cropped you'll have to head to the tailors instead. And while Joe (the photographer) might have pointed out that I looked like I stepped out of a Japanese kitchen, cropped trousers are a great summer alternative for shorts, and those with recent fascination of going sockless will very much enjoy cropped alternatives. 

Their spring/summer collection will be disappearing shortly but they do have an online store if you're interested in purchasing. If you'd prefer an insider tip however - their PR agency Number of Names are holding a sample sale commencing on the 25th July at the Old Truman Brewery. Good luck though - I'll be there when the doors open clearing out the Bedwin rail.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook  

While I might be a bit late to the party, I don't think it's too late to highlight my appreciation for the grass event, where people sink their hopes into one of Britain's wonders Andy Murray. Sure, it was a bit of an anti-climax, with Andy dropping out in straight sets before reaching the semi finals, but one positive side-effect of Wimbledon is its ability to tempt people into the sunshine and enjoy the rays, cluttering every grassy patch possible on Henman Hill. For me, Wimbledon marks that time of the year when we finally get a bit of sun in London, and alongside that comes the shorts, the no-sock movement and all things short sleeved (which gets stretched to its most uncomfortable limit in the Chavsville: my home town). So for the summery look I've done all of the aforementioned, shot comfortably in London's sun rays with Joe Harper. 

hat: Laird, shirt: c/o Ralph Lauren, trousers: Gap, shoes: Duggers of London

Ball boy meets Indiana Jones is probably what springs to mind. Polo Ralph Lauren were the first ever sponsors to partner with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, launching back in 2006 to outfit all of the Wimbledon on-court officials. This season they released the Wimbledon Ball Boy/Girl polo shirts as part of their collection to celebrate the event, allowing happy tennis fans to have their initials embroidered near the bottom of the polo shirt (which made my brother a very happy man as he shares the same initials). Though the season has very much ended, the polos are still available to purchase and are actually in the sale, so if you're keen to blow as much of your savings on sales as I have, I suggest you go hunting now.

Going out without socks for some reason has become "noteworthy news" in most men's titles, and it's very much Marmite - some people cringe at the idea of revealing their bare, light ankles, while others revel in the slight breeze and liberation of restricting cotton-blend foot-mittens. Personally, I just think it looks a bit more summer-y, and while I do recommend guys give it a try with confidence, do try and wear low-cut "hidden" socks or roll your longer socks halfway down your foot, because it's much more hygienic than walking around in the heat all day with skin on leather. Another tip? I don't recommend going sockless with smart, clunky brogues or more traditional shoes where the sole tends to be thicker and wide around the shoe - it tends to look quite heavy. The shoes I'm wearing in this look at from Duggers of London who provide hand-made classic styles at a good price - they're quite sleek and are rubber soled (with the option of leather available), which has become a preference across all my shoes due to the last and wearability in the rain (you WILL slip in fresh leather shoes on anything remotely smooth, I've split my fair share of trousers with impromptu gymnastics). 

One thing I'll mention briefly before I wrap up - I made this belt from a piece of rope I used on a look book shoot earlier this year. It makes for a good rustic alternative to leather belts can be cut from pretty much anything. It might not have the staying power of a buckle but it does mean you can wear your trousers as high up as you'd like, if you're as much a fan of high-waisted trousers as I am. 

That's it for this long-awaited outfit post. I've been holding back a few things as I'll be relaunching a new Mr. Boy website hopefully within the next few weeks, featuring lots of vivid imagery for your eyes to feast on. Catch you tomorrow with a brand feature on Japanese cool cats Bedwin and the Heartbreakers.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Contrary to popular belief - I am still alive and writing. I've been working a lot on Mr. Boy's next steps as a blog, website and hub which compiles my ramblings on personal style and the fashion industry, and will as of later this year (TBC!), also feature some of my work outside Mr. Boy and some extra special editorials and interviews, which I can't wait to reveal to the world (or at least the small world that decide my website is worth five minutes of their time). So please keep your faith in the workings of this site - I haven't quite decided to abandon all ye faithful as of 2014.

Back to some more behind the scenes work, I wanted to highlight some very special moments from London Collections: Men that I got to experience working with need-no-introduction Toni & Guy and shouldn't-need-an-introduction Johnnie Sapong and his grooming team. My experience with working backstage at LC:M has always been pleasant - it's never quite as manic as its female counterpart London Fashion Week, and there's usually a lot more room to be manoeuvring about (depending on the venue). This season however seemed to be extra special - whether it was being there for the incredibly manic moments seconds before the show begins, or capturing Johnnie's calm presence when resting his hands on each model's shoulders for the final check up. Either way, it's always great to be a fly on the wall the hours before a show begins, when you can really appreciate and see first hand the work that actually goes in to making those five minute catwalks as "flawless" and memorable as possible. 

Toni & Guy teamed up with AOFM on the Matthew Miller show, which had both male and female models subject to grooming processes involving nets & lots, lots of heat

Starting off the three days I delved into the chaotic depths of Victoria House to preview the mania going on at Matthew Miller's show. My friend Marqee does the production for all Victoria House shows (where Matthew's was), and when he's working you're pretty lucky to get a hello in. It's crazy. I mean, within the small space at Victoria House's backstage, somehow there are over a dozen models getting pampered by a mix of grooming and make-up pros three times in numbers, wangling through a sea of arms compiled of keen backstage photographers and video interviewers. Then there's the production team who work with everybody to make sure things are on schedule, and by everybody that means it could be the door staff, the security, the lighting team or the sound team. Last but not least, the designer is there somewhere, either monitoring the pre-walk, or talking to his team of stylists and on-set tailors to provide final alterations to the clothing. I'm sure I've missed someone but the image should have been painted - organised chaos, like I'd imagine a World War I telegram room to be. 

Skipping forward to five minutes before Matthew's show begins, when the audience would have already sat down (or planted their feet standing as close as possible) eyeing up their surroundings with judgement, you'd think that everything would be well under wraps and the models would be ready to present the clothing. Unfortunately, that's not quite the case (and often so). The speed ramps up significantly and clothes are thrown on with voices shouting through walkie talkies. "FIVE minutes guys, FIVE MINUTES" Marqee shouts across the room. There are no sighs of relief though and no bouts of silence, instead, Toni & Guy are powering ahead with a swarm of hair-dryers replicating the sound of a jet engine taking off. Even as the models stand and you can sense the main room dim their lights in preparation for the walk, the grooming team are still at it making sure things are as grand as they could possibly be. It's a sight really, and almost makes for a better show itself: seeing the calm finesse of professionals in their element in what seems like the peak of pressure. Skipping to the end of the walk, the team applauds and disperses in what seems like a fraction of the time of the prep. Then it's on to the next. 

casually talking on the phone, the model seems pretty oblivious to the mob behind him at Oliver Spencer

Oliver Spencer's show was a pretty different experience. It's the first show I've been to where I've worked backstage and actually decided to stay there, rather than watch the final show. Showing at the Old Sorting Office meant that the backstage team got over double the room, which makes perfect sense as those who have seen Oliver Spencer's show will know that there was a live drum ensemble, as well as a fiesta of carnival dancers. 

The vibe backstage was somewhat different to Matthews - as there was more space it was probably easier to read people's facial features. William Gilchrist (an ooze-cool stylist) was brought in to style Oliver Spencer's show, and both him and Johnnie Sapong have this incredible relaxed appearance and aura about them, which is either reinforced or is of a result of their decades of experience. Combining that with Oliver Spencer's casting, who has become somewhat known for choosing "real people" among agency models as his walking mannequins, the atmosphere seemed very chilled. And bizarre. Backstage photographers became more obsessed with the extremely colourful (in both personality and outfits) carnival dancers, who almost took my eyes out a few times with their headgear during their warm-up before waltzing on stage. 

Being backstage during the actual walk is a pretty interesting experience. It's like pressing fast forward on the TV remote. The models will queue up and walk around the catwalk at their casual speeds, but the second they are behind closed curtains they are ramping up for the next change. You'll have one person throwing a shirt and jumper over your head, and the next person will throw on the tie, and before you even get something fully over your neck someone is already pulling your trousers up for you. I imagine that's what walk-in-wardrobes will do in a Futurama-like world, except instead of robot hands you have real people. There really is so much work that goes into a show I think people often neglect, who instead choose to complain about the distance they have to travel from show to show. I'm by no means saying it's under-appreciated, but heck, I think the behind the scenes crew deserve to be somewhere in the spotlight by the designer as well. 

I wanted to write something about the experiences of backstage but somehow I've ended up with this odd narrative. I just wanted to thank the Toni & Guy team for having me, as well as Johnnie Sapong & Naz who I've been working with as part of Return of the Rudeboy. That's it for LC:M this season though - until next year!

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Around came another season of London Collections: Men (LC:M), London's offering to the global menswear fashion scene. Filled with emerging designers and well-established fashion houses, London is building with great strides its reputation as a formidable menswear hub, now bringing Italian fashion house Moschino to the London schedule, as well as reorganising future schedules to no longer clash with Florence-based trade show Pitti Uomo, which means some of the best of the men's talent will be able to remain in London for just that little bit longer. While that might seem like a bit of garble to the non-fashion readers, what it essentially means is London is simply being taken a bit more serious on the men's fashion side, which could be noted by the increase of internationals flying in to survey the shows, as well as a hell of a lot more street photographers to make the ordinary feel like local celebrities. This season I spent most of my time getting in the way backstage for Toni & Guy and Johnnie Sapong (which will be covered in the next post), but I did manage to see some pretty good shows, and more importantly, some very lovely friends. 

Maharishi rehearsals with less than 30 minutes to go. The protruding shadow on the right is Johnnie Sapong's rastacap, who oversaw the hair 

I've always reinforced the idea that the best thing about LC:M is the school-like reunion. Every six months you walk to the local venues, you see the familiar faces (or familiar outlandish styles) and embrace, moaning about how long it's been (six months to be exact). You go see a few shows together, menially comparing tickets and seating arrangements and then heading to parties together, where you see how far you can tip the intoxication scales until the possibility of getting up for that 9am show gets blurrier, and all the prints and colours and eccentrics in one room seem to mould into one giant fashion haze. It might sound like I'm moaning, but it's great fun - where holiday meets work.

one of the many grooming stations at Oliver Spencer backstage, also headed up by Johnnie Sapong

The three days were pretty brilliant this season. Aside from meeting some lovely new people, the show standard definitely stepped up a notch with people adopting some impressive theatrics, such as Oliver Spencer incorporating a live-drum ensemble, and a series of carnival dancers during the final walk, who definitely stole the hearts and attention of the male models backstage (and unfortunately all the photos of the guys hitting on the dancers ended up blurry). I'll never forget the shock horror that hit the faces of the front row during Sankuanz's show, who is new to London as Kay Kwok's successor for representation by GQ China. Sankuanz's show featured an all-white catwalk, until the music skipped a beat and the "safeness" was replaced by Russian-like carnival music, eccentric ceramic giant gloves/claws and make-up inspired by Japanese manga/anime, providing insanity that I don't think London's tailoring scene is quite ready for. GQ China had some pretty big shoes to fill after Kay Kwok's AW14 show being one I'll never forget, but I think they did a pretty darn good job. 

Enjoyed this season's COMMON presentation as much as last (and actually invested in one of their shirts earlier this week..!)

Other personal highlights included British designers Matthew Miller and Casely Hayford, who both shared a love for pinstripe which I'm always keen on. The COMMON presentation was quite a stand-out as well, with much of the collection being all-white with the occasional piece of denim. Design duo Agi & Sam had some really memorable prints on their shirts - pieces I'll be keenly investing in when they hit the stores next year. I spoke to a fair few newcomers this season, who when talking about some of the shows and designers, simply said "I didn't like it. I just didn't get it", which fair enough is a pretty valid statement. I think fashion shouldn't really be objective, and ultimately it's okay to have tastes and preferences. You shouldn't like something just because someone told you the collection is meant to be a masterpiece - if you don't well, you just don't. And it's okay to have opinions, despite people's hesitancy to go against the norm.

"Not getting it though" - I believe that comes from people perhaps not realising that what you see on the catwalk isn't necessarily what you'll be seeing on the streets. The catwalk should be something you take inspirations from, and think of ways to incorporate it into your own style, as very few can really take a look off the catwalk and look just as eye-catching (at least for the right reasons). For example, I'm not the kind of guy who's going to wear James Long's boxer-inspired hoody, bomber and leather pants combination, or Maharishi's Middle East camouflage, face mask and bucket hat ensemble, but I know the James Long blue bomber is going to go great with these blue tailored trousers in my wardrobe, or that Maharishi has just the varsity jacket I'm looking for. For me, it's about seeing the presentation as a spectacle (as a hell lot of thought goes into it), appreciating the collection and then thinking about ways of wearing it in my own context. And I think if you see it from that way, you might get past the whole pretentiousness that the fashion industry is judged with. 

Harmony, one of the few female badasses who walked the Matthew Miller show

I think that's all for the spring/summer 2015 round-up, filled with the usual highlights, observations and usual Mr. Boy ramblings. In the next post I'll be covering a bit of backstage work, as this season I've seen some truly remarkable things, with hair and make-up done with seconds to go before the catwalk begins, of which the sight is then polarised with another show seeming almost completely chilled before the crowd has even taken their seats. LC:M was pretty memorable this season, and that includes the lovely people, giant monster claws and absolute backstage mania.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Have been busy working on Return of the Rudeboy, which is a brilliant exhibition being held at Somerset House until the 25th of August.

I'll be writing about it - so be back soon!

In the mean time, check out my Instagram brainchild @RudeboysReturn

photography by Joe Harper

Alas, my three part post with Gap comes to an end with a grey finish. While the previous looks have been focused around the beauty of blue, I've decided to reinforce my latest admiration for all things grey, beige and anything else that to be honest, is bland. Muted tones tend to go with anything, though those with particularly pale skin might find themselves a bit washed out, so it helps if you're developing a bit of a tan. A blend of khaki, camo and taupe works very well for the summer, and provides a nice alternative to blacks and browns, which will essentially bake you when the sun really begins to shine. Considering all of the above, I've focused the look around an oversized cardigan, and I've opted for the oversize because to be quite frank, very well-fitted cardigans just aren't particularly cool, and this is coming from someone who's been wearing (and probably failed in doing so) cardigans for a good decade. Without further ado, I introduce the living look.

The idea behind this was when I visited Daylesford in West London, an organic shop which sources from its own farm. Aside from stocking an abundance of organic goods, there's also a dine-in cafe/restaurant and a supply of furniture as well. It's all neutral - there's wooden floors and plenty of beige, with the colour only coming from beautifully bottled sauces and masses of fresh fruit and veg. It's a hippy's dream, and I love the idea of heading down with a shopping bag and loading up on overpriced organic goods - I am indeed a sucker for the "yes this is organic which means it's healthier" pitch. 

There's a trend between this and the first Gap post with the blue stripy shirt I wore - wearing big things as a summer "jacket" as opposed to just wearing a coat which doesn't pack up so nicely into your bag. The definition of a coat is essentially something long sleeve that buttons or zips up in some shape or form designed to keep you warm, so really I have no idea why larger sizes of clothing can't act as a coat anyway. I've recently acquired some cardigans from Gap and the quality is actually very good in comparison to its competitors, and the larger sizes are still fitted even around the sleeves. They work great as coat alternatives in the summer because if you end up getting too hot, it's not that bad of a look to simply tie the cardigan around your waist. 

So how do you stop a cardigan from looking boring? A pocket square in the pockets work, or consideration in how you roll the sleeves. If you taper them (fold them horizontally and then fold it up the arm) then you can twist the fabric a bit. Personally, I'm not a fan of when they fit tightly, and I'm not a fan of them over a shirt as well. Someone was saying the other day that v-neck jumpers just aren't very cool - well a buttoned up, fitted cardigan over a shirt is essentially the same as a v-neck jumper. It just has buttons. And I also don't particularly like them as alternative for waist coats as a casual approach, but saying that, this is just because I haven't seen many people do this very well. If you do want to do this approach during the summer, perhaps a cardigan under a suit jacket, some slim fit chinos either cropped and sockless with some casual derby shoes could actually be a pretty good look. I'm just not sold on fitted cardigans, especially when the sleeves of the shirt can be seen creased and crinkled through the fabric.

Avoiding ending on a negative note about the apparent "risk" of wearing cardigans, it's been great working with Gap on some summer admiration, providing three looks that I'd happily mix up when the sun really begins to shine. The posts can all be viewed on Gap's Styld.by site. I hope you've enjoyed the three part series - there's plenty more to come as well some exciting new redesigns so stay tuned.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

photography by Joe Harper

Last week I introduced a three part post in collaboration with Gap for their Styld.by campaign. The campaign explores individuals styling a single Gap piece using their own wardrobe as a way of diversifying the Gap look, which is often generalised as your white t-shirt + washed jeans combination. There's a good mix of individuals shown on their website, with people taking streetwear influences or tailoring influences, and then some simply showing the normal way that Gap is meant to be styled. I wouldn't really know where to pinpoint my own inspirations for my style or whether there is one point that it actually comes from, but I do know that when I wake up and think about what I want to wear for the day, it's usually instant and that's that. And on this particular day where it was the shorts I had to focus on, the check list had already began. Shorts? Linen t-shirt, flat cap and some nice desert boots.

get why it's called the tourist now? well it WAS a good day to be taking photos...

Shorts. Love them or hate them, when it gets hot in London it gets hot, and there's only so far your chunky selvedge denim can get you no matter how proud & relentlessly you want to flaunt it. I have met many men who won't go near a pair of shorts at the risk of showing their hairy legs or beaten up knees, and will instead opt for cargo shorts which you can get four legs into. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand. It took me years before I ventured into above-the-knee shorts (gasp), but there's manlier ways of wearing these shorts if looking less masculine is one of the concerns. For example, shorts and a loose Oxford shirt is a nice combination. Shorts and a suit still looks pretty good to me. And for footwear, you can still wear your lighter-weight brogues and lace-ups, just try and avoid socks or chunky or pointy lace-ups that'd you'd often wear to work. What I really like is a Henley shirt with shorts, or in this case, a baggy linen t-shirt.

Strangers to Mr. Boy may not realise my slight boringness to often wear navy. I prefer to only incorporate colour through accessories such as a bag, or this red bracelet I'm always wearing, or my socks. Navy is safe, and it's timeless, so if you're ever doubting buying anything in a colour go with navy, because you know you'll wear it year after year. To break up the navy look as it is possible to wear too much of one colour, I went for a white linen t-shirt. Linen is possibly my favourite fabric. It hangs nicely, the creasing is inevitable but excusable because it's linen and to top it off, it isn't really an expensive fabric. Great for summer, maybe a bit stupid for winter when the winds get so strong you might as well be wearing nothing. 

For this shoot the idea was essentially going around looking at things and taking pictures of them. When the sun is out that's all you really want to do, go out, relax and turn off technology. As a self proclaimed workaholic, even working on a shoot outside in the sun is a blessing. I brought my analogue camera with me and we took some behind the scenes photography which I'll share with you all soon. 

To view the rest of the looks check out the Styld.by page or see the smart casual sunday look. Next Friday I'll be introducing the final look, which for a change, features lots of grey. And blue shoes.

Any questions about shorts? Fire me a message on any of my social media channels listed below.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Mr. Boy x Gap | Look #1

Sketched by the extremely talented http://paintmybones.tumblr.com/

Part two goes up tomorrow. Stay tuned!

I’m proud to announce my latest collaboration with none other than American super-brand Gap, a name which has become synonymous with fifty shades of navy. By that, I don’t just mean the logo, or noteworthy denim pieces. I’m also implying the nature of the colour navy - it’s the safest colour and option outside of black and white, and really you can never go wrong wearing blue. Gap is essentially that. You can never go wrong buying your staples from Gap, because the sheer size of the company means they can afford to bring you decent, quality-feeling basics at an accessible price. I think some people have misunderstood Gap, believing it to be boring. But really, I think boring is the wrong word. Try safe; reliable and easy-wearing instead, as I don’t believe the brand is trying to be that first-at-the-fashion-frontier kind of brand. If that hasn’t quite converted you however, I’m hoping my smart casual sunday look might do the job, which is the first of three outfits chosen as part of Gap’s Styld. by campaign.

Styld. by is a website which highlights assorted Gap looks provided by the public and blogger community. The whole point of the website however is to not simply push Gap product en masse, but to encourage people to showcase their style using simply one or two Gap pieces, incorporated into their own daily wardrobe featuring a variety of brands. I believe it shows just how staple the Gap offering actually is, resulting in diversified outfits from all sorts of archetypes.

For my first look, which I titled smart casual sunday, I’ve opted for one of Gap’s oxford shirts. Though the medium I’ve gone for looks slightly too baggy buttoned up and tucked in, it does however act as a good alternative for a coat during the British summer. Having a pocket means you can accessorise however you want to make it individual and in my case, that means too many glasses, a pen and a fancy pocket square to drown it all. Blue and grey are the colours I’ve gone for, so that means I’d pick a blue or grey pocket square, or something neutral like white. Saying that, there’s nothing wrong with putting something red or green in there - I wouldn’t say there’s any incredibly anal laws as to what pocket square you should pick based on what shirt you are wearing, but then again, I’m not the type to buy incredibly loud multi-coloured ones with giant swordfish on them.

Socks are always a personal preference. I prefer to just roll mine down and hide them during the summer, because when you’ve got some nice shoes and tailored fitting trousers which have been rolled up, it just looks a bit more “summery” than socks often would. But saying that, if you’re willing to brave it, yellow socks would be a nice option with the blue/grey look. But the thing about wearing blue/grey is that practically anything goes with these colours, and it’s pretty hard to go wrong.

For the idea of the shoot we wanted something that represented the casual lifestyle aspect of Gap. We’re out on a Sunday, wandering through Goodge Street looking for a decent cup of coffee (and below is coffee, not a beer!) and enjoying whatever sun London can get. There’s no one to impress with a next-level thorough outfit that’s setting trends for 2016, the average guy just wants to be comfortable on a weekend knowing he doesn’t have to wear his work suit for a sixth or seventh day in a row. I think people have mistakenly associated the term “smart” with wearing a suit or a shirt, but if you pay enough attention to the details and get out all the creases, that to me strikes up enough of a “smart” image.

Two more looks will be coming as part of the Styld.by series. They will also be available to view via Gap’s Styld.by website.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Today I introduce the final part of the Paris series, which I'm sure many will be pleased that I'll finally stop garbling about the French capital, and stick with what I'm more commonly associated with: the clothes on my back. Starting off the Parisian special was a feature on Lacoste's latest campaign 'Life is a Beautiful Sport', from which spawned the lifestyle theme that's been reoccurring throughout the three part series. What initially got me writing about the city and its inhabitants was how intriguing I found the people and how they lived. Paris is filled with most of my favourite things: wine; food and good, good clothing - so why not praise a place despite the UK's negative outlook? Last month I wrote about the people of Paris. Today I write about what they do.

The clichés you hear about Paris tend to be true. Yes, the people tend to be pretty beautiful; yes, they dress well; yes, service is a bit slow and finally: yes, everybody seems to be busy doing nothing. I was talking to this Serbian guy outside a café yesterday while I was shooting with Joe, and he mentioned that much of Europe is like this. People seem to be busy doing nothing, indulging in the coffee culture that we in London only appreciate in tiny nooks and crannies within our scheduled day. We seem to fuel ourselves with busy lives, stopping only to moan about the weather or our morning commute (which in my opinion, are both fully justified). But for what it feels like in Paris, be it a weekday or weekend, the streets and independent restaurants seem to be filled with people laughing with friends and family, taking in slow drags of a cigarette over teeny coffees or wine at never-too-early-in-the-day hours. To be honest though - you can't really blame them. The food and wine is really just that good, and while I have absolutely no idea how the city funds itself on loungers, I've got to say - I wish I was one of them.

Myself and the other invitees were only in Paris to view the launch of Lacoste's latest campaign, which meant there was very little time to explore. Sure it would have been nice to visit the Eiffel tower, or walk along the River Seine (which we sort of did), but once you get wrapped up in the charm of visiting a new city, there's little else you want to do other than walk around aimlessly and simply observe, which Paris is pretty great for. I think the best thing about visiting a new city is how foreign everything feels, and even the most trivial things can wow you, such as different looking buses or different language signs. "Wow, a sign in English...in FRANCE!" - Mind. Blown. Perhaps it's a London thing to feel like everything outside of the capital feels barbaric and backwards, but I do love that new feeling of discovering something or some place new (even if I had been to Paris over 10 years ago, ahem). 

steak tartare followed by banoffee pie - drooling is acceptable

Other than the aforementioned things of food and wine, Paris has also developed a reputation for a fantastic place to shop. The Chinese have always loved the bazaar of luxury brands found in Paris, whereas the hipster crowd go kilo-crazy at the vintage markets scattered throughout the whole country. I managed to catch a quick drink with an old friend who works in Fendi. "The Champs-Élysées is good but there's many other places to shop these days". The Champs-Élysées is one of the most coveted streets in Paris, known for its luxury shopping and signature monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe. Now however, there's plenty of other noteworthy places, with one of the most formidable among streetwear enthusiasts being Colette, the French boutique which stocks not only magazines, music and beautiful clothing, but copious amounts of water - as in different types of bottled water. 

There's plenty more to drone on about with the city, but I fear of turning this article into a glorified Ryanair travel brochure. My advice would simply be that if you find yourself with a weekend spare and you're travelling from England, hope on the Eurostar and go explore for 48 hours. Don't bother planning to do anything, just bring a camera and perhaps a French phrase book, and live the Parisian lifestyle. Minus the spitting at anyone who butchers your native language (kidding - that doesn't happen THAT often...).

Here's a sign off to the three part Paris series, though I'm sure I'll be dropping over there soon for some more people stalking watching which means you'll have lots of pretty photos to ogle at. Huge thank you again to Lacoste for the brilliant experience. If you wish to refer to any of the previous posts feel free to check them out here: Part 1 | Part 2. Would love to hear your Paris experiences via social media as well - you know where to find me.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

Brands that stock your classic leather shoes are a dime-a-dozen these days. Designers and corporations have caught on to the fact that men simply love their footwear, and if they're going to fork out on anything, it's shoes (or suits, but that's another story). Whether you're a sneakerhead, drooling desperately over the sneak preview at Nike's new colourful creation, or in my case, a leatherhead (which I've just made up), bashing the table at the excitement of a shoe collaboration between a British favourite and London designers (hint: Grenson), you'll join me in acknowledging that decent footwear is pretty essential. The saying goes that women will often judge men by their shoes, and furthering that saying, I'll let you know that most guys will notice them as well, and I'm not one to shy away from complimenting some well looked after sneakers or brogues. However, as is the case with all good products, we as consumers have much choice to choose from considering the standard leather shoe is ultimately not that varied, and I could name a fair few shops that will stock your "on-trend" single monk strap shoes. So with that in mind, I introduce a very solid, British option that'll keep your feet well planted and looking classic & swish. Grenson.

(image courtesy of Grenson) 

I find it surprising that most people haven't heard of the Northampton-based shoe brand Grenson, which is something I've mentioned to their in-store team. "We tend to get a lot of returning customers. The Grenson follower is a bit of a cult-like worshipper". I've noticed with many individuals that they tend to remain devoted to one footwear brand, with Nike followers shunning the likes of Adidas, or someone who I met the other day, swore only by Prada men's leather shoes. In Grenson's case, those who know the brand, love the brand, and hopefully with the introduction of their two new stores on Meard Street (Soho, London) and Lambs Conduit Street (Bloomsbury, London), their "cult-like" following will continue to grow. The Meard Street shop represents a rustic-like appearance that remains true to Grenson's old roots which date back to 1866, while the Lambs Conduit Street shop parallels only with the shoes they both stock, and instead incorporates a much more modern vibe, with a design that would make the average Monocle reader shed a single tear of joy. The best thing about both of these streets are they aren't ones you would typically walk down, and if you happen to stumble across the rare-to-London quiet streets, the lingering smell of leather in the air is sure to pull you in to view Grenson's offering.

Now talking about the actual product - what makes Grenson stand out from its competitors? In central London it's very easy to see some of England's best offerings, which I believe are championed by the likes of Church's or Barker, who have been worn by individuals I've met nearing their late years of 70+ years old. Grenson does exactly what these aforementioned brands do: they product classic footwear which you know will last and is certainly worth repairing, on top of being easy to. What they offer in addition however, is beautiful modern takes which will be gladly appreciated by the eccentric, providing a service within their Bloomsbury store called the "G-Lab" programme, where the customer can create a truly unique shoe by choosing different materials and colours for alternate parts of the shoe. This means, if you're crazy like some (hopefully none), you can go for a pair of gold, silver and red lace-ups, or alternatively, those black and blue shoes you've always wanted.

the introduction of their G:Lab at Liberty last year

Their non-G:Lab offering is separated into G-ZERO, G-ONE and G-TWO, which indicates where they are made and what sort of materials are used. Their G-TWO range is the most common of the three, featuring the more playful styles with thick white Vibram soles, or two-tone brogue suede lace ups. The G-ONE range applies more to the working professional, providing solid, weighty black shoes that are instantly noticeable within the boardroom. The G-ZERO are the finest of the bunch, made in their Northampton factory and detailed with small, hand-crafted aspects. It's worth heading in-store to pick up the product as you'll be surprised by the weight of some of the shoes. Some of the boots may feel as if you're wearing dumbbells on your feet, but rest assured it's more of a sign of lasting quality, which can be repaired by the Grenson themselves.

Grenson have gone from strength-to-strength in the last year, providing a formidable, well-received shoe range for women as well. On top of that, Grenson collaborated individually with several London designers to produce an exclusive range that was stocked on Mr. Porter, including personal favourites Agi & Sam and Matthew Miller. It's no wonder the brand has gathered so much positive press, as they've wisely played upon their British card, combining their story and heritage with current, relevant designers and modern, playful styles. If you haven't checked out the brand yet, it might be worth heading over to one of their stores or their website to view the impressive offering. My favourites include the Dylan styles and the Hadley boots. Mmm.. the Hadley boots.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook  

At the start of this month I released the first part in my 'Style Well Travelled' series which was arranged in collaboration with British brand Reiss. There's been many supporters of the post so far, which I'm very grateful for, with many people highlighting the different ways of perceiving Reiss clothing. I think Reiss must have been placed into some sort of "only open for tailoring" brand, when really they have much more to offer than just mid-market shirting and suits. While I also used to see them this way, they've certainly impressed me with a viable offering of knitwear and outerwear - and I'm a sucker for a good jumper. Joe Harper is also, having helped me photograph the three part series, so kudos goes to him for providing us with some grr-eat visuals. 

jacket: Reiss, shirt: bespoke via Tailor4Less, jumper: Reiss, trousers: Zara, bag: Cambridge Satchel Comapny, socks: Uniqlo, shoes: Poste

As part of the 'Style Well Travelled' theme, I wanted to target a specific part of the day where people need to consider what they're wearing. For this part of the series, I'm hoping to tackle the business meeting. I remember in my finance days the suit was always a requirement, with only the tie being optional. I guess working in the fashion industry means practically anything goes, with the bare minimum required is that you're clean, though I'd like to think that's the standard for pretty much any ordeal. Despite this (and not necessarily including first time client meetings) I don't think the suit is essential to making a smart impression, which is something I hope to highlight with Reiss' knitwear and my now-staple Mac (the coat, not the computer).

The key things I like to consider when approaching a business meeting are:

How well do I know the individual? Is it a potential client, an acquaintance or just general networking?

Is it a day time or an evening meeting? Coffee or dinner?

What field is the meeting? Finance, fashion, etc...

These essentially make the backbone of how you want to prepare. It might sound a bit anal to be thinking about the situation in such depth, but first impressions do tend to last, and appearance is one of the first things they may judge you upon. So let's say you're meeting a potential client for dinner somewhere in West London, it does make a lot of sense to pull out the two-piece suit and shirt combination. But if it's lunch or a coffee, you could probably get away with say a two-piece suit and a white t-shirt. If it's just someone you could potentially do some work alongside, then you could throw on a nice smart jumper and trousers and be on your way. It would be wise to take into consideration the circumstances, and don't feel restricted that "business" implies a pristine suit & tie combination, especially if it's something you're not comfortable in.

Back on to topic with Reiss, the coat has become a solid, summer staple. Aside from being lightweight, the fabric has a somewhat stiff element to it, meaning it tends to fall off you rather than cling to you too tightly. The waterproof element is always handy living in London, because as we've experienced this Easter weekend, you never know when the rain is going to spontaneously drown you. And if it does end up getting a bit too warm, it folds nice and neatly within your bag, albeit slightly crumpled.

Me and Joe might have gone a bit overboard with the images, so apologies for the constant scrolling. Hope you enjoyed some business tips, as I know there's a few readers from my old world who fire real life questions now and then, and not just ones that revolve around what colour trousers to wear in summer 2014... But anyway - stay tuned for part 3, which will cover the transition between dressing in the office to dressing in the pub. Happy Easter!

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook  

Earlier this year sneaking around Paris on the trip with Lacoste. Photo by Adam via Yin & Yang

Earlier in February I wrote about my experience in Paris, which I visited as part of Lacoste's campaign 'Life is a Beautiful Sport'. The French label invited a few humble individuals to view the new LIVE collection, as well as the promotional imagery and videos for their now-all-over-TV campaign. Being in a city such as Paris however, you need to spend a few hours getting lost everywhere and anywhere, and be heckled a few times for your pathetic attempt at French. I managed to get a few hours in the days to do one of my favourite past-times - stalking. Or, as the sane like to say, people watching.

it's all slow dining with wine at any time of the day

I'm hoping to release a third part which will cover the actual lifestyle of the city, as there's really quite a bit to be said about the iconic capital that seems to divides the world's opinion (with the ultimate example being the British). There's so much to be said about the actual people who live in Paris, and while I'm not looking to politically step on anyone's toes, I didn't really find the locals as daunting as I had imagined. My initials thoughts leading up to the days before boarding the Eurostar was a mixture of hesitation and nerves. Everyone's heard the reputation of stereotypical Parisians - unfriendly, disgusted by the butchery of their mother tongue and pretty pompous. Even I've had one occasion in China where this Parisian had ranted at me for five minutes about how she despised the British (which took up most of the six minutes we knew each other), though I'll let her attitude slide and blame it on the few bottles of wine she'd just ingested. But, despite all of this, when I was finally off the train and wandering around with my bags and camera - looking very much like a tourist - I was pleasantly surprised. People were pretty lovely, enjoyed smiling and most importantly for the work of Mr. Boy - were happy to have their picture taken.

I think what people mistake as arrogance, is their confidence and demeanour. Paris has some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen in a city. Perhaps it might seem as though they are looking down their noses, but personally I perceive it as confident, comfortable individuals who don't feel the need to rush around as much as we do here in London. And on top of this grace and somewhat messy elegance (by which I'm referring to the rough, knotty tied up hair), there's incredible style. 

I mean seriously. While walking around the streets of the charming city, I can't help but gaze at individuals dressed head-to-toe in dark, neutral colours, displaying a style that is very much representative of French designer Isabel Marant, who is known for this "effortlessly cool"-like style. I might sound like a bit of an oddball, but it's the sort of thing that first got me interested in fashion and style in the first place - personal style. And personal style is something that the French certainly have. It's the long coats in combination with flowing hair that seems to fall into place. It's the taste and appreciation for luxury brands which seem to just be part of the lifestyle, as opposed to something "unattainable". It's all very cool, and there doesn't seem to be a better way to describe it. People there are just cool.

Venturing around the city, snapping pictures of people who go about their lives seemingly aimlessly - it's understandable why Lacoste has opted for the 'Life is a Beautiful Sport' campaign. Everything is just a bit more beautiful in Paris. Perhaps I'm biased though - I'm not such a fan of big bold colours which is why the city works so well for me, one that is notoriously more beautiful during the night. But more on that next time. I'll leave you with a few more photos which I took of the locals, as well as Eniola from Lacoste, who guided us around the city with her signature spectacles.

- Mr. Boy

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook