To-orist Clothing

 

Apologies for the lack of blogging action this weekend but my blog was temporarily incapacitated due to a lack of technical ability on my part! But I’m back now to tell you about To-orist (pronounced Tourist): a clothing brand which make handmade garments which incorporate sci-fi, the surreal, ancient history and foreign lands into their designs. They expertly employ numerous processes: Cork, Leather, Holographic, Lace, Silk Screen, Swarovski, Transfer and Vandal prints to name but a few.

 

 

 

I think that To-orist’s use of iconic travel imagery and manufacturing techniques is really original. The dali-esque holograph zebras, the flourescent holographic sarcophagus faces are all compounded by a really original style of printing with holographic images and fluorescent colours which I love.

I’ve been on the hunt for some original t-shirts for a while and I think To-orist have created something quite unique to the clothing market today. It’s a proof of concept merging the Avant–garde with the popular. I’m sure they’ll spark a big rush to copy these designs and techniques but for now they should enjoy the moment.

 

Film Review Bridesmaids

Good morning!

Well the weather is truly terrible in the UK and as much as I try, I always forget that this is as good as the Summer gets here! I fought through the rain and wind to get to my local multiplex last night to give you a film review for Bridesmaids.

I was a little bit unsure what to expect with this one as I thought it could be a movie where all the funny scenes were in the trailer. After all, the only person I recognised  was Ellie Kemper who is in The American Office, which is excellent, but inconclusive.

To summarise the plot, Bridesmaids is a movie about a thirty-something failed businesswoman, Annie, whose life isn’t going to well. She’s in a dead-end casual relationship with a complete jerk (played by a style hero of mine Jon Hamm from Mad Men) and lives with a bizarre British siblings, one of which you will definitely recognise, who border on mentally insane. To top it off, she has just been asked by her best friend Lillian, Maya Rudolph, to be her maid of honour for her upcoming wedding.

Let me just get this off my chest as the plot doesn’t really give you an idea of the qualty of this movie… I absolutely loved it. The lead actress and co-writer Kristen Wiig may be better known in the States for her work on Saturday Night Live, but I hadn’t heard of her up until this point. Although I will definitely change that as she is a massive talent. She is one of the funniest people I have seen on screen as she can effortlessly deliver physical comedy whilst her reactions and mannerisms are just priceless. I can hand on heart say, that the sex scene between her and Jon Hamm was the funniest scene of that nature that I have ever seen in my life. It was a hell of a way to begin the movie and I was looking at the old couple in front of me to make sure neither of them had a heart attack!

I think both men and women can relate to her best-friend rivalry with the beautiful Helen, Rose Byrne, who tries to undermine Annie’s party planning at every juncture. She also was supported with able performances from several others, but the ones that really stood out for me were Chris O’Dowd who Brits may recognise from the UK comedy, The IT Crowd and Melissa McCarthy, who plays the ill-mannered, brutally honest but incredibly funny Megan. In retrospect, her character is the one similarity to The Hangover films as she plays the off-the-wall sister of the groom who has only been invited because she’s family which is a direct parallel the HO’s character Alan. But I don’t think that will bother you as I’ve only realised it just now and she did play the role phenomenally well.

I was waiting for Mrs D. after the movie by the escalators and inadvertantly heard lots of comments from the audience that I watched the  film with. I was all very positive and everyone appeared to have really enjoyed the movie. “It’s so much better than The Hangover” was something I heard several times from different groups which, in the case of the more recent installment, I’d have to agree. But I think the movie Bridesmaids has a different flavour to the Hangover which surprised me as they easily could have gone down the much trodden, drunken-Hen night path. Instead, what director Paul Feig and writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo have done is create a considered, funny comedy which appealed to everyone in the theatre especially resonates with the female audience. I think a lot of people will go and see this movie off the back of the success of The Hangover franchise but will come out felling like this movie stands up on it’s own merits.

I’m so glad I went to see Bridesmaids after the glut of other comedies that have been released recently (Bad Teacher and The Hangover pt 2) as this movie would have put them both to shame. I’m a complete comedy snob but there were at least 20 laughs in this movie. Put down whatever your doing today and go see it as it’s the funniest movie of 2011 so far.

4/5

Top Tips For Healthy Skin

Good evening to all and to all good evening.

In today’s post, New York based, Mens skincare and grooming company Anthony.com have written several easy, practical tips to help the modern man keep his skin healthy and clear. Invest a couple of minutes reading and you’ll get back the hours of your life worrying in front of the mirror which would be better spent learning how to make sushi, perfecting your robot dance or reading The Superbite. Their website is full of great advice too! Don’t thank me, just pay it forward.

Skincare Tips for the Busy Working Man

Being employed in the current job environment is a blessing, but holding onto a job can mean putting in long work hours and shouldering a lot of stress. Lack of sleep and stress can both have negative effects on your skin, so it’s important to keep up your skin care regimen, but how do you find the time? Here are a few tips on how to take good care of your skin on a tight schedule.

Take Vitamins

Your skin is an outer reflection of your inner health, so a quick and easy way to improve your complexion is to take vitamins A, B, C, E and K. Pop a multivitamin every morning with your protein shake. It takes practically no time, and will not only directly affect your skin, but will also increase your energy level and overall health.

Replace Soft drinks with Water

 

We know you’re exhausted and crave caffeine and sugar, but sugary sodas are dreadful for your skin, and the energy you get from them is only temporary. So lay off the energy drinks and opt instead for water or all-natural juices.

Take Shorter Showers

It may sound counterintuitive to take shorter showers for healthier skin, but the longer you stay in the shower, the more your strip your skin of its protective oils. If dry skin is a problem for you, try altering your shower routine even further by using mild, all-natural soaps and warm (instead of hot) water.

Combine Steps

Keep your face wash and shaving materials in the shower and skip the sink. Also, if you don’t have sensitive skin, it’s okay to use a combination hair and body wash. By limiting the number of products you have to keep track of, you can shave a few minutes off your routine.

Shave Carefully

Avoid annoying and time-consuming skin care issues (ingrown hairs, razor burn, cuts, etc.) by shaving carefully in the first place. Use a high quality shaving cream (preferably not a foam) and a sharp, fresh razor.

Borrow Lotion from the Ladies

You probably don’t have the time or space to carry around lotion, but you should be moisturizing daily. If you’ve not yet crossed the threshold of buying your own lotion, borrow some from your better half.

I think Alanna has been to soft with you here… everyone moisturises now so why don’t you man up and visit Anthony.com?

Anthony Logistics For Men offers a line of men’s skin care products. The line was developed after extensive market research and was conceived as a full line of men’s personal care products. Quick and easy to use, an essential for most men, the products offer face, shave, hair and body solutions.

 

Review Bad Teacher

A film review of Bad Teacher today which is the new outing starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and How I Met Your Mother’s Justin Segel. Bad Teacher see’s a step change from Diaz who has abandoned her usual stunning, goofy, girl-next-door type for a stunning, shallow, badass role. She plays Elizabeth Halsey, a teacher at a Illinois middle-school who wants nothing more than to get married to her rich fiance and quit her job.  The only problem is that her fiance has wised up to what a horrible person she is and decided to dump her tout suite.

Begrudgingly, she returns to teaching and becomes convinced that the only way she will bag herself another rich husband is to get herself a new pair of fake boobs. “But how will she fund them?” is what you’re probably not asking. Well I’m telling you anyway; the highest testing class in the state gets a big fat bonus and she will use her boobs to get a new man in the form of  substitute teacher/heir to a fortune, Scott Delacourt, played by Justin Timberlake.

It’s hardly Citizen Caine is it? Although I’m sure Mark Kermode will use the following adjectives that he uses them to describe all comedies that aren’t lame family movies: “nasty” and “misogynistic”. I wouldn’t got that far as I think Bad Teacher does have a couple of things going for it, Jason Segel delivers his lines with extreme comedic effect and he really carries a lot of scenes. Diaz also gives an interesting performance in a role which I don’t think she’s ever explored before. It’s quite hard to think of Diaz as a horrible piece of work.

With snappy jokes, flirty banter with Segel and a few times when she bothers with any of her pastoral duties in looking after her children, the writers are clearly trying to convince the audience that the character of Elizabeth does have a heart and she’s quite nice really. I wasn’t convinced and I don’t think many other people got a fuzzy feeling in their tummy when things ever went her way in the movie. For a no-brainer Sunday afternoon movie, it actually left me quite conflicted! She carries out several pretty serious crimes but we’re supposed to love her as she’s learning to be slightly less of a bitch.

I IMDB’d the director for this and it’s Jake Kasdan. The movie actually made more sense when I read that he directed an episode of the TV series Californication. It was the ultimate in ‘hit and miss’ TV and the protagonist, Hank Moody, was a loveable anti-hero who was deeply flawed but you still wanted him to get his shit together… sound familiar? It seems Kasdan likes anti-heroes but whereas Elizabeth and Hank are both charismatic and funny characters,  Moody was an impulsive idiot and not a superficial sociopath.

There are some funny scenes in the movie  Bad Teacher but for every funny scene, there was one that was just downright bizarre, a bit of a comedic misfire if you would. Diaz can definitely do comedy and she’s got form. In fact, most of the misfires came from Timberlake, who clearly has a great sense of humour (look up Mother Lover on SNL) but he needs to work on his acting chops.

I wouldn’t get too carried away with all the ethically questionable things that Elizabeth does as after all, that’s the point of the film. I was more disappointed with the writer’s failure to make the audience warm to the character as no amount of Diaz’ comedy timing will get you on board.

There were laughs in the movie but anyone who has ever seen a romantic comedy knows what will happen. It’s a very, very similar concept to the excellent Bad Santa starring Billy Bob Thornton so you might want to buy that on DVD instead. But If you’re in the mood to go to the cinema and you go in with average expectations, you’ll have a good time.

2.5/5

Miansai Jewellery and Accessories

I’m back from an excellent stag weekend where laughs were had, too much gin was drunk and I have learnt some very valuable lessons:

1. Never long jump accross a canal for a dare no matter how much you think you can.

2. If your feet stick to the floor and the staff wear wellies, you’re in a shithole.

3. Paying £4 for a kebab does not guarantee it will be delicious!

But I came back in one piece so I’m thankful for that. Accessories today, and something that caught my eye is a range of handcrafted jewelry from the Miansai brand. The company’s owner and designer, Michael Saiger combines the contemporary with wartime vintage resulting in accessories that I’ve not see anywhere else. When I was growing up, I found the concept of war fascinating and used to listen to my grandad speak about when he served in North Africa. Saiger states the same thing in his company biography, elaborating that he developed an appreciation for WWII relics and paraphernalia at a very young age. As a child, he was surrounded by his mother’s collection of antique auction finds and quickly developed a fascination for historic curiosities.

Miansai’s new collection includes u-cuff rope bracelets pictured that are beautifully made using blue nylon cord with a brass u-cuff fastening.

Miansai designer Saiger’s latest collection has been inspired by childhood trips to the beaches of Nantucket and The Hamptons and his mother’s antique shop – bringing a personal connection to his ‘old military meets nautical’ inspired pieces.

 

 

I’m not a big wearer of accessories, but I thought this collection was so interesting and clearly painstakingly designed that I thought you might enjoy it too. Military in fashion does go hand in hand, several world renowned Saville Row tailors such as Gieves and Hawkes, began making military uniforms for officers. I recently found the most amazing Military jacket worn by British medics during WWII but in the end chose not to buy it despite being in fantastic condition. It’s a tough one as I felt an item like that needs to be respected and not worn as a fashion statement. I’m not sure if it was the right decision I can’t help what I like!

You can find more Miansai vintage jewellery here. Tomorrow I’ll be reviewing Bad Teacher starring Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake.

 

 

 

Paul Smith Men's Summer Collection

 

 

Paul Smith have recently launched a new line under Paul Smith Tailoring. The British designer has once more combined quintessential British class with a touch of modern flamboyance. The flashes of bright colour juxtaposed with timeless, quality materials are for many people, why they love Paul Smith tailoring. The suits are lighweight, contemporary yet classy and are the perfect purchase for the Summer wardrobe. A Paul Smith suit is a bastion of British style and in terms of ready to wear tailoring, there are few designers who are equal to it.

 

Attention to detail and the quirky use of colours are used to play with traditional ideas of Britishness such as floral designs and stripes. With any item from the Paul Smith tailoring line, you get an astounding attention to detail, each button may be a different colour for example, which is unlike any other clothing line on the market at the moment. Paul Smith coined the phrase “classics with a twist” and he hasn’t disappointed in delivering that concept again this season. You can check out the full line on their website.

Right, I’m off to my friends stag do this weekend where we will be clattering some old bangers into each other around a race track. But not before I negotiate the M6 on a Friday evening in the rain… I wonder which will be more dangerous? I’ll be sure to take pictures of the ensuing carnage but enjoy your weekend, whatever you’re doing!

 

 

Funny cat-obsessed woman on scott mills show

I just had to share this with you. I was driving into town on the way to meet Mrs D. whilst listening to the Scott Mills show on Radio 1. He playing a dating clip from a woman who happened to be completely obsessed with cats. I’ve got a cat and sure, I love her like a sane person loves their family pet, but I’d be jumping out the toilet window if I was on a blind date with this maniac.

So here it is, I can honestly say it’s the funniest dating clip I’ve ever heard from a cat obsessed crazy lady:

 

I’ve watched this about 10 times now. She really hits the self-destruct button at the end: “I want to put them on a rainboooow…”

 

Man Skills: Order a drink like a man

"Do I look like I drink WKD?" Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca

I am as guilty as you when it comes to not having a clue about different aspects of bar slang or drink terminology. Before doing some research, if you’d have asked me to order a manly sounding drinks with the scraps of bar terminology I do know, I would end up with something so disgusting, even Kerry Katona wouldn’t drink it.

In my mind I have images of Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr being able to specify a sophisticated drink with ease…

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’ve decided you’re tired of ordering hum-drum industrially brewed lagers, ciders and alcopops? If you looking for a more sophisticated drink of choice. In my mind I have images of Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr being able to specify a sophisticated drink with ease. Having this vocabulary down will make you appear assertive and project confidence to others. Without further ado, whether your tipple is whisky, martini, vodka or rum, here’s the essential vocab to own that bar with minimal effort:

On The Rocks

This is probably the most commonly quoted drinks phrase and the best known. But just in case you don’t know, to order a drink “On the rocks” is to have the drink poured over ice without mixer or “wash”.

Neat

Straight out of the bottle. Nothing added nothing taken away. The drink is usually associated with when someone is having a bitch of a day.

Straight Up

Not to be confused with straight. To order something straight up is to imply you want a drink that is chilled in a cocktail shaker and then strained into a martini glass typically.

Dirty

Alludes to when your drink is impure, i.e has the taste of something else. Like olives in a martini to make it taste more piquant (pictured).

Wash, Mixer

I think wash is more common across the Atlantic but mixer is a bit more common in the UK. Pretty much any non-alcoholic drink or juice can constitute a mixer.

Rim

• This is an easy one to remember. For drinks like Cosmopolitans or Margaritas, the bartender will rim the glass with sugar or salt. Not to be confused with a rim job, where the bartender punches you in the face… or worse, gives you a rim job.

Chaser, Back

• A chaser is something that is drank after a shot. Typically beer. Not my idea of fun but some people enjoy them with amusing consequences:

Twist

Serves as the Pièce de résistance when ordering a more simplistic drink. The barman takes a twist of typically lemon or lime and serves it on the rim of your glass. This is one for the wine bars but if you do order it at your local, I wish you well!

Muddle

I’m a big fan of muddling! It’s more of a technique than an order, but it involves crushing (often manually) and mixing ingredients to release the flavour. My favourite drink is Cachaça muddled with limes, sugar and ice to make a Caipirinha (pictured). Classic holiday drink.

Float/Layer

Not technically the same thing but the concepts are similar. It’s when a drink is layered either with on the top (float) or several times (layered)

Now you know! You’ll be more Clark Gable than Jonny Vegas.

More tomorrow

D.

Discount Codes

Morning!

This weekend I’ve been inundated with so many discount codes to pass onto you all I thought I’d do a quick and dirty post listing them all in time for you to get a weekend retail fix:

My-Wardrobe: Secret Discount for 30% off with code FBM30 (expires tomorrow at midnight so hurry!)

 

New Look Menswear: 20% off menswear using NLMAN20J

 

Office: Online sale with up to 50% off

 

Kurt Geiger: Up to 50% off Sale

 

Topman: Free delivery this weekend with 30% off using codes UKFBJUNE (UK), AUSFBJUNE (Australia), INTLFBJUNE (International)

 

Maximuscle: 30% off all products using voucher MAXIM30 (expires midnight tonight)

Fashion tips from your Dad

Normally I would never advocate taking any kind of fashion lessons from your father. It’d be fair to assume that if everyone did this, the world would be populated by a bunch of hairy people with their trousers pulled up over their belly buttons. But in honour of father’s day I thought I’d play devil’s advocate and actually pay tribute to the items that our dad’s wore in the 60’s and 70’s that are now the height of fashion all over again. It pains me to say it but maybe Dad was on to something…

 

Distressed Denim

How I laughed when my dad used to wear his stonewash jeans… now who’s the fool? The studded fringe vest, long curls and black fedora wouldn’t look out of place on Bob Dylan or in Easy Rider. Classic Sixties cool and embarrissingly, I’ve seen pictures of my dad in an outfit not too dissimilar! 

Score 1 to the Dads.

 

 

 

 

 

The leather jacket and blue denim jeans.

A favourite look for dads everywhere in the late 70’s. You’ll never convince me of this one I’m afraid. I think the textures of the black leather and the blue denim clash quite heavily. It’s a tough one as I think that unless there are extenuating circumstances i.e you play for Inter Milan, black and blue, particularly deep blues and Indigos, should not be worn together.

Dads 1, Sons 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Desert boot

I know for a fact that in the late 90’s/early 2000’s that if anyone had rocked up to my school in a pair of desert boots, particularly from Clarks, they would have been crucified on the quad by the science blocks. Suede has since made a massive comeback for the Spring/Summer season with a whole host of ankle height boots in a range of vibrant colours being released onto the market. They’ve come some way from the Clarks Desert Shoe that was released in the fifties which I am reliably informed were then worn by everyone for the next two decades. If you want the original look, Clarks still stock the shoe with several other retailers also stocking a similar boot in it’s original sand colour. Depending on the colour, they can look great with an array of chinos or jeans.

2-1 to the Dads

 

 

Blazer and Wingtips

This is definitely my favourite. I’m a massive francophile and although the guy in this picture is American, I think that with that classic slimline blazer and dress shirt combination he’s captured the essence that was synonomous with iconic French designer Yves Saint Lauren.  You can find slim fit dress shirts and 2 button brown/grey blazers everywhere now (try TOPMAN or H&M). Then take some slim fitting trousers with  a pair of intensely dark brown wingtips and round it off with a pair of clubmaster Raybans to complete this look.

3-1 Dads (becoming a heavy defeat)

 

Sheepskin Jacket

They’ve been threatening to make a comeback for a while and given the right jacket with the right accompanying outfit, it can look very cool. It’s a tough look to pull off, and I think the subject has done so in this case but there is always the danger of looking like a 70’s football manager!

In this case, the jacket looks great and if you can get it right your friends will remark at how cool and cutting edge you are. But I’ll caveat that with if it’s the wrong cut, ill fitting or worn with clothes that don’t scream seventies rock and roll, you’ll look like a tool.

A begrudging 4th goal for the Dads in a 4-1 rout. It appears that all those years of making fun of photographs of my Dad have come back to bite me on the backside. Well what are you waiting for? Go out to your local thrift store, charity shop or high street retailer and and experiment!