the young ones.

i was flipping through a hong kong esquire yesterday (yes, i have resorted to reading anything i can get my hands on and it just happened to be, on this occasion, a men's magazine in a language i can't quite read!) and i come across an article about a 12 year old fashion blogger. i was immediately intrigued...

apparently there's a new wave of young fashion bloggers in the US and TAVI (above mentioned blogger) author of STYLE ROOKIE has had quite a respectable amount of publicity in the past few months. i can imagine the disapproving looks and uproar she has had to experience. in her latest post she attempts to defend herself (not that she needs to) and she gives a shout out to her fellow young bloggers.

honestly, i didn't realise that there were 12 year olds that were so fashion conscious and so stylish, believe me it took me by surprise, but i think it's great that there are kids who know who Rei Kawakubo and Martin Margiela are. there will be no disapproving looks coming from me - i actually like the idea that there's a new generation of budding fashionistas who are choosing to express themselves creatively through fashion.

withdrawal symptoms.

my ideal sunday morning involves a hot cup of tea and a good glossy magazine - simple isn't it? however my lack of reading material on this v. lovely sunday morning has got me experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.  and the fact that the november 2008 magazine issues are being splashed all over the internet is really not helping the situation. i want, i want, i want! i neeeeed! you see... a trip to the magazine section of a book shop is like a trip to the candy shop for me. in london i had borders (oh how much i miss it) and here in cape town i have exclusive books - also a candy shop of some sort but where the candy is imported and unfortunately v. dear... sometimes i just can't help myself though and i find myself leaving the shop with lots of over-priced candy - naughty i know. 

how can i resist though? these big guys are doing fantastical stuff. i-D always has amazing covers which has me drooling - quite literally. ELLE is great for catwalk fashion/trends and recently their fashion spreads have been right up there with Vogue and their covers are just spot on - clean, slick and so stylish. the articles in Vogue are always written beautifully - "wow wee" writing.  i-D and Dazed have more edgy and innovative fashion spreads which is always a breath of fresh air and which i love love love. i just can't seem to do without them.

An interview with Mr Steve Salter.

here's another interview with one of my favourite bloggers. STEVE is author of STYLE SALVAGE and i was lucky enough to ask him a few questions. Back in May, STEVE told me he was currently really interested in unearthing unlikely icons (his most recent: Steve Zissou from Wes Anderson's Life Aquatic) which got me rather giddy - my head was racing with all the possibilities. here's what else the blogging addict had to say.

What sort of topics do you choose to cover in your blog?

I personally like to cover as varied topics as possible just because I am interested in so many within menswear. Music and art are often overlooked by many blogs but there influence on menswear and vice versa is undeniable. I read other blogs and all the magazines I can afford for inspiration.

What sort of things inspire you to write?

Other blogs inspire me to write. When we started the blog last June (2007) there really wasn’t that many blogs dedicated to menswear. We thought this was a crying shame and we knew that there was a demand for it so embarked on a mission to cover this area in our own way. Since we started more and more menswear blogs have started and now we all push each other to write about this topic as well as possible.

What do you love about blogging?

Blogging is a bit of an addiction really. I both love and hate the fact that it is hard to step away from the computer. It takes over your life to a certain extent because there is always something new and interesting to look at. At the moment I just can’t get enough and actually want to increase my blogging levels but one day it could get all get too much and I’ll need to check into blogging rehab.

Any perks?

People actually reading my rambled musings. Of course there are the invitations to events which are always welcomed. I would be uncomfortable with any greater perks than the odd invitation and goody bag though.

Anything you don't love so much?

Negativity. But at the moment we have been very lucky. The readers we have are great.

What do you think men's relationship is to fashion on the internet?

I recently read that more men (56%) are now choosing to shop online than on the high street which seems crazy to me and of course this stat will only increase. Men are coming round to the idea that there are more uses to the Internet than watching porn and shows like Family Guy. Also, not a week goes by now without some new men’s fashion blog coming to our attention. High profile blogs like the Sartorialist's and Kanye West’s have helped create a dialogue around men's fashion which was previously unseen.

Your favourite fashion sites or sites that you think are doing something interesting/different?

So many have popped up recently including Mensrag, Getkempt, Kanyeuniversity. My blog roll is already pretty intimidating and ever growing. The obsessively detailed eye of The Sartorialist is well known and rightly so. However sites like Hel-Looks and Breach of Style all give men across the globe something to think about

How many hours a day to you dedicate to blogging?

Currently not as much as I’d like as my laptop is being repaired…otherwise around 2 hours blogging…the rest of the day I think about it.

Your favourite spots in London?

I’m fortunate enough to live in central London so there is so much to do right on my doorstep. My new favourite place is in and around Carnaby Street as there are so many good stores there, including Shop22, Hurwendeki, Concrete, Beyond the Valley and the stores within Kingly Court and of course if I get hungry Cha Cha Moon is right there as well. In terms of going out I tend to gravitate East.

Favourite item of clothing?

My YMC hi tops which have changeable uppers.

Fashion icon?

Fred Astaire,

Your dream job?

Owner of my own acclaimed menswear store in London.

Other men on the web that you think should be recognised?

I'm inspired by Thomas Mahon of the English Cut because I dream of being a tailor one day.

Any thoughts on the future of fashion on the internet?

I personally want to see more magazines come online and do something interesting, generating great editorials and spreads online!

lovely lady lace.

a/w 2008 has once again proven that lace is timeless - a fabric that awakens feelings of nostalgia but which also has the ability to be really young and modern at the same time. i decided to take a little advice from Miuccia Prada and invested in some lovely lady lace. i actually found this dress on my birthday in a little treasure trove on the coast of Cape Town known as Kalk Bay. the colour of the fabric makes the sexiness of the dress, usually associated with lace, quite understated and more lady-like. i like the idea of the lace dress peeking out from under other garments - toning down the full-on lace by layering and also at the same time creating pretty puffy textures - my favourite.

it's a lookee likee.

i love browsing about street style blogs because from time to time you find something that holds your attention for longer than the usual mili-second (my attention span is shamefully short - i blame it on all the MTV-watching in my teens). i happened to stumble upon this image on facehunter. aside from the fact that i had an instant surge of jealousy towards my fellow londoners, cause obviously the sun is still shining there (people just don't wear sunglasses in london unless it really is sunny), i completely luurrve the outfit! minnie does a/w grunge. her glasses caught my attention first - do they not resemble the Jeremy Scott sunglasses from the Linda Farrow Vintage s/s 2008 collection? they do, they do me thinks. i guess if you can't own it then you should just reference it. it makes a lot of sense really.

everybody (secretly) loves a knock off.

yes yes lets just all go ahead and admit it... we would all prefer to have the real deal (who wouldn't?) but sometimes a knock off can do the job just as well - this applies to everything except Chanel and Krispy Cremes of course! i found a pair of Marc Jacobs mouse flats look-a-likes at Mr Price (a South African chain store - basically the equivalent to Primark minus the vicious lunchtime shoppers) and i got them for a ridiculous 40 rand (that's roughly 3 pounds). they look identical (with that one exception of course) but they brought a smile to my face none the less. i recently blogged about jelly shoes... and if i didn't draw a clear and pretty picture for you the last time, i have officially embraced the jelly shoe comeback. they're adorable and i'm tempted to get them in every colour!


the knock-off.

An interview with Mr Elliot J Sainsbury.

i always take a moment out before an interview to close my eyes really really tight and make a wish to the fairy godmothers above that my subject is not a man (or woman) of little words. any one who has conducted an interview will know how excruciatingly painful it is to get a lousy "yes."/"no." as an answer to a well thought out question. lucky for me, ELLIOT was every interviewers wet dream. a man of many many words!

ELLIOT is the head fashion writer at Fashion156 and also contributes regularly to Topmanzine and London Kicks

What sort of things inspire you to write?


As a fashion blogger in particular you have to develop a sort of mental 'peripheral vision'; i.e. always being in the state of mind to be inspired. The most inspiring thing is people, if I'm being honest- it's other people, how and why they choose to wear what they do, seeing them on the street, knowing how they put this or that look together. And the designers themselves, of course.

What do you love about what you do?

Today was a good example - we got a case of necklaces from a new designer just launching in the UK and they were astonishing and made me excited about clothes all over again. The thrill of uncovering a new designer, or seeing a new show or inspirational lookbook is really exceptional. Being surrounded by clothes all day and meeting some wonderful, creative and motivating people is what it's all about.



Any perks?


Yeah, but it's not all free clothes and limousines! There's some very lovely gifts people sometimes give and some great events but it's usually the nightbus home. Though yesterday I interviewed Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, who is one of my favourite designers ever and ended up at the private view of one of my favourite photographers. I guess that sounds glamorous when I actually write it down...



Anything you don't love so much?

Blogging in particular requires tough hours and a lot of research, but it's hardly rough manual labour for 365 days a year...
 


What would you be doing if you weren't doing this?


Working on my novel, playing electronic music with my band or writing about something else- what that is though, I've thankfully never had the time to work out.



What do you think men's relationship is to fashion on the internet?

It's good for everyone really! Men who are 'scared' of fashion can shop, discuss and get inspired by imagery from the comfort of their home and get style tips without a personal shopper. The second thing is that men who are fashion-savvy can expose themselves to a massive variety of media and expand their knowledge really easily.

Do you think fashion on the internet is dominated both by female-orientated content and a female readership?


It pains me to say, but yes- in sheer terms of volume and number there's a staggering amount of female-orientated content. Technically it is dominated by a female readership, but the grey areas- what ideas they pass on to any men in their lives, what gender of clothing they're reading about- tells a more interesting story. 



Do you think it is changing?

It is changing. Online shops for guys have become more integrated, and taken globally menswear boutiques now offer an astounding selection of clothes compared to about five years ago. The internet has made a few 'stars' out of menswear bloggers/photographers/video-makers which is a really recent thing too, people who now publically promote men's style in print, on television and campaigns- in other words, avant-garde tastemakers. 



Fashion sites that you think are doing something different & interesting?

I love men.style.com for the collections; StyleBubble, Breach Of Style, Hintmag (whose multimedia/forward-thinking shoots are really interesting); oki-ni, which has expanded fantastically as a menswear concept; polyvore, as I love collages and shopping (and this combines both); youtube for music video costume research (I'm obsessed with 90's house and eighties electro); Big Cartel as it's really like an online market for small designers; Oak and Seven in New York as the selection and product shots look so inspiring and editorial-quality. There's a blog called The Staple I like, whose writer focusses on a menswear staple each post, placing it in the realm of classic men's style like good books, coffee and music.



How many hours a day can you be found sitting infront of the computer?

About 23 1/2...


Where do you go to relax?

I spend a lot of time in Charity shops, taking Bay Garnett's advice that they're a good place to focus your eye. Walking through London is the most relaxing thing; absorbing the people, sights etc. I love the George and Dragon, Bar Music Hall, the parks (Richmond especially), the canal, the City, the historic centres of London.

Favourite item of clothing?

A charcoal Miu Miu cardigan, it's my favourite label (now RIP for menswear), I got it for my 18th birthday and have worn it every week since. If not, a very long wolf-print t-shirt I hacked the arms off of, a pair of Carola Euler panelled trousers, an inherited striped shirt, purple cargo shorts or my Siv Stoldal scarf.



Any fashion icons?

Neneh Cherry. David Hockney (the colours, the hair, the glasses). Grace Jones, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Romani people, City of London policemen, Oscar Wilde. My aim is to look like a robot from the future living in a 1920's forest.

What does fashion mean to you?
Historical materialism, or, constructing a personality.

Where do you want to be in 10 years?
Involved in some kind of cultural menswear revolution, getting everyone to experiment with neckscarves and knitwear, whilst writing EastEnders episodes by night.



Other great men on the web?

Guy, our editor, does a lot to promote young menswear designers, like recently Christopher Shannon, J W Anderson, Material Boy and QED. Tim Blanks from style.com is, of course, awesome. 



blogitty blog.

as some of you might know this blog started out as a pre-requisite for a LCF course that i recently completed... but to put it simply the blogging got addictive and so i decided to keep the blog as opposed to letting it disappear into the realms of cyberspace. i wouldn't quite consider my coursework to be blogitty blog material but for my final project (FASHIONING THE WEB - a supplement for i-D magazine) i found the perfect excuse to interview some of the girls and boys responsible for my daily reading material. i've been sitting on this for awhile but i think the time as come for me to share the love...

N.B. Jas M. B. Sample Sale

i don't really know why i haven't made a big deal of my jas mb bag that i bought earlier this year at the grazia london fashion weekend sale... but i think it's time i gave a little shout out to jas. to be completely honest i've never heard of jas mb (yes, silly me.) until i came across the stall at the sale... but really it was love at first sight (cliche - yes... but exaggeration - most definately not!) i couldn't tear myself away from all the leather goodies! my poor sister, i think i dragged her back to the stall a good few times to have another look... and feel of course. needless to say, i purchased the lovely leather item (after much contemplation and confusion - i am the most indecisive girl ever) just seconds before the cashiers closed... and i got it for less than half of the original price! so for the past few months i have been the happiest jas mb toting girl in london. and it's funny cause just yesterday a friend of mine commented on the fabulous-ness of the bag and, like everyone else who gets the opportunity, couldn't help but reach out and cop a feel. what can i say? nice-to-touch leather is my guilty pleasure.

anywhoo... try get yourself down to the jas mb sample sale this week in shoreditch. there's bound to be lots bargains and hoards of cool-looking asian kids to up the game. i'm a 9-5 (or rather 10-6) unpaid working girl from tomorrow but i'll definately try get myself there... i might even stay for DJ set - maybe jas has other talents aside from making trendy understated leather bags which make me weak at the knees.

the controversial jelly shoe.

what is it about the clothes and accessories that defined the 80's that makes us cringe? bodysuits, skorts and... the infamous jelly shoes. i can proudly say as a child i never owned a pair. but after slaving over the computer - fighting with the workings of indesign and my ability to work late into the night... i decided this girl deserved a pair of shoes! who knew that the first pair of shoes my eyes would set itself on would be a pair of JELLY SHOES... yes. i actually saw a okay-looking (as in i would consider wearing them) pair. okay don't get me wrong... i haven't totally given in to the dark side - that is the jelly shoe. i still think some, okay most, of the shoes are... well... just plain unacceptable!

i thought these (above picture but in black) were cute though_ okay. stop pulling that face! they aren't exactly peirre hardys or christian louboutins (although mind you marc jacobs, gucci and marni have all done a few jelly looking shoes for their collections). and yes they aren't exactly made of organic, sustainable materials and whatever natalie portman's vegan shoes are made of but they are cute and i quite like them. this is where i'm going to stop arguing my case cause my persuasion skills are crap and the jelly shoe is a difficult debate that i most probably won't win.

anyways they didn't have my size in black... they did however give me a glittery pink pair to try for size. aha as you thought - it nearly had me running for the door, promising never to lay eyes on another pair of jelly shoes again. what was i thinking?! and that's how i'm still feeling from time to time... constantly reminding myself... "but they're jelly shoes Ulanda!!".

but the store just called and my size is waiting for me... and so the internal debate continues... to own or not to own a pair of jelly shoes?