FashionBeans.com

Men’s Designer Logo Clothing

Robert Michael — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:13:35 +0000

BIG LOGO, BIG STYLE

Designer logos… Cheap and Desperate or Stylish and Chic?

Waking up still drunk to find stale beer all over your t-shirt isn’t sexy. It is however, a great way to ‘borrow’ a new tee if you have good mates. Marc Jacobs phone box/monster ‘07 tee, (Fearne Cotton wore it once in Heat…) yes please!

Adding it to my wardrobe, it quickly becomes one of my favourite casual wears! Great design, perfect fit and high quality all in a t-shirt. Little did I know this would be the start of such controversy. With the Marc Jacobs logo stamped across my chest, some of my friends immediately call me a walking billboard. ‘Shouldn’t you be paid to wear that?’ etc etc. Then this person I meet on a night out brings it into conversation straight away, becoming what I perceived as almost sycophantic towards me because I’m obviously amazing if I’m wearing Marc Jacobs…

No.

This leads to the question, are designer logos wearable or not?

Logos on more than one item of clothing in your outfit can look very Benidorm. Think fake Louis Vuitton print overdosing on cocaine. Not inspirational:

Logos as a centre piece however can look pretty good! Keep it to one logo and keep it casual… Check out FashionBeans 4th best dressed, Kanye West, with his YSL tee in the main picture above.

The truth is, style shouldn’t be about what designer name you can show off. It’s about realising your body shape and the fits that suit you so you can wear clothes that compliment it. High quality and well designed garments obviously help in achieving this. Confidence ultimately results from wearing clothes that make you feel great.

A decent designer shouldn’t really need a logo to be recognisable. The colour choices, design and quality of production should create the designer’s independence.

Working in high fashion retail, I noticed there were three obvious types of customer:

‘I don’t want that, I mean sure I love Prada but how the hell is anyone else going to know that?!’
‘That piece is amazing, but it has a logo on it so I’ll look desperate!’
‘Tried on. Perfect fit. Looks great. Sold!’

Customer #1 only cares about the logo. Showing it off promotes wealth, success and being fashionable! Apparently…

Customer #2 hates customer 1. Having a no logo wardrobe makes you understatedly more fashionable! Apparently…

Customer #3 doesn’t give a sh*t. Logo or No Logo, they like what they like. They like what fits. They like their style and they know it looks good.

The design, quality of fabric and fit of these items as well as the big, juicy, throbbing logo it has on the front does it for me. It’s all about the package. Discover your own, but just so you get the idea…

Logo Clothing Examples

MyWardrobe

Coggles

Editor Addition

Logo clothing isn’t just limited to the premium designers either, a lot of the mid-budget commercial brands are throwing it out there as well. Take a look below for teen options in the G-star, Diesel, Hilfiger, Fred Perry, etc. price range:

In conclusion.

Mix it up. 2010 is a new decade. It should be called the ‘less pretentious’ decade. Customers #1 and #2 are SO pretentious. They are the victims of fashion. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Logos can be fun. Following trends is bang on trend, but letting someone else influence your buying decisions too much is a little embarrassing. Be customer #3. If you like that SCREAMING designer logo on the tee that fits you perfectly, do it. If not, don’t. Just don’t be such a fashion victim by saying you hate it on someone else.

Yours,
Robert Michael G.

*Wears full Kappa tracksuit.
Twitter: @robertmichaelg

Men’s DIY Fashion

Jacob Kamara — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:48:49 +0000

Right guys, there are so many D.I.Y fashion articles and blogs circulating the glossies and the web but most are aimed at the girls, with not much information for the boys. So I have decided it’s a good time to get one out there especially as most of us can’t afford to run out and buy a whole new wardrobe each season and I am sure, like me you have drawers full of clothes that you don’t wear anymore but haven’t quite got the heart to chuck out. If you are lucky enough to be able to run out and change your wardrobe every 3 months, then it’s always fun to do a bit of ‘DO IT YOURSELF’ fashion and create something UNIQUE to you.

I, myself am a serial DIY’er. I started modifying my clothes a few years ago for a couple of reasons. The first was simply that I just couldn’t find what I wanted in the shops, or I’d buy a gorgeous garment but it was just lacking a bit of edge. The second, and main reason I started customising my clothes was one night I was stood at a bar and to my horror I spotted a guy wearing literally the exact same outfit as I was! To my acquaintances dismay I protested that we leave the club immediately unless they could find a way to remove this style doppelganger from the premises. After a swift exit I thought to myself, this incident can never happen again, and so began the obsessive modifications.

I’m not saying completely re-tailoring a certain item of clothing is necessary but some small reinventing generally goes a long way. For example, in the recent sales I bought a last season, skinny, crinkle effect blazer with big boring black buttons up the cuffs and replaced them with big brass military ones which has transformed this tired little blazer to being pretty much the hottest ‘IN’ item in my blazer collection.

I have a few pairs of jeans (you know the old type, Bootleg) that I’ve sewn big coloured zips into the legs to taper them transforming them into a carrot / gun fit and I must say they look pretty good. I have even had strangers stop me in the street and ask “Dude where did you get your jeans from, they are sick, init”. This is when you can reply with a funny man joke like “your Mum” or you could just say “ah thanks, yeah I made them from some old Jeans”. I strongly recommend the latter. If you don’t want the big zips then you can just taper them in from the knee down (remember if the denim has no stretch you may want to put a tab of elastic on the ankle). You can even try bleaching your old stone wash jeans to get an Acid wash before you taper them.

If you’re feeling the studded look, there’s no need to go out and buy new t-shirts covered in studs when you have 10 Tees that you haven’t worn in months. You can pick up a variety of different fabric studs in most craft shops for a couple of quid and go wild on one of your old T’s, after all if it goes horribly wrong then you haven’t warn it for months anyway and you could just don it with pride “under a big jumper”.

Studded shoes and boots look great as well and they’re so simple to do, some flat back studs and some super glue and your half way there.

If you are not one for sweating it out over a sewing machine or you have no intention of hand stitching buttons, but would still like to re-invent some old pieces, then find a good tailor / alterations shop and tell them what you want and I am sure they’d be happy to do it for you. Or you could pick up the phone and in your most charming voice say the three magic letters… “NAN”!

We want to hear about your creative customs and ideas, so get involved in the comments page below.

DIY Style – Get Involved

Have you always been into customised clothing? Have you tailored your own jackets, jeans or shirts? What are your personal tips in producing DIY clothing that looks great? We want to HEAR AND SEE your creations. I have set-up an email address: DIY@fashionbeans.com where you can send pictures of your custom DIY clothes, or send me a list of written tips for how to do it and still look great. If we have a good response your pictures and tips will be updated in this article so all the other Fashionbeaners can learn from your style!

PLEASE NOTE: KEEP EMAILS UNDER 5MB otherwise they will be rejected by the server.

Men’s Spring Footwear Trend – The Desert Boot

Edd Clark — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:53 +0000

The Originals Original

When looking at trends it is important to remember that not all trends are set on the catwalks by the big power fashion houses. There are occasions when trends are set by the people on the street, and images of celebrity endorsement are key. Lets be honest all of us at some point have taken inspiration from a certain look or tried to replicate an item that a certain celebrity has worn. So for this article we are moving away from the true catwalks and trying to identify a trend that is appearing on the street, and as a result a particular item has arisen to the eye which some people might not of thought likely.

The Original Desert Boot has been around us for the best part of six decades, yet never really held the acclaim it deserved. However this Original has been revived, replicated and reinterpreted so many times by so many different people over the years it has never fallen out of style. The distinguishing feature about the desert boot is its strange crepe sole, yet it is still considered an essential feature and part of the character of the boot. Both shock absorbing and water-repellent, it is a practical material to have on the bottom of a shoe.

The first ever Desert Boot was created by a young Nathan Clark, whilst serving in a Burmese military outpost with the West African Brigade. Since that moment the desert boot has developed and branched off to so many different areas. The Clarks shoe brand still has the item as one of its most popular shoes and a top seller.

So how to wear this item? Well because the Desert Boot typically comes in two different materials (leather and suede), you can wear them with pretty much everything. Although highly recommended NOT to wear them with a suit. Denim is generally the chosen fabric of choice to wear with the desert boot, so a pair of dark blue denim jeans worn with a black or brown suede Desert Boot would complement each other highly. The other look to think about particularly for this spring/summer is the revival of the relaxed chino and casual shoe. The desert boot are generally low to mid-cut and it means they would also look great with a pair of rolled chinos, like a modified deck shoe. Lacoste were one of the only fashion brands to actually promote the trend suring their runway previews so take inspiration at how they dressed up their models below.

Now for the doubters who feel that the desert boot isn’t worthy as a trend or are still unsure lets take a look at who has worn this particular shoe over the years. In their time they’ve been pictured by famous name photographers like David Bailey and the visionary Helmut Newton. They’ve been worn by Hollywood legends like Steve McQueen. They’ve even been championed by rap stars and revered by rock stars like Liam Gallagher, lead singer of the now broken up Oasis.

60 long years after it made its début, the Desert Boot lives on. Its simplicity, its versatility and its individuality have all helped to secure its place on the roll-call of iconic designs. It’s a cult classic. Every man’s ideal shoe and one that would look great in your wardrobe this Spring.

Desert Boots on the Runway

Desert Boot Picks

Clarks

Office

Oki-ni

Coggles

MyWardrobe

Men’s Style For Over 30’s

Mark Gill — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:20 +0000

Editor Note: A Saturday update? What is wrong with me?! Anyway Based on all the comments below I think I probably need to come back to this subject and explain a few things. Mark is in his thirties and wrote this article with the Title: “Fashion can be bought, style one must possess”. I changed this on purpose to get people interested in the article and promote a debate (plus it has benefits in search engines: the geek in me ). What we have had is quite a brilliant reaction from the plus 30 crowd and they all have extremely valid points. I have updated the article in my section but it really deserves it’s own topic totally. One that I have noted in my scrapbook of ideas to write about. Please enjoy the article and get involved with your own personal opinions below.

Fashion can be bought, style one must possess.

As I flanneured through the city this week I observed with despair the near ubiquity of errors certain men are making in their fashion choices. This article does not concern those skinny little creatures working in high street retailing, the ones who seem to think a pair of jeans whose crotch is somewhere below knee level is cool and edgy and fight with their girlfriends over who will use the straighteners first.

No, I am talking about chaps who have already slipped crossed the horizon of being thirty and are now caught in the hinterland of clinging to ‘cool’ and worried about dressing like dad.

The error they are making is to mix the two rather than elevate their choices into one all encompassing style, selecting only those pieces from the capriciousness of fashion that fit this new style. I believe if men could absorb this simple lesson, then I dream of a world which would be a much more beautiful place in which to live. Hell, crime might fall, manners may begin to come back. We might even turn off the TV and read books. Something resembling civilization might return.

So what, I hear you ask, should the 30 something male dress like?
Well here are 6 KEY basic tips that are just the start of our journey:

Forget fashion and get a style.
Streamline your wardrobe. Go through it and give to charity anything you have not worn for six months. There will be a good reason for this.
Look at your body shape. Unless you’re lucky, your thirties are when you’ll start waging a constant war with your body, so dress accordingly.
Thinks shirts instead of t-shirts, shoes instead of trainers. Go for classic knitwear, invest in a blazer. Jeans are still ok, just go for the darkest indigo and for god’s sake pull them up and wear a belt.
Invest in a quality suit, if you can afford it go bespoke, but made to measure is ok and still superior to off the peg. More on this in my upcoming articles.
Start looking at where you purchase your clothes from; think A.P.C not All Saints, Dries Van Noten – not Topman.

Yes, there is much more to say, and this article contains just a snippet of all you’ll ever need to know to look better than almost every man on the street. Follow my advice and do your part to save civilization.

A.P.C and Dunhill 09-10

Great examples of the look we would aim for from these two great designers latest look books:

Editor Note

I think Mark has really touched on a strong topic here within men’s fashion. As we grow older I think we should do so with some grace and not fight that horrible feeling of trying to cling to your youth. You SHOULD dress differently at 30+ [This was totally my error to put a specific age] than you do in your early twenties. There is nothing worse when I see older “gentlemen” in a bar or at the gym rocking baggy distressed jeans with a bright graphic t-shirt! Trying to be ‘cool’ or wearing what all the young guys are wearing is exactly what makes you come across as try hard and incongruent. It actually makes you look like a total train-wreck.

I know when I start to hit my thirties and beyond I will swap out some of my pieces and substitute them with smart classic items that FIT (key). This might mean chinos and polo shirts, or it might be a leaning toward casual shirts and great knitwear. I am not sure how I want to progress my style because I am not there yet, but believe me I will be looking towards our personal BEST DRESSED MALE 2009 Tom Ford for inspiration. Now that is how to look great on a daily basis without all the ‘on trend’ items. See the comments on the article we wrote about him and how he is revered by ALL ages as being one of the most stylish men on the planet.

So please guys, if you haven’t already… grow up. It sounds harsh but you will thank me for it. You do not have to be a boring clone of everyone else out there, you can still add personal touches and flair to your outfits (through colours, patterns or accessories etc.) and OWN your looks… but let’s do it with some class.

UPDATE: Wow I really went for this huh. There have been some AMAZING and inspiring comments below which really emphasise the points I have always tried to make in my previous articles. Having a personal style is truly that… unique to YOU. You do not want to be anyone else and everyone’s personal upbringing, friends, situation, budget, environment, surroundings, personal role models etc will all play a part in the look they are going for. Mark has obviously started to adopt a more mature style and is now going for a more refined and probably classy look. He made this decision to do so within his thirties but it could also come later for other’s as they are not quite ready. There should of been no age associated with this [my fault] because transforming yourself before you are ready is also going have you feeling uncomfortable and less confident.

This article is a question of style instead of fashion/clothes and the Key point is to develop a personal style that is congruent with exactly who you are and where you are in your life. Everyone should grow old with class and dignity and it is about finding that balance about when to let go of the same styles you were wearing in your youth. Hopefully each year your personal taste will develop and you will start to look for ways to progress anyway so it will not be an issue.

For instance since I started this site in 2007 on a personal note my style has gone from really quite youthful and edgy to now a more edgy relaxed formal look. I wear casual shirts a lot more, I utilise a lot more casual shoes/boots in outfits, and I love using trousers/chinos in my day time looks which I never would of considered before. I still keep it ME and add the edginess through accessories, layering, colours and even cut/fit (drop crotch, carrot, tucking in jeans, rolling jean hems etc). I know within 2 years I will of progressed again and my style will be developed even further. Each year I become more and more confident, I know who I am and what I like and dislike. In the end it makes my personal STYLE become more defined and then finding clothes and putting outfits together which project this becomes easy.

Reader Quotes

Here are some of the greatest quotes I have seen from readers below. Witness01 always hitting the mark on the head:

Witness01
in your thirties”… Y’know, I don’t think it’s that simple

of course I agree that guys should always dress in a way that is enhancing, as we mature – so should our style and our class, as we become more refined

older guys dressing like much younger guys is creepy and wrong

The rules are so different for each individual that all you can really say is “You’re getting older, do so with dignity…and use it as an opportunity to evolve your style and sophistication”.

There is no such thing as an outfit that is right for a 30-something year old. We need to dispel that myth. There are only outfits, styles, items that are right for *you*.

Jason B
I do like the idea of buying less more expensive additions to my wardrobe that will stand the test of time.

Keith
its a controversial topic i feel and men go through the “change” at slightly different times, depending on how old they look and there personality.

BOAZ
its more about finding and developing your own style and for that you need to be true to yourself be confident and honest with yourself

Everything above really sums it all up. There are no rules to fashion and EVERYONE is different. There are some really great points to take away from the article (for and against) and I love the fact we have promoted some fire and debate between the readers. So let’s keep it going!

Personal Clothing Picks

Shirts

Knitwear

Jeans

Jackets

Footwear

Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 7 – Thick Knit & Cardigans

Matt Allinson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:30:23 +0000

Moving on from last week’s article on jumpers, I thought it was probably about time we covered their older sibling cardigans, and thick knit clothing in general. Along with jumpers, I am a really into cardigans at the moment. Mainly because they can add a nice stylistic twist to the outfit you’re wearing but also, thanks to the time of the year and the weather outside, layering these pieces with your other clothes helps keep you warm for the winter months. It doesn’t hurt that these new breeds of cardigans are more fitting and slim cut than your granddads, making them the perfect complement to your striped and plaid shirts.

Rather than the thin layering that some of you may fancy, why not try some of the thicker knits out there? Fair Isle and Cable knits were really big last autumn and will most likely be so again this year. They come in a variety of styles and colours and the great thing about them is their simplicity. Rather than the complexity of thin layering and making sure everything is in its right place, just pull on a camel or cream cable knit jumper over your t-shirt to keep you warm as the daylight dwindles and set yourself apart from everyone else who thinks winter equals shades of black. Or for those times that you’re heading out straight after work, why not leave the jacket at the office and pull on a thick knit grey v-neck (like the one’s found in H&M’s current line) over your shirt and tie and head out ready for anything.

But in regards to cardigans, you can get them in thin knit materials such as cashmere and cotton or thicker versions predominately in wool. Thick knit cardigans are great as an overall top layer during the colder months, kind of like a cool substitute for your winter overcoats. My particular favourite way to wear them is over a blazer as seen in the picture above (far right) from Paris’ fashion week. However, I would recommend buying a few standard thin cardigans first before so that you have some versatile options all year round. You can wear them with pretty much anything and look great when layered with a shirt and blazer combination. But remember if you are going to sport these newer stream lined cardigans then remember to keep your under layers in a similar cut so that you don’t have any billowing or creasing material.

Ways to Wear

And as always here are some fool-proof ways of wearing cardigans : -

Trying pairing a black cardigan with your newly purchased denim shirt and jeans. Then add a knitted tie to compliment both the colour of the cardigan and the material of the shirt. Or just think of your black cardigan as you would your black blazer; it’ll go with anything.
For those days at the office, why not try wearing the same coloured cardigan as your suit under the jacket? It’s like wearing a three piece suit but not: all the connotations of power with none of the stuffy drawbacks.
And for those lazy Sunday’s why not wear a navy cardigan over your favourite pair of jeans or chinos and a V-neck T-shirt. Or try substituting the tee for a vest as the weather starts to warm up or maybe even those jeans for some chino shorts?

So there you have it, buy some cardigans and thick knit jumpers to see you through these remaining months before the summer finally arrives. Just remember if the cardigan is simple in design and colour you’ll have more room to play with patterns and designs with your under-layer. Similarly, if you’ve picked up a patterned cardigan (like I have, it’s got crazy argyle going on), try to keep the shirt and tie as simple as possible and let the cardigan do all the talking. Look for ones in navy, grey and, particularly as spring kicks in, camel or cream and you can’t go wrong.

Until next week guys…
Matt

Knitwear Picks

Burton

Topman

All Saints

ASOS

Labels We LOVE: ASOS

Luke Todd — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:00:02 +0000

Labels We LOVE Introduction

There’s like this label that we sorta like love and stuff because it’s nice because we wear it as clothes and that, and I’m gonna like tell you about it and stuff because we like clothes and stuff cos that’s what we do on here.

Fundamentally I am done speaking like an idiot and fundamentally is fundamentally… the only big word I know so that’s out the window also.

Ello, ello, ello you snazzy little sartorialist you. This is the first in a brand new series from yours truly. Excited? Damn right you are!
(Cue intro music) – If you actually started humming an intro song for me, I love you and you are now my friend!

The ‘Labels We Love’ epilogue will be making a regular appearance on the site discussing why we love… me. No? Okay. Speedos? A few disapproving looks. Fine, seeing as you bothered to come on a (by ‘a’ I do mean ‘the’) top fashion website of this glorious internet those young’uns keep speaking about on their MyFace & Twitbook; I s’pose I’ll discuss why we love the labels we wear.

It may be called labels we love but no label nor site is safe. I’ll be tackling the biggest to the smallest. The largest online & high street stores to the fiver out of the back of a Camden lorry. The Kate Moss’ to the “I can’t help it, It’s glandular, now where’s my cupcake?”

I will be giving you an insight into their history before marking the labels on key rounds:

Stock trend; how often do they update it and is it on trend for SS10? Points will be lost for any sight of ‘out of stock’.
Brands; how many and how unique? Extra points for collaborations!
In-house lines; with many branching out into in-house stock, how well do they fair against the established brands?
Media; do they offer articles and advice on their products & trends, do they embrace the social media and can they compete with fashionbeans.com (a completely unbiased category)? Extra points for a shiny website.
Extra time; a final chance to grab those vital points. Anything that makes me pee my pants is a shoe in for an extra 8 points!

Each round will be marked out of ten and then a final score will be totted up at the end. Where will they sit on our leader board and how long will they hold their coveted place? If you think you have or know a label worth loving then let me know by leaving a comment below!

For now, let’s get started with our first love-worthy label: ASOS.com…

About ASOS.com

Established in June 2000, ASOS.com is the UK’s largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer. With over 19,400 branded and own label products available and 1000 new lines added each week, ASOS.com is rapidly becoming the market leader in the UK online fashion world. Aimed primarily at fashion forward 16-34 year olds, ASOS.com attracts over 6.3 million unique visitors a month and has 2.8 million registered users.

What the fashion press are saying about ASOS.com:

“ASOS.com is a bottomless pit of fashionable pieces that make you click, click, click and buy.” In Style

“I resent the eclectic online emporium of fashionable goodies robbing me 60% of my wages on a monthly basis.” Luke Todd (yeah, the other one)

“From sampling celebrity style to setting it, ASOS.com has become a style front runner.” Daily Mail

Round 1, Stock trend:

Winning such awards as Drapers Awards 2009 – E-tailer of the Year, National Business Awards – Grant Thornton Mid-Cap Business of the Year & Company High Street Awards – Best Online Shopping, you would think their stock would be something to scream about. It is.

A daily update of staple items, covering everything from blazers to scarves and knitwear to shoes. They practise a somewhat of a ‘without fail’ commandment where you can see an update of new lines even on a bank holiday. *Extra points*

Here are my top three picks from a recent (21/01/10) new in page:

As for on trend buys, it’s a hard category. Many items are not out yet and are still in the press release stage. Granted, ASOS do seem to be favouring the more ‘acid youth’ look. The global traveller trend appears to be non-existent in their shirt section. Global traveller is going to be based around the principle of print. Yet I find not a single Hawaiian shirt in sight. As is the same with the collegiate American Graffiti look. A few of their competitors seem to be ahead with releasing these key items!

Nevertheless; hats? Just a few. ASOS is a one-stop shop when it comes to hats and you won’t be short of a few for any of the SS10 looks.

Despite having minimal SS10 necessities for us early-birds, they still boast one of the biggest overall stocks online. For these reasons I give it…
5/10 + 1 Extra Point

Round 2, Brands:

Acting as more of an eclectic warehouse of fashion goodies, ASOS is anticipated as a frontrunner in this league. Breaking it down I can see their main areas are: High Street, Denim Brands, Street Brands, Active Brands, Premium Brands & Designer Brands. So pretty much…everything.

ASOS is certainly part of an elite classification where you can find Adidas & MCQ on the same site; I’m not endorsing you mix the two for a trend-setting running wardrobe however!

As far as collaborations go they are far and few between but there might be a few hidden gems somewhere. What really sticks out for me is the LTD 100 collection that appears selectively throughout the seasons. The LTD 100 range is exactly as it implies. Eccentric and definitively rare. You have to act sharp when you see this feature spring up because not only do they go extremely fast, they are also exclusive! *Extra points*

With branding from students at London College of Fashion – they are truly unique!
For their sheer attention to brand diversity & exclusivity furore I give ASOS…
8/10 + 1 Extra Point

Hold up…
There have been many a’great arguments throughout history. Is the world flat? Is there a god? Is Posh’s IQ higher or lower than my cats? But one of the most prominent of these arguments lies within the very label we discuss the love for today!

Aye-Soss Or Ah-Soss?

Here is what the most reliable internet source I could find at 10.58pm, Wikipedia, states: ASOS.com (pronounced A-sos[citation needed]) is the UK’s largest online-only fashion and beauty store.

Great, citation needed. So that settled, ummm, eff’ all. On with the next round.

Round 3, In House Lines:

ASOS have had a strong in house line since 2007. And despite only being active for 3 full years, they maintain one of the strongest. They separate their lines into three sections. ASOS Collection which is in the main draws from the wider market. Fashion basics and fashion trend pieces in one place. Ultimately it is modern, on trend styling.

Then we have ASOS Laundered. The relaxed brand is inspired with comfortable “laundered” clothing. Casual but with a strong focus on fabric and fitting, these pieces give a worn in and vintage appearance when worn right.

Then finally we have ASOS tailoring. An in house alternative to your Saville Row, they mix time-honoured tradition with a modern flair hitting the sartorial mark with sharp suiting’s.

ASOS is one of the few in house lines that covers every output right down to literally, well… your undercrackers (and for reasonable prices). They have done well to establish themselves as a key brand of modern fashion. Here are my three top picks from the ASOS range:

But before you snap up their stock (or in fact somewhere else does) I need to point out their in house stock issues. Particularly with tee’s and basics, the range is there, the colour is there even the size is there; it’s just an XXL size. Obviously with a wide range of products comes a scarce availability of storage. Never fear; they are regularly restocked albeit if a little late.

Hey ho, again for their range and diversity and without skimping on the detailing and embellishment of their lines I give ASOS collection, oh and ASOS laundered, oh and ASOS tailoring:
6/10

Round 4, Media:

Already I can see ASOS claiming the top spot and holding it but we’ll have to carry on and see. Hint: The answer to an upcoming question is no.

Round 4 is media. And when it comes to media, ASOS have all the bases well dressed and truly covered.

Email Newsletter: Check
Post Newsletter/Magazine: Check
Facebook: Check
Twitter: Check
MySpace: Check
Bebo: Check
Other: Check (ASOS life)

Just in case you get withdrawal symptoms between the posted ASOS magazine & newsletter, they send you a little email with all sorts of goodies in it! But if you’re even more of a ASOS lover (or stalker) then you can check out their Facebook (give ‘em a little poke), monitor their MySpace, eyeball their Bebo, follow their twitter tweets or stand naked outside their head office with “I LOVE YOU” smeared over your body in red paint.

Or the non arrestable option is to join ASOS life. Launched in 2009, ASOS life is the stylistic equivalent to all the above. Acting on the basis of forums rather than blogs, all the ASOS staff are actively involved (despite endlessly plugging ASOS products).

I did pose the question “can they compete with fashionbeans?” I wouldn’t like to comment I’ll just let you take a hint.

Respectably the two are in different formats and ASOS life still offers a lot of that which other online stores do not. Also January saw an updated look given to every aspect of the ever changing ASOS home and dock pages. A fresh design with plenty of space to show off their latest trends! Shiny website? Me thinks so! *Extra points*

For not missing a trick I give ASOS…
10/10 + 1 Extra point

Extra time:

Anything goes in this round. This is the time to earn some real label loving! As if you want free & unlimited next day delivery all year. As if you want someone to personally collect all your returns (yep, even in that snow). As if you want no minimum order value to qualify for this. Oh wait you do? Well tough, you can’t.

Okay I lied. ASOS Premier is a yearly subscription to which you receive all of the above. At first when they asked for the £24.95 a month I thought I was sponsoring a member of staff. After an awkward phone call to head office, I realised I was wrong.

For this amazing dedication to (albeit) lazy customers and not pressing charges on me for trying to steal my adopted member of ASOS staff I award… 3 Extra points.
Total: 29/50 + 6 Extra points

The Labels We Love Leaderboard

I wonder where that leaves ASOS.com on the leaderboard? Stop pointing out the obvious. Stop it. Stop… alright I know the leader board is empty! So ASOS goes on top of the fashion Olympics but for how long will they hold the top spot? Keep checking back and keep suggesting your own favourite labels for my sartorial scrutiny.

The Labels We Love Leader board of Label Loving Loveness:
1. ASOS.com – 29/50 + 6 Ep

Shofolk Shoes New Collection

Christian Kimber — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:01:17 +0000

Not in these shoes Darling…

So I imagine if you are a follower of FashionBeans, you might find your self in a situation when you think, “f*ck my shoes are going to get ruined in this weather”. If your not already thinking about this there are two reasons you should. Firstly people judge you by your shoes; girls, your boss, need I go on. Secondly the 21st century man needs to care about his shoes, his chosen brand of gin, the cut of his suit, the colour of his socks, the accessories in his toiletry bag and everything sartorial in his life. We need an everyday shoe; I have had a lot of people mailing me a related question. I think with style, success is standing out a little bit, not fitting in. It’s better to be a needle in a haystack than the haystack, so they need to be unique… the shoe you might even buy two pairs of if they are in a sale. We are looking for the perfect casual shoe.

We are often in certain situations when we need the casual shoe, following the Mrs around the lingerie department, or a picnic in the park for example. If a football gently rolls towards you, as a man you must kick it back, and not flip the Italian made loafers off to complete the task. So we need a shoe fit for the occasion. Stylish enough to perhaps even wear to work but also one to wear in the rain. So I have two ideas to destroy this question. You may all have different contributions, of which I advise you to comment on below.

My first casual shoe is the Paul Smith Musa. The ultimate trainer. So perfect in fact that I am on my 2nd pair. They are made of washed canvas with a suede toecap, which is versatile enough to transfer from casual situations to the business environment. If you are yet to discover a pair then I recommend you check them out. They also feature decorative insoles and a Paul Smith coat of arms, creating a very detailed shoe.

My second idea is an entire brand called Folk Shoes. They may look a little smarter than the average casual shoe, but the vibrant colours make them a contender. They are tidy shoes, with hard soles and soft interiors; comfort is always important when we discussing the casual. Beautiful shoes, made to last. Folk is a casual menswear brand started in 2001 in London. Shofolk, as the footwear collection is known for men and women, was established in 2004. The big guns say “Folk’s about making clean, honest understated garments with a meticulous eye for colour, fabric selection and design detail. They create simple everyday clothing with subtle, innovative and sometimes playful detailing”. They are Functional yet very stylish and you’re extremely unlikely to find another person with the same pair of shoes. The Shofolk are made in a small family owned factory in North Portugal with sixty years experience in hand, skilfully creating wonderfully coloured leathers.

So my advice is to ensure you find the perfect casual shoe for your general pursuits, if it be a high top or a folk lace up. Ensure you keep them looking fresh and clean, there is a fine line between casual and a messy trainer. Good Luck gentlemen in your crusade for the right sole.

The Shofolk Footwear New Collection

Oki-Ni

ASOS

Coggles

Christian Kimber

Personal Profile: Christian Kimber is the niche of the fashion industry currently working in buying in London. His life is based on the pursuit of style and with an entrepreneurial tendency we simply wait to see what he comes out with, I heard he is opening his own store in the near future, but that didn’t come from me. He is based in London and writes a lifestyle blog available at: www.kimberstyle.com

Men’s Fashion Arm Candy

Jacob Kamara — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:57:13 +0000

Most of us style conscious men already have a man bag, however there’s still a huge number of guys out there that are stuck in the (medieval) frame of mind that a bag is a purse, and a purse is for a women. Big FAT no no!

Me without a bag would be like Lady Godiva having a buzz cut: as edgy as she may look it would just be wrong.

I have a bag rack that fits 10 large bags, consequently this is not nearly enough. I have bags by the coat rack, under the bed, even on the dining table. I mean it’s really bad. I may have bills protruding from every orifice but I’ll still lust after the hottest tote hitting the shelves and before I’ve had a chance to say “OH MY DAYS” my qualms are boxed and shoved to the back of my mind, as I am stood at the counter, card in hand grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

I am not entirely sure how we managed for so long without a reliable bag, where did we put everything? Phone, wallet, diary, painkillers, sanitizing gel, a spare cardi for adverse weather conditions. For me and my trusty handled comrade the list goes on. I simply couldn’t fit all these essentials in the pockets of my skinnies (in fact I can just about squeeze my phone in them)!

With summer maybe not around the corner but on the horizon, this brings a whole new wave of products and essentials we’ll need no more than an arm’s length away, perhaps stowed in a quilted turquoise holdall (this seasons colour of choice).

The variety of men’s bags out there is incredible. I am pretty sure you can even pick one up from F & F at Tesco (but, um yeah)! There are so many styles to choose from; the big bold weekender, the canvas beach beauty, the everyday essential. Pretty much every designer has a range.

The one that really makes my heart flutter a little is the man clutch (see Ronaldo above) which is still yet to take a strong hold but I’m pretty sure it’ll have its day. I saw some high-flying business man donning a plain and boring pinstripe suit and instantly my eyes were drawn to his Louis Vuitton Man Clutch arm candy sitting snugly under his right bicep, which instantly made him and his outdated suit powerful and style savvy. Equally they look great with pretty much any outfit, whether you’re in your slacks running to the shop to pick up some milk or lunching with friends in your new school boy blazer and military boots.

I personally own two man clutches and I love them only slightly more than the rest of my man bags (but I don’t tell them that)!

If you don’t own a MAN bag it’s time to let your pride go and get one. And if like me you’ve worshipped the bag since you can remember, I am sure you have room for one more (there’s always space in the bathroom)!

Below are a few I absolutely adore for this season. Remember that the more you invest in a bag, the better it will look with age and the longer it will last. Do not be afraid to splash out, once you have one of these in your wardrobe, you will ask yourself how you ever managed without it!

Also check out your local Vintage shops there are sure to be an array of unwanted gorgeousness waiting to be swept off their dusty, unworthy shelves.

Man Bag Picks

High Cost/Premium Designerwear

Low/Mid Priced

Wrangler Skyway Western Shirt

Ben — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:21:05 +0000

Wrangler Western Shirt – Men's checked shirt from Wrangler – Long Sleeved – Twin front stud pockets – Branding on pocket – Product Code: WRANW5421MT55SKYSS10 – Material: 100% Cotton – Washing: Machine Washable – Colour: Skyway

Wrangler Mid Wash Spencer Slim Old Glory Jeans

Ben — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:20:58 +0000

Wrangler Spencer Slim Old Glory Jeans – Men's Spencer old glory jeans from Wrangler – Regular 5 pocket jeans – Slim fit – Fray patch detail and paint marks on legs – Back pocket with branding tag – Button fly – Product Code: WRANW184VT362SS10 – Material: 100% Cotton – Washing: Machine Washable – Colour: Mid Wash/Old Glory