My Recent Roll...

It's been a while since I had my latest roll of film developed. For this reason, the photos I have discovered on there have no connection or story to each other. Therefore, I think less words are needed for this post. 

I Have Gone EL

                                                      Chatsworth Road. Source: weekendr. 

For those who don’t know, EL is East London. Not only have I relocated there, but I have adopted the lingo too.

Gone are the days of donning ripped jeans and trainers for a night in Shoreditch only to return to brogues and Ralph Lauren the following day in Chelsea. There is no escape for me now.

I live in Hommerton. It's in Hackney.

It’s less than one week in, but as I walk down Chatsworth Road taking in the constant smell of quality coffee and higher grade weed, I begin to wonder whether I am already a convert.

As the white stucco townhouses of The Royal Borough become increasingly snatched into foreign investors' hands, their dark soulless windows reflect the quickening demise of community. In contrast to this, Hommerton has community in abundance. From the local barman to the joyful bus driver, people here are friendly. I make a new best friend every time I go to buy my groceries. As this continues I have started to realise that these new friends are always one of three people:

1.    The Local. She’s been here for longer than the corner shop and knows the roads like no other. She only has friends within the area and most of them are family. She charms you with phrases like ‘darlin’ and ‘my sweet’, putting you at immediate ease. However, you know deep down she can be very, very dangerous.

- Key Phrase: “I know a man who can get you that”

- Can be Found: Smoking outside the working man’s club

- Top Talking Tip: Develop a slight cockney twang

2.    The Hommy Mommy. Homerton’s take on the yummy mummy, but with a few differences. She doesn’t drive a Range Rover because of the CO2. She doesn’t shop at Selfridges because they don’t stock hemp clothing. She cuts the labels off her Russell & Bromley’s so as she doesn't give away she's really a yummy mummy.

- Key Phrase: “Thank-god there’s no Whole Foods here, little Hugo only likes veg from the garden”

- Can be Found: In dungarees painting the front door an organic duck egg, goose feather, off-grey. Again.

- Top Talking Tip: Reference what good value the new tapas place is (but don’t let her sense your irony).

3.    The Coffee Shop Drop Out. He’s moved to the city as his family's country estate was stifling his creativity. He did a semester of Economics at Newcastle to please his father before dropping out to focus on his writing. He works at the local coffee shop where the exposed brick interior matches his red Dr. Martins. He’s put off applying for more journalism jobs after he got two rejections. But fear not, he owns his flat so he doesn’t need to worry about rent. Thank God for that trust fund!
 

- Key Phrase: “You can smell the hard graft gone into roasting these beans. It reminds me of how independent I’ve become”

- Can be Found: Rolling a cigarette. Always.

- Top Talking Tip: Complain (loudly) about how embarrassing it is that you’re technically a Lord on your passport.

But something is changing in Homerton. The Local is becoming less and less common, whilst there appears to be a steep rise in The Hommy Mommy and The Coffee Shop Drop Out. Old Victorian pubs are having make-unders, with floral patterned 80’s carpet being ripped out and left as unvarnished floorboards with walls covered in peeling paint.

It’s an epidemic of hipster gentrification. It’s hiptrification.

As usual, my musings come with an element of hypocrisy. I love an extra strong, dark blend, one shot espresso as much as the next Manchester graduate turned marketing yo-pro. But at £4 a cup, I do worry for our Local neighbours.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to start campaigning against change or join the community centre. Yes, I want to fit in. Yes, I want to look like I belong in EL… but doesn’t Ralph Lauren do ripped jeans anyway? 

Suit You Sir...

(Written for The Mancunion. Click here to view it). 

Once upon a time a suit was nothing more than a practical outfit we all had to own. It would make a dismally infrequent appearance for a distant family wedding, another christening or a friend’s unnecessarily themed ‘black-tie’ party at the local village hall. While the girls worried about where to buy their new dress, we worried about if the dry-cleaning had properly removed the effluvium of vomit from last years Student Ball. 

However, with Hollywood’s struggle for original insults to throw at it’s female red carpet victims, the world’s fashionable eyes are turning to their male companions. This means we men are now getting more options than a simple black tux. Here are my suggestions for something a little riskier:

1) Mix it up. By abandoning the matching suit mentality you can discover a wealth of fun options. For example, a common favourite is a velvet blazer. Although they are available in a multitude of colours, I recommend staying dark with a british racing green, burnt maroon or midnight purple. For a traditional smoking jacket choose a double breasted option with simple buttons; adopting a rope fastening will take you into fancy-dress territory.

2) Similarly, maintaining a black jacket can allow for a variation is choice of trouser. Tartan is a good print, but staying dark is still essential. If patterned pants seem daunting, block colour can bring a simple edge. Just avoid joining the red trouser brigade. This is Manchester, not Exeter. 

3) If bold is the route you want to take, bright colours can work in some very special cases. Although within an unlikely student budget, Burberry frequently include more daring colours in their collections. However, even this price range may make you look more Ronald McDonald than Tinie Tempah. 

Don’t get me wrong, a simple suit is still a strong look, and in most cases a recommendable one. However, the smaller details have seen a recent growth of importance. For example, opt for shorter dimensions in both the sleeves and trouser to bring the staple classic into a modern era. Similarly, two-buttoned suits fit better around the midriff than their three-buttoned predecessor, giving a more defined silhouette. As for the classic and simple tux, one button is already enough and it should also only ever be paired with a crisp, white dress shirt and plain bow-tie. I call it a simple tux because that is exactly how it should be; simple. If you really must add some colour then a silk scarf is acceptable. Hundreds are available from edgy, overpriced vintage stores in the Norther Quarter, but if you can get to a kilo sale you’ll find a life-time supply for less than lunch.

As we mature into modern men a strong understanding of formalwear is essential, not just what’s on trend, but what works for you personally. By the time next year’s Student Ball comes around, your options will be countless. Just try to keep it clean this time. 

Sleeve It Out

(Written for The Mancunion. Click here to be redirected.)

In 20 years time a new breed of men will emerge. These men will never sport a t-shirt and shudder at the thought of the gym. They will avoid holidaying in warm climates and refuse to visit public swimming pools. If this doesn’t sound like your ideal future husband, fear not. There is a way these modern men can be identified; their sleeve.

Once reserved for hard-core biker-boys and worthy workmen, the sleeve is now another accessory for the bearded, top-knotted creative crew at your local advertising agency. Even my hairdresser got a sleeve at the weekend. However, as the tattooed arm continues to gain popularity, the reasons behind this craze are becoming increasingly unclear. One may be the need for our generation to constantly express our beliefs. A tattoo is a permanent change to your body, so it should represent something you really believe in. Religious? Get a tattoo. Patriotic? Get a tattoo. Vegetarian? Get a tattoo. They give us an opportunity to show the world who we really are. For example, nothing says ‘fighter of the bohemian revolution’ more than a selection of dice, hearts and sepia faded flowers doodled down your arm. A sleeve represents an attitude to life; carefree, creative and generally cool. It gives us an opportunity to show our individuality and uniqueness. I can only imagine the joy someone feels from knowing that 25% of the UK’s population has something very similar.

Has the crave to be kooky turned into social conformity? Are all members of the 25 percenters really that individual? My experience has taught me that after the lure of an edgy sleeve has worn off, the man behind it tends to be more boring than the tattoo-free majority. It is the same phenomenon as that of a girl with short hair; they believe a ‘different’ haircut will give them an edge, whereas actually it just provides more entertainment to those playing ‘is it a he or a she?’ on the Megabus.

Don’t get me wrong, not all tattoos fit this category. It is socially acceptable to get a tattoo for sentimental reasons, just ensure strength in the legitimacy of these reasons. For example, I must admit there is a hidden hypocrisy to this article; I have a tattoo. It compromises of three dots on my ankle as if someone had written ‘therefore’ in shorthand. Very hipster. When asked for its relevance I used to tell people that it’s meaning of ‘ma vida loco’ lies in prison tattoo history. However, the truth is buried in a blurry alcohol stained memory of a Thai beach. Not so hipster, but a lot more believable. Similarly, I once met a girl who felt the urge to share with me her latest body addition; a heart with wings across her lower back. She then preceded to explain how the heart represented her troubled background, with the wings symbolising her struggled escape. This was, of course, complete pretentious fabrication. If you have a bad tattoo, admit it. As a result of a bet gone wrong, a friend of mine has another friend’s surname in ink across the sole of his foot. When asked, his explanation is that he is an idiot; believable, truthful and straight to the point.

Luckily, these tattoos are all able to be hidden. A sleeve, however, is guaranteed to provide far more difficulty in concealment when the inevitable regret sets in. Like most fashions, the sleeve is a fad. This fad will disappear in due time, but the evidence of it will remain. Once a symbol of rebellion to social norms, the inked-up arm is soon to be to the young man what the tramp stamp has become to the young woman. When the boy becomes a man and tackles responsibilities such as fatherhood and mortgage repayments, he may question whether he was ever that kooky and individual. With a pair of scissors and a blade the top-knot and beard can be dealt with. However, the sleeve will cling to its owners conscience forever, serving as a regular reminder of just how ordinary he really is. Oh, for a beach holiday.

Best of British

(Written for The Mancunion. Click here to be redirected.)

They’ve created national joy and celebration throughout their engagement, wedding, pregnancy and birth. She’s a brunette beauty living the perfect rags-to-riches fairytale, whilst he’s represented his country in the toughest of battles. That’s right, the Beckham’s could not be more British! We can’t help but feel a sense of bona fide pride when we see their faces in the flashing lights of foreign paparazzi. Although their fashion history is questionable, including matching leather outfits, cowboy hats and mohawk haircuts, this couple are true trendsetters, consistently satisfying the prying and style savvy eyes of the British public.

Press and fans the world over religiously fall at their perfectly pedicured feet. David repeatedly appears in GQ’s best dressed list, looking smooth in both tailored suits and casual jeans. However, Victoria’s decision to abandon her crop-tops and braids could be Brand Beckham’s greatest achievement yet. After her stint as a British ambassador for Dolce and Gabbana, her explosion into the fashion industry has seen classic silhouettes with sharp modern twists appear in her confident, yet simple collections. Furthermore, as if she needed a seal of approval, her well matured and developed eye for design was officially recognised by winning ‘Designer Brand of the Year’ at the British Fashion Awards in 2011. 

However, the couple’s family commitments have grown in recent years, slowing Beckham Ventures. These commitments include conceiving and birthing four children, moving to LA and back again, and tackling Rebecca Loos. ‘Posh’ must be somewhat disappointed that her fashion label has only managed to win critical acclaim from Vogue Magazine and reportedly generate an annual turnover of £60 million. Similarly, after David’s retirement from his 6 year captaincy for the English football team, he has only collaborated with one of Europe’s largest high street chains to design and launch an underwear line. Some would say the pair are slacking. 

Still, it’s fair to say our nation regards the couple as a true asset. They bring superstar quality to the average British couple, simultaneously juxtaposing both genius and humble qualities. However, it can be argued that throughout their journey to international fashionista recognition their British eccentricity has somewhat been lost. Victoria has sold her soul to societal conformity in the form of conservative dresses and forced pouts, while ‘Golden Balls’ has sported relatively mundane hairstyles for sometime now. Is their fashion success sincere or do they pine for the 90s? Perhaps the couple will do a one-eighty and bring back the matching leather!

False Productivity

If you were to look at my life over the past couple of weeks you’d think I’m an extremely productive person. My house is spotlessly clean, I have finished reading my book, the folders on my laptop are exceptionally organised, I have discovered and downloaded vast amounts of new music, my leather shoes have been cleaned and polished, I have organised and booked most of my Christmas plans, I’ve watched numerous documentaries I’ve long been meaning to, I’ve even started doing some home workouts again...

All this just to avoid doing work. 

New Country, New Home

So I have recently moved to France. I am now a fully-fledged Lillois and, so far, I’m loving it. I’ve moved here for one academic year as part of my degree, and I couldn’t have chosen a better city. The fashion here is fantastic, with every single person in my neighbourhood looking constantly chic. The women are glamorous and the men are handsome. There are some fantastic little vintage shops around my house, which seem to hide beautifully amongst the crumbling French walls and cobblestones. In contrast to this, brands such as Louis Vuitton and Zadig & Voltaire have sleek stores made of glass and steel squeezed between the historic Architecture. 

Talking of architecture, I thought I’d share with you my house here. I have become completely obsessed with it, further increasing my love for properties and furnishings! Although I’m not even close, I’ve had great fun filling it with vintage furniture. Here’s a couple of photos of what I call home.