Gender Bender...

So I have never cared much for Rick Owens. His designs always lend to that whole "I'm pretending I'm poor by wearing clothes that look tattered and raggedy but this entire outfit could cover the cost of your rent for 3 months" look and I'm not much of a fan of that and his models always seem to look like 13 year old boys. Anyway his AW10 has got something that I'm kinda lusting after.

So the models above all look relatively normal don't they? Well I say normal but let's face it, if ever you saw a man head to toe in Rick Owens you'd know he was far from normal (in a good way of course) but there's one feature of each outfit that stood out for me.

THE SHOES!!!

I want these shoes! I don't know why but I do. They are obviously womens shoes but they are obviously not womens shoes but they obviously are but they obviously are not. I'm confused. Does this mean I want to be a cross dresser. I don't want to have to wear a dress but those snakeskin boots, I'm sure I could pull them off I know could pull them off!

If Lenny Kravitz can do it then so can I!

In the real world there aren't many men that could get away with these. Beside myself, Lenny Kravitz and Prince I can't really think of anyone else.

They are a bit gay though.

Click here to get yours...

Excuse me Prada...

I don't really have much to say about this other than

I AM OFFENDED!

I am usually happy to ignore when fashion houses make mistakes but this is just rude! For a company that of recent times has been in a bit of a state financially they can't afford to be taking these kinds of risks.

These shoes are an abomination!

That is all...

Five by Rio

So when he's not wearing trainers and kicking balls it would seem that would renowned football player Rio Ferdinand likes to wear pretty decent shoes.

We already know the deal when it comes to celebrity brands. I'm sure Rio does not claim to be a fashion designer however he is involved in the design process and that is good enough for me. I must say I was a little surprised at how tasteful the shoes are.

Click here for more information

Veja - The Grid

Summer is officially here which means it's time to bring out those clean, pristine all white trainers. What's that? You don't have a pair of clean, pristine all white trainers? Well today is your lucky day because Veja are here to lend a hand.

Inspired by the postindustrial world this shoe which is also available in purple, black and Moonrock Grey has got an uncomplicated coolness about it.

Available at Selfridges

P.S
Veja shoes are made using wild rubber from the Amazon and the leather is tanned using a method that creates no pollution so not only are you looking good but you're also being moral. Which, for some reason is really hard to achieve in this day and age.

Ted Baker: Fish Out of Water

Please watch this short animation by Ted baker...

Now as you clearly saw in the video above, they want you to put your shoes in the washing machine. Under normal circumstances I would not condone this kind of advise, not in a million years however this time it's different. The fish out of water collection consists of a machine washable suede driving moccasin. After a few weeks of wear any shoe will begin to collect dirt and cleaning them can often be quite arduous particularly if your shoe is suede but these slip-ons, when washed at 30 degrees will be fresh as ever and still retain their shape and colour.

Available for £80 in selected Ted Baker stores

Palladium Boots: Then and Now

Lets take a short trip into the past, I'm thinking about 1920. A company called Palladium was founded as a manufacturer of aircraft tires for the aviation industry. Fast forward to 1939 and business is booming what with the world being at war and everything. Over the next 6 years Palladium are practically raking it in that is until about May 1945 when the war ended. Over the next 2 years the Demand for Palladium tires slowly began declining so they head guys at the company decide that rather than going bankrupt they'll put their expert knowledge in rubber and canvas to another use. And thus Palladium was reborn as a boot maker.

Known for being hard wearing (the soles of the boots are made using the same rubber as the tires) and for providing the French Foreign Legion with their signature Pampa boot, Palladium have somehow managed to make themselves even more relevant in terms of style and practicality.

Available at Size?

P.S

Last week I went to the launch party at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch where I lost yet another brooch. I'm way to traumatized to go into the details of how I lost it. Just know that it was made using a vintage brass lion taken from a 15 year old belt, 24k gold coated stingray skin (yes the fish) and Swarovski crystals. I made it by myself by hand. The only consolation being that there are a pair of Palladium boots on their way to me as we speak.

The girls get it so good...

Women don't know how lucky they are when it comes to fashion. It's okay for a woman to wear pretty much anything and get away with it. Hell, women can even venture into menswear and it's seen as "cool". The lack of sexual equality in fashion sickens me to be honest. Really and truly the level of sexual discrimination against men is beginning to reach proportions of an epic magnitude and I am even further disgusted when I see items like this...

 

As we all know Chanel is by default a womenswear brand. This shoe however could easily go between the lines of sexuality. Unfortunately the chances that this will be sold in a size above a UK 8 (42 in Europe) are next to none. I think it's just plain disrespectful unfair that as usual the men have been forgotten.

Click Here if you're foot will be able to fit into this and you'd like more information.

To those of you that will be making a purchase, just remember the rest of us men with size 9 feet.

I got my wings

I forgot to mention that Adidas finally sent me my wings

Beautiful...

Raf Simmons for Dr Martens

A/W is always my favourite season.

People don't make shoes like these for the summer.

Dr Martens rock my socks!

The wait is over...

NEWS FLASH!!!!!

What you are about to see is the fashion equivalent of a black American president. Too many times has menswear suffered discrimination in the fashion industry and I have always felt strongly about this subject however next season we will be one step closer to sartorial equality for next season see the release of the Christian Louboutin menswear collection.

No this is not a hoax...

All I can really think to say is "About fucking time". In all honesty I can't wait. Let's be real, if the mens collect is even half as good as what the women get it'll still be pretty amazing.

Fancy footwork pt2

I only own 2 pairs of K-Swiss trainers, both of them are white and both of them are limited editions.

1. K-Swiss and Fake London
2. K-Swiss and Julia Hederus

As you can see both pairs are quite dirty and a little battered but that's because I wear them both on a regular basis. Just because I can't replace them doesn't mean I'm not going to wear them.

Ok so now I'm pissed...

You know what? I am but a man. I have my faults. Don't hate me if I say something and then change my mind, it's only human. OK, so what if I decide that the Kanye West and Louis Vuitton collaboration is actually quite hot. It really is. When I initially wrote about it I had only seen the low top trainer which to this day I still think it nothing great however the Hi-Tops in the collection are definitely something to scream about.

Those laces are the wickedest thing ever.


It's funny that ever since my little rant about Mr West my love for him slowly seems to be rekindling. Who knows, I might even write a post saying that I actually like Heart Breaks & 808's...

...Or Not

Fancy Footwork.

I love anything and everything that is limited edition. It doesn't matter what it is, if you want me to want it more just tell me that "only a handful were made" and I'll be all over it like a cheap whore.

That is my relationship with Kickers. I like them but I don't love them. They are not the best shoe in the world however they are nice enough. I say this with reference to the Kickers that I do not own. The four pairs of kickers that I do own however I LOVE! Why? Because nobody will ever be able to buy them. Is that elitist? Kinda. Do I care? Not really.

Look for yourselves...

From left to right...

1. SuperSuper Edition (50 pairs in existence)
2. Husam El Odeh Edition (18 pairs in existence)
3. Noki Edition (30 pairs in existence)
4. Anniversary Edition (1000 in existence)


My favourite pair without a doubt have got to be the Husam El Odeh pair. Not only because there are only 18 in existence but because when I walk the chains make noise so everyone knows that I am making an entrance.


And for your viewing pleasure, here is a video that kickers have made to the sounds of Chromeo - Fancy Footwork.

If I Were A Girl...

If I had a girlfriend (if you laugh I will hunt you down and nail your tongue to the ground) she would so have to wear these while riding in my car.

The shoes aren't real but it's stuff like this that makes me think that girls don't know how lucky they are.

I may suffer eternal damnation but it needs to be said.

So it's offical; I am offically over Kanye West.

Blasphemy?

Yes!

I will probably burn in the fiery pits of hell but I don't care. I was one of his biggest fans this side of the Northern Hemisphere however his recent behaviour has left my soul so very vexed.

Firstly, we have those down right nasty Louis Vuitton trainers he supposedly designed.


I need someone to please tell me what the hell he was playing at. Why would anyone want a pair of these over the Stephen Sprouse Hi-Tops? There's nothing special about this red shoe at all. Louis Vuitton could have made it without the help of Kanye so why on earth are people flipping out like it's the best thing since the Chanel Pump Fury?


The other problem I have with Mr West is his current album.



Why oh Why Kanye? Why would you do this to me? I don't want to hear about how some bitch was cruel to you and how your heart is broken. I don't want to hear about that at all. What happened to the arrogant bastard that was? You were like my inner narcissist but now you're just sad. Your pathetic whining is enough for me to drive a rusty nail into my ear and enjoy the sounds of my own dripping blood.


I would like to mention those awfull glasses. I know you know the ones I'm talking about.


Disgusting! The were an abomination! I'm glad the trand/madness has passed but the fact that they even exhisted is enough to cause me offence.


And finaly I would like to discuss his recent sartiorial transmogrification.



The reason I loved him is because he didn't need to wear a suit to look dapper. He was fly without a notch lapel. He cold look smart without a spread collared dress shirt. What the hell is his problem? Why is his style so forced and contrived now? It's insulting.

I truely am saddened by the fact that I have had to say these things but I really am upset that my idol has literally gone off the rails. The man is actually insane and I don't know if there is anything we can do to save him. I think we should just pray. We need some sort of divine intervention from the heavens above to restore to us the Kanye that once was.




I'm just waiting for the return of the leagend. I'm waiting for the King to reclaim his throne!

R.I.P my love for Mr West.

Adidas and Jeremy Scott

Rumour has it that these will never be sold so this is as close to a pair as we (more so you than me) will ever get.

I've mentioned the
Adidas and Jeremy Scott collaboration before however these trainers have not been reported on due to the fact that there are no plans for their release.

I don't really have much to say apart from the fact that they are amazing.

Thanks to Mr Riddler for the heads up.

I want to be a Louis Vuitton Don!

A lot of blogs have been talking about Louis Vuitton's Stephen Sprouse collection and how great it is.

However, what a lot of these blogs have failed to mention is that the stuff glows in the dark. It is part of my job to know these things so that I can pass it on to you...




Check the video too!

I love Reebok...

Ever since they were bought by Adidas and pushed their products more in the direction of a lifestyle brand I seem to have found a renewed love for Reebok.

Here is another reason why...




The Ex O Fit strap will be released in February 09. A month before my birthday. I know you know for a fact that I wont even need to ask Reebok for a pair before they give them to me.

P.S
If I don't get a pair I'll know exactly who's office to burn down!

You may already know this...

Last friday saw the launch of the new Nike Blazer (which is a shoe not a jacket) by Carri Mundane of Cassette Playa. I was lucky enough to attend the launch party. Here are some images.

I can't say that I'm the biggest Cassette Playa fan but I do believe that in years to come the things that she has done will become extremely collectable. Even more so than they are now. I must admit, I do like the trainers. They are quite special. Unfortunately they sold out before they even launched which just goes to prove the Phenomenon that is Cassette Playa.

I really didn't know what to say.

Prepare to shit your pants at what I am about to show you. Many months ago I was in a meeting with Reebok regarding some things that I am not going to disclose. Due to the nature of this meeting the conversation was able to drift in and out of relevance. We talk about many things including past and present projects that Reebok had been involved in. One of the projects mentioned was so earth shatteringly amazing I have been dreaming of it ever since. At the time I really could not understand why it was spoken about in such a nonchalant manner. This was a HUGE deal but then again I suppose with Reebok being a sports brand they didn't really understand the level of greatness surrounding this particular project.


Anyway, sometime last week I found myself in the Reebok Lounge obviously with the legend of this certain shoe in the depths of my memory. I sat down, I chatted for a while with Dee and Dominik and then suddenly I remembered. I turned to Dee and asked her

"Do you by any chance have the Chanel and Reebok lovechild here?"

She got up and walked away. When she returned she was holding these...

I was speachless.

All we know is that there were 20 pairs made for a Chanel catwalk show in the 90s. The 20 models that were priveleged enough to wear them were also allowed to keep them. Rumour has it that a pair managed to find their way onto Ebay where they sold for £2000. If you would like a pair you will need to hand over £2000. Just in case you do have the £2000 this shoe is called the Chanel Pump Fury.

Are they worth £2000?


FUCK YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S
Dear Santa, I have been a very good boy this year. Except for that one time when I got really drunk and... Anyway, I think you know what I want.