My Favourite Sneakers: The New Balance CT300 & CRT300

My loving relationship with New Balance started quite late in my life, about two years ago. It was then that I bought my first pair – a bright orange pair of ML574's. I have worn and still wear a lot of different brands but New Balance continue to be the most comfortable. The reason why I didn't buy a second pair for a long while is because they tend to be a little too chunky for my taste and include way too many different pieces and details. I don't like a lot of fuss in my shoes.
Flash forward to September 2014. That's when the brand first reintroduced the CT300's as a reedition of a 1979 tennis shoe model. A capsule collection of the upgraded style – CRT300 – came out later in collaboration with different leading sneaker shops in the world. My favourite style – created with Firmament Berlin – quickly sold out in Europe but I was lucky enough find a pair during my visit to NYC for fashion week. The new style is not only a lot more streamlined and clean than its predecessors but it includes a REVlite insole that makes them extremely light and comfortable.
It then took them a little while to start producing commercial models in more conventional colour ways but, in the meantime, I managed to snatch a second pair on eBay from a smaller limited edition in grey and blue, which I haven't stopped wearing ever since.
This season, finally, the brand has started releasing 300's in four new colours: white with blue, white with red, grey and green. I'd buy them all but the piles of shoe boxes in my room will soon stop me from opening the door and so I must restrain myself in order to be able to wear them out.

They're currently available in the UK at ASOS and Size and obviously at the coolest sneaker shops in the world: Firmament Berlin, Bows and Arrows and Kith.

How to Nail the 'Transitional Look'

1. Todd Snyder suede varsity jacket, 2. New Balance 576 Three Peaks sneakers,

3. Cheap Monday denim jacket, 4. Barbour Bedale Jacket, 5. Clarks Originals desert boots,

6. Burberry Prorsum cashmere-blend coat, 7. Gucci burnished leather sneakers, 8. Vans Old Skool sneakers,

9. Selected bomber jacket, 10. A.P.C. cotton field jacket, 11. New Look khaki parka, 12. Nike Roshe Run.

Just when you think you've mastered how to dress for the winter Mother Nature decides to spin your world (also kind of literally) and head for spring, not without first having to endure an awkward few weeks when neither winter nor spring wear are totally apt. It's exactly for times like these that fashion bunch coined 'transitional wardrobe'.
I have inevitably failed at this way of dressing most of my life. And I did, I realise now, because of my strict self-imposed style rules, the breaking of which is the key to conquering the 'transitional look'. Three perfect examples of how to do it well came this week courtesy of Ryan Reynolds and Chris Pine.
Reynolds paired jeans and chinos with Vans Old Skool. First with a 3-quarter length checked coat worn over a shirt – worn without a jumper in between this makes a perfect transitional look. Later in the week he wore them with a v-neck cotton jumper and an indigo denim jacket – worn without a shirt or tee underneath a cotton jumper and jacket are perfect for a breezy sunny day.
Chris Pine went for a more traditional approach wearing jeans with a cotton button-down shirt and a lightweight jacket. Is is the detailing of the jacket and the well-matched double-denim that make this a hit.

I browsed my favourite online retailers to find 12 pieces perfect to complete your transitional wardrobe, which double up as great additions to your winter and spring wardrobes.

How to Wear the White Suit, Inspired by Bradley Cooper

I have always had an allergy of sorts to all-white clothing. I hardly ever wear white jeans or chinos and I've never put on a white blazer or jacket because this seemingly common colour can make a bigger statement than any bold hue. It is also incredibly unforgiving – if not beautifully cut, washed, ironed and fit it will only enhance everything you would like to conceal. Not to mention very few men could pull it off even with all of the above ticked.
Even though Bradley Cooper isn't exactly an every-day man – as much as I'd like to I can't quite relate to him – his latest red carpet offering in a full white suit with cuffed trousers worn with classic blue notes and leather shoes has awaken something in me to make me dare and try this look. The first step is to find a slim-fitted suit (baggy white clothes read retired holidaymaker). Keep the lines very simple and avoid any fussy detailing and pair them up with classic pieces put together in a modern way.
Of the options available online I feel most inclined to try the more casual takes as proposed by ASOS or Valentino, which I would wear with any of the pieces below.

White suits above: ASOS Slim Fit Cotton Suit, Richard James Cotton-Twill Suit,
Valentino Slim-Fit Cotton-Piqué Suit Jacket and Suit Shorts.

Below: Beams Plus Linen-Chambray Shirt, Hartford Linen Shirt, Burberry Brit Cotton and Linen Blend Shirt,
New Balance 576 Leather and Mesh Sneakers, Tod's No_Code Leather Oxford Shoes,
Lanvin Burnished Leather Oxford Shoes.

Just In: Nike Free Run+ 3 & New Balance ML574 Backpack

It has probably been about two months since I bought my last pair of shoes, which is unlike me. So this month I got two new pairs to make up for it.
The first pair – the new Nike Free Run +3 in black – I bought for practical reasons. I made made a promise to myself to start going to the gym in February and I was not about to do so in my old chunky silver-and-neon-green Nike trainers. These ones are a lot more subtle, more comfortable and way lighter. And they look pretty cool with jeans too.
I have been craving this pair of New Balance ML574 in orange for months now. I thought I had missed my chance when I found one last pair available in my size – phew! They are perfect for the Spring and the Summer and great with rolled-up jeans or even a suit.

Frank's Top 10 Christmas Wishlist

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs shearling bomber jacket, 2. An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris by Stephanie LaCava, 3. Slowear plaid cotton chinos, 4. New Balance ML574 Backpack Trainers, 5. The Unknown Hipster Diaries by Jean-Philippe Delhomme, 6. Alexander McQueen wool and cotton sweater,

7. Jil Sander dinosaur tie, 8. Oliver Spencer leather brogue boots, 9. J.Crew leather iPhone 5 cover,

10. Sandro checked bomber jacket.