Shopping for a 60's Summer Style Inspired by 'Love & Mercy', the New Beach Boys Biopic Movie

The first trailer for 'Love & Mercy', the new biopic based on the rise of The Beach Boys, came out earlier this week. As a fan of both their music and everything about the 60's style this is definitely a film I am looking forward to. The timing of it is so perfectly on trend too – it's all about 60's and 70's this summer. From preppy striped shirts and white tennis shoes to checked short-sleeved shirts and chinos there is a great choice to jazz up our summer wardrobe. And so, as you would expect, I put together a few selections inspired in the looks from the movie.
To make the experience complete I recommend playing a few of their tracks from the iTunes playlist widget on the left-hand side.

Left to right and top to bottom:

Acne Studios short-sleeved shirt, Dolce & Gabbana striped swim shorts, AMI striped shirt,
Boglioli printed swim shorts, AMI short-sleeved striped shirt.

Left to right and top to bottom:

AMI checked shirt, Lanvin bowling shirt, Orlebar Brown polo shirt, Acne Studios checked shirt,
A.P.C. shirt-sleeved printed shirt.

Left to right and top to bottom:

Tomorrowland knitted t-shirt, Common Projects slip-on sneakers, M.NII striped cotton tank,

Beams Plus striped knitted t-shirt, Dan Ward printed swim shorts, Thom Browne t-shirt,

Nike Internationalist sneakers, M-NII striped t-shirt.

Orlebar Brown's Capsule Collection in Collaboration with Konstantin Kakanias

Today is my first day officially back from my summer holidays, which is usually the time when I get over the summer and start planning my wardrobe additions for fall/winter. I'm not sure what changed in my brain this time but the truth is that I am plotting to get away for another weekend or two for a little more sun before it's too late. And that's exactly why I keep looking at swimwear pieces to add to my limited collection.
Only last week, Orlebar Brown released a capsule collection in collaboration with Konstantin Kakanias. The Greek artist's illustrations of scenes of jungle life are perfect for swimwear – they stand out from others but are still manly. You will find the prints on the brand's signature OB Bulldog shorts and also printed on their Tommy T-shirts, as part of their ever-expanding RTW range.

Click here to shop the collaboration.

Courtesy of Orlebar Brown

The Best Buys under £300 at the MatchesFashion.com Sale

Left to right and top to bottom: The Brooklyn Circus Oxford shirt, Oliver Spencer 'Sid' round sunglasses, Valentino camp trainers, Gant Rugger leather sleeve bomber jacket, Oliver Spencer multi-panel sweater, Orlebar Brown road rip print swimming shorts, The Brooklyn Circus striped cotton jacket,

Pierre Hardy cube-print wash bag, Gucci felt fedora hat, Grenson 'Archie' leather brogues,

Gant Rugger jacquard stripe roll neck jumper.

Shopping the Mr Porter Sale Inspired by 'Risky Business'

I couldn't believe myself when last week I decided to watch 'Risky Business' for the first time and absolutely loved it. It's not just a great fun coming of age story of kids in the 80's but also a brilliant lesson in style, which seems to perfectly matches with today's offering of menswear fashion. We have transformed 80's basics into contemporary classics we simply can't live without.
Coinciding with the launch of the Mr Porter Sale this week, I decided to find pieces inspired by 'risky Business' keeping in mind any of these buys should be go-to pieces anytime of the year.

First up, the perfect classic blazer. You might have bought it as a two-piece suit for work or formal occasions but have you thought of cooling it up with a basic tee and sunnies for the weekend?

Below: Rag & Bone unstructured cotton blazer, NN.07 chalk-stripe blazer, Acne sunglasses.

Raglan-sleeved t-shirts and sweatshirts have made such a comeback any of us have more than a few in our wardrobe. They're perfect for lounging, doing exercise and looking cool and casual at dinner.

Below: Orlebar Brown sweatshirt, James Perse baseball tee.

I see such atrocities committed with polo shirts. Most men either go too basic or too crazy. The best option when going for a pattern is to keep it simple and modern with a dash of retro. A slim fit is recommended – if you can pull it off.

Below: Junya Watanabe striped polo, Michael Bastian striped cotton-jersey polo,
Canali striped polo.

Now, bomber/baseball/varsity jackets have been around for a while now and even though all sorts of 'cool kids' have claimed them as theirs there are endless luxurious chic options they can't afford or pull off but we can (...?)

Below: Sandro slim quilted varsity jacket, Levi's Vintage suede bomber jacket.

Just like with polo shirts, most men seem to struggle finding nice patterns for jumpers. My rule is to never go for more than 3 strong colours at a time or for too many gimmicks. 

Below: Rag & Bone striped linen-knit jumper, A.P.C. striped jumper.

James Bond wears Orlebar Brown

Courtesy of Orlebar Brown

I haven't been this excited about a Bond film for years. I realised this as I watched the 'Skyfall' trailer for the 3rd time yesterday at the cinema. It really makes me happy that not only 007 is going to his darker place yet but also that part of the film takes place in London. If this wasn't enough, Adele will sing over the opening credits and Tom Ford has suited up Bond once again.
I have grown to like Daniel Craig as the English spy and to even understand his semi-naked scenes in the films. He's supposed to be a sex magnet, isn't he? There is no beach scene à la Ursula Andres in 'Skyfall', instead Bond goes for a late night swim. And this time is properly geared up in Orlebar Brown, the best swimwear there is. If only they could have covered him as well in 'Casino Royale' so that we didn't have to go through that awkward spandex walk...

Frank Loves: Orlebar Brown x Nick Wooster

Courtesy of Orlebar Brown, TheStyleBlogger.com

A match made in heaven. That's what they should have called the latest collaboration between Orlebar Brown and Nick Wooster that hits stores (on and offline) this month.
Orlebar Brown has become the coolest trunk in the waterfront in a matter of months and I, for one, can't wait to buy a few of their designs for my summer getaway. Not only their prints are a great mix of classic and contemporary but their cut and fit is just perfect for those of us who stopped wearing boarding shorts when they weren't cool anymore.
Now the brand has teamed up with style icon Nick Wooster, who used to be the men's buying director for Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus and is now the Creative Director of Men's Clothing at JCPenney. I've been following his style evolution ever since the street style photographers started documenting it and I consider myself a huge fan and follower. He's a man after my own heart.
His collection for Orlebar Brown consists of 6 swimsuits in two lengths – bulldog mid-length and setter shorter short – and five different colours playing with a water camouflage print that hits several of this season's trends. They're quick drying, 100% polyamide and woven in France (in case you were wondering). You'll also notice they come with a snap fastening at the front, a zip fly and Orlebar's signature adjustable side tabs – so chic they might pass as shorts so long as you don't tell anyone.

Courtesy of Orlebar Brown