Five Spring/Summer Items I Can't Live Without this Season

If you'd asked me a year ago I would have never thought I'd have such a big amount of sportswear in any of my wish lists. The truth is it has been slowly growing on me after buying some pieces with the pretence of actually becoming more active. Months later, these pieces have become not only part of my lounge wear but also very much present on what I wear for more casual situations.
This season I am looking to add this black pair of slim Nike tracksuit bottoms after wearing them in grey non-stop for the past months. They're not only extremely comfortable but also structured enough that they look great with a shirt, a denim jacket and a pair of suede sneakers. The short style, which has come out in a new grey colour this season, is also perfect for the summer as they can be worn with an oxford shirt and a lightweight blazer for an upgraded look.
Since I don't want to over do it wearing my denim jacket with everything, the suede Sandro jacket is a great alternative. It's classic but has a 70's vibe I love and it easily adds a cool touch to a simple jeans and t-shirt look.
Nike's Internationalist model is also a perfect example of comfort and design and this season the brand has released the model in a new all-camel suede colour way, which will look fantastic with classic blue washed jeans.
My new favourite brand of sneakers is Eytys – a Swedish/French alliance that's brought a new edge to the lace-ups we all love to wear in the summer. At the moment only MatchesFashion.com has them available in the UK but you can head to their website for the full range, which includes low-tops and high-tops in canvas, suede and leather.

Clarks SS14: The Styles to Look Out For

A few months back, I popped by the Clarks SS14 presentation to have a look at the new propositions from the British brand for the upcoming season. Before I rave about my favourite styles, you must know that I am a shoe-junkie, more specifically, I am hooked to desert boots – you can't simply have enough. And it's precisely desert boots that Clarks have mastered through the years. My personal choices from the SS14 line are the brown Beeswax leather (1) and the suede Sand Multi (2), which will look great with your Spring light blue jeans, and the Wolf Suede (3) and the Denim suede (4) models – perfect with your beige, camel and khaki chinos.

I am also loving their Desert London Beeswax (5), which is the perfect hybrid of dress and casual with an aged effect great for the new season. Something similar happens with the Fulham Limit (9), which combines a casual scalloped sole with the smart brogue detailing injecting a bit of fun with the contrast laces.

From their sportswear propositions my favourite is the Tanner Surf (7), which combines embroidered leather, suede and a cork sole to keep it comfortable and light.
And finally, my absolute favourite style of the season – the Grimsby Craft (6 and 8) in tan leather and black. It has this vintage flair that reminds me of the Italian coast (think Jude Law in The Talented Mr Ripley). As the proud owner of a pair, I can say they are as well made as they are light and comfortable, which makes them the perfect multi-ocassion Spring shoe.

I'm not Frank vs. Harry Styles: The Suede Bomber Jacket

I have always been a big fan of Harry Styles – Harry's Style? – so this isn't so much a face-off as it is a celebration of our shared good taste. You might remember I first blogged about my suede bomber jacket from Marc by Marc Jacobs back in January when I bought it from Mr Porter. It was, by a mile, the best buy of the season but because I got it sort of late in the winter I didn't get to wear it much. That is something I am making up for this time around. Not only it's a cool classic piece but it's also a bit of a statement and extremely warm – I'm not the kind to sacrifice body-temperature for fashion.
Harry was first spotted in his a week or two ago and he's since made it a wardrobe staple of his worn with his also signature skinny black jeans and Chelsea boots, which is oddly how I often wear mine. He also wore it last week for his latest appearance with One Direction in Good Morning America. His personal choice was this Saint Laurent version, which has a slightly aged-effect suede, darker knit cuffs and hem trim and tougher shearling detailing. It also doesn't feature the knit side panels from mine or the shearling lining inside. It suits him better because he's more rock and roll.

UPDATE: I wrote this post before the British Fashion Awards took place so now that Harry has won the British Style Award, I deserve a bit of recognition for my similar good taste, no?

Fashion Frankly, Getty

Kit Harington Rocks a Suede Jacket and Monk-Straps at Comic Con

Kit Harington – aka Jon Snow – made an appearance over the weekend at the latest edition of Comic Con in San Diego. The actor was representing both his hit TV show 'Game of Thrones' and his upcoming movie 'Seventh Son'.
For the press conference of the latter the actor wore a cool outfit including muted white trousers, which he paired with a casual t-shirt. The look came to life thanks to the beautiful suede jacket with knit detailing at the collar and cuffs and the pair of monk-strap shoes he donned.
The reason why I like this so much is because it feels really current and hits a lot of the right 'fashion' notes without being trendy. It's a casual and masculine outfit, which works for many occasions.

I had a look at what Mr Porter has to offer in terms of suede jackets and monk straps and this is are some of my favourites. Please note I am not a fan of single strap monks so I went for the double options.

From top to bottom – Jackets: Dolce & Gabbana suede and knitted wool-blend bomber jacket, Canali cashmere and suede bomber jacket, Jean Shop washed-suede western jacket.

Shoes: Saint Laurent leather double monk-straps, John Lobb William suede monk-straps,

John Lobb William leather monk-straps.

Just In: Comme des Garçons Shirt Benjamin II Suede Chukka Plimsolls

It's time for the sales and for some of us to try and catch all the items we've been coveting for months but unable to afford. Alas, most of the guys following my strategy seem to have my size, which means everything I want is gone!
Luckily, I was able to snatch a new pair of shoes at the My-Wardrobe sale last week and they arrived yesterday. The winner is a pair of colour-blocking suede sneakers by Comme des Garçons Shirt. The powder pink, baby blue and deep green contrast and complement each other and they're a brilliant addition to a casual look with jeans and a preppy shirt. I'll be breaking them out tomorrow for a sunny day of morning meetings.

Three Zara Shoes you Need in your Wardrobe this Summer

Despite the non-existant signs of Spring I am in full SS13 mood already planning my season's essentials and key pieces and I have even begun to put together (in my mind) a few looks for the upcoming London Collections: Men, Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week.
Even though I am usually not too keen on buying shoes on the high street I must admit that Zara, for one, has put some really interesting options out there this season. Now, granted they won't be shoes you will have forever but at these prices you really get value for your money at the very least.
I have been meaning to buy a pair of monk straps for a while but I'm always afraid to spend a bit of money on them and never wear them. Which is why these Zara option seems like a great way to try out the shape before investing on a durable pair.
Loafers are always a Spring/Summer essential but if you are a bit bored of the classic suede driving shoe this (faux) croc version is both interesting and manly and it will inject a needed dose of texture and colour into your summer looks.
No Summer wardrobe of mine is ever complete without sneakers. I love this suede option from Zara because they have the sporty yet old-school design of a low-top but the brogue detailing and colour clocking in a sandy palette gives is a chic city vibe.

Introducing Antoine + Stanley: Shoes with an Australian Sole

It would be fair to say that, within fashion, I am the most keen on shoes. I see them as the way to top off any look – a way to dress it up or down, to give something simple the perfect vibe. And it would also be fair to say that I know what I talk about when it comes to footwear because I own quite (a lot) bit of it from a range of brands and designers.
One of my biggest struggles is to find comfortable, light and breathable shoes for the summer that are not sneakers. Antoine + Stanley seem to have the perfect solution for this. The Australian brand founded by Paul Waddy in 2005 is now landing on the UK via ASOS. Their philosophy is to create traditional styles such as brogues, desert and Chelsea boots and loafers in premium materials. And they do so with an edge – bold colourful lines on the soles and contrast trims – which makes them perfect for the summer. Their models are great for pretty much any scenario: from picnic at the park to drinks on a rooftop to even a summer wedding.
You can shop the collection online at ASOS. My favourites (see below) are the Smith loafers in navy, the multi-colour Ralph brogues and the white leather Hensel brogues. The latter were a style I always thought only Chuck Bass or Jay Gatsby could pull off but I am totally infatuated with these Antoine + Stanley ones!

Courtesy of Antoine + Stanley

Tod's F/W13: A Paradise made of Leather

The Tod's presentation at Villa Necchi is always one of my highlights from MFW but this goes double for the FW13 collection. I have often reiterated how essential are Tod's modern classics for a style-concious man and this, too, goes double for the FW13 range. If you bought every single piece from the collection you would have the ultimate accessory wardrobe a man needs for life – everything from casual suede desert and Chelsea boots to smarter monk straps, brogues and even the versatile new style introduced this season – the toe cap Oxford shoes with a modern hiking boot detail. My absolute favourites from the collection, I must say, are the midnight blue pony skin Chelsea boots. Picture them with a pair of slim grey jeans or even a black suit... simply incredible.
Tod's has also given a great push to their bags for FW13 introducing the zip shopping bag and travel bag to their 'Double Stripe' line, which colours you can personalise to give it a unique touch. Also in line with this the brand introduces 'Sartorial Touch', a new shoe collection created through construction and polishing techniques developed by Tod's artisans and exclusive to the brand. You can literally leave a mark on your new pair of shoes by embossing your initials into the leather.
For the last couple of seasons the brand has also been introducing a lot of ready-to-wear in the shape of phenomenal outerwear in the most exquisite skins. For FW13 Tod's has focused on ultra light-weight and soft leathers and suedes, which are then quilted inside or lined with neoprene or shearling – this makes them warm enough for winter without taking away from the lightness.
And last, but not least, another of my favourite pieces – the double pochette. It is such a simple but practical idea. Documents and notebooks can be kept on the bigger pocket while your phone and keys can go in the front, easy to reach.

NOTE: If you are a friend or relative reading this post remember my birthday is on the 21st of March so please interpret this and any previous post as a very literal wishlist. Thanks.

Fashion Frankly, Courtesy of Tod's