Popular in the Netherlands for over 700 years. Can easily be hosed off if working in the garden, and allowed to air dry. When syncopated with foot taps, they form a special kind of dancing.

The clog has a great deal of versatility as a form of footwear, but this summer it has become more than a tourist’s souvenir. No longer fashion roadkill, the clog will have you hop, skipping and toe tapping your way onto the catwalk. In its most perfect form, the clog should look like you just slipped it on in a hot second. It likes to be kept low key. It’s a low maintenance kind of shoe. This said, don’t underestimate its stylish charm. In that hot second it can transform you from average Joe into towering Dutch goddess. Ironically, the Australian brand (famous for their well-loved boots) UGG have had their elves hard at work hammering nails in a new range of slip on clogs. With a pair of dark denim skinny jeans folded up at the bottom, these could quite easily become the new boot, showing that UGG are not a one trick pony.

UGGS and Kisses

But if slip on doesn’t do it for you, have a glance at the clog creations from Creatures of Comfort. These handmade Honey coloured clogs are made with Nubuck leather and shiny silver buckles. Their open toe and ankle strap shows how the clog has been summered up, and they are self-branded as ‘Incredibly Comfortable,’ though there’s only one real way to find out……..

Platform Clogs

…..I say there’s only one way to find out…..

purely in the interest of research I have sampled a few of this season’s clogs, and have to admit that they were incredibly comfortable. But just to let you know, they might take a bit of getting used to. Don’t head straight for the catwalk without a practise session. When I took my first clog stroll I did feel a little bit like I was walking on a rocking horse. It’s good to be aware that the clog is a whole new sensation.

Some people are naturally equipped to deal with heat, others do not have this God-given facility. I am one of the latter. When it gets hot, I am perpetually melting. The only place where I become human once more is beneath a cold shower or in a lovingly air-conditioned building. When humidity strikes, and neither of these two options are available I am doomed.

The only possible solution to this scenario is to combat heat with devilishly nice clothes. Breezy lightwear is essential for the melting months, and though the oppressive warmth might make you feel like you need to look like a troll, the opposite is true. For ladies, what could be more perfect than a floaty summer dress which drapes and flows away like a pretty cool stream in material so light you’ll barely know it’s there? Clothiers Eskell know what it’s like to be hot (double-entendre intended) and it’s likely that this was the inspiration behind their Luna Dress which is green and white in all the right places. Decorative and elasticated, the two summer essentials, you won’t melt with this dress on your team. Promise.

Yes. Summer Dress.

For the man, it’s shortie time. Pop out the pins and slip into a pair of lightweight tailored shorts by Original Penguin. These seersucker shorts won’t leave you looking like a sucker. Combining the trend for denim shorts, the lightness of cargo and the tailoring of Original Penguin, you’ll be chill. And for your own personal reassurance they look great accessorized with a cold beer.

Man Shorts

What is it about the Ray-Ban that makes everyone from the Men in Black to Sarah Jessica Parker slide a pair up their celebrified noses? And aside from the celebridoodles, a pair of Ray-Bans have become indispensable to the non-famous. Take a stroll around your nearest city and you’ll outcount your fingers by the number of Ray-Banners you see protecting the population from the sun’s glare.This summer the shades that have experienced recurring patterns of slump and revival since their original creation in 1952 are experiencing a large scale return. But what is it about these shades that seems so accessible to everyone? Is it that they suit all faces, is it that they are seen as an investment in quality, or is it simply that

in the

“black suit with the black Ray Ban’s on”

you can

“Walk in shadow move in silence
Guard against extra-terrestrial violence”?

Debatable, but this year Ray-Ban has introduced more than colour to the simple black shades, today we have print. Collaborating with some of the world’s best print makers, Ray-Ban have extended from sunglasses to limited edition posters to publicize their new collection.

Alongside the posters, the rare prints collection is nothing if not exciting. These subway map style shades will make sure you always find your way around. Though if your attraction to the original wayfarer can never be lost, why not try a twist on the classic with an insider flower print.

Subway

Secret Flowers

Admittedly, I’ve not heard about many monasteries in Australia.
I’ve never seen a monk on any Australian soaps.
Monks down under are more into t-shirt design perhaps.
That’s the impression you get from t-shirt designer specialists Das Monk, anyhow.

Das Monk is a graphic clothing label, the creative collaboration of husband and wife team Marc Hendrick and Anna Lunoe. Since 2007, they have been inspired by everything from cassette covers to cubicle wall doodles in their Sydney studio, and have found a happy urban home within Australia’s art and music scene. They rendez-vous artistically with emerging artists worldwide, enjoy wonderful weirdness, and their designs are fresher than home grown tomatoes.

In these designs, diamonds within diamonds produce colourful kaleidoscopic effects, and hexagons are home to fluid explosions of colour and shape, as Das Monk graphically display fusions of colour and shape structures that catch the eye, stay in the mind and rest perfectly against the chest.

But the visual repertoire of Das Monk is neither repetitive or limited. Alongside these structural representations there is playful design and optical illusion. Das Monk design is a world where precisely peeled apples become serpents, pencil sharpening shapes turn into gazelles, and ice-cream is acid. This monk ain’t never been so wild.

Sometimes it’s a drag wearing tights, but you’ve got to shimmy them on. Especially if you’ve got legs like mine that are whiter than The White House, Washington D.C., U.S.A. If it ever gets warmish in the summer, passers by need shades otherwise it’s hazardous to look directly at my pins; they could blind you. Sadly, they never ever change shade. If they’d turn sun-kissed I might be less of a walking polar bear, but the sun won’t even kiss them. Poor leggies.

The world of leg-wear has however, suddenly come up trumps. Poor leggies are not poor leggies any more because they just got two new best friends: Les Queues de Sardines and Henry Holland.

With a helping hand from Les Queues de Sardines, leggies become fancy fancy. Slipping into a pair of these can transform them into anything from……

Mermaid…….

to the sky……..

to Lara Croft……..

to scary hairy monsters. Eugh.

Henry Holland might be a little less attention grabbing, but all the same the legs love them. Henry Holland enjoys making tights which are less opaque than the creations by Les Queues de Sardines. With this edge of see-through-ness, the Henry Holland tights will help you to learn your ABC’s in alphabet tights.

And following the new trend for “Mock Socks” – that would be tights pretending to be socks – Henry is your main man. His ‘House Mock Over the Knee Tights’ may be a mouthful, but more importantly they’re a whole legful.

Yes it’s April and it’s still snowing.
It should be warm.
Instead, it’s snowing.

But you know what we should do? Instead of complaining we should roll around in the snow, go sledging, look up at the sky and stick out our tongues to catch cold drops. We should take a leaf out of this t-shirt company’s book and ‘Cheer Up!’ because summer has got to be on its way. Right?

Cheer Up! Clothing started back in 2006 through a collaboration of besties Matt and Ed. They loved to design clothes so they decided to embark on an adventure in the business world. With a brand called ‘Cheer Up!’ who wasn’t going to love them? From t-shirts which remind you of your Momma telling you to ‘Enjoy yourself‘ to scribble shirts which brightly tell everyone who sees you to ‘Cheer Up!’ this company’s ethic is clear. It’s even depicted in their company logo which is an old-school milkshake silhouette. What could make you happier than milkshake? Who knows? I can’t think of anything that’s made me happier than milkshake.

Guess what you should do...

Their milkshake logo is displayed with pride of place in this simple fitted polo shirt, which is my favourite item from their range. It’s polo-tastic. Back to milkshakes now; this reddish colour reminds me of the cherry on top of milkshakes, though interestingly enough I’ve never had one of these in real life. Where can you get a good milkshake with a cherry on a stalk on the top? Hmm, only in the films I think.

Spot the milkshake

If you find yourself a loose end in LA, but have a cup, some ink, and a brush, then you should make your way to the Sumi Ink Club. Sumi Ink Club is a drawing collection based in LA, established in 2005 by Sarah Anderson and Luke Fischbeck. Their favourite style of drawing is topsy-turvy, detailed and collaborative: on paper using ink. These group drawings are meant to open and fortify social interactions that ‘bleed into everyday life’, welcoming ‘all ages, all humans, all styles’. And now, they’ve expanded from using ink on paper, to print on t-shirts.

Sumi Ink Club’s beautiful designs have been transferred onto the tee, and they are striking to say the least. The design detail is almost on a parallel with an optical illusion – it looks kinetic, but it isn’t, and mexican waves of changing colour on these shirts will definitely get you noticed. When you’re wearing your shades and stalking down the street people will stop you to say ‘wow’. All you will have to say in return is: ‘Sumi’, and maybe do the peace sign with your fingers.

for him

for her

Your look will be made complete with this hot bag they’ve added to the line. The perfect reusable shopping bag. Eco, and chic-o. I like it, lots.

Available here.

What’s the first thing to spring into your mind when I say ‘cavern’? I have to admit that for me, it is Aladdin. You know the big tiger’s head made out of sand, and its gravelly “diamond in the rough” voice, which I’ve often tried unsuccessfully to replicate. That was one cavern to give you technicolor dreams.

But in the fantastical world of caverns: [definition: a cave, or a chamber in a cave, typically a large one], the treasures it can hold all depend on individual taste. For my Father, I am sure the cavern would hold gadgets, for my friend it would definitely hold Snickers bars, and for myself? Well obviously: books….or shoes……too much choice, can I have a combination of both?

For a brand that affiliates itself with chambers of treasure, Cavern Collection has high standards to live up to. This ‘collaboration of ideas’ was born in 2005 by L.A. based artists Adam Tullie and Angeline Rivas. Their designs are focused on a core base of original, hand-drawn offerings. I can hazard a guess that their imaginary cavern would therefore, be filled with pencils and paper.

The designs on their t-shirts really do evoke an impression of graphic originality, native american/egyptian inspirations, and a printed evocation of texture which is fascinating to the eye.

Feathery

Accessories can be found in this Cavern too

Aladdin?

I think you’ll agree, it’s all beautifully Pocahontas.

And if you felt like decorating your home in the same style as your clothes, you sure can with Cavern Collection. My home would have this driftwood, manilla rope chandelier because it would make me feel like life in a tent, a simple life.

So Sahara

Returning from the Netherlands, you realise just how much the Dutch love their bikes. The streets everywhere are lined with them, and they’re not just for show. These are real bikes for real people.

But in the world of cycling there are some important considerations to make. Are you going to be a practical biker, or a super-styler? Do you roll up the right leg of your trouser and risk creasing or do you invest in some snug cycle leggings with a padded bottom? Are you going to wear a few well-positioned reflective strips here and there, or go the full whammy and get a disco ball jacket? Will you have an uber-cool short strap courier bag, or a 1930s schoolteacher wicker basket?

In the Netherlands, they know how to ride with the style, it’s something about being effortlessly European. But regardless of your nationality, you too can ooze Euro on your set of wheels with a Bagaboo, Hungarian slice of courier cool on your back.

Also handy for when you're not on the bike

Bagaboo were the sponsers of the 2009 European Cycle Messenger Championships, and are set to rise to even greater heights of cycle-fashion-fame in 2010, Budapest. Tearproof and water resistant, you can customize your Bagaboo and select your perfect colour combo, size, and any special little extras like laptop sleeves, key clips, and champion stripes.

Team it with one of these super cool Bern helmets (safety first), and you’ll look just like you’re from the Netherlands: Goede reis!

In case of accident

If you’re getting colder in these winter months then you might want to think about getting some hoodies for you and your employees.
Supplying your employees with branded hoodies, will stop them wearing jackets inside and will advertise your company more, as they will tend to keep them on when they go out on lunch!

All our hoodies are ideal for promotional branding via digital or screen printing, transfer (vinyl) or embroidery. This makes them ideal for university hoodies or leavers hoodies.

Using our online quote tool will give you a price guide to work with, all you need to specify is ‘Quantity’, ‘Print Type’ and whether you’re choosing ‘Embroidery’ or ‘Print’.

We can supply our hoodies in a wide range of colours from Arctic White and Military Green to Hot Pink and Jet Black.
We cater for many sizes as well from XXXL which is suitable to a 52” all the way down to a Small 36”.

Our College Hoodie has a Kangaroo pouch pocket and features a double fabric hood and colour coordinated draw string. Both the cuffs and hem are ribbed keeping the warmth in and the cold out.

Hoodies

Polo Shirts

Polo Shirts are ideal for promotional work wear as they portray a smart yet casual dress code for your company, and they keep all your staff looking uniform!

If you’re on budget, then you can always opt for a slightly more affordable range of polo shirts, but just because they are cheaper option don’t worry about the quality of material been any lower, as you will often find that they are still made by a reputable company such as Fruit Of The Loom.

Our Standard Weight Polo Shirt is the most popular purchase out of our Polo Shirt range. They come in a range of colours such as Red, Blue, White and Black.

The Standard Weight Polo Shirt is made from 65% Polyester and 35% Combed Cotton.

We can also supply Polo Shirts in a wide range of sizes from a Small 36/38″ to a XXXL 50/52″.

If you’re looking for a small amount of Polo Shirts for promotional branding, then Digital printing or Vinyl will provide the most economical costings, where as quantities over 20 will benefit from be screen printed or having an embroidered logo.

WE MAKE T-SHIRTS kind of gives the game away. What do they do? Make T-Shirts. Who are ‘we’? They are Tony, Gill and Mike, Nottingham designers, printers and sellers – nestled in the hub of the creative t-shirt trade. ‘We Make T-Shirts’ was born during a busy University life of design, and since then has continued to grow and expand into proportions which might be (in fabric terminology) comparable to big billowy parachute. As the name suggests, for this company the ‘making’ of the t-shirts is a very important part of the creative process, and on their website you can find an intricate, almost David Attenborough-esque, documentary of the production process. Sleek. After watching it you’ll know exactly how your t-shirt came into the world, all the way from sketch pad to clothes tag. Some of their designs include….

“Salut”

“Paper Planes”

“Cubesville”

and my personal favourite…..”Tv’s”

But these kind t-shirters are also willing to print on request, so if there’s a particular style/colour combination you’ve got your heart set on then your wishes might just be accommodated. As ‘We Make T-Shirts’ begin to burst into stores in London (Lik & Neon Brick Lane), Sheffield, Nottingham and Birmingham (“Cow” Stores), their talent is getting some well deserved recognition and I think it’s time to jump on their bandwagon.

As the majority of the student population begin the academic year in an oversized hoody and those mouldy old flip-flops left over from Summer, the brainboxes at Harvard University have turned their academic wisdom to the fashion scene. No, it’s not the students who’ve been busy designing a new, preppy, overpriced brand: it’s the University itself. Harvard Yard is a slice of fashion which even the dustiest Professor will soon be aware of. Following in the footsteps of “university” outfitters such as Jack Wills and Franklin & Marshall, Harvard Yard promotes an image that is clean, sharp, unaffordable and intimidatingly intellectual.

Late for Lectures? No one will care if you're a 'Harvard Yard' boy.

Collaborating with the tailored clothiers Wearwolf Group, the colour theme is crimson and green and the style is classic American. Branding yourself as a fashion house and a world-leading Ivy League University could spell disaster for this prestigious establishment as you don’t have to have “MA” after your name to wear these clothes, and more worrying, you don’t need any fashion sense either so long as you’ve got enough money to splurge. The crimson and green might not look as distinguished as Harvard envisage on a balding 65 year old man who always wished he’d gotten the grades to go to Harvard. This ‘men only’ brand effortlessly oozes style, class and the sex appeal of intelligence, so if you drool over expensive university apparel and the untouchable preppiness it evokes then this might just be the clothing line for you. Wonder if it’ll feature in the prospectus?

Ever felt like everyone is looking down on you? Then maybe this t-shirt isn’t the one for you. Altru Apparel’s most recent t-shirt line includes a print which may take you by surprise. It might just be that I am naive in the design stakes, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this on a shirt before. Altru’s ‘Central Park’ t-shirt might be just the thing to keep you entertained on rainy afternoons, as this shirt features a birds-eye view of New York City’s famous park, complete with inhabitants. As Altru suggest: ‘You could spend hours spying on all the people hanging out’, but I’m not one to advocate voyeurism. That said, so far I’ve been able to spot a group having a picnic, an older couple having a natter on fold-up chairs and someone who could possibly be George Clooney…but maybe that was just wishful thinking.

Spot anyone you know?

If you’re prone to bouts of vertigo, then perhaps it would be safer all round if you opted for the ‘Organ’ tee. Another classic photographic tee in greyscale. If you’re an aspiring organist then this design will offer endless practicing opportunities on the move. It’s your very own portable, mute, 2-D instrument. And if you happen to bump into someone who is already a talented organ player (you might find one at church), then you can strike up a beautiful friendship by inviting them to play Bach’s Toccata on your stomach. Just make sure you’re not ticklish first.

One man. Four hands.

adidas SLVR Spring / Summer 2009 from adidas SLVR on Vimeo.

Rated ‘Best Sportswear’ in the Feb 2009 edition of design magazine, Wallpaper, is Adidas’s new SLVR range, which apparently is positionted somewhere between its own Y-3 range and American Apparel. We love the emphasis on waste-aware production and funky cuts.