Cufflinks: Paris Flea Market Style

On our recent trip to Paris, we knew we had to visit the famous flea market at Porte Clignancourt. What we didn't know was that the stall-holders don't appreciate their stock being photographed - so we spent our time checking if the coast was clear to snap away. We left with fewer pictures than we'd hoped but we can assure you, it's certainly worth a visit.

We stumbled upon these beauties whilst there and fell in love. No complaints from us on these, we love each and every one in different ways. The nautical themed royal blue pair at the bottom centre are glorious; the roughly cut dark topaz pair just to the left are one of our favourites - we love the jagged edging that would add another dimension to a sharp navy suit; the star spangled pair top left are perfectly proportioned and were only 60 euros.

Which pair's your favourite?

Comme Des Garçons Play: Polka Dots

The diffusion line from Toyko based brand, Comme Des Garçons, is a style maestro favourite. Simplistic designs paired with the signature heart shaped logo oozes understated cool. The logo, which was a result of a collaboration between founder Rei Kawakubo and street artist Filip Pagowski, has provided the line with an intrinsic notion of Japanese animated visuals and fun. The latest pieces from the Comme Des Garçons Play line are these polka-dot clad beauties: 

Each long sleeve retails at £110 and is made of 100% soft cotton. We love the simple colour choices, with our favourite being the red. Here's the link to the Dover Street Market E-shop where these as well as the rest of the line is available.

Totes Magotes: Zara vs. Bill Amberg

It's a tough one: price vs. quality. At first glance it's reasonably hard to tell which tote is more expensive - although the rich, grainy tumbled leather on no.2 is a bit of a giveaway. Question is, which would you chose?

#1 is the Basic Leather Shopper from Zara. With a 72% cow leather and 28% polyurethane compisition, it's quite premium compared to other Zara bags we've seen. It's a really good size and reasonably priced at £99.99 - click here to get your style starved hands on one.

We have Bill Amberg to thank for #2. This sumptuous 'Hunter Leather' tote bag is made in England from dreamily soft tumbled leather. We love the gold detailing of the zips, buckles and fastening. If Hermès and Mulberry consummated and produced a hybrid baby tote.. this would be it. Priced at £295, it's not cheap but will certainly last.

Bloglovin Awards 2012: VOTE FOR US!

Voting for us won't save a starving child, nor will it bring world peace; but we would love you eternally if you voted for us to show your appreciation of our hardwork on this blog. We started Style Starved late December and have been blown away by the number of visits a day and support on Twitter: @StyleStarved_  

Follow this link: http://www.bloglovin.com/awards and copy our URL into the first address box.

Thanks from everyone at Style Starved for you continual support, now get voting!

Acquisition: JD Sports buys FLY53

JD Sports has recently added youth driven brand FLY53 to it's portfolio. Although the final price has not yet been disclosed, we can imagine it was settled at a healthy sum, as the brand's name as well as all assets were snapped up.

FLY53 had no standalone stores when acquired, but store openings in Central London and the rest of the UK are in the pipeline.

FLY53 founder, Will Rigg, said:

"We're going to carry on with our own retail plan, which stalled for a little while. We're going to drive and push forward our website and step up the wholesale distribution internationally".

The recently acquired brand achieved meager profits in the last 2 years, so let's hope it's new ownership will develop drive the brand into the high street consumer forefront.

Daniel Radcliffe: Woman in Black Premiere

 Whoever styled Daniel Radcliffe for the Los Angeles premiere of his latest film 'Woman in Black' needs a hard slap on the wrist.



Less James Dean, more Justin Bieber


Daniel Radcliffe is not, and never will be, Danny Zuko from Grease. The leather biker jacket is too heavy and the Justin Beiber inspired sneakers just look ridiculous. The crew neck jumper holds a good print but paired with black jeans is not appropriate for a premiere in the slightest. Clothes are meant to provide an inner confidence, and we can tell he just feels awkward. This modern interpretation of James Dean didn't quite go to plan, although Mr. Radcliffe did look rather dapper at the Paris premiere of the film (see below)



You passed this time

Zara Accessories: 20th Century Boy

Marc Bolan sang about a 20th Century Boy, Paul McCartney sang about jumping for joy in vintage; so we wanted to take you back in time with Zara's new range of travel accessories. Think steam trains, oxford spats and big fox fur coats; now let's get our hands on some vintage inspired arm candy:

First up at #1 is the classicly designed Trolley suitcase. At just £99.99 we can ignore the fact that it's 100% Polyurethane and concentrate on the gorgeous dark green body and brown corners and piping. It has a worn effect which sets conjures up images of a dapper gentleman jet-setting around the globe with his trusty suitcase. It's aesthetically pleasing aswell as practical as it is equipped with a pull up handle and wheels.

At #2 is the Vintage Backpack. It's 100% Buffalo Leather and in a glorious navy tone, and only £119. We love the simple stitching and thin front and back straps, and looks pretty similar to a Longchamp bag. Click here to get your hands on this piece.

In at #3 is a doctors style battered brown briefcase with gold buckle. We love the thick buckle on top and the distressed brown colour. It's 100% Polyurethane, which is a bit disappointing as it would've been even better in a soft leather - at £69.99 we can't complain too much. It's not the most practical of bags for work but if you don't mind carrying it, a sharp navy suit would look glorious with this. Find it here.

#4 is a seriously cool embossed briefcase. The coral colour is lacking in the majority of guy's style choices, and we know this piece would be the perfect start to a life with coral. Again, its polyurethane (although at first glance looks like Safiano leather) and at £39.99 it's a great price.

Paint the Town Red: Need Some Colour?

Continuing on from our fabulously red themed Louboutin article, we've collated a few of our favourite red items from the high street to the high end. Now, there's only so much black, grey and navy a guy can handle. Whether it's subtle or a statement piece, get some red into your wardrobe.

#1 is the super simple and versatile J.Crew Slim-Fit cotton tee. The berry red muted colour tone is just perfect and would look great married with a black cashmere cardigan. At just £25 there really is no stopping you. No really, there's nothing to stop you: click here

At #2 we have a Miansai utility bracelet. The Miami based brand has a signature cord and hook design, which we just love. Miansai uses high quality rope and leather and better yet, each bracelet is handmade in the USA. This small piece would add a much needed splash of colour to a monochrome ensemble.

We have Marni to thank for #3. This glorious polka-dot scarf in a biscuit and cherry red colour scheme is 100% cashmere. Our only criticism is the length; we think the best cashmere scarves are those that can be wrapped continuously round the neck - one that you can really sink into. We've seen Marc Jacobs items with a similiar polka-dot design, and both designers execute it well. On a final note, we can't wait for the Marni for H&M range, launching online and in selected stores March 8th.

#4 is from high street favourite, Topman. These 'spray-on' skinny jeans are limited edition and we love the deep maroon colour. Better still, they wash brilliantly and return just as tight as they were bought.

#5 is a special edition Clarks Originals Desert Boot. Made from Hainsworth fabric (the same material used for the uniforms of the Royal Guards) these beauties are styled with gold piping, and have a truly fun Rock 'n' Roll feel. Of course, they have the trademark crepe sole and are £89.

We've saved the best for last. #6 is from one of our favourite bands, The Cambridge Satchel Company. All their satchels are made in the UK from a smooth sturdy leather, and a perfectly proportioned thin strap. We suggest getting the 15 inch size at £84, as they are quite thin and you need as much space as you can get. The deep red is wonderful, and the online picture doesn't do it justice. And the icing on the cake - you can have your initals embossed on the front at £5 a letter. Get yourself a gloriously British satchel here

Christian Louboutin: Our Favourites

Everyone knows a Louboutin when they see it; the shiny red sole or the notoriously fierce women's Pigalle shape is an instant giveaway. We're not going to bore you with Mr. Louboutin's influences or company founding dates - all that matters is that Louboutin's are here and dominating the footwear department. As much as we appreciate the incredibly decadent designs for our lady counterparts - we have to let you know about the equally dashing designs for us men.

At #1 we have the sophisticated yet casual 'Nono' sneakers. An odd name choice as we screamed 'YESYES' when we stumbled upon it. These sneakers are perfect for off-duty weekend wear or playfully paired with a sharp suit for a formal occasion. Two lace loop-holes means the front isn't dominated by laces, giving the shoe a wonderfully simple and minimal aesthetic. 

#2 is the elegantly designed 'John John' Loafer - a shoe so nice they named it twice! With a sumputous mix of velvet, satin and patent leather, the John John is texturally perfect. The shape and sleekness of the loafer resonates an 'old time gal' 1920's cosmopolitan feel - tap dancing and all. At $895 it's steep, but a small price to pay for the level of Parisian craftmanship that goes into each shoe.

We know. #3 is a sneaker you'll either love or hate. A few of our eyes bulged in sheer fear when we saw the 'No Limit' sneaker, but the majority of us applauded the stylish execution of such a loud and heavy design. Rhinestones? Check. Spikes? Check. Lepoard? Check. Cork? Check. What more do you want?

For the sharpest of gentleman, we give you #4 the 'Dandy' Loafer - and oh my is it dandy. A real no-nonsense slip-on that would certainly pack a punch if married with a Tom Ford suit. Soft ribbed leather at the top means no painful rubbing that some stiff leather loafers can inflict. The Dandy truly is the epitome of suave simplicity, and like the John John loafer, a pair will set you back $895.

Last but not least is #5, the 'Rantus Orlato' leopard printed pony sneaker. This shoe is ideal for the young, fresh-to-death guy who can incorporate a fierce animal print into his ensemble. We envisage these sneakers with a pair of skinny black jeans and a graphic Givenchy tee.

Hard Graft: Sleek Utility Accesories

Created back in 2006, Hard Graft produces handmade accessories using a signature combination of premium wool felt and Italian cow leather. Each and every piece from Hard Graft is unique and exudes a sense of raw, logical design. We adore the details of utility, whilst maintaining the appearance of sleekness. Our favourite pieces are below: 

 #1 is the 3 Fold Heritage Weekend bag. We love the light brown vegetabled tanned leather and the fact that every handle and rivet is reinforced from the inside. The multi-fold design is something we adore, and strongly suggest having a look on http://www.hardgraft.com/ for a look at the other ways to use the bag. At £492, it's not cheap but not too painful to purchase for a hell of a lot of craftsmenship.

At #2 we have the Laptop Bag. This £325 slim and versatile piece is perfect for the tech-savvy on-the-go gentleman. The shoulder strap is perfectly practical and the top handle provides a level of formality to the bag.

#3 This case is priced at £82 and accommodates your Macbook or iPad. An incredibly reasonable price, as the leather slip-pocket at the front can fit your phone, wallet and any other paraphernalia you carry.

#4  is an iPad case that we love. The deep grey wool and earthy smooth brown leather work wonders together.

For more iPad ideas, click here for our post on our favourite designs of last year. 

(images courtesy of Hard Graft)

Golden Globes: Dapper Gentleman

The Golden Globes 2012 took place on 15th January. We were glued to the Red Carpet TV coverage at an ungodly hour (we're based in London) to pick out our best dressed gentleman of the evening. We were expecting the majority to follow suit, literally, and arrive in a simple tuxedo - but to our surprise, many played with colour, cut and accessories. Starving? Let's eat:

The host of the evening, Ricky Gervais (top left), arrived in a maroon 2 piece suit, with black lapels and black detail down the leg, as well as a black shirt. Firstly, black shirts are a big mistake - whether it be a for a formal or informal occassion, black shirts are infamously hard to wear and rarely look good. The colour of the suit is all wrong and has an awful sateen finish which makes the whole look appear cheap. If you have a closer look at his shoes, they look like heavy duty steel-capped workwear boots. Oh and Ricky, lose the sunglasses.

When we saw Viggo Mortensen (top right) glide down the red carpet in a black 2 piece with striped tie, we knew he'd chosen well. We love the casual nature of the look; the unbuttoned jacket and his hair without a kilo of hairspray was a pleasant surprise. The preppy, collegiate style tie was a contempary touch that brought the outfit out of the awards show norm. Top marks Viggo!

The ever suave and charming George Clooney (bottom left) arrived in a tuxedo with new squeeze Stacy Keibler. The cut of the jacket and trousers seems slightly too long, and make the fit too loose. The silk lapels are far too wide and the velvet cord down the leg resonates a suit Hugh Hefner would pick. A little disapointing but as ever, Clooney dresses too classic and unoffensively that no one notices.

Last but most certainly not least is Channing Tatum (bottom right). The young buck of our favourites proved he can give the older Hollywood gentleman a run for their money. We have no complaints with this suit; looks to be a perfect fit, the thinner lapels keep the jacket modern and the slim fit trousers keep the silhouette flowing. The white pocket-square finishes the suit off nicely, but a dash of colour there would've been better.

Milan Fashion Week: Burberry

Milan Fashion Week has begun!

Creative Officer, Christopher Bailey showcased a refined country/city gentleman collection. We loved the majority - but a few garments did catch our attention for the wrong reasons. Excuse the poor image quality, it was all we could get our style starved hands on.

This first piece takes a modern design twist on a classic shape:

We love the block tonal striping at the bottom - adds a contemporary aspect to the mix of what would've been a simple overcoat. The use of nostalgic 70's colours was prominent within the collection; uses of burgundy, mustard and light brown all graced garments at some point or another.

Longing for a garish animal applique on a shawl-collared jumper? Neither are we...

What looks like a collage from a troop of infants, this jumper was one of a handful of anomalies. The bulging shawl-collared cut never has appealed to us and the design is not on the good side of garish.

We love a good polka-dot design here at Style Starved, and this next shirt is no exception:

We love this light crimson and alabaster polka-dot shirt and tie. One of our favourite looks of the F/W range and both pieces are sure to sell well.

These beauties immediately caught our eye whilst we watched the show:

Soft black leather plus embellished silver studs equals sheer brilliance. There's no denying that we love these gloves, but they fail to gel with the rest of the collection and seem an odd choice amongst the country/city gent theme. We can't help but see a design resemblance between these and Christian Louboutin's spiked Louis sneakers.

Catalogue corporate wear anyone?

The deep brown block trim nor the fabulous suit it's paired with can save this jacket. In an odd colour which is certainly not easy on the eye, this piece looks like it was plucked straight out of a mail-order catalogue. The collar is far too wide and the sleeves look stuffed with too much goose down or polysester.  We're sure the piece is well made but can't see any way of it looking good.

We'll finish on a good note:

Again, apologies about the image quality but this duffle coat looked glorious as it transcended down the runway. In a warm coffee brown tone, this coat is bound to be a bestseller. We adore the heavy leather buckle fastenings - Bailey, you did well.

War Horse: Style Storyboard

Steven Spielberg's latest film is set for it's UK release on 13th January, and in sheer excitement to see it, we've used promotional stills from the film to build this style storyboard. If you have any other garments in mind that would fit this theme, let us know by posting a comment below.

#1 is a sublime Roland Mouret belted coat. It may be last season but we just had to share it. Crafted from 100% wool and in a deep khaki colour, this double breasted masterpiece eases nicely into a country/heritage theme, as well as holding onto a feel of formality. A back split panel detail and the optional belt buckle fastening is wonderfully practical. The tailored silhouette - seen in many of Mouret's womenswear designs - oozes such effortless elegance that it makes us weak at the knees. We really should calm down as it is just a coat, but we'll leave it on this note: if perfection made a khaki wool coat, this would be it. 

#2 is a pair of handsome soft leather gloves, courtesy of Drake's. These handsewn beauties are in the 'English tan' colour variation, also available in a chocolate brown which is equally as delightful, and have a taut and enduring feel which all good leather gloves should possess. Fancy a pair? Follow this link.

An affordable simple beige check shirt is hard to find! We had to look far and wide to track down #3, and this one is from River Island for £32. This quirky piece appears to be a standard button through shirt - but with the right-hand pocket sewn on upside down it has a slightly bizarre design. For a simple piece like this, the oddball pocket placement isn't necessary. However, the contrasting buttons and soft cotton are aspects that we like about this garment. Great pricepoint, impractical design standpoint.

We have Maison Martin Margiela to thank for #4. The combination of sumptuous waxed suede and smooth vegetable-tanned leather make this pair an impulsive must have - but at an eye-watering £580, it would most definitely have to be an impulse purchase. The design of these shoes have the semblance of a modestly-clad Victorian pauper, yet small details like the signature Margiela stitch on the heel and the soft leather laces are sure signs of skilled Italian craftmanship. The shoes are in the pre-collection for Maison Martin Margiela's S/S '12 collection and are available online and in-store now.

#5 is the 'Donkey Heritage Blazer' from Topman. Retailing at £80, the piece is an obvious choice for a country gentleman look on a budget - but with the same use of wool as nylon, it's nowhere near a Harris Tweed standard. Block contrast patches on shoulders and elbows give the otherwise traditional tweed blazer a modern twist. This blazer would also work well with a pair of dark ink jeans and a neat white collared shirt. Find it here on Topman's site.

Last but not least #6 is a Barbour wool 'Crieff' Flat Cap. We suggest wearing this if you are a true country gent and genuinely do live in a quaint village - too many times have we seen misguided gentleman wearing them in the city. This cap is wool lined and we love the red and orange check on the classic herringbone fabric. At £32.95 it's reasonably priced and would complete a heritage look.

I'm sure you're as excited as we are for the release of War Horse and we hope this themed style storyboard has been worth reading. Cheerio!

Marc by Marc Jacobs SS12: Colour Block Galore

Designers are set to showcase their AW12 designs in mid-January, but we wanted to recap one of our favourite shows we saw earlier this year, the Marc by Marc Jacobs SS12 collection. You might be thinking this is old news, and in many ways it is, but collections like this one is what we will see fashion savvy gentlemen wearing in the coming months. The pantone inspired compilation exuded a sporty vibe which was refreshing - in a season of designers contending to produce the craziest print, Marc by Marc Jacobs presented an almost entirely solid-coloured collection.



Bold colours and a sense of fun

Presented in a glorious palette of coral, black and aqua - these suits appear slightly informal and comfortable. Known for his youthful and engaging designs, Marc injected an aspect of simplicity into his collection, as well as staying true to his design ethos. Flirting with flamboyant colours, the collection created shapes and tones reminiscent of abstract art.

Similar notions were showcased at EHUD and in the recent collaboration between Versace and H&M - where garish colours reigned supreme. We prefer Marc's designs but beggars can't be choosers.



         EHUD                              VERSACE FOR H&M



Heavy layered white leather trainers

The accessories from the Marc by Marc Jacobs show have a somewhat modern preppy, college ambience - minus the contrived Rugby Ralph Lauren-esque style. Red, white and blue eyewear and heavy white leather trainers further emphasized the contempary nature of the collection.


 

Oversized eyewear is a Marc Jacobs staple



  

                       

                         

Milan Men's AW12 fashion week starts 14th   January 2012 and we're sure you're as excited as we are.



Starved for Style? Let's Eat!

"I think the idea of mixing luxury and mass-market fashion is very modern - wearing head-to-toe designer has become a bit passe. It's a new era in fashion - there are no rules" - Alexander McQueen



Mixing high-street with high-end; we love this look

This compilation started with the discovery of #2, the Acne slim fit trousers. These pastel-green wonders add a fun feel to the outfit that jeans just wouldn't do. They fit gloriously, and the colour is superb. A cropped cut gives these formal looking trousers a casual twist, perfect for everyday wear as well as formal occasions. At £200, they're reasonably priced too, and we can't wait for the purple toned ones in Acne's Spring 2012 collection: Click here for a cheeky look at them

A staple of any wardrobe - #1 is the dark grey marl cardigan from H&M. This 100% cotton piece is only £14.99 and has amazing versatility. A merino wool version would have been better, but for that price we can't complain.

#3 is the cotton and silk blend t-shirt from the esteemed French brand, Givenchy. The print is bold and visually stimulating and gives the outfit an artistic slant. This simple t-shirt can be dressed down as seen above, or teamed with a sharp Yves Saint Laurent suit.

These Mark McNairy shoes, seen above at #4, ooze sophistication. A classic oxford wingtip brogue is a must have for any gentleman and these ones are no exception. The dark brown oxblood leather works well with the pastel-green trousers and creates a warm palette. The red rubber soles breath new life into the old  brogue shape - Clarks Originals had similar designs last year.

iPad Cases: Our Favourites

We're not here to tell you how great the iPad is. With nearly 40 million units sold, it's not like Apple needs our help. But iPads are most certainly worth showing off; but with a £399 pricetag for the basic model, it's best to keep them protected. So, we've chosen our 3 favourite cases and are dying to share them with you.

First up at #1 is the rather tasteful Comme des Garçons case. The established Tokyo based brand kept things simple with dark brown cowhide leather and gold zip detail. Inside, ease and practicality reign, as two document sleeves and 5 card slots are incorporated into the design. At £290, this case not only serves to protect your beloved iPad, but thanks to it's features inside, it can be used with ease at work. Fancy a look? We'll take you there: Click here

Onto #2 - this MaxMara case screams effortless style. Pure Italian style exudes from this light blue calf leather case, and the subtle embossed logo at the base further emphasises the simplicity of this piece. We've also been drooling over the pastel-green variation! For £168, this case is worth every penny. Head over to: http://www.matchesfashion.com/ for a browse.
.

Finally #3 is from COTEetCIEL - the name meaning "Coast and sky" - the brand was founded in 2008 and is still relatively unknown but endeavours to produce innovative products for professionals on the move. At just £30, this case is an affordable essential for the no-nonsense pragmatic gentleman. Follow this one to get it: COTEetCIEL

Well, it's been a pleasure sharing our favourites with you. May you spend many more happy hours playing Angry Birds on your iPads - maybe next time with one of our cases?

Drake's: Perfection for the Modern Gentleman

 

 Deciding the topic of the first post on a new blog is always a tricky and tenuous task. Our minds fluttered between new prints from established fashion houses, to recent collaborations between designers and the high-street; but when we stumbled upon Drake's, we knew it was perfect. The simplistic and authentic nature of Drake's is unique and hard to find these days, which is why we wanted to share it with you. Yes, you.

Founded in 1977,  the brand initially produced scarves but quickly expanded to ties and handkerchiefs - all handmade in England. With a wider selection of products available today ranging from suede shoes to dressing gowns and cashmere jumpers to wallets, Drake's has quietly pioneered classic design with a feel of understated heritage.



 

Glorious in tones and feel

The lightweight cashmere scarves look and feel wonderful - and with a £295 price tag, you'd expect them to. All are woven in Scotland and many are 'oversized' (70x180cm) which is perfect for wrapping round. Classic plaid patterns appear (we especially love the green, purple and camel check - shown left), as well as two rather garish block orange and blue scarves - but overall Drake's uses simple and safe colour schemes for their scarves.  Even more decadent than a lightweight cashmere scarf is one of Drake's Cashmere Silk Reversible scarves. Again, comprising of beautifully woven cashmere, these scarves possess a weighty silk reverse with a wonderful contrasting design. But let's not forget the pièce de résistance of Drake's scarves - the printed wool and silk pocket squares. The colours are rich and the prints are marvellously whimsical - these would most certainly give Hermès a run for it's money. At £215 for 90x90cm, they're steep; but if you're going to indulge in something in the near future, make it one of these delightful pocket squares.

A sharp black suit would set this one off nicely

Although Drake's boasts only a small collection of bow ties, it's a bloody good collection at that. With classic polka-dots and Liberty-esque paisley patterns, the ties have mass appeal whilst still holding onto designs of the past. Each bow tie is made entirely by hand in England - not something every luxury brand can boast. Drake's designs are pragmatic too as the hook-and-eye design enables you to remove without undoing. At £75 a pop, these small beauties aren't cheap, but they've got an abundance of charm and an over-arching notion of elegance that we just love.  

  

Last but most certainly not least, is the leather Document Holder - one of our favourites.

Sublime in colour and feel

This isn't just any other leather by the way - it's Bridle leather. This type of leather has both the flesh and the grain side of the leather stuffed with greases and finished with wax, a labour intensive process which yields a smooth and durable leather. Each document holder comes with a brass lock and key, something we've never seen before and has a soft suede lining. This item also comes in a sublime Conker Brown which we've all fallen madly in love with. Top marks to Drake's for this one!

One might say Drake's should expand, and in some ways it should. A few additions here and there wouldn't go amiss. However, for us the authenticity of Drake's lies within it's small but content product range. Drake's could open the floodgates and stuff themselves with products, but we feel it would lose its uniqueness and become yet another brand playing on heritage.

Check out understated design and essential pieces for yourself at Drake's: http://www.drakes-london.com/