Trend Watch: ASOS Williamsburg

Not since The Strokes inspired a New York fashion invasion in the early noughties has men’s fashion in the UK been so smitten with the Big Apple. As ASOS’ latest fashion fix showcases – it’s all eyes across the pond this spring.

Williamsburg is a trend inspired by the Brooklyn neighbourhood, famed for being home to New York’s creative community and most stylish men and women, and its effortless thrift-store meets Ivy-League look. Over the next few weeks you’ll be looking to incorporate some Spring style into your wardrobe, phasing out the chunky knitwear and opting for some US inspired layering. Whether you favour a cherished thrift-store find, or an off the rail piece from the high street – these are my picks straight from the ASOS hit list…

Everyone’s Talking About: Snoods

It’s not often that catwalk models and Carlos Tevez would have anything in common, but with the rise of a certain fashion accessory Carlos and his fellow professional footballers are very much – if not contriversially – en trend.

While as a fashion accessory I think they have real credibility, as a football accessory I’m struggling to see the point in the snood. In all my years of playing the beautiful game I’ve never once suffered from a cold neck – hands yes – but never a cold neck. Needless to say I’m not the only one with an opinion on the subject, with Mr Roy Keane expressing his distaste in his normal poetic manor earlier this week.

“Don’t get me started. I don’t know how they do it. It’s very strange. Gloves, scarves, I think somebody came on a few weeks ago for [Manchester] City who had a hat on. I don’t know how they do it and focus on the game, it’s weird. That’s the way the game’s gone.”

So it’s a no from me and Keano as far as football goes (despite most of the Arsenal players trying to convince us otherwise) but in style terms the snood is on fine form. I’ve picked out these five fan favourites for ‘Snood Of The Month’…

Everyone’s Talking About: Snoods by Pour Homme on Polyvore.com

Winter Knitwear & Accessories (Part 1)

Unless you’ve been living in a box with no windows and the heating turned right up, it won’t have escaped your attention that the temperatures in the UK have plummeted the wrong side of zero. Yes it looks Christmassy, but we Brits don’t deal with this snow and ice lark very well do we?

To help you avoid the same mistakes I made this week (incredibly under prepared brogues with no grip and thin cream chinos in the snow!?) I’ve picked some of my favourite winter warmers to help guide you through to spring.

Menswear Winter Knitwear & Accessories by Pour Homme on Polyvore.com

Style Icon: Julian Casablancas

After reading a recent interview over at asos.com, my love of all things Strokes was rekindled. Not only is ‘This Is It’ one of the best albums of the last 20 years, but Julian Casablancas is the original thrift store indie style icon. While his style is achieved with mostly vintage pieces, I’ve put together a ‘polyvore set ‘ with the best bits from the high street to replicate his look.

Style Icon: Julian Casablancas by Pour Homme on Polyvore.com

Style Icon: George Lamb

Stylish and annoyingly good looking, I should want to punch George Lamb square on the nose. But the truth is, he seems so down to earth and he’s so well dressed, that I just want to steal his style, then go for a beer with him. You too can dress like George with this lovely lot:

Style Icon – George Lamb by Pour Homme on Polyvore.com

Spring/Summer Trend: All American

The uber-stylish fashionbeans.com is one of the best online resources around for fashion conscious men. With a selection of articles and blogs, there’s something for everyone, from the bargain hunters to the designer addicts. Not content of just providing a good read, it’s also a style source that gives the reader the option to browse and buy the latest collections and discover the best grooming products.

I’ve been an avid reader of fashionbeans for a while now, so when the opportunity came about for me to contribute an article, I jumped at the chance. My first blog has been published this week, which you can see here, and the plan is to make this a regular thing….so watch this space.

I’ll keep you up to date with all the goings on via twitter so if you’re not already a follower, check out my twitter page.

Style Icon: David Bowie

He hasn’t released an album in 7 years and we‘ve barely heard a peep from his New York hide out, yet David Bowie is as much an icon as he’s ever been. His impact on modern day music is unquestionable, but it’s the relevance of his style that’s just as intriguing. I didn’t have to look to far to find his high street fashion footprint.

This Ben Sherman suit has more than an air of Bowie about it, the rolled sleeves, the pastel shirt, it all points to the thin white duke.

Zara pretty much hit the nail on the head with this second outfit. The finish of the suit has a subtle ‘glam rock’ sheen and 80’s Bowie feel but the cut and accessories modernise the entire look.

As for Bowie on a budget, look no further than Duck Egg Skinny Trousers from Topman. Pair them with a plain white shirt and you’ve got Bowie’s style in a nut shell.

Despite announcing in 2006 that he was “fed up with the industry” it’s been rumoured that he’s set to make a comeback at this year’s festivals, and Simon Cowell has even hinted at (God forbid) having him as an X Factor guest tutor – but what ever David Bowie’s next move is, the whole world will be paying very close attention.

Taper Jean Boys

There aren’t many things I love more than fashion and the Kings of Leon, so when I heard that the Kings had teamed up with French brand Surface to Air to release a clothing range, I was more excited than a fat kid in a chocolate shop.

From previewing the collection I can tell you that much like everything else the KOL have produced, the clothing range is pretty good. The bandana I can lose, but I would defiantly welcome any of the other items into my wardrobe.

But unlike their music, there has to be a few negatives from me. One gripe I have is that the collection isn’t exactly a groundbreaking. Where as their music is edgy and fresh, with a nod to classic rock and roll, their clothing range is (dare I say it?) a little bit dated. And it’s limited too, if you don’t want to look like you’re in the Kings of Leon (luckily I do!) then there isn’t much in it for you.

Then there’s the price. Now I understand that where there’s designer fashion, there’s the designer price tag, but with the range mirroring a large chunk of the Topman winter collection, I fail to see where the added value comes from. The cheapest item in the range, the bandana, will set you back £65, whilst at the top end, the leather jacket comes in at a whopping £739. Too big a price to pay if you ask me.

While I’ll admit to being a big fan of the clothes themselves, unfortunately when it comes to the range, I’ll have to say that the negatives out weigh the positives. Surface to Air seem to have missed everything I love about the band – their raw, gritty, authentic style and that aura that only the KOL have – and replaced it something that is trying too hard to be cool. What‘s unique about their style can‘t be bought (even at those prices), it‘s something that you‘re either born with, or you learn from years of being one of the greatest rock bands of a generation.

The S2A x KOL collection goes on sale from January 25th at surfacetoair.com and kingsofleon.com.