Picture Postcard: THE hair

Photo of the Moment - Robert Geller. Backstage photography by Eric Ray Davidson for The Moment.

Dear EJ

The weekend is almost here!

I stumbled across this backstage image on The Moment from Robert Geller's awesome vampire-styled show (WWD described it as Rogue Aristocracy - I'd love to be a rogue aristocrat... not sure they have those in Margate though...) and this is how I'll wear my hair this weekend. This image made me think of my last visit to Manchester where you always sculpting my hair into a similar style, so I'm sure you'll approve of this. Who knows maybe next time I visit my hair might not require your input but I think I need to experiment with a number of products until I can fully pull off this style... I will keep you posted.

Lots of love

Steve

Hola Steve!

Loving this image! So exact and perfect... it's a good thing that models don't have to go outside, it's been so windy here lately there's no way that coiffure would stay in place! I am definitely over fringes on men now though, so this style very much appeals. I think it helps to be as handsome as this chap though!

EJ

Magazines in the spotlight: 10 Men

Following on from our post on Tuesday regarding these troubling times facing magazines we would like to continue to celebrate our favourite publications. I'd like to turn your attention to 10 Men.

10 Men Spring 09 Issue

From the power of the Internet I have known for some that the the Spring issue of 10 Men has been on sale but try as I might I just couldn't find it anywhere....I was missing out and I knew it. I will tell you a little tale which shows my love (bordering on desperation) of magazines. Ordinarily, after having my ear to the ground I stumble across a bounty of copies at Borders in Charing Cross so of course i went there first this time...but there was nothing. I went back a further three times and even extended my search taking other branches, throwing in a visit to my favourite newsagent on Old Compton Street and the stand opposite Liberty's. In short, whenever I walked past a newsagent, my hands became a little clammy,my heart beat a little faster and in I strode full of excitement, only to leave downbeat and wanting. How sad am I? Thankfully, my quest ended in an unlikely place, a tiny newsagent close to my flat. I now have 10 Men in my hands and am loving this issue.

The 'Ten people you should meet' feature is frequently my favourite facet of each issue and it doesn't disappoint here, in fact it is the best yet because these are the people I love. Within the feature we are reacquainted with Paul Smith, Gordon Richardson, Kim Jones, Patrick Grant, Margaret Howell. Carlo Brandelli, James Long and Richard James whilst being informally introduced to Graeme Fiddler (Head of Men's Design, Aquascutum), James Shaw and Alastair Rae (The Proprietors, Albam). These men should be known and I quite simply love this feature.

Oh Paul, how I'd love to sit and chat with you...

Lanvin is dealing with the pressure of being one of the best, if not the best, menswear collections shown in Paris and beyond quite beautifully. The Lanvin vision for the upcoming season is now my vision for the months ahead. Over fourteen pages 10 Men catches up with Lucas Ossendrivjer whilst creating a spread of looks photographed on my favourite piece of green space in London, Hampstead Heath.

Lanvin on the Heath...if only I looked this this good when I go off walking!

One of the main editorials asks that often recited Shakespeare question what's in a name and thankfully gives us a few answers rather than digress with talk of flowers. Here they opened fashion with first names by giving the various meanings of the fashion photographer's name.

Jacob's editorial

The hunt for images to accompany this post led me to the revamped site for 10 Magazine, complete with a look inside both magazines and a frequently updated blog. If you've not had a look recently you have to check it out because it is a huge improvement on what was available before.

The trouble is now that I have 10 Men in my possession, the unrelenting itch for Fantastic Man Issue N 9 takes over and will no doubt become unbearable...thankfully there isn't too long to wait...yet the world still waits.

Time for Church

As we look at luxury in the downturn, recent posts including the interview with our favourite shoeist Mr Hare (I will buy those Stingray Orwell's as soon as I can) and Elliott's style diary (because he owns a pair - bought from Battersea Boot Sale) got me thinking about one of my favourite luxury brands. Church's have created a blemish free blueprint which other luxury brands would be fools not to learn from.

When I think of Church's brogues, my mind races back in time and I am looking through my blue/grey/green eyes (the colour frequently changes) as a child. I remember my first visit to London aged six where I was accompanied by my Canadian cousins (the one and only time I've seen them) and sandwiched between Thames boat trip rides and sightseeing from the top deck of a double decker bus (we did the whole tourist shebang that day) I recall peering through the windows of a remarkably traditional looking store front and the brogues within it really caught my imagination. This was my first taste of aspirational window shopping. I no longer wanted to shop at Clarks' on Margate High Street for my school shoes, I wanted to come here...sadly, next August I was pulled back to Clarks' where Linda measured my feet in that seemingly futuristic yet archaic at the same time device followed by the usual 'oh how you've feet have grown.' Since this moment I've always known that one day I'll own a pair of Church's along with a Savile Row bought suit and a Cartier watch being the cherry on my sartorial cake (a little more unrealistic...a twenty five year old boy can but dream). At this point I must assure you that I'm ordinarily no label whore but these historic labels would bring out the inner whore in me just to be able to wear them. Of course, a pair of Church's would look ridiculous on a a six year old boy, even more bizarre on a spotty teenager (in to his sportswear) but now I think the day is very close indeed. I have grown in to my dreams.

The history of the brand is well known but let me give you a little recap because it is this combined with their practices which make me dream of having a pair on my feet. Church's Shoes was founded in 1873 by three brothers who brought together under one roof the cottage industry skills involved in shoe-making at the time. The company's headquarters are still based in Northampton in England. The collection of ‘Handmade Custom Grade’ shoes offers premier shoes to experience the finest in comfort, quality and style. In an ever changing world, these classic English styles form a lasting impression. The 250 operations and eight weeks of craftsmanship using the very finest leathers to produce every single pair of shoes for today's well-dressed gentleman is legendary.

These are shoes which will last a liftetime. True investment pieces. Last Summer Wallpaper profiled Church’s Shoes in-house repair and service offering for their footwear line. Of course Church’s shoes are made to last but after a while they may require a little more than a good polish. Church’s traditional manufacturing process allows them to offer a full refurbishment service which goes way beyond a simple resole or new heel all for £85. This makes me love them even more.

I will leave you with one final thought I have about Church's. Mark Twain once said “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes”...I'm quite sure that the truth would be lacing up a pair of Church's (simple, black leather brogues).