The Doctor's Orders

My wish list

2012-02-06T18:57:00.000Z

Seen loads of really nice bags, that I'm hoping to get over the coming weeks.

Ted Baker Kolda leather messenger bag

Diesel 'Result' shoulder bag in oatmeal

Ted Baker Skolday satchels - these come in four brilliant colours:

Ted Baker Chella Suede jacket

2012-02-02T18:41:00.005Z

Saw this before xmas, but wasn't sure about getting a suede jacket. However, saw it again the other week, and - as usually happens - I couldn't get it out of my mind. Went up to Regent Street after work today to buy it. Pretty expensive at £330, but it's gorgeous - super soft, super light-weight, lovely deep colour, and it's given a cool military-inspired edge by the buttons and epaulettes. Something almost a bit All Saints-ey about it.

Ted Baker Pukkk Boots

2012-01-19T18:39:00.005Z

Saw these before xmas, and very nearly bought them then. They're a really nice stoney colour, and go great with chinos and jeans. These would look great with my red quilted jacket, or with my black biker jacket. They were £150, but had a remaining £11 on my xmas Ted Baker gift voucher, which I put towards them.

Ted Baker 'Panickd' textured knit jumper

2012-01-14T20:08:00.000Z

I nearly got this last week when I got the red cords. It goes great with those cords, plus most of my chinos too. The jumper has a really unusual texture to it, and is very warm. It was originally £115, but was reduced to £80 in Ted Baker Regent Street, and when I went in Selfridges, I saw it for £58! Bargain.

Ted Baker Red 'Cordey' Trousers

2012-01-09T17:10:00.002Z

Picked up these red corduroy trousers in Ted Baker Bluewater today. Trousers were £89, but paid for by a gift card that I got for xmas.

They're a really lovely deep red colour, and fit great; they're slim fitting, but not too tight. These should be good for the winter and spring. I'm thinking of wearing them dressed down with trainers and some chunky knit ware, or a bit smarter with one of my tweed jackets.

New Year

2012-01-08T17:17:00.002Z

Last year I went off the rails and spent way too much money on clothes and stuff. This year will be different... sort of. I'm still going to be buying stuff, but a lot (lot) less, and will be considering my purchases more, and only getting the best-of-the-best, can't-live-without stuff, rather than anything shiny that catches my eye! I'm going to be documenting everything I buy this year, which (you never know) might shame me in to spending less.

To start with, I brought home two things today; a new phone and some aftershave. The iPhone was an upgrade, and frees up my current phone for L, as his ain't working too well. The aftershave was almost half price, and is my all-time favourite, so decided to snap it up. As a bonus it came with a little miniature bottle and some shower gel. The aftershave was only £25, and the phone was funded partly by L, and partly through some xmas money. I just had to buy a case (£26). hashtag-winning

I'm back

2010-11-12T15:44:00.001Z

So. Haven't been here for a while. Or rather the best part of a year!

Bought this fantastic chunky knit cardigan in Ted Baker today. I've been looking for something like this for ages, but something has always put me off the ones I've seen - too itchy, too hot, wrong colour. I don't like the double breasted ones either, as there's just too much fabric flapping around. Thinking of wearing the cardigan exactly as shown here - slim jeans, tan desert boots.

I've bought so many other things since I last posted - mainly from my spiritual home, Ted Baker. One of my absolute faves has been this blazer which I've been wearing all the time.

More soon!

Blue laces

2010-02-18T13:16:00.005Z

Browsing the web and saw these beauties:

No idea where they're from, but I really love the dove grey / electric blue colour combination. I'm even thinking of braving a quick bus ride to the high street and cobbling together a low-rent homage with these cheapo Topman plimsoles and some laces from this somewhat specialist website.

Oh - and I won a rather cool competition on the Ted Baker blog website... woohoo! Not sure who Ben is though..!

So cute I'm feeling kinda sick

2010-02-09T16:00:00.001Z

Oh no! Now Monkey's broken his arm too!

At least he's still smiling.

iPad

2010-02-08T11:00:00.003Z

Well, given my love of all things Apple-shaped (I own a MacBook, iMac, iPhone, sundry iPods etc etc) I'm not really going out on a limb to say I like the look of the new iPad, and want one!! And I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be the only one either. However, I wonder if Apple's ever increasing market share through its new products are inevitably damaging its wider credibility. As with so many things in life, it seems the more popular something gets with one group of people the stronger the feelings against it will become from others. I've already come across one reference on someone's Twitter feed using the term 'iPad' to mean uncool/untrendy/'mainstream', and over the last year or two have had several conversations with people who proclaim Apple stuff to be 'dumbed down, shiny bits of plastic for idiots'.

Apple always seemed very good at marketing themselves as the cool alternative to the PC-mainstream, but their dominance of the mp3 market through the iPod, huge share of the mobile market through the iPhone, and ever increasing numbers of people switching to iMacs from PCs have meant they're no longer really an 'alternative' product (even my mum has a growing collection of Apple hardware these days).

I reckon the sheer strength of design of Apple's products will see them through, and I for one think the iPad will be a really cool - and popular - way for people to access the web and intertwine their lives ever more closely with the virtual world. I guess for all the Apple nay-sayers there's always Windows 7.

Nutty Professor

2010-02-05T16:11:00.009Z

I was reading on the Style Salvage blog that the designer Joe Casely-Hayford will be releasing a capsule wardrobe for John Lewis in March. I'm lovin this jacket!

Elbow patches - genius! Hoping that my broken arm will finally be better by the time the collection hits the shops, as I definitely want to try this jacket on. Thinking it will look pretty nifty layered with some fine knitwear, dark slim jeans and brown brogues. Speaking of shoes, the brogues that also form part of the collection look awesome (although I don't think I could bare to even try and buy them given that they're only making 30 pairs, and will undoubtedly be instantly snapped up). Might have a few issues with dropping £250 on a pair of shoes too... or could I??... But back to the jacket - I think it perfectly sums up a kind of grown-up / dusty academic / English heritage classic with a twist of urban cool which I'm really liking at the moment.

Btw - In the spirit of dusty academia - I really wish my arm wasn't still broken because this looks really good - a chance to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the Natural History Museum and see their 27km of shelves of specimens! I'm definitely making a note to do this the next chance I get.

Uniqlo

2010-02-05T15:46:00.002Z

Possible the best shop for cheap but cool shirts??

...you definitely can't get better underwear anywhere!!

Summer Shades

2010-02-04T15:31:00.003Z

Bored of winter now, and already thinking about what I'm going to wear for the summer. I'm thinking these fine knit sweaters from All Saints are going to be perfect for the warmer months:

They're all a lovely washed out pastel shade, and think they'd look great with a pair of ultra pale blue jeans or slim-fitting chinos, these stone coloured suede shoes and my beige leather Reiss holdall.

The Bag Lad

2010-02-03T17:14:00.007Z

Can't help myself - another new arrival - this time from Paul & Joe...

Absolutely the most money I have ever spent on a bag (and I'd like to think the most I ever will), but it is utterly lovely. The blue suede - not your everyday man bag material - is ever so soft and tactile, and looks the business set off by the smart, dark brown leather trim. A perfect sized bag for slinging over your shoulder and will easily fit all my daily essentials (work clobber, gym kit, high protein wholemeal wraps etc etc). Imagining this bag looking great with my skinny black blazer, dark wash jeans and white deck shoes. My mum always told me you can't, under any circumstances, allow suede to get wet, so I guess I'm going to need to check the weather forecast before I take this out!!

I need a holiday

2010-01-21T13:22:00.005Z

I need to get back to work soon, else I'll bankrupt myself through online shopping.

Here is the latest arrival - a Ted Baker 'Hussar' cracked leather document bag in white. Not seen many mens bags in white leather before, so had to get it to add to my ever growing manbag collection. The casual look of the cracked leather with the bright punch of colour given by the orange zips is so summery, and I'm already imagining this beauty accompanying me on holiday to Greece in June. Mens bags are so often confined to blacks and browns, which always feel heavy and hot during the summer months. I think this baby will look and feel light and airy slung over my shoulder as I walk down the steps of an aircraft on to the Tarmac of some foreign airport. Buying this summer bag now also feels like a bit of a consolation, given all the snow we've had and the fact that I was supposed to be boarding a plane bound to Thailand next Wednesday (alas now cancelled due to my broken arm).

No Jive, De-Phazz

2010-01-13T14:02:00.003Z

Was looking through the iTunes Genuis suggestions of other tracks I might like, and came across this gem. Instantly I was taken back to Santorini in Greece where I first heard this track, sitting in this chilled out beach bar drinking large Methos, snacking on peanuts watching the waves lap against the black sand beach at night. Until now I had no idea who the song was by. So happy I've found it!!

Reading Material

2010-01-07T15:16:00.002Z

Passing the time with some interesting books I got recently:

Dictators Homes - A look at how famous dictators choose to decorate there homes - odd, but fascinating!
Secret London - A book about little known places in London, and suggestions for walks to see them (already planning for when I'll be able to leave the house)! Can't wait to go on some long city walks with the new camera to try and snap some arty shots.
Found - A strange collection of notes and letters found littering the street - very funny
Pad Parties - Have read this before, but love it. Packed full of ideas for cool home entertaining.

Workwear

2010-01-05T12:32:00.009Z

Although there's no work for me for at least January, I do need to get some new work clothes for when I'm well enough to go back. When I started working in an office back in 2001 I dressed really smart, wearing a suit, shirt and tie every day. After a few years I got pretty bored with the 'school uniform', so ditched the suit and tie in favour of trousers and shirts when absolutely necessary (meetings, visits by foreign gentry etc) and jeans at all other times. Although in danger of selling out to the corporate slag, I think it's time to begin getting a little smarter (especially if I want a promotion and the opportunity to begin building a team of flunkies under my management to carry out my bidding.... mha ha ha).

I got some smart work shirts before Christmas, and had hoped to get a few more in the January sales. That ain't going to happen now, but will hopefully be able to get some new trousers in February once I'm back in circulation.

One new outfit I did buy before Christmas is this one below. I saw it on the Ted Baker website a few months back, and really liked it. I've now bought the shirt (called 'Lector') and the trousers ('Bubblin') and the belt ('Meister'). The shirts got quite a strong pattern, which the photo here doesn't really do justice too, but I think it's really sharp.

Olympus PEN

2010-01-04T13:09:00.013Z

So sitting in the flat with a broken arm is getting boring. Very boring. The only bit of the outside world I've seen in the last two weeks has been a trip to the hospital to see the consultant, and a quick stumble up the road to the local Thai restaurant for dinner on New Year's eve. So I'm thinking a little retail therapy might cheer me up (after all i am saving loads of money being layed up here at home - no train tickets to buy, have suspended the gym membership, and can't drink alcohol on the painkillers I'm taking, so no trips to the pub). Buying clothes seems a little pointless given I can't wear them, so instead have got my sights set on a new camera.

And its the very retro-looking Olympus PEN E-P1 that I have my sights set on. I've wanted a proper SRL camera for ages, but somehow have never been able to imagine myself carting around a big camera bag stuffed full of lenses. By comparison this baby seems compact, smart and hopefully wont make me look like clumsy-sweaty-techie-dude. It is very expensive (I reckon around £750 to get the camera, lenses and accessories I would want), but it does look very, very, very sexy. I only have a Kodak point-and-shoot at the moment, which is fine as far as it goes, but I would get much better pictures with the PEN (in anything other than full sunlight the Kodak ain't so great).

Amazon will promise to get the camera to me by lunchtime tomorrow.... am very tempted!! To buy or not to buy??!

UPDATE: So I gave in to my shallow consumerist tendencies and bought it!

Noel Coward

2010-01-03T14:35:00.006Z

Feeling very Noel Coward in my new bath robe which I got for Christmas.

Looking at this picture is reminding me of a black silk scarf that I got in the Reiss sale some months ago. Have never actually got around to wearing it yet.

Breaking up is so hard to do

2010-01-02T14:10:00.003Z

Well, just before Christmas I managed to slip on the ice and fall down my front steps, fracturing my humerus in the process. I'm now signed off of work for at least January while my arm heals in a cast. So being at something of a loose end (there's no chance of going out anywhere considering I can't even put a shirt or Tshirt on, or reach down to tie my own shoe laces!), I've resolved to start my own blog. Not too sure what direction it's going to take just yet, but I'd like to write about things and places I think are stylish, cool stuff I wanna buy and what I get up to every day.

(Not actually an xray of my arm as the hospital didn't give me a copy, but the picture above shows an identical type of fracture, although I broke my right arm (and I'm right-handed)).