Barbour changed?

So my Beaufort was purchased around 2003, (I was 17 then). I didn't think I would need a liner, but last week, during the extreme cold, I decided I should get one, (the Barbour is my only jacket, the rest of my outerwear are tweed topcoats). So I popped into my local Barbour to buy a liner, and what do you know, they don't carry them anymore. My Barbour is made for a snap in liner, the new ones are zip in. And the worst part is you can't get the snap in liners anywhere. Also, what I found interesting is that the tartan interior of the jacket is different now, a tartan of olive and sage, unlike the older version,(this change happened around 2004/2005, I found out from the sales clerk.)

So now you know who exactly you can talk to when your at a cocktail party. If the tartan is old, you know they purchased it before 2005, before the preppy/wasp trend. But if it's a new tartan, questionable.

A new year, maybe some new shoes?

These brown Guccis might just need to be replaced. They are brown suede with silver snaffles, the best kind. The suede is scuffed on the front and the soles are thinning at the balls of the feet. Maybe the soles can be replaced, but I worry about the uppers. If I get a new pair, it might be a tad vulgar, walking around in brand new Guccis.




This time of year, a scarf is most important in the cold Boston weather. But instead of using one of my tartan scarves, I decided to purchase this wool plaid scarf from my local Jack Wills. It's wool and knitted in Scotland, a better option than the common, chavtastic Burberry scarf. In the UK, Burberry plaid is a sign of the "chav", or young working class teens and adults. Chavs are a mix between white trash and ghetto. Shirts, hats, scarves, quilted coats, and bags done in the Burberry check are all indicators of the chavs.

It's been a while....

Otis Ferry on Shooting Politics

The right club....

"That's what it looks like? Wow, I must have been really smashed, I thought it was bigger?" (Yeah, its all basement)


So for night life options, Boston does not have many selections. I was spoilt whilst living in London from having the worlds best clubs and bars a £10 cab ride away. I like the idea of having a membership to a night club; skipping the lines, table service, seating. London has great clubs; Boujis in South Ken., Mahiki and Whisky Mist in Mayfair, Kitts in Sloane Square, and the new Maggies (an 80's themes pub, of course Maggie's famous speeches being played in the loos) on the Fulham Road. Yes, New York has Soho House and will soon get their own Mahiki, but Boston has nothing.

Yes, Boston is not really a big clubbing town, but after a while, you want to dance, and bar music will not cut it, (only when one is smashed can you dance to an un-remixed La Roux song). People in the states, especially in my crowed, may look down their nose to "clubbing" per se, (we all know about the Meat Packing district in NYC). One has the vision of gelled hair, Armani Exchange and Burberry. But in England its different, not only do Wills, Harry, Bea, and Eugene go out, but loads of Viscounts, Lords, Dukes, Earls, Ladies,, Duchesses and other minor aristocracy go clubbing; dancing to Dizzee Rascal and the Klaxons. If titled folk can go out, certainly people whose ancestors left the mother land in the 17th Century can.

I know people don't like the idea of not wearing an oxford and pastel khakis when the got to the bars, but switch it up, wear some Lee Coopers with a blue shirt and navy blazer. Or, if you are going to a club venue to hear the latest DJ mash-up, head to All Saints and pick up a grungy looking t-shirt; most young aristocracy mix up their looks, especially if they are going to an illegal raid in the Shoreditch or Bermondsy, (Harry went to one). If the titled folk can do it, you can too, (unless you are insecure of your social class).

But, anyways, Boston needs to have some proper members clubs.

Example - Kickstarts

Good Tune.

You know this is played constantly at Boujis, Kitts, Tiger Tiger, even at Zoo Bar.

Hunt

"This isn't fashion for fashion sake, this is fashion because it works". Mark Hedges, Editor of Country Life.(Explaining the use of hunting gear.)

Really? No, really?

So, there is a new version of the satirical Preppy Handbook coming out. Um yeah, hilarious. The author is taking credit for "preppy"? Yeah, OK. I know so many people who could be considered "preppy", ( a Trinity graduate, ancestor on Mayflower, summers in Maine, went on a grand tour, or, a Kent educated, Yale undergrad, Revolutionary War ancestors, lives in New Canaan; and others) who didn't know what the Preppy Handbook was until I told them about it, (and when they heard, they laughed). I guess this new book is going to be a step by step manual on how to get the new "I went to preparatory school" look. Yeah, you can get the look, but you have to be born into it to actually be one, (and you are not let in, you are already in). Plus, I saw J.Crew listed in there, uh, blehk, (J.Crew carries X-Small for men, can you say hipster?) So I guess "True Prep" is faux prep. You don't need a handbook to be yourself.

Guilty Pleasure

Dorian, Rosalind, Jonty and Ross.


Every Sunday.

The daily grind

What I lug around town to and from work.



I am always asked how I can carry so much stuff around with me. I just want to be prepared.

The bag:

Hermes Birkin, grey leather, (I think its officially called, Hermes 40cm Gris Togo Leather) All I know it's a sturdy leather bag that is massive and can hold tons of crap. And best of all, it was a hand-me-down, so I didn't have to buy it. I have had it for two years and I practically used it every day, trains, buses, tube, subway, walking, rain, sun, in the boot, in the closet, and on the ground, everywhere.

Contents:

Business card case.
Conair comb bought at the drugstore.
Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Cologne for those morning meetings and lunch dates.
Extra pair of plastic collar stays, just in case.
Monogrammed silver cuff links, always rolled up sleeves when commuting, I get too hot.
Charlie Card for the T, (Boston Subway).
Old Breitling watch, (no need to wear it in the subway when I am constantly looking at my iPhone).
TI-89 Calculator.
Staedtler pen.
Re-useable bag just in case I decide to stop at Trader Joes on the way back.
iPhone, (listening to LBC 1152 on the UK radio app. above ground or Friendly Fires underground).
iPhone charger.
L'Occitane hand cream.
Pair of vintage RayBans from the early 80's with VV croakies, (inherited from a parent, the real deal, weird 80's style, they don't make them anymore).
Slightly more hip sunglasses bought from a vendor in the Ladbroke Grove Market, (for when I want to feel a tad edgy).
Current read, Walking Haunted London, with Zac Goldsmith campaign flyer as a book mark.

Brideshead visited....

When one lives in England, you must visit Castle Howard. Also visit Hertford College to see Charles's rooms on the ground floor facing the courtyard.



The window on the left is were Sebastian Flyte was sick.


Castle Howard form the back.


Temple of the Four Winds.


The hall Charles wanted to see.


The entrance.


The original 16 hour Brideshead Revisited produced by Granada for ITV is by far the better of the two Bridesheads.

The Right Stuff

It's not fashion.

Are you kidding me?

Now where will Angus, Whitney, Alistair and Henry shop?





What is going on? What is happening to Brooks Brothers? So this past Sunday I went to my local BB to see what was on sale. Ok, the ground floor has the same old blue boxes on tables filled with dress shirts and oxfords. I go to the second floor to look at sportswear. I did find some pretty good deals on Country Club button downs. At the corner of my eye I saw some dark greys, and some navy. Oh, the fall stuff is out, but it is arranged with some sort of locker display and Harvard pennants. As I get closer, I see what appears to be denim....

What? Okay, I know BB has had denim before, regular relaxed fit in stone wash and dark stone wash, but Levis jeans by Brooks? What is going on? First was Black Fleece, designed by former Club Monaco designer Thom Browne. That was okay I guess, maybe BB was testing the waters and wanted to see if it could rope in the Greenwich Village/Provincetown consumer, and try to sell "classic style" cut extremely close to the body so you can see the guy who is wearing it package. Then it was the extra slim fit shirt. They must of introduced this so they could attract the customer that shops at Abercrombie, Express and D&G. But now a "collaboration" with Levis to produce "slim fit" jeans? So BB is now fashionable? A stalwart of the American Conservative lifestyle of Prep Schools, Republicans, Colonial Houses, Fox Hunting, and the Cape, BB is now being pandered to the Socially Liberal, Miami Beach and San Francisco crowd, that wear fake eyeglasses and love to wear "classic pieces", (even though in high school they wore Abercrombie and Diesel and jelled their hair).

Don't get me wrong, I like to wear jeans, but I will buy them from RL, Jack Wills, Lee Cooper, even Seven Jeans. My problem is, a store with tradition is loosing it because brand collaboration is fashionable and a mutated form of "preppy" is in style.

Is BB following Abercrombie: except instead of dying slowly and then being bought and transformed over a decade into a young persons fashion outfitter (and then later a store for Europeans on holiday in the US or 40year old gay men), BB is transforming in just a few years.

I guess because "preppy" was the newest fashion a few years ago and is still holding strong, they must have decided to give into the idea of "sexy, fashionable, club in the Meatpacking district and wear Prada shades preppy". Well, they can do that whilst their clientele (who were outfitted there since they were youngsters). Will now have to only go to J.Press, The Andover Shop, Thomas Pink, and T.M.Lewin for work wear, and Vineyard Vines for everything else.

Next thing you know, the music in BB will be Vampire Weekend remixes and there will only be sales clerks between the ages of 19 and 26.

Surprise! Joyeux Anniversaire!

It was my birthday recently and one of my good friends gave me this lovely little book. Its a Red Guide to London, published by Ward Lock & Co. The original version of the London guide was first published in 1880, but the one I have was the 66th edition form 1972. A travel guide for the times, it's modern use is a account of London in the early seventies. I was most excited to see a pull out Tube map. It has the Aldwych Tube Station,(which was closed in 1994), the Bakerloo Line extending to Watford Junction, (now only to Harrow & Wealdstone), and the Bakerloo Line Stanmore line, which is now the northern section of the Jubilee Line.

Architecture in the W2

I absolutely love Victorian terraces. I got off at Westbourne Park one day and aimlessly walked around for an hour or two. Most of these stucco terraces were large homes for the ever growing middle an upper middle classes, but now have been mostly split into flats. The facade of the a terraced house gives clues of the program of each floor. The lower ground floor would be for the kitchen, coal room and storage. The ground floor was for the entrance hall and maybe a small office or study. Then the first floor had the highest ceiling, with the sitting room, dining room and morning room. This is where the quests could be entertained. Then the second floor was for the adults and the third floor was for the children and nursery. The fourth floor had the lowest ceilings and housed the servants. If a family was wealthy enough, they would have a detached garage in back for carriages and horses/automobiles, with the chauffeur and other servants living above.

Autumn Weekend

I hate this hot weather.

You know youre a WASP when:

You actually belong to the club of your club tie.
Mayonnaise is still featured in your diet.
You think J.Crew is just awful.
You actually eat white bread.
When in grade school, you wonder why you are learning about Ellis Island. (None of your ancestors came through there, so why is it so important.)
You rather drive your parents old car as your first car, or buy a used one. (Acceptable makes are Volvo, BMW, Peugeot, Subaru, Saab, and Land Rover).
In grade school you laughed when some one showed you The Official Preppy Handbook.
You live in New England.
When taking a train into the city, you come through Grand Central, never Penn Station.
There is still a Lord & Taylor in your local area.
You didn't realize that there were other backpacks other than L.L.Bean
You don't understand why Brooks Brothers has Extra Slim Fitting shirts.
Your ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War
You don't understand why people who don't hunt wear Barbour.
You studied in Europe whilst at university.
When you do go to church, it is an old stereotypical wooden New England church.
Cheap gin is just as good.
You have worn Bean boots since you were in grade school.
You go to wassail parties during the holidays.
On weekends, your school dining hall only served brunch and dinner.
The only dogs you will ever have will be Labradors.
When meeting someone for the first time, you ask where their from, what school they went to, their major and where they live now.
The only acceptable places to summer are: Maine, The Cape, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Newport and anything on the coast west of New Haven. (The Hamptons have become too "new money" for your taste).
Your boat shoes always stink and are worn till there are holes in the soles.
You live in Connecticut.

Walk, walk, walk, walk through the graveyard.

The Old Calton Cemetery

On the eve of All Hallows Eve,(Hallowe'en), we toured some of Edinburgh's spookiest places. One being The Old Calton Cemetery. It was wicked scary, and I slipped in mud. When they were widening the adjacent city street, they had to take out a few graves, hopefully, this caused some ghostly activity. I didn't see any though.

Old New England Blood Stock.

I think I should join the SAR, Sons of the American Revolution. I do have a family member who took the time to actually fill out all the paper work and perform the research, (it shouldn't be that hard, we have a big book on our family, plus, we have been here since 1635, so yeah). Unfortunately, my ancestors were not Tories, and most of the men fought in the Revolutionary War, (you're welcome). My most rebellious ancestor participated in the Boston Tea Party, it is said that he was a merchant, (ugh, the merchant class).




Salmon P. Chase, one of my more famous ancestors, was in Lincoln's cabinet, and at his death bed. Ooohh, aahhh.

Waiting for Autumn

Bored of this weather. Waiting for the crisp autumn air and the smell of dead leaves. Travelling to the country for some shooting and Barbour.

skeleton

Council Estates

Walking around Elephant & Castle.

Is this what Alison and Peter Smithson had in mind?

For some reason, I find council estates very intriguing. The rough urbanity, the grit, these are modern day Victorian slums.

The best place on earth.

Rievaulx Abbey. Amazing. North Yorkshire. My friends and I spent at least five hours here. A 12th century ruin of a Cistercian abbey. You must go.

mmm....pies

Where can I find a pork, leek and cheese pie right now?

poem to pictures

last weaks tele
over in thamesmeade
this is a fine romance
the best "tea"
my lover
pie crust collar

When I met Zac Goldsmith.

An "Eco Sloane" meeting his idol. (I cut myself out, you can only see the edge of my Barbour and New & Lingwood jumper).

I met Zac Goldsmith in November in 2009 in Barnes. He was basically talking about where he stands and then took questions from the residents. He was up against Susan Kramer, the then Lib. Dem MP for Richmond Park. He spoke so well, and was solid candidate for the MP seat for Richmond Park and North Kingston, (Conservative).

He supports small shops, protection for green spaces, and wants to move towards a green economy. He is just all over amazing. Plus, he recycles his father's Savile Row suits and always looks smart. He drives a Prius, and owns an organic farm in Devon.

After the meeting, I went up to speak to him. I was very nervous, he is one of my idols, I basically said how much I supported his views and that he was amazing. I know it sounds cliche, but I was overcome with joy when I shook his hand and talked to him. After the meeting, I really felt like I was floating on air, I basically floated all the way over Hammersmith Bridge. Of course, he won the seat of MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston.

Otis Ferry is the Man

I think I fancy Otis Ferry. Weird.

Klaxons - Echoes (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

The new single from their second album. Brilliant.

The old neighbourhood. Oh how I miss the.

A view from my old room.


The Brunswick Shopping Centre where I could get my treacle tarts at Waitrose. Holbron Tube Station, (Piccadilly to South Ken., Gloucester Rd., Green Park, and *cough* Finsbury Park *cough*)
Costa Coffee for hot chocolate between courses.
The 168, 88 and 59 to the National Theatre.
Russell Square.
Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Oxford Street.
Tesco Metro on Southampton Row.
Eating Kabobs on Kingsway.
Sicilian Avenue.
The night bus with chavs in the back.

Craving: Cheese and Onion Sandwich

My lunch on a quick shopping trip to London Westfield. Cheese and coleslaw, mmmm.

So I absolutely love working class food. Pork pies, sausage rolls, cheese and pickle, and most of all, Cheese and Onion. Simple and filling, a cheese and onion sandwich is the best lunch, or dinner.

Ingredients:
1 Package of Shredded Cheese
5 Stalks of Spring Onions
1 Cup of Mayonnaise(or Salad Creme)
4 Tablespoons of good mustard (Colemans)

Mix all together, and put in fridge.
Spread on bread when hungry.

More of the guy who gets it just right....

The guy who gets it just right.

Dave Clark. He always seems to look so put together. Maybe because he is dating Beatrice, or because he works for Sir Richard Branson, or he just knows whats right. Whatever the case may be, when I saw him walking down Arlington, right off Piccadilly next to the Ritz, he just had an air about him that made you turn your head. He is the man.