Monday 29 November 2010

Hollister meltdown

Some teen girls get so pissed off with how long the queue to get into the male model hunk-laden Westfield branch of Hollister that they think eff it, get a cheap flight to anywhere hot and let off their uncontrollable sexual energy at the public swimming pool. It's getting so common that no-one on the continent even bats an eyelid.

Sunday 28 November 2010

Ugly flannel

Uniqlo is the mutt's nuts. Their clobber is (mostly) great quality and dirt cheap. Their long johns are essential cold snap wear and I'm a particularly big fan of their well-cut shirts, which at £15-20 are bargain-tastic. At the mo, they have these awesome 'ugly' mixed pattern flannel shirts in.




For those wishing to spunk £143 rather than £15, R.Newbold do a sweet flannel shirt you can pick up at Goodhood.

Thursday 25 November 2010

Stop "Touching Wild Horses"

Press offices draft press releases to generate press interest (and hopefully coverage) in their client's wares. However, promotional efforts don't always hit the sweet spot.
Take the below press release I just received for an upcoming DVD release called "Touching Wild Horses" (yes, it's a horrendous title). I have to say it doesn't exactly have me begging for a screener.

Hello All
I hope you are well. Touching Wild Horses starring Mark Rendell, Jane Seymour and Charles Martin Smith is being released on DVD on the 14th February 2011. It is a breathtakingly beautiful film - after a terrible car accident 12 year old Mark is sent to live with his Aunt (Seymour) on an isolated island, home to a herd of wild horses which he is forbidden to touch.


Perhaps others are more intrigued? Maybe it is just me who is turned off by the prospect of watching a film about an injured child banned from touching wild horses by his aunt. Lemme know if I'm out of wack with the modern doovde marketplace? Maybe many ArchBlog readers will be buying a big bag of Doritos and checking out "Touching Wild Horses" this Valentine's Day?

Photo credit: blm.gov

Zapatista chic: Meg Company Monitaly bobble hat

This Meg Company Monitaly bobble hat is top banana. While it undoubtedly stands on its own feet it also boasts solid protest credentials (essential for this Winter of Discontent II) as it is comes from the the autonomous municipality of Chamula in Mexico. Chamula is located in the Chiapas highlands, home to the Zapatista rebels. Per Wikipedia, "the town enjoys unique autonomous status within Mexico. No outside police or military are allowed in the village. Chamulas have their own police force."

The hat is available from The Garbstore, which is probably the last shop in London I would shut down if I was Sheriff.

Monday 22 November 2010

Limit to Your Love

I'm not really sure who this James Blake fellow is but I like his track "Limit to Your Love" which I hear was originally sung by Feist.

I peeped the gravity-themed vid prior to Secret Cinema's screening of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" last Friday. As per, Fab's Secret Cinema event was highly dope. This time, the SC massif brought the madhouse to a run-down west london school.
Via Future Shorts & Secret Cinema

Sunday 21 November 2010

Babychinos with Otto

These days, something ridiculous like 43% of people get a degree. But, as we all know, getting a uni degree does not mean you are guaranteed to land an actual job.
So it came as no surprise to hear that young Otto Gundry, a sporadic yet valued contributor to ArchBlog, has decided to take the bold step of getting stuck in to work nice and early. "I'll be frank, I just don't see the point of getting a degree," Gundry told ArchBlog over babychinos at Greggs. "The way the ConDem coalition has pulled up the ladder over tuition fees was the final straw for me. I mean who's to say anymore that pumping up to nine grand into higher education coffers is a good long-term investment?" Gundry and increasing number of his as-yet-unnamed generation are seizing the bull by the horns and riding straight into the workplace: "I and plenty of my fellow peers are by-passing school and just going straight into paid work. One of my friends has qualified as a barrister, another as has secured a placment at a rare orchid farm in Burma but those careers do not excite me. As you can see from the in action snaps supplied by my mother, I've opted to pursue an exciting career in media. Despite the economic downturn, I'm discovering there's a surprising amount of voice work available if one is driven, passionate and a genuine team-player."

Thursday 18 November 2010

Zero Effect: Big tings!

Milo Cordell's blog is a riot. Pretty much everything I see on it I dig and am tempted to re-blog 'ere. But that'd be pretty unimaginative. However, this piccie of Biggie it too good not to pass on. Eff the dough, I'd sell your granny for that jumper. Even Joseph would blush in that. Not Smalls 74. Fyah!

Protect your family jewels while BLASTING Wahhabi scum

BCB International is the hottest brand in the world. And you've never heard of it. Mainly because you're a yellow-bellied, socialist wimp. Cardiff-based BCB make Outdoor Survival Gear and Military Equipment for elite forces. Their clobber is the real deal - designed by soldiers for soldiers.
"In the jungle, in the middle of a desert, half way up a mountain - wherever you are, you can rely on BCB's dependable, high quality products."

Go on, admit it - you've just sprouted a raging war woody.

Most of their gear is absolutely top banana but ArchBlog is particularly smitten by the sweeeeet as Blast Boxers. They are called that because they are boxers which protect against blasts. Big ones. Like IED's in Afghanistan.

Unlike other poncy fashion brands who (effeminately) talk up the 'cut' and 'feel' of their garments, BCB blast their fans with real facts about how unbelievably practical their proper man wear is. Unlike other wet, liberal brands, BCB don't shy away from flagging up the hazards of not wearing their gear. Check out their rock hard blurb:

"The prevalence of IED`s in Afghanistan is causing a high number of 'life - changing' injuries to the lower body. These include blinding and blast injuries to the groin, which can result in a ruptured colon or loss of genetalia. For all soldiers such injuries are 'life-changing.' They are extremely difficult to live psychologically. Within the periphery of a blast, perineal and femoral artery injuries can be fatal without immediate specialist medical help. A puncture to the femoral artery can bleed out rapidly leading to death. High up the leg, tourniquets are difficult to attach in the field. There is always a fine balance between the level of protection and burden (weight, thermal and increased bulk burdens) and without comprising comfort. Following trails and ballistic tests, BCB have designed the Blast Boxer using a special comfortable Aramid fabric, positioned around crucial zones of the groin. Light open structure mesh is used on the rest of the garment to help offset the weight and thermal load of the ballistic material. On a 10 mile run the Blast Boxers did not cause undue discomfort. The blast boxers are currently being trialled with a number of European ministries of defence. Though the boxers cannot completely protect against blast, the double layered version retailing at under 60, will offer ballistic protection of 230 meters per second in the standard NIJ V50 ballistic test. Though they can be washed, the blast boxers are more hygienic if worn over ones normal underwear. All soldiers asked whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, confirmed that had the Blast Boxers been available for them, despite the added burden, they would have all, to a man, worn them."

Call up BCB on 02920 433 700 to order, or email info@bcbin.com

Mentioning ArchBlog will definitely not get you a reduction.

A big salute to Gen. Daniel Ayliffe for the tip-off.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Mountain Research tricolour hooded Mackinaw jacket

Jap brand Mountain Research kills it on the reg. I love their tricolour hooded Mackinaw that just dropped @ The Garbstore. Goes w/o saying that's it's prohibitively expensive - remember, ArchBlog usually brings you shit you like but can't afford.

Saturday 13 November 2010

Heated derby action

Perhaps not all footballers dream of wannabe WAG's heaving cleavages ...


Via Reubo

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Black pebble leather, blue brick sole

These derby shoes are simply awesome. If I had anything to do with it these would be standard issue for postmen and the police. But not GPs. They are a triple label collaboration between Los Angeles shop Union, Brit shoe manufacturer and US designer Mark McNairy. You can check out the promo blurb below.

These shoes are art directed by the crazy genius of Mark Mcnairy. Made by the OG shoe maker Sanders and Sanders out of the UK. and then we get to mix and match fabrics, leathers, colors etc. to make our own versions. This all culminates into some dope ass triple label collaborations. The first time we did this last year, these shoes sold out with the quickness, so get em while you can! Their footwear is made using "Goodyear Welted" construction method, where the upper, insole, welt and sole are entirely stitched together. Although a very labour intensive process, this is acknowledged to be the finest construction for formal footwear. This is the "union special" we made this one up on our own. We wanted to have fun but still keep it wearable. Black pebble leather upper, natural welt and BLUE brick sole, just for shits and giggles...could be a future classic!?

Sunday 7 November 2010

El Che Belstaff

This belted jacket is "a perfect replica of the legendary Belstaff coated cotton jacket from the 1950s. The is jacket used by Ernesto Che Guevara for his legendary motorcycle journey across Latin America." If I rode a motor instead of push bike I'd be all over this like a rash.

Interested parties should take their £500 to Oi Polloi

Friday 5 November 2010

The Big Pink are punchy

Americans are always invaded places. Often it doesn't turn out so well. Like in Vietnam. Or Iraq. But they never seem to learn.
It's not only the US military who have a raging boner for invasion. When UK band The Big Pink played Atlanta, Georgia, a local 'fan' decided to invade the stage (admittedly, he was somewhat encouraged). Just like in Vietnam and Iraq, the local insurgency (in this case the lead singer) bopped him on the nosebridge. Fair play - what did he expect:
BTW, there's a http://www.viceland.com/wp/2010/11/big-pink-party-tonight/.

Calabrese Centino zip wallet

I love this canvas wallet from historied Neapolitan brand Calabrese. At £25 from End Clothing, its a steal if you ask me. My only 'problem' with it is I can see myself nervously chewing on the chocolate-coloured leather corner when QPR reach the play-offs.

BOOK for iPad

If this isn't the most disorientating product I've come across in months: A case for an iPad which looks like a book.
The innovation is the work of Scott Nedrelow, who makes "companion products for digital devices." His imaginatively named BOOK for iPad case basically disguises your iPad to make it look like a book. Per Nedrelow, it "provides bibliophiles with tangible protection for their electronic information."

I'm not sure I get the point. Is this for people who want to pretend they read books but actually prefer cruising web forums? Is this for iPad junkies trying to fool bag-checking authorities who work the doors at internet addiction clinics?
However, ArchBlog's scepticism is not shared by the bloggerati. The Dean Files blog heaped praise:
"So, yes, it’s a case that looks like a book – but I love the visual irony and allegory in that. The iPad might represent some form of 'reading in the future,' so I like that BOOK both embraces that and mocks it."
I wonder what's next from Nedrelow? A Telegram machine to dress your mobile in?
Photo credit: Nedrelow's blog