Xmas In London Or How To Wrap Up With Flair

That's pink gingham (seer-sucker?!), people! We approve

I wish I could carry off a hat like that!

Sometimes pictures just cannot capture how cool a guy is. His outfit might seem naff to some or the colours too muted, but the way he carried himself, his gait and his cockiness made this dude very very cool - and stylish - indeed.

THE COLOURS! Crazy...yet, love it!

My mate, James. I witnessed his development into a stylish gent over the years and he impresses me more and more each time with his simple, grown-up yet very "now" approach to dressing. Shame I didn't catch the shirt under the jacket, a snazzy little checkered, fitted number...Now if I could just grab him with his super classy, erm, special friend one day! A most stylish couple

A True Style Icon!

And now, the piece de resistance of the day: everything about this lady I love, love, love!! Just the kind of eccentric I set out to to track down when I hatched the idea for this blog! First of all, her poise: note the way she holds her gloves - with a very old-world kind of classiness... The tiny neckerchief, the short trousers with stripy socks, the little suitcase as handbag - but most of all the buttons on her coat: a mix-bag of styles, shapes, sizes and colours. Most inspiring!! In fact I'm determined to rip off all my matching red buttons from my red lumberjack and replace them with some crazy brocades, chicken bones and door knobs , whatever...;-)

She was reluctant to talk to me and be photographed at first but she gradually thawed. I expected her to be the formidable head of the accessories department at the Royal College of Art, alas, all I could get out of her was that she'd been in design in the past... Hmmm

A Super Stylish Dude

Another friendly guy I came across a few days ago. Somehow every single one of my subjects was kind, patient and personable that day, which isn't always the case. I miss out on so many otherwise perfectly suitable characters on the street because the energy I get from them is either smug, cold or intimidating. For me, having the most imaginative or expensive outfit will never be enough if it's not accompanied by a spirit, a personality with which I can connect. That's why I will never be found snapping away at self-satisfied but otherwise perfectly put-out Sloanies at Boujies or the slavishly facion mag spread-imitating pretty boys groomed to the nth in front of Shadow Lounge or whatnot.

Anyway, this chap was gracious and stylish - a class act. This is the way to wear slim-cut trousers and pork-pie hats!...I believe he owns a shoestore called Sniff in East London

(Apologies for the poor picture quality. Was losing light and my flash couldn't compete with the Christmas lights in the background)

Brick Lane Shop Assistant

A retro look made contemporary. I think it's the hair that saves it from "costumey"

Valentine

My friend Valentine, always dresses in an understated but stylish way. Not French by any chance?! Er...

Like the coat and the boots

Yet another St Martin's Student

Oh well, what can you do! Facion students everywhere you look... Never mind! I love this boho, eclectic, miss-matched style! Right on, girlfriend! The rings spell out her initials. The bag, I was sad to learn, wasn't her own make but mother's purchase... Observe, the tweety bird in here hair!

The Flaming Red hair

Stunning red hair! I will NEVER understand the Brits' shocking, near-racist attitude against "ginger". Red is gorgeous and usually comes with porcelain skin. Phoaar...Or maybe it's just the activist in me, standing up for the underdog, etc...:-)

Besides; a stylish lass!

The Non-creative Industry Snazzy Dresser

Wow, this guy totally made my day. After trawling the streets for months for people with a fresh approach to style BUT with the condition that they needn't be artists, fashion designers/students, stylists, etc - without much success...until I met John. You'd think he was a graphic designer, an advertising man or an architect perhaps. Oh no. He's a house painter, a rather cool and stylish one at that. He re-affirmed the viability of the remit of this blog: NO FACIONISTAS, ONLY STYLISH ORDINARY MEN!

And of course, to "top" it all off (ahem), he's wearing my latest obsession: a beret. Not an easy garment to carry off, but by jove, he succeeds!

Oh, and a lovely bloke too

The St. Martin's Student

Well, yes, another facion student, but I'm coming to realise that one just can't overlook them no matter how much one tries. There are just too few creative dressers outside the creative industries...or at least I am struggling to locate them.

She's beautiful with a very unique style, nevertheless

The Green Hat

Love the military style hat. Combined with matching jacket and a pink business shirt. What poise - and calm on his face!

Two Friends

What lovely people!

Farrah Fawcett

What more can I say! Farrah! The hottest pin-up ever?!!

London Piccadilly

Wow, this guy is awesome! It took me a while to talk him into having his picture taken, but after an hour's philosophising (ahem), he relented, and how grateful I am! What an outfit! It has a 19th century Russian peasant feel to it - in my mind. Is it the coat's collar, the red scarf, the cap, the leather belt over a wool coat, the deep-crotched trousers - even the shoes!? Brogues with no heel...I wanna say "tres cool" but he would hate it... Hey, how 'bout "gutsy" then?!

Thanks Hector!

London Shoreditch Hight Street

I love this picture so much for so many reasons. Yes, it's an awful composition (and totally out of focus having been taken from the upper deck of a moving bus) but I like it exactly for that. It almost screams to be used as my homepage main picture, with all the relevant information scribbled in the vast empty space on the right. Also, the crazy colours on that girl illustrates perfectly what my blog tries to celebrate, encourage, highlight (Note the orange hairpin!)... And then, of course, there's the energy and dynamism of it all. Isn't it just, like, so SayNoToFacion, dahlings?!

Kuwabara!

Alright kids, I ain't condoning permanent body harm here, but amongst all the idiotic tribal tattoos and their ilk, when I spot something different, I notice and appreciate! This one even has an air of irreverence in the context of cliched body "art"...Can't help thinking of Oasis's original band logo though... FYI, Kuwabara means "mulberry" in Japanese

London Columbia Rd Flower Market

Yet another "Land Girls" headscarf! Hmmmm...A cute couple

London Columbia Rd Flower Market

Great skirt

London, My Neighbours Klaus and Julie

I'd been dispairing at the lack of "talent" on the market that day when this blur of colours rolls by me. Not recognising them at first, I was relieved to see it was my homeboy Klaus and his lovely lady Julie in their sunday best splendour. And to think I had to travel this far just to see these two from across the street!...

Been a fan of his choice of threads for years. For a straight man to be this bold with colours, I can only admire and congratulate the fellow!

(You might wanna be more careful with your choice of plastic bags in the future, matey! Chartreuse, perhaps?!...Har har)

London, Mark

NoBrow Magazine Launch Party at DreamBags/Jaguar Shoes

Great beard, Paul!

NoBrow Magazine Launch Party at DreamBags/Jaguar Shoes

Another "Land Girls" scarf...It's spreading like fire

Lovely mix of colours, patterns and textures

What's going on here, chaps?! Chamoun and Julien

Michael. Found his entire outfit in the skip. Incredible. I was so inspired by this I'm tempted to re-name the blog THE SKIP AESTHETIC or such. Absolutely love the striped round-collared shirt/patterned jumper combo

The Hon. Lysander T's Birthday Bash :-)

Refreshing mix of primary colours amongst all the gloomy greys in the London autumn. Mustard, emerald and purple?! We approve!

London Brick Lane

The way to wear a pork-pie hat, young men! Nice jacket too!

London Brick Lane

Wow, what a beautiful girl. The power of no make up. And of course, that scarf that turn into a hoodie. Combined with an inexpensive jersey dress, jeans and slouchy boots, e presto: STYLE!

London Portobello Road

Hmmmm... had high hopes for this supposedly legendary part of London... alas it was a rather disappointing experience. Mostly west london trustafarians in All Saints garb...These chaps were the only two that stood out...Yes there were a lot of scarfs around (or should we call them cravats?!) and this fellow (top) carried it off best. It was more his personality (combined with his get-up) that won me over. A rather pleasant gent. What could possibly be any more stylish than that!

London - City Banker

Wow, what a beautiful suit! Made to measure in Italy, of course...Doesn't he look like he's just stepped out of Antonioni's L'Avventura channeling Gabriele Ferzetti!?...And the hair, the hair!

London Market Trader

Yes, red nail polish

London Liverpool Street

Simple but classy

London Hats and Vintage Raleigh

Gorgeous vintage Raleigh. Nice touches all around. The workmen's jacket, the blue socks, the briefcase on the rear rack - but the best accessory of all is that green beaute. I used to whizz around "The Apple" on similar wheels back in the day, although mine had more of an emerald green tint to it...

Again, I broke my "no facion-types on me blog" rule. He's a facion photographer! Oh well...