Moncler, my new favourite fashion blog and military shirts.

I spent a large part of today perusing a blog I just discovered, quite where I discovered it escapes me, but it is fantastic. It is the wonderful jakandjil.com run by one Tommy Ton, which seems to overwhelmingly feature women's fashion, which is of less interest to me, but occasionally comes up with some incredible men's fashion shots, par exemple: http://jakandjil.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pittiman.jpg. This photo seems to be doing the rounds from Pitti Uomo, but it deserves it. This old boy shows an incredible flair for textures, patterns, colours and all round sprezzatura, that much sought after magical element that a. allows someone to get away with wearing something that should never work on a normal human being and b. do it with such aplomb that it makes one gasp and wonder 'why on earth didn't I think of that?' Anyway, the blog is well worth checking out for anyone interested in fashion, particularly if you are a fan of Anna Dello Russo as he seems to be rather chummy with her.

Thom Browne's show for Moncler seems to be the  talked about show of Pitti Uomo, it's remarkable use of red, white and blue on the dressage kit and throughout the collection itself (which is also filled with wonderful tweeds, hunting breeches, riding boots and all manner of country-esque wear, all given the Thom Browne treatment - although with very few too-short sleeves and cuffs in sight), had me enraptured from start to end. Even if the music was a little too much for my tastes. Worth having a look though if you like Mr. Browne's work or like the recent trends in field and farm chic

Also, having spent so much time perusing the aforementioned fashion blogs, it has been come to my attention that military is still very much in  and on top of that, the must have item is the military shirt. This seems to be an extremely versatile piece of clothing, worn over t-shirts, under shirt jackets and with a shearling jacket for example. Or worn over another shirt, perhaps red, black and yellow plaid and then under a peacoat with a different check scarf perhaps. Either way, it seems too good an item of clothing to ignore, not to mention it being extremely hardwearing and useful. I shall have to invest in one soon, once I find one I like. I am also, alarmingly, coming round to the idea of a denim shirt, perhaps in a light stone wash. Where once I would have sworn blind never, ever to have worn a denim shirt, I now find the idea rather appealling and have, finally, it must be said, realised the fashion potential of said item. About three years late I know, but that seems to be my way. Dragged kicking and screaming into the now when it is about to be the yesterday and everyone else has know for some time, when the evidence is planted firmly in front of my eyes by a source I trust. Tant pis.

Otherwise, I have been enjoying Bardo Pond's latest opus, featuring their usual blend of tripped out hippie ambiance and psychaedelic rock, even at its longest (21.02 minutes) it still draws you in and, I imagine as it is supposed to, entrances you. One for listening to in a dark, candlelight room when lying on the floor, volume turned up just that little bit too high to really enjoy it. Not all that much else to report musically, I have just heard the first track from the new Flogging Molly album, which seems to lack the vim of their previous albums, but we shall see. One can't always be a punk I suppose.

As a result of having spent so much time looking at brilliantly composed photos I find myself once again wanting to get out there and take photos of everything, everyone and everywhere. Soon I hope to be able to. Once on my travels I shall get properly snap happy and you will get sick of them! Mwhahaha! Something for you to look forward to.

Gastronomically, not much to report, I am no closer to making a decision about my upcoming dinner party, except perhaps doing a glazed ham recipe from Mr. Fearnley-Whittingstall's cookbook, with spiced figs and parsley sauce. It all depends on what the butchers have got in and what takes my fancy whilst I'm there. A trip into town will reveal all.

For now, I shall leave you, but until the next time dear readers!

Joe

p.s. It also dawned on me today, that I look forward to being able to move out of chez les parents (not that it doesn't have its advantages) largely so I can really dress it up and have an excuse to do so (living in London and wandering its streets, one can hardly do otherwise). How funny.