Tinashe’ Style Guide – Born In Zimbabwe Raised in Hackney

July 28th, 2010

The Equip staff took the day off to experience some vital team-building exercises at the Lovebox music festival (friday). Situated in the huge Victoria Park E3, it’s the closest festival venue to the capital’s creative nucleus. The seven year old festival owned by Groove Armada was a great day out so we’ll do a mini-review asap, but before we do, on the day we were on the lookout for some stylish gents, and a young guy named Tinashe’ caught our attention.

Tinashe’  is a 25 year old guy from Zimbabwe. He moved to the UK when he was 10, since then he has moved a couple of times but is now a permanent local of Hack-er-ney. Tinashe’ uses his roots to inspire the majority of his songs, he creates ambient and calming music which he is happy to call pop music. The great thing about Tinashe’ is that he’s a very stylish guy, sticking only to unbranded clothing which gives himself a real identity. When looking through the list to Lovebox we were hoping to find an abundance of great looking bands to write about but after finding Tinashe’ everyone looked pretty dull in comparison!!

Lower Body

The guy’s nicely on Summer trend with a pair of Sebago-looking deck shoes in a rich red colour (sockless) and a pair of smart navy chinos rolled up to expose the ankles.

Upper Body

We’re loving the distressed grey linen blazer, rare to find but worth the search something similar is available at John Varvatos at a hefty price. A rough cut crumpled polka dot t-shirt underneath which brings out a small bit of colour and texture that starts to give the overall outfit a layered look.

Neck and Above

Flexing the classic wayfarers with clear lenses, a relatively cheap accessory that can make any outfit look fun and youthful, this is accompanied with a traditional brown porkpie style trilby (upturned straight brim).

If you are haven’t already heard Tinashe’s music then we would definitely  recommend his latest single Zambezi, a great track with a little African influence that is out on the 15th August. We hope if you were at  Lovebox you enjoyed it as much as we did, a great day out in East London, chilled atmosphere with some great artists and beer!!

Is Fabric closing down?

July 14th, 2010


We used to be huge fans of Fabric when everyone was going out clubbing. With the number of people at dance music clubs across the UK nosediving this year, and having heard the rumours that Fabric itself is in serious financial trouble and could be closing-down,  we did the obvious thing and went over to Farringdon for a night out in mid-June to see how bad going out in a club really has become compared to going to gigs and festivals.

I loved Fabric when it opened and I first went in 2000… my first memory of the place was being told by the bouncers that I couldn’t get in unless I told a joke! I was pretty shocked but managed to tell a terrible pun and they laughed and let me in; it was a great way to start a night out and made our group feel relaxed; friendly security was unheard of at a London club which is serious about music . As soon as we were in, we started to find our way around the maze of different dance floors and areas, and it was pretty overwhelming. With the upstairs bar area, main stage, chill-out area, huge central staircase, mezzanine stage and the ‘back’ stage there’s plenty to discover. There were sub-woofers under the main dance floor so you can actually feel the bass and for those that don’t know they also had unisex toilets which in a club seems like madness but it worked brilliantly.

Going back now, the first thing which struck me was all the separate rooms; still overwhelming but not in such a good way because nowadays I’m used to a single point to focus on (a single, main stage in other words). We went on a Friday night which is Fabric Live which was almost all drum and bass with a sprinkling of dubstep which was good with us. But some of the fun has definitely been lost and I’ll explain why:

i) financial troubles are always going to put a downer on a place
ii) it was at 2/3 capacity, which don’t get me wrong is a decent amount but I couldn’t help but think that if you squeezed all the people into a main arena you’d get so much more vibe
iii) it’s a huge amount of work to keep a 10-year old venue exciting, you can definitely trade off a place being new which is well gone for Fabric
iv) clearly Fabric has made it into the London guide books because you could tell there were a lot of tourists in there. And everyone knows tourists aren’t good.
v) I went on their website and their music policy is so strict, saying a big no if you dare to ask if they ever play Trance, Hard House or R&B…. I dread to think what they’d say if you were after a Punk, Electro or  Indie band. Although I admire them for sticking to their guns with the music policy I think they need to get real and diversify their music policy; see KOKO in Camden for an example of a venue which has varied it’s music to the tastes of the time and is still nailing it.

No-one really knows whether it was Matter, the club started by the Fabric guys at the O2 which has drained all the money away. Matter has been closed down due to financial losses and the Fabric group defaulted on a £3.2m loan because of it. But nonetheless, it’s sad to see Fabric London not being what is used to be, because it’s a stunning venue and DJ Mag did rate it as the 2nd best club in the World only last year in 2009. They are quite right when they applaud Fabric for bringing through new sounds into London clubs, like daring to feature dubstep in it’s early days and minimal US-techno. So we want to see it stay, after it addresses some of these issues, because it’ll be a real shame if it goes the same way as Turnmills, Canvas etc.

UPDATE: Fabric was sold to new owners on 23rd June 2010. Apparently the new consortium share the original founders vision for the place so as far as we know it will continue as it is for the foreseeable. We reckon it’s good news because they have to keep the recipe that made it such a success in the first place, as long as they face-up to some of the needed tweaks as well.

Out of the Park: The Baseball Jacket

July 1st, 2010

The baseball jacket is a big summer trend and if you don’t have one yet, it will make the perfect lightweight jacket for late summer/Autumn. Tying in with some of the US-style looks that have been coming through recently, the baseball jacket makes a fine, inexpensive addition to your casual wardrobe.

Which brands?

baseball jacketMany major brands and high-street stores alike are all over the baseball jacket, and it’s a pretty diverse mix actually; Firetrap, Carhartt, 55DSL, Fred Perry,  Topman (in fact they have added it’s own category on their website), alongside the US-inspired sport fashion brands that you might have expected to have the baseball jacket in their collections such as UCLA, and Franklin & Marshall.

Describe it.

The baseball jacket is easy to spot by it’s elasticated cuffs and bottom edge, and also the round neck which never has lapels. These edges often incorporate one or more stripes in a contrasting colour. The jacket itself  (unlike the pictured one!) is also usually two-toned with different coloured arms to the rest of the panels.  Details can include large branding on the back, often in either freehand fonts or bold capitalised fonts. You might notice that overall the shape looks pretty similar to the well-known MA1 bomber jacket… so this trend could actually be a stealthy comeback for the bomber, just with a little more detail and experimentation with colour.

Wear it with?

We’re on a UK version of the ‘Varsity’ look (American sports) that works very well with the baseball jacket. It’s simply a pair of skinnies with a plain tee, and the baseball jacket on top. Now you can either go for plain coloured skinnies and a bold block colour t-shirt, or switch this and have a pair of bold coloured (red, blue, yellow, green) skinnies and a plain white tee. It’s worth pointing out that as it gets colder you can easily add a hoodie under a baseball jacket to pad it out and get more wear from it, it works perfectly as their are no lapels to get in the way of the hood. As far as accessories go, add a slim belt with an in-line buckle, and a 59Fifty flat-peak baseball cap and you’ve hit a home run. There I said it. Check out the baseball jacket.

Summer Nights – Men’s Outfits

June 17th, 2010

Now that the weather is finally doing the right thing, it’s time to start thinking about what to wear during the warmer summer evenings.

So we’ve put together a few outfits which will not only keep you cool in the heat but look hot. Cool?

Hitting the Park

When meeting mates in the park for an afternoon BBQ you’ve got to wear comfy clothes that are great to not only lie around in but make it possible to sprint around after the frisbee. There’s nothing worse then trying to relax when your wearing a tight sweaty t-shirt that has moulded to your skin, that’s why I have recommended a loose cut sleeveless t-shirt from All Saint’s range that will keep you cool throughout the day. To accompany the top a pair of denim shorts would collaborate nicely, however instead of the tight fitted style we have gone for the ‘Denim Carrot Crotch’ which means the crotch part of the jeans hang a lot lower giving the pair a relaxed loose fit and make them alot more comfy then standard cuts. To hold the shorts up the Royal Republiq Scandi belt (one of ours) will do the business and break up the top and bottom garments very well. I would just throw on a pair of Converse with this outfit however I leave that up to you, it is so easy to just rock up to a park in a pair of Havaianas but if you think you would be heading to a pub after that might be a bad idea.

Casual Night Out

A casual night out might be you and the lads meeting at a pub early evening and having a few drinks whilst sitting outside, nothing too smart as you just want to enjoy a beer and chat with your mates. A plaid Scotch and Soda shirt to follow the massive lumberjack trend, worn with a neat pair of chino shorts which may sound smart however worn with a checkered shirt and brown Canvas Fred Perry plimsolls make it feel very casual. To make sure you don’t find your chino’s hugging your ankles a Fossil Blake Brown belt tops this summer outfit off, an aged brown leather belt brings the shirt and chinos out in a subtle way.

Smart Night Out

For those nights where you’ll be meeting old friends for a bite to eat in an upmarket restaurant its time to turn it up a notch. First garment I recommend is a white linen shirt which is available from UniQlo at a very reasonable price of £19.99. Linen will keep you cool throughout the night but also keep your outfit looking smart and professional. Paired up with a great pair of navy military chino’s which can be found online at Hackett as they have a few ideal styles of trousers. The Fossil Braxton Roller is a smart belt which can help to style up the outfit slightly and to sign off this set I can’t forget to add the hugely popular deck shoes, Sebago seem to be the one company that springs to mind when discussing deck shoes as they stock a whole range of styles but for the Smart Summer Night Outfit we put forward the Sebago Mens Spinnakers.

Back of the net: World Cup 2010 Football Shirts

June 17th, 2010

The last teams to play their opening matches of the 2o1o South Africa World Cup has just taken place, and well done to Switzerland for reminding Spain that anything can happen in the World Cup (and re-igniting that faint glimmer of hope we had!). We’ve had a look through all the jerseys that have been played in so far/may get to see at the tournament and thought we’d make some style related commentary:

Although the shirts all look very similar, if you look at them closely you will notice small tweaks that give all of them a distinct look. Our favourite football shirt is of course England’s; not just because it’s our home side but also due to it’s clean, simple and minimal look. We’re obviously over the retro round-neck shirts because the English kit has gone for a small collar again which takes us back to the shirts introduced in the late 80’s which carried on through the 90’s, so actually today we have a sweet combination of this accompanied by the minimal retro look. Cameroon and New Zealand’s kit have a more contemporary style to them, both with a tighter fit. The Cameroonian’s top has a graphic print of a lion on the right shoulder with the brand which is a nice touch and since they’re known as ‘Les Lions Indomptables’ suits them too. All their badges are located slightly higher on the chest then the rest which does give the shirt a slightly different look. Spain’s away kit is another good shirt with the smart looking v-cut front, centralised Adidas logo and offset crest, I really like the navy colour with red and yellow strips on the sleeves making it a smarter football shirt. New Zealand’s kit is almost identical to their rugby jersey; I doubt we’ll be seeing the haka but the shirt might just be enough to shit-up the Italians when they’re running towards them! Come on England let’s show Algeria how it’s done.

Men’s Tattoos You Have to See to Believe!!

June 8th, 2010

We are definitely not against tattoos, in fact everyone here at Equip has one. However we think there are a few people out there that have taken the most popular skin accessory way to far and we would like to share the ‘Top Ten Funniest Men’s Tattoos’ that we have salvaged from the net……Enjoy!!

A selection of Ten of the finest examples of stupid, bizarre and somewhat insane tattoos from the internet. Whether it be a poorly spelt “Im AWSOME” to the plain mad english breakfast on top of some guys head!!..If you know or have any mad examples of men’s tattoos then we would love to see them!

Make sure you don’t consult your friends and family before going ahead with the procedure so that we see more mental tattoos around town!

Gorillaz-style breakdown

June 4th, 2010

Due to Bono’s emergency back operation the Gorillaz have stepped-up and are headlining at Glastonbury this year. Since they’re playing such a major role at Glasto we thought we’d take a little peek at their style and see what gives them their unique looks.

Made up of 4 band members 2-d, Murdoc, Russell and Noodle, there are a few fashion brands that shout out when skimming over the characters;  Converse, RocaWear, Cheap Monday, Oliver Sweeney and All Saints (A good mix). The Gorillaz are, from left to right:

2-D has a real slouched ‘bummer’ look to him (although that may have something to do with some nasty events in his upbringing, Murdoch was involved). Nonetheless you could put your money on it that he’s just jumped out of bed slipped into his ‘Drain Pipe Cheap Mondays’, laced up his converse and thrown a college varsity long sleeve over himself.

Noodle has Japanese roots but she definitely doesn’t wear kimono’s. A heavy pair of Doc Martens style military boots and a short-hang biker/bomber jacket makes her less feminine but teamed up with the pleated skirt and striped leggings reminds you she is the only girl in the group.

Murdoc is the main man and holds the group together, wearing subtle accessories with a ‘Thomas Sabo’ style upside down cross necklace, an even longer pair of drain pipe ‘Cheap Mondays’ and a ‘Religion’ style men’s hoody with graphic branding. The whole look wouldn’t look the part without the ‘Oliver Sweeney’ style winkle-pickers (pointy shoes/boots).

Russell just does his own thing. ‘The muscles of the group couldn’t even get his arm into a pair of Noodle’s jeans which means he’s most at home in RocaWear long sleeves and baggy skater jeans, with thick soled DC shoes-style trainers.

See you at Glasto.

Energie Foreinta Holdall

June 2nd, 2010

We’re in an unnatural amount of love with the the Energie ‘Foreinta’ men’s holdall bag. So far at Equip we’ve written blog entries on quite a few categories of topics but we thought it would be good to share a bit of extra detail on our very favourite products on the site, and it’s the turn of the Foreinta (which we’re pronouncing Fore-inta). It’s a thing of beauty, I hate the word sleek but this bag really is, with a slightly glossy textured finish it looks very much like leather (and although it isn’t leather, that is reflected in the price). It is totally practical, ‘on-trend’ since it’s a large bag, versatile because it will suit any style, well-priced at £90 and it has understated but clear branding with the gunmetal Energie metal plate on the front.

Size?

Although most guys would simply get a bag the size of what they need to carry, there has been such a trend for men to have ‘larger’ bags from the fashion houses that this one might be perfect for your next day bag; it’s  not too big that you couldn’t carry it around with you all day, but it is big enough to keep more than the normal amount in there like overnight stuff, or your gym kit, or a few more items like your jacket, magazine and books. And of course the size is on-trend too. It’s worth pointing out that if you’re not into using the handles, the bag also has a shoulder strap.

Goes with?

I was trying to think of a few looks and outfits that this bag will go with but I realised it will go with anything; I mentioned versatile and the Foreinta suits absolutely anyone and in any situation. Whether you are wearing a slim grey suit or a pair of  jeans, tee and white converse or even a shirt and blazer this bag is going to look perfectly at home so it totally ticks this box.

Laptop/Practicality?

Energie have started to add laptop compartments in their bags and this one has a very nifty laptop sleeve (which is padded) so when I’m getting thrown about on the tube it protects the old macintosh. It is also lined and has one internal side with an organiser that includes a large zip-up area, velcro-down mobile phone pouch, and other auxiliary pockets.

Not leather, does it matter?

Now the fact it isn’t made out of leather shouldn’t divert you away from this bag because sacrificing the leather means your paying a very decent price for an impressive holdall bag. A Leather holdall and weekend bags start from a minimum of £150 and this one is just £90.

All in all?

Not only does the ‘Foreinta’ make a sweet bag to take to work it also is the perfect size for a weekend city break with it’s popper like adjustable belts on the handles and the sides allows you to change to length depending on how packed the bag is, and if you’ve packed the bag heavily then an adjustable shoulder strap has been included to offer support when moving around. It’s also made in Italy,  so you know it’s quality and not going to fall apart straight-away which is a nice bonus. All in all? A great bag. Click here to see more.

Boots for men

June 1st, 2010

Boots have been around for thousands of years, since the Roman Empire. Soldiers would fight in footwear known as ‘caligae’ (a sandal like boot made from leather), and we know that those ‘gladiators’ are now most women’s favourite summer footwear.  You might not ponder this every day, but there has been an explosion in the types of men’s boots that are around, ranging from rigger styles to military to cowboy, and in fashion-terms the time is definitely right for guys to hit the boots. How do we know? Check out the campaign posters for Firetrap, Diesel, All Saints, Topman, and many more which all feature men’s boots.

The most popular type of boot today is the ‘rigger‘ boot, made from nubuck leather and equipped with a hefty steel boot cap these boots go just above the ankle by a couple of inches and are practical boots that look good and can be worn in all conditions. However in terms of trend the style of boot that are big now are ‘military‘ boots. These are higher boots which  go all the way up usually to the mid-point of the shin and are made with a distressed leather to give them a worn-in appearance and with military details. They also usually have a less bulky sole than hardcore work boots. For the very best out there check out ‘All Saints’ who have gone to town with around 15 different styles all made from leather. Although they are around the £150 price mark and should be at the top-end of your boot budget, they look great and will last well. The great thing about military men’s boots is that they can be worn either with skinny or loose cut jeans.

A slightly easier pair to go for would be a pair of ‘riders‘ style, originally designed for motorbike riding but now fashionable footwear. I bought a pair of Wrangler WM0144’s which did look slightly too clean and plasticky online but I wore them several times and they matured very well, turning into an impressive pair of distressed worn boots which I was ultimately looking for, rare to find online however one company jamesandjames stock them at a very reasonable price of £60.

With summer fast approaching you might think it’s the wrong time of year to buy boots, however the original Timberland’s look the nuts with a pair of khaki shorts and it’s nearly festival season! We’ll all be watching the weather carefully, and if you subscribe to the theory ‘hoping for the best but planning for the worst’ it’s a good time to invest in a quality pair of boots to trek through the bog at Glastonbury or Reading. I’ve got military, builder and rigger boots which I wear on a daily basis but if I had to choose it would be the rigger boot any day of the week. Originally designed for heavy construction work they look sweet with ripped jogger shorts and a plaid shirt.

There is one particular pair of men’s boots which I wish I had the balls to wear….Cowboy Boots!! The cowboy look is of course classic Americana and has been around for years but is making it big now and in the past year cowboy kicks made completely of cow leather are back on our shelves and getting a lot of press. One company that do impressive cowboy boots are Sendra, a Spanish company that we came across in Barcelona and luckily they ship around the World so you can get your hands on a pair whether you’re in Oklahoma or Oldham!

Refer a friend to equip…. get free accessories!

May 27th, 2010

THE OFFER: If you are a previous customer >>> you refer a friend to www.equip.co.uk >>> they make a purchase >>> you can claim free stuff from us. *a few terms and conditions apply see below

So what do you get?

To claim just email us on refer@equip.co.uk and include your friend’s order number and their postcode. Then choose your free accessories and we’ll send them out to you free of charge too!

*t’s and c’s
To receive the free accessories you must have purchased from us previously.
Referred orders must have a different billing/delivery address to the original order.
Waiting period of 2 weeks before we post the free accessories.
Referred order cannot be returned for refund but can be exchanged for item/s of same value.
Offer ends 15th August 2010.