Orlando Photo Diary Part 2 + Style Feed

From top to bottom - I  take a photo of this intersection every time I pass it, pretty boring but I like it / Eating at one of my favourite restaurants Bahama Breeze, had a shed load of shrimp and coconut onion rings / Ordering lunch @ Panera Bread, apparently my pronunciation of Matthew sounded like "Muffie"/ Immense car shirt spotted at Cracker Barrel / Go nuts for donuts / Loads of decent stuff in Anthropologie / Amazed to find Style Feed on my travels, very exciting! / Time for an early departure

Here's some more photos from our week in Orlando, again not as many shots as I hoped for but there's always next time isn't there. Thank you for all the comments regarding our lost, they really do help at this tough time.

Some very exciting news guys, while I was in Orlando I came across the book I was asked to be apart of by Susie Bubble, Style Feed - The World's Top Fashion Blogs. I haven't mentioned it so much on the blog yet but I thought it would be a good time to share it. To my surprise it's being stocked in the States, in Urban Outfitters and Barnes & Noble no less! I'm planning on doing a full post on the book soon but briefly along with William Oliver, Susie handpicked a list of blogs from around there world, profiling why she things they deserve to be considered one of the best fashion blogs about. Each blog was picked for various reasons, not necessarily gaining the most traffic or follows but just doing their own thing very well. *Blushes*

I was in utter shock when I selected to be a part of a full-on published book but to be sitting alongside major blogs such as Style Salvage, Style Rookie, The Man Repeller, The Dandy Project, Park & Cube, Face Hunter, and Style Bubble was just the world's biggest compliment. A very humbling experience for me indeed.

There's a lot more name checking to be done regarding the book but I'll leave that for a more in-depth post very soon, if you're interested Style Feed - The World's Top Fashion Blogs is available to buy on Amazon.

Happy Birthday Dr. Martens

Thursday 1st April 2010 marked Dr. Martens 50th Birthday, to celebrate they are launching a couple of new ranges including the "Worn" 1460 collection (for all the lazy people!) and new colour in the "Made In England collection.

They have also got a bunch of Dr. Martens fans to talk about why they think the brand has passed the test of time and why they are so special to each of them. Feast your eyes, it's a good watch and great to here a bit about the iconic brand's history;

Here's how I'm wearing mine at the moment;

One 1/2 year old Dr. Martens worn with multi-coloured socks, no names and Topman beige chinos.

The boots are clearly quite a hard looking piece of footwear so at the moment I'm wearing them with trousers that aren't so harsh, just to give a different look to the usual, wearing them with jeans. I'm not completely sure if it works so much yet, what to you think? Good mix of soft and hard?

As I mentioned in my previous post Steve from Style Salvage was lucky enough to take a tour of the Dr. Martens Factory in Northampton last week, there's some great images from his visit. Check out the full post here.

So how do you do/would you wear yours?

Also tomorrow I might give you a sneak preview of a little art project I've been working on, in my spare time. 

Winter Made Warmer

I woke up today with the postman knocking at the door(this will probably be a rare event from now on, with all the postal strike action going on of late). The first thing I thought was, oh damn it's another ebay parcel thats been redirected back to my house, but no. To my surprise the lovely and very generous people at Ark clothing online have sent me two jumpers, and just in time for the chilly weather too!

The first one is a Fred Perry v-neck merino wool jumper in a lovely warm burgundy colour. This colour instantly reminded me of Steve from Style Salvage latest post "In Amongst the Fallen Leaves", where he shows us all his creative side and what can be achieved with a simple splash of colour this Autumn.

Great shade for the colder months, Fred Perry v-neck in burgundy with contrasting purple logo. Can't wait to wear this bad boy, already planning on wearing it with my Carolyn Massey x Topman coat.

The second one is a Penguin by Musingwear navy v-neck in the softest mix of cotton and cashmere. This is now officially the softest jumper in my wardrobe. Being a cotton/cashmere mix this is slightly roomier than the Fred Perry one, so it's going to be perfect come January time.

Cashmere mix Penguin v-neck jumper, in dark navy with subtle turquoise logo.

The one thing that my winter wardrobe lacks in jumpers, can you believe I only had one before these arrived? I bought the Matthew Williamson x H&M pink and purple cashmere jumper earlier this year. What can I say, I wasn't a jumper person, until now. These will go nicely with the abundance of Uniqlo socks I have, in nearly ever shade, pretty much the best socks around in terms of colours, durability and price. I think if me and Steve ever bumped into each other we would look like a rainbow had been sick on us, or that we had been attacked by a peacock.

Next on the Winter wish list is a pair of black oxford lace-ups, black Dr Marten shoes, dark green cashmere scarf and a new jacket of some sorts.

Thanks again to the nice people at Ark Clothing, you just made my cold days a whole lot warmer. Visit their online store for more by Fred Perry, Penguin and other brands like Dr Denim, Farah and Nixon watches.

You can now follow Buckets and Spades on Twitter, just click the link.

Lou Dalton Winter Warmers

Twitter has been up to its usual tricks lately, making all the people jealous that there not a New York Fashion week. People Tweeting from the front row from all the biggest shows ect, it's quite exciting when you think about it as now news is available as quick as ever, LIVE in fact.

The daily action keeps me up to date on new products and what's going on and it's became more and more addictive over the past few months. This morning's treat was from our old friends at Style Salvage in the form of news that Lou Dalton's a/w collection has been released at oki-ni just a few hours ago.

The collection includes lots of typical English design elements, like quilted jackets (this one being on Style Salvage Steve's wish list) with all the trimming you would expect. Including a really cool rounded off colour and tartan lining.

This deep red cotton waxed jacket is my favourite, I just love the dark red cotton again the even deeper red cord collar. Really like the Lou Dalton label too, what a nice and simple design.

The collection also comes with perfect accessories to match your newly purchased jacket, including these 100% lamb wool long fingerless gloves.

Want want want those gloves. All pieces are very reasonable prices, jackets being around £250 and gloves just £29. Follow me on Twitter here

Images from - oki-ni

Look of the week & Style Salvage interview

Image from Stil in Berlin

Really like this look, quite simple and relaxed with added interest from the wide neckline, safety pin and unusual sandals. This is quite similar to my style right now.

To celebrate the 2nd birthday of menswear blog Style Salvage, Izzy from The Dandy Project has interviewed the two founders, Steve and EJ. Style Salvage have turned into some what menswear blogging royalty over the past two years and Izzy of The Dandy Project has delved beyond the surface of the blog and asked about their success, inspiration and much more.

To read the full interview click here

Think tank for summer

Whilst a busy morning of paint the wall in the back garden, in the uncharacteristically hot English weather I got to thinking about what I will be wearing for work this coming week and for our short trip to London (which will hopefully be in July but we haven't booked yet.

Another thing which spurred this into my head was a link to an article about the rise in chinos, on men and women which Style Salvage posted on their Twitter this morning. Click here for the article, it documents 10 people who walked through the doors at London's bStore and posing the question, "are they the new jean?". I pretty much think they are, especially for the warmer months. I currently own a dark navy/charcoal pair and a beige pair.

This was my favourite look for the 10magazine selection, mostly because this is similar to how I would wear my beige pair. Wicked boots too.

Purple chinos from ASOS

I've been wanting to try something a bit more adventurous in the trouser department for the summer, I stumbled across this purple pair from ASOS. I just can't help think they would look much better if the shade of purple was a touch darker.

Mint green chinos by Acne, from ASOS

This shade of green is very much to my liking but sadly out of my budget, though to do kind of look for like light fabric jeans rather than a trouser.

My two current pairs, ASOS(left), H&M(right)

So chinos will undoubtedly be the choice of the summer for me but what is my shoe of choice to go with them?

If it's raining (theres a good chance in that happening!):

l-r ASOS brown boots, Clarks Desert boots, Dr Martens

And if it's sunny, fingers crossed:

l-r Spencer Jones boat shoes, Hudson patent tassel loafers, Vans

What are your summer essentials?

For Fall 09

3.1 Philip Lim

Paul Smith

Helmut Lang

Trussard 1911

Dries Van Noten

Here's just a few of the looks I will be trying my best to recreate this coming Autumn. I would love to get my hands of a subtly acid washed Denim jacket to wear underneath a smart coat, a pair of die-dyed trousers, and a pair of tailored trousers made from a more relaxed fabric like a heavy jersey. So from here on I am on the lookout for my Autumn wardrobe. I know it's open May but I've got to get ahead of the game, doesn't hurt to get a head start. Has anyone else started to look for theirs? I know Steve at Style Salvage is always planning it, as soon as the sun comes out he does a post on what he will be wearing next season!