Lee Cooper Presents - Kevin Soar

  

Profile of East London based writer and vintage clothing collector, Kevin Soar by Lee Cooper for The Makers campaign. Lee Cooper have put together several really cool shorts, profiling up-and-coming creatives based in the London area, each with their own personal touch. The one above really caught my attention as it features the place where my Grandad used to play footy every week!

Sweet project. See the Lee Cooper Presents - The Makers project in full here.

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Weekly Snapshots

 Wearing - Levi's Commuter 511s, beige Converse, Paul Smith socks

Topman t shirt, Gap chinos, Superga trainers, Penfield tote, Timex Weekender

Dockers khaki chinos, Clarks Desert boots, Uniqlo orange socks

Vintage blue work jacket, Topman cycling shirt & shorts, New Balance 420

Gap check shirt, old Levi's 511s, Superga trainers

Dockers chinos, Converse, Uniqlo yellow socks

I've been busy snapping outfit shots on Instagram recently, it's not replacing my normal detail shots but it's so handy when you're pushed for time. Seeing that my Iphone hasn't got the swanky new camera I don't intend to leave my trusty Canon at home any time soon.

You can follow me @mat_buckets if you fancy.

Fun Times This Way

Hand Pressed print by Thursday Press c/o Not On The High Street

This post has been a long time coming, NOTHS sent over this hand made letterpress print about a month ago now and I've had a tricky time trying to find a frame to fit. Let's call it a senior moment, in our house we've never had many picture frames (if we did it's me dressed up as a shepard in the Christmas nativity) so I didn't know about what sizes fit with what. A few weeks searching for a 9x12 frame then it hit me, it's blumming a4. Doy!

Anyway NOTHS offered my a voucher to spend in their store so I picked the Dept. of Messing About print, which is now sitting on top of a pile of books in my bedroom. I picked up the frame in a charity shop for 50p. The print is 1 of 21 and has been made with the old wooden letterpress blocks, the kind you always see at flea markets.

Enjoy your weekend guys.

Off to Brighton

Recent sign finds in Manchester

I'm off to Brighton for a long weekend, Saturday morning till Tuesday evening. Even though I work in retail and we don't tend to get Bank Holiday's off I've swindled it so I can get Monday off. I'm pretty excited as I'm helping out on my friend's stall as a Vintage & Antiques fair. Proper Bargain Hunt style, hopefully I'll have some leftover lolly! I'm going to document the whole thing, so stay tuned.

I'll be back next week, Happy Easter everyone.

Made In....Part 1

Much loved Dr Martens 1461's - Made in England

Harlequin patterned Johnston's scarf - Made in Scotland

New edition to my wardrobe, Dockers cinch back chinos - Made in America

Christmas present from Hollie, Present piccalilli coloured wooly hat - Made in Scotland

The old faithful vintage tweed 2-button blazer - Made in Canada

Lately I have been taking extra noticed to where things are made. To know this bit of extra information reassures me to some extent and instantly puts thoughts into my mind about who might have made them, the type of factory they were conceived in and what type of machinery might have been involved. I'm one of those people that always checks labels before buying stuff in shops, checking out the fabric is a big thing for me, but now I might be adding another one to the list. I don't think it's  going to stop me from buying something but to know a little bit more about what you are spending you money on makes it more satisfying, in my opinion.

I'm going to split this post up into a 2-parter bumper edition so this post doesn't turn too picture heavy. I've got some more interesting stuff to share.

So go into your wardrobes and see what you can find, what are you waiting for? I'll be really interested to hear what sort of countries you can find on those labels, please do let me know.

This Week's Essentials - Harris Tweed Blazer

Close up of the colour and texture, green, turquoise and orange wool.

(Please excuse the face) I'm like Chandler Bing when it comes to posing for pictures.

Wearing - Harris Tweed 3-button blazer, Topman chambray shirt, Topman trousers, Ask the Missus suede brogues and Uniqlo pink marl socks

I'm quite lucky when it comes to finding quality items for mega cheap but I thing this has topped the chart. When I saw this Harris Tweed 3-button wooly blazer in a charity shop in Preston I knew I was going to buy it before I tried it on(even if it didn't fit). Then I looked at the label, £3. I tried it on quite skeptically, as second hand blazers are 99.9% ill fitting. To my total surprise it was bang-on.

After a trip to the dry cleaners it was a good as new, the label later revealed it was designed for "Design Circle by John Collier". Anyone heard of this? A quick scan of the net suggests it dates back from the 1960s/70s. I'm so chuffed with it, especially seeing that it's a 3 button style(3 buttons fits my shape better than 1 or 2, even if it is quite old fashioned) and it has  green/turquoise/orange running through it.

Anyone else had any bargains of late?

All photos by Hollie

A Week In Words

From what I remember, last week was a busy one. I've finally gone back to my job at Topshop but I have been moved down to Topman, where I am now the new Sunday Supervisor. For all that didn't know, I took 4 months leave to go and work in London(but I came home earlier than expected as the job didn't work out, lets just say we weren't on the same wavelength).

On Thursday evening I attended the launch of the new COS concession in Selfridges, Manchester. I got in invite through my other job at Manchester Fashion Network and as it turned out I ended up being the only press person there. The event was to launch the new shop and to preview their A/W collection. As I was the only press there I was given to right to take as many photos as I liked(I spoke to one of COS' PR team and they said they usually don't let people take images, they took exception with me!). I took Hollie as my +1. The concession is only womenswear currently but I personally spoke to COS' Creative Director and told her to sort a menswear bit out.

On the way to the event we got snapped by the multi-talented illustrator/design Kate Mcleish, who is also a friend;

Wearing - J+ Uniqlo Khaki Blazer, vintage turquoise t-shirt, Topman loose chinos, Clarks desert boots.

I'm pretty much wearing that blazer every day, it's linen and unlined so quite thin and perfect for the lead up to summer. It was such a good buy at £39.99. For anyone that may have been wondering me and Hollie have been together for just over 4 years now, still going strong. The only thing that I notice much if I look back at photos of us 4 years ago is that now I have much less hair, I'm trying to grow a beard(early stages of course) to make up for it!


You can see my short write up and images of the COS event here

New Found Treasures Part 2

As promised a few weeks back I said I would post all the nice things I picked up on my travels, over the past couple of months. Some of you may remember me saying I moved to London for a couple of months, I found so many nice things to buy, so I bought a lot of them. Can't blame me on stocking up! I was pretty chuffed with my purchases but I was sensible and considered everything more than once before handing over the wonga. I've had a tendency to waste money on clothes in the past but gone are those days, I want to fill my wardrobe with stuff that will stand the pass of time.

So first up is the geography teachers favourite, the tweed blazer;

Vintage 2-button tweed blazer in perfect condition and I have to say, it fits like a dream. I managed to pick this up for just under £30. This is now the oldest piece of clothing, the label states 1964.

Tweed blazer worn here with Uniqlo grey oxford shirt(with replacement top button)

As I said, it fits like a dream! You know, one of those dreams where tweed blazers fit immaculately, we're all had them right?

No tweed would be complete without complimentary suede elbow patches. 

I have to say, I'm one lucky boy. I'm sure it will become a wardrobe staple over the warmer months.


On another note, just like to say hello to all my new followers and thanks to everyone else for your continuous support and just for being so nice.  Next up....the shoes.


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