Showing posts with label Topman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Topman. Show all posts

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Boy

Perhaps I'm odd but I often wonder what my life would be like if were a boy. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much glad that I'm female but being so aware of, and passionate about, gender issues, I can't help but wonder at how different things might be? How different I might be? Or not? How I might look? How I might dress?

Yes, dress is one of the main differences I consider as it is so important to me as a woman and I'm so conscious of the difference in expectations of men and women. Of the different limitations. Of the difference in access.

I think in most ways, I'd be very much the same person that I am now. I think this would be true, too, of how I dress. I mean, I don't wear dresses or skirts that often as it is. The colour palette I gravitate towards isn't particularly representative of traditional colours associated with any gender. I'm really all about comfort, ease, clean lines, pleasing textures and good fit.

So, I decided to put together outfits that I would rock if I were a boy...and realised they're basically what I wear now. I still love a lot of black and navy. There's a preference for solid colours over patterns, a love of knitwear and a good leather jacket. Pants like jammies are good as are brands like Cos, Saint Laurent, Acne, Zara. I'm still craving New Balances and the perfect weekend bag. Still the same Colette - although, according to my Mam, I would have been called Jamie.

This is how Jamie would have dressed.

Also, no way could I afford to dress the way I'd like to as a dude. Those clothes be expensive!

Boy I



Boy II



Boy III



Boy IV



Boy V


What do you reckon? Would I have been a chic-ass man?


Monday, 17 November 2014

Menswear//Outerwear

I've played personal shopper to many a family member and friend over the years. If people want to know where to buy a particular kind of garment they tend to ask me. I'm known to pick up ridiculous bargains - how many people can say they bought a pair of Stella McCartney heels for less than the retail price of most Primark heels?

See, shopping is kinda my thing. If it were a sport, I'd surely be representing Ireland.

And, charitable and kind soul that I am, I thought I'd share my skills with all y'all and help any dudes/people wanting to shop in the menswear sections (I know I do often enough) out there who might be looking to find the perfect coat on the high street. I've broken this down into categories and, if I'm honest, I think any well-dressed individual would be remiss in having a wardrobe without a least one of each of the following sorts of coats. But if you're only in the market for one of them, you're in luck too.


The Leather Jacket

Timeless, endlessly wearable and, if chosen correctly, durable. The right leather jacket can last a lifetime. But, if you're not yet ready to invest, a cheaper faux version can get you by (or if you're opposed to the wearing of leather). If you have the patience and time I would actually recommend trawling charity shops, thrift stores or vintage shops for this item. More often than not, you'll get a better quality, more inexpensive version than you will on the highstreet. For those short on time or energy, this is a less feasible option so feast your eyes on the beauties I've dug up below.

Menswear Outerwear - Leather Jacket

(From Left to Right: Zara, €89.95, H&M, €79.99, Zara, €49.95, H&M, €199, Zara, €49.95)


The Dressy Coat

Sure, you can't wear it with every outfit but clean lines underneath will immediately seem dapper. Hell, even sweatpants are a go if you want to do dressed-up sport luxe. Think of it as women do nice lingerie, the thing to make you feel damn good even on a crappy day. Plus, you can't really throw a parka on over a suit.

The Dressy Coat

(ASOS, €177.73, Topman, €165, COS, €190, ASOS, €142.69, Religion, €284.64)


The Everyday/Practical Coat

You might not be able to just throw that parka over a suit but you still need it, or something similar. Something just a stylish but a little less sleek and a little more practical. This is the coat you get the most mileage out of, the one to keep you warm and dry - it's one to think on a little.

Everyday/Practical Coats

(Top Row: Topman, €82, Topman, €140, Topman, €88, H&M, €59.99. Bottom Row: COS, €225, Topman, €76)


The Trench

A classic trench is exactly like a leather jacket, timeless. There is a sad shortage of the traditional variety in camel or beige in stores at the moment but the options below are pretty damn good all the same. This is one purchase you won't regret as long as you ensure a great fit with room for layers beneath. I've an awesome trench but you can't get a thick jumper underneath which renders it infinitely disappointing.

The Trench

(Topman, €115, Topman, €94, Selected, €89.57, Diesel, €355.45)


The Road Less Travelled

These picks are coats that are a little different, a little fresher, with a bit more flare or adventure. We're talking a-symmetry, vintage appeal, decadent fur trims, interesting silhouettes and material choices. Less wardrobe classics or basics and more something to try if you're feeling brave.

The Road Less Travelled

(Zara, €79.95,  American Apparel, €221.80, Zara, €159, Zara, €159)


Well, any particular favourites?

(Please note that all items were available going to press and this may not be the case if you try to purchase afterwards. Furthermore, all Topman prices are converted from pounds as this is the only price given online, the instore conversion may differ somewhat.)

Sunday, 9 March 2014

What Crazy Crap is in Colette's Bag? - The experimental one.


A lot of the stuff you've probably all become accustomed to plus some Fruit-tella I've never tried before (truly juicier than the original!) as well as an eyelash curler, "Eyebrow Shapers", a hairband from Topshop, my trusty Topman beanie and a plastic bracelet from a Christmas cracker.

Beanies are standard attire for me but the hairband is part of why this collection of objects is labelled "experimental". I've a weird-shaped head so hairbands tend to slip off when I wear them. Sigh. Life is so friggin' difficult. Also, this is a somewhat striking piece - a little anime-esque. For both reasons I've worn it very little but I want to figure out how to style it right so I can wear it more. I really do like it.

The Fruit-tella were a new (and great) tastebud adventure.

And another adventure in the two euro shop saw me purchase the eyebrow shapers and eyelash curlers. The former wasn't very effective but the latter is quite good. I've heard spending more on eyelash curlers actually pays off but they were an experiment after all! So, a euro was quite enough to spend. I'm eventually gonna post a video of my first use of them - rather hilarious - but I'd been wanting to try some out for a while as I was irrationally terrified of them. Not actually so scary after all!

Yes, what an exciting group of adventures. *hangs head in shame* I'm so terribly uncool.

Monday, 22 July 2013

Try this on for size - Men's Summer Sale Picks.

Sale Picks - Men - s/s 2013


I did a lot of time-consuming creeping on Mr Porter, Asos, Topman, River Island, Cos and Urban Outfitters so you didn't have to. Here's the best of the best bargains online at the moment for the boys.

(Woop - alliteration.)

Men's Summer Sale Buys


Summer Men's Sale Picks - Accessories


Sale Picks Summer 2013 - Men


Sale Picks for Men 2013 - Summer

Thursday, 28 March 2013

Let's do lunch.

I haven''t done an outfit post in a bit - I know, I'm awful. Blame the dissertation! (Which is almost done - woo!)

For the first time in ages, I happened to have a camera, someone to take the photo and some daylight. So, here is a shot in Temple Bar - taken by the lovely Kate - while the sun made a brief but lovely appearance and we had lunch.

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Friday, 18 January 2013

Topman Design.

The issue with menswear on runways is how to balance design and creativity and pushing limits without pushing your audience away. Wearability is the word. And, sure, if design and making art are your primary concerns then this isn't really an issue but if you want to actually sell garments the market for brave male dressing is considerably smaller than that of its female counterpart. This is all the result of stupid, outdated social mores and double-standards that really annoy me but that's a rant I've had before and will probably have again some other time.

So, yeah, how to create AND sell?

I believe Topman Design has the answer. Their A/W 2013-14 collection is wonderfully innovative and has items only the courageous would wear but there's a lot there that styled differently, or even taken as is, any man could wear. There's an orange section that surprisingly avoids the pitfalls that colour often offers. There's a playful nature with collars being oversize at times or coats being longer or shorter than one might expect at other times. The knits are unabashedly beautiful and there is a note of detailing in the clothes that is usually reserved for womenswear - two brocade coats being a prime example of this - and yet these are undeniably "masculine" clothes. Two looks that might make most men balk are a wine-coloured suit with shorts instead of trousers and some baggy wine leather pants but these are still great, cool clothes. My stand-out piece has to be the fur-trimmed coat that was part of the final look - a majorly chic article of clothing. Overall, it is a collection that nudges boundaries rather than pushing the issue and manages to both be young and timeless. A man in his fifties could wear some of the pieces as easily as one in his twenties and look modern and new but without forgetting the history of menswear that came before.

(All images from vogue.co.uk)

PS After a conversation with my friend, Noel, I decided that I'm gonna look at menswear more often from now on so, yeah...look forward to that!






Monday, 20 August 2012

So adorable.

Say awwwwwww...It's my little bro's streetstyle. He's so adorable and stylish (but annoyingly picky). He kind of goes for a laid-back take on polished or preppy but with a little bit of edge brought in through humorous, ironic or risqué t-shirts. A fan of the skinny jean and a recent chino convert, he has a great eye for colour and coordinates a great variety of different looks despite having limited amounts of clothing (because of the whole picky thing).



Wednesday, 20 June 2012

A touch of NYC even though I can barely see...

Oh, the hayfever is bad. Very, very bad. I can barely open my eyes, they're so poofy. After getting up, ready for a day where I might even do something constructive, it hit me like a brick flung by an angry hick. Gone were any ideas of doing something and so began a Sex and the City binge. Which lead to a Carrie influence in my outfit of the day. The shoes I originally wore are much higher and much more Carrie but I had enough pain in my eyes and throat and said "Screw it" to the shoes. The dress - vintage - is kind of fifties-like and very adorable, I mixed it with elements one might not automatically match; oversize jumper, Betsey Johnson pale pink tights and an amazing, colourful bag. The all-over-the-place-ness made me think of Carrie and it was a playful outfit for smiling and the summer (despite the fact that the summer is trying to kill me). Mam took me comfort food shopping and we hit five different supermarkets. I'm not even sure what we bought...The cakes I got didn't survive to see the camera or tell their story but my pink lemonade is still hanging in there! Despite everything else, today is a good day. My pseudo-sibling, Paula, is having her 18th birthday party tonight (which is disturbing because that means my little bro and sis are nearly 18 too) and my oldest and wisest of best friends, Bev-Wev, turns 21. Celebrations of a very indoor related kind x


Dress - Vintage - Jumper - Vintage - Earrings - Betsey Johnson - Tights - Betsey Johnson - Shoes - Topshop - Bag - Boutique in Carlow - Gunmetal bracelet - Topman - Twisted bracelet - Boutique in Spain - Bangles - Assorted - Belt - Penney's