Wednesday 31 December 2008

Saga Forgotten


What a Saga; more energy is expelled through shopping for the food we consume. It’s a hand to mouth existence broken by spates of joy, there’s a bus with everyone’s name on it, but they don’t always run on time; man's struggle for triumph in a world that seems designed to destroy him. If pride is mans’ fatal flaw, he is keenly aware of it, no matter how baleful. Thankfully we have silk ties and cufflinks -- functional distractions from the harshness of reality, now, life need not be so unbearably boring. Forget the saga.

A Tapestry Of Tartan In A Tie


Direct from the Vivienne Westwood Fashion House, a vividly colourful collection of handmade silk ties, including this rendition of the classic tartan in true form. A mixture of navy and sky blue, pink, tulip and orange on richly textured silk twill.

Friday 19 December 2008

Children Of The Revolution; “Iconic Influences”


The “Icons Cufflink Collection”, featuring, Che Guevara, Sir Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe are brought to vibrant life, using sterling silver, enamel and Swarovski Crystals to create instantly recognisable forms. But, unfortunately, nowhere to be seen, the formidable Fidel Castro is not depicted, however he needs no introduction and, highly respected. Trexs’ song best describes “Children Of The Revolution” We’ve displayed Che Guevara before. And, do so again in honour of Fidel Castro’s 50 year experiment.

Friday 5 December 2008

And A Tie To Match


Matching ties and cufflinks is sure to draw attention, so, if you have the time and inclination. This silk tie is part of the Ian Flaherty collection, available at selected online shops only.

The Swarovski Factor


When it comes to effective use of Swarovski Crystals the first name that springs to mind is Ian Flaherty. He has played a major role in popularising cufflinks and best of all they are handmade in his London studio.

The Black Heart Cufflink


After all these years, this remains one of the most consistently popular styles in Vivienne Westwood’s collection of men’s jewellery. It’s distinctly English, just like the Orb and, all the other out of ordinary designs that have emerged from Vivienne’s fashion design house in London.

Saturday 22 November 2008

Emergent Cufflinks: The Well Groomed Man


Cufflinks have emerged not only as affordable fashion accessories conveying your own personal style, but also as great gift items for almost all occasions, for men as well as ladies.

An ever expanding range of French cuffed shirts appear on the horizon giving men the variety they deserve. Any opportunity for decoration is worth its while.

After many years of repetitive styles the demand is relieved by wise enough retailers, well researched by keeping one eye on the weather. Just a quick browse in any upmarket department store will reveal more than a dozen brands offering fragrant grooming to taunt any man.

An all time favourite Hugo Boss splash on after shave. Just a small dose is enough to last the day, coupled with a subtle hand lotion to barrier against the harsh environment of air conditioned offices.

If you really want women to notice, then a little adornment won’t go astray. Polish your shoes, be a little extravagant in your choice of silk tie, a freshly ironed shirt, a close shave, clean finger nails and you will be prepared for any occasion (in a red skirt)

Monday 20 October 2008

Everlasting Floral Ties


Between late August and Mid November Western Australia’s wild flowers are blooming. In particular the everlasting, found in the Gold Fields and commanding special views in Kings Park, which overlooks the Perth City skyline. Also on display this floral tie, non seasonal and available no matter where in the world you are.

Friday 8 August 2008

Autumn Leaves For Cufflinks, By August She’ll Be Mine.


There is no need to guess the colours of Oak, Maple and Cherry as they change season upon season. Their essence has been captured perfectly in these miniature pieces of jewellery. And here are the opening lines of William Wordsworth’s most famous poem.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:

Enamel Cufflinks: The Chrysler Building New York


A pair of enamel cufflinks that symbolise the essence of art deco architecture, Just like the façade Chrysler Building in New York. They are enamelled by skilful hands in England and bare all the hallmarks of classic design.

Friday 11 July 2008

Che Guevara Revolutionary Cufflinks


In fond memory of the revolutionary Che Guevara who once brought an entire nation to its knees, a modern day Robin Hood if you like. Now an honourable legacy is created in realistic depiction of the man, the cufflinks the revolution.

Friday 20 June 2008

Marilyn Monroe Silver, Enamel And Swarovski Crystal Cufflinks


Marilyn Monroe’s life like beauty is captured perfectly in these collectable designer cufflinks using Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and enamels. Value is retained for many years to come in the “Icons Collection” because they are in short supply, designed by a world class jeweller using all the materials in keeping with an age old tradition.

Wednesday 18 June 2008

The Icons Silver Cuflinks Collection By Veritas Gifts


The “Icons Cufflink Collection”, featuring, Che Guevara, Sir Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe are brought to vibrant life, using sterling silver, enamel and Swarovski Crystals to create instantly recognisable forms. Veritas gifts have once again set the benchmark for style, quality and innovation in finely crafted jewellery. Made in limited quantities, so, value is retained for many years to come in the “Icons Collection”

Wednesday 11 June 2008

Spring Forward, Fall Back, Fast Forward For Fashion


Fashion is a fast forward industry, but continually falls back on archives to draw new inspiration from old styles. It’s as repetitious as the 1-2-3-4 beat of rock and roll including the back beat.

Often it’s easier to gauge changing weather patterns than to predict the rise and fall of fashion clothing. Like an inexperienced sailor navigating un-chartered waters, you’ll be tossed about by the waves and loose any sight of direction.

Many designers, ill equipped have been left high and dry on the high tide line. It’s a ruthless industry and piracy is rife.

But there’s always good weather on the way.

For those who are anecdotal-wise, here is one of particular interest, the outcome of an accident that changed the direction of men’s neckwear.

In the late 1940s, a silversmith named Victor Cedarstaff went riding with friends in the Bradshaw Mountains outside Wickenburg, Arizona. When the wind blew his hat off, Cedarstaff removed the hatband, which had a silver buckle he did not want to lose, and put it around his neck.

When his friends complemented him on the new apparel, Cedarstaff returned home, and wove a leather string. He added silver balls to the ends and ran it through a turquoise buckle.

Cedarstaff later patented the new neckwear, which was called the bolo because it resembled the lengths of rope used by Argentine gauchos to catch game or cattle.

Now mass-produced, bolos are usually made of leather cord, with a silver or turquoise buckle. They are common throughout the west and are often worn for business. In 1971
Arizona legislature named the bolo the official state neckwear.

Twenty years before the advent of the Bolo, another innovation took shape, when a pioneering Paris fashion designer, Jean Patou, invented the designer silk ties. He made silk ties from women's clothing material including patterns inspired by the latest art movements of the day, Cubism and Art Deco.

To a puritan, known, to a novice fascinating, to an aspiring designer essential knowledge, because fashion is based on historic events that helped shape the world. It is underpinned by the formation of style.

Definitive styles, without dropping names, are pretty thin on the ground. The dark suit is one that has been around for centuries and since the 20’s has changed little other than a few cosmetic alterations. Punk, as defined by Vivienne Westwood is in constant pursuit of perfection and still a major influential concept 30 years after inception.

Perpetuating her own unique style, Vivienne Westwood marks a new creative direction for men’s fashion accessories and jewellery design. Far removed from her early days of Punk; a comprehensive selection from her current collections of finely crafted silk ties, cufflinks and pendants for men.

If you want a tip of what fashion style is due next? Keep one eye on the weather it can change any time.

Finally another anecdote to fall back on: 1952: Douglas Fairbanks Jr declares 'Savile Row has recaptured the tailoring supremacy of the world'. Fairbanks Jr is one of the 20th century heroes of Savile Row. As far back as 1937, it is recorded in Anderson & Sheppard's ledgers that he recommended Marlene Dietrich to the firm when she was in England to make Russian revolution epic Knight Without Armour.

Have things really changed that much?

Purveyor of finely crafted men's fashion accessories: designer silk ties, handmade silver cufflinks & leather wallets, by British Designers, like, Vivienne Westwood, Timothy Everest, Ian Flaherty, Veritas Gifts, LBB London, and Shane McCoubrey. Perpetuating traditional English made clothing accessories is part of our ethos.

Saturday 31 May 2008

The Gradual Migration Of Australian Fashion


Aussie Rules is the proud name given to its self Styled football game (A combination of Gaelic football and rugby league), simply called “Australian Rules Foot-ball”, or as commonly phrased “off to the footy love” it is gaining international popularity concurrent with Australian budding fashion designers. The name of the game is play by the rules, or you will have to front the tribunal and if found guilty of fowl play, miss a few games.

Thanks to its long-standing multi=cultural heritage, Australian designers can draw from Western, Polynesian, Asian and Aboriginal influences; the net result is Aussie Rules Fashion, like footy its serious business.

Though Europeans scorn Australia for its lack of culture, by drawing comparison from their own, however, Dame Joan Sutherland and Dame Nelly Melber, two of the greatest female soprano’s were born and raised in Australian cultural back water. En route through the continent and England, were met with countless standing ovations and duly awarded by Royalty the highest honour bestowed on women, “Dame” equivalent to “Sir” So naturally like any of the arts, if you want to say you’ve made it, you have to get recognition in Europe, England or America.

Australia’s holistic approach to business disciplines became evident at the 2000 Olympic Games haled as the best organised in history. An example of how seriously they take to getting on with business.

R.M Williams the man, brandished power with reins in both hands to tame wild horses while mustering longhorn over thousands of miles, across treeless plains and parched river beds. On developing the bushman’s outfit, his gentle nature observed the needs of his fellow Jackaroo’s booting needs, thus began The R.M Williams tradition, which is now part of Australian heritage.

Now spanning the Indian- Pacific from somewhere in the middle of nowhere, caught between the far east and Antarctic, Aussie fashion is poised to blitz the world with its out door style that reflects diverse cultural heritage. They’ve taken the best that Europe had to offer and improved on it, now as fashion stultifies with a pungent generic odour, time for cool change, as fresh as the “Fremantle Doctor” on a scorching hot day. This is the name given to a sea breeze in Perth Western Australia. It’s the only thing that occasionally dispels the blistering heat, like a doctor’s medicine cures fever.

In search of a greater audience to pitch against, they look towards London England the fashion capitol of the world and extend a long standing, harmonious relationship.

As an outwardly conservative nation, the well dressed man about town, even in searing heat; it’s common to see those wearing suits and ties. Ian Flaherty, renowned jewellery and cufflink designer working out of London, his biggest international buyer is David Jones and Australian Department Store equivalent in quality to Selfridges or Nordstroms.

Australian fashion encapsulates all its cultural oddities, naturally, unencumbered, adaptive and well managed, is capturing hearts.

Mr Williams legacy, riding boots the fairest and finest of all, moulded from a single piece of leather, there are no seams to split.

Purveyor of finely crafted men's fashion accessories: designer silk ties, handmade silver cufflinks & leather wallets, by British Designers, like, Vivienne Westwood, Timothy Everest, Ian Flaherty, Veritas Gifts, LBB London, and Shane McCoubrey. Perpetuating traditional English made clothing accessories is part of our ethos.

Thursday 22 May 2008

Fleur de leys cufflinks


Perpetuating her own unique style, Vivienne Westwood marks a new creative direction for men’s fashion accessories and jewellery design. As in this ornate pair of cufflinks the Fleur de leys, one of many different styles to look out for.

Monday 19 May 2008

Spring Forward, Fall Back, Fast Forward For Fashion


Fashion is a fast forward industry, but continually falls back on archives to draw new inspiration from old styles. It’s as repetitious as the 1-2-3-4 beat of rock and roll including the back beat.

Often it’s easier to gauge changing weather patterns than to predict the rise and fall of fashion clothing. Like an inexperienced sailor navigating un-chartered waters, you’ll be tossed about by the waves and loose any sight of direction.

Many designers, ill equipped have been left high and dry on the high tide line. It’s a ruthless industry and piracy is rife.

But there’s always good weather on the way.

For those who are anecdotal-wise, here is one of particular interest, the outcome of an accident that changed the direction of men’s neckwear.

In the late 1940s, a silversmith named Victor Cedarstaff went riding with friends in the Bradshaw Mountains outside Wickenburg, Arizona. When the wind blew his hat off, Cedarstaff removed the hatband, which had a silver buckle he did not want to lose, and put it around his neck.

When his friends complemented him on the new apparel, Cedarstaff returned home, and wove a leather string. He added silver balls to the ends and ran it through a turquoise buckle.

Cedarstaff later patented the new neckwear, which was called the bolo because it resembled the lengths of rope used by Argentine gauchos to catch game or cattle.

Now mass-produced, bolos are usually made of leather cord, with a silver or turquoise buckle. They are common throughout the west and are often worn for business. In 1971
Arizona legislature named the bolo the official state neckwear.

Twenty years before the advent of the Bolo, another innovation took shape, when a pioneering Paris fashion designer, Jean Patou, invented the designer silk tie. He made silk ties from women's clothing material including patterns inspired by the latest art movements of the day, Cubism and Art Deco.

To a puritan, known, to a novice fascinating, to an aspiring designer essential knowledge, because fashion is based on historic events that helped shape the world. It is underpinned by the formation of style.

Definitive styles, without dropping names, are pretty thin on the ground. The dark suit is one that has been around for centuries and since the 20’s has changed little other than a few cosmetic alterations. Punk, as defined by Vivienne Westwood is in constant pursuit of perfection and still a major influential concept 30 years after inception.

Perpetuating her own unique style, Vivienne Westwood marks a new creative direction for men’s fashion accessories and jewellery design. Far removed from her early days of Punk; a comprehensive selection from her current collections of finely crafted silk ties, cufflinks and pendants for men.

If you want a tip of what fashion style is due next? Keep one eye on the weather it can change any time.

Finally another anecdote to fall back on: 1952: Douglas Fairbanks Jr declares 'Savile Row has recaptured the tailoring supremacy of the world'. Fairbanks Jr is one of the 20th century heroes of Savile Row. As far back as 1937, it is recorded in Anderson & Sheppard's ledgers that he recommended Marlene Dietrich to the firm when she was in England to make Russian revolution epic Knight Without Armour.

Have things really changed that much?

Saturday 29 March 2008

Different Drum Designer Silk Tie


“You and I travel to the beat of a different drum, can’t you see by the way I run every time you make eyes at me” A song written by Michael Nesmith in 1966 for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Ponies. If you want to bang a different drum, don’t wake the neighbours and have a look at this “for a change”

Pirates-Cufflinks


You don’t need to pirate the high seas to capture this little treasure. It comes with love from Vivienne Westwood, she’s just a pirate at heart. Beware the captains’ cutlass, it can cut you deep. Just go online line and you won’t have to dig deep to afford a pirate symbol; Scull and Cross Bones.

Sunday 16 March 2008

Not Quite A heart Of Gold


“I’ll be a miner for a heart of gold” Famously wrote Neil Young. Well, would you settle for hearts of red on gold, with asterisks so you don’t forget? And if you look closer you will see the Orb subtly woven into the background. Where is Neil Young these days? I ponder

Everyone’s Kind Of Abstract Tie


A tie collection would not be complete without an abstract. Some elements may be obvious, but like everything they’re open to interpretation. What ever, it will attract a lot of comment. And like all things Vivienne Westwood's are collectable.

Thursday 21 February 2008

Toast and Marmalade for Tea


“Toast and marmalade for tea, sailing ships upon the sea aren’t lovelier than you”. What a cheerful little song; Recorded by unknown band Tin Tin and produced by the late Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. You can also have honey on your toast. And when you’re ready to don the shirt and tie, try a pair of honey coloured cats eye cufflinks from Veritas Gifts. One gentleman decided to match them with an abstract floral tie by Patrick McMurray. “Nice colours for spring”

Tuesday 5 February 2008

The only Malakite cufflink in orbit


“Calling on inter-planetary craft”, most extraordinary: Semblance of some planet from outer-space, it’s just landed and stamped with Westwood’s unmistakable brand, The Orb, without (it), also in Onyx and Pearl. “Collect them” before they take off.

Wednesday 30 January 2008

Checks and Stripes


Check and striped ties don’t have to be considered conservative. It’s all about colour pattern and texture and doing something out of the ordinary, without going overboard. Here is an example; definitely out of the ordinary, definitely light on conservatism