Made in Britain: How things have changed: Sportswear as everyday.

Another theme I wanted to look at was sportswear and how lifestyle choices have made this kind of clothing become a everyday outfit choice. From full football kits to a simple pair of trainers, sportswear is a 'go to' outfit choice for males. I've looked into the designer behind the brand Y3, Yohji Yarnamoto, and his vision for sportswear to become everyday but still stylish clothing, I began by looking at this article; [sportswear chic] as well as where he features in a book called Modern Men; 

With the likes of Y3 design's it is easy to see why sportwear is so popular within everyday styles, most men want something quick and relaxed to put on when they get home from work, the days of long-johns and a tailored suit on a Sunday seem to be long gone.

As well as actual sports clothing, running shoes are another sportswear piece that has now filtered into a everyday clothing item, I have read here how the first running shoe was created& used. With time and lifestyle changes, this footwear has just become a regular item no longer worn when just in the gym or playing sports but every single day and for many occasions. Converse are a extremely popular example of this, the baseball style shoe is now popular with both males&females creating the uni sex appeal as well as a sporty style shoe that can be worn for any occasion, some people even customise their own or buy extreme outgoing colours of the shoe. If asked many probably wouldn't see converse as a sports shoe now as it is so varied with how it can be worn.

(Sportswear chic article reference; The Independent. 2013. Yohji Yamamoto: 'My desire was to make sportswear chic'. [online] Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/yohji-yamamoto-my-desire-was-to-make-sportswear-chic-8547493.html [Accessed: 9 Nov 2013].)

(Modern Men Reference; Davies, H. 2008. Modern menswear. London: Laurence King.)

(History of the athletic shoe reference; Runtheplanet.com. 2013. The History of the Athletic Shoe | Running Community. [online] Available at: http://www.runtheplanet.com/resources/historical/athleticshoes.asp [Accessed: 9 Nov 2013].) 

Converse image via. Polyvore website.

Made in Britain: How times have changed: Belts instead of braces.

For the next part of my research into the Made in Britain brief I have looked into how times and modern lifestyles have changed how men dress, initially I came across this blog; out dated mens fashion

Which shows the top ten fashion's that the writer believes shouldn't be outdated. 

After looking here I began to think how braces are now worn just as a fashion accessory rather than to actually hold men's trousers up. Although this isn't a modern change I think it shows that fashion was changing even at a very early stage. 

Braces were replaced by belts in the early sixties, although nobody was in fact the initial designer of the belt, I believe it evolved from military influences due to the need of simplicity during the war. Originally a belt would be made from a animal skin and just tied in a knot. Nowadays belt buckles are just taken for granted and a male probably wouldn't buy just a tie around belt due to it not being very substantial and probably come un-tied, the buckle was originally past down though Roman generations since Roman soldiers used them to strap their armour together, showing once again how military has inspired a accessory that is now seen as a everyday staple to a man's wardrobe.

(Website Reference; Media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com. 2013. Untitled. [online] Available at: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7a/1f/17/7a1f17535fe7e243cff581832f136bcc.jpg [Accessed: 8 Nov 2013].)

(Belt Buckle Reference; Wikipedia. 2013. Buckle. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckle [Accessed: 9 Nov 2013].)

(Image via. Polyvore).

Made in Britain; How times have changed: Watches to Phones.

Lifestyles and new technologies have changed the world completely when it comes to phones and watches, nowadays a pocket watch would be a fashion choice rather than a essential to tell the time. Phones and laptops have meant the desire for a pocket watch is no longer, and more so a laptop or tablet bag has replaced it. (This can expand to my designs, I could use the fact that most men needing to carry laptops or tablet, to inspire my bag design&shape).

Usually a pocket watch would be worn by a gentleman in a well tailored suite, nowadays the man would most probably be attending a business meeting, evening out etc. and have hold of a mobile phone or laptop, although this is now a everyday normal thing to see. Because of this one designer (Rolex) has invented something to bring the pocket watch and mobile together, the 'pocket watch flip phone'

as you can see the article [here] the vintage take on a mobile phone does look pretty similar. 

The phone has all the regular needs such as a camera, bluetooth and a MP3 player but I'm not sure if people would actually use this, the days of sending letter have been replaced with e-mails, polaroids with camera phone and boxy computer to a lightweight laptop. This modern technology is forever changing and growing and it's just a case of fashion keeping up with it.

(Reference: Coolest Gadgets. 2013. The Pocket Watch Flip Cell Phone is far fancier than a smartphone. [online] Available at: http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20131018/pocket-watch-flip-cell-phone-fancier-smartphone/ [Accessed: 10 Nov 2013].)

Made In Britain

Earlier this week, I was given my new brief to design a menswear tailored jacket&trousers with one accessory (a bag), based on the 1900-1940 period. The designs must be based of racing (motorcycles,horse,aviation,car etc) and have a modern twist to suit the modern man. I started my research by heading to vintage shops& seeing how vintage menswear was made, examples of pockets,buttons,shapes etc. This could then inspire my personal designs, for example my choice of fabrics and shapes

Aswell as visiting vintage clothing shops, I went to the North West Transport museum to have a look at the vehicles and transport that was around in that era:

You can see more of my images on pineterest: LINK HERE

Idea's gained; colours, logo's, use of fabrics, tweed, vintage buttons, leather, embossed.