The internet is a funny old place, especially in the small world of casual websites. The forums in particular are breeding grounds for the elitists, who actually have very little to be elitist about. Wade through the pages of 'is this casual?' and 'who has the most obscure adidas?' and occassionally, you can unearth something of genuine interest. I tend steer clear of the other forums nowadays, as the so called elitists and their unfounded snobbery bores me to tears. The key for me for the modern casual is to find new brands and unearth new trends, and the internet, like the European sports stores of the 1980's, can be the catalyst to producing something genuinely new and exciting, as oppossed to just whatever Oi Polloi have stocked this season. Over the last few months on our forum, much has been brewing over the launch of Ma.Strum, the new engineered fabric label using the archive designs of legendary Stone Island designer Massimo Osti, but brought up to date by former Victorinox designer Donrad Duncan. Some might say that it's not that original to find Ma.Strum, after all the pedigree of Osti and Duncan gives it an instant attraction to casuals. However what is really interesting, is the designs, fabrication and cut are genuinely innovative and creative, whilst all the time catering to aesthetics most casuals hunt for in their clothes. To top it off, the pricing is not ridculous. Prices for jackets start for as little as 299 gbp. Now available in Harrods in London and other reputable stockists.
Below is an interview with writer/director Nick Love. His films include 'Goodbye Charlie Bright', 'The Football Factory', 'The Business', and 'Outlaw'. Nick speaks to us about the forthcoming film 'The Firm' as well his interest and fascination with the 80's casual scene...
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions Nick. Like me you grew up in South East London, what first brought your attention to the subculture commonly known as 'casual' and what got you hooked? The first time I saw someone dressed in casual wear was around 1983, when I was no more than 13 years old, sitting round the flats in Thames Street which is on the Greenwich/Deptford border. One of the older boys (now sadly dead) walked up smoking a joint and wearing a full electric blue Ellesse tracksuit, a deerstalker hat and a pair of Diadora borg elites. He looked the bollocks and I so wanted to be like him. He went to Millwall and was one of the chaps. From then on it became an obsession for me. I saw more and more boys at football wearing Italian sportswear (Fila, Sergio Tacchini and so on) - and finally I got a Lacoste t-shirt and that's were it started - I never looked back!
You've written and directed a number of cult films such as 'Goodbye Charlie Bright', 'The Football Factory', 'The Business' and 'Outlaw' - all of which have some link to the football scene. How much of an influence do you think football and terrace fashion for that matter, has on the working classes both now and say 25 years ago? Certainly all of my film work has been influenced by the casual/terrace/football culture. I was an adolescent at the time of the casuals and I've always believed that your teenage years are when you are most receptive to cultural/fashion influences. I remember men in their 20's telling me I looked like a fucking idiot in Fila BJ shorts and t-shirts when I was 14 or 15, and that's because in their teens they'd worn flares and big collared shirts, so they couldn't see beyond what had influenced them. You can only really understand that in retrospect because when you're in the middle of a revolution (which is what I thought the casual movement was), you can't imagine there's an other way of life. Clearly the casual clothing and general 80's fashion had a huge impact on my film-making as it's now appeared in two of my films. 'The Business' being the first were it was simply the fashion of the time for the main character Frankie, and now with 'The Firm' where the clothes are almost a driving force behind part of the film, where having the right clothes is an intrinsic part of the story. Fashion plays a part in all my films (apart from 'Outlaw'), as I'm very militant about having the right clothes for the era/mood of the film. Incidentally, I think men's fashion for the working classes/terrace fans, has lost it's way a bit in the past few years. I loved the early Stone Island and CP Company stuff, but it all seems a bit similar to me now. There was a time where fashion was about standing out and making a statement - now it seems about blending in and not being noticed. It's probably just my age!
It's obvious you have a passion for the tennis chic sportswear era of casual culture, is this for you a historical fashion interest or were you just as passionate in your youth? Tennis wear chic was an absolute passion when I was a teenager. It's not something I picked up later in life, and then became a retrospective fan. For me it was a way of life. I could bore you with a very long story about how I got my first Lacoste t-shirt (red and white stripes), but it's a whole new interview! Suffice to say I was deep into the whole thing between 82 and 85. Me and my mates were always buzzing around the west end, stealing gear out of Nick-Nacks, Lilywhites and Olympus etc. We lived and breathed Fila, Tacchini, Ellesse, Pringle, Lyle & Scott, Diadora (I could go on forever!). When we were kids you simply had to have the right clobber. You were a pikey if you didn't - end of.
It's commonly accepted that Londoners were late to the casual scene, but many Londoners hold the belief that it was them that took the look forward from Peter Storm cagoules and adidas trainers. What's your view on how the scene developed in London in the early 80's? This is subjective because as I said earlier, everyone who's involved in a revolution can't see beyond their point of view - nothing exists beyond the wall. But it's fair to say, that although Londoners (me included) thought they were the centre of the universe, there weren't many London teams in Europe at the end of the 70's/early 80's which is when the casual scene kicked off - largely due to being able to obtain Italian/Spanish sportswear on the continent - so in short, as far as my memory serves me (and I was shooting up sulphate at the time) the scousers were the first team in England to wear the tennis wear. It seemed to spread south after a season up north. I've always admired Liverpool and Manchester boys for their style and swagger, and while I may seem only interested in London films, it's simply because that's all I know. You don't have to be a genius to work out several cool styles and movements have been started in Liverpool or Manchester. Enough said.
What would you say is your most prized fashion items? Nowadays I dress like a middle aged camp Italian on the Riviera! I can't get away with wearing Fila Terrinda's (which was definitely my most prized item from the 80's) and adidas Forest Hills etc, so I play with Loro Piana and Hermes as labels. Although you'll never see me in any other t-shirt than a Ralph Lauren, purely for great pastel shades and durability.
There is a worry amongst a few casual purists that a re-make of such an iconic film such as 'The Firm' will not do the original justice. Is this a remake for a remakes sake or do you feel the original lacked something? There are several reasons for me making 'The Firm'. Firstly, it's important to stress that my film is an adaptation, not so much a remake. To simply remake 'The Firm', or any other great film for that matter, would be cynical unless there was another story to be told, a new angle to be exposed, or a new experience to be had - and that's exactly what I've done. The rivalry between Bex and the Yeti still exists as it did in the original, but it sits behind the story of Dom (who only plays a small part in the original) who is a young wannabe casual, and is drawn into the world of Bex and The Firm. He's a dresser and is as much into the fashion as the idea of running with the firm and fighting, and at the centre of the film is his relationship with Bex. I would tell you more, but I'd be giving the film away! Point is, it's very different from the original - it's set in or around 1984 and I made the story personal to me in so far as it's about casuals and the experience of joining a gang, whereas the original isn't. My film is very much an authentic celebration of the early 80's casual era, something that I haven't yet seen in a film. The film is drenched in big firms, soul and jazz funk music, and of course more 80's sports fashion that you'd see in Lilywhites! It's also worth mentioning that the original film was the sole reason I got into making films. I literally saw it on TV in 89, had an epiphany and decided I wanted to make films. The next week I was running around Soho trying to get a job as a tea boy on film sets, so the film clearly had a big impact on me. It was the first film I'd ever seen that spoke to me in a vernacular I knew, about people I knew and places I knew. It was fucking powerful. I really think I had another and equally interesting story to tell. See it for yourself and you can judge it against the original. Of course some purists will condemn it before they've seen it, but I'm more than proud of it.
Finally, some casuals have said that your long-standing relationship with Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan has in many ways diluted your credibility. Many see Dyer in particular becoming a caricature of himself. How do you respond to those criticisms? This is a tricky question to answer - but a very valid one, and I think the answer lies in the fact that most of the cast in 'The Firm' have never been in front of a camera before. There is no Dyer in 'The Firm'. Danny and I made my first film together, and since then he has become a friend and something of a talisman for me. I have no control over what he chooses to do away from me work-wise, he's his own man. I was asked to get involved with 'The Real Football Factories' and I said no straight away. I see myself as a purist, and for me, 'The Real Football Factories' was a dilution of a brand I had created. Ultimately I want to be remembered as the one who didn't sell out, but as we all know, the more success you have, the harder that becomes. Danny has a family and a mortgage so he has to pay the bills, and there are so few films being made in Britain that they won't pay the bills alone. I understand why he's gone down that road, but in truth I wish he hadn't, and he knows that. I've never hidden my feelings about some of his choices. For 'The Firm' I knew I had to change direction, and I spoke about it with Danny and told him I was moving on. I know it sounds a bit strong, but after several years of working together, we developed a bond that goes beyond just a job. 'The Firm' has a fresh and exciting cast, mostly never seen before, and to be honest, it's the best decision I could have made for the film. Hopefully, people will watch the film with no baggage or preconceptions. I've always believed Danny is a talented actor, otherwise I wouldn't have put him in my first four films. It would be great to see him really challenged in future roles, but people seem to keep casting him in similar parts or keep wanting him to play roles from our previous films. Anyway, fuck all that - this is about 'The Firm' - a film that represents a forgotten sub culture, an era, a revered tribe, a revolution, friendships, fashion, music, bullying, rivalry, warfare and much much more - I truly think 'The Firm' is my best film and I hope you do too.
FootballCasual.com would like to thank Nick for taking the time to talk with us.
There seems to be a buzz brewing about Nick Love's latest project 'The Firm'. Much was made of the impending release of 'Awaydays' based on the book by Kevin Sampson, as being the most accurate refelction of the fashion. However, most lads feel the true development of casual culture came in the early 80's when the introduction of high-end sportswear such as Sergio Tacchini and FILA made its appearance on the terraces. The tennis chic look is the most associated look with casual culture, and Nick Love again has a chance to use his passion for this era with this new vehicle. 'The Business' was a catalyst to the rise in interest again in the vintage sportswear of Sergio Tacchini and FILA. So what about 'The Firm'? Many are concerned that an attempt at a remake of a classic football film would only end in disaster, but with Nick Love there seems to be a genuine passion for the attention to detail when it comes to the fashion. It's loosely based on Allan Clarke's 1989 BBC film, but brought back to 1984 and vieiwing from a different character's viewpoint. Our friends at www.80scasualclassics.co.uk were very involved in the wardrobe development for the film, and many of the classic items featured will be available to buy on their site soon. The film is due out in the Autumn, and we are interested to see if the plot and story will match the effort taken on the clothing side. I'm sure many like us, will reserve final judgment when the film is eventually released. See the site here www.thefirm84.com
So after launching two years ago, we've finally got around to giving the site an overall facelift. We've decided to give it more of a photographic edge as sometimes photos can say more than a thousand words. There's still a few bugs to iron out, and more content to add, but we hope you like what we've done so far.
The publishers of a new book about friendship set against the football casual backdrop of the early 90's rave scene, is set to be published and on sale on Amazon by April 6th. The publishers kindly sent all readers of this blog a sneak preview of chapter 1 of the book. http://content.yudu.com/Library/A148jy/DecadeChapter1
Obviously it's not enough to make a qualified judgment of the book overall from this one extract, but from what we've read so far, it looks like it could have genuine potential. This is what the publishers say:
"DECADE BY PAT W HENDERSEN
The ultimate betrayal between best friends can be the most casual thing in the world!
When wide boy Martin Bridges decides to take Colin Nichols under his wing, events conspire to send both him and his protégé hurtling headwards into Scotland's murky criminal underworld. But as they go deeper, could it be that the tables are being turned? Could Colin be taking the lead from his friend? Could Martin be losing his grip? And when betrayals are exposed, how far will they go to stay in control?
A tale of unlikely friendship and betrayal set against the contrasting backgrounds of football casual violence and the peace and harmony of the early nineties rave scene. Decade is a tale of young lives being lived to the full and friendships put to the test."
THE sense of deja vu in and around Shepherd's Bush is in some ways quite unnerving. The 'Casual' buzz has returned. The political and economic climate is similar to that at the start of the movement and one of the main players of that golden time, Stuarts, is once again filled with enough sportswear delights to fill the heart of any casual aficionado or fan. For me the whole thing started around at QPR in 1982, with the following season seeing the lid literally come off the movement in the area. Fable has it that coach loads of away fans would turn up to Stuarts, along with Man o' War across the other side of the Uxbridge Road, to buy the latest looks. The area has been somewhat overlooked in the history books, but anyone in the known remembers the importance of the club and area to the fashion in its heyday. But now it is definitely back. And after a slow underground trickle two years ago, 'Casual' of sorts has made a welcome return. Since the beginning of the season countless groups of away fans have been seen walking through the doors of the shop to pick up some new threads. Barnsley fans caught my eye on the opening day of the season sporting Fila tops en-masse. And the same can be said when we visited Aston Villa earlier this season for a league cup match, with a good sized crew of Rangers fans cutting a retro-laden dash across Aston Park. The lack of time given to the importance of W12 to the original movement may be slightly galling when thumbing through Phil Thornton's Casual book and such like, but it did allow for the club to create its own niche looks, in a similar way to the Scallies with their tweed jackets and so on. The eyes never quite lose their eagle-edge when it comes to spotting football styles, trends and fashions. Admittedly, the initial new movement is sported by the 35-45 year old age bracket, but aspects are filtering down to the younger fans. Out seem to be going the high street footwear and Hackett, Stone Island and Burberry labels, in exchange for Fila, Tacchini and Lacoste and of course the dusting down of classic trainers (Forest Hills, Borg Elites and so on) with the hunt and challenge to be one step ahead alive and well. It is obvious each look has been hunted down by the wearer, worked on and thought out, either while chasing that classic pair of trainers or faded Lois chords on eBay or originalsfootwear.com and so on, or simply through combinations of memory and just great dress sense. The question of how the fashion avoids being a closed shop of old Casual 'die-hards' who know in-depth detail on the classic Adidas trainers of the day, or exactly when a style of Fila tracksuit top was released and how many were available is one I find interesting. This needs to be avoided if the fashion is to avoid failing to make the proper impact needed for it to flourish and grow, with younger Casual followers catching on and also bringing in newer styles and labels to the look. I have been keeping an eye out for this aspect of things and will monitor it over the coming months of the season. That aside this is an exciting time and I for one am really enjoying it, I feel like something that was always 'ours' has been reclaimed in some way. Whatever it is, Casual of sorts is back.
Now that's a headline. The famous British clothing brand Aquascutum have been revealed as the official suppliers of men's evening wear for the BAFTAs 2009, which will take place on February 8th.
Aquascutum has long been associated with stars of the silver screen. Legends such as Humphrey Bogart, Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Cary Grant have all been spotted in Aqua clothing.
Despite having the connations with identi-kit hooliganism after the chronic abuse of its iconic house check pattern, Aqua is enjoying a bit of a revival of late with their jackets and outerwear. The showerpoof wool fabrics mean that the Casual knows that Aquascutum will always provide first class quality when it comes to fabrication, but can they maintain the highest standards in classic British design?
It would appear that a true return to form is definitely happening at Aquascutum.
In the early 80's golf chic was all the rage with the rebellious souls from the football terraces. It's impact on casual culture was probably not as evident as tennis wear, but strong none the less. The leaders in this area were Lyle & Scott and Pringle. Lyle & Scott has been the casual-friendly brand that has probably had the most over-exposure in the mainstream in recent years (with the exception of Stone Island), but Pringle is still a brand that maintains class and subtlety. It's rumoured on the ground that the pringle diamond jumper could be making a comeback in 2009. I myself have an invested interest, having recently purchased two very nice v-necks in a cashmere/merino mix ;-) We at FootballCasual.com are very keen to see whether a golf chic revival will actually happen this year, or whether its simply the senile murmurings of nostalgic grandads. New players in the golf arena worth investigating are J.Lindeberg and William Hunt. We also have to keep stressing that although there is a huge nod towards retro in the casual revivalist mindset - young guns need to experiment and push things forward. After all, constant invention keeps constant attention.
What major lesson of 2008 have we learned about Casual culture? Well, we've learned in no uncertain terms that 'True' Casualism is dead. What I mean by that, is that the nameless movement that lasted from 1977 - 1987, for which we brand as 'Casual' is in actual fact dead. Kaput. No more. This is a late Parrot. It was something truly unique to a time and place, within circumstances that will never be repeated. True casualism is and will forever be, confined to the history books as a cultural style of a time and place. That's fine by me. Let's the grandads cling on to the golden age, and move aside for the new generation. 2008 gave birth, to a want for a better term, Casual Revival. This is the age of the new casuals. They have a respect for past clothing which helped shape the overall look, but they are young and and want to add their own styles to it. They are aware of the basic principles of clean lines, minimal styling, high quality fabric and a preference towards classic adidas for footwear. They have eBay and the Internet. They are hunting down new brands and fabrics through cyberspace, and not via the route of TransAlpino. They are better informed and they are smarter. So 'True' casual is dead, but what is left behind is 'Casual Revival' - a new version of what once was, repackaged and reporduced for the modern age. With that in mind, Feb 2009 will see a new look FootballCasual.com - catering for the revivalists.
Headline there, taken from the 80's tune 'Turning Japanese' by 'The Vapors', which was supposedly about the faces men make when achieving orgasm. You'll be glad to know this post won't be venturing down that particular path, but more along the lines of what is going on in Japan with regards to adidas. Our Asian friends seem to be getting some kind of preferential treatment from the global monolith that is adidas, when it comes to re-issues of classic trainers. FootballCasual.com were made aware of the fact that the 'Black Bard' was recently released in Japan only, which begs the question "why?". Historically the Japanese were late to the collector culture for adidas trainers, but they have since become obsessed and demand for re-issuing iconic lines is far greater there than within Europe. "But what about us casuals? We're sick of seeing Miss Piggy Stan Smiths and Multi-coloured Superstars - what about re-issuing the classic Munichs or Trimm Trabs?". It would appear that Europe as a whole seems more interested in this buying those types of trainers. Casuals form a tiny minority and in fairness to adidas, they have responded by promising the re-issue of the classic Gold/Sunshine Forest Hills in 2009, as well SL72s, Kegler Supers and Trimm Trabs (albeit in suede and leather as far as we can gather). The true beauty of what is happening in Japan is the fact many Yahoo Sellers (eBay Japan is now defunct) seem to have access to an abundance of classic originals. Since trawling numerous sites without a clue on how to read what is written, over the last few months I have personally seen Hamburgs, Wiens, Amsterdams and Berlins for sale - all originals - all in great condition. The catch. Nobody wants to ship outside of the Far East. We have yet to find a way to successfully get around this major hurdle, but happily invite others to give us tips and how we can turn Japanese and get our hands on some adidas classics.
....for the lads. Today we launch an appeal to all our casual friends to send in their pics in their favourite gear. We plan to launch some proper posters soon and need some really good images to make them stand out. Don't bother doing any nifty paintbrush eye blocks - we will ensure that every one's identity is protected (not because were doing anything illegal but because we respect your privacy). If posing on a poster for other lads to pin up on their walls is a little too much on the effeminate side for you, then don't worry - we understand. However, if you want to be involved in this project then email your best pics to info@footballcasual.com and specify your forum username so we make sure you get creditied on the posters, if you want. Design suggestions can be put on the forum.
The pride of every casual during the late 70's and early 80's were the Lois needle or jumbo cords - usually ranging in all sorts of colours and often modified by the owner to incorporate slits at the bottom of each leg to show off the trainers. FootballCasual.com have it on good authority that they are set for a comeback this winter. Our friends over at www.80sCasualClassics.co.uk have given us exclusive news that after searching the world of retail high and low that they have managed to get themselves some limited stock of Lois Jumbo Cords which are due to hit their warehouse in Sept/Oct. We anticipate that retro lovers of the 80s will love to get their hands on these much-sought after strides - so make sure you contact the guys over www.80sCasualClassics.co.uk and get your name down on the list!
Sorry I haven't been around for bit - stuff to do and that. I will be posting more regular stuff soon. Just a quick post to promote a new blog launched by one of our forum regulars 'thedorf' who I rate as a good lad. If you love your gear and casual fashion then I suggest you pop along and give the lad a wave. He's currently on a Uniqlo buzz and he supports Everton. Dont hold his taste against him - Uniqlo actually are not too bad for some lines. As for Everton, well no-one's perfect.
If you think your blog is good enough to get out in the casual community then drop me a line at info@footballcasual.com and if I deem you worthy enough then I might just give you a plug.
TheDorf's Blog http://thislife-thedorf.blogspot.com
OTS have asked me to see if you casual types wouldn't mind filling out a survey for them? They want to know more about their core customer base - and is of course a blatant marketing plug.
However, they offered a sweetner of a year's free supply of OTS clobber for the lucky winner pulled out of a hat. Not quite sure what a year's supply means, but sounds tempting none the less.
Anyway, here's the bumph if you're interested....
We're all ears here at OTS HQ! Well, we are this week 'cos we've just compiled a succulent little survey for you to get your teeth into for us.
As all good surveys do, it concerns itself with your facts, opinions and likes and dislikes. . .I know some companies come out with a load of twaddle about caring about what their customers think and want, but we genuinely do, so now is your time to speak up.
Seeing as we value your opinion so much on the 29th February, we'll be lobbing all your names in the hat and one lucky randomly chosen winner will get a year's supply of FREE ONETrueSaxon clothing!
The survey should take you no more than 10 minutes, so it's worth you while. If you don't have time to do it or can't be bothered then feel free to forward this mail onto someone else.
The aim of the survey is to improve ONETrueSaxon and Good North as much as possible so it's worth you making your voice heard.
CLIP 1 Its important that people understand that Casuals are not Chavs. Casuals may have had a fashion influence on the original Chav culture but that's where it ends. Chavs are usually made up of kids who think they are 'hard' prancing about in McKenzie track tops and fake Burberry caps, terrorising OAPs and treat ASBOs as a qualification. This 'in-depth' BBC report examines the 'hoodie' culture. Highlights include the so-called 'drugs' on display (looks like a bag of Oregano to me), the kid sticking a cleaver in his elasticated tracky bottoms (he will regret that one day) and the poor woman trying to reason with them and their intellectual responses. "Its almost certain much of this Bravado is behaviour for the camera" - no shit Sherlock!
CLIP 2 We give Danny Dyer a hard time on here, some say justified, some say unfair. Either way it appears Mr Dyer can have a genuine sense of humour at times. Highlight is the random photographer who gets in the way of the shot - "Is that your nonce face?". Look out for the pink Lacoste polo - with collar up
CLIP 3 Lastly, one of the greatest films of all time is arguably Charlton Heston in the epic that was 'Spartacus'. The most dramatic scene is when all of the slaves one by one, stand up to declare 'I'm Spartacus' in a touching sign of unity. This however, is nothing like that.
CLIP 1 Sometimes when I'm all home alone, I like to kick back and unwind, maybe open a beer - watch a film. Some men like to wear their wife's knickers and prance about in front of the mirror whilst she's at Sainsburys. In this lads case, he has an altogether more novel way of relaxing...
CLIP 2 Jeremy Kyle. What an absolute wank stain of a human being in my opinion. This man has made a career out patrionising the working classes and passing judgment like he's some fucking Messiah. Apparently the married presenter allegedly likes to perv and proposition young assistants. Anyway I picked this clip as the poor lad is turning to FV because he's probably realised he has the gayest dad in Birmingham and doesn't know how to deal with it. To top it all off he's being preached to by a bloke who is wearing more make up than his mum.
CLIP 3 Just a little reminder to those who hold any aspirations of keeping hold of (or even considering to buy) any Burberry gear with the nova check.
Being a Football Casual is a costly business. Buying the best gear soon adds up. On the whole the top brands are not cheap. Sure, now and then you might stumble upon a pair of cords from Marks and Spencers for less than £20, or a nice cashmere jumper from GAP where the cut looks great and the finish top notch, but generally we are fairly brand driven people. It's the way we roll as the kids of today would say.
This brand-obsession has led to many scouring sites such as eBay to find an elusive bargain. That in itself is not an issue, why pay top whack if you cn get the item you want for a bargain price? However, all is not paved with gold in the world of eBay - believe it or not, some sellers do not sell genuine items. I hear gasps of shock and horror. Sorry to break it to you fellahs.
This thing of ours was built on wearing 100% genuine gear, it may not have been paid for legitimately, but none of it was snide. You would have got a slap from those in the know for wearing Jekyll gear. There is no place for snide gear. Its as simple as that - no ifs, no buts - DONT BUY ANYTHING SNIDE!
"So what shall I use eBay for?" I hear you cry. Well personally I tend to only use eBay for the following:
Elusive Trainers Its very rare to find someone willing to go to such degrees as faking a pair of Grand Slams of Borg Elites - its too much effort. This to me is a strength area of eBay.
Vintage Items eBay is a great way to track down those vintage items like a Pringle V Neck Jumper or Peter Storm cagoule - if you know what you're looking for you can quite easily unearth a vintage bargain.
International eBay Some people have been enjoying a rich vein of form with the US version of eBay recently. This is because its easier to find vinatge Izod Lacoste gear there and also you get more bang for your pound versus the dollar when it comes to buying ranges like Faconnable - again its all about knowing what you're looking for.
That's it really. Occassionally a bit of genuine CP or SI will pop up - but unless you know what you're looking for I'd advise against buying it. Real shops are still the way to go for things like Burberry, Aquascutum, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren and Hackett. These are the most faked brands you're likely to find on eBay and it just ain't worth the risk.
Like Zammo from the now defunct Grange Hill...."Just Say No!"
C.P Company have revealed their Summer collection for 2008.
Highlights for me include the Waxed Pearl Grey Field Jacket from the Outerwear range, but GBP 695 will be a stumbling block for many, considering the popularity of Barbour Waxed Jackets at the moment.
Another item which caught our eye was a very attractive Long-Sleeved Cotton V-Neck Jersey priced at GBP 145. Subtle design and screams the highest quality of finish and fabric.
C.P and Stone Island have both taken a hammering recently with the scurge of eBay fakes, but it would appear the Italian label has delivered a confident collection overall - and aren't ready to roll over just yet.
Those blokes over at ONETrueSaxon have announced that their SS08 Catalogue 'International Essentials' is now available to order for free from their site www.goodnorth.com or by sending an email with your postal address to orders@goodnorth.com.
They claim the catalogue doubles up as great city guide to places like Stockholm, Tokyo, Madrid, New York, Copenhagen, Moscow and er....Nottingham.
If OTS is bang up your street and you plan to do a bit of globetrotting any time soon - then get in on it.
'Casual died with Heysel' according to one middle-aged bloke I spoke to recently. Perhaps. Maybe the definition has changed and continues to change to this day. Purists who hark back to the glory days of the late 70s right through to the mid 80s enjoyed something that existed then, that is unlikely to be ever experienced again.
The word 'Casual' is one that many of the boys from that era never liked, but is the term that stuck the most. So what does it mean? Well, its fair to say what it meant then is certainly not what it means now. The theme of Phil Thornton's book 'Casuals' put it into three simple words; 'Football', 'Fighting' & 'Fashion'. It was the combination of all three which drove it forward with unbelievable momentum, and with big numbers.
Certainly the ban on English clubs from European competitions for a few years after Heysel put the bosh on many lads activities, but not completely. By the late 80s and early 90s, even the loved up and mad for it rave and Madchester scenes couldn't fully kill it off. The BritPop explosion and Euro 96 saw a bit of a mini re-birth in terms of the casual violence element, but ever since then the fighting element has been dying a slow death in the UK. This is a mixture of improved police surveillance and intelligence, heavy sentencing, CCTV and all-seater stadia.
So 'Casual' now seems to be less about the violence, and more about the football and fashion. The clothes do mark the man, so our advice is don't wear the clothes if you can't walk the walk if confronted. I'm sure a couple of plucky scarfers who wore Stone Island in Russia for the England game recently might think twice in the future. Places like Russia and Poland are currently enjoying their golden age.
It seems 'Casual' in the UK these days, is about dressing. That's fine with us, I'm more of a dresser myself. I wouldn't go looking for trouble at all, but I also don't run if confronted. As I said, the clothes mark the man.
FootballCasual.com is all about the clothes and general culture. We act as a resource for those looking to find out more about the brands they choose to wear, and to help those who want to get into the fashion. We believe that we are doing our little bit to help keep it alive. 'Casual' maybe on a life support machine, but its still got a pulse.
Do you reckon sites like this and others helping or hurting 'Casual' culture? Join our forum and let us know what you think.
So 2007 is almost at a close, and our first year in existence has been an eventful one. We'd like to thank everyone who has linked to us over the last year and said a kind word or two about us. The site still has a long, long way to go before it's at a stage we'll feel 100% comfortable with. What we tried to create is a bit of a community sort of feel to it and get people involved. We want you all to come back next year and help us get even better, tell us what you like and what you don't. We promise we will listen - honest. So to finish the year, here are our winners and losers from 2007:
WINNERS * diadora borg elites re-issues * fjall raven jackets - especially the nordli & greenland * barbour accessories - scarves and hats * blue harbour - m&s probably wonder why there was a spike in sales of cords
LOSERS * stone island fakes - some believe the brand is beyond repair * lyle & scott - once a casual favourite of the 80s is now a parrothead paradise * 'goggle location' jackets - cheap chavvy miglia rip offs (see pic) * dougie brimson
So that's it from us this year, have a great Crimbo.
Recently adidas announced the 'themes' for their Spring/Summer 08 collections and we've taken the trouble to highlight some of the news that they have announced, and speculate on the rumours going round on the footwear front.
FACTS Grun Is The Colour The adidas Grun range is aiming to go 'green' by introducing elements such as 'Made From', 'Recycled' and 'Reground' - based on fabrics and plastics which have been ecologically produced. In terms of footwear it looks as if the ZX500 and Forum Basketball Shoe will both get a recycled makeover. We wait with baited breath.
Anyone For Tennis? It also appears that many of the adidas classic tennis shoes such as Stan Smith, Ilie Nastase, Rod Laver and possibly Wilhelm Bungert are all due to get a facelift for the 'Tournament Edition'. We have no previews yet, but adidas claim "This court collection reintroduces one-to-one replicas, and offers reinterpreted styles and heritage-inspired models to create a portfolio of timeless, yet contemporary products".
Original Games There will also be some unique releases to celebrate the Beijing Olympics which will include apparel and footwear. One item we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek on were the Olympic Munchen - and to say that we were less than impressed is an understatement. The 2008 collection will also include Tobacco Vintage Lux, Training 72, Olympia, Advantage, Gazelle Vintage Lux, Marathon Vintage, Forest Hills Vintage, Grand Slam Vintage, SL76 Olympics and the ZX500 Olympics.
RUMOUR Trimming The Trab Once Again? Unconfirmed rumours circulating around the web at the moment is that adidas might be releasing some limited edition Trimm Trabs in 2008. On the back of the success of the limited edition Liverpool FC versions earlier this year, it's believed there will be more out in a similar ilk. Another rumour doing the rounds is that there will be completely new colourway Trimm Trabs to be released but ONLY in Germany.
When we find out more on any of the above - we'll let you know.
Being an owner of a couple ONETrueSaxon items such as last year's A/W field jacket and a pair of top notch jeans, I can't help but feel I may have missed this brand in its truest glory. Almost a completely exclusive casual label in its prime, OTS is now becoming as mainstream as Dairylea triangles (they too once had a cult following). Now part of the retail family that manages Lacoste in the UK and owners of brands such Ted Baker, Berghaus and Boxfresh - it appears OTS is fairly obviously now gunning for the mainstream. Some have argued that this has led to the quality control to drop, but I expect this can only really be judged in the fullness of time.
So what next? Ian Paley, the former Paul Smith employee and founder of ONETrueSaxon has taken a number of his creative team and gone away to busily work on his new clothing project - Garbstore. Opening a shop and basing themselves in the trendy quarter of London's Notting Hill - it appears Paley's new project is heading in a slightly different direction. Garbstore's philosophy seems to be based on the term 'Unfamiliar Vintage', taking stylings of old and giving them very much a modern twist. The classic casual approach to clean lines and minimal stylings were very much evident at OTS, but it appears that Paley is looking to push the envelope in both design and approach and away from what is traditionally 'casual'. First glance at the brand's product range gives me an uneasy sense of excessive stylings and colours. It will take a while for the brand's reputation to build, but Paley has earned respect from casuals for his previous work, but whether he can successfully retain that same audience which this new brand remains to be seen. Ultimately, it all boils down to personal taste.
FootballCasual.com wishes Ian all the success with his new venture. CLICK HERE to check out Garbstore for yourself.
Dougie Brimson. I'm now getting sick and tired of hearing this fellah's name. He emailed me on MySpace (as I'm sure he did hundreds of others) asking if our readers can help supply pictures of lads in action for one of his new books. Then I see he is out in the states trying to scaremonger the Yanks about how David Beckham's move to L.A Galaxy will somehow spark the hooligan revolution state side. Just so happens he has a book to promote. Is it me or is anyone else beginning to find him irritating? As well as being the author of many hooligan related books, he also wrote the screenplay for 'Its A Casual Life' (2003) which for me was an excellent short film. Then he went on to write the script for 'Green Street' (2005) where I must say the dialogue and plot was so wide of the mark that a blind sniper could have got closer. I admit to not knowing much about his past, nor do I care, but what annoys me about him now is that he clearly is out there trying to make money through scaring people. Sometimes looking at things in context will give you a sharper sense of the truth - but then again that probably wouldn't sell as many books.
The internet is a funny old place, especially in the small world of casual websites. The forums in particular are breeding grounds for the elitists, who actually have very little to be elitist about. Wade through the pages of 'is this casual?' and 'who has the most obscure adidas?' and occassionally, you can unearth something of genuine interest. I tend steer clear of the other forums nowadays, as the so called elitists and their unfounded snobbery bores me to tears.
