....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.
need some really good images to make them stand out.
