Manifesto

Style Salvage has evolved from two friends talking/obsessing/analysing about the way guys dress around us, driven by one of our favourite past times: people watching. However, our addiction has also been satisfied by images captured within all forms of popular culture. We often accept how modern figures within pop culture influence us but we want to show how icons of the past can also play a role in how we dress. One of the key themes of this blog will be to take certain ideas from what we see and evolve them into something more personal. Having spent years practising the above in private we now have the motivation to share our insights, ramblings, grievances and celebrations with you. Why now? Well, we now live apart, one in Manchester whilst the other is in London...so to avoid huge phone bills we needed to find a cheaper avenue to air our musings and Style Salvage is it. Consequently rather than just two people going mad hopefully a few more of you can join in.

We have been influenced by many of the fashion blogs out there but primarily by thesartorialist, who is everything we want to be when we grow up (yes we know we're probably meant to be grown ups by now). However, as a whole within this arena men's style is neglected but it will be neglected no more.

Overall there will be two (at times very different) opinions on the style we see around us, yet we are always united in a shared good taste. With regards to men's style we believe that there are a few simple facets to remember and sadly a huge proportion of men neglect them or just don't know about them so this blog aims to explore and discuss them.

This isn’t about laying into peoples’ clothing choices or focussing on the negative. This is about looking at what we admire and questioning that admiration: what is it that I like and how can I make that work for me?

Surely no outfit is so bad that nothing can be salvaged from it?
• The colour
• The fit
• The material
• The way the pieces go together
• An individual item of clothing
• The accessories
• The attitude
• The intention

At its very worst, the complete unsalvageable will be a lesson in how not to dress yourself.
Look at people around you: people you know, celebrities (alive and dead), look at photos of yourself. Even with the most dreadful outfits, you may be able to find something worth salvaging. It may look awful on them, but if you changed the shirt, pulled up the trousers - could it look good on you?

Above all, we believe that it's important not to carbon copy someone else’s style. Always make it your own. Don’t be ‘that guy who dresses like so and so’; make it something different. Make people guess your influences. Keep it fresh and wear it well; look good but even more importantly look like you.

Something else we hope to cover is vintage shopping for men. Given our love of past fashions and, of course, the particular style icons we will be talking about, men’s vintage is of special interest to us. This interest has been increased by our inability to (so far) find any decent, extensively stocked, well priced vintage shops for men. Certainly that is not to say we haven’t found some, but by and large the men’s sections are vastly inferior to the women’s, frequently just a rack of ill fitting suits in a dark corner. Hopefully over time we will be able to compile a directory of the best vintage shops. THIS WILL NOT BE LONDON-CENTRIC (largely because half of us live in Manchester). Any suggestions of your favourite menswear shops in your area will be welcomed and we will make an effort to check them out on our travels.

We do not claim to be experts on… well, anything, including the styles and people we write about. This is largely our way of documenting any information we find and sharing our tastes and opinions with you. Hopefully one day it will be extensive and in the meantime we hope that it is interesting and useful. Feel free to email us with any comments and suggestions, or let us know if you think that we’ve made any mistakes. Be polite though or we’ll tell your mum.

Be Nice and Naughty!

You'll know it's summer because young woman's thoughts turn to sandals, sundresses and instant bronzer. Yes, even as the rest of their wardrobes are lightening up, celebs are maintaining their crimson smiles. Makes sense. Nothing else packs quite the same glamorous punch. So, the next time you need to make a stylish impact, remember this: There's only one thing that could turn you into both nice and naughty....

Check out these lip gloss shades from Maxfactor, for every lip gloss in the new MAXalicious Naughty or Nice collection tells at least one story.

Monday Maybes

Hi peeps.

Here are all the things I'd maybe buy...

TOPS ($86, Yvette Mandell, Boutiquetoyou.com)
Very berry-licious!


($19.50, Fresh Karma, Ronherman.com)
More fruity fun! And the price! Oh the price! Check out what else is on super sale at Ron Herman. Sick, I tell you! SICK!


DRESSES
($132, Splendid, Oliveandbettes.com)
This looks like the height of comfort. And I like that, comfort.


($49, Volcom, Tillys.com)
Plain ol' plaid adorbsness!!


($44, Puella, Ronherman.com)
Light n' lovely!


NOT-MORTS SHORTS
($25, Asos.com)
In lotsa other cute, bold colors too!


($17, Asos.com)
Fun fer the beach or just cold chillaxin'.


ACCESSORIES
($65, Boutiquetoyou.com)
Cute, but maybe not as much as some of the white aviators I've been seeing/ wanting.


($40, Barrysfarm.com)
Two tools in love! What could be cuter??


($58, Urban Outfitters)
Why do they insist upon sucking me back in?


MORTS
($300, Diesel, Asos.com)
Just as it never should have come to pass that Toni Braxton named her children Denim and Diezel, this get-up also never should have come to fruition. Has anyone else been feeling of late that Diesel should just bow out gracefully? Perhaps there was never a better example of why.

Baby Bumps or Bloated?

For some dose of entertainment, I visited E! Online and was intrigued with this celebrity gossip. The article goes like this:

"Suspected baby bumps are being spotted all over Hollywood. So, we thought we'd offer you a look at a couple of these rumored pregnancies versus the real deal and then ask: Is the maternity mania legit? You decide."

Katie Holmes-Cruise

Isla Fischer

Nicole Richie

Naomi Watts

Christina Aguilera

John Travolta - Hairspray movie

*the last photo made me laugh... :D

Wearable Fashion Trends 13: Taka Wear

Taka Wear is created by Turkish designer Tania Eskinazi. The collection is an eclectic mix of Turkish and Ottoman heritage, European fashion sense and American spirit, the result being bohemian and hippyesque. All the decorative embroidery on Taka Wear is hand made in Turkey by village women, which adds to the originality of the garments.

The exclusive label is fast becoming a fashion favorite of celebrities including Mischa Barton, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Runway: If you love your celebrity fashion you'll definitely be picking up these pieces from Taka Wear. A vintage yet contemporary look!

Reality: The bright yellow hue is bang on trend for summer '07. Look for beautiful kaftan shape maxi dress with flared sleeves that adds an easy going appeal. You can also wear it over a plain white top. Capri leggings can also be worn under your favorite taka.

Source

Chie Mahara Shoes, Et Al

I am seeing nothin' but Chie Mahara shoes lately. And I'm lovin' about 90% of 'em.
They look so well made, and they're allegedly really comfz.

Here goes:

($154, Chie Mahara, Saks)
One of the best pairs of neutral heels I've seen in a montha Sundays, as "we" say in the "South." I might really truly rethink my no ankle straps personal policy.


($310, Chie Mahara, Sodafine.com)
Love the 1940s-esqueness!


($289, Chie Mahara, Pedshoes.com)
Probably my fave of all. Like walking on sunshine! Weeee!


($162, Chie Mahara, Jildorshoes.com)
Swooooony McSwoooonerson!


($310, Chie Mahara, Pedshoes.com)
Chie Mahara, are you trying to seduce me?


($297, Chie Mahara, SaviniShoes.com)
I'm yours! I love the selection here.


($297, Chie Mahara, Savinishoes.com)
Oh, behave!


($314, Chie Mahara, Haloshoes.com)
Unbelieveabley gorge.


($325, Chie Mahara, 4SpoiledMe.com)
A tiny bit whack, but also fairly rad.


($219, twenty two shoes)
I love twenty two shoes for similar reasons. Hand-made like woah.


($209, twenty two shoes)
The brown is beautiful too.

($66, F-Troupe, OakNYC.com)
Totes sophisticado!


($212, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Jildorshoes.com)
OMG. WANT WANT WANT WANT. And look at the pic of MJ -- nice, normal MJ! Not scary manorexic MJ!


($45, Nicole, OakNYC.com)
Quite cute, and not unreasonably high for a wedge. And probably the most affordable item I've ever seen at Oak.


($99, Tracy Reese, Anthropologie)
You only live once. Why not own a pair of ocelet pumps?... I guess...


($48, Urban Outfitters)
Damn you, UO! Keep reeling me back in!


And now, here it is, folks, your moment of morts:
(Approx $111 USD, Irregular Choice (who else?), Shoe-shop.com)
Um, exactly HOW did this get past the brainstorming phase and into development?

In Praise of Bubble Hems (and lotsa other stuff)

Why do I love bubble hems so much? I don't rightly know. They just seem so...fun. And flirty. If you don't like bubble hems, it's like not liking ice cream. Am I right? Here are some delightful bubbly items I've found recently, plus some extra stuff, of course:



Rome & Juliet Couture black jeresey belted mini bubble dress, $66.30. The puffy sleeves are always so flattering.



Romeo & Juliet Couture greay jersey halter bubble dress, $66.30. Granted this is essentially a jersey sack. And yet so cute!



Gap bubble skirt, $19.99. Bubblicious! (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)



Victoria's Secret bubble shorts. They look comfy.



A.B.S. navy jersey bubble-sleeve dress, $94.35. Bubble SLEEVES! genius!



Are you the type of person to pay $150 for a sweatshirt?



How about this Diesel bubble-sleeve hoodie? Yeah, $150.



This is majorly cute:
Corey Lynn Calter bubble dress, $146.



Forever 21 knit bubble dress, $24.80.



Forever 21 tropical woven dress, $19.80. I can't tell if that's a bubble hem or just poor photo cropping, but the description does boast my favorite words: light padding at the bust!

And now for some things that DON'T have bubble stuff:



Whim sateen flutter-sleeve dress, $48.45.



Sweet Pea navy mesh color-block dress, $71.40.





Fashionista "Athena" dress, $96.90. Love the bright kelly green and especially the rolled straps.



Forever 21 tiered sundress, $27.80. A bit Little House, but cute. Right?



Forever 21 plaid halter dress, $24.80. Very cute.



New York & Company city-style sundress, $39.20.





This is sort of interesting, but I wonder if it rides up: Gap shine foldover bikini, $14.99 for the bottoms, $24.99 for the top. This is pretty much my favorite color.

And now for some SHOES!



Why am I drawn to these? Nine West Jumpon ballet flats, $29.99. That elastic looks like it might be uncomf. Anybody have these and care to comment?



UPDATE: A commenter says the elastic is totally comf, and I bought these, in tan and black, on the way home. (The blue was too royal and too bold; I thought it was more of a light blue.)



AND I may even go back for the pink and orange, on account of the commenter's saying she had those and on account of my years-old Steve Madden hot pink ballet flats being pretty beat down at this point. Thanks, anon!

Payless fake patent mary jane heels, $19.99. I love these for some reason! But what to wear with 'em?



Tribeca "Think Fast" ballet flat, $35.79, unless you're a size 8, in which case you pay the full $58. What the???



These are a slightly nicer flip-flop option: Nine West "Bubs" sandal, $29.99. Not really what I'm looking for, but close.