Batten Sportwear Travel Shell...By Saul Wilks

Okay, before I start I just need to say one thing; I take back all the reservations that I initially had about Batten Sportswear. The hype surrounding the Brooklyn based label reached fever pitch when numerous photos of colourful parkas and vivid summery shorts started appearing all over the internet. On first glances I couldn't muster up the same enthusiasm that was cooking from New York to Newcastle, because after all, hooded shell parkas are nothing new.

It's no secret that Shinya Hasegawa was schooled by the legendary Daiki Suzuki, serving under him at Woolrich Woolen Mills for a four year tenor that's easily identifiable when looking at Batten Sportwear. It's fair to say that some of those fine functional details that can be found on iconic WWM garments such as the Trail Parka are evident in my latest purchase - the Travel Shell Parka in Brick Orange.

The day I let the burnt orange 6876 Capendula go for a song on eBay often replays in my dreams after a late night cheese binge and ever since I've searched for a worthy replacement in the same colour and it would seem that I've finally found it with this fine specimen of jacket.

At this point I'd like to state that this is by far the sexiest, most good looking and fine fitting parka that I've ever owned or bought. I'm not even joking, it's a thing of proper beauty. I know I often get excited with new purchases and afford lavish praise on each new buy but I'm as keen as mustard for this, it's an amazing bit of kit made even better by the fact that I snared it with a ton slashed off the price tag.

All in all I'm ecstatic with this, just in case you hadn't noticed like, so in true Sinister Delicious style I braved the elements on this miserable Jubilee Sunday to go and get some snaps out in the field and the tropical Welsh climate was the perfect compliment to test the more technical specifications of this killer piece of outwear.

You know the score from here on in, cue plenty of posing and action shots.

Business as usual then...

An Evening at Exmouth Market - A Photographic Diary...By Saul Wilks

It's always a massive downer coming back to rainy Wales after an extended stint in my second home of London. If we're honest, there's no where that touches the place in this country and it's pretty special at this time of year.

During my time spent in the capital this past week I've mainly been ducking in and out of tapas bars, teaching my girl the finer arts of foosball and supping Estrella from the bottle, it's been pretty top.

As well as living the life of a true man of leisure I took in some retail therapy by completely hammering the Goodley PR sample sale where some of my favourite labels were there for the complete and utter taking (more on that during the coming week including a couple of 'latest pick up posts')

With the art of buying greatly reduced clothing aside, one fine London evening we strolled on up to Exmouth market for some quality Mediterranean cuisine, some fine white wine and some good honest fun -  destroying my missus in foosball probably being the highlight, gentleman that I am.

I love Exmouth market, it's one of those hidden little gems that has a really laid back cosmopolitan vibe about it, you know the crack - everyone drinking outside, lots of sophisticated chaps and chapettes sitting around discussing the trivia's of life and love and it's the perfect place to sit back and watch the big bright world go by.

Michael Palin patter aside, we made it up there just as dusk was hinting at making its appearance and stayed until darkness crept in and the street lights illuminated the fine characteristics that Exmouth market has in abundance... Believe it or not but I had my camera with me and I happily snapped away at some of the scenes that captured my imagination; The charming traditional tiling of the pubs, the shade of green on the chilled wine bottles and a couple of those lovely clothing detail shots that I love to chuck into the mixer.

All in all, it was a fine way to spend a summer's evening in one of my favourite places in London.

Tiny Trabs.... by Shaun Dangerfield

Why do kids trainers always look better than adult models ? 

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a size 10 and my footwear look's clumpier but kids trabs just look better.

It's been a long road since I got over my trainer fetish and sold all my trainers, I was only chatting last night on the phone with Sinister Saul about this but when I'd had enough and sold all my pairs for a ridiculous amount of money on the bay of doom I never looked back apart from some plain canvas plimsole's.

I found myself yesterday drawn to a few different pairs so maybe I'll try another pair soon, who know's but picking the kids up some treats certainly repaired some of my long lost trainer fetish and I knew I was on the road to recovery as I nearly pulled the trigger the other month on the multi coloured New Balance x Milk Crate efforts that we're extremely hyped up (which put me off in the end). 

Red Superga size 1 

I had a funny old conversation with the girl in the shop over Superga.

As she was moaning about how popular they've got as she started wearing these over a year ago when they first came out ? 

Made me feel old anyway and I didn't want to highlight the time I imported my first pair from Italy for £15 or the fact that they've got a hundred years of history behind them.

After that for the little blonde nipper I chose some purple Vans.

Just need to swap the black laces for white and it should see her right with this summer that's finally just hit us, expect some standard footwear photo's when I get back next weekend along with some other pieces I've picked up this week but I'm too lazy to host today.

 

A Lazy Summer's Afternoon - A Photographic Diary...By Saul Wilks

There's nothing like kicking back with a box of Corona, a couple of fresh limes and taking in some rays (any excuse to batter the kjobenhavn's)

That's pretty much exactly what's been taking up my time and it's been too nice - I could easily get used to such an easy go lifestyle.

When weather like this graces us, I'm lucky in the fact that my apartment happens to be right by the waterfront, although taking into consideration this is Newport South Wales as opposed to Newport California, that probably doesn't count for much. Still, we all like maxing in the sunshine and that'exactly what was on the agenda this afternoon with a pal of mine.

You might ask why I bothered taking my camera out for such a non de-script occasion, but then it's days like today that are just as important to me as the expeditions to history steeped ruins, vineyards in France and the streets of Amsterdam.

Anyhow, I won't yammer on too much with this one, partly because I'm so lax I can't be twatted and pretty much because the snaps say it all really.

Enjoy the weekend, bon voyage !

Tuff E'nuff.... by Shaun Dangerfield

A free disco funk edit download for you for the weekend seeing as I'll be gone on my travels for a week from Sunday I thought I'd give you something to celebrate. 

 Celebrate me not posting for a week, celebrate the edit, celebrate with your pant's round your ankles sleazing it right up. 

Whatever happens.... Celebrate. 

 Celebrate good times come on.

 

1873 White.... by Shaun Dangerfield

Levis 1873 LVC first 501xx white selvedge denim.
Pre dating the Levis red tab I've been after some new denim with suspender/braces buttons.
I fancied the 1922 as they are a more tapered fit but finding these for a good price was hard to turn down.
Coming in their own cotton tote bag with it's history printed on.
Suspender buttons
Cinch back
1 back right hand pocket
Exposed rivets
Real leather white duck and denim patch
1873 rivets and buttons
White selvedge pre dating Levis Red selvedge
34 waist 37 leg

I'm looking forward to wearing these in and seeing how they fade, coming in a not so deep indigo I'm expecting these to fade quickly and wear nicely in an already soft(ish) 9oz denim.

Sun-drenched sounds... By Saul Wilks

Days like today are glorious... I've been having some pure relaxation time while enjoying the great weather that has finally arrived after weeks of rain.

I was digging through my records earlier, enjoying the music and sunshine when I came across this great album by Aurra which is pressed on the Rams Horn label - a boogie funk favourite. It's loaded with some proper quality guitar ridden grooves and tracks that make me smile and cut rug in equal measures.

I can't remember buying it or where I picked it up from but it's perfect fodder for blasting out of your balcony window / patio doors (delete as appropriate), so being the kind of fella I am I've added a couple of my favourite tracks off the album for your listening pleasure...If you're a fan of proper funk bass lines, sweet harmonised vocals and generally ace sounding music then you'll no doubt enjoy this post.

Enjoy the sun, enjoy the sounds and afford yourself a little dance... Boss

Saturday Escapism - A Photographic Diary...By Saul Wilks

 

I woke this morning to check the weather out of my window - something I tend to do as a standard procedure when I've got the day off and I'll probably buck the trend here, but I was pretty made up to see that it was over cast, wet and blustery as opposed to hot and sunny.

No, I'm not on some kind of self loathing miserable trip, wanting to play out my life to a soundtrack of Ian Curtis penned Joy Division tracks - I was happy because I planned to visit a local wildlife reserve with my trusty and well battered Canon EOS and the climate looked pretty spectacular for such activities.

Living half my life in a typically grey and dreary working class City where even the brightest of colours can look like the darkest of shades, I wanted to take advantage of an area of true beauty that not a lot of people know about, The Wetland Reserves in Newport.

This area is one of true breath taking natural beauty and the views and colours around there are certainly something special. I've always been one for the city, the hustle and bustle and the urbane landscapes of this world, but there's also a side in me that loves to escape and let my thoughts and mind relax and run wild in equal measures and this was the perfect place to do just that.

With countless opportunities for photo taking and inspirational scenes everywhere I looked, It was a pleasure to get down with nature and take in some of the most breath taking sites that I've seen for some time. The overcast and sulking sky made for an atmospheric energy and certainly made the perfect contrast to the mixed colours of the landscape - something I wanted to catch through the lens.

Of course, aside from the natural delights that were there to be enjoyed and savoured, the setting just so happened to be the perfect back drop for some rather tasty new outwear as well, but then that's the way I like to do things here... as you're probably aware by now.

Enjoy

Donna Summer Rest In Peace..... by Shaun Dangerfield

Aged just 63 today see's the sad passing away of the Queen of Disco Donna Summer.
Her sexually charged sensual voice and erotic lyrics embedded deep into the soul of her music, from erotica to up tempo her music has been putting smiles on faces for 40 plus years.

Her records have been heavily edited and remixed and you regularly see her music cropping up in various online outlets as someone else uses their hands trying to rework her already perfect hits, no doubt there will be a back catalogue's worth of edits hitting the world wide web this next month.

Donna Summers records have been sampled by literally hundreds of various artists, some big some not so big but you can include in that tally the likes of Madonna, Diana Ross, Mylo, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Moby and many more, remixing work comes in the forms of Masters at Work and other big hitters including the french touch classic by Cassius being a personal favourite of mine "If it hurts just a little" that ripped and looped that perfect sample to create "Feelings For You" which I loved and played to death but equally so I hammered the same version remixed by Les Rythmes Digitales an electronic funk french house lick.
I could sit here for a while and go through so many variations and originals that have rocked my socks off but I've decided to let her music do the talking and list up some of her great creation's and also some of those that we're made because of her, the first edit I have been hammering for a while and it's taken the roof off at the Horse & Groom the other month and did an equally good job at Scala in Kings Cross in February, Enjoy Boppers.....