Insider - Style news with substance

OK, so it’s 1848 and you find yourself in California. What are you going to wear? With the Gold Rush in full swing if you were off to dig up your fortune then you’d need to be suitably attired. Jeans are bound to be at the top of your list but you want to be sure to avoid the dreaded denim tracksuit so you need to embrace the hardwearing, blue collar style of the day. What we’re getting at is that, much like in the fast-paced cut-throat world of panning for gold in the 1840s, workwear has been embraced by the face-paced cut-throat world of fashion and is one of autumn’s hottest trends.

Seen on Bottega Veneta’s catwalk among others, workwear is a trend that can really work for everyone. We’re not by any means suggesting you hi-ho your way off to work with the seven dwarves but by picking up on a few of the essential pieces you can add that working edge to your look with little or no effort, which is good. To start you’re going to need a proper plain white t-shirt. We suggest washing it a few times before wearing it to get the desired level of wear and softness. Creases straight from the packet won’t have the right look. Second on your workwear wishlist should be a warm but unlined wool jacket like this one from Villain. Straight from the railroads of America with its mix of cashmere, angora and wool, this example has that extra element of luxury so key to the trend.

Next up we have a great, solid-looking hat from Diesel. Very reminiscent of 19th century train workers, this is one cap that is definitely from the right side of the tracks. As with the tee, this is one of the items that would benefit from a little bit of rough and tumble drying. Moving on to jewellery, no man’s man (as all those type of guys were) would be seen dead with a little trinket dangling anywhere. Instead a solid leather cuff like this one from All Saints is the order of the day as it not only looks good but provides an element of protection whilst carrying heavy stuff to a fro. More important than that, however, is a sturdy, comfortable but great looking shirt. This example from Wrangler, the kings of that rugged American style, is great with the unusual pocket detailing harking back to just the right era. This is a shirt that will only get better with age – wear is its friend.

Now, what to put your legs in? Well there’s really only one option – the worker fit jean. Made to look like original jeans which were born around the time of the gold rush, these are a world away from your usual skinny denims. Big, multiple patch pockets and cinch-back to the rear, the jeans will stand up to whatever you can throw at them. But should you find them falling down a little, don’t be afraid to go for a chunky belt to keep them up – after all a builder’s bum is not the worker look we’re after. Finally, no look like this would be complete without a solid boot. This pair from Fly is ideal with the large eyelets and thick laces hitting the nail on the head for this trend.

This is the trend that will see you right through winter and well in to next year because all the pieces are so versatile and hardwearing they’ll only get better with age. So treat them mean and keep them clean and your way of rocking the worker trend will continue to work for you until the next Gold Rush.

What do you think of the worker trend? Got a picture of you working the worker? If so, email your photo to insider@asos.com and who knows, we might make you famous. Otherwise, get involved and let us know your thought below...

As we saw a little while ago when we examined Robert Redford’s credentials as a style icon, the mac is always a bit of a winner when it comes to outerwear. Light and easy to care for, it will keep you dry and warm whatever the weather. The classic mac, created way way back in 1824 and made iconic by the likes of Burberry, has a bit of a reputation to uphold as the jacket of the moment. And it’s examples like this longer one that will keep us coming back for more.

Are you a mac or a coat kinda guy? Think Peter Sellers is as much of a legend as we’re making out? And does anyone have a Gadget ‘Copter knocking about we could borrow? Let us know down there...

Today, more than ever before, we’re constantly being told how we should be aware of our carbon footprint, use less energy, turn the heating down, travel less, recycle more and consider where everything we buy comes from and has been produced. But all that is really boring (if important) because what do we get out of it? A pile of newspapers waiting to be collected, a cold house, less telly and fewer holidays. Doesn’t sound like much fun does it?

Well, thankfully the fashion industry has not been slow on the uptake with all the environmental developments as this Dispose t-shirt from French Connection shows. It’s made from 100% organic cotton which not only means you can sleep at night safe in the knowledge that your t-shirt hasn’t further contributed to Earth’s troubles but also that it is super soft on the skin. What’s more, and unlike a lot of the “eco-friendly” fashion out there, it doesn’t look like something a farmer would have stored potatoes in. Add to that a message that packs a punch and you’ve got a t-shirt that ticks all the right boxes.

Where do you stand on the whole organic thing? Do you do your bit for the environment and recycle everything? Or do you leave all your lights and appliances on all day without a care in the world? Join the debate below...

Join us, if you will, on a trip to the West Coast of Ireland. Not renowned for being a hotbed of the fashion world admittedly but over that way you’ll find a little place called Aran. Aran is the birthplace of the famous style of knitting (don’t worry, we’ll get on to the blokey bit in a minute) where the wives of fishermen knit their hard-working, hard-as-nails husbands chunky sweaters that mix different styles of cable knit in one great jumper. This is as classic and humble as fashion gets.

And this putty coloured v-neck from Pringle is a great example of how this traditional technique can be brought up to date by a famous fashion brand. Think of it as the sort of jumper your grandma might have knitted for you minus the ugly colours and with a real design edge. Boasting a laurel wreath style neck section and a criss-cross effect on the body, this sweater will be equally at home on the windy moors as out on the town and looks great, as we’ve done here, with a simple white t-shirt underneath – after all, you don’t want to get all hot under the collar now do you?

Where do you stand on knitwear? Like it chunky or fine? Know any other random fashion origins like the ladies from Aran? Share your knowledge below.

We’ve all been there. Standing at the line. Waiting for the starter to set us on our way. OK, so it was only the egg and spoon race / sack race / three-legged race but it was our moment to get in the zone Linford-style and power to the line. So, like us, we’re sure you were glued to the screen on Saturday afternoon to see how the men’s 100m final would all pan out.

Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter and clearly a fan of Puma, obliterated the opposition as he powered his way to a time of 9.69 seconds, shaving three one-hundreths off his own world record in the process. He was so quick in fact, he even had time to showboat a little, throwing out his arms in a who’s-your-daddy type way as he crossed the line.

Now unfortunately we can’t bring you the Gold Theseus II Puma spikes the big man wore (they kind of reserve those for proper athletes and the like) but we can offer you some suitably shiny Puma alternatives. The Mihara MY-5 Reborn sneakers are ideal for adding a little bit of Olympic glitz to your look, even if your only exercise during the Games is walking to the fridge for a beer.

Where does Bolt stand among the all time great Olympians? Where does the athlete end and the technology begin? And how quick will we be able to run in the future? Join the debate in our comments section below...

With the new football season kicking off this Saturday (finally - it's been a long 14 weeks), we've spent some time considering our match day wardrobe. Whilst you may not want to wear your team's shirt every weekend, that's not to say you can't wear their colours. So we've picked a selection of Premiership teams (sorry if yours isn't in there - all 20 would have proved quite a challenge!) and hand-picked some perfect pitchside threads that will show your true colours...

   

Think back to the days before mp3s, downloading and ipods. If you're thinking "yeah, CDs - man, they're retro" then you need to go a little further back into your consciousness. Yes, we're talking cassettes. Whilst we're all for the digitalisation of the music industry, we sometimes feel a pang of nostalgia for the humble cassette, which played (pardon the pun) such a massive part of our youth. The hours spent on a Sunday night recording the latest hits from the Top 40 countdown on the radio, fingers poised over the stop key, ready to snap it off just before the DJ started yapping (a challenge we invariably failed); the utter frustration felt as the tape player chewed up your new cassette, leaving you with masses of tape to spool up. Annoying, yes; time-consuming, absolutely; but actually kinda fun.

And those of you that echo our sentiment can pay tribute to this retro relic with this cool cassette face watch. Whilst it may look old skool, there's a nifty bit of design going on here, with the hour hand cunningly tucked into the left-hand spool and the minute hand in the one on the right, along with a stainless steel strap and built-in water resistance. Very cool.

 

Someone else has done the debating for us this week, as legendary movie star Cary Grant was crowned the greatest ever male style icon in a recent poll, beating out competition from modern-day stars such as David Beckham (who finished 2nd) and Jonny Depp (3rd), as well as someone we've previously examined in this feature, Steve McQueen (a non-to-shabby 4th).

So, instead of weighing up the pros and cons of his style, we're simply going to concede that, yes, the man most certainly was a style icon and pay tribute to his signature look...

Harking from a time when women wore dresses and men wore suits, it's no surprise that a good two-piece was the foundation of his signature style. And, damn, how he wore them! Suits became more than just clothes in Grant, and became part of his identity - the identity of not just a man, but a gentleman too, complete with a champagne glass in hand and a beautiful woman on his arm (as below with Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman).

And it's precisely this gentlemanly nature that has no doubt elevated Grant - now dead for over 20 years, let's not forget - to style icon status. His style encompassed everything that "being a gentleman" meant in the romantic, old-school use of the term. From the crewneck knit, Italian trousers and tan deck shoes he wore as John Robie at home in To Catch a Thief (arguably his finest role) to the perfectly pressed suit he sported as he fled a pursuing aeroplane, tie flapping in the wind, in Hitchcock's North By Northwest (check out The Sartorialist's rave review of his clothes in this film), he never looked anything less than 'dressed'.

Grant's style may not be something that most men nowadays necessarily "get", but when they do it becomes more than a way of dressing - it becomes a lifestyle. And we'll raise a glass to that.

Ok, so we know we're not meant to care too much about what's sitting in our bathroom cabinet (or are we? We can't keep up with the ever-evolving requirements of the "modern man"). But regardless, we wanted to share with you the new barnet-saving shampoos from grooming brand Lock, Stock & Barrel (and no, before you ask, Guy Richie has nothing to do with them).

First up is their Recharge Shampoo, which moisturises the hair making it more manageable (so it's great if you've got a thick old mess of hair) and adding super-shine. It'll also make it more receptive to styling (read: it will actually do what you want it to). Result!

Or, if you've worryingly started to notice a bit of thinning going on up top (Jude Law, take note) then we definitely recommend the Reconstruct Shampoo. Packed with proteins and enriched with vitamin B5, this little wonder product promises "visibly thicker, fuller and healthier hair from the very first wash" We're sold.

You remember Captain Planet, don't you? Of course you do - who could forget this classic 90s cartoon? We'll bet that you secretly longed to be a Planeteer (the one with the power of fire, obviously - he was undoubtedly the coolest) and knew the words to the theme tune off by heart ("we're the Planeteers, you can be one too, 'cause saving our planet is the thing to do!"). We'll even bet that you secretly fancied Gaia, the foxy, raven-haired spirit of the earth. Ah, memories.

Fast-forward ten years or so and, with rising temperatures, melting polar ice caps and water shortages proving cause for concern more than ever, we reckon it's high-time that the eco crusader made a timely return in order to teach today's kids a thing or two about doing their bit (and so we can re-live our youth), and this t-shirt from Local Celebrity is where we're starting our campaign for the blue-skinned, green-mulleted superhero's comeback (seriously, how on earth did we ever think this guy was cool!?).

And, as it's Monday morning and you're no doubt sat at your desk trying desperately not to drop-off after a weekend of festivities (please say it's not just us), we've unearthed two time-wasting memory-jogging videos to ease you into the week...

All together now - "By your powers combined, I am Captain Planet!"

If you're of the opinion that monogamy is overrated (and, if you're a footloose and fancy-free twentysomething, then why shouldn't you?) we reckon that this cracking t-shirt from Blue Blood will be right up your alley.

Emblazoned with the phrase "I love my girlfriends", there's no better way of establishing yourself as a fully-fledged player. Just don't go wearing it if you're actually attached, even as a joke - she won't find it funny like your friends will, she'll just swing for you instead.

 

In a nation where the number 8 is considered the height of good luck, it comes as no surprise that today's Olympic Games opening ceremony in Beijing is scheduled for 8.08pm on 08.08.08 (and there you were thinking it was just a happy coincidence...).

And so, echoing this Chinese superstition (and in a bid to bestow a bit of good luck on old Team GB), we've compiled a list of eight failsafe steps to enjoying this year's Games to the max...

1. Show your support for Queen and Country with a GB themed tee - we recommend the Union Flag T-Shirt from great British brand Ben Sherman.

2. Be inspired to take up a sport of your own (well, for two weeks at least) - you'll need a good pair of trainers.

3. In the event that we actually make it to any finals, plan your excuses in advance - with the seven-hour time difference between China and the UK equalling some 5am starts to view the live action, a few sneaky duvet days may be in order to catch up on sleep. Our failsafe excuse? "Bowel troubles". Works every time.

4. Speaking of excuses, you'll probably also need one to feed to the girlfriend when she enquires why you're showing such a keen interest in the women's volleyball competition...

5. Don't forget to set your watch for 7.30 on Monday morning to watch 14-year-old waterbaby Tom Daley in the diving competition - the youngster is one of our strongest medal hopes.

6. Take time to familiarise yourself with the 'top talent' of Beijing 2008 - FHM.com have a definitive list (rating not necessarily based upon sporting performance). We're especially liking the look of Bia and Branca Feres, the synchronised swimming twins. There is a god!

7. BMX is a new addition to the Olympic schedule this year, and Team GB has the chance of a gold medal in the competition with 19-year-old Shanaze Reade. In honour of the event, reincarnate your teenage, bike-riding self with a pair of Vans.

8. Erm...have a good one!

The latest luxury label to arrive in our exclusive Premium Brands store is Farhi, the diffusion range from celebrated French designer Nicole Farhi, and what you see before you is a titilating sample of what's on offer.

Having made her name in the '80s with her brand of understated fashion, built in the main upon casual tailoring, Farhi first turned her hand to menswear in 1989, blending elements of British tailoring with her trademark unstructured style. Almost 20 years on and these elements are very much evident in the new collection from the designer, with key pieces including a flannel waistcoat (above), a 100% wool stripe jumper and Y-neck cardigan, a contrast cuff shirt and a multi-pocket leather jacket (all below).

There's admittedly nothing overly flash about the range, but that's just Farhi's way and, trust us, the materials used are of the finest quality. Classic "buy-now-and-wear-for-all-of-eternity" pieces guaranteed.

Impressed by Lewis’ showing in the Hungarian Grand Prix? Want to get a little closer to the action? Have petrol running through your veins? Well the Gumball Rally is the event for you. The road trip to end all road trips, Gumball 3000 has bitten off a huge amount by proposing to go, wait for it, 3000 miles from San Francisco, California to Beijing, China, where some other event kicks off tomorrow, via L.A., San Diego, Vegas and Shanghai in just eight days. Eight days!

Handy then that the bonkers drivers will be at the wheels of 120 super luxury custom and concept cars with power so impressive our lowly one litre city cars wouldn’t stand a chance. And, if all that doesn’t yet sound like simply the best thing ever, David “The Hoff” Hasslehoff is one of this year’s participants. Cue shameless picture of The Hoff as the leather jacket clad hero of the Eighties.

Michael Knight of Knight Rider fame in a race with cars that, while they would never beat KITT with his Power System and Turbo Boost, are so fast that, given half the chance, would rip your shirt off your back. What more could you want?

Dodging the police is commonplace and the drivers collect speeding tickets as badges of honour. Entries for the 2009 event are open now so if you like what you see and happen to have both a ridiculously fast supercar knocking about and a few screws loose why not get involved?

Do you have a need for speed? Depressed now Top Gear is off our screens until the Autumn? Think The Hoff is a legend? Revel in some Eighties nostalgia in our comments section below.

We've just had a whole host of new ties arrive on site, and we wanted to share them with you first (aren't we nice?). The beauty of a tie is that it can be worn when you're both suited & booted and dressed to impress, or when you're having a decidedly dressed down day and fancy adding an on-trend touch to your outfit.

And with this new lot, there's something for everyone - whether you choose to go checked (either cool blue, Prince of Wales or dogtooth), skinny satin or even knitted, we've got your round-the-neck needs all tied up.

 

Now, let's get one thing straight from the off - we're not for one nanosecond suggesting in this post that you dress like this collection of Trek-Heads. Hell no. But, with the 5-day Official Star Trek Convention beginning in Las Vegas today, we thought there was no better time to take a look at one of fashion's enduring trends - namely geek chic.

The absolute first rule of geek chic? Don't overdo it. By all means give a nod to your inner Spock-loving nerd, but accessorising with Stoke's local train timetable and a Vulcan hand formation is a big no-no. Instead, we suggest something along these lines...

Start with man's best friend - no, not a dog, but rather a good old tee. For geek chic, it's got to be a polo shirt, and this blue vintage style polo has just the right mix of geek and chic. Next, concentrate on the bottoms - we all know that every good geek loves to get his spindly, bright white pins out, and so a pair of shorts is essential in getting the look (although perhaps not if your legs actually do match this description). This pair of organic cotton cargos from Kuyichi will see you right, and they're currently reduced in the sale - result!

Accessories are where the look will really come to life. Regardless of whether you've got perfect 20-20 vision, a pair of clear-lens glasses are a must, and a trusty backpack will hold all your geeky essentials (comic books, Gameboy - you get the picture). Finish with the geek's failsafe footwear of choice, a pair of Converse (wear with socks for extra points), and you're good to go.

So go on and give geek chic a try - after all, "resistance is futile"!

 

Two-Packs - geddit!? We've been cracking ourselves up with that one for a good five minutes. But, joking aside, here's the latest backpacks from back-transportation experts Eastpak to arrive on site - and we're fans of them both.

The first comes in classic camouflage, comprising muted shades of khaki green and beige, and echoing Eastpak's origins as a supplier to the US army. Ideal for everyday use, this is subtle style at its best.

Conversely, next up is a version that most definitely won't blend into the background. More eye-catching than Kelly Brook with her pins out, this 'Gravity' print pack will suit any bright spark that likes to stand out from the crowd. Who said nu-rave was a flash in the pan?

Which backpack do you prefer? Are you a GI Joe or a Klaxons man? Still laughing at our 'Two-Packs' genius? Let us know below...

While most of us squashed ourselves onto trains and buses and trudged in to work today, spare a thought for the poor old professional surfers who get to spend their time in the open air, splashing about in the sea and generally doing something they love for the grand prize of $100,000 this week at the Rip Curl Boadmasters event down in Newquay, Cornwall, the party town of the South West. And add to that An accompanying music festival boasting the likes of Groove Armada, The Zutons and The Pigeon Detectives on the line-up and we expect you won’t be able to believe what a beach-bum deal they’ve got.

Well, if you’re one of the poor unfortunate souls making the trip to Newquay this week (heaven forebid) we thought, to cheer you up we’d put a cheery surfer look together so it won’t be all bad.

For any self-respecting surfer you need to start with the shorts. No banana hammocks here, with surf shorts it’s the longer the better. Going for a print shows a nice bit of personality too. A vest is also essential as all those hours spent down the gym would be for nothing if you didn’t ever get an opportunity to get your guns out. A shirt next, printed again, but never EVER do any of the buttons up. It is so uncool all the surf dudes and dudettes will think you’ve turned up for a stamp collecting convention. Finally, and no surf style is complete without a pair, flip-flops. Keep them simple and it’ll be happy days. All you need now is some seriously scruffy hair and you’re done.

Then as the sun goes down and you take in the music, surfing and the Boardmasters Bikini Babe Competition (it would be rude not to) don’t be too depressed and take some pleasure from the fact that you will have nailed the surfer dude look.

(P.S.: We know it’s going to be absolutely class but we’re just jealous that the rest of us aren’t going so thought we’d make ourselves feel a little better – enjoy the week!)

Are you off to the Rip Curl Boardmasters event? Going for the music, surf or sun (or something else maybe)? Are you an actual bonafide pro surfer? Shout “Cowabunga, dude” in our comments section.

The Nike 'Swoosh' is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable symbols on the face of the earth - it's right up there with other brand logos, including Microsoft Windows' four-colour flag and McD's good ol' Golden Arches, that simply don't need any accompanying words for them to make sense. You just get it.

So we were interested to see the latest incarnation of this classic logo, namely as part of this 'Sunburst Oly' tee - and, this time round, you may need to take a second glance. Cobbling together a rainbow of Swooshes into a near optical illusion of a print, we're big fans of its graphic nature. Like what you see? In that case you may want one in every colour - it comes in purple, black and white as well.

To celebrate the Edinburgh Festival Fringe kicking off yesterday, we’ve pulled together a selection of the best jokes from previous Perrier Award winners over the years to cheer you up on a usual Monday morning. So, get that needle and thread ready as your sides are going to be splitting big time…

1. Lee Evans:

I slept like a baby last night. I wet the bed 4 times and woke up crying.

2. Dylan Moran:

I can't swim. I can't drive, either. I was going to learn to drive but then I thought, well, what if I crash into a lake?”

3. Demetri Martin:

I think that when you get dressed in the morning, sometimes you’re really making a decision about your behavior for the day. Like if you put on flip-flops, you’re saying: ‘Hope I don’t get chased today.’ ‘Be nice to people in sneakers’.

I saw a guy at a party wearing a leather jacket and I thought, ‘That is cool.’ But then I saw another guy wearing a leather vest and I thought, ‘That is not cool’. Then I figured it out: ‘Cool’ is all about leather sleeves.

4. Harry Hill:

When you buy a V-neck sweater there's a V of material missing. You know what they do with that? They send it to Ann Summers and she makes those fancy pants.

Well I was bullied at school, called all kinds of different names. But one day I turned to my bullies and said - 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me', and it worked! From there on it was sticks and stones all the way.

My Dad used to say 'always fight fire with fire', which is probably why he got thrown out of the fire brigade.

5. Tim Vine:

I phoned the local gym and I asked if they could teach me how to do the splits. He said, "How flexible are you?" I said, "I can't make Tuesdays."

This bloke said to me, 'I'm going to chop off the bottom of one of your trouser legs and put it in a library.' I thought 'That's a turn-up for the books."

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs until 25th of August.

Got any great jokes (keep them clean Gentlemen)? Making the trip to Edinburgh to catch some comedy? Think you have the bottle to do stand up? Grab the virtual mic and comment below.

Think back, but only if you feel like it, to when you were younger but not too young. Remember what you were into back then? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Finders Keepers (where the contestants were always useless), Ghostbusters, Inspector Gadget, Fun House with the bemulleted Pat Sharp, Transformers and the (a little bit rubbish) New Adventures of He-Man with the weird "comedy" Skeletor were all drawing us in front of the box in the corner all our furniture was pointed at. We were mesmerized. Another show we can add to that list was all about wrestling.

Now, we're not talking Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks having a bit of a cuddle in a ring on Sunday night. Oh no, we're talking about the big hair, bigger muscles and even bigger razzmatazz of the World Wrestling Federation. Elbow drops off the top rope, huge suplexes and more body presses that you could shake a big foam hand at, the WWF was a proper bit of glamour that gave birth to some bonafide boyhood heroes. And now, with the help of the clever gang at I Saved Laurence, you can take yourself back ring-side behind a table that someone would soon be thrown on to with their wrestling themed t-shirts boasting three of WWF's biggest stars - The Undertaker, Bret 'The Hitman' Hart and the legend that is Hulk Hogan.

These guys were at the centre of the golden age of WWF when the wrestlers were real characters and slightly odd shaped guys like Rick Flair could beat Andre the Giant. And now you can walk around town showing who your favourite was. Now if only they would do an Ultimate Warrior one...

Did you love the WWF? Were you a Hitman, Hulk or Undertaker kinda guy? And do you wish Vince McMahon hadn't bothered bulking up to fight? Let us know who your favourite WWF wrester was in the comments section below.

For every year since who knows how long (182 years if you must know) Cowes on the Isle of Wight has hosted the world’s biggest sailing regatta. A hugely important summer sporting occasion, over one thousand boats take part in the event and is as famous for its social side as it is for its sailing.

But you won’t be able to just turn up and blag your way onto a yacht to rub shoulders with all the beautiful people in any old clothes. You’ll have to look the part which is why we’ve put together a fool-proof look which will get you past even the most eagle-eyed security guard.

Start off with a preppy button-down collar fine striped shirt from Tommy Hilfiger. Tuck it into a pair of classic Dockers trousers fastened with a smart interlink belt. Roll up the hems on your trouser legs just the once to show off your new Sperry deck shoes and then casually throw a cream Day Birger et Mikkelsen blazer over one shoulder.

All you need now is a couldn’t-give-a-monkey’s attitude, a pair of cojones and our next day delivery service to get your new look to you in time (if you order before 4pm today) and you’ll waltz onto the yacht no problem at all. And who knows, you might even get to see some sailing…

Ever been on a yacht? Do you have a good pair of sea legs? And will Ben Ainslie sail to victory in Beijing this Olympics? Turn pundit in our comments section below.

Hundreds of you entered but there could only be one winner of our VIP package to Global Gathering. We’ve just had our report in from the lovely Karen Skeats and what she had to say was pretty interesting.

Of the Mr. West spectacular she commented that, “with the sun setting on the crowds of GG08, the energy of Kanye’s set captured us all, with ‘Gold Digger’ being the biggest hit”. She was also pretty complimentary about Marc Ronson’s performance, the highlight of which was “the surprise appearance of Wiley on stage with [him] to perform ‘Wearing My Rolex’ - completely unexpectedly, he bound on stage and got the whole crowd singing along”.

Sounds good doesn’t it? Well, if you want to find our more, head over to our sister blog, ASOS Today, to check out the full report complete with some great pictures of the all the revellers. And someone mentioned something about there being loads of girls knocking about in bikinis at the festival but we know you wouldn’t be interested in that now would you?

Did you make it to Global Gathering? Get any great snaps? Want to tell the world what you thought of Kanye, Marc and the gang? Well get commenting below – who knows, you might just get to appear on Insider...

Have you been loving the festival season but want a bit of a break from all the full-on craziness? Well boy is The Big Chill the perfect festival for you. Based on, unsurprisingly, chilling out and generally loving everything, this is the place to go for a great mix of multimedia dance presentations, comedy (Bill Bailey and The Mighty Boosh are popping down to crack a few) and generally kicking back and relaxing in the idyllic surroundings of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. Have a massage, camp in style and simply watch the world go by all to a soothing, summer soundtrack.

As such, you need to be as relaxed in style as you will be in attitude so get a load of our suggestions and you can’t go wrong. Instantly get in the mood with a musical tee from the clubbing kings Gio Goi. Then slip a striped shirt over the top with some shorts on the bottom with a print very reminiscent of a South-East Asian leaf you might expect to be kept cool with. Very relaxing. Finish the look off with some classic gym shoes (getting the cool grass stains on them is down to you).

Order before 4pm today and you’ll have your new clothes in time for the big Friday kick-off. Then just pop on some shades and chill out in style – just don’t forget your deckchair.

Off to The Big Chill this weekend? Who are you looking forward to seeing? Think it's going to be as relaxing as we’re making out? Get yourself geared up in our comments section below.

Elemis, the award-winning spa experts, have been creating great beauty products for the girls for years. But what about us guys, we hear you ask. Well, lucky for you we’ve just managed to get our hands on the latest range of their men’s grooming products packed full of rather clever and technologically advance ingredients to make sure you look as great as your clothes.

Whatever you need to do to your face, from shave to moisturise, wash and revive, Elemis has got a little tube or pot of magic to help you brush up nicely. And, this is the best bit, all the packaging is in a super-cool dark charcoal grey meaning no-one’s going to batter an eyelid when you take all your new products into the shower. Just don’t let your other half near them or you'll soon find you’ll have to get yourself some more...

Where do you stand on grooming for guys? Think it’s best left to the girls? Or is it all part of your daily ritual? Join the debate in the comments section down there.

You spoke in our comments section and we listened, Phil, as this week we are examining the Academy Award winning acting legend that is Marlon Brando. Famed for his sultry, brooding roles as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, the actor was regarded as a sex symbol and one of the greatest actors of his time.

But was he a style icon as surely any self respecting heart-throb actor should be? This time around we’re going to say yes but with a few provisos. The first thing we need to point out is that his career was a long one. From his acting debut in 1944 to his final curtain in The Score in 2001 via, among others, Superman and The Godfather, Brando’s image changed over the years as he went from a buff t-shirt, slacks, chunky belt and casual shoe-clad icon on the set of Streetcar (right) to a rather large, mumbling and difficult character.

Thankfully, with his early roles we can still hold him up as a style icon (with a couple of weight-lifters lending a hand admittedly). Take his look for his turn in On the Waterfront (left). He’s got this season’s hottest pattern, the check, going on in jacket form as well as a great grey shirt and black denim combo. And even as Vito Corleone much later in his career he still knew how to work it with a crisp white shirt, a classic dinner suit and a blood red rose to finish it off. Slightly irritated cat – optional.

Think Brando deserves to be called a style icon? Can we forget his later, larger years? And who would you like next time? Get tapping on your keyboard in our comments section below.

Continuing our focus on smart shapes we started yesterday, we take a softer approach to classic men’s tailoring that, even if you rarely wear a suit, will easily slip into your existing wardrobe.

The cardigan has gone through a bit of resurgence over the past couple of years and right now this very minute, the suiting edge is the way to go with the style. Which is handy, as we’ve got four great double-breasted examples for you to get your hands on.

Coming from the classic tailoring shape, the double-breasted style has long been the preserve of macs and waistcoats. But now, and in the future as we can see from the Spring /Summer 2009 Ferragamo show, there is a trend of applying it to the comfy cardigan.

Great for over a vest or light tee, the jersey cardigans (seen on the left) are great for all day when the sun shines like it should do this week and the woven cotton styles (right) are great for early evening over a sharp shirt. And the beauty of both styles is that, being made from the ever dependable cotton, they don’t take a lot of care to keep them looking their best, leaving you more time to get out and about in the sun.

Prefer the single or double-breasted style? Like a good cardigan? Do you favour a winter or summer style? Reveal all in our comments section.

On Friday, amongst all the pre-weekend revelry, some of us were hard at work in the studio taking a few snaps of something we are all getting rather excited about – our very own tailoring range.

That’s right, soon you’ll be able to saunter into the office decked out in some suitably slick ASOS tailoring and put your workmates in the shade. The range is currently locked in a vault, surrounded by Dolph Lungren-look-a-like security guards with more finger print and iris recognition gadgets protecting it than Minority Report and James Bond put together.

But, our mole crept in Solid Snake style amongst the assembled stylists, art directors, photographers, hair stylists and models to get you a sneak peak behind the scenes at the shoot. And we were dead impressed with what we saw.

First up, as one would expect from a tailoring collection, we saw some great one and two buttoned modern suits. This was followed with crisp shirting and slim-ish ties, some knitted – all in various shades of grey, black and white. As a collection, you’ll be able to mix and match with ease meaning your look needn’t be the same every day of the working week.

We think you’ll be suitably impressed with the collection when it launches in November. We expect to see you there at the front of the virtual queue.

Is your appetite suitably whetted? Do you find it difficult to find tailoring that won’t leave you looking like a bank manager? Like the look of what we’ve got coming up? Get it off your chest in our comments section below.