Insider - Style news with substance

Quick! Billabong are giving away tickets to this weekend's Wakestock Festival.

The lucky winner will get two tickets to the festival in Abersoch, North Wales, where they will get to see an amazing line-up of bands and the world's best wakeboarders. For your chance to win, just make a purchase drom the Billabong range before midnight tonight. One winner will be selected at random from purchases made from the Billabong range on 30th June 2008 and contacted by email before 2nd July 2008.

Better get a wriggle on then...

Good luck if you managed to get in there in time - the competition has now closed.

Are you going to Wavestock this weekend? If so, let us know how you get on and what you're planning to take with you by using our comments feature right there, underneath this writing.You can't miss it, can you?

Let us take you back to Tokyo, 1954. Using the profits from a slightly peculiar cigarette holding device, the Kashio brothers, forefathers of the Japanese technology boom, developed the world’s first electronically powered calculator. Hardly portable – it was the size of a desk – but in doing so the brothers, founders of electronic giant Casio, set in motion a series of events that led to some of the most advanced and useful devices going.

If it hadn’t been for that rather cumbersome lump of wiring, we wouldn’t have watches like this today. Wow your friends with your incredible numeracy. Accurately calculate how much that night out cost. The timepiece every exam invigilator is on the look out for, this Casio Data Bank Calculator Watch is ready and willing to help you through any situation. And when it looks this good, in its shiny retro gold finish, why wouldn’t you want a hand from what’s on your wrist?

Did you have a Casio calculator watch back in the day? Did you have the one with the TV remote attached? (My oh my, that was fun changing the channel during video presentations at school). Tell us which your favourite retro watch is and what you think of this one through our natty comments form below.

Assassins that are able to curve the path of bullets, cool clothes and Angelina Jolie. Sounds like the best dream ever doesn’t it? Well it’s become a reality with the today’s release of Wanted, starring the delectable Jolie, rising star James McAvoy and old hand Morgan Freeman.

Based on the Mark Millar comic book of the same name (instant geek-cool brownie points), the film charts the story of a nobody (Wesley, played by McAvoy) who finds out he's the son of the world's greatest ever hitman. His loser life comes to a crossroads when he's approached by The Fox (Jolie), a slinky supervillainess who gives him the option to follow the righteous path (boring!) or become the figurehead of a movement to rid the world of superheroes. The complete opposite of Spiderman for example, this is definitely one for those of you with darker thoughts. And its a great excuse to watch Angelina shoot the place up in leather...

Tucked away on Artillery Lane in East London you'll find the Buckler store, which last night was packed to the rafters full of fashion-industry types as we the menswear brand threw a party in association with our good selves here at asos.com and Attitude magazine.

And we were even lucky enough to be graced by the man himself, Andrew Buckler, pictured below (left) in front of some of his pants (well, his brand's - not his very own...), as well as some rather "in-yer-face" campaign images.

Buckler, worn by the likes of Motley Crüe's Tommy Lee, Iggy Pop, The Rolling Stones and Liam Gallagher and famed for their Sexy Bastard underwear range, started life in 2001 and has developed into an international brand with successful stores in both London and New York.

We'll be unveiling an exclusive collection of Buckler underwear come September time, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that.

Get way ahead of the fashion game and take inspiration from our sneak preview of this week’s spring/summer 2009 shows in Milan. All Saints’ Weave Cardigan could have come straight off the catwalk at Burberry Prorsum (below), where Christopher Bailey showed ‘crumpled classics,’ in a palette of toned down greys, beiges and fawns. With fine knits and laid back layering a key look, this soft and slouchy cardigan is a must – for next season and now.

Growing up in the hip and creative Portobello Market area of London, Pepe Jeans was the brainchild of three brothers - Nitin, Arun and Milan - and is a classic example of how, with a little inspiration and a lot of perspiration, it is possible to make something out of nothing.

Initially working in a petrol station, Nitin was spotted by a jeanswear manufacturer as someone with serious potential. Joining forces with his two brothers, in 1973 the family affair set up a market stall selling their original designs. By 1975 one stall had multiplied to four and by the end of the year a King’s Road boutique had been opened.

Jump forward thirty years and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Laetitia Casta and Jason Priestley (remember him?) have graced their advertising campaigns, putting Pepe Jeans at the forefront of denim design. With such continental collaborators and a less than English name, the brand could be excused designing jeans more suited to European tastes. Thankfully the designs have stayed true to their solid and creative Portobello Road roots...

With all the hype (and massive governmental spending) surrounding the 2012 Olympic Games, to be held in our very own London Town, plus the 2008 Games due to begin on 8th August - controversially in Beijing - the timely release of Eight's retro Olympic t-shirts, bearing the emblem of Games gone by, is a welcome addition to our wardrobe. Today we've picked our top three host cities featured in the range - Tokyo '64, Mexico City '68 and LA '84 - and provided you with a few tit-bits of information about each event. Useful for pub quizzes, we reckon...

Little Known Facts About Tokyo 1964

* The Games of '64 marked a massive step forward in technology - they were the first to be beamed across the Pacific and televised in the USA

* This was the year that judo was introduced into the Games and Japan, despite the sport being incredibly popular in the home country, lost out in the Open category to Dutchman Anton Geesink

* American Billy Mills caused a legendary upset in the 10,000 metres, taking gold the competition against all odds - no American had won the category before and none has won it since

Little Known Facts About Mexico City 1968

* The Olympics of Mexico City '68 are the only Games ever to be held in Latin America

* Sitting at 2240 metres above sea level, Mexico City's high altitude made things difficult for some endurance athletes, who struggled to adapt. The city's high altitude is also credited with aiding some of the records in jumping and vaulting that were set during the games, including the triple jump world record which was raised five times by three different athletes.

* It was at the '68 Olympics that Dick Fosebury won the gold medal in high jump using his new and revolutionary Fosebury Flop technique, which went on to become standard practice in the sport (you'll no doubt remember it from PE lessons back in the day...)

Little Known Facts About LA 1984

* It was at the LA '84 Olympics that a young (well, 22 year old) Steve Redgrave won his first Olympic medal for rowing, the first of five he would go on to win at five consecutive Olympics

* Winning the right to host the games was a walk (or at least a mild, warm-up jog) in the park for the City of Angels - LA was the only city to compete for the honour

Click here to see the rest of the Eight Olympic tees range.

Following on from our style examination of James Dean, the next under the microscope in the series is a real man’s man. Steve McQueen, The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven and Bullitt actor, was given the nickname “King of Cool” during his tempestuous acting career, but in hindsight, does he deserve that moniker? As with Dean last week, we say a resounding yes.

Look again at the top image (from The Thomas Crown Affair) and try telling us that the tonal combination of the tie and shirt was a mistake. This attention to detail, combined with the fact he rode some serious motorbikes, lead us to conclude he certainly was a style icon.

Always sharply dressed even when off-duty, McQueen’s enduring style significance is similar to that of David Hockney – he does both relaxed and smart equally well and with equal effortlessness. Take his cap and t-shirt combo in the photo above. As with most menswear, the devil is in the detail – this look would quickly become a dodgy tourist look if the colour of the cap and t-shirt were not so perfectly matched.

When it comes to dressing the part, it's important that we gents don't neglect the finer details - socks, for example. You really can't beat a good pair of socks and, when your tired old feet do so much for you, why not treat them to a really top notch pair? Otherwise you risk ending up with feet akin to those of a hobbit...

The brand we'd like to recommend to you is Corgi. This traditional British sock maker, founded in 1893 in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, was the business venture of Mr. Rhys Jones, who saw a gap in the socks market. The business grew quickly and later, having endured the war (through the production of socks for both the British and Allied forces), Jones' successor, his grandson-in-law Glyn, expanded the company globally - he even went as far as to send a pair of Corgis to the then American President Eisenhower who, in good old gentlemanly fashion, penned a personal reply. After that, the brand went from strength to strength, being awarded a Royal Warrant by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, which entitled Corgi to display the Prince of Wales' Badge of three Feathers on their socks.

Today their foot threads come in a range of cool and individual styles, ranging from a traditional argyle through to decidedly more modern skull and crossbones. And when you slip a pair on, you can be smug in the knowledge that a former President and old Charlie Boy have given them the seal of approval.

 

Three days and counting until the field-stomping, mud-sloshing, beer-swigging carnage that is Glastonbury kicks off - and we just can't wait. Kings of Leon, Editors, The Verve, Groove Armada, The Pigeon Detectives, Marc Ronson and even the rap superstar that is Jay-Z promise to make this year's Glasto one of the best yet.

And if, like us, you've left packing your festival gear to the last minute, we've helpfully put together your essential style line-up - the need-to-have items that will get you through three days of hard partying and no showering in style. To make sure you're ready to rock by Friday, just stick this lot into your basket, click Next Day Delivery at checkout (which means, if you order before 4pm, that we'll get your stuff to you the next day guaranteed), then sit back and stick on your ipod in anticipation...

1. Quick Pitch Tent - this little beauty literally pops up in seconds, and is taken down just as quickly, leaving you more time in the beer tent - click here for a nifty video of the wonder item in action

2. A (Dark Coloured) Tee - with all that mud sloshing around, white is definitely not the colour to be sporting

3. Utility Shorts - not only do they look good, but they're great for stashing all your daily essentials (camera, money, playlist) when your hands are needed for just rocking out

4. Rucksack - you'll need something to stuff all your new stash into for transportation purposes, and this rucksack is just the ticket

5. Zip-Up Hoody - when you start to feel a nip in the air, throw this on, zip it up and get on with the party

6. Straw Hat - forget looking good, this one's all about practicality - after three days of not showering, you'll be glad of something to hide your greasy barnet under. Trust us.

7. Sleeping Bag - this two season Gelert sleeping bag will keep you snug in the few hours you actually decide to get some kip - unless you acquire a lady friend to keep you warm...

8. Pair of Hunter Wellies - from the weather reports we've seen, it looks like rain (sorry), and rain + fields can equal only one thing - MUD. And lots of it. So your best bet for survival is a pair of Hunter's finest

9. Wind-Up Lantern with Built-In Headlight - perfect for lighting those after-hours strum and sing-a-long sessions

10. Sunglasses - as the Boy Scouts would tell you, be prepared - just in case the sun does decide to show its face, make sure you pack a pair of really cool sunnies. And even if it doesn't shine, you can still wear them to hide those sleep-deprived eyes...

Have a good one.

Renzo Rosso, the Diesel supremo, has a dark secret. In between creating some of the hottest menswear going he likes nothing more than to potter around making wine. That's right, making wine. But as the owner of one of Italy's biggest denim brand explains, it's all part of his Diesel lifestyle.

"Everything excites me about making wine" says Rosso. "From designing the bottle, to following the process of fermentation, and the moment I drink a glass of wine I created. Each step is unique and exciting." He is at pains to point out that winemaking is not a pastime, (he has football and snowboarding to occupy himself) but is in fact to do with his "passion for good living and genuine lifestyle". Drinking the fruits of his labour is when the real fun starts. But this is no tinpot homebrew outfit - his Rosso di Rosso (Red by Red, clever huh?) is a very popular choice amongst the wine cognoscenti. Even if you can't get your hands on a bottle, just remember, as you relax in your Diesel attire, the brand's owner is out digging in his vineyard. Probably...

New pieces from Scandanavia’s hottest export, J.Lindeberg, have just hit the site, and we’re sure you’ll agree that this stripe polo is one of the smartest. As worn by Brad Pitt (to the Golden Globes no less) and Kevin Dillon in Entourage, the Swedish brand is also a hit amongst the golfing fraternity, including PGA stars James Heath, Aaron Baddeley and Richard Johnson. Need we say more? Check out the rest of the range here.

Gio Goi, the dance culture brand of choice, has a very colourful past. Its founders, Christopher and Anthony Donnelly initially made their name hosting the first warehouse parties to be held in Manchester and London, their knowledge of street culture helping to influence the rise of the dance phenomenon. Simultaneously recognizing that what the clubber wore was as important as what they were listening to, the pair branched out into printed tees which were soon recognised by Factory Records for their fresh approach to the genre.

After a particularly boozy night out with the notorious Shaun Ryder, the brothers decided they were going to take the fashion industry by storm. Seen on the backs of Oasis, Blur and the Rolling Stones and cited as inspirational by grand dame Vivienne Westwood, it wasn’t by accident that the two iconic magazines of the age, i-D and The Face, were constantly covering the meteoric rise of the brand.

Constantly staying true to their hard-partying roots, Gio Goi is a brand with heritage that cannot be manufactured and it is this honest and exciting approach to style that keeps everyone coming back for more.

With one of our favourite summer sporting events, Wimbledon, kicking off today (Federer is three sets to love up as we type, if you're interested), what better product to present to you than a cool, crisp pair of tennis shoes?

And not just any tennis shoes, either. These beauties are a brand new pair of Stan Smiths, part of the adidas Originals collection of updated and re-issued classic adidas designs.

What set the original Stan Smiths apart from other adidas trainers was the absence of the brand’s iconic three stripe design, which was replaced instead with three perforated lines. Taking this design one step further for the re-issue, this pair features all-over perforation, as well as the usual embossed face of the tennis great himself in a shiny shade of gold.

Perfect for sitting on the Wimbledon hill and gorging yourself on Pimms and strawberries...or just doing the same in your back garden, for that matter.

 

Long considered only as a staple of the golfing community, Original Penguin is now one of the hottest brands around both on and off the course. Famous for its extremely well-made polo shirts, the brand got its name after the label’s founders, rather drunk after a night on the tiles, came home with a stuffed penguin from the local taxidermy store. Little Pete, as the bird is affectionately known, became the logo and graced the polos of legends Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the 1950s.

With the concept of “suburban luxury” at the heart of the brand, Original Penguin brings you retro classics, without the need to go rummaging around in charity shops or spending hours browsing online for that old school style. Fifty years after Little Pete was born, the likes of Justin Timberlake, Damon Albarn and Jake Gyllenhaal are snapping these up like nobodies business. And you should too. Just ask for Little Pete…

Sometimes you need plain white pants. Under linen trousers for example – you don’t want a rapidly greying and ugly picture of Dennis the Menace shining through your slacks. But then there are occasions when you want to add a bit of personality to your undies. And that’s where we come in. We’ve just launched our own brand of men’s underwear and as you can see, they’re pretty in your face. Our favourites are the cherry briefs and the kiss trunks but there are nearly forty different styles for you to choose from, all made in super-soft cotton. Perfect pants to pull in.

Remember when Tucker Jenkins ruled the school at Grange Hill? We used to think it was his boyish cheeky chappy manner and jack the lad attitude that got him into and out of so many scrapes. But we can exclusively reveal it was his school bag that charmed him out of trouble. That’s because Tucker used to sport a bag very reminiscent of this one from Gola. The masters of stylish retro nostalgia, the brand have experienced a bit of a renaissance over the last few years with more and more of those in the know re-adopting and celebrating the brand. To further add to the rapid rise Gola has forged a successful collaboration with hot London designer Jonathan Saunders to create a smart range of trainers exclusive to us. So flipping ‘eck, what are you waiting for? Bag yourself some Gola today.

As David Beckham emerged out into the light yesterday to hoards cheering fans he could be excused thinking he was in Austria at Euro 2008 with England. But instead he found himself in the far sunnier climbs of San Francisco, California launching the latest advertising campaign for Emporio Armani Underwear so we’re sure he wasn’t too distraught. With his previous shots for the brand being met with such high praise he must have been full of confidence as his five storey tall billboard was revealed to the world.

But what’s more exciting is that the two styles unveiled in the campaign are ready and waiting for you to get your hands on here and here. But be quick chaps – once the rest of the world sees these images they’ll be gone and you’ll be left going commando.

Starting out designing a much sought-after range of ties, Ralph Lauren has been giving us his own take on classic American style for over forty years. Everything the brand produces has that easy, effortless approach Ralph Lauren stands for. From underwear to sunglasses via fragrance, with no other brand can you fully subscribe to such a successful complete world of style than with Ralph Lauren.

His fragrance back-catalogue is packed with classics so we’re sure that his latest scent, Polo Explorer, will be just as well received. A fragrance with no boundaries, the brand has scoured every corner of the globe for the most exciting smells known to man. Australian sandalwood, amber from the North Sea and Sicilian bergamot make for a heady mix – perfect for getting out and about exploring this summer.

They say the good always die young. Receiving instant legendary status, when James Dean died in 1955 he had starred in only three films. He is undoubtedly a cultural icon with enduring popularity but was he really the style icon so many commentators would have us believe? We would argue he probably was.

The first thing to note is that he had some great costume designers working hard to create his effortless and classic style. In his most celebrated role as troubled teenager Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause, his casual bomber-style jacket, plain white crisp t-shirt, light-wash denim and hardwearing boots culminated in being his most enduring image. Men all over the world subtly adopted the look but without his untimely death in his favourite Porsche 550 Spyder freezing that style snapshot in time it is debatable whether his popularity and style influence would be as strong as it is today.

No matter, as he always looked great, drove an incredibly cool car and had a relaxed and carefree attitude that means that James Byron Dean will always be regarded as a true style icon.

Building on our festival preparation from yesterday, with the British weather being so typically unreliable and, let’s face it, rather rubbish there’s no guarantee that there won’t be a repeat of the infamous Glastonbury mud-bath over the coming months. Nostalgic yet modernised, this pac-a-mac is perfect festival fare as there’s nothing worst that worrying about hypothermia when your favourite band is rocking out on the main stage. Magic trick and jacket all in one, once the sun comes out (fingers crossed) the mac effortlessly packs itself away into its own pocket ready to be carried as a bag. Pretty nifty we’re sure you’ll agree…

Once upon a time (well, the 1920s) there were two brothers, Adi and Rudolf. Growing up as the sons of a cobbler in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the pair started out making sports shoes in their mother’s laundry room. Twenty years on and a blazing row later, the two split and, in doing so, changed the face of global sportswear.

The fiercest of sportswear rivals, Adi Dassler launched Adidas (Adi-Das, geddit?) and Rudolf Dassler launched Ruda, which became Puma not long after. Over the years that followed the brothers simultaneously built two sporting empires –  Adidas being worn by the likes of Muhammad Ali, Franz Beckenbauer and Zinédine Zidane and Puma seen on the feet and bodies of Boris Becker and the inimitable Pelé. The Brazilian star was at the centre of one storm when he delayed the kick-off of a World Cup match to tie his laces, securing a great close-up of the brand’s boots in the process. Adidas followed suit soon after by persuading Mark Spitz to hold up a pair of their trainers as the swimmer collected one of his many gold medals at the ’72 Olympics.

The loss of family harmony has been sportswear’s gain, otherwise we may only have ever had one brand from the highly talented Dassler family…

As the summer festival season gathers more and more momentum, get up to speed with this hard rocking 'Tigual' t-shirt from Diesel. The denim brand is renowned for having its roots firmly in the rock camp and nowhere is this more apparent than in this tee. The smart and large graphic has all the energy any self-respecting rocker should have with the striped cuff detailing adding that extra design edge. Wear this down on the front row at a festival, (Glastonbury is just round the corner) and there will be plenty of green-eyed glances coming your way... 

Were you one of the lucky few to get your hands on one of our LTD 100 products? Some of you must have been poised to pounce at 1pm today because we didn't get a look in with loads of the collection of one-off pieces selling out in minutes! Well done to those of you that did manage to snag a piece of design history - the rest of us are all rather jealous right now. Keep your eyes peeled though...

As iconic as a sneaker can get, this Chuck Taylor Converse High-Top is an essential piece of retro Americana. These high-tops are named after a basketball player who, not long after Converse had really got going, came into their shop and complained that the boots he was wearing were incredibly painful. The brand, being the nice people that they are, designed him his very own style, made to his exact specification and gave him a job to endorse the sneakers wherever he travelled with his team. And so the Converse All Star High-top was born. Score yourself a three pointer from way down town with these classic trainers.

This summer you needn’t own a yacht to grab yourself a piece of the nautical action. It’s one of this season’s hottest trends and a look that, with the right bits and pieces, will look classic again and again and again. When getting involved with nautical, your first port of call should be your footwear. In truth, there is only one choice: the deck shoe.

Go as bold as you dare colour-wise with a pair of Sebago ‘Spinnaker’ Dockside deck shoes, although the French Connection style in navy and Sebago white option will get you some retro style points. Or how about our very own summer shoe invention? The boatadrille is the perfect mixture of deck shoe cool and the easy, relaxed style of an espadrille.

The next item you shouldn’t set sail without is a pair of bright white shorts. This Diesel Plunkeco Shorts with interesting pocket detailing are ideal, and are set-off perfectly with a brown woven belt like this one from Ted Baker.

On to up top and nautical wouldn’t be nautical without a bold horizontal navy stripe. The Breton example on this John Smedley Polo is perfect when toned down by a cream Day Birger et Mikkelsen blazer. Finish your look with a nostalgic pair of Ray Ban tortoiseshell Wayfarers and you’ll have nailed the nautical trend without looking like Captain Birdseye. 

Find yourself at a bit of a loss style-wise come the end of the week? Well boy have we got a look for you. First of all make like Ice-T and check yourself before you wreck yourself with this quirky yet smart Junk De Luxe Gingham Shirt and tie combo. Neatly tuck it into some deep indigo Evisu Hikari jeans, slip your feet into a pair of slick Perforated Shoes and you’ll be stepping out on the town in style.

As our favourite Belgian (Van Damme excluded), Raf Simons has blazed a trail through the fashion industry in the label’s thirteen year history with his special brand of simple, utilitarian clothing.

These Aluminium Frame Sunglasses are the perfect example of Simons’ famed attention to detail, taking an industrial effect metal, complete with rivets, and combining it with a very smooth, very sleek moulded frame. The result is an ultra-cool style reminiscent of a pilot’s goggle but Top Gun these aren’t. With the sun hopefully deciding to show his face soon, take a leaf out of Raf’s book and earn your fashion wings with a pair.

Insider, the asos blog for men has arrived. We’re here to give you advice on all the things most important to you, the modern man. The hottest events, the smartest fashion – we’ve got it all and are constantly on hand to help when you need a shrewd nod in the right direction. Think of us as your indispensible right hand man. We’ll be updating daily so be sure to check back often.