Insider - Style news with substance

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.

We know how you guys like a limited edition number, those covetable items that only you and a very select few have got their hands on. So, never ones to build up unnecessary tension Big Brother or X-Factor style, here are the latest four designs from our ever popular One of A Hundred line, our very own in-house limited edition range of tees.

There are, surprise surprise, only one hundred of each design so you’ll have to be quick as these babies aren’t going to hang around for long, especially with the weather being like it is today. Choose from an M.C. Escher style graphic print, a neon Victorian medical journal print, a nails and screws flower and a haunting spiritual skull print.

All are instant classics so get ready to rather smugly disappoint all the people who ask where you got your new t-shirt from because by the time they do, there won’t be any left.

Do you crave limited edition pieces? Do you spend hours seeking out the harder to find items that no-one else will have? And do you take pleasure in disappointing all the people who ask you where you got something from? Get all smug in our comments section.

We pride ourselves on bringing you brands so hot, we need oven mitts to handle them and boy have we just got in a couple of scorchers for you.

For a little while now we’ve brought you the golf, underwear and denim collections of the Tommy Hilfiger brand but for the first time we’ve secured the main line. It’s all about crisp shirting as one would expect from the huge American brand but there really is something for everyone.

Then we come to one of the most influential designers to come out of Britain in, well, ever – Alexander McQueen. His McQ range has all of the guts, quality and intrigue the award-winning designer has made his trademark. This denim-based line combines McQueen’s in-depth working knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, the fine workmanship of the French Haute Couture atelier and the impeccable finish of Italian manufacturing all packed into supreme quality jeans, shirts and knitwear.

So what are you waiting for? Get you hands on a bit of Tommy or McQ. Just don’t forget to wear the mitts...

What do you think of our two new arrivals? Excited about getting your hands on a bit of McQueen magic or a Tommy triumph? Let us know below.

We’re in the mood to show off a little today so allow us to introduce you to some exclusive John Galliano designs that only we stock. That’s right guys, you won’t be able to find these Spot Trunks or Briefs anywhere else.

Being a Galliano design you know that they’re hot now but will also stand the test of time. Made from ultra-soft cotton with a springy waistband, you’ll be comfy down there all day and mix that with such a striking pattern and you’re bound to want to show them off, which is handy as in these you certainly won’t be hard to spot.

Like a bold print on your pants? Is this print suitably Galliano-esque for you? And are these the perfect pulling pants? Answer these questions and more in our comments section.

Continuing today's t-shirt theme, and knowing how much you love your tees, we bring you the styles you need to be wearing over the weekend...

So, you’ve waited and waited and waited. You’ve followed our coverage, you’ve watched the video over and over and you’ve whipped yourself up into a right state. And now the day has finally come. Batman: The Dark Knight will hit the screens tonight and we know loads of you will be down in the cue waiting for your piece of easily the coolest superhero.

But what to wear? Well, if you get your skates on and order before 4pm you could be wearing this as soon as tomorrow courtesy of our next day delivery. Yes, that’s right, you could show your support for this summer’s biggest movie with a suitably themed t-shirt.

Choose from the Joker v Batman (although this old school Joker is no match for Heath Ledger’s version), the Bat Signal on the night sky or, in true original Batman Adam West style, go for the TV series logo.  And they’re so easy to wear, forget Alfred, we’re the ones you need to keep your look clean and up to date.

Is Batman the best superhero ever? How excited have you got about this film? And will Heath Ledger’s Joker trump big Jack Nicholson’s? Give us your opinion in the comments below!

The sun has got his hat on, hip, hip, hip, hooray, the sun has got his hat on and he’s coming out to play!

Sorry, we just can’t contain our excitement that we might just get some decent weather for this weekend. And with the sun out today, what better to put a smile on your face than a cheery seaside-inspired t-shirt? We’ve got all the coastal essentials covered with the holy trinity of the British seaside printed right there on these tees.

First up, get your deck chair hire sorted – you don’t want to get sand in your new swim shorts now do you? Then kick back with the classic fish and chip combo in hand (plenty of vinegar and mushy peas please – wooden forks are for wimps) and watch the world go by. Once you’ve washed all that down with some fizzy pop get yourself over to the brightly coloured van with the rosy-cheeked moustachioed man hanging out of it and treat yourself to a cool ice-cream (hundreds and thousands optional).

And that’s pretty much it for your weekend. Have a go on the tea-cups, stroll along the pier, try not to get sunburnt and enjoy your days off. And if you order before 4pm today, with our next day delivery service you can be showing off you retro seaside tee this weekend. That’s another thing we’re getting excited about...

We love our tees so much we're dedicating a whole day on the blog to them. Stay tuned for some super t-shirts that are sure to be the hero of you look if you get what we mean...

Where are you off to this weekend? What do you think of the great British seaside? And will you be tying your hanky at each corner to fashion an impromptu hat? Let us know below.

Calvin Klein’s advertising over the years has been at times both controversial and innovative and has launched the modelling careers of Freddie Ljungberg, Mark ‘Marky Mark’ Wahlberg and some woman called Kate Moss. No, we haven't heard of her either.

The legendary fashion photographer, Bruce Weber shot the first ever Calvin Klein ads and he is back in the fold again, teaming up with creative director-extraordinaire Fabien Baron for the latest shots of the new season range of Calvin undies. Borrowing their model, Garrett Neff, from the existing clothing and fragrance Calvin Klein campaigns, the pair jetted off to Miami to shoot the snaps that would better the just a touch larger than life Peter Lindberg shots (‘Bergs’ are obviously popular with Calvin) from last season of Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou.

We think it’s safe to say these billboards trump David Beckham’s Armani posters at Macy’s we showed you a little while back.

The guys at Calvin Klein seem pretty happy with how this season’s batch turned out. Bob Mazzoli, Chief Creative Officer of Calvin Klein Underwear, couldn’t hide his excitement at the launch:

Working with the creative team assembled for this campaign was truly an amazing experience. As the Calvin Klein Underwear legacy evolves, it was great to partner with the legendary Bruce Weber, who shot the brand’s very first campaign. Garrett personifies the concept of the Body and Body Stretch product – a sexy, iconic body-defining fit.

Looks like the creative pair of smarty pants might just be doing it again next year...

Like the new campaign? Prefer the old one? Who wins the billboard battle for you? And are you a brief or boxer kind of guy? Get your pants out in the open by commenting below.

A watch says a lot about the man who wears it. And we have any prospective wearers of this Black Dice Entourage watch down as seriously high rollers, complete with all the chat and lifestyle and living somewhere between LA and Vegas.

But if that doesn’t sound like you just yet, don’t be put off – this watch is the perfect way to give the world the impression you’ve already hit the big time. For starters it’s gold which is pretty much part of the uniform and essential to add that element of luxury to your look. It’s big too so no-one’s going to miss this on your wrist which is what the whole style is all about. It also has just enough of a touch of retro about it to hark back to the Vegas of the Seventies when winning and losing millions in the casinos was an every day occurrence and living to excess was all par for the course.

This is exactly the sort of watch that the Seventies man about town could have worn, only with modern technology added for good measure so that it always remains accurate which is handy. Maybe it’s about time you got yourself one…

Are you one of those obsessive timepiece collectors? What does your watch say about you? And what arm do you wear it on? (we’re just curious) Go on, show off by telling us what your sport on your wrist by commenting down there.

When Levi Strauss made the then long trek from Bavaria in Germany to San Francisco, USA to open a west coast branch of his brothers’ dry goods business, few people would have thought he’d go on to create the world’s most original denim brand.

Starting out in the clothing business as a denim wholesaler, a customer of Levi's, Jacob Davis, came to him to complain about having to constantly patch up torn workwear and brought with him a solution – the rivet. Designed to strengthen the denim where it was under most strain, the innovation was so good the Levi financed the patenting process. Once successful, the two went into business and were soon making hardwearing denim overalls called ‘the blue jean’. Not overly exciting we hear you say but it was the beginning of something big.

Denim didn’t just spring into life as the all-singing, all-dancing, limited-edition-frenzied thing it is today – jeans as we know them didn’t hit the shelves until the 1920s, by which time the company’s figurehead had died, the whole manufacturing set-up had been lost to the 1906 earthquake and rebuilt again and the classic 501 had been born.

Levi’s four nephews were now running the business and took inspiration from the founder’s foresight, business sense and devotion to quality and turned the Levi’s brand into the incredibly successful, huge privately owned company it is today (they do a mean check shirt too).With the brand having such a rare ability to mix modern styling with classic shapes and create denim history, this is one brand that proves that, for some, keeping it in the family is definitely the way forward.

Is it Levi’s or nothing as far as you’re concerned? What other denim brands hit the mark for you? Which Levi’s style fits you best? Give us your thoughts in our comments section.

Since the days of the Roman Empire, men have worn leather cuffs on their wrists. From Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator to Conan the Barbarian, some of the most famous warriors from back in the day used to sport these handy items, not as fashion statements (although they looked pretty cool) but as functional pieces of their armour.

Now though, with civilisation having come on quite a bit since, we wear them simply because they look so darn good. And lucky for us, Diesel has just handed over four styles that your wrists have been crying out for.

All made from top-quality leather, the cuffs have a pre-aged look which means you won't be waiting forever for the leather to wear in nicely. The embossed logo style is pretty understated in comparison to the Pyramid type - in fact, we don't think Conan would be too out of place with that little number...

Where do you stand on jewellery for men? Do you keep it chunky or lightweight? And how much is too much? Give us your tips and thoughts in our comments section below.

Were you one of the thousands that descended on Victoria Park in East London at the weekend to catch the Lovebox Weekender? Enemy of dog-walkers and rollerbladers for a weekend, the annual extravaganza saw the likes of The Flaming Lips, Goldfrapp and Groove Armada go down a storm with the quirky and cool crowd. But the question on everyone’s lips, apart from was it a good idea to have the funfair rides so close to sources of alcohol, was what did everyone turn up in?

Well, in a marked difference to what we saw at the O2 Wireless Festival, there were four main trends. To kick off, there were loads of trilbies and straw hats everywhere. These really are great for summer as they are a cool and masculine alternative to a big floppy sun hat. Some went for a cowboy style but most stuck to the classic trilby. Look, even Freddy Flintoff’s got one on although he probably would have been better off giving England a hand in the cricket instead of taking in a festival.

Then we encountered more rolled-up jeans than we had ever run into before. We particularly like how so many guys had their own way of wearing denim for summer and it was a great idea for the weekend’s changeable weather. A little roll here, a huge roll there, socks or no socks, the only thing that tended to link them together was their communal love for sneakers although there were a few notable exceptions.

Long touted as this summer’s hottest shade shape, the wayfarer style has kicked into gear. Whereas you couldn’t move for shutter-shades at the O2 in the west of the capital, the more classic style was favoured over in East London, coming in every shape and colour imaginable. Our favourites are the fluro contrast arm and the tortoiseshell, which never went out of fashion, but for some reason we just keep coming back to the white pair.

Finally, as if to further confirm our belief that checked shirts are all the rage this summer, we found more plaid out and about than anything else. From the smallest gingham to the boldest, brightest multicoloured examples, the check shirt was worn in so many ways we lost count. Ways we managed to remember (after we had recovered from the quite frankly awesome food fight) ranged from unbuttoned over a crisp white t-shirt to buttoned right up to the very top, all casually rocking this summer’s essential trend.

Were you there? Did you wear a checked shirt, straw trilby, wayfarers and rolled up jeans all at once? And did you see Freddy there? Let us know the answers to those and any other questions you think we’d like to hear by commenting below.

Back in 1784, we weren’t around, the internet hadn’t been invented yet and Batman: The Dark Knight wasn’t smashing records and turning grown men into gibbering wrecks with excitement. But one knitwear brand was around and in the 224 years since has gone on to become a byword for luxury fine gauge knitwear. John Smedley is a brand with unrivalled heritage and an attention to detail and obsession about quality rarely seen today.

These new in jumpers and cardigans are ideal for the indecisive side of Mother Nature we keep seeing. Throw them over your shirt, polo or tee when it gets a bit breezy or you’re hanging outside the pub and then if it warms up a little just whip them off and lay them jauntily over your shoulders, college style. Don’t, whatever you do, tie the arms round your waist to have a kick-about or use it as a makeshift picnic blanket / goalposts as this is a sure-fire way to ruin your new jumper. John Smedley knitwear needs to be treated with respect and if you make sure it’s looked after properly, it will give you years of supreme sweater style.

Like fine gauge knits or prefer something a little chunkier? Is a brand’s heritage important to you? What do you wear under your knitwear? Get involved by writing your comment below.

With us currently experiencing possibly the most unimpressive and depressing summers going, we still, unfortunately, need to sport something over our lightweight, stylish summer t-shirts. But don’t go digging out your winter coat just yet, we’ve got the perfect jacket to brush off S.A.D. and carry you through our rubbish summer until it gets properly cold.

The mac, worn by countless trend-setters, Robert Redford being one we touched on earlier this week, is a classic men’s jacket style, light enough for a slightly warmer day but warm enough for when we get hail in July. And this example is even more practical for summer than the more common longer version as it works like a jacket but has the crisp style of the mac with a bit of bomber jacket ribbing added for good measure. Cleverly enough, it has also been designed with one of this season’s hottest trends in mind – checks. But this is no ordinary check, this is a Prince of Wales check which nods to tradition without becoming dull.

Wear the mac as shown here for a smart and well put together look, or, when you’re feeling in a rebellious and too-cool-to-try mood, undo all the buttons and straps for a far more relaxed appearance. Pretty versatile, huh?

Are you a mac man? What are your style solutions for the changeable weather? Not letting the weather get you down? Let us know by commenting below (P.S.: You don’t need to comment in rhyme but it wouldn’t be frowned upon).

Over the years, fingerless gloves have been worn by some of our most idolised characters. Don’t believe us? Well if you need a bit of convincing that these are a summer essential, we’ve dug out all the fingerless glove wearers that you’ll be emulating once you’ve got your hands in a pair of these Diesel Rock-Hand Gloves.

Arnie is a fan, donning them for a couple of little movies you may have heard about called The Terminator and Predator, as is Aragorn from Lord of the Rings, John Bender from The Breakfast Club, Mel Gibson in Mad Max and not to forget Sly in Rocky. And if that’s not enough, the gaming fans amongst you will be pleased to discover legends such as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Link from the Legend of Zelda and Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid all choose a fingerless glove for taking on the world.

Impressed yet? Well to further strengthen our claim we point you back to the Eighties when you weren’t a fully paid up rocker if you didn’t have your fingers poking out of your gloves. Essential for the axe-strummers to play properly, the gloves were seen on everyone from Def Leopard to Bon Jovi via Mötley Crüe. These Diesel gloves perfectly pick up on the look rocked by the only hair bands you should be interested in made from comfortable jersey finished with some essential studs.

Like a fingerless glove? Who’s your favourite wearer of the style? Know of any more famous glove wearers? Let us know in our comments section below.

Heading off to the Lovebox Weekender this Saturday to join the revellers bopping away to Groove Armada, Goldfrapp, Human League, Flaming Lips and the like? Well allow us to make your look easy-peasy to put together.

We’ve got a bright red pac-a-mac so you’ll stay dry and your mates will be able find you easily at the front of the cue for the beers. We’ve got a right-on-trend checked shirt in a western style so you’ll look great while you’re making shapes trying to impress that special someone. We’ve also got a great pair of rolled up worker fit jeans to strut about in which are perfect for when it gets a bit hot and sweaty in the middle of the crowd. And finally we have a smart pair of jersey plimsolls which are so comfy it’ll feel like you’re dancing in your slippers.

Simply order before 4pm today to get all your gear in time for the weekend with our next day delivery service. Our scouts will be there so if you bump into them, be friendly, you might end up on here. What more could you want from a weekend?

Off to Lovebox? Who are looking forward to seeing? What will you wear? Let us know in our comments section and if you get any great photos from the event send them into insider@asos.com and we’ll make you famous by posting them here!

Continuing our series on potential style icons, this time around we take a look at an actor who has been in some of the coolest films ever made. Movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting firmly established the Californian-born actor as a box-office banker and a bit of a Hollywood heartthrob.

Take this look from The Sting. Whilst giving a performance that would see him nominated for an Oscar, Mr. Redford looks as cool as a cucumber in a dark fedora, black trousers and pale belted mac. It was looks like this that allowed him to outshine the then higher billed Paul Newman – something not a lot of guys can claim to have done.

Or take this look from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Redford teamed up with Newman for the bank-robbing western decked out in this season’s hottest pattern, the check. With a particularly fine example of a gingham shirt, a black scarf and a dark jacket he nailed the western look without turning it into a cliché. And even when he’s on his own, he works the aviator and granddad shirt look effortlessly. One thing to note though, we wouldn’t generally recommend the moustache but we’ll leave that call down to you.

What do you reckon? Has Redford got ‘it’? Do you think the moustache works? And who do you think should be our next style icon? Get involved by commenting below.

Mark Pawson is a self-confessed image junkie and photocopier fetishist. He also makes superb badges.

The Cheshire-born, East London artist has long brushed off the attention of big-name galleries, deciding instead to concentrate on creating Art for All. There will be none of your Roman Ambramovich record-breaking prices here thank you very much. Some of his favourite techniques are very low-tech, hi-fi - we're not quite talking potato prints but rubber stamps and dodgy photocopiers are his usual weapons of choice.

His output is prolific - he produces a constant stream of artist's books, postcards, badges, multiples, T-shirts and other essential bit and bobs, some for sale, some simply for the love of it. Pawson's products take up the interesting space between fanzines and artist's books, straddling the worlds of pop culture and fine art. His badges range from the quirky Lucha Libre masks to the more graphic and serene musical score and geometric examples with some iconic 'I heart...' styles in there for good measure.

Get yourself a badge of artistic honour by Mark Pawson - after all, they've got to be better than sending in a dusty pipe-cleaner stuck in a piece of blu-tac to Blue Peter to get one of their badges...

Like a badge? Which Mark Pawson style do you like? Have the guts to wear them all at once, TGI Friday's style? Boast all you want in our comments section.

 

Three guesses as to what this summer’s most anticipated movie is. Last night as the darkness fell on New York, fans of the comic book-based franchise Batman came out to play. The sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight has finally hit Gotham. As the actors went down the suitably black carpet, Christian Bale (Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Gary Oldman (Lt. James Gordon), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) and Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent / Two-Face) among them, there was one actor conspicuous by his absence – Heath Ledger. The Aussie actor, who tragically died in January, is the man whose performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight is described as “iconic” by Christopher Nolan, the film’s director. He was sorely missed last night if not for his hard partying energy then for his more relaxed approach to style.

All the guys went for blazers and trousers – very smart but hardly creative. Gary Oldman tried to mix it up a bit with a purple shirt but it was to no avail – Morgan Freeman had already stolen the show with his slick sunglasses and contrast button white shirt. He’s always been too cool for school, hasn’t he? For those of us stuck this side of the pond, we’ll have to wait until the 24th July for the movie to hit our screens which is one whole week behind the US general release. In the meantime, check out the astonishing trailer and be prepared to get far more excited about a film than is strictly necessary or healthy...

Looking forward to The Dark Knight? Who’s your favourite Batman? Which enemy really hits the mark for you? Start the movie hype in our comments section below.

Since January 2000, The Refinery has been one of London's best-kept secrets, combining the comfort and atmosphere of a gentlemen's club with the vitality and sense of well-being of a health spa from its luxurious HQ in the heart of Mayfair. Unfortunately not everyone can make it down to the store to get a piece of the action so, rather handily, they've brought out their own range of men's grooming products so we can enjoy all the benefits of their expertly created creams, gels and washes in the comfort of our own homes.

What's more, no matter which product you choose, whether the Fresh Water Mud Soap, the Body Wash or the Shave Oil, none of them will show you up as a right girl when your mates come over. The packaging is very clean and masculine (no unnecessary frilliness here) and there are no random potions and lotions in the range that chaps like you and us wouldn't need.

So, with every grooming eventuality covered, get in there first, as this is one brand that won't be kept secret for very long.

Do you cleanse, tone and moisturise or do you think all that grooming lark is strictly for the girls? Got any tips and tricks you'd like to share? Share the wealth in our comments section below.

If you’re wondering who that is above, you simply haven’t been paying enough attention, for that is none-other than rock legend Roger Daltrey from The Who. Forget your Monkeys, you can keep your Kings, The Who is probably the best rock and roll band of all time. Smashing up instruments, wrecking hotel rooms, driving cars into swimming pools, these guys were doing it first before Kurt Cobain was a twinkle in his mum’s eye.

Daltrey, together with Pete Townshend (above), John Entwistle and legendary hell-raiser / drummer Keith Moon, are firmly established in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but on Saturday night VH1 decided they weren’t celebrated enough by giving over their whole Rock Honors event to the band. Held annually, the event does exactly what it says on the tin by honouring the bands that influence every corner of music, even today. Previous acts celebrated by the music channel include ZZ Top, Genesis, Kiss and Queen but this was the first year a whole show has been dedicated to one act. Yes, they’re that good.

The surviving members of the band, Daltrey and Townshend rocked the Pauley Pavilion in LA in front of a huge crowd and several modern-day mega-bands all of whom were reduced to screaming like six year olds at a High School Musical show. The pair hadn’t lost any of their style – Daltrey was very on-trend with his black waistcoat over a pale striped shirt and slim black jeans with Townshend on the other hand strumming his heart out in a rolled up relaxed cut blazer, crisp white shirt (untucked obviously) and grey trousers.

Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Incubus, The Flaming Lips, and Tenacious D formed quite a support act list, all rocking in the shadow of greatness while paying tribute to band of honour. Watch them above at the peak of their powers playing perhaps their most famous song, My Generation, at the Monterey International Festival with the irreplaceable Keith and John.

The Who – the band that still crosses the generation gap.

Think they deserve it? Who should VH1 celebrate next? Got a future inductee to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame? Give us your two-pennies worth in the comments section below.

It’s Monday, you’re nose is pressed firmly to the grindstone for another week while you still recover from the weekend just gone, the next one is far too far off for anyone’s liking and you’re struggling for inspiration when it comes to your look. Well, brush your style issues aside because, with this El Loco t-shirt, you may have ninety-nine problems but this tee certainly ain’t one. 

Think of it as the ‘glass half full’ t-shirt and, in true British tradition, always look on the bright side of life. What’s more, if you use our next day delivery service when ordering before 4pm today, you can be telling the world that you’re off to a flyer this week in your El Loco tee as soon as tomorrow. Not a bad way to perk you up when the weather’s nice for a change and you’re stuck inside.

Are you a glass half full or half empty type of guy? Need a bit of retail therapy? Just generally having a rubbish Monday? Let it all out in our comments area just below...

 

One of the most exciting names in sneaker design today, Mihara Yasuhiro has created his own range of futuristic footwear for Puma since 2001, and knowing how in to your trainers you guys are out there, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pick his brain.

Unconventional and avant-garde, Mihara is a modern designer in every sense of the word. Always pushing the boundaries of sneaker design, he is pretty much left to his own devices by Puma. As he says, “They don't suggest things. First I think of a theme, then I start drawing designs. The only thing they tell me is the deadline”.

That sounds great, but Mihara assures us it’s not quite as simple as jotting down a couple of sketches and sending them off to be made:

There are many challenges. I struggle every time, every collection. Sometimes it's almost impossible to put the details of the drawing in and the gaps between the 2-D version and the 3-D version become bigger. It takes an effort. Also, every time we try to introduce a new technique.

It is this desire to constantly push the design forward that sets him apart as a designer – his view on the sneaker extends to more than just about them being a convenient way to stop your socks getting wet:

What [the sneaker] symbolizes to me, is that individuals have the opportunity to be more creative than before. For example, they can coordinate sneakers with what they wear, they can wear a suit with sneakers. Sneaker culture has made people more creative.

There you have it – another great reason to buy trainers, as if you needed any more excuses.

Mihara is constantly looking to the future in an effort to “continue this kind of movement, continuing the trend of looking at the sneaker as fashion”. And it seems the future, in the long term anyway, will be pretty darn rough according to the designer:

The earth is getting worse and worse for us to live on. I don’t think it’s going to be any time soon but...we all know its going to be difficult to live on other planets, so at the very least we have to try not to mess up our earth.

Saving the world is something the designer looks to incorporate into every aspect of his work for Puma – he feels his collections should “influence our present era” by going green and developing sustainable sneakers in the future.

But in the meantime some things will never change. Sneakers will always fascinate us and, as Mihara says, with some confidence, “we will keep having two legs”.

Love Mihara's unconventional approach? Down with the eco-friendly attitude? Simply love his sneakers? Whatever your thoughts let's be having them in our comments section below.

Look guys, we all need a bag. No, no – we really do. Imagine all the stuff we need to carry around with us everyday – notebook, travel pass, money, keys, iPhone, magazines, change of pants just in case – that kind of thing. And who better to design the bag all your mates will secretly be after than Bill Amberg, the London-based luggage designer renowned for his modern take on classic Britishness.

Always aware that no man wants to carry around a dainty handbag, the brand ensures that each item exudes masculinity whilst still being fun – we’re not after a briefcase after all. All made from luxurious leather and finished impeccably don’t you know, the bags, card holders and wallets are cool now and, with the leather aging over the years, will definitely stand the test of time.

What do you make of Bill’s bags? Have a particular one in mind? And what would you keep in your brand new holdall? Jot it all down by using our comments function below.

 

So, you’ve had a look at our new trends presentation on the home page (what do you mean you haven’t seen it yet? Click here to take a look and come back quickly) and you’re wondering how we come up with such great ideas. Well, just for you, we went straight to the main man here at ASOS to get the inside track on everything to do with the two trends, Tokyo Nights and Lost Weekend, and to find out where it all comes from.

Ian Bryder, our Design Manager, is the man in the know. He’s the guy who, a good six months ahead, decides what the ASOS man is going to look like in the future. That takes some foresight and no little imagination. But he doesn’t simply read a few fashion mags and hash a trend up on the bus on the way in to work – Ian and his team take time out to “really look at what’s going on at street level, what music people are listening to, who’s saying what on blogs and what people are wearing”.

Taking trips and getting out-and-about are important too as “creating something a bit different can come from a very small trigger” – our Ian has always got to be ready for that flash of inspiration.

This time around, with Tokyo Nights, he was inspired by a photobook about the Tokyo-based bike gangs, called Bosozoku: Japanes Bikers, mixed with an element of the original American Fifties biker look. One particularly notable Tokyo sushi menu Ian saw kicked the whole trend off which has led to some heavily Japan-inspired graphic tees. As our designer explains, “the colours of the neon lights of the Tokyo skyline punctuate the trend, set against the blacks of night, in various different matt and shiny finishes”.

For Lost Weekend the concept was a lot more personal. “It’s pretty much what I used to wear at school in the early Eighties” he says, “when there was a lot of Mod revivalists about. The trend concentrates on the end of summer feeling and making the most of the days outside”. Hot on heritage, the trend takes a light-hearted glance at some proper Britishness with fun graphic tees capturing that end of the pier attitude. As the man himself explains, “It’s ironic – we’re talking about naive kids in the Eighties trying to revive Mods, not a strict historical recreation of the originals from the Sixties. Paul Weller’s new book, A Thousand Things, is a great place to start”.

So, it’s up to you. Will you take the easy-rider motorcycle route with Tokyo Nights or hit the scooter scene with Lost Weekend? Whichever you choose, the only way to travel for the rest of summer is on two wheels...

With such strong late summer trends to sink our teeth into, we can’t wait to find out what Ian comes up with next. How about you? Like our trends? Which is your favourite? Tell the world by commenting below.

 

We’ve been banging on about the weather a lot this week. And with good reason – it’s been absolutely rubbish. So, not ones to let important British traditions fall by the wayside, we continue moaning about the rain suitably kitted out in this Sangra Weather T-Shirt from Levi’s.

The cute, fluffy cloud ‘eyes’ could be straight off an Eighties weather report; you know, when they used to stick little cardboard shapes on a badly drawn map of the UK. Come to think of it, those symbols pretty much tell the story of the weather we’ve had this week. Then down to the scowling mouth which reminds us of a superhero for some reason. And, to top it all off, it comes in its very own, very smart presentation box. The perfect tee if you’re feeling under the weather.

Oh, and the forecast for this weekend is pretty dismal - better stay indoors...

What do you make of this tee? Bored of the British weather? And what are you methods for avoiding the rain? Keep in touch by posting your comments below.

Get a load of this shirt. Patchwork, normally the preserve of grandma’s end-of-bed blanket, comes to shirts. And this shirt is absolutely nothing like your grandma’s blanket.

Picking up on this season’s hottest shirt trend, this Two Stoned Multi Patchwork example takes the checked pattern frenzy and gives a good, firm twist. At first glance a great cowboy-style shirt (which on its own would be great) this style goes the extra mile by being greedy. Not satisfied with one check, it’s got a whole load in there. With an embroidered crown on the sleeve to top it off, this is one shirt that’s fit for a king.

What do you think? Prefer you shirt simple or with that extra spot of detail? How many different checks can you spot on the shirt? (There’s no prize, we’re just curious) Is check for you this summer? Let us know with a comment – just click the link below and jabber away…

Have you heard? Apparently were supposed to be enjoying summer right about now. Warm, hazy summer evenings with a sundowner in hand, ice-cream on the pier and more kickabouts than you can shake a stick at. Summer also means cricket and with England’s first test against South Africa at Lord’s starting on Thursday, we thought we’d give you a few essentials you’ll need to settle down to the morning session in comfort.

First things first, a good trilby is always a good idea as it shades you from the sun and looks great. Plus, tipped down, it’s perfect for nodding off behind should get a bit over-excited with the refreshments at the intervals. Similarly keep a scarf close by for those times when the British weather doesn’t play ball. A watch is handy for planning your dash to the bar at the lunch and tea breaks but keep it classic and simple. Don’t forget a pair of sunglasses – you don’t want to miss Freddy crash a six into the upper tier because you were blinded by the sun now do you? Finally, the all-important sunscreen will make sure you don’t resemble the ball they’re using by stumps (providing the sun actually bothers to show its face that is).

Above all, get out there and enjoy the test – you never know, you might see some of Kevin Pietersen’s controversial left-handed hitting. And remember, if you order by 4pm on Wednesday, our Next Day Delivery service can get your cricket gear over to you in time for you to catch some of the first day’s action.

Are you off to Lord’s this week? Who do you fancy to win? What do you make of Pietersen’s unconventional technique? And more importantly, let us know which sporting events you’re off to this summer and what you plan to wear by commenting below.