Insider - Style news with substance

How many times have you watched a film and thought, “Wow, what a cool [insert object here]. I wonder where I can get one of those.” Well if this came to you while watching either Casino Royale or The Dark Knight, allow us to be of some assistance. You see both the Caped Crusader and 007 appear to have a thing for underwear heritage brand Sunspel, who were asked by the films’ producers to create some bespoke pieces for the two blockbuster movies.

Lindy Hemming, the famous costume designer, can’t get enough of the brand from Long Eaton, Derbyshire, having used them for countless other movies in the past:

They offer classic, timeless and beautifully made garments. Dressing Christian Bale, I thought I would again use their lovely t-shirts to offer him a light weight and comfortable ensemble to be worn both under the Batsuit and also as outerwear t-shirts. I thought they would perform a perfect dual role as a comfortable base layer and stylish, classic outerwear. They fit beautifully and Christian looks great and very comfortable in their clothing. Dressing Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, I thought that it would be a perfect collaboration of quality and Britishness to ask Sunspel to create all his t-shirts, polo shirts and underwear.

This is all well and good but of no use to you or us if you can’t get your hands on any of it. Well thank us later because we’ve managed to secure not only the crew neck t-shirts Bruce slips on under the Batsuit but also the Secret Service issue polo shirts 007 wears whilst saving the world from mad but ultimately flawed super-villains.

And if that wasn’t enough to convince you that these are the real deal, the brand were responsible for introducing woven boxer shorts to the UK and for providing a pair for the iconic Levi’s Launderette ad from way back in 1985. We don’t think we can ever overstate the incredible quality of what Sunspel do, and with over 150 years of heritage to back it all up, these are products that will last and last and last. Put it this way, if they can survive being under a two stone Batsuit and Le Chiffre’s onslaught then they’ll see you through anything you’re going to throw at them.

Need a little luxury in your life? Was The Dark Knight as good as everyone made out (we know it was really but let’s hear your views)? And are you looking forward to The Quantum of Solace? We won’t give you a penny for them but let us know what you think below anyway...

Remember Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy, Linus and the gang? Running for exactly fifty years, the Peanuts comic strip brought fun and joy to the daily paper and Saturday morning television through the trials and tribulations of an unusually intelligent young eight-year-old boy with a stripy t-shirt.

Joined by his faithful (well sometimes anyway) friend Snoopy, his mischievous black and white dog, Charlie Brown tried manfully to make his way in the world. A love-hate relationship with Peppermint Patty and Lucy, a brotherly relationship with his blanket-holding wingman Linus and a romantic obsession with "The Little Red Haired Girl" made Charlie a huge favourite with us all, even when other, more explosive and flashy cartoons were demanding our attention.

As we've seen before, the guys and gals down at Junk Food are pretty sharp when it comes to picking a retro tee or two and we think they've done it again with this nostalgic offering. Great for when, like Charlie, you're feeling like everything's going against you, the catchphrase on the back should earn you some sympathy with those around you. It also helps that Charlie is actually kind of cool in a quirky way and his yellow and black top is a bit of a childhood classic.

All you need now is a black and white dog, a pair of black shorts and some brown grown-up shoes and you're ready to finally kick that American football Lucy's holding (one for all you hardcore fans out there). And because it's Junk Food you know you're going to be paying Peanuts for such a great tee too (sorry, we couldn't resist).

Were you a Charlie Brown, Linus or Peppermint Patty fan? Did you have the Snoopy soft toy that everyone seemed to have in the late Eighties? And do you think Charlie will ever get to grips with sports? No need for a postcard, jot your answers, and anything else you fancy telling us, below...

Some things in fashion are clearly cool. The leather jacket, the high-top, aviator shades. Their innate coolness is pretty obvious to everyone. But there are other times when we can’t quite put our fingers on why something interests us. It could be anything from a shoe to a shirt – but invariably it’s a piece that has an element of intrigue to it, something unconventional, slightly off the wall or nostalgic. This is where Right Wrong, Wrong Wrong comes in.

First of all, and in a slightly back to front kinda way, let’s address Wrong Wrong. Some things are just plain wrong and no prettying it up or changing how it looks will ever change that. Full Stop.

As for Right Wrong, well, that’s a little more complicated. Essentially a Right Wrong thing is one that’s, unsurprisingly, so wrong that it’s right. But that’s not to say that it’s just something rubbish that is supposedly cool because it’s simply ridiculous. Oh no. There needs to be an element of the je ne sais quoi about it (helpful we know) with a good helping of quality. One thing you can count on from a Right Wrong item is good quality. That's not to say they have to be expensive - this is more about great design than anything else. We hope that clears it all up but we’re sure as the feature grows and we show you more examples you’ll get the idea.

OK, so on with the show. Our very first Right Wrong, Wrong Wrong is all about jumpers.

The beauty of this Black Gold example from Diesel is its chunkiness and brave and bold block colour pattern. Its cousin is the dodgy old Christmas jumper your Gran thrust upon you that was ugly and itchy to the extreme. But it differs from that unwanted gift as its main constituent is alpaca, a luxurious style statement. It also has a more than a little David Starsky about it, adding to an already strong coolness quotient and landing it firmly in the Right Wrong camp.

In contrast, this car-crash of a sweater worn by the legendary Noel Edmonds is definitely Wrong Wrong. Maybe we're swayed slightly by the bizarre pose/ random horse combo but this is surely a jumper destined for the ‘What were you thinking?’ pile. Headache-inducing colours, chunky in all the wrong places (puffy arms for goodness sake) and a schizophrenic approach to pattern all go to make this sweater a real shocker and truly Wrong Wrong.

Agree with our wrongness assessment? Have a secret craving for Noel’s jumper? Love Deal or No Deal as much as us? Join the debate below...

Let's play a game of Guess Who. See how many clues it takes you to figure out who we're talking about...

He's male.

He was born eighty years ago this month in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He was a regular at the iconic Studio 54 in the New York of the Seventies.

He was a celebrated avant-garde film-maker, author, record producer and artist.

He had more than fifteen minutes of fame.

He was at the centre of the Pop Art movement.

He painted famous portraits of Marilyn Monroe.

He was born Andrew Warhola.

Figured it out yet? Well let us put you out of your misery (although we're sure you guessed who it was from the picture). The legend we were talking about was the late, great Andy Warhol and eighty years on from his birth, D.I.E. have taken one of the artist's most famous paintings and given it a rather eerie twist. Based on Warhol's Campbell's Soup silk-screens (sold for $100 for each of the thirty two and now worth well in excess of $12m for one), this graphic t-shirt version declares that "everything's souper" when the rather unnerving, slightly Warholian face in the centre suggests everything's anything but.

Get yourself a work of art you can wear. It's more useful than a painting and a darn sight cheaper than $12m.

Like a bit of art? Prefer sculpture to painting? And have you got a Warhol knocking about in the attic (we'll give you a fiver and some sour Skittles for it)? Come over all art critic in our comments section.

Picking up where we left off yesterday at Last Days of Summer, we were then treated to a cracking set from Fun Lovin’ Criminals. One of the best bands to come out of the Big Apple, FLC exuded cool from the minute they stepped on the stage, emerging from a plume of smoke into the bright sunshine. Huey and the gang were so laid back they were nearly horizontal as they gave us a history lesson in classic FLC tunes with Scooby Snacks, Fun Lovin’ Criminal and King of New York proving to be serious crowd pleasers.

The guys have always been super cool but they really stepped it up for this performance with their take on how to wear a suit. Fast on keyboards, trumpet, harmonica and whatever else he could lay his hands on, looked all set for a wedding with a dark jacket, white shirt and pink tie until you got down to his shoes. Sure enough, and in typical FLC style, he was sporting a battered old pair of Converse All Stars. Huey was similarly dressed although so no need to bother with anything so complicated as a tie or collar. His white t-shirt, black jacket and simple white sneakers combo worked like a dream and further strengthened his status as a bit of a cool icon.

As FLC departed, and to pick up the pace somewhat, The Rascals came on giving the crowd a hit of their brand of banging indie rock. The down to earth guys from the Wirral, who’ve toured with the likes of The Zutons and The Arctic Monkeys, instantly energised the whole festival with frontman Miles’ virtuoso performance standing out. We can see what Alex Turner of the Monkeys sees in Miles, the raw energy he exudes with a guitar in his hand coming through both with The Rascals and in his work with Turner in The Last Shadow Puppets. Honest and fun throughout, the guys’ style is suitably played down. All three went for some black jeans with Miles plumping for a red polo, Joe on bass picking an open necked beige shirt and Greg on drums rocking a slim grey shirt.

The guys were pleasantly humble and chilled backstage and were eager to chat about the festival scene. “We’re knackered after Reading and Leeds but it’s great to do the festival circuit,” Greg said, “as it gives us a chance to play to people who wouldn’t normally buy our records or come to see us and give them a feel of what we do”. But it’s not just the crowds catching the performances: “[Festivals] give us a chance to see bands we’re too busy to see the rest of the time. We try to catch as many as possible. Young Knives were good today – they’re all good lads”.

There’s clearly a bit of festival camaraderie going on this year too: “We tend to bump into the same bands so we end up chilling out together and really getting on which is totally different to when we do our own headline tours”. Speaking of headline tours, The Rascals have got one coming up. Catch them on their travels around the UK but don’t expect to see them with several groupies hanging off each arm. When asked whether being in a band made it easier to pull, Greg said, “Well I’m here with my girlfriend so maybe I shouldn’t comment. Put it this way, if you’re looking for it it’s not very hard to find – not that I go in for that myself”. We left the guys to hang out with their girlfriends and a suspicious looking vodka and Lucozade concoction and moved back round to prepare ourselves for the day’s special performance from Britpop legend Richard Ashcroft.

As we negotiated the maze of trailers, tour buses and roadies on our way back to the stage we were nearly run down by a car in a bit of a rush, from which emerged the Verve frontman into a torrent of flashbulbs and security. The main man had arrived. His red velvet jacket isn’t something we’d recommend but he pulled it off by playing the rest of his look down with some faded black jeans, black boots and dark sunglasses. Mr Ashcroft had clearly been enjoying himself back at the house which lead to some interesting exchanges with the crowd in between solo performances of some of The Verve’s most celebrated tracks. The Drugs Don’t Work, Bittersweet Symphony and Sonnet were all present and correct with the crowd joining in with gusto when prompted. But Richard wasn’t hanging around once he’d finished his set. In fact he’d disappeared in a cloud of dust and gravel quick smart as the car that had missed us so narrowly earlier sped off back towards the huge house.

Athlete followed next and found the crowd more than willing to get involved in a bit of audience participation after Ashcroft’s performance, with Wires in particular proving to be a bit of a hit. It was totally dark now in the surrounding fields and with only the stage set-up and the huge fairground ride for light, the atmosphere suddenly became a whole lot more intimate, lending itself well to Athlete’s style of music.

To close the very first Last Days of Summer, Supergrass hit the stage. The band charged with supporting The Who at their VH1 awards ceremony a while back, the Oxford quartet remain one of Britain’s most consistent performers and all-round good eggs. With more awards that you can strum a Fender to, the band were in confident mood, drawing a cracking days of music to a close with a mixture of golden oldies and brand new stuff from their latest album.

The day had long turned into night as the crowds wearily but jubilantly filed away from the festival. If next year’s event is half as good as the first one then count us in for some tickets...

Love a bit of Britpop? Indulge in a little indie rock? Or prefer a chilled out tune? Whatever your music preference, let us know what you thought of the day in the comments section down there.

Whyred, the minimal, clean and crisp brand from our friends over in Sweden, was started ten years ago by a trio of prime Scandinavian design talent. And now, by way of celebrating a decade as a brand (we like to think anyway) we've gone and got ourselves a piece of the action.

Showing at Stockholm Fashion Week alongside some of the hottest young brands, Whyred occupies a niche where "as in art, fashion should never be one dimensional". They've vowed never to copy and looking at the collection we're sure you'll agree that with a collection this strong there's certainly been no looking over to their neighbours' shoulders to nick a few design ideas. They're so on the style ball in fact that their head designer, Roland Hjort, has recently been awarded designer of the year by well-respected Scandinavian men's mag, Café. Pretty nifty huh?

We think the collection is so bold, modernistic and well-conceived that we won't spend too much time waxing lyrical about the great sweatshirts, well-cut jeans and quirky but smart shirts and instead we'll leave you with the anecdote that started the brand off. In the 1950s artist Sven X:et Erixon, a painter known for his bold and lively hues and grandfather of one of the founders, was asked during a radio interview to reveal his favourite colour. "Red," he replied. "Why red?" responded the host. "Well, blue then," he countered.

Do you prefer a small, independent label like Whyred or are you more of a huge, multinational brand kinda guy? What do you think of this new brand? And why red, or blue for that matter? Answers not on a postcard but in fact below guys...

The sun shone, the crowd thronged and the bands wowed. Last Days of Summer, the one day festival that heralds the end of the season, went off with a real bang, with a great line-up rocking the stately home Stowe House from day through into night. And with our handy press pass firmly in our hands, we went backstage to bring you all the stories, gossip and general shenanigans from behind the scenes.

The metaphoric curtain was raised by Royworld, unconventional and eccentric indie rockers from London who kicked proceedings off in style with their own brand of bold and dramatic music with hints of Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel and Talking Heads peppering their set.

Next up were Young Knives, the rather dapper three-piece from Leicestershire comprising of Henry Dartnell, Oliver Askew and the Ronnie Barker-a-like, The House of Lords. It was a little warm so we’ll excuse the chaps for not going for full-on tweed and suited. Contrast collar shirts were popular with Henry (grey tie accent) and Oliver(open necked cool) whereas The House of Lords, never one to follow the crowd, went for a jet black shirt. Still smart sans blazers, the band touched and energised the crowd in equal measure during their set.

Black Kids took the stage next with their fun and funky take on indie pop-rock. The band that emerged from a Myspace musical mire, Black Kids put a smile on all the faces in the crowd, jumping around and generally having a darn good time. The Floridians, dubbed the new Spandau Ballet, have as fun approach to their style as they do to their music. Reggie, frontman and owner of some serious hair, went wild in a striped purple knit over a grey tee and black jeans. Dark denim was the order of the day for these guys as both Owen and Kevin followed suit, the former keeping it simple with a black striped tee and the latter simplifying even further with a classic white v-neck. The band were clearly loving the good weather and the incredible setting.

Dawn, keyboard player extraordinaire, sounded like a true Brit when she said, “the weather’s much better than when I was here in Winter. Our schedule’s been hectic: we’ve not had a day off in six months”. We’re glad the weather in good old Blighty did the festival proud but it was a gig a little further afield that tops their list: “My favourite was in Norway just because it was so relaxing and beautiful over there. The crowd was awesome and Jay-Z was playing too!”. And just in case you ever find yourself down Florida way, ditch Disney and check out some of the thrift stores for serious style bargains: “There’s a lot of old people there who wear amazing vintage clothes. Then they die and you get to go and buy them for like a dollar which is only like fifty pence here right?” Thankfully Dawn assures us she wouldn’t eat a boiled sweet if she found one in the pocket of a thrift store find, even if she was super hungry.

The band have also joined an illustrious list of acts that are to feature in FIFA 09, out in October, which the guys were really excited about, telling us they’ve “been really pushing for that ‘cause it’s really cool when you hear new bands while you’re playing video games. It’s a great way to get your music out there”. As our conversation went on and we talked more football (not soccer), they showed this wasn’t just a flimsy PR exercise – even the girls used to play although Dawn did say she was “the most hideous forward you’ve ever seen”. Black Kids had earned a rest but it doesn’t stop for them with their first proper big headline tour of the US coming up almost as soon as they return to Florida. That’s some welcome home present.

There’s plenty more to coverage still to come so stay tuned tomorrow for Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Rascals, Richard Ashcroft, Athlete and Supergrass. We’ve got Huey so chilled he’s almost horizontal, a minute in the life of a Rascal and random ramblings from Ashcroft. Don’t miss it.

Were you at Last Days of Summer? Did you get any good snaps? What did you think of the line-up and the day as a whole? Give us your opinion in the comments section below and send us your images to insider@asos.com...

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh! Sorry, just had to get that out of our systems on this gloomy Tuesday morning. But to give you a lift we thought you might like to know that it’s Macaulay Culkin’s birthday today. You remember him, the young lad who shot to fame as Kevin in Home Alone. Well now he’s not such a young lad, we thought it time to reminisce and celebrate a classic kids film and take a look at some of the great outfits, spookily back in fashion from the movie.

Take a look at the video and try telling us little Kevin wasn’t ahead of his time with his smart slacks, chunky jumpers, cosy scarves and great gloves. Even the Dad gets in on the act with a very fetching old school duffel coat (with toggles and everything). Mid-wash jeans, cable knit jumpers, checked shirts, retro trainers and bright t-shirts all go to cement Home Alone as a culturally and stylistically significant movie. And even if you aren't quite ready for a Nineties revival (don’t resist it though – it’s the new Eighties) just sit back and relax, reliving all the fun of your childhood. Let’s just hope they show it this Christmas...

Ever been left Home Alone? Did you ward of some unscrupulous characters with a plethora or ingenious devices? And what is your all-time favourite Christmas movie? Get in the spirit with our comments section below.

Time waits for no man and neither does fashion. But, being the kind people we are here on Insider, we like to keep you up to date with all the latest goings on, style or otherwise. That’s why we spent some time behind the scenes on the campaign shoot for our latest trends which launch at the beginning of September getting some sneaky shots of the clothes and chatting to those in the know.

First up we had a little tête à tête with the hair stylist for the day, the lovely Klare Wilkinson. Klare was charged with creating a cool, funky quiff – a style that would work with everything, no matter what you’re wearing. It was strong but textured and ever so slightly messy. Achieving the quiff would have been bit easier had the model, Fionn, not turned up with an unexpected new haircut, the naughty boy. Klare took it all in her stride though, tipping slightly softer styles for September along the way and then backing mousse for a bit of a comeback.

We then moved quietly over to the other side of the studio while the shoot was in full swing to have a natter with David Lamb, Associate Fashion Editor at GQ, who was styling the shoot for the day. His brief was to identify the key pieces, the best shirt, best shoes, best trousers and the like, and then distil the two trends down into two key looks, working with the model and his little idiosyncrasies and the way he wears clothes. We’ll keep most of the details until the grand unveiling in September but David was keen to talk about the differences between the two. One’s an outdoorsy, heavier look and the other is a smarter, more cosmopolitan style. Lots to look forward to then.

Moving into September, David expects to see a “smarter than casual look but less smart than tailoring” but was keen to point out that this is a world away from that dreaded term “smart-casual”. “It’s all more structured and considered with more thought put in with a slight ‘Sunday Best’ feel” he said. Definitely not ultra formal or work like, the look is simply presentable and coordinated.

Matt Setchell, our Creative Director and mastermind behind the art direction on the shoot, worked with David, a stylist with “impressive fashion knowledge”, to bring the whole look together. In contrast to the summer style, which was all about “light colours, graphic elements and a slightly younger kaleidoscopic vibrancy”, the trends for autumn and through into winter take a smarter, sophisticated edge. “A simple spotlight was used to highlight key product areas which created a clean and cinematic look” says Matt who found combining the shoot and art direction with the women gives the campaign one strong, clean message. Photographer for the day, the cool-as-a-cucumber Dan Smith, was chosen for his “expertise in light-play, depth and general mood” which comes through in the final shots and lets the clothes really do the talking.

You’ll have to wait till September to lay your eyes on the new campaign. But believe us, they, and the new trends, are well worth the wait.

Are you a dedicated follower of fashion trends? Do you forge your own path in the style stakes? And how cool are those Dennis the Menace-esque fingerless gloves? Let us know in our comments section below...

Just a quick one this Friday afternoon. We thought we'd let you know about a brand we've managed to snag that we (and everybody we've met recently) have been going undercrackers for. Aussiebum, the all Australian underwear brand, brings a much needed injection of humour and colour to men's pants. And, because we're nice like that, we've managed to secure a UK online exclusive deal to stock these cheeky numbers. That's right, you won't find the brand on any other UK site on the whole interweb.

So why not treat yourself to a pair or three? The Aussie's need a little cheering up after the drubbing we've giving them in the Olympics...

(P.S.: Take our new pants quiz here to discover your perfect pulling pants)

Are you a simple or snazzy pants kinda guy? Briefs or Boxers? And is turning them inside out EVER acceptable. Let us know below...

It’s 1992. You’re knocking about school. Amid all the raucous behaviour and conker fights you manage to get yourself in with the cool gang. The reason? Your brand new, box fresh, mint Reebok Classics so white they put Tom Cruise’s smile to shame. So cool it hurt fifteen or so years ago, Reebok Classics were the final word in British footwear fashion but kind of fell off the radar for a while. Well guess what – they’re back and they’ve brought their friends along too.

Joining the (in our eyes anyway) iconic Classic, Reebok have also reissued the Ex-O-Fit, a high-class high-top with a sleeker, more streamlined appearance than your usual sneaker boot. The Velcro is a great touch, if for nothing else than to keep your boots on your feet while you strut your stuff. Or perhaps the slightly more bold ‘Sir Jam’ Mid Tops are more your style with a little splash of green neon and a good helping of paint splatter which was prevalent back in the day. Ah, that takes us back.

Whichever style you choose, please heed our warning. The guys that quickly dropped out of the cool gang were the silly Billys that for some unknown reason thought it would be a good idea to have a kickabout in their new kicks. This was their downfall, and ultimately meant years of wandering a social no-mans-land with the kids that still played their Sega Master Systems (or even worse their Amiga Spectrums or is that Spectra?). A scuffed classic is no longer a classic and no amount of Tippex is ever going to change that.

Were you a Reebok guy back in the day? Or did you plump for Nike or Adidas? And what are your tips for keeping your kicks looking their best? Share the wealth in our comments section below...

Tomorrow sees months of cinematic anticipation come to a head when Somers Town, from the acclaimed director Shane Meadows, finally hits the screens. This is England was last year’s big screen surprise package and we think Mr Meadows has done it again with his tale of two teenage boys, adrift in an adult world who develop a mutual trust and acceptance through the most unlikely of friendships.

Cleverly, the clown’s assistant-turned-director has brought over Thomas Turgoose, the young actor who was the hit of This is England (his first ever film role) to play toe role of Tommo, a sixteen year old runaway with a troubled past. His journey from the Midlands down to London takes him to new and strange places and into the path of the lonely, quiet and sensitive Marek (Piotr Jagiello), a young Polish immigrant. They forge a formidable partnership and begin to make money from a neighbour while Marek gives Tommo shelter in his flat, hiding him from his father. As Shane himself said when we caught up with him recently:

Tommo and Marek shouldn’t really hang around together. But they need each other for different reasons. Marek is lonely because his Dad isn’t really there for him. And Tommo has had everything taken off him on the first night he gets to London. By the end of the film, you feel like they’re going to be friends for the rest of their lives.

The setting for the film, unsurprisingly called Somers Town, is an area of London flanked by Camden, Kings Cross and St. Pancras which has historically be home to refugees and immigrants and to this day remains a culturally diverse neighbourhood. But London wasn’t always easy to shoot in as Shane testifies:

Working in London’s harrowing, really, at times. If someone isn’t reversing up the road in a digger, they’re coming out with a ladder and sticking it in your scene, and saying, ‘Right, I want £500 or I’m not moving my ladder because that’s my windows and I want to clean them now’. I’ve never known anything like it. How anything gets made in London, I’ll never know!

Shot in black and white in contemporary central London, Somers Town shows that in alienating urban environments and fractured family relationships, redemption is found through friendship. Check out the trailer and let us know what you think.

Looking forward to Somers Town? Was This is England as much a tour de force as everyone made out? Or is a cuddly Disney classic more up your street? Get all film clubby in our comments section below...

Let’s get one thing straight from the outset; gloves, like many of guys’ accessories, say a lot about a man. They come in all shapes and sizes, from fingerless cotton ones to leather driving pairs via chunky fairisle knit pairs. But for those of you a little more sartorial than the rest, the only way to go is fine, really fine.

And who better to bring you a superfine pair of woollen gloves than the knitwear king, John Smedley? Made from luxurious merino wool and coming in three classic menswear colours, grey, black and brown, these gloves are made so well by the experts at Smedley HQ that you’ll get none of that annoying cuff bulk under a slim jacket that we’re sure you currently lose loads of sleep over. Not only that, but they’ll look great, no matter what colours you have in the rest of your look.

Perfect for when the weather starts to get a little nippy (that’s a point, what happened to the great British summer?), just don’t go using them to throw snowballs with when it gets even colder. It’ll only end in tears.

Are you equally annoyed by the distinct lack of summeriness we’ve encountered? Do you love winter more than summer? And which pair have you fallen in glove with? Get involved in our comments section below...

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