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16/11/2014
Off The Rails London 2014 The bloggersphere is very much the monopoly of the woman. Many events which the bloggers of the world flock to, Instagram filter pre-chosen in their mind, are for womenswear. So when I was chosen to attend the Off The Rails London event, in the favorite haunt of the vintage glittarati known as Shoreditch, to say I was happy would be the biggest understatement of the year. The Truman Brewery was the setting of over 70 menswear bands, from firmly established to just a month old. The four day event gave shoppers inclusivity and affordability without compromising on quality - witnessing the clothes first hand reminded me that my life is basically Bridget Jones but with more clothing. 
The Shop x OTR: Nestled in this tower of newspapers were an array of glittering, matte watches with classical faces. This was the figurehead of 'The Shop x OTR' which provided the ironic gentleman of Shoreditch a unique discount on various brands which were the pinnacle of contemporary design. From verdant, ornithological prints, to North-European-esque knitwear. Mr. Start: Mr. Start, first founded in 2008, brings together a refined tailoring aesthetic with an effortless urban structure. The pieces on offer were polished and sleek, easily transferable to any modern satorialists' wardrobe. I ended up taking to one of the brand representatives there for nearly an hour alone, talking about everything from university to London life, and I really feel that the the casual precision of these clean, slim-cut suits; the architecture of the clothing is as elegant as London's own. Marwood: Funny story, so the PR who was there was actually going to tweet me after reading the name of my blog, telling me to come over and see the brand! Marwood feature cool and refreshing takes on the usually plain world of formal wear, taking bow ties and weaving avant garde textiles into the stitches of the form. My favourite has to be the lace bow tie, how Victorian! Each piece is designed to be exciting, being made in the UK, it darns a pretty homely feel to the ties. Oliver Sweeny: In all honesty, I've spent the past 5 years of my life longing for a good pair of brogues. I've had my eye on Oliver Sweeny's range of durable, refined yet rugged shoe collection for quite sometime. The brand is a confluence of years worth of expeditions into extensively unearthing the best methods and fabrication. I really had a penchant for the Goodyear Welted range, which features hardy shoes made for the awkward in-between of formality, and casualness. The distinguished, oversized punching details and autumnal colours on offer are the perfect toppings for a discerning, yet not too overdressed look. Supremebeing:  What caught my eye immediately to Supremebeing were the vibrant colours. I mean, just look at the trainers! Awesome! Established in 1999 at the coda of the nineties, each of the designs has firm routes in the eclectic British culture. The youth and rebellion of the 90s still reverberates through the strands of the designs, with striking graphic prints and geometric structures being key. It's a pretty chilled look, subtly subverting the norm without screaming for attention. Kanye West could learn a few things from them. Archer + Peyton: It wouldn't be Shoreditch without a bit of rustically designed furniture, eh? Pops of sunny colours were sprinkled around this stall, this was the home of Archer + Peyton, Crafted in Italy and designed in London, it's no wonder these socks are divine when they're the combining of two of the world's most stylish denizens. The luxurious quality of Italy is imbued with the edgy discernment of London. Though, when it's showcased on a chessboard, I'm already sold. London Sock Company: I have a simple rule in life; always wear colorful socks, no exceptions. The London Sock Company rode into the event on a penny-farthing, evoking that raw, sequentially British aesthetic straight off the bat. Serving up a refined palette of socks for the modern gentleman, the socks are inspired by the Victorian era of menswear, that saw dapper dandies alike championing the elegance of chivalrous dress. With icon of masculine sophistication David Gandy having recently picked his own favorites from the collection, if that isn't a stamp of assurance I don't know what is. Noose & Monkey: Invigorating the dyerly rigid state of suit-wear comes the small, London-based brand Noose & London. Their main clientele is young men, hence, the brand focuses on youthful, outre designs that instill a breath of rebellious fresh air to suits. Tailoring edgy looks whose designs cast a shadow that doesn't conform to its silhouette. These out-of-the-box pieces are perfect worn as stand-alone statement pieces, or even daringly worn together. Just a side-note, the gorilla mask isn't for sale... Just overleaf are the other brands that really grabbed my attention at the event, click on the image to find out more:                  I had a fantastic time at the Off The Rials London event. Thank you to OTR for choosing me specifically to attend the final day of the festival. I met some amazing people and some equally amazing brands!
What did you all think of the brands? |
