Tiny Trabs.... by Shaun Dangerfield

Why do kids trainers always look better than adult models ? 

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a size 10 and my footwear look's clumpier but kids trabs just look better.

It's been a long road since I got over my trainer fetish and sold all my trainers, I was only chatting last night on the phone with Sinister Saul about this but when I'd had enough and sold all my pairs for a ridiculous amount of money on the bay of doom I never looked back apart from some plain canvas plimsole's.

I found myself yesterday drawn to a few different pairs so maybe I'll try another pair soon, who know's but picking the kids up some treats certainly repaired some of my long lost trainer fetish and I knew I was on the road to recovery as I nearly pulled the trigger the other month on the multi coloured New Balance x Milk Crate efforts that we're extremely hyped up (which put me off in the end). 

Red Superga size 1 

I had a funny old conversation with the girl in the shop over Superga.

As she was moaning about how popular they've got as she started wearing these over a year ago when they first came out ? 

Made me feel old anyway and I didn't want to highlight the time I imported my first pair from Italy for £15 or the fact that they've got a hundred years of history behind them.

After that for the little blonde nipper I chose some purple Vans.

Just need to swap the black laces for white and it should see her right with this summer that's finally just hit us, expect some standard footwear photo's when I get back next weekend along with some other pieces I've picked up this week but I'm too lazy to host today.

 

A Lazy Summer's Afternoon - A Photographic Diary...By Saul Wilks

There's nothing like kicking back with a box of Corona, a couple of fresh limes and taking in some rays (any excuse to batter the kjobenhavn's)

That's pretty much exactly what's been taking up my time and it's been too nice - I could easily get used to such an easy go lifestyle.

When weather like this graces us, I'm lucky in the fact that my apartment happens to be right by the waterfront, although taking into consideration this is Newport South Wales as opposed to Newport California, that probably doesn't count for much. Still, we all like maxing in the sunshine and that'exactly what was on the agenda this afternoon with a pal of mine.

You might ask why I bothered taking my camera out for such a non de-script occasion, but then it's days like today that are just as important to me as the expeditions to history steeped ruins, vineyards in France and the streets of Amsterdam.

Anyhow, I won't yammer on too much with this one, partly because I'm so lax I can't be twatted and pretty much because the snaps say it all really.

Enjoy the weekend, bon voyage !

Tuff E'nuff.... by Shaun Dangerfield

A free disco funk edit download for you for the weekend seeing as I'll be gone on my travels for a week from Sunday I thought I'd give you something to celebrate. 

 Celebrate me not posting for a week, celebrate the edit, celebrate with your pant's round your ankles sleazing it right up. 

Whatever happens.... Celebrate. 

 Celebrate good times come on.

 

1873 White.... by Shaun Dangerfield

Levis 1873 LVC first 501xx white selvedge denim.
Pre dating the Levis red tab I've been after some new denim with suspender/braces buttons.
I fancied the 1922 as they are a more tapered fit but finding these for a good price was hard to turn down.
Coming in their own cotton tote bag with it's history printed on.
Suspender buttons
Cinch back
1 back right hand pocket
Exposed rivets
Real leather white duck and denim patch
1873 rivets and buttons
White selvedge pre dating Levis Red selvedge
34 waist 37 leg

I'm looking forward to wearing these in and seeing how they fade, coming in a not so deep indigo I'm expecting these to fade quickly and wear nicely in an already soft(ish) 9oz denim.

Sun-drenched sounds... By Saul Wilks

Days like today are glorious... I've been having some pure relaxation time while enjoying the great weather that has finally arrived after weeks of rain.

I was digging through my records earlier, enjoying the music and sunshine when I came across this great album by Aurra which is pressed on the Rams Horn label - a boogie funk favourite. It's loaded with some proper quality guitar ridden grooves and tracks that make me smile and cut rug in equal measures.

I can't remember buying it or where I picked it up from but it's perfect fodder for blasting out of your balcony window / patio doors (delete as appropriate), so being the kind of fella I am I've added a couple of my favourite tracks off the album for your listening pleasure...If you're a fan of proper funk bass lines, sweet harmonised vocals and generally ace sounding music then you'll no doubt enjoy this post.

Enjoy the sun, enjoy the sounds and afford yourself a little dance... Boss

Saturday Escapism - A Photographic Diary...By Saul Wilks

 

I woke this morning to check the weather out of my window - something I tend to do as a standard procedure when I've got the day off and I'll probably buck the trend here, but I was pretty made up to see that it was over cast, wet and blustery as opposed to hot and sunny.

No, I'm not on some kind of self loathing miserable trip, wanting to play out my life to a soundtrack of Ian Curtis penned Joy Division tracks - I was happy because I planned to visit a local wildlife reserve with my trusty and well battered Canon EOS and the climate looked pretty spectacular for such activities.

Living half my life in a typically grey and dreary working class City where even the brightest of colours can look like the darkest of shades, I wanted to take advantage of an area of true beauty that not a lot of people know about, The Wetland Reserves in Newport.

This area is one of true breath taking natural beauty and the views and colours around there are certainly something special. I've always been one for the city, the hustle and bustle and the urbane landscapes of this world, but there's also a side in me that loves to escape and let my thoughts and mind relax and run wild in equal measures and this was the perfect place to do just that.

With countless opportunities for photo taking and inspirational scenes everywhere I looked, It was a pleasure to get down with nature and take in some of the most breath taking sites that I've seen for some time. The overcast and sulking sky made for an atmospheric energy and certainly made the perfect contrast to the mixed colours of the landscape - something I wanted to catch through the lens.

Of course, aside from the natural delights that were there to be enjoyed and savoured, the setting just so happened to be the perfect back drop for some rather tasty new outwear as well, but then that's the way I like to do things here... as you're probably aware by now.

Enjoy

Donna Summer Rest In Peace..... by Shaun Dangerfield

Aged just 63 today see's the sad passing away of the Queen of Disco Donna Summer.
Her sexually charged sensual voice and erotic lyrics embedded deep into the soul of her music, from erotica to up tempo her music has been putting smiles on faces for 40 plus years.

Her records have been heavily edited and remixed and you regularly see her music cropping up in various online outlets as someone else uses their hands trying to rework her already perfect hits, no doubt there will be a back catalogue's worth of edits hitting the world wide web this next month.

Donna Summers records have been sampled by literally hundreds of various artists, some big some not so big but you can include in that tally the likes of Madonna, Diana Ross, Mylo, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Moby and many more, remixing work comes in the forms of Masters at Work and other big hitters including the french touch classic by Cassius being a personal favourite of mine "If it hurts just a little" that ripped and looped that perfect sample to create "Feelings For You" which I loved and played to death but equally so I hammered the same version remixed by Les Rythmes Digitales an electronic funk french house lick.
I could sit here for a while and go through so many variations and originals that have rocked my socks off but I've decided to let her music do the talking and list up some of her great creation's and also some of those that we're made because of her, the first edit I have been hammering for a while and it's taken the roof off at the Horse & Groom the other month and did an equally good job at Scala in Kings Cross in February, Enjoy Boppers.....

Spotlight.... by Shaun Dangerfield

Roaming around Birmingham is something I don't do much anymore.
The thing's that the city held for me have unfortunately lost their way's in term's of night's out and clothing shop's and I just don't get that urge anymore to go out and see what's happening.
The Custard Factory and this area of Digbeth held a sense of pride in the midlands as being a bit more cutting edge than anywhere else around these part's, it held night's worth going to and housed boozer's worth drinking in beforehand, with Rainbow on the corner and the old crown boozer in between revealing Air club under the arches I've spent many a good weekend milling around there.

I went back up recently just to see the change's it had taken as the Custard Factory was closed down as a venue, the pool pictured below was originally a pool from when I first started going in the mid to late 90's enjoying day event's hosting soul funk and break's and seeing the likes of Jacques Lu Cont play live 6 feet away from me, good times and times now forgotten and not to be seen again in that area.
They eventually drained the pool and re-worked it as a venue spending many a lost night there seeing some great dj's and act's.
I was quite saddened and emotional walking around inside realizing that I was probably part of the last to see it at it's finest points in time.
It's brought me back up to scratch many a time when going through the rougher times. I've always had the ability to let thing's go on a night out and forget about what goes on in your life.
What happened before that night was the past and that night is the future.

The Warehouse and Rainbow is still open and working, trudging along in various night's but I've not been up much recently as I was quite disappointed the last time I went and saw Farley Jackmaster Funk sometime last year.
I put a few shot's out purely for referencing and looking back on in the future but thought I would share a few on here......

Stocking up on Summer...By Saul Wilks

I've been a busy bee since my last post, I've had a number of side projects and works in motion taking up my time lately and therefore I've been quiet on the blogging front. However, I'll be back to posting on a regular basis from now on - It's only right, I don't want to neglect my blog like a Christmas board game.

I've been well and truly getting into the swing of things with regards stocking up my summer wardrobe. Yes, that's right, I'm dropping summer into the mixer in yet another post, but let's be honest, if someone doesn't we might actually forget that we're in May now!

The weather has been admittedly gash, but that hasn't deterred me from picking up some killer summer garments and accessories. 

I popped into town on Saturday on the premise that I was looking for a basic plain crew neck white tee. I ended up spending a few ton and coming back with two jackets and a few other bits which didn't surprise me in the slightest i'm afraid - I've always been useless when it comes to lying to myself.

I've had my eye on the YMC beach jacket since it started showing up on various online thread vendors. It's as basic and as summery as you can get, but boy does it look good in the flesh. I copped for the faded blue which is the sort of colour that often adorns the various vintage clothing stores in Spitalfields market on a Thursday morning. To paraphrase my enthusiasm, this is a tasty bit of kit that will serve me well over the next few months. I'm proper keen on it, and after it's debut outing Saturday night / Sunday morning i'm pretty sure it feels the same about me as well. That's what you call true love, or weirdness - take your pick.

 

Like all good things, you cant just stop at one... that's why I ended up coming home with the Our Legacy Jean jacket as well the YMC beach jacket. I missed the boat on this one last season so I made double sure I didn't suffer the same disappointment this time around.

I've been after a denim jacket for a little while but before copping for Our Legacy's take on this classic, failed to find one that didn't make me look a trucker with a stash of mucky magazines in his cabin. You know the sketch. 

Although the fit is slightly short, I kind of like the cut of this and it looks pretty cool of polo's tee's and shirts - which is a winner in my book considering I've got mass quantities of all.

Anyhow, I got a decent little discount on this as well so you know what they say about striking while the irons hot and all that jazz? Some right good summer vibes going on with this one!

Mammoth post I know, but one more addition and I'm done and dusted on the buying front - although I'd like to post out it's my birthday on Saturday and I'm looking forward to being spoiled rotted by my girl, my friends and anyone else who fancies getting me off it at Boogie Cartel on Saturday night (Just putting it out there like)

Anyhow, my old favourite Oliver Spencer was my last port of call and I copped for some gorgeous summer scarfage in the shape on this cracking linen polka dot number. Polka Dot's a weird one as it usually conjurers up images of a fat indie bird trying to look like Beth Ditto in some grotty student club, but then I'm not fat, I'm not a bird and I don't like indie, so I guess I'll just look good instead? Bang on...