Mark McNairy Smiley Cap

Topman giving the denim jacket new life

Mark McNairy

Topman has been embraced by the British male population like nothing I've seen before. It was, at one point, my one stop shop for looking 'cool', that has since died down but I do still venture in to see what they're doing. My interest in Topman was piqued when I discovered their Topman Design line that shows at London Fashion Week, Topman LTD and their boutique section which features a number of different brands.

From time to time this retail behemoth steps back and invests its time in creating something worthwhile and unique, the latest of these projects is the Denim Jacket Project. Topman have teamed up with 5 designers: Oliver Spencer, Lou Dalton, Katie Eary, Shaun Samson and personal favourite Mark McNairy from the USA to provide an American take as well as their own in-house design team to put a new spin on the wardrobe staple.

Topman design director Gordon Richardson says: “We all own or have owned one but this project is the perfect excuse to re-evaluate the most iconic of all wardrobe staples […] we have reinvention on a grand scale, trompe l’oeil, overprinting and mesh put the denim jacket centre stage once again.”

Mark McNairy's (pictured above) may look like a regular denim jacket but upon closer inspection you can see that on one side there is a classic jacket line and on the other a shirt-like design. Constructed out of dry raw denim this is a piece that is both quirky and built to last.

Oliver Spencer

Spencer's take comes in the form of a biker jacket in this deep blue with contrasting metallic zippers and front breast pocket.

Shaun Samson

Shaun Samson injects one of his design trademarks of unusual fabric combinations into his take on the denim jacket by using a sport mesh on the back of the garment.

Katie Eary

Katie is one of the designers who used a lighter wash of denim for her piece which also has a detachable collar and animal print lining.

Lou Dalton

 Dalton also uses a light denim wash and like Katie presents a more classic slim silhouette.

Topman Design

Topman Design's comes in a darker wash with a cool polka dot effect as well as a more workwear oriented silhouette. 

The collection will be available April 5th at a very awesome £70.

Grab your cards - Opening Ceremony sale

Big fan of Opening Ceremony over here. Founded in Hong Kong in 2002 by Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, they represent wholeheartedly, at least for me, what a label should be like nowadays - collaborative, different and fun. I think bygone are the days that everyone needs to conform to push forward and get ahead because where will you get if you're offering products that are basically the same as someone else. OC embraces an alternative culture and as such are able to present something very quirky and unlike anything you've seen or likely to see. They host events, they interact with their fans which I think is very important when you remember that social media is a mainstay in our society and as such being on a level with the people who keep you up there is paramount in maintaining and continuing success.

They have celebrity fans that range from Chloe Sevigne to Alexa Chung and they collaborate with every brand imaginable including Gitman Bros., Rodarte, Pendleton and Reyn Spooner. I love the whole concept of the brand and hope that I'm able to visit the store in NYC in the near future.

Speaking of the store they currently have a titanic sale on and after a thorough look through I've picked my favourite pieces that could help cripple my wallet. Take a look.

Gerlan Jeans Appalachian Anorak, $ 370.00 148.00. The print on this coat is insane, it kind of drums up the image of the Burberry Prorsum storm jacket at Park & Bond

Monitaly Riders Coat, $ 805.00 242.00

Warriors of Radness mod cargo pant, $ 185.00 56.00. I love these, and that's saying something because I'm not a fan of the recent trend of elasticated cuffs but here I can make an exception.

Opening Ceremony wool cargo pant, $ 345.00 104.00. I love these because they put a new twist on the cargo ant by using a pattern rather than one colour.

Pendleton Meets Opening Ceremony cargo pant, $ 370.00 111.00.

Assembly New York longrise pants, $ 240.00 72.00. Made in the USA, classic khaki pants with button and zip fly with unfinished seams.

Great floral 90/10 wool and cashmere workshirt from Opening Ceremony, $ 195.00 59.00

All Gitman Brothers x Opening Ceremony
1.  Brodie hunter BD long sleeve shirt, $ 165.00 99.00
2. Tan cheetah basic shorts, $ 150.00 45.00
3.  Japan/America basic long sleeve shirt, $ 165.00 99.00

Mark McNairy New Amsterdam San Salvador Burro Boot in a. tan, b. navy, c. grey, d. chocolate
$ 125.00 88.00

I hope you like what I've chosen, I do (just bought the San Salvador boots in tan). Check my other GYC features and grab yourself a bargain.

Mark McNairy at Berlin Fashion Week

Mark McNairy revealed a further look at his Fall Winter collection. Take a look at some choice pieces below. I am obsessing over his prints and I'm particularly living for the pants.

I'm loving the brogue boots with the floral print. Images via

Mark McNairy 'New Amsterdam' FW12 - Behind the scenes

I know y'all cannot be sick of the barrage of McNairy I've been pelting you with, right? Now we have a behind the scenes look at the shoot for his Fall/Winter 'New Amsterdam' collection. It includes his collaborations with Timbaland and New Era, expanding upon the footwear we saw to include ties and headwear. Also on show was part of the womenswear collection featuring Mark McNairy's daughter, Daisy, who donned a bright yellow vest and a great cropped trouser suit adorned with yellow daisies. It's great to see someone take inspiration from their own lives and incorporate it into their designs. Classic detailing comes in the form of a fur trimmed camel camo coat and witty tag lines on the headwear.

I can't stress enough how much I love this man's work both from his namesake and his work with Woolrich Woolen Mills. To be honest no one right now is doing what he's doing - making one of a kind, fun, expressive clothes that whilst quite off the wall are extremely wearable and classic.

I have my eye on that 'hard head' hat he's done with New Era.

Watch the video We Are The Market posted and check out the screen grabs below

The gorgeous Daisy McNairy showing her modelling chops

Hooman Majd in my hat

Love this coat. The fur lining will assuredly keep you warm next Fall

The inspiration wearing the inspired. Great smart grey suit with cropped trousers, embroidered with pink daisies

God, I hope there's a men's variant to this shirt. That floral print is right up my alley.

Mark McNairy 'New Amsterdam' FW12

A week today I wrote a post about Mark McNairy's collaboration with New Era on a pair of derbys. Yesterday, I posted a video with a behind the scenes look at his upcoming collection for Woolrich Woolen Mills. Today, I present to all you McNastys (something I've seen people throwing around) a preview of his upcoming footwear range for the 'New Amsterdam' Fall/Winter '12 collection from this year's Pitti Uomo.

Peep the collection after the jump

Woolrich Woolen Mills FW12

Check out this behind the scenes footage of the shoot for Woolrich's Fall/Winter collection with Mark McNairy and photographer Tim Barber.


Woolrich Woolen Mills Fall/Winter 2012: Behind the Scene from Black Frame on Vimeo.

Mark McNairy x New Era

I'm not going to lie, I fan girl whenever it comes to anything Mark McNairy because he's a man that doesn't pull any punches when it comes to his design, philosophy or personality. He conveys the excitement and the buzz that is happening now in modern menswear and presents pieces that you are very unlikely to see from anyone else out there.

At Pitti Uomo this year he surprises us once again with a collaboration between his New Amsterdam line and New Era.

Mr McNairy also refreshed his derby shoes with splashes of colour and his usual flair for the unusual.

In addition to his collaboration with New Era he also presented a capsule collection with Timbaland. Hints of camo and accents of colour were present along with this very intriguing folding sandal.

Mark McNairy never ceases to impress me. Expect these to be in stores around August/September this year.

[images via wearethemarket]

Mark McNairy Womenswear SS12

this shit cray

On my list - Mark McNairy for Tres Bien Shop

Mark McNairy is a man I've been paying very close attention to. His recently revealed New Amsterdam apparel collection really had me excited because it showed a real forward thinker, someone not tethered by trend. I paid particular attention to his ability to mix patterns yet at the same time being able to make an outfit look classic and understated.

I've really wanted to own a pair of his footwear because that's what really got him his name and from what I've heard and read they are the pinnacle of quality. This particular pair have been made in conjunction with Swedish boutique Tres Bien Shop and though they are out of the realm of possibility for me now but I'm willing to wait and save to own these.

Mark McNairy for TBS Navy derby, 100% Suede leather, Goodyear welted natural crepe sole
Crafted in England