South London Style - Matthieu Beck

Originally from Bordeaux, Matthieu is a South London-based musician (see Zooey) and record shop guy. I thought this was the perfect look to celebrate the Tour de France's recent visit to London.

  

Matthieu wears...

Cap - "My girlfriend got it for me."

Silk scarf - Christian Dior from 'Steack Fripes', Bordeaux. "A great second hand store."

Denim jacket - Levis from 'Retro Man', Notting Hill. "Another gift from my girlfriend."

Backpack -  Herschel

Shirt - Second hand from Bordeaux.

T-shirt - "It's a Belle & Sebastian t-shirt."

Jeans - Lee, from Tk Maxx, Brixton.

Trainers - New Balance from 'Retro Man'.

Bike - 1970s Halford Racer.

Visit facebook.com/zooooooooooey

Royal Crown Hair Dressing

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee - where it is still manufactured to this day using the original formula - it is little wonder that Royal Crown is often referred to as Elvis's hair grease of choice. Allegedly that's something of a fallacy, he preferred Black & White. Who really knows (and cares) though? Royal Crown's Hair Dressing is light, bright and smells just like a barbershop should. The formula is very simple, consisting of petroleum jelly, olive oil and perfume. It's the olive oil that makes it good for the hair, unlike many pomades that can seriously upset your natural oil balance. In this sense it's reminiscent of 'Edge Control'. Though i think I know which tub design I prefer.

 

Royal Crown's Stick Pomade is tinted black and helps to hide gray hairs. It's much heavier than the hair dressing and offers more hold. It's also one of a very few hair greases that fits in your pocket. Both products are suitable for men and women.

Istanbul (not Constantinpole)

Just got back from Istanbul, City of simit street vendors, barbers and bazaars, hamaams and halloumi. If you visit, I've got one piece of advice for you. Don't pack a razor! Turkey has many wonderful barbers and a wet shave only costs two or three pounds.

You'll always see wet towels drying outside a Turkish barber's.

I got the cut throat treatment from this wonderful gent, who spoke no English but rather generously compared me to a young Alain Delon.

  

Aside from visiting a barber or two there are many great make-shift tea/coffee shops. These are usually just a few small stools and tables in the street and a friendly man with a chai urn and a coffee machine.

Turkish coffee is a fine, fine thing! Best enjoyed with one sugar and maybe a piece of baklawa.

 

  

Amla Hair Oil

Continuing with the theme of exotic perfumes and hair greases I'd like to talk a bit about Amla Hair Oil. The Amla Tree or 'Indian Gooseberry' is considered sacred by Hindus and plays an important role in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Some people claim it makes the hair grow faster and prevents premature greyness. Certainly it helps nourish the hair. If you suffer from dryness or split ends then comb some through your locks after washing and wrap in a towel while the hair is still wet. Leave the towel on for 20 mins and Balvindra's your uncle.

You can pick up all sorts of Amla oil-based products (including shampoos) from your high street chemist, but I was attracted to Kohinoor's hair oil from Pakistan. The bottle is particularly beautiful I think. The scent is rich and reminiscent of the East, like one of the perfumes you might find outside a Mosque. Obviously it doesn't offer any hold, but like a brillantine gives the hair a lovely sheen. Really though this is all about the scent, and the lovely bottle!

Murrays Pomade

Being both a frequent grease user and a purveyor of pomade I suppose I'm in a good position to comment on which is the 'king of the pomades'. I sell more tins of Murray's Original than any other hair grease. But I rarely use it myself.

Formed in the 1920s Murray's is certainly one of the longest running pomade brands. It was them who pioneered the metal tin which almost all pomade comes in today. The idea was that you placed the tin on the stove to heat it up and soften the wax before application. To this day Murray's Original remains a heavy pomade that you have to work in your hands for a minute or so (or risk the slightly dangerous stove idea) in order to make it workable. A lot of the people that buy it off me don't seem to mind this, knowing that the pomade offers unbeatable hold and a lovely level of shine.

Over the years Murrays have extended their range to include Nu Nile, which is slightly lighter than the original but still offers strong hold, not to mention a unique, rather fine scent. I sell very little Nu Nile, but personally use it regularly.

Murray's Super Light (and Murray's Hair-Glo) are both very light and won't keep your quiff in place per se. They are more to give the hair a lovely shine, or a loose hold. They both have a nice coconut scent and are somewhat reminiscent of my favourite pomade, Black & White.

Finally, check out this rather wonderful piece of memorabilia. Murray's Special Obama Edition pomade. One of my treasured possessions!

The Beat Generation

“So in America when the sun goes down and I sit on the old broken-down river pier watching the long, long skies over New Jersey and sense all that raw land that rolls in one unbelievable huge bulge over to the West Coast, and all that road going, and all the people dreaming in the immensity of it..."
Jack Kerouac - On the Road (1955)

1. Italian Leather Holdall from John Lewis
2. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star from converse.co.uk
3. 'The Americans' by Robert Frank
4. 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac, 2nd UK edition

1. Vintage 1950's shirt from Radio Days
2. Miles Davis - Milestones
3. Royal Crown Stick Pomade from lostjohns.co.uk

'One Hundred Years of Menswear' by Cally Blackman from Fashion and Textile Museum Shop
 

1. Vintage record box
2. Shanghai workers jacket
3. Charlie Parker - Yardbird from Gramex, Lower Marsh
4. 'Scattered Poems' by Jack Kerouac from Foyles
5. Vintage matches

Easter Camping Holiday

Time to pack your bags for a bank holiday break. It looks like the weather is going to be hot too! This is what I'm taking with me on my weekend camping trip.

Italian 'Alpini' Canvas Rucksack 
Compact, easy to carry and stylish. Wynnchester sell some great reconditioned back packs, as well as clothing, tents etc. Everything you need! From wynnchester.co.uk.

Douvalls Daily Moisturiser with SPF30 - Travel Size
An excellent organic moisturiser with UVA/B protection. Not too greasy and with a pleasant smell. From douvalls.com.

Mr Natty's Poacher's Candle
Mr Natty has a superb range of hair and shaving products. His juniper and pine organic poacher's candle burns for 40 hours. Just don't burn down your tent! From mrnatty.com.

Tales from the Dead of Night: Thirteen Classic Ghost Stories
Be afraid with this classic collection of ghost stories! From waterstones.com.

Couto Toothpaste
Nothing worse than forgetting your toothpaste when you go camping. This Portuguese product tastes just right. From thegreensardine.co.uk.

Falcon Enamel Mug
Wouldn't drink that morning cuppa from anything else. From labourandwait.co.uk.