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.

Eau de Cologne - No. 4711

What is an 'Eau de Cologne'? Quite literally it is 'Water of Cologne'. But why write it in French and not German? To make things more confusing, the first Eau de Cologne was created by an Italian, Johann Maria Farina. Farina was a pioneering perfumier who opened what is now the world's oldest perfume factory in Cologne in 1709. "I have found a fragrance that reminds me of an Italian spring morning, of mountain daffodils and orange blossoms after the rain," he wrote to his brother. He gave it a French name to make it sound chic.

Pre-WW2 advert for '4711'

'4711' is hands down the world's most famous Eau de Cologne. The name derives from the location of the original factory on Glockengasse, No. 4711, where the brand's rather splendid flagship store is located. The perfume was created by Wilhelm Mülhens back in the 1790's and is still produced using the original formula. JFK wore it. Holly Golightly wears it in Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffanys. Bizarrely, Pete Townshend used to snort it. It's also commonly used in Haitian Voodoo.

A bottle of '4711' dating from 1885

Like most Eau de Colognes, 4711 is a light, unisex fragrance. It has a refreshing citrus kick to it with a hint of cedar wood. On your skin it's very subtle which is the reason, I think, for its great success. It's also cheap.

'4711' today

East London - Ian Johns

Ian has been buying and selling vintage clothes in London for over 25 years. He currently runs Hunky Dory Vintage, 226 Brick Lane which always stocks an affordable, quality selection of clothing. Maybe it's not surprising that almost all of Ian's outfit came from his own shop!

 

Ian's outfit
Vintage Ray Bans
1960's tattersall check waistcoat
Vintage 'Dior' fly front shirt
Bow-tie and handkerchief from Hunky Dory
Levi's LVC 501xx 1890 model. "Given to me as a bit of product placement!"
1960's Tootal paisley scarf
Vintage gladstone bag
Church's 'custom grade' brogues

Bumble and Bumble Grooming Creme

Today's gent is always battering the hell out of his hair with pomades and waxes and what-not. They offer great hold and shine but are they any good for your hair? I'd recommend going easy on the grease for a time and using a cream every now and then. You can substitute hold for a looser, tousled look (a la Gene Vincent!) and restore a little of your hair's natural oil balance.

Rather like good old-fashioned Brylcreem, Bumble and Bumble's Grooming Creme "grooms without gumming". Just put a little on your palm and run your fingers through your hair. It's also particularly good for Afro hair-types or anyone who has coarser, dryer hair.






















This cream is carefully blended with a mixture of safflower and jojoba oils (for a light sheen), and avocado and almond oils (for moisturising). The scent is refreshingly neutral, rather like Dove soap for example. £22 will get you a large (150 ml) tube, which will last you some time. Not as cheap as Brylcreem, but a good product.

East London - Ricardo

I ran into Ricardo outside Levisons on Chesire Street, E2 which is always worth a look. I really like Ricardo's individual style. All his tattoos have personal meaning and I get the impression his clothes do too.

Ricardo's outfit
Glasses - 1960's Polaroid "I got them for ten pounds many years ago."

Shirts - Forsyth leaf shirt / Orange shirt hand made in Hong Kong from Rokit for £5

Necklaces -  "The pouch is a present from a Cree Indian called Charlie Black Fox and these are Ghanaian beads."

Jeans - "Levi's, glued and stitched... had for years."

Tattoos - "Had 'em for years too."

Watch - "1968 Seiko divers watch. It belonged to my dad."

Footwear - Moccasin leather boots. "From Wildcat Will."