NORTHERN GARMENTS
THE LEGACY OF ERNEST HEMINGWAY
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.
- Ernest Hemingway
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
- Photography by A Northern Soul
Californa has always been one of my favorite places on earth and I’ve been there plenty of times. From Napa up north and the redwood forests down to San Diego in the southern parts and all the small surf spots via Highway 1 you will find some of the most amazing scenes mother nature ever produced. You have the fantastic cities of, mentioned San Diego, beautiful San Francisco and of course mighty Los Angeles.
I’ve been to LA four times and but it wasn’t until the last trip back in 2008 that it really got stuck in my heart. In Los Angeles nothing really seems stressful, everyones friendly and down for whatever, whenever. Los Angeles has it’s nature, the beaches and the sun but also the mountains and the desert not far.
It’s still winter in Sweden but as I went through a bunch of old photos I got stuck dreaming, wanting to go back.
It’s not the north, but I love it.
NORTHERN GARMENTS
Norse Projects isn’t really my favorite label as they tend to make clothing that is a tad too much inspired by other brands from time to time. But nothing can really take the quality out of great clothing regardless of your thoughts of the brand. It is what it is. It’s just like that band you really dislike that all of a sudden makes a proper tune. Is it less of a good tune just because of the band?
In Kaare they made a classic smock together with Manchesters own Oi Polloi with it’s eyes on Belstaff’s iconic Dalesman but with a heavier cotton and darker colors and it’s really great. Amazing fit, the fabrics heavy and well put together and the colors are subtle and nice.
This is old news, I know. Nothing new under the sun. It’s been around for a while. But I just bought it. For £75.
Another great piece from Norse Projects is the collaboration with swedish glove maker, Hestra, which are world famous for their ski gloves that all the pros have been wearing for ages. But who is skiing in Denmark you might ask? Nobody, I believe. But it doesn’t matter. The gloves are made of deerskin and is warm as fire and will last for ages, the quality is fantastic really. Not that I would buy them for £85 but I got them for half so that makes this a great deal for cold swedish days.
Red Wing is on the other hand a brand that I’ve always loved and respected. I have three pairs of different styles and they never let me down. Quality is an understatement.
The Red Wing Chukka is a fantastic style which really can be worn with anything and this one, the blueberry one, has been on my wish list for some time now when I found a unused pair in my size for just £100. Fantastic really.
While talking about well respected brands is hard not to mention The Connoisseur from the north west of England and beyond who delivered a variety of classics during the last years.
2011 really was a creative year for the Connoisseurs as they took their game up a level producing jackets, new classic tees and all sorts of quality head wear.
I always did regret not buying their McMurphy hat, the homage to Jack Nicholsons legendary Randle P. McMurphy in Milos Formans epos, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, when it was offered, probably I was too late as they sold out in what, one minute? Now I’m happy though, got it online for £22. It’s a classic. I love it.
TINTIN IN TIBET
Tintin has always been one of my favorite cartoons and I collected everything regarding him as a kid. Still got the books and some stuff left in some old boxes. Somewhere.
Tintin travelled around the world on all sorts of missions and the stories was always solid as well as the fantastic painted pictures of him and his entourage.
Tintin in Tibet has always been sort of my favorite, not so much for the story as for the pictures and the clothing. Just look at that hat in picture number three, and doesn’t Haddock look cool wearing that smock? Bobby Sportswear? Belstaff maybe?
