Bowled Out

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>> Last week, my bit of Topman browsing yielded some PJs worthy of stepping outside in.  This week, whilst doing a bit of research/snooping around in Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong as a comparison to the London store, I found myself in the menswear department wondering outlout why I was finding more stuff to get excited about there than in the womenswear bit.  Turns out the selection in Hong Kong is a touch edgier than the Harvey Nichols store in London.  Christopher Kane and Ashish menswear was on offer as well as a bigger presence from Korean menswear labels such as Wooyoungmi and General Idea.  It was on the General Idea rail that I jokingly grabbed a pair of knitted shorts and then upon holding them up against my body, it occurred to me that I needed to increase my knitted shorts collection from three to four pairs.  I kid you not, these precious moments where I ponder the significance of a pair of knitted bottoms save me from the doldrums of daily life.  

They were all out of small but I was determined to have them despite the grave and perplexed look at the sales assistant's face.  I know he wanted to laugh at me but was stiffling it with a strained mum smile instead.  I'm the one who is as happy as larry now as I've got these knitted babies back to the UK and have dug out a John Lewis boys' cricket jumper out just so they can both get better acquainted with each other's cable knitted ways.  Incidentally, I'm still a huge fan of shopping in John Lewis' school uniform department – thick tights, hockey kilts and plain cotton sweatshirts – all at decent prices.  I highly recommend an occasional gander around there, whilst pretending that you're shopping for your younger siblings/kids/cousins/friends' kids.

Gi1

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Junya

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(Wearing ASOS chair print pyjama jacket, John Lewis boys cricket sweater, General Idea knitted shorts, Suno x Loeffler Randall wedges, Prada sunglasses which together is giving off vibes of vintage 1920s knitted bathing suits that men wore, fisherman's knits, cricket of course and Junya Watanabe S/S 11)

On another General Idea note, this isn't the first time I've been piqued by this Korean menswear label's offerings.  Nam of Street FSN was taunting me with a brilliant pink camoflage panelled jacket (top right-hand side of pic below) from the General Idea A/W 11-12 collection when we were hanging out in Florence during Pitti Uomo back in February.  Steve even caught this bit of camo action on camera.  I did question Nam's masculinity in jest, by commenting on the slightly feminine hue of fuschia in the camo print.  He didn't bite at the bait though.  

A quick browse through General Idea's e-commerce site (all in Korean alas) already has a few viable menswear-as-womenswear-unisex options.  It helps that the Korean male model is slightly dainty looking (who isn't impossibly pretty/preened in Korea?!) and so my gender-confused brain is lapping all of this up with gusto.  

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36 comments

  8. Cabled fisherman sweaters are my all time favorites. Glad that chunky knits are back. Especially love to wear red lips while wearing these masculine sweaters, sexy contrast. See my pick for beautiful red lipstick http://bit.ly/H76ypg

  16. once again u’re back to ur non post-lite posts dear
    and yes i too was at harvey nichols and when i usually find womenswear more attractive, the menswear seemed more stunning, esp the ashish rack of sequin pieces sure caught ur eye i bet right?
    how funny im also back in the uk and will be looking forward to seeing more outfit posts.
    once again a true example of how u hv a great eye and the ability to pull unlikely things together, but still im most in love with the sunglasses!
    -FIND YOUR NICHE-
    http://style-niche.blogspot.com

  17. I love you, I love your style , I love what you share on your blog.
    I have alway followed and I will continue to do.
    Next january I will present my first collection in Pitti Firenze ann I WAS INSPIRED TO YOU.
    =)

  18. Wow…my hat goes off to you. I wold look at those shorts and walk right past them, but you have put together something really amazing. I am now going to look for a pair of navy and white striped shorts. Thanks! Also on list, sleeveless cricket jumper…

  22. YES on the sailor stripes. It’s a great aesthetic to clash with (as you’ve done impeccably with the florals above). I also love how it used to not be taboo for men to show off their packages. It’s odd considering how much more sexualized our society is now – at least for women…
    x Peter @ http://low–couture.blogspot.com (check me out – it would make my day..)

  29. SUSIE! PLEASE TELL ME HPW I GET HOLD OF THE ‘GENERAL IDEA’ CLOTHES – I WANT TO PURCHASE THE CAMO/PINK JACKET THIS WEEK AND CANNOT READ KOREAN!!
    THANKS

  30. you look great susie! how do the uk purchase general idea clothing pelase

  31. I don’t think the General Idea site ships to countries outside of Korea unfortunately. I might be wrong. If you have a friend who can read Korean, perhaps they can explain the site. I bought my shorts in Hong Kong and unfortunatley there are no UK stockists of General Idea. I will investigate the site a bit more and report back here.

  32. See my comment below to lulu1. I *think* you can’t buy from the site unless you have a friend who lives in Korea but I will double check.

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