Ted's Blog
08 December 2011
GQ article about Ted's favourites Vilebrequin Part 1
Just when you thought it was safe to ignore your Vilebrequins...
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to attend the "soft" opening of the One & Only, Le Touessrok hotel in Mauritius. It was a star-studded, four-day affair with Bryan Ferry, Alan Cumming, Joseph Fiennes, Nick Moran and photographer Rankin all in attendance. Needless to say, I was the poorest person there.
Each morning after a languid breakfast, guests were roused from their daybeds with the generous offer of daily activities: scuba diving, helicopter rides, spa treatments and horse riding. Pretty much all of these options were greeted with a kind of jaded, been-there, done-that apathy. The only excursion that proved an instant sell-out was a trip to the Vilebrequin factory outlet store. Over a dozen male hands darted skywards for that one.
The next day, high-rolling happy shoppers could be seen around the resort modelling their new purchases. Pink prawns and purple sea anemones. Coconuts and palm leafs, exotic flora and fauna, shoals of vibrantly hued fish.
Teamed with the classic Euro-mufti of pastel toned linen shirt, Persol sunglasses, a thunking great Panerai or Audemars Piguet watch and Tod's driving shoes, the well-cut, brightly patterned Vilebrequin trunk has now become the default-setting swim short choice for the high-rolling global homme Mediterranea. This is not just a swimwear brand, but it a waterborne status symbol, a way of establishing yourself as a bonafide Euro player.
Celebrity fans Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt and George Clooney might think Vilebrequin is a new thing, but it's actually been part of the Med's sun-bleached beach furniture for ages. Way back in the early Seventies a St Trop. fixture and self-confessed motor racing obsessive called Fred Pryskel decided he was bored of looking like a nerd in his tight, over-revealing briefs. So, while sitting outside a café, he cut out a boxer-short shape from a red and white gingham tablecloth and named his new swimwear design "Vilebrequin" - French for "crankshaft" - in honour of his love of fast cars. The shorts, modified with quick-drying spinnaker fabric, were an instant cult hit with Brigitte Bardot and her glamorous set of Cote d'Azur acolytes.
08 December 2011
GQ article about Ted's favourites Vilebrequin Part 2
These days, the cult is worldwide with 50 independently owned stores (ie no franchises), including a couple in London and a fabulously silly five boutiques in tiny St. Tropez.
"Much of our business comes from repeat customers who buy in multiples," says Vilebrequin president Pierre-Alain Blum. "A customer in our Cannes store once bought 64 pairs in one go."
There's a bit of a socio-political theory at play here, too. France, being particularly anal about hygiene and personal decorum, bans the wearing of long, dirt and germ-attracting baggy shorts at public swimming pools, insisting that men wear those tight and deeply unfashionable briefs, a la Mark Spitz, instead. Serendipitously, this prissy, uptight ruling turns the public wearing of Vilebrequin shorts - proudly long, ostentatiously loud - into a bit of a upscale, rock'n'roll statement. By sporting Vilebrequins instead of déclassé briefs, you are setting yourself apart from the lower class of "les ouvriers" (the workers) and casting yourself as one of France's "bon chic, bon genre", the privileged ones who don't ever go near a public swimming pool and don't have to comply to such pedantic regulations.
With such sartorial snobbery to the fore, you might even be bold enough to count yourself among Vilebrequin's elite club of "Sun Collectors". More a state of mind than a roped-off society, the Sun Collectors are the keenest of Vilebrequin aficionados who home in on the limited edition VIP collection with its sterling silver fittings and unusual patterns (orange giraffes, beige elephants and palm trees on black backgrounds, have been their recent quarry) each one with a strict output of only 250 worldwide.
If you want to join, Vilebrequin has a checklist. "You love beaches with fine sand, drinking a glass of rosé wine under the shade of an olive grove," they suggest. "The polished deck of a sailboat, sitting outside in a café overlooking a quaint port?" suggests the company in a burst of Proustian marketing-speak. "You love luxury, but not ostentation, the off-season more than high season, and usually take off on your own less-beaten path? Then, you are a Sun Collector and you possess the Vilebrequin spirit."
12 May 2011
"I'll be (Amster) Damned"
Now I don’t know if it say’s something about me as an individual or the British nation as a whole, but when I was in Amsterdam recently I was taken aback at the attire worn by members of the bicycle riding community.
I was obviously aware of the Dutch nation’s penchant for the bicycle, and after walking the many canal side roads and paths I can see the obvious practical advantages.
I was totally shocked though by some of the riding outfits. I’m not talking unflatteringly tight lycra or short shorts but really smart workwear. I mean women in high heels and short skirts and gents immaculately decked out in well tailored suits and brogues. Some accompanied by dogs in boxes.
Seeing such unusual sights, a few thoughts came into my head-Am I narrow minded? Are we as a nation unadventurous? Am I missing a marketing trick to boost my suit sales?
So if you’re a cyclist who’s always dreamed of embracing the formal look when riding, then fulfil your dreams. You aren’t alone. We are always happy to assist anyone who wants a new suit for cycling or not, but if you do, send us a picture.
14 April 2011
Heaven Scent
Ted Williams Menswear is pleased to announce the arrival of two new additions to its fragrance offer. Stockists of Hugo Boss fragrances we can now boast the additions of Boss Orange Man and Boss Bottled Night.
Together with Boss in Motion, Boss Pure, Boss Bottled, Boss Selection and Boss Soul they form a formidable collection of Eau de toilette fragrances.
Obviously Ted likes each one in its own individual way but everyone has favourites. Ted's is Boss Orange Man because, after all, if it's good enough for Orlando Bloom it's good enough for us!
25 March 2011
"The Inbetweeners"
Okay so it's not winter and it’s not summer. It's not cold enough for big winter coats but it's not warm enough to go out in just a tee. It's the time of year that middle layer garments come into their own. I.e. sweatshirts, zip through, fine knits and hooded tops.
So for those in-between days look no further than one of the great options available at Ted Williams Menswear. Options are available from brands including Hugo Boss Black, Hugo Boss Orange, Hugo Boss Green, Paul Smith Jeans and Armani Jeans.
Ted's favourites include Zidane from Hugo Boss Orange, a zip through sweatshirt with chest patch pockets and subtle branding, and the candy striped zebra logo range of sweats by Paul Smith Jeans.
10 March 2011
“Not just for Dads”
Chinos were once made exclusively; it seemed, for men of a certain age. By this I mean men over the age of fifty. Who doesn’t know a family member who owns a pair in a strange colour? If you’re thinking you don’t know anyone then you are that family member!
They were once comfortable, baggy casual trousers that would not have been out of place at a golf club. Whilst this look and way of wearing chinos is still strong, of late they have taken on a new dimension – becoming “the” on trend choice of casual trouser for a new generation.
The new breed of chino features a slimmer leg and looks great with on trend choices of the season – the chambray shirt and driving shoe. These elements combine well for a clean and fashionable look.
04 March 2011
"Check Them Out"
Spring Summer stock is arriving thick and fast, and one trend that seems to be going from strength to strength is that of the checked shirt.
Of varying smartness, boldness of colour and size of check, there are seemingly limitless numbers of options.
The Paul Smith Jeans range of checked shirts encompasses a variety of check sizes, colours, and has both short and long sleeve options – useful for the changeable British weather! The only constant appears to be the small fashionable collar, be it button down or not.
Within Hugo Boss Black, Hugo Boss Orange and Hugo Boss Green ranges the checked shirt is prevalent. Again a mixture of long and short sleeves with many a great option for the summer season.
So fashion would advise you to invest in a checked shirt or two. If checks aren’t your thing though, don’t fret, there are loads of other options. Fashion rebels should check out “ONE Like No Other’s” summer range. With a focus on interesting floral print designs and luxury fabrics they definitely offer something different.
16 October 2010
A Shawl Thing
Today I read that the Frankfurt German Market would be with us in Birmingham in just over a month’s time. This brought with it three realisations:
1. Winter is coming
2. Soon we will be using pitch black freezing cold port-a-loos after drinking ice cold Weiss beer (just because it’s festive)
3. Many of us will spend the winter months performing the juggling act of attempting to look cool in trendy Knits without looking like a Norwegian Fisherman or a middle aged man from an eighties Christmas movie. But is this a bad thing?
Diverse and interesting knitwear shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing though. We should be bold this winter and ignore our mates. They all secretly wish they were born in Oslo and Christened Bjorn anyway. So next time you’re asking if you should or shouldn’t buy the latest Nordic knit shawl collar cardigan – you should!
15 October 2010
Ted Williams Menswear is now on Twitter. Our Twitter name is TedsMenswear. You will see all our likes and dislikes and be kept up to date about our brands, new stock and offers.
12 February 2010
La Martina
We are happy to announce in our first Ted Williams Menswear blog that from this season we have added La Martina to our menswear collection.
La Martina is the official supplier of both Argentine Polo teams and the Federation of International Polo. La Martina has great heritage and tradition in the world of International Polo. The supplier of the England International Polo teams kit, as well as some of the world’s most prestigious University teams. Cambridge, Oxford, Yale and Harvard all wear La Martina uniforms.
Polo is a sport associated with the most glamorous of lifestyles and La Martina is “The” clothing brand in Polo. With Polo shirts that look as at home with a pair of Jeans or chinos as they do on horse back competing at the highest level. It is a brand to be seen in.
La Martina will be available in store and online by the end of February 2010.
