week 38.
Navy-inspired watches, more musician-designed fashion and an affordable Danish design classic – some of the things we liked this week…
Tudor Black Pelagos FXD
A couple of days ago, with a flurry of oysters, champagne and caviar (greatly appreciated by us on a quiet Thursday evening!) Tudor released the new black Pelagos FXD, inspired by their watches worn by US navy divers. It features a satin-brushed grade 2 titanium case of 42mm (same as the classic blue version) and a fully graduated bezel. Early Tudor watches were tested and evaluated for use by the navy, and the new FXD follows the same path. It comes on a strap with a “self-gripping fastening system” (read Velcro) and/or with a single-pass rubber strap with a traditional pin-buckle closure. While everybody is eyeing the brand’s most popular Black Bay line, Pelagos is a line where the brand defines itself and shows off some great modern do-it-all-diver options – and now with very appealing military inspiration! It’s definitely a good watch, although we might go for not so old Pelagos in the black 39 mm option, that’s a beaut!
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080V13
You’ve probably already noticed that Robin is a BIG fan of New Balance – mainly for the Dad-core vibe but also because they are actually damned good sneakers to run in. He’s recently been taking part in the New Balance Nordic running club sessions, especially to test drive the newest releases and the latest one he swears by is the new Fresh Foam X 1080V13 model (which comes in several colourways). Not the catchiest name but it’s light, super comfortable and minimal and – as importantly – does a great job for running.
Skepta/MAINS debut
The idea of a musician moving over to a side career in fashion is nothing new – think Rhianna, Pharrell and Victoria Beckham – but the results are often mixed (Madonna crashed and burnt with an ill-advised Material Girl collection). One that does show promise however is grime rapper Skepta who has taken the helm at MAINS and debuted at his first show at London Fashion Week. Sure, there were the expected tracksuits and bomber jackets (though the latter done in bouclé tweed was actually chic) but the elegant db suits showed a more refined side that hinted at a broader understanding of fashion than a rap video. One to watch.
Georg Jensen Verner Panton
Most work by Verner Panton, the legendary Danish designer, could not be further away from the concept of Scandinavian minimalism: his exuberant and vividly coloured furniture and interiors are the epitome of a 1960’s version of future living. However his 1988 collaboration with Georg Jensen was relatively restrained – a beautifully crafted sterling silver dish that resembled creased foil. If you miss the whimsy of his colour choice (and can’t afford the €15k+ price tag) though, worry not: the tray has just been released in three zingy shades of blue, red and green glass. They make a tactile and striking addition to your desk or coffee table for sure, but we like the new version in stainless steel that has all the understated charm of the original but with a much less spicy price tag.
Soulland x 1664
Another week, another collab we hear you cry. But to be honest, Soulland have a long and successful history of working with other brands – Hello Kitty, Vinnys and Snoopy being particular highlights. The latest is a little more left field as they team up with Kronenbourg 1664 beer in a capsule collection of t-shirts, pants and even a swimsuit in a celebration of Copenhagen party vibes. There’s a little element of design-by-numbers at play (literally in this case) as the garments generally are pretty simple but with ‘1664’ emblazoned in blue crystals that match the colour of the bottles but we are sure there is a market for beer-lovering Soulland fans who are happy to wear their allegiance on their chest.
