7th Man Gift Guide

Christmas is just around the corner so we've compiled our wish-list of luxurious gifts this season:

Uniform Wares 102 Wrist Watch: £100

Add a splash of colour to your Christmas outfit this season with this sleek horological wonder. Inspired by the form and graphic detailing of wall clocks from British industry, this timepiece is available in nine bold colourways and features a machined aircraft grade aluminium case, 3ATM water resistance, a PU rubber strap and precision Japanese made quartz movement.

Available From Oki-Ni

Paul Smith Union Jack Key Fob: £55

Never again will an element of dullness be associated with the humble set of keys with this designer key fob of a considerable patriotic disposition. Touting a vintage crushed Union Jack design, may you never lose sight of your keys again!

Available from Matches

Marcus Oakley Screen Print: £250

Brighten up your bedroom wall with this bold colourful concoction of quirky characters by Marcus Oakley. As a limited edition piece, this screen print would make the perfect contemporary accompaniment to any burgeoning art enthusiast's collection.

From Jaguar Shoes Collective, Available At Jaguar Shoes and No-One.

J.W. Anderson Festival Boot : £1930

The J.W. Anderson Festival Boot may be from the S/S 11 collection and are hardly the most practical of footwear to stomp around the snow in, but with their shimmering Swarovski Crystal embedded toes evoking a certain festive spirit, we can't help but crave a pair this Christmas.

Available From Oki-Ni

Burberry Prorsum Washed Leather Satchel: £750
With plenty of weekend get-aways in store this Yueltide season, this classic Burberry Prorsum Satchel is the perfect functional yet utterly stylish accessory to tout all your holiday essentials.

Complete with thick handles, zip top, buckle detailing and signature Burberry check fabric lining, this bag takes luxury to sophisticated new heights.

Available From Matches

Lanvin Cufflinks

Understated and effortlessly cool, Lanvin's black onyx and mother of pearl interchangeable cufflinks will add a touch of refinement to any office ensemble this season.

Available From Matches

Baxter Of California Shave Kit 1-2-3: £68

Update your shaving routine for the new year with this complete box of grooming products from Carter and Bond. Offering 10% off the regular combined price of £76 for all three items, the gift box includes the Travel Shaving Brush, Super Close Formula Shave Cream and After Shave Balm.

Available From Carter and Bond

Rapha +Paul Smith: The Interview

Filmed this month within the threshold of Paul Smith's HQ, the man himself speaks exclusively to Rapha founder and CEO Simon Mottram about his love for cycling in this engaging short film. Depicting a revealing portrait of one man's enduring passion for the sport, Sir Paul reminisces about his youth where days were spent soaking up the adventures of his cycling heroes on the pages of "exotic" newspaper L'Equipe, while his father looked on in utter bemusement.

As the conversation proceeds, the pair soon turn to a discussion about the changing nature of the sport and the pros and cons of following cycling in the internet age. Rounding off with Smith expressing how he enjoys a special relationship with some of today's elite riders, he furthermore reveals the pleasures of watching the Giro d'Italia at his local bike shop in Italy.

To see the Rapha and Paul Smith Collection, Click Here.

Paul Smith talks to Colin McDowell at Selfridges

Last week 7TH MAN MAGAZINE was invited to an exclusive talk between legendary fashion writer Colin McDowell and designer Paul Smith at Selfridges's Exhibition Hall.

During his introduction, Colin McDowell mentioned that Sir Paul Smith is the only designer who has received a knighthood for Ready-to-Wear, and that the success of the Paul Smith brand lies in giving people what they really want.

Over the next hour and a half, a jovial and good humored Paul Smith took us through a history of his career in a room full of eager listeners, which includes designer Carolyn Massey and interiors impressio David Carter.

Throughout his talk, Paul Smith offered a lot of sound advice based on how he conducted business as a Designer: getting the balance right between staying pure as a designer as well as being able to earn a living.

It was also very evident during his talk that he contributed much to his success to being humble, reliable and honest, having gratitude and respect for others and their differences.

There are too many highlights to mention here, and later a video of this conversation will be added to this blogpost when it becomes available.

There are a few interesting points that we would like to share with you meanwhile....

1) The turning point in Paul Smith's career came when he met his then future wife Pauline in Nottingham where he lived back in the 60's.

Pauline taught at the Nottingham University 2 days a week, and previous to that she taught at the Royal College in London.

Back in the 60's, the Royal College taught what Sir Paul described as "couture education, a foundation for future life", and through Pauline, Paul learned about pattern cutting, and the importance of good quality fabric and construction as a foundation for fashion design.

Pauline designed and made a lot of the garments which was sold in Sir Paul's shop in Nottingham in the early years.

2) Colin McDowell: "Paul Smith is considered a God in Japan!"

His expansion in Japan happened back in 1982/3, when a well mannered Mr. Yamaguchi from Japan came into his shop in Covent Garden out of the blue with a book full of Paul Smith cuttings, offering Paul Smith the possibility of a license of the Paul Smith brand in Japan.....and the rest is history!!

3) How Paul Smith became a magpie.....

In the early days, the Paul Smith shop in Nottingham consisted only of a 12' x 12' room with no windows - and as soon as a customer walked into the shop, s/he would be confronted with merchandise....

As a way to make customers more comfortable and to break the ice, Sir Paul started collecting various knic-knacs from different places to use as conversation pieces. Over the years this has evolved into the many interesting and unexpected items and collaborations of the Paul Smith brand.

Watch out for the video coming soon for more interesting facts and info from the designer himself......

www.PaulSmith.co.uk

www.Selfridges.com

Paul Smith's early Christmas

Christmas comes very early this year as 7th Man Magazine was invited earlier today to view the Christmas Gifts collection at beautiful interior store in London's Albemarle Street.

Apart from the fun and luxurious Christmas gift items such as the Alexander Girard handmade Nativity set, cashmere bow ties and striped bone china, we were thrilled to discover that Paul Smith have been collaborating with several well known brands to produce highly desirable gifts to feature on our most wanted list for Christmas.

The signature multi-coloured stripes adorned items such as the Paul Smith Vapor Snowboard by Burton Snowboards, the Paul Smith and Kashimax bicycle saddle and the Paul Smith for Giro cycling helmet.

The Flip camera given the Paul Smith striped treatment

Paul Smith for Edelwiser skis

Paul Smith for G-Shock watches

Paul Smith skateboards

Not to mention the new Paul Smith Man 2 fragrance, which is currently available in the Paul Smith stores and selected Boots stores only!

Its going to be a very happy stripey Christmas!!

(We wonder if Paul Smith do Christmas wrapping paper in their signature stripes?)

www.PaulSmith.co.uk

Role Change

British designer Paul Smith has always been a bit of cycling enthusiast. So much so, it led him to come on-board as a sponsor of  the Rapha Condor Cycling Time back in 2009. Since then Smith has had a close relationship with the team and in celebration of this, they have created this beautifully shot short film. Depicting Smith donning cycling gear while the team favour a collection of Smith's suits, the striking ensemble are shown spiraling around a Manchester velodrome. Ultimtaely, the iconic black and white film once again proves the collision between the fashion/music/film/sport genres can truly be a thing of beauty.

Nautical But Nice

Summer holidays may be but a blissful memory for many people as the Autumn breeze starts to roll in and you find yourself trapezing back to the office under a rain cloud. So why not cheer yourself up with a subtle nod to those long lazy days spent at the seaside. With the Paul Smith Scuba Diving Cuff-links featuring two encased website -clad  figures, all you need is a flick of the wrist and you'll be instantly transported back to that Mediterranean vacation...

For more on Paul Smith, Click Here.

Paul Smith Spring/Summer 2011

For his Spring/Summer 2011 collection, Paul Smith channeled the look of 1970’s rock-stars fused with early 1990's grunge. Such looks that sauntered down the catwalk included retro sunglasses teamed with sleek suits of light-weight tailoring; while pork pie hats, loud graphic tees and mismatched prints featured throughout. The long-haired models, who would not have looked out of place at rock gig; were also attired in psychedelic prints, signature leather boots and cable knit cardigans reminiscent of the style of Kurt Cobain.

With this collection, Paul Smith makes a definite nod to his rock’n’ roll roots -His first brush with fashion was hawking t-shirts at London concerts- yet it still retains Paul Smith’s classic high-fashion edge.

n all, the entire collection is cool, casual and instantly wearable.

www.paulsmith.co.uk