Asian Street Fashion by James Bent - a book review

The influence of Asia as a centre of fashion has yet to be widely appreciated. Those in the know realise its importance as a sophisticated and selective marketplace. British-made menswear is eagerly sought after in Japan (and increasingly China and Korea) where its quality and heritage are better understood than here in Britain. We should keep an eye on Asia.

Image - Sam Baik, Seoul, October © James Bent

Given this increasing importance, I was eager to get hold of a copy of a new book Asian Street Fashion by James Bent, published by Thames & Hudson. The street photography is outstanding. The range of styles and influences is remarkable. While, inevitably with globalisation, western fashions predominate, Asian youth applies its own stamp and interpretation, often adding local culture and style to the western base. On the evidence of the book, the men's styles seem more diverse, edgy and original than the women's, which, with some exceptions, look pure western.

I liked the absence of subjects texting or talking on the mobile phone. This has become a street-style photography cliché, much over-used by even well-known photographers.

Nearly all the subjects are young. I'd have liked to see more examples of how older Asians, men and women, tackle style. The young tend to shout, "I'm wearing cool fashions!", whereas older people show their personalities in what they wear, giving them an originality lacking in more derivative young styles.

Why would I, an older western male, want to read this book? Whatever your age, the search for style involves looking widely for inspiration. There are style elements here that could be adopted by any man (or woman) of style of any age.

I'm also interested because I want to persuade anyone designing or marketing British fashion to study the book:

These images should influence and inform the future of the UK fashion manufacturing industry which, largely ignored at home, needs to look to Asia for a future.

A book for anyone with an interest in style, fashion, business, the influence of Asia or just with an interest in people.

Thames & Hudson website.

The Grey Style Project - a style leader photographed in Covent Garden

I have a list of older men of style that I'd like to photograph for The Grey Style Project. High on this list was Gordon Richardson, Topman's Style Director, who I've met on several occasions. I'd been planning to ask him if he'd be photographed, but this turned out to be unnecessary as I bumped into him near Covent Garden when my sister and I were out with our cameras recently. A true gentleman.

Image © Carole Evans Photography and The Grey Style Project
For more on The Grey Style Project see here
And please follow the project on Tumblr.

The Grey Style Project - Breaking all the rules

The rules say that when you reach middle age you don't wear headphones, t-shirts and Converse. Like hell they do; as shown by this stylish man, shot by Carole Evans when we were out on a Grey Style Project shoot in Carnaby Street, London -

Image © Carole Evans Photography - shot for The Grey Style Project

For more information on The Grey Style Project - or to take part - click here.
For more images from The Grey Style Project see here and follow on Tumblr.

In Camera - The Grey Style Project - a new project to document the stylish older man

It's been a while since I posted any street style images, so this is the chance to announce a project to document many of the stylish older men around the country.

© Carole Evans/Grey Fox 2014

This project will record the wide range of styles, tastes and creativity among older men. Inspired by the need to find a style of their own, and fired by the confidence and wisdom of age, many are discovering that middle age and beyond is the best time to express themselves through what they wear..

EDIT - see the Grey Style Project now on Tumblr

This project is in collaboration with my sister, Carole Evans, a professional photographer about whom I've written before when I featured her Retro Girls project here. See also her website here. Carole and I will be showing these images regularly on our blogs. If you'd like to take part in the project, as a photographer or as a stylish man of over 40, please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.

© Carole Evans/Grey Fox 2014

Crossing Paths - photographs by Niall McDiarmid

I've written about Niall McDiarmid's Crossing Paths project before. In early 2011, he began taking portraits of people he met as he travelled across Britain. In three years he photographed more than 800 people, travelled over 50,000 miles and stopped at more than 120 towns across England, Scotland and Wales. He has now published his book of the project, available through his Crossing Paths website.

As a sourcebook of early 21st century style and character in an increasingly diverse UK, it's invaluable. Read more about Niall McDiarmid here.

More Parisian street style

Here are some more images from an Easter visit to Paris. I hope you find some inspiration from these. See here for more Parisian images.

All images taken by Grey Fox on a Panasonic Lumix G2 with 14-42 zoom lens.

In Camera - on the street, Chelsea 2 (detail)

Image Grey Fox

Here's a detail shot of the gentleman I pictured here. Note the pocket lining.

In Camera - a well-dressed gentleman in Chelsea

This is, I hope, the first of a series of streetstyle photographs of well-dressed, stylish, middle-aged and older men (not necessarily fashionable, whatever that means). This gentleman in Chelsea immediately caught the eye, with his double-breasted suit, buttonhole and tightly-furled cane-handled brolly. He had a copy of The Rake under his arm; unfortunately I didn't ask him to have this in shot. I love the mix of blues. 

I hope that my courage and photography skills will increase over time, so be patient. Please let me know if  you enjoy it. With many thanks to my extremely courteous and patient subject in Chelsea.

Image Grey Fox

Image Grey Fox

Grey Fox photographed by Niall McDiarmid

Some weeks ago I wrote about Niall McDiarmid and his Crossing Paths project, in which he travels the UK photographing people he meets in a way that sensitively and colourfully captures their personalities. Here is my original story.

I was lucky enough to be photographed by Niall recently. I was anxious about this, as I'm not happy in front of a camera but Niall was a delight to work with and I enjoyed meeting him and seeing him work.

Here is one of the shots he took, taken by the river in Richmond upon Thames on the sort of grey, damp day we are now used to in London. Despite the unseasonal weather I was slightly too warm in my thick vintage Harris tweed jacket!

For more on Niall's work see the Crossing Paths project, his website and Tumblr.

Photo courtesy of Niall McDiarmid

Crossing Paths - Niall McDiarmid, showing personality through street photography

One of the major influences in my search for style has been street photography - the best of which shows how clothes can reflect the wearer's personality. I first came across Niall McDiarmid when he followed me on Twitter and I found his website, Crossing Paths. This is a photographic record of Niall's journeys across the UK and the people he meets. Niall tells me that,

"The portrait project is ongoing and is basically my view on who I meet as I travel around the UK. From the eccentric, to the fashionably dressed, from the colourful to those who simply fit with their surroundings...whoever crosses my path".

Much street photography records what people are wearing, but gives little clue as to the subject's personality. Niall's photos are different, each one recording clearly the whole person in front of the camera. This is enhanced by a very special sense of colour and humour which make these pictures exceptional.

Many thanks, Niall, for allowing me to reproduce these portraits and I look forward to seeing the project develop. Visit Crossing Paths for more.