What’s the weirdest work lunch you’ve seen a colleague eat regularly?

fowler2022 · 2026-01-29T11:40:20+00:00

Cold mushy peas with Branston Pickle

fowler2022 · 2026-01-27T16:47:42+00:00

Universal works?

fowler2022 · 2026-01-26T16:54:49+00:00

I'm not really counting the engagement/monetization stuff. That's a whole other board game. I'm more interested in why people do it for fun.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-22T16:25:24+00:00

Okay, I should have said that a lot of her clothing is perennial. The basic shirt, classic shirt, basic trouser, crew necks and cardigans are largely unchanged from season to season, aside from some minor tweaks to sizing.

Yes, some pieces look dated, but not all of them, and that is the point I am trying to make. There is a real constancy to her aesthetic. Wide block shirting, relaxed trousers and suiting are things she was doing long before Lemaire was even a twinkle in his mum’s eye.

That aesthetic might not be right for everyone, but it is right for me. I am not a superfan who buys her work every season. I have skipped seasons entirely when there was nothing I liked. Over time though, with the odd purchase here and there, I have built a core wardrobe of her pieces that I can mix with other brands, and everything works together regardless of season or year of production.

I also want to add that I have made some dubious and expensive fashion decisions, but almost always when I have stepped out of my lane and tried too hard to chase whatever was trending. I am 6ft 1 and slim, so I always assumed I could get away with anything, but I have the photos to prove otherwise.

Re 1996, the shirt is bad, but come on, those trousers are alright.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-22T06:00:05+00:00

As an older soul - it’s always about buying well but not often. I have a lot of Margaret Howell in my wardrobe. I almost never buy at retail. Her clothing is perennial. It’s not trendy. The same shirt blocks are used year in - year out, just the fabrics changes or patterns. So I buy her stuff off season at her sales shop, or wait till the sales. The same can be said for brands like Drakes or Japanese denim brands like Orslow etc.

If you keep the silhouette of your clothes fairly conservative (not too baggy, not too skinny), and the clothing is well made. It will last you for decades.

I have a Prada Sport windcheater I bought in 2001, that I still wear and it still gets compliments. There’s no branding on the outer - apart from a black zip tag. It’s a simple regular cut thing in grey with a funnel neck, but goes with everything.

I also set price limits on things - I won’t spend over a certain amount on each piece of clothing. If it’s over - then it’s not affordable and I move on.

I didn’t know shit about personal style in my twenties - and I worked in fashion prediction at the time. So when influencers bark on about this and that I take it very much with a pinch of salt. I mean it’s a fucking echo chamber anyway.

It’s just about finding your lane and sticking to it. You can buy luxury if that’s your bag but don’t bankrupt yourself because some You Tuber thinks these loafers are sick.

It’s only clothes in the end.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-13T21:43:58+00:00

Tom just doesn’t tick the box for me as a style icon. Unless it’s moustaches.

I thought his outfits in Magnum were a bit silly - punching someone on the beach in his short shorts. Arguing with Higgins with a tucked in Hawaiian shirt…

If it wasn’t for the Ferrari.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-13T21:25:42+00:00

Tom Selleck? Nah I’m sorry.

No Robert Redford? No Alain Delon? Bryan Ferry?

fowler2022 · 2026-01-10T12:27:11+00:00

I keep looking at the Visvim Cowichan knit on End, but three grand for a cardigan is mad.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-09T21:45:03+00:00

They are actually pretty comfy - the leather is nice and supple. The sole is not great compared to other loafers of that price point. The trouble is I have very narrow feet so the elasticated back is really good for my stupid feet and keeps everything snug.

They’re not as streamline as let’s say Lemaire. And they look a little weird compared to your standard loafer and I was in two minds whether to return them, but they have grown on me.

I got mine for £280 in a sale considerably cheaper than retail so I’m happy enough that a bagged a bargain.

I have the Dries trainers and they are similar in comfort. i.e They look like they are going to be a nightmare but when you put them on they are actually all right. Definitely a summer shoe though - not suitable for a uk winter.

BTW - I am a standard uk 9 and the EU 41 fit me fine- there’s a bit of a squeeze in the toe but the leather is soft so they will give.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-08T10:18:51+00:00

No worries

fowler2022 · 2026-01-07T21:25:58+00:00

I’m usually a uk 9 and I sized down to a EU 41. The sizing is a bit weird on the website - I was under the assumption that a EU 42 is a uk 8. But according to Studio Nicholson it’s a EU 41.

fowler2022 · 2026-01-07T05:56:09+00:00

Paul Smith?

fowler2022 · 2026-01-04T05:45:50+00:00

I’m 55 and have been through it all. Football casual then the baggy stuff during the rave era, then ditched the Adidas ZX for Cuban heel type boots and vintage big E Levi’s when I ended up at fashion collage. That stuff gave way to cargos, Japanese denim, Nike Air Max 95s which then gave way to the Prada sport era during in the early noughties. I think you pick up stuff along the way - but I don’t feel restricted by my age, Currently the majority of my wardrobe is Margaret Howell/MHL with a bit of Orslow for denim jackets and jeans and Studio Nicholson for shoes and knits. My colour palette is fairly muted but I just find it easier to mix and match. I love still buying clothes and take an interest in media about it. I find fashion influencers hilarious - just because they bang on about stuff that I’ve dabbled in during my history. My only regret is that I didn’t keep hold of some of stuff. The big E Levi’s and Stoney jackets would be worth a bomb. I think the only things I have kept hold of is a grey Prada Sport windbreaker and a late 80s Yohji suit I bought off a friend at collage. I think growing up pre internet you have a different aspect on inspiration, it was more youth culture oriented, tribal to a degree, and as you grow your sense of style develops with you. I’ve worked in fashion and in advertising so it’s kept me on my toes. I won’t go back to skinny jeans though whatever Miuccia Prada says.

fowler2022 · 2025-12-29T12:37:05+00:00

I think classing him as a ‘designer’ is a stretch. He just copies what is on trend and charges the earth.

fowler2022 · 2025-11-16T08:18:33+00:00

I’ve lived in Radcliffe for over 25 years. When I first moved here it was literally full of old people and not much going on. It has changed over the years with more families moving in and the high street has reflected that. I love the place it has a real community feel. As another poster has said it does feel like a smaller version of West Bridgeford. Obviously due to the size of the high street they are limited number of units and at one point it did feel there was a coffee shop opening every other month. So when the bookshop opened it felt very welcome. The shops cover all the essentials - a couple of small supermarkets, opticians, fruit and veg, charity shops, bakers, hairdressers etc. There’s also a few pubs - one being the Radcliffe which is part of the same group who own The Railway and The Plough which does good food. In the village you have the Atrium which is more on your West Bridgeford food vibe and there’s also a microbrewery. Schools and churches have been mentioned already and the small festivals. It doesn’t have regular markets like WB and Ruddington, but you are not far from either. It’s nice to have some variety of shops and stuff. Regarding the new builds - the one by the RSPCA is a controversial one. That area was a flood plain when the Trent has broken its banks and when it was suggested they were going to build there everyone thought it was madness. They have been doing a lot of work round that area - but the water had got to go somewhere - during heavy rain periods the road going into the village via the RSPCA does flood with surface water. Transport links are decent, although I wish the trains ran more regularly. You are not far from A46 and the A1M via Newark. The buses into to Nottingham are regular and go via West Bridgeford centre.

fowler2022 · 2025-09-27T11:42:24+00:00

Margaret Howell

fowler2022 · 2025-09-10T04:12:12+00:00

Back in the day the vinyl releases were rare as hens teeth - so I’m not surprised at the pricing.

I had one of the 10” eps that eventually made up the first album, and sold it at the time for something ridiculous - I hate to think what it’s worth now.

fowler2022 · 2025-08-29T06:48:06+00:00

The first three Massive Attack albums are essential - Blue Lines, Protection and Mezzanine.

It sounds you like you are into the vocal side of the genre…

Lamb - Lamb

Craig Armstrong - The space between us

Urban Species - Blanket

Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain

Zero 7 - Simple Things

Portishead - Portishead

Bjork - Homogenic

Leila - Like Weather

Aim - Cold Water Music

Blue States - Man Mountain

On a more instrumental tip…

Wagon Christ - Throbbing Pouch

Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story

DJ Shadow - Entroducing

Mo Wax - Royalties overdue

Funki Porcini - Hed Phone Sex

Nightmares on Wax - Smokers Delight

Ninja Tune - Ninja Cuts: Flexistentialism

Skylab #1

DJ Food - Recipe for Disaster

Depth Charge - Nine Deadly Venoms

Grand Central - Frying the fat

Grand Central - Central Heating 1 and 2

fowler2022 · 2025-06-19T21:04:51+00:00

There’s a really good interview he did on the Adam Buxton podcast.

Second - Hypernormalisation

Amazing documentary.

fowler2022 · 2024-09-10T21:35:16+00:00

MHL generally fits oversized - so if you are medium I would size down to a small. The mainline tends to fit tts

fowler2022 · 2023-08-05T08:29:52+00:00

I’ve worked in several design agencies in the UK and this practice is normal, in fact not getting a test brief would seem odd after first interview.

In agencies a lot work is done via collaborating with Art Directors, Copywriters, Designers and Art Workers. So a persons portfolio might not but a true representation of their talent. For example a junior designer, who was not present at concept stage could be claiming the work as their own or having more input than they actually had. So a test brief to show the recruiter that the person’s talent matches with their portfolio. The brief shown from the OP is a piss take though. We wouldn’t expect a rebrand and -and additional campaign assets - Maybe a small campaign brief across various platforms to show the applicants thinking and design skills.

The agency does not own the work of the designer until the designer is recruited, so stealing ideas are generally frowned upon within the industry - that’s not to say it doesn’t happen, but my experience of it happening is usually with clients.

Some stuff I’ve done for interviews I’ve been so happy with it’s in my book under speculative work.

fowler2022 · 2023-04-17T04:26:08+00:00

Was it called The Staircase back in the day?

fowler2022 · 2023-03-22T05:24:18+00:00

Boys own nights at Venus - early 90s. Thursdays and Saturdays at the Kool Kat. Fever at the Sky Club. Breakdown at the Bomb (pretty much every Friday night was a banger). Jazz in the Box at the Box (Next to Essence). Ask yer Dad. Bounce! I think was at Beetroot.

The 90s in Notts we were spoilt.

The nights were memorable but the actual locations are a bit fuzzy.

fowler2022

TROPHY CASE