Valentine Exclusive at Coco de Mer

This week our darkly romantic "Key To My Dark Heart" scarf hits Coco De Mer's Monmouth Street shop as a limited edition exclusive. 

The scarf was inspired by Susanna Clarke's lavish novel "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" set in 19th Century England. An antique key on a ribbon sits at the centre of a wreath of roses bordered by bees and a darkly gothic floral border. Twisted roses intertwine on a deep burgundy red silk background, with half the blooms thriving and half becoming twisted thorns. As subtle Union jack motif hides behind the main image, retaining Age of Reason's signature Brit-punk look.

This scarf may sell out before it becomes available online, so customers are advised to call the shop to check availability or reserve. http://www.coco-de-mer.com/ 0800 011 6895

Sketching

I normally work in pen and ink and thought I'd try combining it with some other materials. I've been using oil pastels in this mixed media experiment, with mixed results. The process is challenging because the oil naturally repels the ink, (which can help or hinder). I based the image loosely on my pirate queen character, and while I really don't think it has the poise or attitude of the original we use on our scarves, I like parts of it. Blues and vermillion reds are going to crop up in future collections I'm sure!

   

MEN'S FASHION WEEK - THE POCKET SQUARE

To celebrate Men's Fashion Week in London this week we're praising the pocket square; that small square of silk, which transforms mundane to elegant with just a few folds and a tuck. While there are conventions in pocket square styling, we like to think there are no rules. 

 What we love most about the humble, and affordable pocket square, is its ability to convey a little personality onto a very plain suit jacket or blazer. Our "Orgy" square below is intentionally cheeky but it takes a second glance to notice the saucy print. We were delighted at Best of Britannia when Grey Fox took to this one with such enthusiasm and styled it on his excellent blog. As you can see we've taken a little inspiration from the rakish folds he created.

Pocket hankies are a great way to add a dash of colour without looking like a children's TV presenter. Keep the suit or jacket muted and opt for a striking hue in the pocket square like our God Save The Queen square here.

Learning to fold pocket squares can be really satisfying. Silk works best for the louche, soft folds shown.  For crisp lines try cotton or linen options (we'll be making some of our own cotton versions next season for AW13).  There are some great online video tutorials on how to wear pocket squares and this blog post has one of our favourite collections of photos of dapper chaps wearing them. 

Enjoy! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM AGE OF REASON

Happy New Year from Ali and Charlie at Age of Reason! We're looking forward to another creative year, looking forward to being quintessentially us and nothing else. We Will Never Surrender.

 Here's to 2013.