Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: The British Are Coming

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  • giovanni tiso,

    Nazis: bastards of the highest order but snappy dressers.

    My sister always wanted a Red Army coat but they don't make soldiers that short in Russia (or anywhere else, probably). She did however for a time use a tabard of my grandfather's and that was pretty spesh.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Nazis: bastards of the highest order but snappy dressers.

    "Green says Nazis 'Snappy Dressers'"

    You know my favourite thing about the Nazis? All their hot blonde chicks.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    After reading this I had to scroll back to the top to re-read the title.

    Took me a couple of seconds, but I clicked.

    Ashamed to say that I only just got it myself. Superb.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Ashamed to say that I only just got it myself.

    Don't be too ashamed. I'm sure I'm not the only one still working on it.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    I'll have what she's having...

    Thought you might like a tattoo to go with that...

    (I am assuming yer not a Butlins gal...)

    ;- )

    yrs
    Joseph and His Technicolour Yawn
    from the Rank files and Madder Rows

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    A long time ago I made myself a wonderful grey blue vinyl coat (a bit like these only not double breasted).
    Recently it was rescued from the back of the closet and woe it had gone all sticky.
    It is a great pattern if you ignore the shoulder pads, but I see they are making comeback along with MC Hammer pants.
    My decision has been to de-coat my wardrobe and start again.
    I fancy wine red brocade. I'll start with the curtain fabric shops.

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    You know my favourite thing about the Nazis? All their hot blonde chicks.

    I imagine you'd quite like the work of Andrew Bawidamann. (Sort of NSFW due to WW2 pinups)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Mahal,

    I bought a red trenchcoat this year (for a costume party I wished to attend as Carmen Sandiego, but that's not relevant here.) Apparently I wanted something completely impossible, judging from the blank stares and disdainful looks I got from shop assistants, but I am very pleased with my purchase.

    Haven't been quite brave enough to wear it with my red fedora on the bus yet.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2007 • 31 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    Excuse the plug, but there's a new NZ blog all about hats, boots, scarves and coats. The author's looking for photos of people in their favourite coats, and it sounds like many of you will be just the sort of people she wants to hear from!

    I have a few colourful jackets (and plenty of colourful shirts: they tend to be the real compliment-bait), but when it comes to outerwear I definitely tend to turn the saturation down. Too much black can get boring, but there's a reason why men's formalwear only comes in black*: it's sharp, sculptural and elegant.

    Case in point: my black double-breasted overcoat by Emporio Viri, bought from the sadly departed Satori last year. It has epaulettes and steel buttons, and fits me so crisply I swear that I look taller in it. Wrap on a white silk scarf, pull up part of the collar and scowl meaningfully: then just wait for the Mr Darcy comparisons to roll in. And I'm told that's a good thing.

    * except for white dinner jackets, of course.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Rachel Prosser,

    I love love my winter coat too, and it's a cross between Scarlett and Raspberry.

    Like JoJo I got it second-hand (in fact I've only had one winter coat, bought new. From Glassons when I was 17 with the big pleat running over each shoulder - very popular style at the time. In England I just went to Charity Shops, and I picked up my current coat here - I think in a recycled clothing shop

    I don't think I paid more than $10

    I've tried to guess the era (I think pre Fair Trading Act labelling regulations in 1987/91) The coat has two labels - One says "Wool and Angora, Made in England" and another smaller, less smart one says "Made in New Zealand under licence by Austin Brown" It could be anything from 50s onwards to my untrained eye, missing the mega shoulder pad era (of the aforementioned Glassons coat)

    Anyone know anything about Austin Brown? There have been a few coats on Trade Me with the label, all vintage/retro.

    The buttons are plastic, slightly squared, floral/geometric blend - I love them most of all, but sadly have lost a couple, which are proving difficult to replace (RIP Ballentynes Haberdashery!)

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    You know my favourite thing about the Nazis? All their hot blonde chicks.

    Ahem (Yes that is Ms Johansson).

    One day I will be rich, and cause it to exist.

    Yes. One day I shall be rich enough to have my own tailor. And I shall own the most finely tailored t-shirts, hoodies and jeans the world has ever seen!

    Slightly less tongue in cheek, the only thing that stops me becoming a serious dandy is the lack of the serious money needed to make it happen.

    I'd love a frock coat. Preferably in black leather with a red silk lining.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • RaggedJoe,

    I spent days worth of hours dragging my partner around shops looking for the perfect winter coat.

    Recomended listening for this activity, Winter Coat by Paul Kelly

    City of Sales • Since Sep 2008 • 72 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    When I was young I just sewed anything I wanted. I remember making a long black wool coat with scarlet lining (all readily available at Evans' in Cuba Street) and it was so successful I made another one of cream canvas with purple satin lining. Have completely lost those skills.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Rob Hosking,

    Recomended listening for this activity, Winter Coat by Paul Kelly.

    ...been going round my head as well. It's either that or 'Fired our guns and the British kept a-coming...'

    Two of the times I've seen Kelly in Wellington he's opened with that song, accompanied by comments on the Welly weather. Soft Aussies....

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report

  • bronwyn,

    I too, have a winter top layer that I'm inordinately proud of. It's not a coat, as such, but a thick wool, bright red, nurses cape, complete with name label of the last sister who wore it.

    Purchased from an op shop in Gisborne during what was meant to be a scorching hot summer East Cape camping trip turned out to be anything but (except for the East Coast, that was still present and correct).

    I'm embarrassed to say it has led to many many sitcom-esque jokes with a co-worker who insists upon calling it my superhero cape - e.g. "well, my budget came in under this month, that's how amazing my super powers are etc. etc."

    tamaki makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 86 posts Report

  • Joanna,

    I have my (Dutch) great grandfather's pre World War II great coat, which I wore for three years of high school but abandoned it in Wellington when I moved to Auckland for uni because it weighs like a metric ton due to its horsehair stuffing. Man I love that coat, but my father and his trips to Canada and Mongolia and so forth has more need of it now, so I'm happy with my bright purple coat from good old Ezibuy, although the sleeves are way too short - apparently purposefully so, which seems ridiculous. Damn coat makers in league with the glove makers!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    At the risk of crossing the threads (satorial pun intended) I'm pretty sure Rick Wakeman would have the purple frock coat of which you speak. Probably tailored slightly on the tall & lanky side though.

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report

  • Islander,

    I once wore a beautiful Harris tweed frocked coat - silkvelvet darkgreen lapels, dark green silk inner-lining- and got it offered to me, after...my teeth in the picture are beautiful, and my smile innocently joyous. My breasts are obviously already too large to be enclosed by the wonderous winter coat-

    I also have a pre-1939 Swedish Army cavalry great-coat- grey, superbly-tailored, wonderful buttons, and weighs - o, 2 stone?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Recomended listening for this activity, Winter Coat by Paul Kelly.

    ...been going round my head as well. It's either that or 'Fired our guns and the British kept a-coming...'

    Two songs I love, but didn't have running through my head. Previously. I love Paul Kelly, but my partner can't stand him.

    Loving all the coat love, by the way.

    Too much black can get boring, but there's a reason why men's formalwear only comes in black*: it's sharp, sculptural and elegant.

    A male friend of mine has a very beautiful black overcoat purchased from Smith and Caughey's (who apparently now have a brand called Not Your Daughter's Jeans) which makes him look very hot indeed.

    Photos, please?

    I shall see if can get my daughter to take some tomorrow. You can all be disappointed - it's a very ordinary coat.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Ahem (Yes that is Ms Johansson).

    Ah yes... a serious 'what the...' moment in the careers of everyone involved.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    I'd love a frock coat.

    Ditto.

    Can anyone see a market here?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    I really want to get those x-ray jobs that are advertised in the backs of comic books. Do they really work?

    Everything advertised on the back of comic books works (click to enlarge).

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • 81stcolumn,

    A dear friend and I once bought an overcoat which we nicknamed "Respect" a Heavygrade Brown/White/Grey woollen number in a herringbone pattern; it had bone button sleeves, a pure silk lining and the sort of collar that would get you arrested for animal genocide. Respect - well if you could lift it that was one thing, but to wear it and keep a straight face - well you had to be a serious mo'f**ker !!

    I swapped my share of the coat for an antique dinner jacket, and a pink padded silk dressing gown. I need to blog all the stuff I got form Surrey jumble sales in the eighties ;-) I still have the DJ.....

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Amy Gale,

    Smith and Caughey's (who apparently now have a brand called Not Your Daughter's Jeans)

    I tried some of these on once. They were blah. I'm not convinced the control top was doing anything in particular, either.

    Re DD pushup, you might try Marks and Spencer. Depending on the degree of pushup you want, anyway. I mean, if you want so much that you are in danger of suffocating, that's probably a specialty thing.

    My winter coat is from the 60s. However, it's also black wool. Do I feel boring right now? Yes I do.

    tha Ith • Since May 2007 • 471 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    Your red coat is divine. And you should definitely post a picture of it.

    My boring black wool coat, and lovely green raincoat I have worn precisely twice, because actually, it's too cold for a raincoat, salute you.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

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