Asics Gel Kayano 18 running shoes

Around a month ago I ran a half marathon and finished in a respectable 1 hour, 34 minutes.

Imagine my depression as I slogged around in the sun today; nearly collapsing after 4 miles. I've had a bit of a chest infection and it definitely has nothing to do with all the cadburys chocolate trifles I've been packing away after dinner.

But the most important thing is that I have done the typical guy thing and in a bid to regain my fitness, I've bought some new fancy running shoes!

I went for the Asics Gel Kayano 18 running shoes as I've had Asics previously and after running in a pair of Brooks trainers that ripped my feet to shreds, I thought it would be a good idea to go with what's tried and tested!

I pronate (where your ankles roll outward causing unwanted stress on your knees) so I need a shoe that has quite a lot of structure to the sole to re-align how my heel hits the ground. As soon as I put the shoe on, I knew that it would do the job and be light-weight enough to not affect my run.

The inner lining is really comfortable and there's a UV outer for when I go running in the evenings. It's early days but I think they're my most comfortable running shoe yet. 

I'm thinking about doing the half marathon in Munich so these shoes will be a great training companion!

Guide To Styling Gant Rugger Chinos

I try to practice the mantra "be your best self" but this week I sucked. At my best, I have a nearly adequate level of social skills, some mental cognition that I pass off for intelligence and a never say die attitude. At my worst, I am a ditzy, neurotic mess who runs himself ragged for everyone.

It was that version that ended up pulling out in front of a land rover resulting in £1400 worth of repairs to my car. What a hapless boob I am. The irony is that the land rover was being road tested by some mechanics as it had a fault - I'll say!

Something good came out of this week however as the most excellent people at Gant sent me the Spring season menswear item to have: a pair of slim-fit Gant Rugger blue canvas chinos! The condition was that I style them with 3 separate looks to give you some inspiration...

On your day off

Simple crew neck jumpers are really easy to find and they are quite inexpensive. If you have bright coloured footwear, it's best to wear a top that's quite neutral. These chinos are quite understated so I could afford to add a bit of colour with a pair of burgundy canvas shoes. If you're chinos are bright, leave it to them to make the statement and don't over-complicate the outfit with other bright items.

Smart casual


The Supercat decided to get in on the act for this one. I just wanted to demonstrate with this one that if you have a muted pastel colour pair of chinos, you can offset it with something quite bright and a pair of brown leather brogues. I've worn this bright pink fitted polo shirt. As long as the colour of the top compliments the colour of the chinos, it seems to work!  Try to avoid bright tops and trousers together however... that's just wrong.

Summer workwear for the office

Suits at work definitely have their place, especially in the Winter. However, when the warmer months roll in, I find a pair of chinos with a light blazer is much more practical and it gives you a lot of combinations you can try so you're not wearing out your suits.

I've matched the chinos with a simple slim-fit white shirt, a light, navy cotton blazer and a pair of suede bleeker shoes.

What I Wore Today - Just Don't Call It A Comeback

Marl Tee - Topman
Belt - Topman
Distressed Studded Black Jeans - Zara
Hi-tops - Red Tape

Music that I'm blogging to - Disclosure featuring Aluna George - White Noise

After a 2 month hiatus from men's fashion blogging, a half marathon, 2 visits to Paris and a hell of a lot of cheese later, here I am.

I'd been writing The Superbite for about 3 years and I needed to take a break. I've been working on a retail website (more on that later) and found less and less time for blogging.

I guess we all go through phases when we feel uninspired. I found the cure for that is to clear away some of the unwanted items in your wardrobe and hit the shops.

I really like the military style tee with some black rocket style jeans from Zara. I also bought a pair of hi-tops from Red Tape to round it off. I'm not sure if I've executed it correctly but I thought I'd try for something different!

What I Wore Today - Cos it's hot right now

Shirt, jeans and shoes - Zara

Music I'm blogging along to: Waves by Joey Bada$$

Just occurred to me that this is the first post of 2013! I don't have many new years resolutions. In fact, I've been lazier over these past 3 weeks than I've been in years. I just can't seem to summon up any motivation to do any exercise and the more I avoid it, the harder it becomes to get out of the door to do something.

I'm playing football next week so I'm hoping that will give me the shock that I need!

Not sure if I look like a complete tool in what I'm wearing today but I thought it was pretty cool. If you're brave/stupid enough to try pulling off studs, the studded pocket jeans are from Zara as are the gold sneakers with stud detail.

What I Wore Today - Christmas Edition

Christmas jumper - Love Clothing

Music I'm blogging away to - Lucy Rose - Middle Of The Bed (The follow-up single to the excellent "Lines". I really like Lucy Rose as she's not an X-Factor drone, she writes her own songs and she has more in her bag than just slowing down eighties songs and singing them over some piano. The fact that she's beautiful is just a happy coincidence!)

This bad-boy is again from the good folks at Love Clothing which I've found to be the best website for festive jumpers. Forward thinking I know but you could bag a few in the sales ready for next year? Not that I'm obsessed or anything...

 
Christmas 2012 is truly upon us and in time honoured fashion, I'm wasting another rare opportunity to get some sleep. Instead of a relaxed deep sleep, I was dreaming about being in the Soviet red army during world war II.

So far, so surreal but it gets weirder - I was in an elite unit of soldiers and my power was that I could make people move around with my mind wherever and however I wanted to. Quite handy in a war I found but when I woke up I realised that I'd ripped off X-Men. Even my dreams are derivitive!

I thought I'd give you one last festive jumper shot before I retire them for another year. You'll notice that I'm not modelling in front of the vogue radiator as I'm visiting a relative for Christmas. Noone has killed anybody yet... well, apart from the cat who caught and ate a mouse in the kitchen leaving a decapitated head for me to step on in my socks. I was mortified everyone else found it wonderfully funny.

Merry Christmas!

Found It: Jamie Redknapp's Blue Polo Shirt

Captain Ahab had his white whale, Jennifer Aniston has Angelina and I had this fecking polo shirt.

Jamie Redknapp and I have a rocky relationship. Well, actually he doesn't know I exist but in my mind we have a rocky relationship.

Let me explain...

I'm an Arsenal supporter, he's an ex-spurs player, he married my child-hood crush (what 11 year old boy didn't love Louise from eternal?) and he can consistently be seen spouting utter bollocks on Sky Sports.

However from a men's fashion perspective, the git-bag knows his stuff and I've been regularly contacted by readers asking me to find items that they've seen him wearing on A League Of Their Own.

Back to the polo. Andrew and Liz were both trying to find out where they could find the polo shirt Jamie Redknapp wore on the show (season 6, episode 4 to be exact). Jamie Redknapp is wearing a Lanvin polo shirt which can be bought through Mr Porter and although they don't stock the exact version he wears with the black trim on the shoulders, they do have this fetching azure blue version!

It's an excellent quality polo and has that sleeker finish to the texture which makes it look a bit more luxurious than a high-street polo shirt. Now I've found out who has a sneaker logo on their polo shirts, maybe I can get on with my life!

Size? and Nike Special Edition Cortez Trainers

Music I've been blogging along to: "The Power of Love" by Gabrielle Aplin.(It's a cover of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood classic that's used in the John Lewis advert). Magic formula of taking one slowed down piano version of an eighties song, a nice voice and bingo was his name-o.

I know I'm being glib but it is a nice version.

I've been away for what feels like forever so I'm sorry that I've not posted sooner. First Paris (my pretentious amateur photography will follow this week) and then I've been in London for a week having a blast, beers with friends and then going back to my hotel room tipsy to laugh at old episodes of Family Guy. I know it's weird but hey, that's me.

My good lady was also in the capital for the evening and she got to go to the Webgains Christmas party. Being the lucky so-and-so I am, she won two pairs Nike Cortez mens trainers that were made especially for the European MTV Awards in Liverpool.

By a crazy coincidence today, I'm collaborating with online fashion retailer Size? who have stocked these trainers as well as a range of other limited edition footwear on their website... honestly, I know I'm a bit of a corporate whore but I did not plan this!

The pack consists of the Cortez Vintage, inspired by the Cavern Club pictured above and the 274 times that the Beatles played there, and the Cortez Flymotion, produced 72 times worldwide.

Admittedly, I don't have major links to the city, but I was listening to the beatles whilst on hold with a call centre the other day, so that definitely counts.

Both of the pairs have the name of a street in Liverpool with is quite cool - especially since only 72 pairs have been produced worldwide. Seel Street is one of Liverpool's famous locations for nightlife whilst Mathew Street is where the world famous Cavern Club is located - cool right?

Apologies to any scousers who are appaled by my lack of local knowledge!

As I mentioned, if like me you have a healthy footwear obsession and you're interested in special editions of trainers from manufacturers such as Nike, Adidas or Vans, Size? are definitely the place to go! They also sell a multitude of other brands as well as clothing ranges.