Manufactured in Great Britain, North Sea Clothing draws inspiration from the traditional sweaters issued and worn by the British Royal Navy through both World Wars. By the 1950s motorcyclists had adopted these warm, snug, exceptionally-manufactured sweaters to wear under their jackets as a fantastically effective way of keeping warm and dry in the British weather; North Sea Clothing is all about garments that are suitable "Whatever The Weather".
North Sea Sweaters are made in Britain using traditional practices and beautiful British wool. The wool used in their yarns are not washed prior to spinning, helping to retain natural lanolin which acts as a natural waterproofed agent perfect for life on a ship's deck, the British countryside, or the wet West Coast of Canada. Available now at Still Life For Him, The Expedition shawl-collared sweater is available in navy or ecru, finished with a brass shank anchor collar button.
In addition to the arrival of The Expedition Sweater from North Sea Clothing, we've also received The Explorer Wallet in a stunning vegetable tanned navy blue English bridle leather with two internal and one external card/cash compartments and The Bosun Key Fob made from the same vegetable tanned navy blue English bridle leather and strong navy or ecru cotton webbing with marine grade 316 stainless steel bow shackle.
If anyone was looking for a reminder as to how varied and unpredictable the weather can be on Southern Vancouver Island this past week was a shining example. We're proud to welcome North Sea Clothing into Still Life and eager to introduce this iconic British range to the men of Victoria, Whatever The Weather.
Oh Comely is a lifestyle magazine with life. It is a magazine that makes people smile, full of quiet moments and stories. Read it with a cup of tea or a toddy.
Oh Comely Issue Eight is a free spirit who speaks its mind: They photographed people whose tattoos had stories. Writers confessed their secret crushes. They munched through the history of a digestive biscuit that travelled to the Antarctic. They dyed scarves with fennel and onion skins. People of every age talked about kindness they'd given and received. Interviews: My Brightest Diamond, Smoke Fairies, Paddy Considine, Jenny Balfour-Paul, Antipodium, Julianna Swaney.
The current, Eighth Issue of Oh Comely is now available at Still Life For Her.
Oh Comely is a lifestyle magazine with life. It is a magazine that makes people smile, full of quiet moments and stories. Read it with a cup of tea or a toddy.
It inspires people to be creative, talk to their neighbours and explore new things. There are adventures that capture the feeling of being free, stories from people with tales to tell, recipes to warm your heart, and crafty things to make. All these things, wrapped up in beautiful words, illustration and photography. Oh Comely is published six times a year; available now in Victoria at Still Life For Her, we are thrilled to find a place on our shelves for such a sweet publication.
Oh Comely Issue Seven is like a breath of fresh air. Contributors searched for a charismatic oil beetle in a meadow. Illustrators drew their favourite scenes from films. Models tried on make-up by the water and crushed petals to make a moisturizer. Editors collected their favourite tea towels and decided which they liked the most, and dreamed up a board game. Interviews includeExplosions in the Sky, Alan Sparhawk, Misty Miller, Isy Suttie and Pat Albeck.
Iconic, legendary and authentically British. Fred Perry represents both a sporty, street wear casual customer as well as a proper, tailored and fashion-concious individual. Whether For Him or For Her, Still Life has been the home of classic, iconic Fred Perry styles for years. Immediately recognizable by their Laurel Wreath branding, attention to detail (and functionality) and nearly unmatched quality standards, Fred Perry Autumn 2011 Accessories are available now at both Still Life For Him & For Her.
For Him the Foxx Low Sneaker has returned again in rich brown leather finished with a marled grey upper. The Byron Mid Chukka follows a similar design with oiled leather finished with on-trend forrest green wool upper. Leather wallets (both zip-shut and bi-fold) will keep your banknotes secure while 100% leather driving gloves will keep your hands on the wheel (or handle bars). Also For Him are casual (wide) and dressed (narrow) leather belts and merino or lambswool scarves.
Fred Perry is doing its best to keep our ladies warm & cozy with oversize knit beanies and matching lambswool scarves now available For Her. Lady-sized leather gloves will keep her hands secure and chunky knit mittens will keep them warm. Our Still Life For Her girls have been excited about the newfound Fred Perry womens range we've brought to Victoria and we're happy to also have knit tunics, dresses and sweaters available from the UK legends throughout the autumn.
The notion of 'An Englishman in New York' conjures up images of the discerning, well-travelled gentleman, curious and intrepid in his quest to discover the foreign and the fascinating. It is from this timeless, almost heroic, character that The Plectrum Collection by Ben Sherman takes its inspiration for Autumn 2011, delivering a collection that captivates the very essence of this eccentric gentlemen; the Englishman in New York.
A silhouette defined by an eclectic mix of old English and military influenced design is made contemporary through their introduction to modern textures, technical fabrics and traditional wool in innovative fabrications. This Englishman in New York narrative The Plectrum Collection is taking seems almost too perfect for a climates like the Canadian west coast: allusions to rich, royal heraldry brought to life through the modern, city-dwelling, working man. Ben Sherman has forever been one of Still Life For Him's strongest brands (through styling and specifically through quality) and the introduction of The Plectrum Collection only means a stronger focus on quality fabrics (tweedy yarns, duck-down filling, coated technical marled gilet, etc) and exceptional production at a fair price.
One of our first brands to arrive for Autumn 2011, some styles from The Plectrum Collection by Ben Sherman have all ready sold out on the racks of Still Life For Him. This week we introduce additional styles in our second delivery including muted autumn plaid shirting, lambswool blended cardigans and shawl collared sweaters, and the first Ben Sherman jacket of the season. Ben Sherman, and The Plectrum Collection, available now at Still Life For Him.
drawing inspiration from the functional utility of the scout movement and blending it with the collegiate aesthetic of early 60's americana, ben sherman's collection for spring 2011 offers a 'blue collar' twist on practical preppy.
the collection focuses on the nostalgia of the humble camping trip, evident in the use of compact twills, coated fabrics and purposeful details, designed to function. these feature heavily across a range of traditional outerwear styles, made contemporary through styling, fabrication and the confident use of block colour. a key style is the anorak, an essential piece of kit for the great british (columbian) summer! shirting features laundered fabrics and cotton chambrays while madras checks add a colourful burst to an offering of traditional ginghams and a reworked oxford shirt, featuring a smaller button-down and slim silhouette. the classic chino is given a new fit, bringing this summer staple up-to-date with a relaxed carrot leg shape and a drop-crotch. bold, blown out gingham shorts in bright colours are cut just below the knee, while an array of chino styles are perfect for the chillier days or the evening.
still life is fully stocked with pieces from the spring 2011 ben sherman collection - come by this week for first dibs on styles, and preview the collection and its inspiration in the video below.
a fantastic second delivery of fred perry arrived at still life this weekend filling out both the men's and the women's (!!!) sides of the store. one of the longest-standing labels throughout still life's 27 year history, fred perry delivers classic, wearable, modern garments with an clear allusion to classic british preppiness that very much says, "victoria".
we've happily welcomed a strong selection of the fred perry women's division to balance out or men's offerings and give the still life ladies an option from one of our most popular men's brands. cashmere blended sweaters, drapey spring tanks and an oversized nautical tee the ladies pair with classic fred perry shirting, cardigans and polos for the men - as well as some fred perry footwear and an incredible orange fred perry deck jacket available in very limited quantities.
moving into our fourth season with london-based modern fashion brand, ymc, we're happy to see a nice, tight batch of styles to help fill in the men's side of the store as we await the official arrival of spring. a burst of rich indigo colouring weaves its way through the styles arriving at still life this week with slub crew neck tees, jersey workman polo shirting with neck detailing and a fantastic lightweight selvedge canvas hooded beach jacket.
formed in london in 1995 by fraser moss and jimmy collins in response to increasing demand for stylish, functional, modern clothing. ymc has quietly grown to become a highly significant design label. when asked how he saw the future of design, graphic artist raymond loewy, pioneer of american industrial design reasoned that "you must create your own design style" it is this philosophy that inspires ymc.
a truly classic, iconic brand such as fred perry is always awaited with eager anticipation at the start of each season at still life. fresh in the door this morning we've got a half dozen styles of early spring 2011 styles to give victoria a hint of what's to come from the legendary UK label. as sporty as it is british as it is dressy, the brand founded on the back of wimbledon champion fred perry in 1952 fits in as much at the coffee shops & record stores in victoria as it does the soccer pitches and nightclubs.
our early spring fred perry offerings include a rich, dark navy twin tipped classic polo with red & white detailing, a pair of cardigans (one chunky & zipped, the other cotton & buttoned) and a pair of long sleeve woven shirts in gingham or micro check.
since winter sale season has begun our mens side of the store has been seriously depleted, so the arrival of an early spring fred perry delivery at still life is a welcome sight - though not one we anticipate sticking around for long. see you soon gentlemen.
strong european trades & craftsmen (think woodworkers, fishermen, artists) influence the late autumn collection from london's ymc in this weekend at still life. beautiful cable knit chunky sweaters, one of the cleanest, fittest & nicest chambray shirts of the season, and a crew neck sweater with strong production though simple detailing maky ymc a strong favorite amongst the guys at the shop.
formed in london in 1995 by fraser moss and jimmy collins in response to increasing demand for stylish, functional, modern clothing. ymc has quietly grown to become a highly significant design label. ymc are not led or influenced by seasonal trends but try to provide the solution for intelligent clothing that is both wearable and distinctive. collections gradually develop from season to season whilst a modernist approach ensures good ideas maintain longevity.
still life is a men's and women's boutique located on lower johnson
street in downtown victoria, british columbia. they have been selling
beautiful clothes since 1984 and are all around stand-up folk. this is
their blog
