A few weeks ago my little sister came over for a visit and being a 10 year old at heart I thought we should spend the day looking at dinosaurs and meteors and everything else in between. The Natural History museum was of course the right choice and we were greeted by Dippy, the iconic Diplodocus that was cast from the original specimen found in America. It still manages to overwhelm and excite crowds even though it was first unveiled over 100 years ago in 1905.

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You just cannot comprehend Dippy's scale and that famous scene from Jurassic Park comes to mind when the dinos are first revealed to the two doctors. The museum itself is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 80 million items within five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology.

The museum library contains extensive books, journals, manuscripts, and artwork collections. Because the library is under constant development, items are moved around and sometimes even imported from different museums around the world to ensure no one visit is ever the same.

For my outfit I turned to some Style Division favourites Akai Kuma and Woodmy London. I talked about them in the past when we explored London in the Westminster Lookbook  and again want to show that getting the right street look this summer shouldn't be overly complicated.

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NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM ARCHITECTURE

Fully completed in 1883, the National History Museum to me is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the capital. Both the interiors and exteriors of the Waterhouse building make extensive use of terracotta tiles to resist the sooty London climate.

The central axis of the museum is aligned with the tower of Imperial College London and the Royal Albert Hall and Albert Memorial further north. These all form part of the complex known colloquially as Albertopolis. (source: Wikipedia)

Specimens and research by people such as Charles Darwin are contained within these walls and hold massive scientific value. This has lead to many people dubbing the museum 'The Cathedral of Nature' and complemtned by the icnoic architecture it's easy to see why.

Although we only spent a few hours at the museum it left us with an enormous impression and a feeling that we have only just begun to scratch the surface.

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Check out Exploring Camden - PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNAL 06 for my latest street style post and follow Style Division to keep up to date.

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I seem to have an obsession with Victoria Embankment and for good reason, this little stretch of concrete has a long history going back all the way to the 1870s. I touched on it a little in one of my previous lookbooks so here it is from a new angle.

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WESTMINSTER, LONDON

London at dusk is a unique time, especially in summer and even more especially on a weekend. The atmosphere is full of reverie and it's no better time to grab some Boris bikes and explore the capital.

Since I was going to be active I thought the perfect outfit would be an Akai Kuma baseball tee complemented by a plain blue bomber jacket and my trusted wooden Woodmy sunglasses.

For those not in the know, Akai Kuma clothing is inspired by Japanese art, a style that is all about bold graphics and colours, a theme i drew inspiration from for this lookbook.

1 - Akai Kuma Long Sleeve Top, 2 - Blue Bomber Jacket, 3 - Woodmy London Sunglasses

The journey continued on to Westminster, where you're envoloped by listed buildings, houses of Parliament, Churchill War Rooms and also this amazing bit of cover up. Several of the historic buildings are undergoing renovation but instead of creating an eye sore a beautiful piece of cloth has been draped over them so the work can carry on as normal.

VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, LONDON

Cutting back on ourselves we take our bikes across Westminster Bridge. Feeling the buzz of London, at speed and with little distraction is honestly one of the most exhilarating yet fleeting feelings. You almost wish you had Bernard's watch in your pocket so you can enjoy it for just a little bit longer.

After leaving our bikes by the National Theatre we're greeted by 2 amazing sights. A huge red art piece for Carol Ann Duffys' Everyman is of course a sight to behold but spinning the other way we have a perfect snapshot of my infatuation with this location.

If you ever get the chance to visit make sure this is on your to do list. The bikes cost £2 for 24 hours so you literally have no excuses.

GET THE LOOK

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Akai Kuma

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Woodmy London

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Make sure to check out Exploring Camden - PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNAL 06 for my latest post and follow Style Division to keep up to date. Part 2 of this lookbook will be posted online shortly!

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Early last month Adam from Male Stylist organised a little blogger photo shoot in the historic Savile Row. So early on Saturday morning before the tailors began their routines we donned our finest outfits and ventured into the capital.

For those of you not aware Savile Row is famous for it's wide selection of bespoke tailors and it has been associated with this activity since the 19th century. It's estimated that between 6,000 to 7,000 suits are made in and around the Savile Row area every year.

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THE STYLE COLLECTIVE

In some aspects we look like an Anchorman tribute act but to be fair, who wouldn't want to look like Ron Burgundy? From the left we have Benji Heath of Twenty First Century Gent, Adam Walker from Male Stylist, fashion blogger Liam Pitts and myself (Style Division).

Now onto the outfits!

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SAVILE ROW LOOK 01 - STYLE DIVISION

I'm yet to find a suit that fits my obscenely long legs so for the third lookbook running I'm donning a spring blazer from Zara, complemented with a Farah jumper and shirt and East Dane trousers.

My trusted accessories are always with me so a pair of RayBans, a Daniel Wellington watch and a Jawbone health tracker is a must. I look at it as updating a classic look rather than completely overhauling it.

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SAVILE ROW LOOK 02 - TWENTY FIRST CENTURY GENT

Benji puts in work and doesn't stand around on ceremonies. He turned up with a sleek new checked wool suit from Ted Baker, which was complemented perfectly by the red tie and checked waistcoat. Truly a gent for the twenty first century.

Blog: www.twentyfirstcenturygent.com

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SAVILE ROW LOOK 03 - MALE STYLIST

The organiser Adam teamed up with our old favourites Tailor4Less (who we tested out back in January). Adam tailored his suit with a Charlestonn grey pattern and added to his look with a waistcoat, a minimal pocket square and a trusted umbrella.

Showing that preparation is invaluable it came very handy when the British weather reminded us all of what it's capable of.

Blog: www.themalestylist.com

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SAVILE ROW LOOK 04 - LIAM PITTS

As the youngest of the group, Liam had no hesitation about donning a bright blue suit from Burton and looking like he just stepped out of the shops opposite. The pastel blue suit is a slim fit and so if you're on the skinnier side this might be the perfect suit for your body type.

Blog: www.liampitts.wordpress.com

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PHOTOGRAPHER - THEMBA ERIK

Big thanks has to go out to Themba who was an absolute pleasure to work with. He scouted out new places for shots and gave energy to our otherwise numb poses.

Website: http://www.thembaerik.com

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SAVILE ROW INSPIRATION

It's not all buttons and fabrics, there is a big beautiful world out there and we have to do our utmost to see it. Savile Row runs parallel to Regent Street which in itself is full of history and tradition, here are a couple of shots from the area I managed to capture.

Stylegram: www.instagram.com/styledivision

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Hope you enjoyed this little roundup. Make sure to check out the other blogs and keep upto date with Style Division on Twitter and Instagram

London is chock full of hidden courtyards and narrow alleys that wouldn't look out of place in central Europe. I have written about one of those places (Seven Dials) in the past and the truth is all you have to do is wander the capital to find them.

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SEVEN DIALS STREET STYLE

This time I was joined by Krissy from Interlaced who was lucky enough to accompany me as I mooched from street to street without a real sense of purpose except to drink in the atmosphere and marvel at the architectural diversity the capital has to offer.

Because there is a hint of sunshine in the air my RayBans are no longer leaving my side, walking around squinting like a newborn baby is not the best look. This is also my fifth year with the same pair of RBs and paying the premium back in 2010 has meant I haven't needed to purchase a new pair #sturdy

The rest of the outfit is simply black/grey layering but again it's the details that stand out. Jacket - Zara Faux Leather, Jumper - Farah Merrino Wool Jumper, Trousers - Raleigh Denim Jones Selvage Trousers,  Boots - Jacamo Chelsea Boot, Bag - Ralph Lauren

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KRISSY D INTERLACED

The colourful setting of Neil's Yard was the perfect place to snap a few pictures of Krissy. A natural in front of the camera, Krissy made it really easy to snap some natural looking shots and the setting only added to the effect.

A little known courtyard by the name of Ching Court was unfortunately out of bounds but if you ever find yourself in the area I would recommend it as the most secluded spot for miles. Perfect for those moments of solitude.

Brainbox Krissy is speaking at Digital Shoreditch (Monday 11th) about fashion, wearable tech and the future of fashion technology so make sure you pop along and keep upto date with her on Twitter and Instagram

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SEVEN DIALS STYLEGRAM

It's always good to have an abundance of images to inspire you after a busy day but as a digital hoarder it's difficult for me to pick just a few for a post and throwaway the rest.

Here are some that didn't quite make the cut and if you want to have some regular visual stimulation make sure you follow me on Instagram and Twitter

A few weeks ago OCEAN Independence put up an awesome blogger challenge I simply couldn't turn down - put together an outfit that I would like to wear on one of their yachts. Unfortunately England's climate is unkind (to say the least) during the winter months so although my outfit isn't suitable for a yacht you can look at it as the UK entry to the competition.

As with my previous lookbook post for Qantas I tried to give a little overview of the location and the outfit. Let me know what you think in the comments below or tweet me @StyleDivision
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The Location

Tottenham Court Road is a major road in central London and is a significant shopping street, best known for its high concentration of consumer electronics and interior design shops. At the moment it's undergoing a huge renovation but it remains one of my favourite areas in London.

The 3/4 mile walk will take you past green phone boxes, unique coffee shops and the Fitzrovia Mural. This piece is meant to record the life of the local community in the 80s and was created by artists Mick Jones and Simon Barber. It remains one of my favourite street art pieces in London even though it's slowly fading away.

 

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The Outfit

The weather in the capital is testing to say the least so in the last few weeks I have been rocking my favourite Ted Baker coat and a Burberry-esque scarf I managed to get as a Valentines present. It even has internal pockets which instantly puts it above anything Burberry ever made. Although this is not an ideal look I'd love to wear on a yacht who knows, it may get nippy and I'd have been prepared from day 1.

 

Outfit Details

Hat - Scotch & Soda Beanie Hat

Scarf - Heritage Burberry Pattern

Coat - Ted Baker Grey Coat

Trousers - Antony Morato Super Skinny Trousers In Black Cotton

Shoes - Loake 1880 Chester Brogue Wingtips

Watch - Daniel Wellington Classic Bristol Watch

Bag - Hard Graft Work Satchel

Headphones - Marshall Monitor Headphones

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The Yacht

Now as part of the OCEAN Independence challenge I have to select a yacht that tickles my fancy and hopefully get a chance to visit it during my trip to Monaco. I've always been a fan of classic yachts with sails so the ATHENA yacht was my obvious choice. Check out the images below and tell me what you'd give just to spend a night there. The ATHENA yacht was last refitted in 2011 and is available for purchase or charter. Make it your perfect getaway this summer!

Lookbooks seem to be a little bit like buses, that is I waited months to put my first one together and ended up doing 3 all in the space of a week. For me small details matter as much (if not more) than the large ones, for example I can buy a new pair of shoes or jeans in a matter of minutes but any sock or watch purchase has to be carefully researched.

For this weeks lookbook I again worked with Hard Graft and Jacamo to put together a varied little winters outfit. Jacamo are currently in the midst of a rebrand and as part of this, they aim to cater for men of many styles and sizes - not just the tall and well-built which was the case until very recently.

 

The Quilted Coat from Jacamo was a fine addition to my winter wardrobe, from the outside it looks like a classic Barbour jacket with it's own detachable fleece collar. The collar is very rigid and preferred to have it up as an additional line of defence against the frosty winds we're currently experiencing in London.  This classic piece also has two chest pockets and two large side pockets that really add to it's country heritage feel. In comes in sizes M-5XL although I found it to be a little on the large side (I'm wearing M in the pictures) so I would advise to order 1 size below what you normally wear.

I again completed my look with some Marshall Monitor headphones and a Hard Graft premium Italian leather satchel as these items and I are becoming inseparable which if anything is a testament to their quality and durability. I have already mentioned them in my previous Qantas Lookbook but make sure you check Style Division in the coming weeks when I'll be posting a more in-depth review as well as a little surprise lookbook with Herschel Supply Co.

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Jacamo Lookbook Inspiration

 

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Jacamo Lookbook Details

Coat: Jacamo Quilted Coat Regular

Shirt: Farah Vintage Shirt in Slim Fit Poplin

Jumper: ASOS Cable Jumper

Jeans: ASOS Skinny Jeans In Black

Accessories

Bag: Hard Graft Work Satchel

Headphones: Marshall Monitor Headphones

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So here we are, another lookbook complete. Don't miss another post again, make sure you keep upto date with Style Division on:

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Ever since I got into the blogging game I've been dying to get myself a stylish looking blazer. Sure, places on the high street like Zara and Topman provide their own varieties and styles but I feel they're just a little bit too generic. The 'cookie cutter’ designs may fetch an affordable price but as with many things in life sometimes it’s better to pay extra than living with a shoddy product.

Up steps Tailor4Less, an online shopping destination where business men and stylish guys alike can custom build their own tailored suit. Their catalogue boasts over 150 fabrics, unique blazer designs and custom features that make for an infinite number of combinations. The entire customisation process is done online and was very easy to follow. You begin by filling out a profile with your personal measurements, everything from neck size to shoulder width is required to ensure Tailor4Less create a suit that hugs your body perfectly.

  

If you know what style of blazer you already prefer the entire process should not take more than a few minutes although I would advise you to play around with fabric and style combinations as it took me several attempts to create one I was 100%  happy with. If you’ve never bought a suit before the websites guides you through the entire process with instructional videos to help you measure up as well as information about fits and fabrics to ensure you choose the perfect suit. 

For my single breasted blazer I went with the dark navy ‘Upper Side’ 100% merino wool fabric and plain silk lining. A asked for additional elbow patches, custom buttons and seeing as monogrammed initials were on the house I included the 'Style Division' name as well just to really make it mine.

 

Overall I really enjoyed the Tailor4Less experience, I couldn't be happier with my suit, oh and did I mentioned the free shipping? If you're nervous about your measurements I would advise going to a local tailor first just to be sure and it might save you the additional trip once your suit actually arrives.

Custom Made Blazer Details

Style: Single breasted
Jacket Lapels: Notch
Breast Pocket: Yes
Hip Pockets: No pockets
Pocket style: with flap
Cut: Center Vent
Waisted: Narrow

Tailor4Less

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Complete the Look - Davidoff Destination Collection

 

To complete my look I decided on a Davidoff business bag from their latest 'Destination' Collection. The entire collection was designed and hand-made in Milan (to me, the unofficial fashion capital of the world) and that quality is really telling. The leather is 100% natural grain as no sanding processes are applied to its surface. This method is used across the entire range of bags and high quality of leather makes it impossibly soft to touch and almost gleaming in the right light.

The bag has several cleverly designed compartments, from the zipped external pocket that will fit a tablet and some papers, to the two bigger compartments with a laptop sleeve and additional pockets. The business bag was also built with custom metal piping which is designed to delineate the lines of the bag and look like the some old fashioned trunks and buckles. It also makes the whole bag sturdier and perfect for long distance travel, a perfect alternative to the long forgotten briefcase.

Davidoff London Business Bag Details

Width 41cm / Height 35cm / Depth 12cm
Two wrapped handles
Two main reinforced zipped compartments with
internal pockets for all your essentials
Closed with a Key lock
Distinctive canvas lining that's 100% cotton
Handmade in Italy

Davidoff Leather Goods

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Complete the Look - Ties from Ties R Us

No suit is complete without a tie and although I'm a bow tie man sometimes you have to rock the classics. Ties R Us had me covered by giving me a large selection of ties to choose from. In all honesty it was a little hard to decide purely because of the number of options on offer such as skinny ties, textured and plain ties.

Since I was going for simplicity, an Agent 47 style plain burgundy satin tie (and the same one in peach) did the trick and really tied the outfit together. The ties themselves were really easy to put on, the satin also gave them a really smooth feel and matched perfectly with the fabric of my custom made blazer.

So here we are, another lookbook complete. Make sure you check out Tailor4Us, Davidoff and Ties R Us and keep upto date with Style Division on:

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When Qantas Airways offered me the chance to put together a look for one of their flights to Australia I literally jumped at the chance. There aren't many opportunities (especially in the current London weather) that allow me dress up fairy light and summery so I started digging through ASOS and my own wardrobe to see what goodies I could find that fit the theme.

My first thought turned to the weather and seeing as I don't deal well with either extreme a light shirt, jacket and trousers were the primary essentials. To add to the look I brought my trusted wooly bob hat (it can get nippy on planes), Nike sports watch, Raybans and a bag full of goodies which I will come onto later.

The location was the gorgeous and historical Gilbert Scott bar and brasserie situated in London, St Pancras. I thought the location had a nice theme to it as St Pancras is a name that for me is synonymous with adventure and wanderlust and seemed perfect for the outfit I wanted to put together.

#1 - The Look

 

Outfit Details

Bomber Jacket - Topman Navy Cotton Bomber Jacket

Baseball Tee - Carhartt Dodgers Baseball Tee in White and Burgundy

Jeans - ASOS Skinny Jeans In Black

Shoes - ASOS Slip On Plimsolls With Crocodile Effect

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Outfit Accessories

Sunglasses - RayBan Wayfarer

Hat - Topman Grey Lambs Wool Mini Beanie

Watch - Ice Sunshine Neon Sports Watch

Headphones - Marshall Monitor Headphones

 

*the staircase above is actually the same one used by Spice Girls in their iconic 'Wannabe' video

#2 - The Bag

 

If you're going on a trip the last thing you want is something cumbersome to lug around which makes this work satchel from Hard Graft the perfect companion. The satchel is made from premium vegetable tanned Italian leather and is hand stitched to withstand the knocks of the road.  Each Hard Graft bag is hand-stained hide by hide and has its own special touch and is unique in tone and texture that ages over time.

The inside of the bag is nice and spacious with plenty of room to store my laptop, camera, magazines and notebooks. The inside is also padded with 100% wool felt which apart from being amazing to touch ensures your belongings don't slide about and get scratched whilst you travel.

#3 - The Location

Now onto the famous St Pancras itself. It's slowly becoming one of my favourite places in London and not simply because of the trolley from Harry Potter. Go to any arrivals area and you'll be overcome by happiness as the whole place is buzzing with old friends and relatives who are overcome with emotion.

If you explore St Pancras you can discover a number of unique areas that will surprise and inspire you, I spent the day at The Gilbert Scott bar and brasserie which boasts it's own historic architecture, live musicians and the Spice Girls staircase I mentioned above. The interiors were mostly gorgeous open rooms with tall ceilings and hints of Eastern European designs. It's atmosphere was also incredibly peaceful with smooth jazz playing on the speakers and complementary bacon popcorn which blew my mind to say the least.

Make sure to check out Style Division in the coming weeks when I'll be doing a more in depth write-up on Kings Cross and St Pancras, their history and recent developments.

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So here we are, another day out in our busy city. If you would like to get more information about the outfit or if you want to simply say hello, tweet me @StyleDivision