MOURNING HAS BROKEN

CROSSING CAT’S PATH

PEACE TRAINING

Hullo style merchants. It’s been a long time. This is my January 1st post, with marginal delay and a working title “I wear black vests on the outside”. However to kick-off again positively I actually approve of the all-black running outfits so many young people of Hackney have adopted for outdoor fitness in recent years and am showing support. The looks is black shorts, black running shoes and black top, preferably a vest if executed properly. A logo-less code is best deployed too, almost a popularist running ode to the all black Road-Man stance.

TOP OF THE POP

BLACK VESTS POPULAR WITH HIP RUNNERS

I always have a strong vested style interest. Having just run gently round the manor (recovering from knee damage) I confirm the all-black kit trend is still rolling strong. Running, even slowly, is an excuse to wear a vest, should you need one. I wear vests unrelentingly and without remorse. But I have only worn black vests for seven months now as an expression of mourning. Hence the “I wear black on the outside, cos black is how I feel on the inside” The Smiths reference. I’m actually fine, thankfully, and I’m moving reasonably again on many levels. Mourning has broken into a run, it would seem.

SLACK OPS

OR OAP HIP OPERATIONS?

Spurred on by repair of my diminished cartilage and the month of May rallying into Spring, I gotta get these stylistic notes off my chest.  The all-black running kit look is good. You must have you seen it? It’s an uncluttered, unfussy and no-nonsense training flex, and compared to the agonising way these young folk adhere to other popular ‘trends’ I vigorously salute it.

KHAN YOU FEEL IT?

MY BOY CONRAD IN STYLED BLACK VEST

I perpetually wear black Arket ‘Rib Racer’ vests (or singlets are they are now commonly known), and I am totes-obsessed by this specific basic piece by Arket <click> . It is intended for females, but everybody’s fluid nowadays, right? Rib looks better than flat jersey and the neck spec/arm outline is spot on. Other good colours come and go endlessly and I maintain Rib Racer retail vigil for both personal and stylistic purposes, as am working with these vests literally the whole time.

VESTY AIR

I got dozens of them in all sorts of hues, though it’s been all about wearing black for a while until now as am booking a colourful ticket for the running peace train (see forthcoming Soar post). Especially with the Hackney Half marathon this Sunday 21st May coming right past my house. No running this year for me, but plenty of clapping, shouting. Maybe a spot of egging.

CAT SITTING

GET ON THE PEACE TRAINING

Am kidding about the eggs, but I gotta share notes on Cat before moving on. Morning Has Broken is a Hymn further popularised by Cat Stevens (later to become Yusuf Islam) who is one of my sister Julies all time fav raves. It’s on Cats 1971 album Teaser And The Firecat, along with Peace Train <click>. We played Peace Train mid-way through my sisters funeral in November. It’s an optimistic, impassioned petition of a song, featuring fast clapping.
”Now I've been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come”

Nice one Cat, thanks for that, you’ve been ever so helpful. Love and pieces to you all, now am getting back out there and living my vest life while I can.

Stubbs out.