PHOTOGRAPHY

Newcastle, gets a Vans Store.

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Wait, What? About f*ck!ng time! So Newcastle Upon Tyne, my hometown, the place of Geordie Shore, many a basic b*!ch and me (some people would probably say I am a basic, bit extra… but at least my Vans collection isn’t just black and white Old Skools, cause I’m so edgy…).

So I know this is late, but hey, at least I have gotten around to this. It has been a busy AF few weeks with work, freelance, being ill and attempting to get out and be social (I was white girl wasted last week)

Pizza, Beer, Vans. The way to my heart is this trilogy of godlike creations. Shout out to the DJ’s spinning some nostalgia from my teen years with some of still favourite bands, you played some tunes.

A definite highlight had to be the fact they had beer pong, I feel like I own a table at a party but that is probably the dutch courage and the fact I am a loud, in the centre of the room kinda A-hole. This being said land a ball, get a discount. Shocking performance by me (drunk Lee is pro at beer pong), luckily the better half has a better aim sober.

Vans tailored the party perfectly for Newcastle, it was a party welcome to the biggest, best and most vital brand in skate to ‘the toon’. 

Another highlight (clearly I am going to have many in this store) was the random drunk, who didn’t want pizza, or any apparel. Just the beer, poor woman serving politely telling him no to the request of “can I just have a can to take?” He was not happy and left disappointed in the fact he had to purchase his booze.

Well discount card in hand, I notice the Chima Pro 2, the grey colour-way that has been tempting me for a while…

One guess. Yep. I walked out with a pair in hand. 

I have said this before, the British love something free, we will wait in a line to get anything free especially a sample of food… Beer and Pizza. Yes. F!ck me we are ridiculous, but screw that, make a cup of tea and we will politely ignore the fact we are a weird country of people. I lived up to my stereotype. Thank you vans for the free Newcastle tote filled with some Vans goodies!

LeADeR

Car parks, Trousers & Triangles

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Car Park, trousers and triangles what an interesting threesome. (If you read that in a dirty way, get your mind out the gutter. Does that mean mine is in the gutter cause I covered that angle just incase?)

Does anyone else seem to think I take a lot of photographs in car parks? I think I have a problem. I need to find somewhere urban and not a car park.

This was clearly taken before the beast from the east 2.0 came along as I could get away with just a jacket. Absolutely BALTIC outside at the moment. The sea is actually terrifyingly rough. Less BBC Weather, more fashion rambles.

Trousers and trainers are in. This look was a big thing in 2016, it appears to be still alive and kicking, seeing a lot of Hypebeasts/Hypebeas in either trousers or joggers. Not much of a jogger wearer myself so I have fell on the side of trousers. Picked up some from a vintage shop (will drop you some info on this gem soon). Went for a grey check this way I can partner it with either black or white. Or both as I did. To finish this up, I popped some classic Bordeaux kicks on and rolled up the legs and I was set to roam about Birmingham shopping for the day.

Hat: Supreme, FW15, Suede 15 Camp, Black.

Tee: Palace, FW16, P3D Tri-Ferg, White/Pink.

Trousers: Vintage shop pick up.

Jacket: Winter 2016, Levis corduroy jacket, Black.

Shoes: Vans, Sk8-Hi, Bordeaux.

LeADeR

Everyone loves an Anniversary

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I have been a bit quiet recently haven’t I? Well I am hoping to change that and currently here to chat utter sh*t$ again. THIS was taken before the Beast from the East, the absolute blizzard that grounded the UK to a halt. If anyone was ever thinking of over throwing the country on a snow day will be the best time. Cause are any of us leaving the house? Nah, no chance. I want to be warm so if you want a cold as grey country it is all yours bro.

So what the anniversary? Well its the VANS Half Cab celebrating its 25th year anniversary (in 2017). I thought since winter has (or at least I thought) passed it is time to get out some of the trainers I have been saving for spring. I had to go for the black colour way so that it would go with my 5,000 black items of clothing and black Half Cabs are staple and iconic look.

Got mad love for this tee, by far the best one of the SS18 opener tee’s. I feel that Supreme out did themselves one this one, a artistic rendition of a card game on the front and the start and end date of the season make this top a commemorative number that even after the season will act as a piece of remembrance. Had to get at least one black tee, to go with my collection of black jeans. Pop on some fresh kicks and you are sorted. 

Said fresh kicks are the Vans 25th Anniversary Half cabs as discussed above. LIT.

Hat: Supreme, FW16, Tartan Check Camp, Black.

Tee: Supreme SS18, Cards Tee, Black.

Jeans: Alexander McQueen, Swallow, Black.

Shoes: Vans 25th Anniversary Half Cab, Black.

Till next time I get vain in what I am wearing. Keep reading and follow my Insta folks!

LeADeR

 

 

 

 

 

January drew to a close after 74 days.

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Is it okay to swear? Cause January is finally done after what felt like 3 months and 74 days not 31. I feel like it should be New Year all over again cause that was one damn long month. No doubt the rest of the year will fly by in a blink of an eye and we will be sat heads in hands working out where 11 months of life went. Also why the hangovers are still getting worse. Maybe 2019 is the year I give up drink? Who Knows. Moving into February, a month for love, romance and Supreme season is back upon us. All this combined and I’m going to be one broke ass fella.

January saw me hit a sensible streak of not spending, that was hard. I did break this at the end of the month, I so nearly made it by hitting the sales accidentally (of course) and purchasing some new black skinny jeans, some trousers and a pair of Vans (I did say that the Sk8 Hi’s in the Checkerboard Pack had my name on). So admittedly one thing was in the sales, so I’m not quite the bargain hunter but more the shopper with a lack of self-control/marketer and retail assistants dream customer.

Looking back over my Instagram, I thought I would share with you my favourite products for the month.

First up, drum roll please, is my jazzy as anything Patta Crew necks. As you can tell I didn’t vary on the colour scheme much. I wore the bullet tee to the pub, took my hoodie off to a series of gasps and a “what the very f*!k are you wearing”. I won’t tell you my reply, safe to say the conversation that night was full of insults and beer. I absolutely love the patterns on these, paired with a simple pair of boots, and dark blue denim will really finish the outfit.

Vans X WTAPS, Anaconda print in blue. From back in 2016 these have made a strong comeback to my regular rotation, simple and smart design. From a distance they look like a normal pair but once you get a bit closer you can see the detail, sometimes all you need is a bit of subtlety. Same can’t be said for the Blood and Semen pair from Supreme in FW17. Goth up your garms (I am still that emo/goth kid at heart #blackparadeforever) fill your outfit of black and add these on the bottom. They definitely fit the emo aesthetic as this artwork was created by Andres Serrano is recognisable in popular culture as it is also featured on a Metallica album art work.

I described this on Insta as a hard hat, it is padded and thick so pretty much sits like a one. Sadly I am half bald. Hence the hat regularity – it hides a multiple of sins as I will be as bald as Ross Kemp without the monstrously large balls in a couple of years. Also I like wearing a hat.

Came across the key-ring while organising some draws, completely forgot I had this, no idea where Supreme got the inspiration for this piece or why I decided that a pregnant body with a fetus and bogo inside would be a solid purchase. Yet here I am showing you and not regretting it… 

So show some love, give me a follow on Insta (@leader_scope) and see what is in the rotation for February.

LeADeR

 

Pink Handcuffs you say.

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I had to clarify not the fluffy kind, cause no doubt someone would have been giving it ‘oooer’. So if that is you, get your head out the gutter!

Pink on pink on pink. Colour coordination at its finest. The pink on the hoody matches both the shoes and the hat, making these Vans X Santa Cruz Old Skools the perfect match for this hoodie. Adding black jeans to create contrast in the outfit allows the pink to really stand out. The black on these Vans is one of my favourite things about them, the contrast and the boldness that the colours have together is striking.

 

Hat: Supreme, FW17, Painted floral Camp, Purple.

Hoodie: Supreme FW17, Handcuffs Hooded Sweatshirt.

Jeans: Nudie, Tight Long John, Black.

Shoes: Vans X Take Hayashi X Santa Cruz, Pro Skate ArcAd, Pink.

LeADeR

So, let us talk about these resolutions.

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This started out as a WDYWT and I thought yeah fine I will show you what I wore since I write about my clothing a lot, but afterwards let’s talk. Basically I tossed and turned on writing and posting this one for over a week now. New year, it is a load of utter cr*p. The whole I am going to be healthy, work out more, be a better person?

No, I am sorry, you probably aren’t.

We all end up the same lazy, unhealthy A-holes we were in 2017. Most fitting thing I seen recently is a meme; jokingly pointing out that as an individual you aren’t leaving 2017 problems in 2017, you are probably taking 2010 problems into 2018.

My student debt, still there. My gym membership, still not renewed. Drink less? I haven’t said no to the pub yet this year. Don’t get me wrong I am going to pay that off and work out more. Not because it’s a new year, because I want to make a change and get somewhere in life. So PLEASE let us get rid of this ridiculous notion that we are going to be better people cause it’s changed day. Make the change for yourself, not for 2018. All setting up these ridiculous notions does us later when we take a slight fall is send us spiralling down and leaving us feeling angry and upset. Do something positive for your mental health, be yourself and make the change for you. 

I swear I won’t get heavy on you for a while, but mental health is something we should all be talking about, so this can be my 2 cents and positivity. 

Anyway this will make you laugh, I went out in a leopard print blazer… Bold even for me.

So hey, I thought that I would see the new year in with some wow factor. Whether that be ‘wow that is loud’, ‘wow that is awful’, ‘wow that’s brave’ or just out right ‘did he dress in the dark?’

Snazzy is the name of the game, I know I look like something out of a safari trip! Seriously though New Year in the bars it was full of wild animals. LITERALLY, was like mating season guys on heat for a midnight kiss. If all else fails them at least they could get a 6 inch sub around the corner.

I loved this get up. So the blazer was a go from the start, slim fit and thin making it perfect for layering. The shirt had to be black, the smart hidden buttons made it simple but effective if you ask me. Check out the image below of the skulls for collar buttons, the devil is in the detail. Never neglect the little finishing touches. Black leather jacket and black skinny jeans to finish the outfit a staple of mine, the black allows for the leopard print to really wow. To finish this get up Green Rousden Creepers, it had to be alt pair of footwear to finish this gothic yet on trend outfit. with the only colour being in the jacket this left some freedom on colour for footwear, and the yellow on the jacket really complimented the green on the shoes.

Shirt: Religion, Mid length sleeve, skull collar buttons, black/silver.

Blazer: Religion, Leopard Print.

Jacket:  All Saints, Autumn 2017, Nash Biker, Black.

Jeans: Neuw Denim, Skinny, Black.

Shoes: Supreme X Doc Marten, Suede Rousden Creeper, Green, SS17.

LeADeR

119 of 600 Worldwide.

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Lets get the WDYWT done and get onto the good bit. The footwear. Well it wasn’t today, I ended up chilling about in baggy joggers attempting to be proactive but procrastination was more the theme of the day. This was a couple of days ago, trying to fit in sometime to write this one hasn’t been the easiest.

SO, new year, new me. Not really. Although I am going to start throwing out why and how I choose some of my outfits. I know look at me go with the masses of Fashion Bloggers, so unique! More sarcastic, but still the same.

I was bought this hoodie for Christmas with a warning “Do not wear this on Christmas Day.  Your grandma will be offended and someone might think you are aiming this towards them”. Sometimes you want to offend some people? 

The colour of this was perfect in my opinion, from the preview to wearing, I loved the colour and it had to be partnered with black denim to really give it some real contrast and draw attention the hoodie. To match up the colours, I chose the painted floral camp which has a shade that matches perfectly. You would think they came out in the same season...  I swear I don’t always have a hat on, but mostly I do.

Of course as I have said before the footwear can make or break the outfit. Why ruin your style with some trashed, plimsols from some god forsaken shop that has closed down. We all know those stores. I thought black footwear would go with this perfectly, possibly my Vans X Highs and Lows from SS16. I thought no, lets keep the rest of the outfit bold. Also what better way to get the new footwear out, I made the right choice here I feel.

Hat: Supreme, FW17, Painted floral Camp, Purple.

Hoodie: Supreme FW17, Fuck Em All, Plum.

Jeans: Nudie, Long John, Light Blue.

Shoes: Vans X Take Hayashi X Santa Cruz, Pro Skate ArcAd, Pink.

VANS PRO SKATE ARCAD: TAKA HAYASHI (TH) X SANTA CRUZ

This collaboration is between one of the greatest Vans designers and two powerhouses of the skateboarding world. This was a pair of kicks I was sadly letting pass me by. Knowing that these would be added to the list of ones that I wished I copped. Sadly we can’t have them all, well some people can and do. Me? I damn well try my best. 

These were a gift and a perfect gift they were!

Santa Cruz to this day remain a true powerhouse of skate. They have created some of the most treasured graphics in the skate world since the 80’s. With the bold slogan “Skateboarding Is Not A Crime”, sitting proudly on the side and embossed on the sidestripe, these stay true to the roots of Santa Cruz.

Featuring boldly on the back is the original skull artwork by TH. Both Santa Cruz and Taka have detailed tongues dedicated with their names and logo. The detail and time gone into these should make every vans collector jump to get a pair. If you missed the drop, I have seen a few change hands online, make sure you add this collaboration between two powerhouses and TH to your collection!

As you can tell I managed to stop some of the procrastination today and finally get this done!

LeADeR

Escape to the country, kind of.

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I lived in a village, in the country last year and I saw a whole LOAD of tractors. What do farmers use to make crop circles? A Protractor!  

I have lived at the coast, in a big city and now the country (this was the middle of nowhere I tell you!) but I can safely say it’s the company that makes the place.

Yet it was scenic, so very scenic. 

In Summer, I attended open gardens. You walk into a garden, you see how they’ve decorated, you leave. Very British, very civilised, very awkward and a lot of Koi Carp.

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In Autumn, I got creative.

No one ever answered my question… Can you? If a cow laughs hard enough, does milk come out their nose? OKAY, OKAY, no more bad jokes, for this post at least.

In Winter, well the place looked like a Christmas Card.

 

LeADeR

Kaleidoscope

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“have i gone mad?
i’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
This project was all about falling into what you see, looking through the looking glass and when you do, just loosing yourself for a moment or two before reality snaps back in.

 

 

Mexican Lucky, at these places I truly was. 

 

Sometimes a warped reality is the best reality. 
Once, this image won an award. Forever proud to have a photography award to my name. This was the photograph.
LeADeR

2017. What a Year.

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Finally. So here we are, curtain call on another year. We’ve survived more of Trump being president (so far), we’ve melted braincells watching tangoed couples breakup and makeup on our TV. We’ve witnessed Brexit get worse, we’ve seen Taylor throw more shade on her latest album than a parasol in Benidorm. We’ve enjoyed watching dancing, cakes and Jon Snow still knowing nothing, although Winter finally arrived. All the while our governments continue to pass laws while we are too focused on numbing our brains with garbage to even notice. Somehow we are still going along.

One thing, we can all agree on is we have blown so much money. This is my list of what I have enjoyed burning my cash on.

Supreme Scarface Split Deck

Might have missed out on the Cindy Sherman decks, one I did not miss though was the Supreme X Scarface Split Deck. As a fan of Scarface, a cult classic that stands as art, a move on the deck was on the cards (I see a card joke in here somewhere). The smart and sleek design on this classic image made this one the most anticipated decks of 2017. For me visually it is everything you could want in a deck. Going on the wall.

Supreme Michealangelo LS Tee 

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This LS Tee was the first thing on the season preview where I lost my mind, it was top of my cop list, safe. Check out what I had to say about this here!

Stussy X Vans

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Man in pink, these are more beautiful than a thousand pink flamingos on a golf course. The mid’s made a large comeback this year, seeing a collaboration with Supreme for some leopard print heat. This year we have also seen some general release pairs for some every day flex. Stussy X Vans were one of the essential summer picks ups, if you didn’t pick up you’ve missed out.

Supreme Fuck Em All

FUCK EM ALL

What can I say? It is stylish and offensive, garms don’t get much better than this! Have a look at it in all its glory here!

Supreme Piss Christ

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PISS CHRIST, one of the most offensive pieces of art ever created. Original prints have been attacked vandalised, yet where would we be without art that truly pushes the boundaries.

Without jumping on the hype bandwagon. Andres Serrano is one of my favourite artists so having his art on a Tee just had to happen. I wrote about this photograph in my dissertation (yeah, I know can you believe the same guy who strings these bad sentences together managed to write a 12,000 word dissertation about photographic art, jeez) and influenced my work throughout University, so this was a crucial pick up for my collection.

Floormat

I LOVE THIS! My other half would argue otherwise. We are currently in the process of arguing why this should or shouldn’t be the welcome mat at our front door. I SAY YES!

Red Wings

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Best boots money can buy since 1905. Life lasting things of beauty, these are my second pair and no matter what year you buy these they should always be in your top picks of the year.

Patta hoodie

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Patta, what can I say. Forever bringing some heat to the game, with the summer range featuring some large graphic prints, there is no mistaking the brand. Grey and burgundy are a strong colour combination complementing each other perfectly, pair this up with some black denim and burgundy kicks and you’re onto a winner.

Thrasher Vans Hat 

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Surprised to see this but not the kicks? You will see them featured plenty in previous posts and future no doubt. This is one of my top hats from the year. (I could do all this on hats alone, this half bald man lives to trick people into thinking it’s a full head under that hat)

Supreme Quilted Lace Bomber Jacket Olive

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My most worn Supreme jacket of the year. Unbelievably comfortable and perfect with any colour denim especially in the olive colour way. Also perfect in any weather, if you are chilly, a black hoodie accompanies this piece perfectly.

Brain Dead X Vans 

“Brain Dead is a creative collective of artists and designers from around the world. With its disruptive, graphic-led approach, the brand takes its cues from post punk, underground comics, skateboarding, and the spirit of subculture as a whole. Brain Dead is not one person, nor is it one idea. It sits in the space between people.”

Brain Dead to me stand for the different, the idea that sitting outside of societies norms is fine, after all who wants to sit in the norm? 

This capsule collection is one of strongest I seen this year, loved these shoes back in June and still do now. For me having all 3 sat in my archive makes me a happy man. Only issue I have now is picking my favourite and deciding what ones to wear each day! You can be sure of seeing plenty of these in the WDYWT page!

Patagonia 

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Check out my first WDYWT here, I still stand by these being a classic item. If you are unsure on what to flex, these are always a strong option (snuck in those Thrasher X Vans after all).

This is what I wish I was able to get a hold of for some more mind numbing, money burning moments. 

Supreme X TNF, Mountain Edition. 

Nike Air Jordan 1 Virgil Abola ‘The Ten’ (ANY) 

FOG X Vans (ANY) 

Supreme, Cindy Sherman Decks 

These are on the grail list, one day I will pick up. Round Two in the USA, I am coming to see what you’ve got in an UK 11 or Large!

All in all, 2017 has been a hell of a year, we’re still here so lets chalk it up to a win and here is to 2018! See you on the other side! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LeADeR

East End Markets (2014 – 2015)

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I had love for the East end of London, I would pick up a camera and spend my Sundays walking and photographing. This became tradition, I never experienced this with anyone but myself. Give me a Sunday walk through the market, let me smell those smells, see those sights. 

I became obsessed with photographing what I saw, below is a selection of some of the beauty I witnessed in that time. This was the start of my obsession with the passing seconds in life, grabbing the limited editions and treasuring those fleeting moments. 

Why black and white? Why would I show you the colour? Ask yourself that, imagine the colour, the smells. Take the coffee stand for instance, imagine the rich cream and browns on the van. Smell that freshly brewed coffee and the BBQ just down the road, just as I did that day, while sitting on the curb.

Search yourself and fill the details as I do when I look and reminisce over the simple joys of walking through a market taking in every sight and smell. 

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Lee7

Lee6

Lee10

This body of work was shot over the space of a year and a half, with many lost negatives, shots I was hopeful for which came out utter rubbish. For the 2 digital, to one colour negative I was grateful for the addition, but this collections beauty comes from shooting a camera no longer in my arsenal. My Bronica 6×6 (I hope to own one of these again one day, I miss my old 6×6 format), created this body of work which remains strong. Square format is not dead, film is not dead, photography is not dead.

Never stop shooting. Take a photo of today it will fascinate someone in 50 years when the world no longer looks this way. 

LeADeR

WDYWT, It’s Christmas Eve.

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It’s Christmas TOMORROW! Total Honesty I am already Merry like the big guy himself right now. Already feel myself sliding sideways down this sofa.

Green is festive right?…

T-Shirt: Vans Raglan, Spring 2017, Olive Green.

Jacket: Supreme, SS17, Lace Bomber, Olive & MKI Hoody, Black.

Jeans: Nudie, Tight Long John, Black.

Shoes: Vans X BrainDead, 2017, Old Skool, Granite Green.

 

Merry Christmas, I hope you all have a ball! 

LeADeR