We've all been sat here dreaming of the Pretty Green Sale, wondering if we might get some vouchers to help with an anticipated Christmas/Boxing Day splurge on some reduced goodness.
We've been sat with our Christmas Wish List locked in, our less than subtle hints dropped to our nearest and dearest.....you know the form, that blatant behaviour you've been indulging in, 'my Darling, you better make sure there's some Black Label under that Xmas tree come Xmas morning'.
We were all happy and content in our blissful little paisley and floral patterned worlds....then Pretty Green come along and drop a whole load of Leaf all over our thoughts....before Christmas!!!!
So what the hell's going on, why are we being treated to a plethora of decidedly cool new pieces in December?
Well, it would seem that Pretty Green have decided to join the Pre-Season/Collection party favoured by a number of other fashion houses. Paul Smith and Fred Perry are 2 among a list of others who like to bring out these smaller offerings ahead of their mainline collection.
Think of it as a bridging range between the outgoing AW15 collection and the brand sparkly new incoming SS16 collection.
I'm all for it, well done Pretty Green!
Let's amble our way through a lot of plus points, plus a few minus points, in our best LG fashion.
So first up, the range is open to Tribe Members first, and then will be open to everyone shortly. Now then...I think it's nice when PG do things for the Tribe, a little doff of the appreciative hat for the support. But I do concede if you're not in the Tribe you'll be a little frustrated. For PG I guess it's a case of you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.
First things first, the LEAF..! PG have created a little sub-market for themselves of rock-star outrageous all-over prints. This is definitely one of their better ones. I thought the previous Camo Skin wasn't too bad, I'm not an animal print fan but I thought they did a good job with it. However for me this Leaf comes out a whole lot higher.
And yeah yeah yeah, because of the pattern it leaves it open to lazy 'granny's curtains' comments, I get it.
I reckon it looks good, so a plus for me
Next great thing, the range is full of loads of brand new designs. And before we get into design a quick one, it's a fairly big range given it will effectively be a stand alone Capsule all on its own. Anyway, back to design. Seems that most new season PG range start with continuation pieces in some new season colours along with the odd new piece. This time we get loads of brand new things. The Parka design, new, the Hooded Jacket, new, the Ventura, new, etc....
Early stand outs are the Ventura and the Defiance for me. Budget will stretch to the Ventura, and that's my Spring and Summer day outer attire sorted. If it fits....but more on that later.
I wasn't too sure about a perforated leather but I reckon it looks the bollocks, for me it's a stand out over the Leaf Cartwright Parka...I know, me, choosing a leather over a Parka, unheard of!
I do like a good jumper and the 2 new options are decent looking, maybe the style is more AW than SS, but I'll reserve judgement until I can hold one in my paw and gauge it a little better. Regardless, they look good....I could store one for the Winter, wouldn't be a problem.
And another plus, no branding on knitwear, brilliant
Shirts are looking naughty and nice. There's plenty old school PG cool in the Stamford's, they are classic understated smart cool.
PG keep their reputation going with a new floral option, the Tayton. One thing, maybe just me, I'd like to see PG stop doing the placket, collar and cuff internal details in an alternative colour of the pattern. PG source and create some outstanding patterns for their shirts, they don't need to make them overly fussy by using multiple colours. Feel free to disagree, just an opinion. PG have sold thousands of shirts and I've sold none, so who knows best.
So what else did we get, we got loads and loads of tees and polos! The Crawley Polo should be popular, I'd say it's a good way to use the new Leaf pattern. Will look really cool with your denim and some white adidas in the Summer, a nice piece of Navy Outerwear over it for the cooler days and you're sorted.
The grandad tees are super smart for those who like a more subtle approach to their style, nice colour options also. And for those who want to get involved in the Leaf but like to keep things a little calmer the Crawley Logo is absolutely perfect. And who doesn't need another logo eh?
Now, for some balance lets open the very rarely used negativity box...well, we'll tweak the lid just a little, that'll do.
Right, I'm going to be honest, the whole slim-fit thing does my tits right in (that's not aimed at PG, just in general). I like the way Fred Perry offers their Polos and certain styles in slim or regular fit. I get it, some folks are slim or some folks like their gear really close in.
This is the first PG range I can recall where the slim-fit pieces seem to outnumber the regular. I might be wrong as I haven't bothered to count them, but it feels vey high.
Now I've never hidden the fact I'm a rotund chap, I'm old enough not to care what folks think of that, so feel free to point, snigger and shout fatty. If PG is going down the slim-fit route for the majority of their range then it might be time for me to reach for the paisley patterned eject handle and pull. It'd be a real shame, I love what PG do but if their direction is slim-fit across the majority of the range then could rule me out, it's just not a fit I like. I like regular, the clues in the name ye see...regular.....standard. Normal.
But hey, each to their own.
Now I've got that off my flabby man chest only one other thing, and it's a bit of a strange one. Most folks might not care. The Newhaven Leaf print tee is pretty cool isn't, like the Crawley Polo a perfect piece for the Summer. I was reading down the product description (slim-fit, grrrrrrrr) and there it was, rather surprisingly. 'Hand wash only'. Might just be me but I thought that was a strange for a t-shirt. Other than your underwear a t-shirt is generally a piece of clothing you need to get washed after a single wear. I reckon my wife might aim a boot between my legs if I rock up with a hand-wash t-shirt expecting it to be ready for every weekend in the Summer.
So if you don't care at least you know so you can be careful with what is a truly cool piece. Can you imagine the tears if it got thrown in the washing machine and ruined....nightmare.
So there we go, a little amble through Pretty Green's latest and greatest. I have to say it's the most un-PG range I can recall. And I say that in a very positive way, I think we can see a change in direction for the brand and I think if this is a taster then it's a good one. I hate to use the word, but this is a real fashion range isn't it. I think it's ticking a lot of boxes, and it's good to see they haven't sat about churning out previous designs, a lot of thought has gone into the range to produce something new and very very cool.
I've navigated my way round the slim-fits to select a couple of opening pieces that I'm going to indulge in.
So lets chuck a score on the range, I'm going to go for a very good 8/10....had there been less slim-fit I reckon that would have been a 9.
What more can I say, a terrific range.