LANDROVER MONTHLY 83
advertising, and that is what they thenwear to fit in.My blog is
instead about finding whatyou really like and going with that.I
try to dress in away that is slightly different, and make a bit of an
impact, which is a fundamental part of human nature. If you lik e
sportswear and looking a bit of a clone, fine, but it takes a bit of
courage to break out from that.We judge each other whenwe
first see someone, so ifyou’re groomed,wearing clothes that fit
and arestylish,you can alter how people judgeyou. It isn’t about
vanity, it is about beingyourselfrather than pushedby the herd
to fit in.
Fashion then is thestyle imposed onyou by the brands or
leaders of fashion.You’ll chooseyour clothes andyour carsby
what people sayyou should bewearing.Style instead is more
finding objects or items of clothing thatreflectsyour nature, that
you lik e.
I like to supportyoung brands in the UK, people who like to
make the best item they can. They’ll be slightly moreexpensive,
becausethey’reupagainstproductsmadeinAsiawheresomeone
is paid tuppence ha’penny. Really cheap clothes have to be made
abroad, soyou ha ve to ask where the materials and labour came
from ethically.With British-made itemsyou can assume it has
been sustainably made andwell designed, with astrong story
behind it. As consumers it is down to us to make a good choice.Sowhatisyour take thenontherecentmoveofLandRovers
beingfashionable?
Fashion is the wrongword. LandRovers ha ve that fundamental
aspect ofstyle about them, like the Coke bottle, or the Leica
camera. Therewas no design team originally, and when objects
are put together for a purpose, they develop an aesthetic of their
own. When things get appreciated asstyle objects, they often get
picked upby people who are influential. LikePaul Smith, putting
his mark on a Defender, that then runs the risk of being a fashion
item aswell after him giving it attention. That attention is part of
something beingstylish.
Fashion comes and goes, but I can’t see these classic Land
Rovers ever going out of favour, because they’ll always be
appreciated for their looks. I hesitate to call them beautiful, butI
think they are. The short wheelbaseStationWagon is one ofmy
favourites because all the proportions are right.David Bache’s
touch on the Series II only tweaked it to add the barrel sides.I
love the look of Defenders, but it isn’t the pared-down look of
the originals.Wheredoyou think thenew Defender fits in with that?
I think whenyou carry on the name of something that has
become an icon,you’re puttingyourself up for criticism. They’ve
put so muchwork into it, I’m sure it will be fantastic.It will be
judgedby all the things they shouldn’t be, but people’s needs
have changed since the old Defender. Any car company has to
respond to buyers’ needs, and now most farmers already have a
basic utilityvehicle, theywon’t need another. They will needa
capable off- and on-road car that can handle any conditions–
that is what I’d like to see in the new car, from basic toreally
luxurious.SowheredoesyourLandRover fit in?
It came about because itwas owned by a very good friend nearby.
He had severa l cars, but that had been his car for 20 to 30years,
and he moved it on a trailer seven years ago, and simply parked it
up at the back of his house.Sadly, he had a heart attack twoyears
ago. He’d always intended to do it up, and I’d always liked Land
Rovers, though I’d notowned one. I bought this off his widow–
withoutreally understanding what Iwas taking on – and I had it
restored by Leaf Sprung Landys. I bought it because Ireally liked
John, andwanted to do it up in his memory, but I’d always
wanted one. I absolutely love it as an object, and I love the fact
you’re in contact with the car. In a modern caryou’re in an
armchair, but with that,you really have to anticipate, use the
gears more, but Ireally like that as it takes driving back toa
simpler level. If it hadn’t beenJohn’s car, I’d probably have just
bought a Defender.Was there aplanfor therestoration?
I started outwanting to have it minimallyrestored, but that
wasn’t possible. The doors needing replacing, I had a new
chassis, so it ended up beingresprayed, butkeeping whatwe
could.It looks good now – like a new car – but I’ll be quite happy
as bumps and scratches appear, I think that is part of the car. AllDavid’sStation
Wagon was
restoredby Leaf
Sprung Landys