Top Chumps: Mr London Fields

The two-week English summer is upon us and what better place to spend it than London’s hippest scorched-grass catwalk, London Fields (especially the section nearest Broadway Market, affectionately know as cunts’ corner)? Stroll through the park any time after midday on the weekend and you’ll find yourself in what looks like the opening scene from Apocalypse Now, with the napalm (unfortunately) substituted for the smoke coming from the myriad disposable BBQs plopped on the grass. Through the grey haze you’ll see packs of top-drawer cretins in Ray-Bans splayed out on the grass like horny peacocks, trying to catch the eye of a potential mate as they scorch their leathery faces. No matter how sunny it is, most of the men (who all claim to be either band managers or video directors) will be dressed in tight dark jeans and smart shoes – the exact opposite of what’s comfortable for a day in the park. Elsewhere, you’ll find fashion bloggers snapping pictures of young girls who look like they had a nervous breakdown midway through a shopping trip at a vintage clothing shop. The park starts the day looking like the Monday after Glastonbury and goes downhill as the hours pass. Forget the crazed crack squirrels of Brixton, here you’ll find smug, obnoxious pigeons flapping around with their heads stuck in the cocaine wraps left behind by the park’s visitors. Read below for a breakdown of the typical look.

Hair: Side-parted 20-inch high WW2 fighter pilot-esque quiff held in place by a tub of lard. A moustache that wouldn’t look out of place in certain Vauxhall nightclubs is also essential. The acoustic guitar player of the gang usually favours free-flowing Devendra locks.
Hat: You’re not allowed through the park gate without one. Usually it’ll be a wide-rim straw number or something you might expect an elderly man in the Amish community to wear in winter.
Tattoos: A couple of classic sailor tats or a bomber babe to match the haircut.
Jacket: A Burberry mac their mate stole from a fashion shoot or a pea coat that they picked up in a Brooklyn thrift store.
Top: Deep-V-neck T-shirt to show off some Buddhist beads, which they wear to summon the spirit of Animal Collective.
Trousers: Skinny black or navy jeans that are ever so slightly too short, perfect for a day of basking in the scorching sun.
Favourite phrases: “Got any blow?” “I love your look, can I take a photo for my blog?” “Barney’s new ska-folk band are fucking wicked, mate.”
Footwear: Brogues with no socks.
Accessories: Gross man jewellery and bangly shit that they picked up in Goa as a teenager. A couple of grams of shit coke for an afternoon down the Cat & Mutton. A bratty little dog (“the minge magnet”) that runs about pooing everywhere and nipping at the heels of passers by. A tote bag from an organic food shop filled with pear cider and organic chewing gum. Coloured Ray-Bans to take the edge off the lurid clothes on the people all around them.
Girlfriend: Some annoying cokehead. Pale skin and dyed ginger hair essential.
Plaid shirt? Naturally. With the sleeves rolled up at all times to show off the tats.
Fixed-gear bike? Stupid fucking question. It’s stacked with the rest of their group’s rides in a temporary ultra-lightweight sculpture on the grass.

Illustration by Daniel David Freeman



57 Responses to “Top Chumps: Mr London Fields”

  1. Tippiloves says:

    Hahahahaha. That is brilliant! For ages i thought I was being stalked by the same man, until i realised that it was not one man i kept seeing but many of them that looked exactly the same! I can’t wait for the day the 50/80s has gone back out of fashion and you can leave it to the REAL people who love roots rock and roll, swing and jive and not working the look just to be a fucking trendy!

  2. nic lol says:

    LOLMAO U CUNT ^

    WTF IS DIS PRATTLE>?????

    real people – i nearly lold.
    rofl

    PS. Guirart music is dead, swing and jive? how about shuffle and bounce raev music? lloser

    I can’t wait for the day the 50/80s has gone back out of fashion and you can leave it to the REAL people who love roots rock and roll, swing and jive and not working the look just to be a fucking trendy!

  3. ..ToMi.. says:

    I dont understand the point in this website (or is that the point?).

    I’ve sat down and read through these comments on an extremeley dull and boring day at work…hilarious.

    Truth&Soul seems to be on the ball though, kudos.

  4. bupre says:

    you re one of them, aren’t you?

  5. this is the funniest thing I have seen in ages!

  6. Hannah says:

    I moved East 4 years ago in the days when it was vibrant and a bit arty but in a bearable way, and the rent was cheap and the clubs were walking distance (they still are but they’re full of the above). Now it’s a bag of pretentious vomit-inducing wank. I live right next to London Fields and actually escape it of a weekend and while I’m heading to the tube or bus on the way out, I see groups of people who’ve TRAVELLED to be there. Actually travelled. Not even local. It doesn’t have a lake, or ducks, or a nice little cafe, or a bandstand, or boats, or deckchairs, or amazing views, or plants (like parks only a few miles away!). These people go there just to be seen there. I just do not have the words to describe how tragic that is.

  7. Hij says:

    is this about ozzie oguz lmao
    e8

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