ATIKA London ATIKA London

ATIKA LISTENS: BENNIE

You’ve been loving the sounds on our shop floor, and we thought it was only right to share the magic (so you won’t have to Shazam us anymore).

We’re handing over the aux to our team, one by one. Each staff member is curating a 20-song playlist that captures their personal style and musical mood. It’s our way of sharing a bit more of who we are, through the music we love.

First up: our Press and Marketing Manager, Bennie, kicking things off with a swinging mix of 70s gems, Italo disco and sultry sax solos. It’s the perfect soundtrack for golden hour drives, living room dance routines, or just staring into the void with a cigarette, reliving a love affair that mostly happened in your head.

Hit play, follow along, and stay tuned for the next staff takeover…

Interview by Charlie Kloos

C: If you had to describe the playlist in 3 words, which words would you choose?

B: Sultry, Groovy, Intoxicating.

C: Which track brings you the most joy when it comes on?

B: People who know me know I usually gravitate toward the most depressing songs imaginable - I’ve actually been banned from DJing at certain parties because of the very real risk of killing the vibe. But this playlist definitely represents my sunnier side. ‘Emotional Rescue’ by The Rolling Stones in particular brings me so much joy - the falsetto, the groove, and that sax solo? Gets me every time. It’s impossible not to dance.

C: If your playlist was a film soundtrack, what film would it be for?

B: Definitely the soundtrack to a sexy, tension-filled film set somewhere in the Mediterranean - I’m thinking sun-bleached villas, some light espionage, and definitely a love triangle. The kind of film where everyone is hot and no one is telling the truth.

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ATIKA London ATIKA London

STYLE ICONS: THE SOPRANOS

Text by John

After twenty five years running a vintage store, I’m going to tell you a secret. Every single season our best selling menswear item has been the sopranos shirt. Why? Who knows. There's something about those guys. They are despicable in many ways but so bloody cool in others.

Whilst recently re-watching the (best ever) series I noticed that it’s not just the shirts that are popular today. I've got pretty much every outfit these lads wear currently in stock. 

Will the Sopranos ever stop being style icons? Well “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled back in”

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ATIKA London ATIKA London

FASHION HISTORY IN A PHOTOGRAPH: JANE FONDA'S 1965 GRAPHIC SWEATSHIRT

Text by John

I sat down to write a short piece about sweatshirts. Then, Jane Fonda caught my eye. One of my favourite people. 

So, here's Jane (with Peter Mcenery) in what i’d say is the coolest sweatshirt ever. The Beethoven sweat was part of the 3B’s series, along with Brahms and Bach. They became a fashion trend in early 60s California. Sold via mail order they were thought up by advertising executive Howard Luck Gossage to help Rainier Ale promote a regualr classical music show on KSFR 94.9 radio station in SanFrancisco. One of the first graphic sweats. I think all vintage officionados and traders should say; Thanks Howard! 

As someone who enjoys a nice, slow spun, loop back vintage jersey and has more than a few, I confess to really, really wanting one of these. 

However for today it’s about thinking about Jane’s story (and as always, how effortlessly cool she is looking), Jane is a superstar for me and if you read a little about her life as an activist, you’ll get why she’s on my mind.

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