11       club-house the straight, elegant-sporty club style presents itself as a surprisingly pleasant alternative to the sloppy second hand look. the new “country club” program from adidas’ originals portfolio represents a particularly successful combination of style and tradition. we’ve all seen them at the golf, yachting and tennis clubs of this world. the elegant ladies and gentlemen, during the après, causally leaning on the bar, sipping at their glasses of champagne, reflecting on the aesthetic things and topics of life. no problem can be grave enough to disconcert them. their clothes as well as their reserved tone of voice always document a certain kind of composure that makes us think of british understatement and sceneries located somewhere between oxford, cambridge and saint tropez. symbolism, signs and subjects that demonstrate solidarity: the club blazer, the golden emblem, classic cut pants, comfortable casual shoes – quality, luxury and always an air of decadence. in the respective dress mix, this smart style of “club wear” can easily be used as a contrasting stylistic device to define a new and more comfortable kind of elegance. so to speak: discreet luxury for everyday use. and that’s why not only neo- and former mods are going to be pleased with the new adidas originals line “country club”, a fine collection that is characterised by sensitivity for detail and stylistic elements and that straight out devotes itself to classic features and old school feeling. people who still remember the 80ies and bands like style council with their relaxed sound and elegant club wear, might as well long for a revival of the old times. welcome to the club - and by the way: champagne doesn’t taste that bad either … helmut wolf