Last weekend on a random stop overshop in Nottingham I encountered one such Russell look-alike who had me transfixed to the spot.

First let me explain what I saw and where, which was in the Paul Smith flagship store, which might not be representative, you say, but the fact I saw four more looky-likeys that day and have been spotting them ever since surely is. Anyway you can imagine the look. Starting from the mass of backcombed hair and Goth dark eyeliner to the debonair waistcoat and shiny, pointy boots, this guy was pure Byronencapsulate. No joke.

From the floaty scarf to the snake-tight trousers he would not have looked out of place at an Oscar Wilde love-in circa 1890.

The trousers were the worst bit. It was practically pornographic how much you could see in that bulge and add to that his wallet, keys and phone (you can be sure that Russell doesn't) and you get a very lumpy silhoutte indeed.

Luckily for us in Ireland this dandy Britboy look is far more watered-down - skinny jeans and tight tailoring, yes (on men under 40 or those in the music business); billowing Adam Ant like white shirts and winkle-pickers, no. But with the scary news that Brand has just topped this year's GQmagazine Best (and Worst) Dressed lists - for a look they champion as 'British exuberance encapsulated' - how long more do we have? Women, be warned! If you don't want want your husbands and boyfriends looking fancier and flouncier than you, lock up your wardrobes now!