CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

With an 82% year-on-year increase in Pinterest searches for “men’s wedding guest outfit”* the demand for clear, stylish guidance and inspiration on wedding attire is at an all-time high. So, for those who have a string of invites to RSVP to, what should they consider?

To help those looking for guidance ahead of attending a wedding, Jamie Hadfield, formalwear buyer at Suit Direct has provided tips on how to navigate the complexities of wedding dress codes, ensuring they can look their best for the big day – as well as avoiding any fashion or dress code faux pás.

Black Tie dress code

A black-tie dress code leaves little room for interpretation. A tuxedo, preferably in black or midnight blue, is essential. While there are limited opportunities for personal flair, consider your dress shirt, lapel pin, and shoe choice carefully. Only black patent leather or loafers are acceptable at black tie events.

Formal dress code

While many black-tie rules apply, a tuxedo is not mandatory but often optional. I’d recommend going for a dark grey, midnight blue, or black suit, and choosing either a bow tie or a straight necktie. Your shirt must have a collar; avoid t-shirts, polo shirts, and banded collars. Depending on the wedding theme, you may express some personal style through your shirt’s colour, texture, or pattern – so if you prefer to stand out, try experimenting with pattern and colour.

Cocktail dress code

Cocktail is a semi-formal dress code and offers more flexibility. A suit or suit separates (a more formal jacket with trousers in a different colour or material in colours like navy work well, and a necktie is optional. Accessorise to reflect your style without going overboard, keeping in mind it’s still a wedding.

Casual dress code

Casual dress codes can be tricky. Consider the invitation details: the venue, timing, and likely weather. For summer weddings, chinos are ideal, while lightweight wool trousers work for winter. Printed shirts are appropriate but avoid t-shirts and ties.

Choosing the right colour suit for youMany people may go for the safer darker colours but especially for a warmer wedding choosing lighter colours may be a better option. Finding a suit colour that complements your skin tone can enhance your overall appearance and boost your confidence.

For fair skin, darker shades like navy, charcoal, and black suit cool undertones, while earthy tones like camel and olive green are ideal for warm undertones.

Medium skin tones with cool undertones look great in grey, navy, and burgundy, whereas warm undertones benefit from rich colours like caramel and forest green. Dark skin tones shine in bold colours like royal blue and emerald for cool undertones, and mustard yellow and burnt orange for warm undertones. Those with neutral undertones can wear most colours, focusing on seasonal appropriateness. Ultimately, choose colours that make you feel confident, and ensure your shirt and tie provide a complementary contrast to complete your look.

Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Guest Attire

DO’s:

·        Incorporate Colour Thoughtfully: Check for a colour scheme and choose complementary, but not matching, hues.

·        Ensure Proper Fit: Re-wear older items only after confirming they still fit well. Schedule any necessary alterations in advance.

·        Pack Essentials: Always bring a sewing kit and lint roller for emergencies.

DON’Ts:

·        Avoid Last-Minute Packing: Hang your outfit as soon as possible and use a fabric steamer to eliminate creases.

·        Skip Floral Boutonnieres: Instead, opt for a stylish lapel pin and leave floral accessories to the wedding party.

·        Minimize Bulky Items: Use a card holder or money clip and bring only essential keys. Find alternative storage for your phone if possible.

·        Reserve Special Looks for the Groom: Unless specified, avoid wearing feature looks and white dinner jackets, which are reserved for the groom and his attendants.

According to research, the sounds of nature could benefit a person’s mental wellbeing, relieving them from stress and bringing them a sense of calm.

With natural sounds being the most common choice for relieving stress, the experts at HAYPP wanted to find out which soothing sounds people are most drawn to. They also partnered with psychologist Dr Rebekah Wanic to provide extra insight on the effect that different sounds have, and the ideal time to listen to each.

Key Findings

• Four out of the top five soothing sounds are water sounds, which combined generate over one billion YouTube views.

• Research has shown that watching a fire on a screen, accompanied by crackling fire sounds, can actually help reduce blood pressure.

• Rustling leaves rank at the bottom of the list, with 3,026,000 YouTube views (over 405 million less than thunderstorm sounds).

• Psychologist Dr Rebekah Wanic recommends listening to birds singing, city noise, waterfalls or running streams in the morning for best mental health impact.

The world’s most preferred soothing sounds, ranked

1. Thunderstorm

Generating a whopping 409 million YouTube views,thunderstorm takes the first spot for the most popular soothing sound. Thunderstorm sounds are a typical example of what is called ‘white noise’ – a mix of frequencies allowing a person to drown out any noises that might be found disturbing.

Dr Rebekah Wanic comments: “The booming sounds that punctuate the rainfall in thunderstorms are often somewhat predictable in recorded versions and may provide a sense of comfort in that hearing them from a safe place can help you feel protected and secure.”

2. Rainfall

Following closely behind, with 399 million YouTube views (10 million less than thunderstorm), is rainfall. Soft rain sounds are an example of ‘green noise’ – a constant mid-level frequency creating a flat and steady sound.

“Habituation to repetitive noise can reduce arousal because the consistency doesn’t require alertness to respond to change. Rainfall and ocean waves are also very rhythmic and consistent, offering a soothing pattern that is predictable.”

3. Fire crackling

Third place goes to fire crackling sounds, which have accumulated 197 million YouTube views. While not really a white noise, fire sounds provide a similar effect with their continuity, helping people drown out any disturbing noises. Research has proven that watching a fire on a screen, accompanied by crackling fire sounds, can actually help reduce blood pressure.

“Crackling fire and rustling leaves may be less predictable but both offer repetition in sound frequency that can be comforting.”

4. Ocean waves

Ocean waves are fourth, with 151 million YouTube views. Often, ocean sounds can help a person recall  pleasant memories and this in turn can bring that person calm. Due to the difference in wave sizes, the sound of ocean waves contains a mix of frequencies.

5. Running Stream

Rounding off the top five, generating 43 million YouTube views, is the sound of a running stream. Yet another water sound that’s preferred by many people when they need a sense of calm. Another form of white noise, running stream sounds can certainly be helpful when needing to drown out surrounding noises.

“Running streams and waterfalls follow the same type of pattern as rainfall and ocean waves, with regularity but enough change to be both calming and interesting.”

Dr Rebekah Wanic provides additional insight on the best times to listen to different soothing sounds:

“While each person is likely to have their own preferred sounds along with a preference for the best time and place for listening, considering the associations with these different sounds, I would suggest that morning would be ideal for things like birds singing, city noise, waterfalls or running streams as these would be activating to help get one going.

During the day, more steady sounds like ocean waves or thunderstorms might offer a more powerful and impactful noise to create calm that rises over the hustle and bustle. In the evening, crickets, crackling fire or purring cats might be more soothing because listening to them can help activate pleasant memories that are commonly associated with the connection between such sounds and winding down for the day.

For someone who uses background sounds to drown out unwanted ambient noise, white noise or its variations may be appropriate throughout the day or particularly useful when falling or trying to more effectively stay asleep. I would suggest that people experiment with different options to find their optimal solution.”

Images by

Shifaaz Shamoon

Geetanjal Khanna

Jonathan Bowers

Wren Meinberg

Robert Zunikoff

With all the anticipation of Oasis going back on tour after a 15-year-long hiatus, everyone is getting ready for 202, the summer of bucket hats and parkas – but just how much have Oasis shaped the fashion we still see today – and what fashion trends will we see continue to rise over the coming months in preparation?

Sarah Ewens-Smythe, Head of Buying at Jacamocomments;

“Oasis was known for wearing Parka’s bucket hats and ‘football fan fashion’ – all of which we are seeing trending again this year. Jacamo has noted a huge 40% increase in searches for parka jackets this month, as well as a 12% increase in searches for football shirts in the last quarter. 

“Oasis perpetuated and cultivated several key trends in fashion during the 1990s. They were central to the Britpop movement, which was characterized by a celebration of British culture and a rejection of American dominance in music and style. The band’s look was quintessentially British, emphasising working-class roots.

1. Mod Revival: They brought back elements of the 1960s mod style, particularly with their use of parkas, desert boots, and mop-top hairstyles. The parka, a key element of Liam Gallagher’s look, continues to be a popular outerwear choice. Liam’s own fashion line, Pretty Green, which heavily draws on mod culture and Oasis’s own style, has kept this influence alive in contemporary menswear.
2. Casual Streetwear: Oasis popularised a more casual, “everyman” approach to fashion, which resonated with their fans. This look was anti-glamour, focusing on comfort and simplicity.
3. Football Terrace Culture: The band’s style was heavily influenced by football fan fashion, particularly in their adoption of brands like Stone Island and Adidas, which were popular on the terraces. The popularity of sportswear in everyday fashion, particularly Adidas trainers and tracksuits, can be traced back to Oasis‘s impact. This look has remained a staple in streetwear and has been revived by newer generations embracing vintage and retro styles.

“The Gallaghers, especially Liam, continue to be style icons, with their influence visible in the ongoing popularity of Britpop-inspired fashion, vintage sportswear, and the general attitude of effortless cool that they championed.”

Looking for a parka jacket for Autumn (or readily manifesting Oasis tickets for next year) – These are Jacamo’s best selling Parka Jackets available right now:

1. Khaki Padded Parka £47.40 

1. Tan Faux Fur Lined Parka £49.20 

1. Khaki Padded Parka with Hood £50.40

Words by Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE, propertyCEO

According to a recent survey by finder.com, around half of all UK men make money from side hustles compared to 37% of women, and the average income per hustle is around £900 per month – or just under £11,000 per year. Given that the average wage in the UK is around £35,000, an average side hustle would equate to a pay rise of over 30% – nice work if you can get it.

Now, it’s not a competition, but one group is setting the gold standard for side hustling, and that’s the good (not so) old Gen Z’s. Over two-thirds have a hustle on the go, closely followed by Millennials at 65%. In fact, the older you are, the less likely you are to bring home any extra bacon, with Gen X at 40% and Baby Boomers at just 23%. Part of this is due to the younger generations having lower incomes; therefore, a side hustle’s financial impact is much more significant. But it’s also down to technology; this group makes much greater use of the internet and knows their way around apps such as Vinted, TikTok, and the like. For those of you who think it IS a competition, I can share that the Millennials make the most money from their hustles, racking up an impressive average annual income of almost £15,000. So, if you’re currently aged between 28 and 43, many congrats – you just taught those cheeky whippersnappers a thing or two.

This is all very interesting, but is everything rosy on Side Hustle Island, or are there some nasties lurking in the woodshed? Overall, most things are positive, but there are few things that most side hustlers could be doing a little better. So, if you’re interested in sharpening up your A-game, here are my top ten tips for optimising your hustling:

1. Just Get Started

There’s one thing that every side hustler in the country has in common: they somehow managed to get started. So, if you want to start a side hustle but feel anxious about jumping in, please don’t worry. If nearly half the population have already done it, you’re in good company. The best advice is to realise that almost everyone else had those doubts before they started and that it’s perfectly natural.

One way to build confidence is to connect with communities in the same niche you’re looking to get into. Connecting with others on the same journey as you can be incredibly empowering and may help remove some of those fears. Plus, you may also glean some good advice. Accountability can also help, albeit it’s more stick than carrot. Tell everyone you know you’re going to do it, and you won’t dare back out due to the loss of face. It’s crude but very effective. Either way, take a leaf out of Nike’s book and just do it.

2. Avoid Perfectionism

We all want to do a good job, but the old 80/20 rule usually bites perfectionists on the backside – they spend 80% of their time perfecting the last 20% of their work. This problem can particularly affect those just starting who want to make their product or service as perfect as possible when they launch. The reality is that it’s far better to aim for good rather than great and get your productivity rate up – or even just get the business launched in the first place.

The other problem is that you’ll only truly learn from experience, so you should embrace the Lean Start-up approach, where you learn as you go. Just get started, learn from what happens next and then pivot accordingly. Too many people aim for perfection at the outset and never get out of the blocks. Or, as General Patton famously said, ‘A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week’.

3. Avoid Burnout

Do you have any plans to be the wealthiest person in the graveyard? There’s no point in working all hours on your side hustle if you don’t enjoy the fruit of your labours. Be sure to set limits on how much time you spend on it, and carve out time to spend with family, friends and on good old R&R. Also, make sure that your side hustle doesn’t compromise your day job. You might enjoy it more, but don’t forget which one pays the bills, at least initially.

4. Systemise and Outsource

Brands such as McDonald’s are fundamentally built on systems; if it works for them, it can work for you. Depending on your side hustle, there will be limits to how far you can go here. But always think about whether there’s any part of what you do that can be automated, delegated, or outsourced. Take a detailed look at what you physically do to deliver your product or service and see if you can remove or automate any of the steps.

Outsourcing can seem like a false economy since you’ll presumably have to pay someone else – but the reality is that it can often make good financial sense. Websites such as fiverr.com, upwork.com, and peopleperhour.com allow you to tap into the global gig economy. If there’s a part of what you do that could be done by someone on the other side of the world for a fraction of the cost, it frees up your time and increases your overall productivity. I’ve met several people who have outsourced their entire operation; they simply do the marketing and sell something produced or delivered by people working in the Philippines or India.

5. Know Your Market

A little research can go a long way. Make sure you understand who your competitors are and what they’re offering. How will your offer be different? Also, make sure that there’s a market for your product or services. Depending on your hustle, consider running some dummy ads before you start to check out demand. Also, if you’re going to be working with organisations that will help you earn money, make sure you check them out thoroughly first. There are plenty of rogues out there whose advertised returns can be unbelievable, so see if you can google other customers to find first-hand experience.

6. Don’t Sell Yourself Short

It can be tempting to use low prices to make your service appear more attractive. But this can undervalue your work and mean working long hours before you make a meaningful profit. Instead, price yourself in the mid-range and provide better-than-average service. That way, you’ll be offering good value and can always move to charging premium prices as your experience and testimonials grow.

7. Separate Your Personal and Business Finances

Set up a business bank account and ensure that all the transactions relating to your side hustle go through it – not through your personal bank account. This applies to both your income and expenses. Ultimately, you’ll pay yourself the profits, but make sure the money goes into your business account first. This will make it far easier to manage your business effectively in the long run. Also, make sure you have a rainy-day fund for emergencies, and take advantage of the many online software tools that are available for managing your finances – they will make life a lot easier for you.

8. Pay Your Taxes

Depending on how much money you currently earn, you will likely owe taxes on any side hustle profits. While some may be tempted to ‘forget’ to declare it, the last thing you want is an unexpected tax bill. Automatically set aside some of your profits to pay tax and do your research to understand what tax is payable. Ideally, speak to an accountant to get a professional opinion – it won’t cost a fortune and they may even be able to save you tax.

9. Set Realistic Goals

Set annual and quarterly targets for your business and let these guide your weekly activity and goals. Track your progress and be realistic about your expectations – it can take time to build a sustainable business. Also, celebrate your successes as you go, as this will keep you motivated. You’ll invariably have bumps in the road on your journey but don’t let that put you off, they happen to everyone.

10. Don’t Over-commit

For many, giving up the day job is the ultimate dream, and a side hustle can help make that dream a reality. Just don’t be too quick to hand in your notice. Many people see the money start to roll in and they mistake revenue for profit. They can also be over-optimistic about growth and assume that a few good months will automatically mean every month thereafter will be great too. Instead, ensure that your side hustle is producing 1.5 or 2 times your job income before you leave and that it’s been doing so reliably for a while. After all, you only want to give up your day job once.

The final thing to say is that your side hustle will only ever fail if you give up. Learning from pitfalls and mistakes is part of every successful business’s history; you only need to look at the failed early endeavours of some of today’s billionaires. Not only did they manage to get started, but they also learned from their mistakes and moved onwards and upwards. You may not reach their dizzy heights with your side hustle, but you can learn from their journey. 

For those interested in learning whether small-scale property development could be their perfect side hustle, check out this link: https://webinar.propertyceo.co.uk/s/NtLzYe