CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Do your bit for a good cause – Movember

img_0278Even though we’re on the seventh day of November it’s still no too late to get involved and do your bit for a great cause. The Movember Foundation is a global men’s health charity. Set up to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programmes that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Over £440m has been raised to date which funds over 1,200 projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, the Foundation is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives.

In celebration of Gillette’s continued partnership with Movember, they have commissioned a survey to uncover the facts and stats around this year’s initiative. This year Gillette will contribute £5.00 to Movember for every three-month sign up to Gillette Club, the brand’s subscription service, throughout the month of November in an effort to raise awareness around men’s health.

The study of 2,000 men from across the UK and Ireland revealed that:

· over 50 miles of Mo hair (72,500 meters) will be grown throughout Movember 2016, the equivalent in length of 500 rugby pitches
· almost 6 in 10 (57%) men aged 25-34 will be partaking in Movember
· the average guy will take nine minutes to maintain and style their chosen moustache
· teachers will spend the most time shaving/grooming their Mo this month (183 minutes and 11 seconds), while builders will spend the least

To promote the initiative, rugby stars James Haskell and Vincent Koch took part in a live shave down. Ahhhh look at those Baby faces, errr maybe I wouldn’t say that to their face.

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P.S. – While we’re talking about Gillette I couldn’t resist showing you these brilliant Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gift sets !!!!

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6 of the best MANLY Scented Candles

The properties of Scented Candles are no longer the remit of the fairer sex and hippies, this antiquated notion belongs with the Flat world movement and Donald Trump replacing Barack Obama as leader of the Free World, fingers crossed. Scented candles have come on a long way and are, seriously, not just the property of ladies trying to relax in a long, soapy, bubble bath. Men really are getting in on the act and grooming brands are raising to and catering for the wants of their male consumer. We’re not talking apple blossom, rhubarb or Japanese Camelia, no we are genuinely seeing masculine scents and packaging to reflect this rugged customer.

img_8236This indulgent single wick candle blended with notes of ylang-ylang, amber and cardamom from Molton Brown has top notes of ylang-ylang and bergamot and base notes of musk and amber.

img_0265Did you know each individual Acqua di Parma candle is the result of a careful hand- made process which takes 24 hours to complete. It all starts from a mix of three fundamental ingredients: top quality wax, fragrance, and colour pigments.

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Wood, brandy and spice notes intermingle to create this classic in Byron by Cire Trudon, the oldest candle maker in the world. It has supplied candles to some of history’s most glittering characters and has survived intact some of the most momentous events in European history.

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The clue is in the name with this classic by Jo Malone. Peppery basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean breeze, just what you need after a long old day

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Created in 1902 exclusively by British Hertiage brand Penhaligon’s and taking its name from Blenheim Palace. The Blenheim Bouquet is a bracing mix of citrus oils, spices and woods. It’s hard to imagine it was created over one hundred years ago. It is a fragrance that is discreet, sensual.

img_8260Last but by no means least is a timeless classic, Green Irish Tweed from the House of Creed is as popular today as it has ever been. Created by Olivier Creed in 1985, Green Irish Tweed achieved worldwide success simply by word of mouth, so beguiling was its blend of floral, green and woody notes. Green Verbena, Violet Leaves, Florentine Iris, Sandalwood and Ambergris are subtly orchestrated in a fragrance that is virile, elegant and irresistibly charming

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In the dark of the night – 6 of the Best Autumnal fragrances for you

The clocks are about to be set back an hour, all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey (what a great line), like cold slap to the face yes Autumn is upon us. So as sure as you are about to pack away those board shorts and flip flops, you should be thinking the same about the fragrance your sporting. Whilst on a crisp seasonal walk you don’t want to be smelling of light, floral, citrus fruit scents. At this time of year you want to leave a hint of mystery, spice and something if the night in your wake.

Grooming brands do make this easier for you by using colour to denote seasons, for their Summer editions they will use shades of yellow and orange to imply warmth of the Sun and tones of blue and white to point to surf and clear Summer skys. Whereas, for the colder months, it’s all about navy blue and, of course, black. If you go for a fragrance encased in a black bottle, you can be pretty damn sure this is a safe bet for a Autumal fragrance, that will contain such key ingredients as Wood, Leather, Oud, and spices like Saffron, a big favourite at the momen and pepper. Here are six of our favourites for this time of year.

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The Great British Barber Shop

Words by Charlie Britton

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Recent years have seen the male grooming scene grow from strength so strength, with more and more men taking extra good care of themselves. From hair creams and beard oils to skin care and aftershaves, we all have one thing in common, a trip to the local barber shop.

Cut throat wet shaves to scissor cuts and skin fades, the barber shop is an undeniably British place of rest bite, comfort and relaxation. Here at Clothes-Make-The-Man, we’ve tried our fare share of barbershops across the land, so we’ve decided to give you the low down on some of the best barbers across the British isles, so you can remain doubt free in the search for optimum manliness.

 

ruffians-marlybone
Launched in 2012 in Edinburgh’s West End, Ruffians went from strength to strength, winning hairdressing awards right off the bat with their first store. Now in four locations across the UK, Ruffians is by far one of the cleanest and slickest barber shops to date. Whiskeys and coffees all round, Ruffians offers a tailored consultation, clean cut and even vacuum’s your neck to end on a high, hair free note.

 

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Sheffield’s little gem, Savills barber shop definitely stands out from the crowd. Equipped with 9 highly skilled barbers and a vast apothecary of grooming aids, you wont regret making a trip to the oldest school barber shop in the country. The antique furnishings, reclaimed gear and traditional uniforms ensure you feel you’ve stepped back in time, although the services provided are nothing but modern and clean cut.

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Hidden away on the streets of Angel, Gents of London provides an authentic service like no other. Traditional theme with a modern service, this old school London barber shop can tailor each cut to every client, ensuring nothing but pure satisfaction is produced from some of the best barbers in town. Mod haircuts to skin fades and scissor cuts, this barber shop can offer something for every gentleman, and we guarantee you’ll feel right at home.

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On the sunny streets of Exeter, the original Sandyman Chop Shop sits not so quietly, attending to the needs of gentlemen and lads alike. The tatted’ up guys at the Sandyman Chop Shop don’t look like your usual traditional barbers, but fear not, these guys know a thing or two about cut throat razors. Unwind with a beer or a glass of rum, and let the guys at the Chop Shop do their thing.

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Dublin’s man cave, Cut & Sew, which started as a 1 man pop up, is a barber shop with a serious amount of style. Situated in two locations across Dublin, Cut & Sew provides a slick service with a smile. The original Cut & Sew is located underneath an old school record store, so you can sit back with a drink and enjoy the music, or even browse the apparel that they have to offer while you wait.

So there you have it, a few favourites of ours across Britain, keeping the men of today clean, crisp and ready to go. As the saying goes, ‘You’re only as good as your last haircut‘, so we can rest easy here at Clothes-Make-The-Man knowing you have the tools to find a cut above the rest.

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Washbag Wishlist – Marcus King, Mens Hairdresser of the year

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Marcus King‘s story of how he first broke into the world of men’s hair styling isn’t unusually, it’s one of dedication and commitment. Starting out at his local barbers at the young age of 14 sweeping the floors on a Saturday, before moving on to develop his skills doing an apprenticeship. Marcus has grown, developed and established himself over the years and is now the Creative Director of world renowned hairdressing group Hooker & Young based in the North East of England.

Marcus has been a part of the Hooker & Young team for 12 years and his creative skills have been called upon all over the world from Croatia, Oman to Argentina. His creative and innovative mind led him to win North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year in 2012 and more recently, he was crowned Men’s Hairdresser of the Year.

However, today we ask him about what grooming product he can’t live without and what is his Washbag Wishlist.

 

img_0171Tom Ford Conditioning Beard Oil Tobacco Vanille
o The best beard oil on the market! It smells amazing and keeps my beard soft but firm.
img_0172Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Session Label Strong Hold Hairspray
o An absolutely must-have for any man! This hairspray has incredible hold and feels light on your hair.
img_0174ClarinsMen Super Moisture Balm
o I love the Clarins Men’s range in general but their Moisture Balm is fantastic. I think it’s so important to moisturise, especially your face to keep it hydrated, supple and feeling amazing.
Schwarzkopf Professional [3D]MEN Cleansing Shampoo
o This shampoo cleanses away stubborn product build-up and removes and traces of oil. It leaves the hair feeling squeaky clean, but soft and manageable.
img_0176Carita for men
o This range is fantastic, a favourite in our salon! The products and treatments available through this brand are amazing and suitable for every age, skin and type of man!