CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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This season’s top hairstyles for Autumn/Winter 2013

Screen Shot 2013-09-30 at 10.19.02On a purely selfish tip here, but I’m sure I’m not on my own, I’m in need of a good hair cut and also a bit sick to death of my usually short back and sides. So, it got me to thinking I should seek the advice of a professional and out came the Clothes Make the Man little black book, actually the not so little, I’ll have you know, and top of the list came the Award-winning hairdresser, owner of two salons, global ambassador for Matrix Haircare, TV personality and British Hairdresser of the Year 2013 & 2012 nominee, none other then Mr Jamie Stevens. Jamie has fast established a well-deserved reputation as one of the nation’s most successful and talented celebrity hairstylists.

This charismatic and gifted man has seen him work with everyone from Kylie Minogue, Elle Macpherson and Eva Herzigova to Christian Slater, Hugh Grant and Olly Murs. He has also been recognised for his exceptional men’s hair skills, twice winning the British Hairdressing Awards Men’s Hairdresser of the Year Award, as well as being the English Hair & Beauty Awards Men’s Stylist of the Year 2013 and winning the first ever Men’s Stylist of the Year category at the HAIR Awards 2013. OK, OK I’ll shut and let him speak.

Screen Shot 2013-09-30 at 19.49.00Slick & Side Parted – Seen on everyone from Leonardo Di Caprio to Justin Timberlake, defined side partings were a key trend for Spring/Summer and show no signs of going away for Autumn/Winter. This trend kicked off with pop culture influences from shows such as Boardwalk Empire, Downtown Abbey, Pan Am and Mad Men, where the guys wore hair very slick and this classic cut with clean edges, is definitely enjoying a renaissance.

To achieve this, you should ask for a hair cut tapered at the sides and cut into the parting, whilst maintaining enough length on top to comb over to the side. It does require regular maintenance trims to keep it looking sharp, but it looks super stylish and is so easy to style, you just need a comb and product – opt for gels, pomades and glossing products, rather than those with a matte finish.

The finished style can be worn sharper or softer, depending on your face shape and preference. At its sharpest, style from wet with a comb and a good strong hold gel such as Matrix Design Pulse Rock Solid, keeping the hair as flat as possible and making sure product is evenly distributed.

The softer version, think Leonardo’s Gatsby, where volume is present and hair more styled, use a Denman brush and dry the hair backwards towards the crown. Then, using a wax paste like Matrix Design Pulse Shape Scene, apply from front to back for a more textured finish, with flexibility and movement

Screen Shot 2013-09-30 at 19.50.17Longer Hair & Natural Texture – In contrast, longer hairstyles embracing the hair’s natural texture are also a key look for Autumn/Winter. This look is about dishevelled unfussy hair, like your man has just rolled out of bed, think Harry Styles, as well as a return to even longer lengths. After washing your hair, liberally work a sea salt spray into the hair and apply a small amount of a matte clay, such as Matrix Design Pulse Beach Clay into your roots and shape into the desired look. Let it dry naturally or in the colder months, scrunch dry it with your fingers and mould into shape.

Screen Shot 2013-09-30 at 19.51.38Quiffs – We’re seeing a lot of textured quiffs in demand, where the back and sides are cropped short to really heighten the impact of the length on top. This work best on hair with a natural wave, but we’ve also been seeing an increase in requests for perms to achieve this look on hair that doesn’t naturally curl so easily, just make sure your stylist uses big rods as this will make it wavier and will sit back better.

For the cut, ask your stylist for a skin fade as this will give you the best cut to maximise the top length. To style, apply a styling cream into the hair before blow-drying such as Matrix Design Pulse Loosely Defined to give hold and lift. Dry the hair back in the direction you want it to sit and as big as possible. With a clay-like product – Matrix Design Pulse Quick & Dirty, rub it generously into your hands and fingers and starting at the back of your head imagine you’re putting the product on your scalp and start to work it forward, encouraging lift at the front to maximise the quiff. Finish some good hairspray for guys.

Alternatively, you can blow-dry the quiff out into more of a Beckham-inspired look that has been so popular – the key here is the cut as he has been clippered with one grade to really show separation between the lengths.

 

To learn different ways of styling your hair at home, ask your stylist when having your hair cut for specific tips and tricks on how to adapt your look and the key products required to achieve it, so that you change your look up depending on your mood.

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Acqua di Parma’s Collezione Barbiere

Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 19.11.38The history of Acqua di Parma is a great Italian story, like so many of them. It all started back in 1916 in a small essence laboratory at the old heart of Parma. Here, skilled master perfumers conceived an unusually fresh and modern fragrance – the first true Italian Cologne. Colonia Acqua di Parma, a new classic sure to achieve timeless success.

The composition of Colonia, still unchanged today, gained increasing recognition. In the 1930s it became the “fragrance” of the time. The Art Deco inspired bottle, with classic black bakelite cap, was designed in those years and promptly became a true style icon. In the 1950s Colonia achieved international success. Hollywood actors, summoned to Italy by the great masters of local cinematography, discovered its intimate and elegant notes in the historical tailor’s workshops, where custom-made suits were finished with a spray of the Acqua di Parma fragrance before delivery.

The act of shaving is a timeless grooming ritual to which generations of men have dedicated time and attention. Acqua di Parma’s Barbiere Collection presents a well-balanced synthesis of elegant design, refined textures and stylish packaging designed with the modern man in mind. This collection celebrates this ritual and will undoubtedly appeal to man around the globe.

Preparing the skin for shaving, moisturising, protects the skin against from ageing, as we should all know. Collezione Barbiere is a complete line of top quality shaving products which fulfil the needs of the informed man who takes pride in his appearance. In the collection are shaving products that prepare the skin for shaving, including the brand new shaving oil and the equally innovative revitalising Face Cream and revitalising eye Treatment, rich in hyaluronic acid for a rejuvinated, healthy skin.

The rich textures of the products give an immediate sensation of well-being and the high performance formulas contained largely from natural ingredients, make for a winning combination. Complete with a fresh neutral fragrance, these products will not overwhelm.

The compact, functional packaging is ideal for those on the move or travelling. The Barbiere Collection is all presented in the typically masculine colours of tobacco and prides itself on excellence in the art of shaving and personal care. It enhances the pleasure of an exclusive ritual.

Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 19.10.54Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 19.11.10

 

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An Oudh by any other name – Black Oudh & Grey Flower by Reiss

BLACK_OUDH1No you’re not mistaken, yes, favourite clothing retailer Reiss, have ventured into the Scent market and no this isn’t any daft Justin Beiber, Peter Andre fragrance. For Autumn 13 Reiss, debut fragrances for Men and Women, in Black Oudh for Men and Grey Flower for their female counterparts, or vice versa if you so fancy. Both fragrances are modern classic scents with unique formulations featuring hand-picked ingredients that represent style, design and elegance, hardly alien concepts to the brand.

Black Oudh is an alluring and enticing fragrance opening with fresh aromatic top notes of Laurel Leaf and green Cypress, descending into the deepest Heart accord of Sequoia Wood, Clary Sage and Vetiver. Finally Black Oudh, Black Musk and Amber at the base make this a magnetic and alluring fragrance.

Where as Grey Flower is a seductive, mysterious and deeply addictive fragrance. The Armoise and Pimento Berry balance the seductive centre of Sequoia Wood, Jasmine Noir and Cocoa Leaf, followed by the velvety warmth of an addictive base of skin musks, Olibanum, Amber Crystals and Patchouli and Baies leaving an unforgettable scent.

Having recently celebrated 40 years, 2013 sees the stylish brand branch out into the beauty industry. Founder, David Reiss wanted to wait for the right time to launch their debut fragrances, Reiss has always been focused on delivering affordable luxury; creating directional, design-led clothing and accessories.

 

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Mazorin – A new breed of Grooming range

All2LRGuys you know the deal, the 
hard
 work,
 long
 hours,
 commuting,
 endless
 
travelling with work,
 meetings
 and 
constant
 pressure
 to
 perform,
 this 
takes 
a 
tremendous
 toll
 on 
your 
skin.
 This is exactly what Giangiacomo
 Postir 
and
 Marco
 Baruzzi,
 
both
 30
 something 
urban
 professionals 
living 
in
 London found and so they undertook the quest to envisage a men’s skincare
 range 
that 
would 
fit 
with 
their 
gruelling 
lifestyle
.

They
 started
 working
 with
 dermatologists 
and 
recognised 
industry 
experts 
to
 research
 the
 most
 effective
 ingredients,
 formulations 
and 
packaging
 that 
would
 fit
 the
 ideals 
of 
their 
brand, 
whilst 
studying 
the 
lifestyle 
of 
urban 
professionals,
 to
 fully
 understand
 their 
needs.

The guys 
wanted
 the
 highest
 quality 
for
 their
 product, 
so 
the
 Mazorin
 range 
has
 been
 dermatalogically
 tested
 and
 all
 the
 products 
contain 
just
 active 
ingredients
 that 
are 
known 
in
 dermatology 
and 
there
 are 
no
 parabens,
 no 
mineral 
oils, 
no
 synthetic 
colours, 
along 
with 
the 
fragrances 
which 
have 
all 
been 
selected
 under
 medical
 advice. 
In 
regards 
to 
the
 packaging
 the guys 
decided 
to 
take 
a
 different
 approach 
and 
work
 with 
two
 of the top 
Italian 
architects 
to
 design 
the packaging.

The
 name 
of 
the 
skincare
 line,
 Mazorin, 
means
 “Mallard’
 in
 Friulano, 
a
 language
 spoken 
in 
the 
Friuli
 area
 of
 North 
Eastern
 Italy
where 
one 
of 
the 
founders was 
born
 and
 where 
the 
brand’s 
labs 
and
 production 
are 
located.

A
 Mallard
 by
 nature 
is a workaholic, is a born traveller, 
coexists
 with 
nature
 and
 urban
 environments
 
and
 the
 male
 mallard
 with
his
 green 
head 
is naturally very groomed.

To reflect the banking side of their background the guys have used their sense of humour to name the products within their range. We have, Face Value, consisting of a Optimal 
Face 
Maintenance
–
a
 face
 moisturiser
 and Optimal
 Skin
 Nourishment
–
 a 
skin
supplement. Then, Liquid Assets, consist of a Pre
 Meeting 
Face
 Vamp
–
a
 gel/tonic
 in
 a
 stick 
pack
 for 
the 
face
 and Working
 Late
Eye
 Serum
–
 roll
 on 
eye 
gel/serum. All Mazorin products come with the promise that, all of their 
products 
were 
NOT 
tested
 on
animals 
but 
were 
on 
an 
extensive
 amount 
of
 urban 
professionals!!
 All
 of
 whom 
were
 thrilled
 with 
the 
results.

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The picture you see is no portrait of me – Portrait, The new Fragrance by Paul Smith

PS_PORTRAIT_FOR_MEN_PACKSHOTPaul Smith is a true global designer, not only is he one of the world’s most well known Fashion designers, but he has stores in countless countries spanning the globe. More than a decade after the launch of his first signature fragrance, this season sees the launch of Paul Smith’s latest fragrance – Portrait For Men and Portrait For Women.

Inspired by his love of travel and a true passion for photography, as anyone who follows him via social media, will know. This fragrance is the result of a two-year collaboration between Smith and new generation perfumer Barnabé Fillion. Barnabé painstakingly constructed the two fragrances based on his lengthy discussions with Paul, concerning the pair’s shared love of travel and interest in the ability of certain scents to evoke powerful memories. “Trying to capture his personality and life in a scent was challenging but Paul was always full of ideas and material that I could then translate to fragrance. The most important thing, was that both fragrances had authenticity – a sense of truth.” As he so eloquently puts it.

The result is an evocative snapshot of the designer’s travels, memories, passions and inspirations in the shape of two sophisticated and multi-faceted fragrances bursting with originality, authenticity and Paul Smith’s original signature style.

Although the mens and womens fragrances are totally different they are connected by no less than four key notes – bergamot, cardamon, myrrh and tea (black tea in the case of Portrait For Women and Green Tea in Portrait For Men). The tea note, key to both fragrances, is especially important to the designer, who associates the rich aroma of Black Tea with visits to Indian markets and the distinctive smell of Green Tea with Japan – a country he’s visited nearly 100 times. Along with the other notes (the wild rose one at the heart of Portrait For Women was inspired by Paul’s memories of his uncle’s garden in Nottingham) they combine to take the wearer on an olfactory journey into the world of Paul Smith.