CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
/

Not tonight lads its Gentlemen only – Gentlemen Only the new fragrance from Givenchy

Gentlemen Only 100mlNo its not some grand mahogany door clad, pretentious media hungry private members club, no this a universal club with no door policy, no discriminatory management and no silly meetings in front of a panel of po faced harridans to gain membership. You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon perched in ones mouth or a case of who you know not what you know. This is a club where you will recognise its members by smell alone, as Givenchy, the French Power Fashion House launches its new Gentlemen Only fragrance.

The Scent uses a mix of the finest essences and natural ingredients. It starts with giving off  an aromatic and spicy freshness, created by a blend of green mandarin orange, pink peppercorns, nutmeg and birch leaves. Then its depth is revealed by trio of cedar, patchouli and vetiver before a powerful charm of of incense hits you.

Each element of this fragrance has been thought through, the bottle is classic and yet contemporary, reminding you of a

Actor, Simon Barker Face of Gentlemen Only by Givenchy

Actor, Simon Barker Face of Gentlemen Only by Givenchy

gentleman’s hip flask and the thick glass bottom is reminiscent of a paper weight you would find on the desk of a man of the world. The House of Givenchy has thought long and hard as to who could epitomise the elements of what encapsulates this scent and what it is all about and they choose the Australian actor, Simon Barker, currently seen in the film, “I give it a year” and the investigator in the TV series “The Mentalist”. Barker is seen as a modern day gentleman in the same way as Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant were in the Golden age of Hollywoods films.

 

Givenchy's 10 ways to spot a modern day Gentleman, are you one ?

Givenchy’s 10 ways to spot a modern day Gentleman, are you one ?

 

/

Age Defence – Korres Black Pine Anti-Ageing Serum

Korres Black Pine Serum jpegHaving just returned from what can only be described as being a full on trip to Las Vegas, more on that at a later date, plus having a very bad sleeping new addition to the family, I feel I’ve aged 10 years recently. I’ve started to avoid mirrors and when I find myself confronted in a mirrored lift or washroom I catch myself scrutinsing those “laughter lines” and what can only be discussed as shopping bags under my eyes.

So, when the press release for Korres Black Pine Anti-Ageing Serum arrived in my inbox it really was a sight for, not only, sore but tired eyes. The Greek organic skincare range, whose first product was an aromatic herbal syrup with honey and aniseed, a recipe inspired by “rakomelon”, a warming spirit with honey concoction, which George Korres’ grandfather used to favour in his hometown on the island of Naxos. Set up in 1996 with the aim to utilize its extensive scientific resources for the development of clinical effective and safe products, Korres today offers a natural and certified organic range in all areas of beauty and skincare. The brand’s core values remain the same as in its pharmacy days – the use of herbs and natural ingredients of the highest quality; skin and environmentally friendly products with clinically tested effectiveness; affordable for every day use yet of high-aesthetics with strong artistic direction.

With the Black Pine Anti-Ageing Serum 100% of the test panel users reported positive results with firming and TempSure lifting action for wrinkle reduction, skin elasticity and re-contouring. To further push the benefits of its serum Korres then asked Dermatologists to clinically measure the results on the members of the test panel. They confirmed improvements on every member of the panel.

To achieve these impressive results Korres collaborated with the Institute of Biology of the Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Ageing, I promise I didn’t make that up, honest, to investigate and harness the exceptional qualities of Black Pine polyphenol [Epigallocathechin] in regulating metalloproteinases [MMPs] thus maintaining the dermis junction (the acellular zone that is between the dermis and the epidermis of the skin).

The combination of black pine extract, a rich source of polyphenols and pure polyphenol Epigalocatechin reduce the action of MMPs and effectively firm the skin and along with the other active ingredients ensures real results.

 

/

The Man with the Golden GUM – HAIRBOND Haircare

Very small poster sizeIt isn’t unfair or unjust to call Hairbond a small player in the very big pond of male grooming products, which to be honest it’s a pond with some very big fish swimming about in it, nonetheless be prepare to hear and see a lot more form Hairbond over the coming months.

Hairbond make some pretty big statements in their brand literature, including, “Our task is to launch the highest quality brand with a superb range of products that prove that British haircare is truly the very best in the world.” 

Distorter 100mlAdditional to this the brand must be commended for the fact that none of their products are neither tested on animals nor do they condone or work with companies who perform unethical testing. Here, Here !

Hairbond was dreamed up by Scott Michaels, who founded he brand in 2008, principally because, “Our brand is not about gimmicks but giving people a quality British made alternative to their hairstyling routine” 

The brand now exports globally and has an ever growing cult and celebrity fan base, which includes TV Presenters Dan Lobb, Iwan Thomas and Dan Walker, Footballers Michael Owen and Andy Reid and errrrr Dick and Dom.

Moulder 100mlKey products within the range include the MOULDER, which gives strong flexible hold gives immediate grab and high density texture while thickening hair’s appearance. The DISTORTER, this styling product creates texture with a supple finish. Flexible hold gives great results to thick straight hair. The SHAPER, you can achieve perfect finish with this strong hold product. It goes the distance and works fantastically giving shaped texture to your hair any way you want and the SCULPTOR,which is designed  for separation and hold soft and easy, it works superbly on dry hair and separating thicker hair types. Plus this range is completed by a professional separate Shampoo and Conditioner.

sculptor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/

Down it in one – Clean brew shampoo by REDKEN for Men

Screen Shot 2013-03-19 at 14.06.01Aficionados of that Televisual cultural classic The Simpsons, will be only too aware of the fact that, its leading man, yes that bastion of intellectual and manly prowess Homer J Simpson, is a leading advocate of the quality of beer and its beneficial side effect. In this instance, if only Homer had used Duff beer in a different manner then necking large quantities of it he may still have that healthy head of shining hair that we so often see in flashbacks.

So who would have credited it, It turns out beer contains the perfect ingredients to eliminate extra dirt and oil! Just when we thought beer couldn’t get any better…  Redken For Men clean brew extra cleansing shampoo comes to the rescue for a deep clean when it’s needed most, using a premium blend of ingredients found in the traditional brew to help get all the grit out of a man’s hair.

Clean Brew hi-resRedken For Men clean brew extra cleansing shampoo contains their unique Anti-Grit Technology featuring a blend of three common ingredients found in beer: malt helps to nourish and condition hair; brewer’s yeast strengthens and builds body; and orange zest purifies for an overall deep clean that eliminates dirt and oil while helping to purify the scalp. A citrus scent with notes of musk and apple help create a refreshing shower experience for a squeaky-clean feeling.

“It’s easy for men’s hair to become extra dirty! Throughout the course of a day, a guy’s hair can feel weighed down by dirt and oil. And some styling products can leave a certain amount of residue on the hair. Clean brew extra cleansing shampoo has a rich, foaming lather that provides the intense clean many of my clients are looking for on a daily basis but doesn’t dry out the hair or scalp.” says Jamie Stevens, current Men’s Hairdresser of the Year.

 

 

/

Scent of a Man – Kouros Limited Edition

KOUROS EDT TONIQUE 100MLKouros really is an iconic scent from an iconic Fashion House in Yves Saint Laurent. It’s well documented that the sense of smell can invoke a strong presence of emotion in oneself and just smelling Kouros transports you to a different time and conjures up vivid memories.

Kouros translates from ancient Greek to mean Youth and I have to be honest smelling this fragrances transports me back to mine. The fragrance was first launches back in 1981 and  is the most successful male fragrance for the house of Saint Laurent and still today is one of the world most popular fragrance due to its timeless appeal.

A legendary fragrance, the triumphal emblem of a living Greek god whose masculinity is sculptural, solid and powerful. The ever more sensual Kouros idol draws summer’s vital energy from the limited edition Eau de Toilette. Kouros reinvents itself in a bright expression bathed in the light and warmth of Greek shores (yes I do really need a holiday at the moment and like all of us a little bit of sun). KOUROS ENERGIZING EAU DE TOILETTE soars on essences of bergamot and lemon, enlivened by a breath of aldehydes and anise notes, like a summer breeze on sun-warmed skin, ahhhh. This limited edition scent has its sensual core in Egyptian geranium. Incense and Virginia cedar are fused with leather and  Indoesian Patchouli to try and capture a real ode to masculinity, ROAR !