Words by Peter Minkoff

Once upon a time, the idea of a man wearing anything but a three-piece suit in an attempt to look classy and sophisticated was unimaginable to say the least. We’ve evolved quite a bit since those times, and we’ve officially entered the era of prioritizing comfort without sacrificing an ounce of style in the process. Of course, we’re talking about the famous athleisure trend, the one and only go-to look for many a modern-day celebrity that lets your skin breathe, gives you ample room to move and makes you feel invincible.

If you’ve been undecided when it comes to this trend, it’s time to embrace all the comfort and confidence that comes with rocking this sporty look. Here are a few key ways to infuse your style with athleisure in an effortless manner so that you can explore your options and discover what works best for you.

Footwear as the foundation

You’ll see guys wearing compression tights and bombers outside the gym, but if you’re not ready just yet to take that leap, but you’d like to have a taste of the comfort ensured by the trend, there’s no better way than to add a few pairs of trainers for a signature athleisure look. If they keep your ankles safe, your soles comfortable, and they let your skin breathe while you train, they will do the same outside of the gym, too.

Trainers are your greatest athleisure asset. They give an edgy twist to your everyday office look, and they have the power to transform an ordinary jeans-plus-shirt combo in a heartbeat. Look for brands that come with a promise of functionality paired with aesthetics, such as a classic pair of Adidas or Nike. You can never go wrong with clean white sneakers when you’re just about to give athleisure a go.

Athletic accessories to the rescue

Beyond your comfortable, supportive footwear, the safest bet for testing out an athleisure-inspired look is adding yet another functional piece to your look – a rugged gym bag for your everyday needs. After all, most will hit the weights after work, so carrying a stylish gym bag together with your laptop bag makes perfect sense. Look for shades that complement more upscale outfit combinations, such as textured grey, or the simple but powerful military green and leather brown for a purely alpha look.

Much like a pair of monochrome trainers, a gym bag is more than just a purposeful item in your ensemble. It’s an ideal choice for a man with fitness at the core of his personality, and one who likes to stay true to his fashion preferences even through accessorizing. Pair up your trainers and your bag in a single outfit and it still won’t be “too much” for a novice athleisure enthusiast.

Embrace those urban vibes

Athleisure has always carried a set of distinct features that come with the trend’s most beloved collections: they are youthful but timeless, they are rebellious, and they are by no means conventional or boring. Athleisure collections, especially the ones inspired by Japanese streetwear have that urban vibe expressed through a range of cuts, textures, and fabrics. From classic cotton, to distressed denim, oversized hoodies and tight trousers, athleisure has transformed the notion of streetwear to a great extent.

You want to go all in with your athleisure efforts? Go for these edgy alternatives for a night on the town or just your workout session at the gym, and you’ll see that they can impact your energy and your attitude with ease. Such pieces are designed to bring you confidence in addition to comfort, so they’ll never disappoint.

Clean minimalism as your go-to

Just in case you’re not yet ready to try on a fierce Asia-inspired look, you can opt for classic brands such as Jack Wills with a slew of long-lasting, purpose-driven items that come with a promise to upgrade your athletic style in no time.

But don’t be fooled by the clear minimalism that the brand and many others like it exude. Their simple use of white, off-white, gray, and black on trusted fabrics and with low-maintenance cuts is precisely what you need to let your love of minimalism endure while you embrace athleisure as a trend. Plus, they will serve you well in any situation, from your training sessions all the way to the office for that casual Friday.

Play with your color palette

Finally, athleisure is so much more than tees, baggy shorts, massive hoodies, and bomber jackets. It’s an attitude and it represents your healthy lifestyle and your respect for timeless wearables. That, however, hasn’t prevented major brands from producing colorful and vibrant garments that you can use to brighten up your look every once in a while.

So, when you’re ready, try new shades and new patterns often offered by brands the likes of Vuori that know how to implement the traditional charcoal hues and balance them with funky takes on nature-inspired colors.

It takes time and skill to refine your love for athleisure, but with a little bit of guidance and research, you can indeed embrace the trend in all of its glory. Use these tips to get your wardrobe into shape and to make sure that you’ve used all the perks that come with athleisure.

William Morris, who I’m sure you already know, was the founder member of the Arts and Crafts movement from 1834-1896. He was a world famous designer, craftsman, poet and political activist, quite the Renaissance man. Morris’ exquisitely designed textiles, wallpapers and homewear enjoy continued success globally to this day.

As part of his legacy is the the William Morris Gallery, located in East London and was Morris’ former home. It houses and preserves one of the best collections of William Morris artworks and artifacts in the world.

Robert William Morris is the founder and creator of William Morris London, an independent British company in 1996, who  recently announced an exclusive collection of opthalmics.

The 12 contemporary optical frames, designed for both men and women, are crafted from metal and acetate and feature 12 of the most popular William Morris prints from 1880 to 1905. Each print has been intricately placed on the inside of the arms through to the temple tips as a chic and integral part of the styling.

Each frame is sold with a matching print, magnetic flat-folding case and co-ordinating polishing cloth, adding a unique element of British heritage style.

A percentage of each sale will be donated to the William Morris Gallery to help continue its important work of art preservation and education.

Robert William Morris says: ‘For over twenty years I have been asked if we are connected with William Morris, the designer and I am delighted that through the William Morris Gallery Collection we can now officially claim our place in the great British heritage design tradition that is the original William Morris.’

You can tell a lot about a man by the way he presents himself. In 2019, when the male grooming market is growing faster than you can say ‘carefully manicured nails’, the effort men are putting into their appearance is becoming a serious power move – giving them an edge in the arenas of business, romance and influence, among others.

Get Groomed eliminates the stressful travel to and from barber shops and every problem in between. By bringing specialised, professional barbering right to a client’s doorstep, Get Groomed is ensuring that a client receives a top class service, in the comfort of their own home – or even their office or hotel room! That’s the whole ethos of Get Groomed – wherever is best for the client, is where the barber will show up.

Get Groomed has access to a large team of professional mobile barbers who are well trained and vetted. The company connects its customers with the right barber for them, in their area, completely tailored for their individual style at a time and place that suits the client.

Today they share 5 things you can tell about a man based on his grooming regime.

1. A man who regularly visits his barber – too many men wait for the ear-tickling, lock-tugging stage before visiting their barbers. Every 4 weeks is the general rule, because if you can notice that your hair needs a cut, it’s likely that other people have, too. Man will well-cut hair is proactive and in control.

2. A man with a signature scent – scent should be a subtle part of your overall presence. It shouldn’t be loud and obnoxious, but a classy reminder of who you are. A man with a signature scent knows who he is and is not afraid to show it.

3. A man with fresh breath – a valuable man has valuable interactions. Make sure your smile is dazzling and your breath clean and fresh so you can easily project the best possible you.

4. A man with well-groomed facial hair – facial hair of any length should be tamed and maintained if a man once to broadcast to the world that he’s adept and in-control. It’s worth working your shaving habits into a skincare routine to minimise irritation and redness.

5. A man with tidy eyebrows – big eyebrows are great. Just think of Colin Farrell and George Clooney. But wild monobrows make you look just that – wild! Ask your barber to give them a trim next time you get your hair cut and let your sophisticated side shine through.

“There is pure Swedishness and Englishness to the collection that I think twists the look in an interesting way. I like how they are practical and you also want to carry them. It feels good to make bags that are desirable and that also have purpose,” says Jonny Johansson, creative director of Acne Studios.

I couldn’t have summed it up better myself. Sometimes, you’d love to see what some products would look like when two brands collide and collaborate together, I mean, we’d all love to see an Adidas X Gucci tie up and this is what Kim Jones must’ve have thought when he approached James Jebbia’s, for the Louis Vuitton X Supreme collaboration.

Acne Studios & Mulberry have revealed a lil collab they have collectively been working on. The collection of bags and small leather goods brings together the two houses, marrying stylish Swedish design with quintessential English charm. Key styles have been given a fresh twist in the limited-edition range.

“This is a collection about friendship and our freedom as brands to do what we want to do. It is like a conversation between Acne Studios and Mulberry, one that is founded in mutual respect and a desire to make great product,” says Jonny Johansson, creative director of Acne Studios.

Whereas, Thierry Andretta, CEO of Mulberry says, “The Acne Studios and Mulberry collaboration is a perfect manifestation of the spirit of both our brands. It showcases Acne Studios’ wonderful Swedish design ethos and celebrates both the British heritage and modernity of Mulberry”.

The Acne Studios & Mulberry collection brings together classic styles and signatures from the two houses to create something new. Mulberry’s celebrated Scotchgrain bags have been reimagined by the Acne Studios design team, with multiple leather buckle strap fastenings and oversized metal hardware. The bag comes in messenger and mini cross-body satchel styles, available in pink and black crocodile print leather, with the collaboration logo on the reverse: the letters of Acne Studios like leaves in the Mulberry tree emblem.

Acne Studios’ inspirational Musubi bag, with its signature origami knot, is combined with the,literally, iconic Mulberry Bayswater, bringing together two of the houses’ most loved styles. The wide leather knot is laced through the Bayswater in either regular or micro sizes. Alongside versions in oak and black, it is also available in pink, to cater for every taste. Throughout, detachable fabric straps come printed with the brands’ logos. Accompanying the bags is a range of small leather goods in either Scotchgrain or pink grainy leather. There is a laptop case, a medium sized pouch, a coin purse, a small zip-around wallet and a Scotchgrain lanyard.