During the long days and nights of self isolation, some of you maybe finding yourself working from home, where you have/want to keep up one’s dapper persona. Others of you maybe be finding you have more time on your hands and have no desire to sink into a continuous state of slabbing out while watching continuous episodes of Friends. Nonetheless all of us share that one often finds solace in the immersive worlds of fiction and film.

As the year advances, the evening light starts to return, but temperatures remain cool. Perfect pyjama weather, one might say. As we emerge into Spring, Turnbull’s design team drew from this time, and upon inspiration found in the playful cinematic style of Wes Anderson, to bring a pop of colour to your night time wardrobe.

The resultant collection is a bold, playful and colourful mish mash of traditional patterns in Italian woven cotton. Kelly green gingham and yellow tattersall feature amongst bold pinks and blues. Each piece featuring a piping that off- sets the colours as a contrasting detail. Inspired by the characters and creativity of Wes Anderson’s films, and from the colourful requests of Turnbull’s customers from over the years, this capsule is owed to them.

The collection introduces six new pyjamas, all in bold, playful patterns and colours. Realised in a more contemporary fit and styling compared to Turnbull’s traditionally loose-fitting PJs, this new style introduces a revere collar, pocket details and a waistband with subtle stretch, making them exceedingly comfortable, and stylish. The pyjamas are accompanied by two colourful gowns and a small selection of boxer shorts, all of which are made in England.

Turnbull and Asser have made pyjamas, nightshirts, gowns and boxers for decades – crafted by the same skilled hands that produce their renowned shirts in our factory in Gloucester. With that level of care and attention going in to each piece, Turnbull’s nightwear continues to earn a loyal customer. All of the colourful cottons have been added to their Made to Measure and Bespoke books, so if you prefer to realise these cloths as shirts rather than nightwear, the option is there.

The ethical American based zeitgeist brand Basic Rights have upped the ante with their latest drop from Spring 2020, featuring their first foray into suiting, along with pleated trousers.

The brand was founded by Vaccines guitarist Freddie Cowan when they were touring around New York. The idea came into play when the band realised that they didn’t have clothes which they deemed appropriate to work in. Freddie proactively jumped onto this and got in contact with tailor David Chambers and so followed the birth of what is now Basic Rights.

They join a killer collection for this season including a freshly-launched botanical green suede biker jacket, corduroy high waisted trousers, knit tees, and short sleeved linen shirts.

The brand also released a statement in relation to COVID-19, and is offering 25% off ALL NEW STYLES with code ‘SPRING25’ as a token of solidarity and acknowledgement of the difficult times ahead.

Warehouse? Menswear ! Warehouse doing Menswear !?! But it’s a Womenswear brand ? And yes my dear friends for almost, not quite, but almost 50 years Warehouse has been a regular, trusted and relied upon fashion retailer to our girlfriends, wives, partners and friends since 1976, to be precise.

But for Spring 2020 we welcome the launch of Warehouse Menswear ! Centred on contemporary pieces and unique prints, the collection creates a seasonal capsule wardrobe.

Committed to making eco-friendly choices, the range is made of sustainable fibres, including organic cotton, sustainable viscose, and recycled polyester, all sourced to lower environmental impact.

“The expansion into menswear is an exciting step for us” says Paula Stewart, Managing Director for Warehouse. “Not least because it allows the brand to prioritise sustainability but because it leads us to fill what we believe, is a gap in the market, and after 40 years of being a cornerstone of womenswear retail, Spring Summer 20 will mark a new chapter in the brand’s history.”

A nod to utility workwear mixes with wearable staples whilst a modern palette lends itself to the functionality of a capsule wardrobe. In-house designed prints on shirts punctuate clean, block colours of classic crew sweats. Tapered trousers sit alongside light-wash denim, styled up with grandad collar shirts or paired back with casual fit tees and soft work jackets.

Sundried is a rapidly growing British activewear brand offering everything the modern consumer wants and needs: professional quality performance wear at affordable prices with an ethical conscience. Consumers are now putting immense pressure on retailers as the world wakes up to the global plastic pollution crisis and the devastating effects of climate change. Only brands who align with consumer values will continue to thrive in the modern marketplace. The ethical market is now worth over £83.33bn and the average household spent £1,238 on ethical goods in 2017. 

Sundried is proud to offer two activewear collections made from sustainable materials – recycled plastic bottles and recycled coffee grounds – as well as a range of fitness t-shirts made from biodegradable polyester. The pioneering Eco Tech technology combines impressive performance qualities – such as moisture transport, UV protection and anti-odour – with ethical production to deliver an unrivalled product for anyone who demands more from their fitness clothing. 

On top of the professional quality of the clothing, Sundried promises to keep prices affordable for everyone from the everyday exerciser to up-and-coming Age Group athletes and aspirational professionals so that sport and fitness can be accessible to all, regardless of class, background, or financial status. Sundried® aims to remove all possible barriers from sport in order to encourage more of the population to get active and give young athletes a chance to shine on the global stage. The key sports in which Sundried specialises – cycling and triathlon – can be seen as unattainable for some due to the high prices of the technical kit, but Sundried is changing the game and proving that anyone can excel in these sports given the opportunity.

Founder and CEO of Sundried, Daniel Puddick, is a triathlete, father, and entrepreneur whose original mission was to create a brand his children would be proud to be associated with in years to come. “I’m excited about what the future holds for Sundried and continuing to deliver on our promise to keep our activewear of the highest quality, made sustainably, and affordable for all.”

Just in case it had slipped your mind, Mother’s Day is this Sunday coming and often it is idealised to be a lovely day filled with positive vibes, love, and quality family time. In reality, it doesn’t look like that for everyone. Many people have rocky relationships with their mums, meaning this special day usually ends in disaster or isn’t celebrated at all.

The International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring is the leading accreditation body for professional coaches. Today, IAPC&M accredited coach, Sharon Kandiah shares her 5 tips for surviving Mother’s Day (if you have a a high maintenance mum):

1. Set the scene – simply send your love via telephone instead of visiting. However, if you are visiting in person, be up front about how long you’ll be staying (and stick to your boundaries). If mum is unpleasant in any way, have the courage to leave early – you do not need to put up with her. You may love them, but you don’t need to like her!

2. Focus on the positives – take this opportunity to practice gratitude, forgiveness and love by telling your mum what you’re grateful for, what you forgive them for, and end by telling them what you love about them – regardless of your other issues. Bringing up old dramas will only make the situation awkward and lead to negative feelings.

3. Be authentic – sometimes things do not go the way you hoped they would. For instance, if your intended message / thought / action was not received in the way you hoped. Remain true to yourself and value your intention, knowing that how the other person reacted is not your problem.

4. Acceptance – accept that your mum is only human and has made mistakes – we all have. Even the most difficult of relationships can be accepted for what they are with a bit of patience. Love and acceptance are the kindest feelings for both you and your mum.

5. Take charge of your life – remember, we are responsible for our own choices in life. And sometimes this means we have to let go when it is negatively affecting our lives. Don’t let your mum’s problems become yours and don’t feel responsible for her actions. Instead, be there for your mum, without taking on her baggage, knowing you can only do your best for her.

(DISCLAIMER– I had the best Mum and have the best Mother in Law in the world, just for the record)