Today, a new survey conducted by barber-grade grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge has found that 73% of men are planning to make grooming resolutions in 2019. But what’s the underlying purpose for all this grooming? According to 67% of the 2,018 surveyed men, it’s about improving their chances of finding a new partner, or impressing a current one.

The survey also revealed that 48% are fixed on finding a fresh new hairstyle, with celebrity influencers such as David Beckham being the driving force. Meanwhile, 33% want to grow designer stubble or a beard.

“We currently live in a very social-media savvy world,” says Bradley Wicks – Head of Content and Social Media at The Bluebeards Revenge. “As a result, men are finally starting to learn the benefits of self-grooming – whether that’s looking after their skin, the hair on the heads, their beards, or even hair in other, more private, regions! We’re always advertising ourselves in today’s society and we work hard at branding ourselves; creating an image that we want to portray to friends, family and fancies.

With the above in mind, it comes as no great surprise to hear that barbers find themselves inundated with new style requests from their regulars in the early weeks of January. “A new hairstyle is one of the quickest and easiest resolutions to tick off the list,” says Barbershop Manager Callum Marks. “Unlike eight months of hard work in the gym, a haircut can drastically change the look and feel of a man in 45 minutes.

“At Luka’s Barbers in Plymouth, Devon, we definitely see an influx of men more willing to switch up their style in January. It’s funny; because just weeks before they wouldn’t have dared to consider a restyle. But the start of a new year seems to change their mentality. It’s refreshing too as it often gives me a chance to show them what else is out there for their face shape and personality.”
Current trends are seeing men adopt slightly longer hairstyles in 2019. In fact, 60% of the men that answered yes to changing their haircut in The Bluebeards Revenge’s survey suggested that their new look would be of medium to medium-long length.

“Longer hairstyles are now associated with ‘rebellious cool’ and are the results of celebrity influences,” says Wicks. “Great examples include the long locks of Jason Momoa in Aquaman, the disconnected lengths of Chris Hemsworth’s hair and the always-trendy styles of David Beckham.

The improved standards and skills of barbers are also making them the go-to stylists for men. 47% of men say that they will regularly visit a barbershop in 2019 over a hairdressing salon, a mobile appointment, or cutting their hair themselves.

Aside from the hair on their heads, 33% of men are planning to embrace more rugged designer stubbles or fully-fledged beards in 2019. This continues the current trends that have seen the shaving market slashed by millions in recent years.

“Designer stubbles, in particular, are decorating the faces of men, helping to enhance stronger jaw lines and creating a new smart-casual vibe that’s been accepted as office etiquette,” says Marks. These kinds of style require regular maintenance, making electric beard trimmers and beard oils two of the bestselling facial hair accessories in 2019.

Wicks added: “The dawn of a New Year comes with a million self-set challenges. All over the world people are desperately trying to cut down on their bad habits: booze, food, and spending being among the most popular.

“But, ultimately, these aspirations are about improving a person’s physical appearance and mental wellbeing – making grooming and styling resolutions one of the fastest growing trends. This, combined with the incentives advertised to us by influencers and product brands, is creating an exciting landscape for men’s grooming in 2019.

Unless you’re doing something very wrong with your wardrobe, your head and your face is likely to be the part of your body that people first notice when they’re interacting with you.

The good news is, making your hair into a solid fashion statement is one of the most cost-effective and noticeable ways you can make a good impression. That said, if you’re rocking a look that’s decidedly ’10 years ago’ – then that might not be the impression you’re hoping for.

We’ll walk you through 5 of the best cuts that’ll keep on looking good into 2019 – and if you’re keen to keep your spending to a minimum, keep an eye on sites like myvouchercodes for great deals from local barbers and hairdressers.

Long and swept back

It’s not a look you can just walk into a barber’s and ask for – as shoulder length takes some time to grow, but if you’d like a longer style that’s certain to be popular in 2019 then going long and swept back, behind your ears, is a strong look.

Make sure your barber doesn’t cut into your hair, the longer and more-sleek your hair looks, the better it responds when you get a reasonably shiny product on it that’ll hold it into place.

The good news is, this long and swept back style is about as low maintenance as it gets too. Towel dry, work some cream or pomade through slightly damp hair – then comb back. Bingo.

A bleached crop

Admittedly, the bleached look might be one that’s best reserved for readers under 30 – but if you’re ready to commit to stripping the colour from your hair, you can really make it work for you.

The current bleached look carries on the theme of 90s Britpop and grunge style that’s showing no signs of letting up into 2019. The results are better (and safer) if a hairdresser or barber does the bleaching – and you’ll want to make sure you use a good purple toned shampoo to stop any brassy tones coming through.

Whether you go for bleached streaks or a solid all-over colour, a simple tussle-up with a light clay-based styling product will give you the carefree style you should be aiming for.

Classic crew cut

While less structured styles are going to be popular in 2019, the exception to that rule is the classic short-back-and-sides crew cut.

It’s a simple style to ask for; you’ll want to go for something between a grade 0-2 on the back and sides, with the top scissored down to the equivalent of a grade 5-6. The result is a classic shape that looks as good now as it did in the 50s – but be warned, it’s not a style you can forget about – book back into your barbers within a couple of weeks if you want to keep it looking sharp.

A quick soft parting

While sharp partings and fixed styles were the way to go into 2017 and early 2018, there’s an increasing move toward softer edges and looser partings into 2019.

Scissored around the back and sides gives a less sharp look to the overall cut – and 2-3+ inches on top gives your hair enough weight to fall naturally to one side or the other. Don’t try to fight with the parting – there’s no need for it to be a solid line, instead, part with your fingers when you’re out of the shower and let your hair dry with nothing more than this loose shaking into the right direction.

Simple, quick and stylish. Ideal.

Grunge punk

If you’re keen on a heavily textured look that’s got non-conformity written all-over it, an 80s style punk mixed with early-90s grunge feel is going to fit the bill in 2019.

If you’ve got 3+ inches of growth, you’ll want to get your barber to really cut into your hair, bringing a lot of texture – and don’t worry about a sharp neckline or cut around your ears, the more consistent the apparent length, the better, as it really adds to the carefree look this haircut suggests.

The beauty of this cut is that the length allows for a swept back feel if you’ve got to consider how you look at work – but when the weekend comes, you can hit the product and hairspray to make a bold statement.

Healthy hair

No matter which of these haircuts you choose as being right for you in 2019, there are some hair essentials you should be mindful of. Hydration is absolutely vital for healthy hair – so aiming to drink 6-8 glasses of water each day will keep your locks shiny and full of life.

Consider taking a multi-vitamin too – this guide will help you choose one that’s right for you. While vitamins in pill form are good, make sure you get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, including spinach, carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes – all rich in hair enhancing Vitamin A.

Words by Daniel Ramsdale-Harris

Let’s roll back beyond the 2000’s, where in 1999, only half of all UK adults held a credit card. Also, let’s not forget this was a time where the ‘internet’ was only starting to evolve, and going into stores was known as the only and best way to shop your favourite garments. Back then, we would have never imagined seeing ‘click and collect’ shopping, ‘contactless shopping’ and ‘order in store technologies’. However, emerging technologies today blow these inventions out of the water!

As time has progressed over the years to the 21st century today, new and emerging technologies have taken the world by storm. In 2018, online retail sales were estimated to hit $2,489 trillion dollars. Mind blowing!

This stat is one of the key factors in retailers trying to nail their omnichannel approach, taking emerging tech such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Facial Recognition and contactless shopping, that requires no checkout. Yep, you heard it you now don’t even have to pay in store! Whilst these technologies have seen great success online in recent years for major fashion players, they have only started to come in to play in the last couple for physical stores.

We are now seeing more and more global brands bringing their ‘stores of the future’ to life, as they aim to bridge the gap between online and physcial, by creating experiences that you truly can’t get online, whilst providing a seamless and integrated shop for the consumer.

So, let’s breakdown Nike’s new House of Innovation store with the top 5 features that I, you and everyone will find truly mind-blowing.

1. The “Nike Arena”- Customisation, Customisation & More Customisation

The first floor of Nike’s flagship doesn’t have any product on it whatsoever. Instead, it’s a large customization area where consumers can make changes to their famous silhouettes and clothes. Customers can change the colours of laces, the swoosh and even the whole shoe. What’s more impressive is that these customizations usually only take 5-10 minutes, while longer projects mean that consumers get to have a one-one-one meeting with a Nike employee to create their dream sneaker or trainer, or shoe- whatever you want to call them!

This is what you call allowing customers to take their shopping experience into their own hands.

2. Behind The Scenes Content- Inside Nike’s Creations

Within the store, Nike are focused on showing their customers where the brand has been. There is a display on their sneakers floor which holds over 300 different pairs of in-season shoes, and shows foot scans, design sketches and prototypes.

The retailer also plans to host footwear designers to talk about their creations, with the aim being for their customers to feel inversed in joining the sneaker community.

No one can argue that this is a great touch in attempting to tell their customers the whole story behind the effort and time in which it takes to bring products to life.3. QR Codes & Digital Fitting Rooms

Nike have placed QR codes across all mannequins in the store to let shoppers find out exactly what they’re wearing there and then, without having to wonder around the store to find the look.

Shoppers also have the ability to access a ‘request to try on’ feature, where they can add products they want to a digital fitting room. At this point, a store employee will find their size and colour specified, set up a fitting room and then send a push notification to the shopper when it’s ready for them to try everything on.

They say male shoppers are lazy, but now they have a reason to be!

4. Instant Check Out Kiosks

It’s not quite Amazon Go, but it’s ever so close. Nike have set up instant checkout kiosks on every floor of the store, complete with bags and a slot for hangers, where customers can check themselves out using the Nike App if they don’t feel like waiting in line.

Again, it’s as if the average lazy shopper male is their perfect target customer!

5. Reserve Items In Your Own Nike In-Store Locker

Nike also don’t forget about their online consumers in their aim in providing a seamless shopping experience across both platforms. Using the app, Nike Plus shoppers, who have browsed products online but want to check them out in store before they buy can pick up reserved items in a set of lockers by simply scanning their member pass.

The retailer has said that this feature is available for those who are known as ‘speedshoppers’, with convenience sitting at the upmost importance for them.

Convenience, a word that all men want hear right?

All in all, Nike’s Six Floor New York House Of Innovation store showcases where the technology side of the retail industry is today. For Nike, using these emerging technologies is all about leveraging more enhanced data through their app, so they can continue to offer ground-breaking in store features like we’ve discussed today.

More importantly, us males have no excuses now when complaining about just how long shopping takes!

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY

With Christmas now less than a week away we need to begin to consider what outfits we are going to be wearing over this festive period. Even though the weather has been on the bad side lately to say the least it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to chuck on the thickest clothing you have with layering key once again this year.

Well what do you do on Christmas Eve other than watch films, eat rubbish and drink booze? Not a lot really! The perfect and most comfortable way to start your Christmas period is with a nice and chilled pair of Pyjamas these can be worn throughout the whole festive period not only making you stylish day to day but also when indulging on a hot chocolate, with a dash of Baileys,  at night.

Christmas Eve-

For those of you who are planning on going out out a smart casual look is always the way to go with it offering versatility for all events making you neither over or under dressed. Well where do we start? The shoes of course! This year has been dominated by the chunky trainer trend and why change something which we love, Alexander McQueen’s are that perfect high-end sneaker which offer the clean, smart and casual look you should be going for.

No smart casual look would be complete without a pair of tailored trousers and after looking and looking we found that Zara offers one of the best selections with our number one pick being these Pin Stripe Suit Trousers, priced at £39.99 you can’t really argue with that!

With this look we are treating you to a full Zara ensemble with our next item being this cream turtle neck sweater, this allows you not only to remain warm but also look the best!

Christmas day-

The one day of the year which allows you to wear crazy jumpers and it be totally acceptable! A day like Christmas has no rules and is simply an excuse to show off any of your new presents even if you have brought them for yourself. If you are looking for the best Christmas jumpers where else would you look other than Boohoo man for cheap and cheerful clothing.

However, if you aren’t a ‘make it work’ kind of person than a smart look is perfect for you on Christmas day. Allsaints light blue Trenton Shirt is the perfect start and pairing this with a pair of blue denim jeans will only complete the outfit.

Although we are called Clothes Make the Man, this feature is going to be ‘Boots Make the Man’ and we have found the most beautiful boot which you should definitely check out! The Navy Portage Leather 6-inch Moc is the perfect boot for this winter. Not only this winter but years ahead with the leather softer and softer

Boxing Day-

A hungover mess is the only way to be on this day, not advised by us of course! All you are simply going to want is a comfortable tracksuit which you can look the part as well as feel the part in comfort terms. Twinzz is a brand which we have recently come across and are loving not only for the designs but having actually worn some of the items the quality of them. The Loyalty Ply FZ Laurel Hoodie and matching bottoms are the answer for all your comfort fears over this festive period, simply pair this tracksuit with your favourite pair of trainers and you have absolutely smashed it.

New Year’s Eve-

If you are going to celebrate New Year’s it will be best to wrap up for the fireworks this year or even if you are just popping down the pub, but as ever that smart casual look is the best option to go for and the Barbour Men’s Farsley Chelsea boot is the perfect way to start this outfit and once paired with a slim pair of black denim jeans you have already smashed it. However, we are still yet to have told you about the highlight of the outfit! Zara’s grey faux shearling jacket is an amazing piece to style and when placed with the simple duo above you simply can’t complain.

We at Clothes Make the Man hope that this has given you some outfit inspo for this festive period and makes you dress like the best you! This year once again has gone incredibly quickly and we wish you all a Merry Christmas, health and happiness in the New Year.