A Stylist, a Footballer and a Photographer walked into a bar. HAMPTON & BAKER

What do you get if put a photographer, a footballer and a stylist together, no I promise this isn’t some antiquated, offensive joke for a bygone era. The answer is infact Hampton & Baker, the brainchild of Warren Baker, a fashion stylist living in Los Angeles but originally from the UK. Who has styled red-carpet looks, television shows & fashion editorials. Professional football, sorry, soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and accomplished author of the best-selling “Coming Out to Play”,Robbie Rogers. Last part of this creative consortium is Nathan Poekert, a Photographer and Creative Director born in Seoul, raised in Florida and currently living in New York. Poekert has cut his creative teeth consulting with several startup fashion brands as well as launching and co-founding his own brand, Proper Assembly, in 2014.

Hampton & Baker came about from a simply innocent conversation between Robbie and Warren regarding fashion and style, over coffee in West Hollywood. A quick text to Nate in NYC shortly after that said “hey, what do you think about this?” and hey presto the brand was born.

This is an LA based casual menswear brand making good vibrations far from their native California. The origins of the brand lie in a deep motivation to create a collection that is both sophisticated and comfortable. They have just shared their second collection which the trio have nicknamed Chapter 2.0. The focus this season was to expand on the foundations they laid during their debut collection, a bit like that all important second album for a recording artist. Again, they’ve created their collective versions of the “American Classics” and remained focused on high quality fabrics, craftsmanship, and a modern silhouette. Inspired by the effortlessly cool of style icons of the past, the likes of Steve McQueen and Mick Jagger, each jacket was designed for a specific well dressed male in mind. The collection features colours and tones inspired by LA’s vibrant landscape. Each piece is handmade in Los Angeles with the highest quality materials that the guys can get their hands on.

Over parr – TED BAKER GOLF

Over the years Golf attire hasn’t had the best reputation for being tasteful. We all remember Ronnie Corbett, perched on the edge of his 70’s style arm chair regaling some witty anecdote whilst dressed in some Gordy Lyle & Scott Sweater. Or then there’s any number of celebs including Sean Connery, Brucie Forsyth or Jimmy Tarbuck going straight down the middle in some celebrity/pro tournament, looking as though they may well have got dressed in the dark. As a result traditional golf wear has fallen out of the style stakes in recent years.

However, Ted Baker want to amend this quandary with the launch of Ted Baker Golf, a new, considered menswear collection specifically catering for the most gentlemanly of pursuits.

With a masterful spin on golfing tradition, the range aligns sporting style with comfort and technical know-how in this colourful capsule range for the keen golfer who wants to look his best. Packed with sporty details, including quick-dry fabrics, taped inner waistbands, removable sunglasses cloths and Velcro glove holders, each piece is designed to enhance your game and inspire utmost confidence on the tee. Mix-and-match distinctive patterned knitwear styles with wind and rain-repellent technical outerwear to put some style back in your swing. It offers a masterful spin on golfing tradition.

The Sole of America – Cole Haan launch in the UK

Somewhat seen as a footwear institution in its native US Market. Cole Haan is finally bringing its tech-led reinterpretation of contemporary and classic men’s footwear to the UK with an installation in iconic London department store, Liberty.

Founded in 1928, in Greenland, New Hampshire, Cole Haan was the vision of two men, Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan, who set out with a commitment to craftsmanship, timeless style and design innovation to deliver fine crafted products. Fast-forward 88 years and their mantra remains true to its original beliefs. Cole Haan’s groundbreaking reinvention of the dress shoe and sneaker unites traditional craft with modern engineering. Each innovation working harmoniously with the next to create flexibility and comfort based on featherweight construction methods

Craft, style and engineering combine to create Cole Haan footwear. The Grand and the Grand.ØS family of innovative footwear delivers four main benefits: greater flexibility, reduced weight, increased cushioning and breathability.

Collections featured in the Liberty installation include GrandPrø Tennis, Øriginal Grand, ZerøGrand, and 2.ZerøGrand

GrandPrø Tennis is a ultra-light GrandPrø Tennis shoe a vintage-inspired sneaker, updated with a thoroughly modern operating system.

Utilizing proprietary Grand.ØS technology, GrandPrø Tennis delivers an innovative spin on a classic silhouette. Grand.ØS is an operating system designed to drastically reduce weight, mimic the foot’s natural flexibility, offer dynamic breathability and provide responsive cushioning for maximum comfort.

The men’s GrandPrø Tennis shoe weighs less than a third of the average leather court shoe, weighing-in at 8.8 ounces (based on a men’s leather court shoe in size 8.5 – may vary according to style, material and size).

ØriginalGrand is crafted in rich leather and completed with a premium burnished finish and baroque accents, this progressive wingtip brogue is one of the most lightweight classic-inspired shoes around. Cushioned with Cole Haan’s proprietary Grand.ØS technology for ultimate comfort, the ØriginalGrand looks as amazing with a sharply tailored suit as it does with a pair of selvedge-edge denims.

ZerøGrand features Grand.ØS, Cole Haan’s proprietary design platform which combines engineered insoles and outsoles with liners and uppers that move with each step. Grand.ØS replaces the heavy steel shanks traditionally used for support with a unique cushioning compound that is stronger, more flexible and longer lasting, reducing the overall weight and slimming down the shoe’s outsole.

2.ZerøGrand launched in July of 2016 and is an evolution of Cole Haan’s ZerøGrand technology. Designed to mimic the natural motion of the human foot, the 2.ZerøGrand delivers a level of flexibility and cushioning that rivals top-of-the-line running shoes.

An anatomically contoured Grand.ØS energy foam foot-bed cradles the foot for superior weight distribution and cushioning, while airflow channels and moisture-wicking materials assist in keeping feet comfortable.

Not looking bad for 70 – Wrangler

Wrangler is a founding father of jeanswear and the originator of performance denim. The Wrangler brand launched in 1947 on a platform of innovation: to create the best-possible jeans for cowboys. 70 years later Wrangler continues to create the best-possible jeans, but for the needs of modern demanding consumer. Their renowned denim heritage lives on in stylish, functional jeans packed with iconic, original details including flat copper rivets and the ergonomic watch pocket. Signature designs such as the 27MW shirt and 11MJ jackets are beloved by denim connoisseurs and fashion fanatics alike. Broken Twill, the soft-durable fabric that Wrangler invented in 1964, remains the backbone of many denim pieces. The brand have accelerated the evolution of jeans with ground- breaking initiatives: denim that keeps the rain off or helps you feel warm in the cold.

To commemorate this landmark year Wrangler have a number of project up their Birthday sleeve including their Retro Glory collection which rides the wave of interest in all things 70s – a decade where Wrangler became known as a denim icon.

Celebrating an era of sunny positivity in youth culture, the standalone collection for men and women, focuses on four distinct elements: period-correct saturated deep blue denim, Wrangler’s Stone Dyed (heavy stone wash) denim, a bold palette of brights and the rainbow motif popular in the era, here revived from Wrangler’s archive.

For men Retro Glory includes rainbow graphic Ts and sweats, western shirts, slim tapered fit jeans in rainbow brights and a rigid denim Stone Dyed jean with rips and repairs and for both the ladies and gentlemen the collections feature plenty of 70s detailing such as patching, ripping, embellishment and embroidery, notably on a limited-edition oversized trucker jacket in Stone Dyed denim with full back panel embroidery by artist Luke McLean.

How to style a classic side-parted pompadour with Expert Barber Tom Chapman

The pompadour is a classic men’s haircut that refuses to go out of fashion. It has been reinvented time and time again and continues to remain amongst the most popular choices in barber shops all over the world. Originally named after Madame de Pompadour, who was King Louis XV’s mistress, the classic pomp was made most famous in the 1960s by the King of Rock himself, Elvis Presley. Today, the pomp has many modern variations and has been worn by key celebrity influencers such as Brad Pitt, Jon Hamm, Zac Efron and David Beckham to name but a few.

To celebrate this classic slicked-back look, The Bluebeards Revenge has teamed up with industry-leading barber Tom Chapman. The Devon-based barber owns Tom Chapman Hair Design in Torquay, and is the proud founder of the Lions Barber Collective charity.

Below, Tom has given expert tips on how you can create the perfect pomp in the comfort of your own home. So expect some serious hair envy from those around you!

It all starts at the barbers

To create the perfect side-parted pomp, you’ll need your hair styled a certain way. A typical pompadour features short sides, a short back, and longer hair on top that’s swept upwards. Ask your barber for a tapered cut with plenty of length on top and you can’t go wrong. For a more comprehensive example of what to ask your barber for, watch this barber to barber video.

At home

Start by washing your hair in warm water to make sure any previous hair products are removed. Then, rough dry your hair with a towel and apply The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Paste as a pre-styling agent.

A side-parted pompadour does require some maintenance, so you will need to invest in a hair dryer if you don’t already have one. Trust me, it’s worth the investment.

Blow-dry your hair and use The Bluebeards Revenge Quiff Roller to add volume to the pomp. Getting the best results from a quiff roller requires some practice, especially if you’re wielding a hair dryer with your other hand. It’s all about gently twizzling the brush through your locks and guiding the hair backwards to give the pompadour its iconic slicked-back look. Don’t forget to use a comb to exaggerate your natural side-parting for a bolder finish too.

Finally, finish the look by applying The Bluebeards Revenge Pomade. Take a small amount of this water-based, high-shine product and rub it between your palms and finger tips, then slick it through your hair from front to back. Use a comb to create a tight and tidy style, or just rough it up a little with your hands for a more rugged look.

And there you have it – a modern take on a classic men’s hairstyle that’s suitable for both the office and a night on the town. Enjoy!