CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Gaolhouse Rock – Gaolhouse Denim

imageTalk about a Rollacoaster ride, I first became aware of Gaolhouse Denim over a year ago when they started following Clothes Make the Man via Twitter. The name and concept stood out to me and I started to converse with their founder Will Unwin via this social media medium. Now I call it a Rollacoaster ride because, back in June last year, after speaking to Will on a number of occasions and everything being on course, like a bolt outta the blue I receive an email from him. He informed me that after blood, sweat and tears, plus more importantly Will’ s time  and savings the ministers over at the Home Office no longer wanted to produce clothes and have them branded as ‘made in prison’. Nonetheless, like a Phoenix from the ashes, Will has won the big wigs over and as you can see the first line from Gaolhouse is finally here.

imageThe brand started to work with the British Prison Service and the National Offender Management Service to create our first line of premium denim back in 2012. Working hand in hand with prisoners to design and develop their debut line. Together they have been able to support prison industries and provide invaluable work to those looking to take part in the rehabilitating and rewarding process of the prison work scheme.

The first pair of jean in the range are a slim cut, classic 5 pocket jean. It’s made from an 11.5oz unwashed denim, sourced from one of the best mills in the world. Its design is beautifully simple, reflecting the very methodical and practical way in which prisoners are taught to sew. Having been developed by prisoners, the jeans are then crafted right here in the UK. They are produced in small wonderfully batches so that a close eye can be kept on quality and detail.

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Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us: The Best of British Menswear Designers X Grenson Shoes for MRPORTER

imageIn the latest of an increasingly must have exclusive line of collaborations, hosted by uber e-tailer MRPORTER.COM  is with, what can only be described as the hottest role call in young British Menswear Designers. The likes of Agi & Sam, Craig Green, Christopher Raeburn, Matthew Miller, Katie Eary and Sibling have each designed a pair of shoes, made by heritage footwear brand Grenson, which will be sold exclusively on MR PORTER.

The Grenson factory in Northamptonshire was founded in 1866 , and was the first in the world to employ the “Goodyear welt” method of construction, a technique that has become a hallmark of all well-made British shoes. In 2005 Tim Little joined the company as Creative Director to revitalise the brand and with the launch in 2006, of his easier, altogether more modern take on traditional English shoes, introduced Grenson to a whole new generation of men.

Taking the multiple styles on offer within the Grenson G: Lab programme, the designers have applied their very creative and individualistic vision to a mix of boots, brogues and loafers. Agi & Sam’s shoe uses three different types of black leather on a thick crepe rubber sole, while Katie Eary has created a cobalt blue double monk. Craig Green has taken an all-black brogue and added a utilitarian elastic strap fastening and chunky tread, and Matthew Miller has given a black derby shape a crocodile-effect treatment. Christopher Raeburn’s contribution is a military inspired boot, and Sibling’s trademark use of colour is evident in a pair of sky blue penny loafers with bright pink lining.

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A Fashion moment in time and Space – Peter Capaldi’s Doctor Who by Dina Akhmetzhanova

imageWho would have thought that the biggest fashion moment of 2014(so far) would be, one, from the world of Menswear and two, the day the BBC revealed the Crombie clad look of the latest Doctor Who? It’s hard to tell whether it was the genius of costume designer Howard Burden or the surprisingly suave looks of Peter Capaldi who will be playing the part of the 12th (or 13th depending on your school of thought) Doctor, but it definitely stuck a chord with the public. Apparently within minutes of the release of the first pictures Crombie’s site was flooded by thousands of visitors,bringing the whole site down.Capaldi was propelled to the status of fashion icon overnight and is now trending at the top 10 in Google and social media. Take that Bieber!

So if you want to get “simple, stark and back to basics” look of Capaldi’s Time Lord here is how you can do it in your own way. The‘covert’ coat is undoubtedly the key feature of the look. Capaldi is sporting the Crombie navy coat with signature red lining, fly front and velvet colour. It’s a truly timeless piece fit for the Time Lord himself. It doesn’t come cheap, but the quality and style of the coat is worth every penny. If you find the real thing a bit pricy there are other cheaper alternatives on the high street.

imageThe Chaplin Coat from Reiss is much closer to Capaldi’s look. It has a flyfront, three front pockets and comes in the identical dark blue colour. The only thing missing is the velvet colour and the lining.

imageThis Tolou Herringbone coat from Ted Baker includes all the elements of classic covert coat velvet collar, fly front fastening and flamboyant lining. Even though the lining is not in dramatic red it features playful pattern of bow ties. You can think of it as nod to the style of the prior Doctor played by Matt Smith.

imageAustin Reed is one of the oldest British formal wear brands, so it may be a bit pricier than its neighbours on the high street but it is also better quality. Austin Reed’s navy covert coat is a shade lighter than Capaldi’s and doesn’t have red lining but other than that it is a great coat for any occasions.

The covert coat is one of those timeless items that never really goes out of fashion. So it’s quite appropriate for a  Time Lord and it’ll last you a lifetime. So if the Doctors’ new costume is anything to go by we are in for some great TV, come the Autumn.

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Bloggers Create – The Tateossian Project – Competition time !!!!

imageJust before the Yuletide you may, or may not, remember I posted about the wonderful Bloggers Create Project that the brand Tateossian had dreamt up, where five leading menswear bloggers, Dan Hasby-Oliver, Last Style of Defense; Craig Landale, Menswear Style, Luke Todd, FashionBeans,Callum Watt, Maketh-The-Man and my good self were commissioned to design a Limited Edition bracelet, 25 only ever being produced in the whole blinking creation of the Universe !

Now during the recent London Collections:MEN  Tateossian hosted a party in their Central London Flagship store to celebrates these collaborative Masterpieces. But I’m sure what you  want to know more about is the best of the bracelets, which I’m sure you don’t need to ask, who designed ???? Well, yes my bracelet, yes don’t sound surprised, my bracelet, centres all around, “The daily battle of Good & Evil”, well it was Halloween it the time of our design meeting.

imageAs I’m sure you are are all too aware, we all have a good and a not so good side and every single day we have the struggle of waking up and trying to be the best person we possibly can. BUT mundane factors get in the way, whether that be Public Transport, Your Boss, … Whatever it may be these elements bring out the worst in us and this bracelet is to help us maintain our ying and yang. My bracelet is a daily reminder to stop, breathe and embrace both sides that make us all up and to assist you in distressing and maintaining. Think of it as a worry or Rosary beads with the lil charming reminders of our good & bad sides, them being a skull & crucifix.

COMPETITION TIME

Now if you fancy getting your hands on one of these select, highly desirable and mustn’t forget Very Limited Edition Tateossian bracelets or “The daily battle of Good & Evil” bracelets, to give it, it’s correct title worth over £120 ? Or fancy treating the man in your life to this wonderful gift. Then all you have to do is sign up to Clothes-Make-the-Man.com from now until midnight (GMT) on 27th Feburary 2014, YES IT’S THAT EASY, I PROMISE !!!!

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Out of Space – Dress like an Astronaut with Betabrand

imageA week doesn’t go by without some fantabulous media story about space travel becoming Sooooooooo accessible in the very near future and how we’ll all be holidaying in Orbit and on the Moon rather then San Antonio or Bodrum. But it isn’t happening, is it ? Although Sir Richard of Branston keeps on banging on about his Virgin Galactic project and saps with far too much money like Lance Bass are already sign up for its inaugural mission, when will that actually be, supposedly next year, but yeah, yeah, yeah we’ll see.

In the mean while you mightn’t be able to blast off, just yet, but designer Steven B.Wheeler has been busy beavering away on a prototype Astronaut jacket which isn’t just restricted to a space walk. The self confessed Space Geek, explained his inspiration,

“I designed this jacket as a tribute to the continuing legacy of American spaceflight. I wanted it to embody everything I loved about the space program, and to eventually serve as an actual flight jacket for present-day astronauts on missions to the ISS (International Space Station). There are other “replica” flight jackets made for space enthusiasts, but I decided to come up with something boldly different, yet also completely wearable and well-suited for space.”

imageSpace fans have flocked to the jacket, crowd-funding it in 24 hours.  Betabrandunveils imaginative prototypes each week and allows its customers to shape the future of its fashions.

The white, non-woven Tyvek shell of the jacket calls to mind the EVA (extra-vehicular activity) suits worn by astronauts during spacewalks. The inside lining is a silvered nylon taffeta, chosen not only because it visually references the “foil” MLI (multi-layer insulation) used on the exterior of satellites, but also because it helps retain radiant body heat, I almost sound as though I know what the hell I’m talking about !

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