CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Welcome to the first of our annual Christmas Gift Guides. With the first Sunday in Advent only being yesterday and the first window of your Advent Calendars, due to open on Wednesday, there couldn’t have been a better time to focus on them.

Sorry what do you mean you haven’t got an Advent Calendar ?!?! They, like Christmas sweaters have had somewhat of a revolutionary Renaissance in certain years. Long gone are the calendars of our yoof when it was a rather depressed looking Robin or a Deflated, pathetic snowman behind the cardboard window. Nowadays, the least you’ll find is a Cadbury’s mini chocolate and the best? Well my friend take a look below.

New research has found Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty advent calendar to be the most popular calendar this Christmas season. Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Dreams and Secrets was revealed as the most in-demand beauty advent calendar of 2021. Priced at £150, the calendar includes 12 of the brand’s best-selling makeup and skincare products in a handy reusable box and is now sold out, BUT don’t despair my friends we have alternatives to suit everyone and anyone !

Firstly up we have, the Sock Shop, where 10% from each sale of the 25 DAYS OF SOCKS calendars will be donated to Homeless Charity, Emmaus UK.

The calendars are available in ladies’ and men’s sizes and include a pair of fun and festive socks for every day of December in the run up to Christmas Day. That’s 25 different pairs of quality bamboo socks hidden inside the double-door gift package, each in their own individual festive gift box.

OK so although not technically an Advent Calendar, something that you can enjoy throughout the 12 days of Christmas is the 12 Days Of Harry’s Calendar Countdown to Christmas, one gift at a time. Features a variety of Harry’s favourites and grooming must-haves packed in a calendar with perforated windows. Comes with shower, shaving, and skin-care essentials including:

Travel-size Shower Gel in three scents. Orange Truman razor, four blade refills and a travel cover. Exfoliating Face Wash, Daily Face Lotion with sunscreen, Post Shave Balm, Post-Shave Mist.

Then we have for the Chocolate lover or shall we say lovers !!!!! Hotel Chocolat, whether you like Milk, dark,White Chocolate or something in between they have something for your delectation. This particular example, the The Grand Advent Calendar.  Not only does this contain twin packs of truffles, festive chocolate slabs and Selector packs. You’ll also find an array of tipples, beauty products, and maybe even a sachet of insatiably creamy hot chocolate. After all, variety is the spice of life, and our showstopping calendar has a little bit of everything to show the full potential of the heroic cacao bean.

Next up, boy if you or your partner have expense taste I have just the thing or calendar for you. C W Sellors Chatsworth Winnats Luxury Jewellery and Gift Advent Calendar, S220. May I present the  luxury advent calendar and it is the perfect gift for any jewellery lover. The unique box, styled as a exquisitely detailed miniature Chatsworth House, opens to reveal 24 jewellery drawers containing jewellery and gifts hand selected by their very own Rebecca Sellors. Not just for Christmas, the box will make the most beautiful jewellery box and a year round adornment to your dressing table. The contents of this luxurious advent calendar are worth £24070 but its available to purchase for £20000 saving you £4070.

Where do we go from there well let’s bring you back down to Earth fellas with one directly aimed at you. The Firebrand Brewing Co. are releasing an advent calendar for all the beer lovers. Featuring 12 of their different beers, the contents of every can is brewed with fresh Cornish spring water and strong Cornish spirit at Firebrand’s Launceston brewery.

Discover all their best beers in the run up to the big day. From the ever-popular Patchwork Rocket Pale Ale to their new Christmas creations, each sip is a gift.

Last but never least we have Feel Unique’s Advent Calendar for 2021. We’ve seen lots of examples of Christmas Beauty Advent Calendars but this is the one Mrs Mc is getting for the Festive season. With over £385 worth of beauty products Offering a luxurious mix of new and iconic picks from Charlotte Tilbury, Emma Hardie, ELEMIS, Aromatherapy Associates and more, it features five full-size products, including a Huda Beauty Nude Obsessions Palette

BUT it is currently retailing for just over £89!!!!!!

In the last of our posts where we ask some of the leading buying minds of the Men’s Fashion world their opinion. Today we set them the question;

What is your ultimate coat of the season?

Pete Parry, Founder of Steranko

”I absolutely love the Folk Assembly Heavy Cord jackets we’ve just got in, a heavy cord overshirt/jacket that wears like a favourite shirt, simple and clean lines.”

Adrian Gibson – Menswear Buyer, Robert Goddard

 “The Parajumpers collection is inspired by the 210th Rescue Squadron in Alaska who save lives in one of the most inhospitable terrains in the world. It was created by Massimo Rossetti after a chance encounter with a member of the Parajumpers squad in an Alaskan bar. Working on snow covered high mountains to deep artic waters their outerwear needs to be high performance and practical and this jacket, the Gobi Base is one of their classic designs. With parachute inspired clips, multiple pockets with different uses and a detachable inner liner for extra warmth and protection it really will keep you safe and warm even in the city. Made in Italy from premium Japanese and Korean nylons every piece comes with the bold embroidered arm badge making it instantly recognisable.”

Daniel Greengrass, Buyer/Store Manager , Wellgosh

“Oof… tough one. The Stoney Metal Down Jacket is a weighty number, a really nice piece. When the temperature drops it’s what I’d draw for. 

For a slightly more temperate climate, I’m a big fan of the Barbour Camo Smock; a twist on what you might expect from Barbour, less country gent, more akin to some of their recent collaboration projects (Noah / Supreme / Engineered Garments)”

Damien Paul, Head of Menswear – MATCHESFASHION

“My ultimate coat of the season would have to be Raey’s oversized trench coat in dark khaki. Raey is a British luxury brand exclusive to MATCHESFASHION, driven by making responsible clothes that people want to wear again and again. The classic trench is a staple when layering for Autumn/Winter and this coat in particular includes a military-inspired belt and double-breasted button detailing to add structure and visual interest to any ensemble.”

Harry Block, Owner at Copperfield

“Ultimate winter jacket : would have to be the nanamica Goretex Down Filled Classic Cruiser Jacket

This said they have also produced my ultimate winter coat for this AW21 season. A 2 layer Gore-tex down coat, perfect for the cold wet days in the UK. It’s the detail that gets me, a large interior pocket, made big enough to fit a scarf and gloves and one hand snap buttons that can be closed while holding your phone or without needed to take both gloves off. This combined with the technical elements of Kodenshi down, a filler that enhances thermal properties by reflecting infrared rays emitted by the body makes it a showstopper for me.”

Simon Longland, head of menswear at Harrods

“Prada’s parkers with the knit lining, an interesting twist on a classic style that can be worn on almost any occasion.”

ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA, the leading global luxury menswear brand, introduces the newest ZEGNA ESSENZE EAU DE PARFUM, GOLDEN MYRRH.

The brand was founded in 1910 in Trivero, Italy, by the young entrepreneur Ermenegildo, whose pioneering vision continues to inspire the company business development in a sustainable way: to use resources for the good of others; to give back to people and to employees; to take care of the territory and communities from which the brand comes. The company is today managed by Ermenegildo Zegna as CEO, grandson of the founder and third generation of the Zegna family.

The Essenze Collection is created using the finest and rarest ingredients in nature, sourced from around the world. Inspired by the principles of couture collections, the scent is personally selected and brilliantly composed by a master perfumer to reveal its most vivid, complex and richly textured expression and highlights an individual, precious ingredient. With a richer version of Essenze, Ermenegildo Zegna combines once again exacting simplicity and unparalleled craftsmanship.

As a purveyor of luxury since 1910, the iconic brand honours its rich heritage through, the very seasonal, Golden Myrrh in a blend of the finest ingredients. From the very start, powerful pink pepper gives way to a mysterious trail of incense. Through the smoke, the irresistible glow of myrrh and deep and sophisticated oud wood set the composition ablaze.

The Zegna Essenze Eau de Parfum bottle expresses the power and sophistication of modern Italian design. Finely crafted in luxuriously weighted smoked glass, the bottle features a metallic gold-tone magnetic cap balanced by a deep base. Outfitted to impress, the soft touch, covered wood box is layered in opulence with a green suede interior and metal plaque. A paper carton sleeve adds an additional layer of protection to reveal an indulgent surprise.

Copenhagen’s Norse Projects have been selling top level kit in the Danish capital since 2004, and they’ve been creating  their own wares since 2009. That’s 12 years, and 12 years is a lot of collections.They’ve cycled through a lot of designs, but this season they’ve brought back their original white Tab logo, and if you’re a clothing nerd, that’ll get you hot under the collar, even in this weather.

Norse Projects Twill Sports Cap Beech Green – £65

This cap is made from 100% cotton in a strong yet comfortable twill weave with an adjustable strap to the rear. The cap has an embroidered N logo to the front and tonal script to the back, and a woven tag to the inside rim. It’s a 6 panel design with a curved peak and it has embroidered eyelets for ventilation.

Norse Projects Frederik Tab Series Fleece Jacket – £230

Ecru

Dark Navy

A winter fleece from Copenhagen’s Norse Projects, part of their Tab Series which brings back their original branding style with a logo tab to the front. It’s made from a Polartec Thermal Pro fabric, using 100% recycled polyester, with a fine mesh lining and an elasticated trim to the hem, cuffs and collar. It has a full-zip front and snap-up handwarmer pockets.

Norse Projects Aske Tab Series Waffle T Shirt Ecru – £95

A long sleeve from Copenhagen’s Norse Projects, part of their Tab Series which brings back their original branding style with a logo tab to the front. It’s made in Portugal from a comfortable 100% organic cotton with a waffle outer and a ribbed hem, cuffs and crew neck.

Norse Projects Holger Tab Series T Shirt Utility Khaki – £85

A short sleeve tee from Copenhagen’s Norse Projects, part of their Tab Series which brings back their original branding style with a logo tab to the front. It’s made in Portugal from a comfortable 100% organic cotton with a ribbed crew neck.

With party season only just around the corner, looking our best is of the utmost importance and obviously such grooming No-no’s as B O, food in our teeth/bad breathe or shaving rash are never acceptable, probably the premier grooming must have concerns our crowning glory. So, to ensure your locks attract all the right attention, we’ve select 6 of the VERY best hair styling products to use so you don’t go wrong.

First up we have Aveda’s men pure-formance pomade. Provides strong, pliable hold with excellent control. Water-based, non-greasy formula hydrates, while adding texture and definition. 

Redken Brews Wax Pomade This hair wax for men is a pomade that provides mild hold, workable hold and shine to all hair types.

Next we have Acqua do Parma MODELLING CLAY. Use this Clay for styling with a semi-structured, opaque effect that leaves hair soft and natural without drying. Its residue-free formula gives hair a medium hold that can be remodelled multiple times a day. Suitable for long and short hair, it should be applied with your fingers for a free, informal look or with a comb for a more defined appearance.

Moving on, American Crew Fiber. This fiber-like, resinous product helps thicken, texturise and increase fullness to hair.

It provides a strong, pliable hold with a matte finish and works well in shorter hair, 1-3 inches in length.

Penultimately. L’Oreal Men Expert Barber Club Messy Hair Styling Matt Clay. Create tousled, messy looks using the L’Oreal Men Expert Barber Club Messy Clay. Offering you medium hold without the crunchy texture, the clay’s matte finish leaves you looking natural and never greasy or shiny. It’s easy to rework your hair during the day, allowing you to perfect your style or mould it depending on the occasion. Working well on all hair lengths, the clay has been formulated with the experience of barbers for long-lasting results.