CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

We all know that there are certain pieces Everyman should have in his wardrobe that are both classic and versatile. One such piece is the timeless Breton top.

French brand, quelle surprise, Armor Lux have worked exclusively with the wonderful British brand Working Class Heroes on a twist on their MC Heritage T Shirt.

Armor Lux was founded in 1938 in Brittany, France, where their production and headquarters remain to this day. Their heritage is highly associated with Brittany’s maritime, fishing and naval culture, and they’re known for their Mariniere collection, featuring the Breton Stripe.

This short sleeve tee is a collaboration between Working Class Heroes and Armor Lux, flipping their stripes vertically and sewing a co-branded logo patch above the hem. It’s made from a comfortable woven jersey of 100% cotton and it features a ribbed crew neck.

Offering a nice quirky take on a menswear classic no men should be without.

Working from home is becoming more and more common, in fact, it’s considered the new norm. To make the most out of it, it’s key to maintain a professional and productive mindset. If your employer has shifted to a work from home policy, do you think you have the skills to work productively at home?
Today, the Savvy Wise Group, who are experts in training, learning and development with an aim of improving social mobility through
quality teaching and innovative delivery models share 5 skills you need to have if your employer has shifted to a work from home policy:

1. Organisation – you shouldn’t lower your standards just because you’re working from home. Make sure you’re organising your workload. There’s plenty of websites you can use, like Asana or Trello, that’ll help you stay on schedule.

2. Tech knowledge – if you’re not a tech savvy person, spend some time getting familiar with relevant software. Depending on your company, you may need to familiarise yourself with email software like Outlook or a document sharing tool like Google Drive.

3. Communication – even though your boss and co-workers aren’t in the same building as you are, it’s still important to contact them regularly. Don’t keep them in the dark. It’s as simple as planning a weekly video call or contacting your colleagues via email.

4. Proactive thinking – when you’re working from home, it’s tempting to sit back and wait for the work to come to you. However, this’ll only hold you back. Whether you need to follow up on a project or outline your next task, there’s always something else you can do.

5. Flexibility – separating your work from your home life can be tricky. Therefore, it’s helpful to set your own boundaries – especially if you’re living with family. Be clear about your working hours so they don’t disturb you.

So Summer is here, we maybe coming out of lockdown, but honestly, let’s put the health of ourselves and others first folks, foreign travels isn’t going to /shouldn’t  happen for Summer 2020. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, 2020 will be remembers for a year, on the whole, of great weather, thank Goodness.

So we need to start thinking in a Summer frame of mind, luckily for this year, two main trends seem to be prevalent in the world of men’s shorts and they are polar opposites in the style stake. Firstly we have short shorts, which let’s face it, I wouldn’t inflict me in short shorts on anyone and I know a lot of men feel this way. Then, thankfully, we have Cargo shorts, a much easier and accessible trend for most men to invest in. In fact, let’s hear it from an expert, in the form of Lili Göksenin, Senior Editor of Luxury Menswear Website, MrPorter.com

“Cargo shorts are back in style after years of being mercilessly mocked – but isn’t that always the way with trends, particularly those from the 1990’s? They go very nicely indeed with some similarily utilitarian sandals and a camp-collar shirt. Embrace the theme !”

Here we have ensembled 6 of the best especially for you my friends.

If you’re investing in functional clothes, it might as well be from a brand that’s as experienced in making performance gear as The North Face. These ‘Anticline’ cargo shorts are cut from sweat-wicking, quick-drying cotton-blend twill and have a good number of Velcro-fastening pockets to keep valuables safe.

These cargo shorts feature Stone Island‘s exclusive version of camouflage – the three-pigment print is the result of experimenting with different colouring techniques. Garment-dyed for softness, they’re made from the label’s brushed-cotton Tela and have a comfortable elasticated drawstring waist

If it’s functionality and comfort that you’re looking for in menswear…cargo shorts can’t be missing in your wardrobe. Great for the gym and for lounging on the sofa, when matched with the right top and footwear these shorts can make for the perfect athleisure combo. Try pairing them with a t-shirt, denim jacket and low top trainers for a super easy casual outfit, or sport them with an over-sized printed hoodie and hi-tops for the ultimate streetwear getup and these from BoohooMAN are a perfect example.

You can’t go wrong with a classic pair of cargo shorts. Made from 100% cotton for durable, breathable wear. Featuring two large leg pockets — perfect for holding essentials when out and about. All of the cotton for our clothing is sustainably sourced and always will be from M&S.

Detroit utility meets Parisian sophistication with these A.P.C. and Carhartt WIP shorts. They’re crafted using ripstop cotton – coloured in the subtle grey hue – and fitted with cargo pockets at each thigh for a look that’s both rugged and refined. To finish, they’re branded with a collaborative patch logo that sees the French label’s ‘C’ swapped for the iconic golden ratio at the back.

Enjoy the hot weather with the Anakin Cargo Shorts from Jack and Jones. Crafted with belt loops and multiple pockets, the look is completed with the Jack and Jones branding.

Once upon a time, having to iron a shirt was an inevitable part of laundry day. After washing, starching and line drying the clothes they would be sprinkled with water and ironed one item at a time until they could all be put away. With the advent of polyester and permanent press, ironing became a lost art through the 1990’s and early 2000’s. However, the popularity of natural fabrics has reintroduced the world to their ironing boards as people seek to appear polished in their appearance. The question then becomes, what is the proper method for ironing a shirt? We caught up with the guys over at Iron-A-Way Who gave us their indispensable step by step instructions!

1. Set up your ironing board and plug in your iron. There is no sound more grating than that of traditional ironing boards. Fortunately, in-wall models not only hide away when they are not in use, but they also do not make that annoying screeching sound when you set them up. Some even come with built-in electrical outlets for irons that shut off after a certain amount of time. Leaving the iron on for hours, burning down your house is no longer a risk with these state-of-the-art inventions.
2. Spray parts of the shirt with water. A spray bottle from the supermarket is the perfect tool for this. Spray it all over to dampen it and let it sit for a minute. You may need to reapply the water as it dries to get rid of particularly stubborn wrinkles. Some irons are equipped with optional steam while others have a built-in spray feature. Be sure to use only distilled water in these irons to keep hard water from building up on the appliance.
3. Iron the sleeves and cuffs. Cuffs will need to be unbuttoned, and the iron should travel around the buttons, never over them. Iron the inside of the cuff than the outside. Then, line up the bottom seam of the sleeve and move the iron from the bottom seam to the top to get a crisp crease in the top of the sleeve. Flip the shirt over and follow the same procedure for the back of the sleeve then repeat with the other sleeve.
4.  Iron the yoke. The yoke of a shirt is the top part of the shoulders that form a triangle. Slip one sleeve over the narrowest part of the ironing board and press the yolk flat, repeating with the opposite side.
5. Pop that collar. Once you have popped the collar, iron the collar underside flat from tip to tip. Repeat with the top that is seen.
6. Time for the front. With the shirt opened, lay one the side with buttons on the ironing board. Move the iron from the top of the shirt to the bottom along the entire front, taking care to move the iron between the buttons but never over them. Repeat with the side that does not have buttons, taking especial care to ensure the row of buttonholes is flat.
7. Finish the back. With the shirt laying open on the ironing board, make sure any wrinkles in the back of the shirt are gone. At this point, hang up the shirt or put it on your body and enjoy looking polished and put together.

There you have it folks, it’s that simple. 

As we go into easing of the lockdown rules a much needed mini break staycation somewhere in the UK might be on the agenda. You maybe reaching to the back of your wardrobes and dusting off that old, faithful, reliable hold-all. Take a second, it has served you well, it has seen better days, is it really gonna see you through another Summer ? Does it really represent how you want people to see you ? No, I didn’t think so, in that case, I love a pun, sorry, treat yourself ! Make a new investment.

Created by entrepreneur, marketing guru and busy working mum Mindy Arora, ASALI is a family-run business that offers a range of genuine leather products that have been inspired by the beauty of aviation. The name ASALI, is a Hindu word for ‘genuine’ and this luxe brand boasts a wide range of products for him and her. Discover handcrafted weekend bags, laptop bags, washbags, cardholders, keyrings, wallets and exclusive gift sets to suit every personality and recipient.

The collection also features aviation inspired products with a subtle and sophisticated nod to flying. Plus, the introduction of personalisation on selected goods makes this luxe-brand all the more unique and desirable. Whether it’s birthday’s, wedding gifts, thank you gifts or gifts for every special occasion, these premium gift solutions available in embossed, nappa and Italian leather are ideal for all-year round gifting for a present that they’ll treasure forever

Since its inception ASALI has grown from strength to strength and has a loyal customer base. And that’s not all…the ASALI brand actively gives back to charity and is proud to support the RAF Benevolent Fund and RAF Association by donating a percentage of profits of sales, and by giving products to their various charity events.

Despite recent global events, ASALI continues to work on expanding their range and have exciting products in new leather options,  launching in 2020.