CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

WORDS BY DANIEL RAMSDALE-HARRIS

Amsterdam based brand Daily Paper have foreseen a meteoric rise within the streetwear industry since it’s humble beginnings back in 2010. Founded by 3 best friends, Jefferson Osei, Abderrahmane Trabsini and Hussein Suleiman, the menswear label is inspired by African heritage aesthetics with modern design.

The trio take advantage of their African backgrounds by utilizing traditional fabrics and prints on a wide range of ready to wear to garments, which has expanded massively in the last 9 years from a focus on simple graphic branded apparel to hitting the catwalk at London Fashion Week last year with their collection in collaboration with What We Wear. Revolutionary.

To add, the brands street-ready pieces, which often include all over prints, big graphics and relaxed fits, coupled with their military type re-works on traditional African fashion pieces, have proved a big hit amongst the streetwear community, cultivating an audience of 178,000 people on Instagram. Huge!

With a devotion to high quality garments, fine detailing, culture and a passion for their target markets goal to achieve individuality, it’s no surprise to see the brand being successful on a brick and mortar front as well, which is often the case for brands who understand mobile and exactly who their target market is. With 2 stores in Amsterdam and several pop-up stores across Europe within the last year, Daily Paper is really starting to cultivate a loyal group of customers around the world. Global.

From a personal standpoint, it’s great to see a streetwear brand grow so quickly and gain popularity in what is an extremely hard community to break into, as well as achieving longevity when so much emphasis is placed on OG brands. With a recent collaboration with PUMA, the Dutch label is getting the recognition from retail giants that is deserves. And you can take my word that this a brand that will continue to grow and reach new heights. If it doesn’t, feel free to call me out on that day!

If you haven’t heard of them, then surely you must have been living under a rock for the last year? Have a gander here, you won’t regret it!

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY

Karl Lagerfeld, one of the worlds most well known and legendary fashion designers has unfortunately passed away at the age of 85. Over his many decades within the fashion industry, he shaped both Chanel and Fendi into the brands as we know them today. Karl was born in Germany pre-war however moved to Paris as a teenager where his love for design began, with one of his very first jobs being a design assistant to Pierre Balmain! In 1984 Karl began his very own label and this was when he became known for his very own distinct look, with a crisp white collared shirt, black tailored jackets, fingerless gloves and the long ponytail! His look was one which was so distinct it will most certainly be remembered alongside all of his accolades.

His death leaves a massive void at the two top fashion brands in the shape of Fendi and LVMH owned House where Lagerfeld had been creative director since 1965. With such a void now left by Karl, it will be interesting to see the direction both the brands now take and hopefully the shoes he leaves will be taken over they too will leave their fashion footprint just as Karl Lagerfeld has been doing for the last 65 years. Karl is praised by many as one of the people who made Paris the fashion capital it is today and for that, he will always be loved and remain a legend.

We here at Clothes Make The Man send our deepest condolences to Karl’s family and friends!

”Sweat pants are a sign of defeat, you lost control of your life so you brought some sweat pants”

“I live in a set, with the curtains of the stage closed with no audience – but who cares?”

“Vanity is the healthiest thing in life.”

We don’t mind saying, one of our favourite brands here at CMTM, is the Quirkily Stylish Dutch brand, Scotch and Soda. Based, in a canal-side design studio in a former church in the heart of Amsterdam, now offering Mens, Womens and Kidswear. Scotch & Soda is a team of discoverers and collectors scouring the globe for artefact that sparks their curiosity.

Their collections and signature looks clash eras, classics, places of inspiration; mashing unexpected fabrics and patterns, which is perfectly illustrated in their latest collection for Spring 2019. 

This season they invite us to journey back to the summer of ‘76 and to the perfect Scotch getaway – a homely yet exotic hotel named the ‘House of Perfect Strangers’. This charming, buzzy place hosts creative types from all corners of the globe – it’s beautiful, curated chaos the natural spark for long dinners with once strangers, soon-to-be friends. 

“This collection tells the story of the summer of ’76. A story of freedom and creativity, inspiration and adventure, chaos and diversity. The base is ‘House of Perfect Strangers’: both a getaway and a place to feel at home. Each room with a fresh view: over the streets of Raffia Town; the tropical buzz of Bamboo Beach, Palm Cove’s rainbow of colour, and the old school meets new school charm of The Poolside. Each of these views return in the collection’s leading ideas and themes.”

Marlou van Engelen Creative Director Scotch & Soda

This collection is formed of four distinct trends and feels. First we have, Raffia  Town which combines the rough-edged glamour of the seventies with the vintage charm of a sleepy fishing village. 

A seventies beach scene gives rise to a new tropical uniforms and their various streetwear translations.

Then, sweeping views across balmy palm coves inspire a rainbow bright colour edit. With bold colour blocking intensifying the high-summer mood

The  last room looks out over the ocean and the wistful curves of a natural infinity pool. The inspiration for a drop in which seventies surf-meets-skater, and crispy stripes and batiks form our new nostalgia. Each look designed to work city to beach.

WORDS BY DANIEL RAMSDALE-HARRIS

In the latest edition of The Affordable Alternative we bring you potential savings of over £1000 with our alternatives to high end designer goods. Every man needs a range of jackets in their wardrobe, which is fitting, as we compare both bombers and puffers below.

Now this maybe super-efficient planning ahead for the summer wardrobe but the comparison between these two bomber jackets is something that we could not take notice off.

Curated in Italy, the D&G Majolica Print Bomber Jacket comes in at a mesmerising £1256. The eye-catching silhouette is inspired from Sicilian culture and is certainly one for you to stand out in the crowd with.

However, If you love this but don’t fancy splashing out the grand, Diesel have come to your rescue. Crafted from a smooth floral–print nylon to a relaxed fit, go for this if your wanting to save those all-important penny’s.

These jackets are like marmite, you’ll either love them or loath them.

Dolce & Gabbana

Diesel

Represent or ASOS

The winter puffer jacket is the essential that almost any male, anywhere, will need. However, not everyone wants to settle for that plain single colourway. In that case, we thought we’d bring along the tartan.

Manchester based menswear brand Represent have rapidly grown since their launch back in 2012. The release of their ‘Hell Tartan Bubble Jacket’ was a huge success and even caught the eye of American hip hop A-lister Quavo, who was spotted in it on tour. It was something that gave the brand awareness in the US, and they haven’t looked back since. The jacket retails at £362 pounds but wait for it, is currently on sale at luxury retailer Farfetch for £217.

Still a bit too pricey? Well don’t worry, as we can always rely on ASOS to provide that affordable alternative. Their oversized puffer in a navy check might be a little brighter than Represents silhouette, but if you’re a 90’s streetwear fan this might just be the one for you. And it gets better, as it’s currently on sale for just £32.50.

Represent

Asos

We will be back in April with more savings, in the meantime let us know in the comments below which options you’d go for!

Although the temperatures are really struggling to get above zero at the moment and although you may think me insane for the sheer mention but, bear with me in this one, I haven’t let you down in what will be 7 years this month ! Spring is, honestly, only just around the corner, yes that’s long light evenings, drinking outside public drinking establishments and yeah truly having to wear one layer of clothing to protect us from the elements, remember that ?

In preparation for this most glorious of seasonal change, we’ve sourced the best in high street retailers to see what they will be tempting with over the coming weeks and months. 

Boohoo MAN are really establishing themselves as key menswear players, drawing on a blend of Streetwear & Teaditional African materials and patterns, surely their onto a winner.

River Island are being a little more reserved this Spring but still seeing all things musical and cool as inspiration.

Offering us brighter and pastel tones for those Suiting opportunities from M&S

COS have you covered and gained inspiration from all those Summer festivals from Glastonbury and back again

Channel those Summer vibes with Jacamo, I’m feeling warmer just looking at this picture.

Patrick Grant’s Hammond & Co for Debenhams is still scoring a blinder in the whole understated sartorial style, trying, but looking like your not trying too hard, but still winning in the style stakes.

We’ve often informed you to not be afraid of colour and Spring is a perfect opportunity to give it a whirl and that Giant of High Street Stylish Retailing, NEXT,  have struck a real balance of wearability and style for this season.