Post 4 of 12 – Kissing under that Mistletoe, Great Christmas themed Date night ideas in association with FATFACE

Ahhh we get to a real heart warming post today. There is something genuinely magically at this time of the year, that you don’t get at any other time of the year. Magic is in the air and if you are out to impress or trying to re-impress someone that you might have been neglecting of late we have some inspiration which we guarantee won’t fail to have the desired effect.

OK first up we have a corker, German Traditional Christmas Markets have far outgrown its native territory and now you’ll find them from Cork to Cardiff and Manchester to  Marseille and London’s South Bank to Paris’s Left Bank. In fact you are pretty much guaranteed to find one near to wherever you live. Unique Gifts, tasty food, mulled wine and the one you love what more could you want ?

Like the Christmas Market phenomena, pop up outdoor Ice rinks are, well, popping up all over the place. This truly is a magically experience and even better when you are sharing it with someone you love. No matter if you are showcasing your prowess on the ice or basically just about keeping each other upright.

Ahhhh at this sentimental time of year, who can resist a Christmas themed concert whether it’s remembering the true meaning of Christmas at a Gospel Choir blasting out all those olde favourites, a classical rendition by candlelight or a more contemporary event like the Capital Jiggle Bell Ball, with all our favourites banging out their Cristmas Classics.

Now I do have to say, not everyone celebrates or likes Christmas, for one or another reason and if you do want to just escape the madness associated with this time of year. We have just the thing, kinda. For one night only on 11th Dec we have the opportunity to see,”Once upon a Deadpool” in his very own festive offering. I mean who can resist the merke with the mouth and his offbeat humour.

Now at any time of the year I can’t resist a good afternoon tea experience, but throw a Yuletide theme into the mix and I’m all over it. Whether it be the Savoy, the Ivy, The Waldorf Astoria or Patisserie Valerie. Pretty much wherever you are, you will find an aspirational, repretable hotel worth it’s salt offering a great festive take on the traditional high afternoon tea notion.

Like pretty much all of the inspirational ideas we’ve pitched to you today, our final one genuinely offers the magic of the festive season and won’t break the bank balance, well that is unless you combine a couple of the concepts into one heck of a Christmas Day/night out. Every city and town from York to New York celebrate the most wonderful time of the year by festooning it’s key shopping distincts with festive themed lighting treats which just add to the state of anticipation and excitement building in and around this time of year. Enjoy folks.

Post 3 of 12 – The Beauty in Christmas, Our Annual Beauty Gift Guide in association with FATFACE

And so we get to our annual beauty gift guide, yes suggestions for what to buy the lady in your life in the form of make up, fragrances or associated tech.

Initially renowned for their unique and innovative vacuum cleaners, Dyson have now ventured into the world of beauty with their new hair dryers. The Dyson Supersonic black nickel hair dryer uses pioneering technology to disperse air evenly, reducing frizz and allowing for faster, more precise drying.

Innovative heat distribution technology means that the Dyson Supersonic black nickel dryer will reduce damage and protect your hair, whilst special acoustic silencers reduce noise to a minimum. The Dyson Supersonic black nickel hair dryer also comes with a styling concentrator, diffuser, smoothing nozzle, non-slip heatproof mat and storage hanger.

New for Christmas 2018, the Angel gift set contains an Angel Eau de Parfum 25ml refillable bottle, a complimentary body lotion 50ml and scented candle 70g. Angel is a voluptuous oriental gourmand fragrance, a delicate blend of sweet red fruits, soft caramel, honey and praline combined with the captivating power of patchouli and vanilla.

The award-winning Vibra-Sonic daily deep-cleansing brush has been pimped up to give your skin a cleansing and toning experience like no other, tailored perfectly to your needs, and leaving skin softer, smoother and beautifully behaved. BareFaced 2 uses new, improved 3D Vibra-Sonic technology which contours to skin for a more gentle, adaptive cleanse and boasts 3 modes – Sensitive, Deep Cleanse and PulseLift Toning Mode, plus it includes our new post-cleanse, silicone skin-toning brush head, ‘Tone It Up!’, and a stylish Bathroom Caddy, so your BareFaced 2 can drip dry in style.

Discover the perfect Viktor & Rolf perfume gift set for her in doors; includes Viktor & Rolf Bonbon Eau de Parfum 50ml, Shower Gel 50ml and Body Lotion 50ml. Presented in a luxurious Viktor & Rolf gift box, this Christmas gift will not disappoint, guaranteed.

Explore the new Oral-B Limited Edition Collection in Orchid Purple. It combines our best toothbrush ever, GENIUS 9000, with a limited-edition designer travel case – so wherever life takes you, you can travel in style and with a fully charged, intelligent brush. 

The Genius 9000 electric toothbrush is the best ever toothbrush from Oral-B, the #1 dentist recommended brand worldwide. It has also been awarded Which? Best Buy 2017 and Good Housekeeping Institute Approved 2017, so you know you are getting the best clean for your teeth!Treat your loved one to the gift of Armani style with a mini perfume Christmas Gift Set set that includes: Mini Sì Eau de Parfum 7ml, Mini Sì Passione Eau de Parfum 7ml, Mini Emporio Armani Because It’s You 7ml and Mini Giorgio Armani Code Fragrance for her 4ml.

This must have set for any Estée Lauder enthusiast this Christmas.Yours for only £68when you purchase any fragrance. Beauty Box is worth over £275, and discount will be applied once you’ve added qualifying products to your bag. Quantities are limited, so shop now to avoid disappointment and get 11 full-size essentials! This is the gift you’ve been waiting for… the biggest, most beautiful collection, all in a deluxe train case and includes such key products as Advanced Night Repair – The #1 Serum, 3 Pure Color Envy Face + Eye Palettes (full-size, with 7 shades each – 21 in all), 1 Sumptuous Extreme Mascara (full-size) and  3 Pure Color Envy Lipsticks (full-size). Phew !

Post 2 of 12 You can thank us later – Christmas gift ideas for guys

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY

IT’SSSS CHRISSSTTMASSSS, well in a month’s time it is and we are putting together the perfect gift guide for all of you Men out there whether you want to treat yourself, kids or stroppy teens this is perfect for you! Everything from simple accessories through to the OTT Christmas jumpers that we all say we don’t like but actually love. Let us just start this off by saying the first thing everyone out there HAS to buy unless you want to disappoint is the classic Linx’s deodorant/ Shower gel set because this personally makes our Christmas at Clothes Make The Man.

Well accessories are a must for every Gent out there and you simply cannot go wrong with a classic trucker cap. The amount of different colours and designs that you have to choose from is simply endless, however, our pick lies with Twinzz. One of the brands pure focuses since its creation in 2014 has been to create premium quality headwear for all to wear, whilst showcasing the world throughout their designs. The 3D mesh trucker cap in Olive Green and Orange is one of our favourite pieces from their whole headwear range; you should really check them out!

As many of you are probably sure a day in smart shoes as nice as they look isn’t the most comfortable you have ever felt you simply need something for those down days so not only you but your feet can relax final feel comfortable for a day. This section depends massively on your budget with there being high-end options such as the chunky Alexander McQueen at £360.00, but we found some shoes which we love just as much for less than a quarter of the price tag. The RS-O Winter Inj Toys Sneakersfrom Puma perfect for this both summer and winter with them going with almost everything, they’re a must to step up your trainer game.

As it gets colder and colder we are all beginning to add more and more layering to our wardrobes but nothing is better for these winter months than some Sherpa. Warm and stylish you can’t really ask for much more can you?! Where can you find the best though? FatFace’s Sherpa fabric zip-up cozy fleece is just perfect, it even has cozy in the name. The brands mission was to create high quality clothing featuring unique materials and we can quite comfortably say that they have smashed it with this piece. Check it out!

Finding a moisturising product which you are able to use on a daily basis without turning your skin greasy can sometimes become a struggle and if you like so many of use commute you will understand how dirty you feel when you finally get home, however, after a shower, we believe that we found the perfect remedy. The Ultra Facial Cream by Kiehl’s is perfect for softening and hydrating all skin types whilst being perfect for daily use and at the price of £24.50 why not buy it test it out!

Is there anybody else out there who finds it incredibly annoying waking up earlier simply to shave your face? Something quick, clean and easy is often hard to come across for shaving but we have found the perfect tool! The Philips Series 3000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver is perfectly adaptable giving high-quality finishes for both a wet and dry shave.

V Necks are something often associated with boy bands from the 2000s and not a very fashionable piece, however, this winter we at clothes make the man love the jumper alternatives. What some would call ‘Dad’ style has been on the uprise for the last couple of years, with the start of it being chunky trainers and this takes you to another level. The Golf Dad!! Boohoo man offers different colour options as well as that perfect fit.

As many of you who shop on ASOS would have seen Collusion has been a brand massively on the uprise with it showcasing a range of unisex designs as well as both men’s and women’s silhouettes. The offer a very modern style with a classic streetwear influence on the items, however, what is a stand out factor of the brands clothing is the patterns and bright colours in which they use across all designs whilst still being at an affordable price. It’s simply too hard to pick so we’ll let you decide!

Other than smelling amazing yourself it is key that your house smells as good. Forget about Fabreze and go for that higher-end option with the Tom Ford Cigar and Vanilla candle. This will send a beautiful aroma around your home welcoming guests or whilst you are relaxing in a warm bath, whatever you fancy really! One of the perfect gifts for this Christmas if you ask us.

We all know that comfort in your own home is key and finding the perfect PJ’s is easy but when it comes to luxury and comfort you simply can’t go wrong with a pair of Ugg slippers. The slippers have a soft suede outer layer with a sheepskin lining to keep your little piggy’s warm in these colder months, don’t have cold feet. Treat yourself this winter!

Christmas is just around the corner so you want to snap up these items as fast as you can, don’t let them sell out! Remember all you have to do is send this link to your partner for a little hint of anything from the list above, which is taking your fancy, then they have no excuse (ish). We will have many more Christmas posts coming out very soon so keep your eyes peeled.

Post 1 of 12- Countdown to Christmas – Advent Calendars in association with FATFACE

Yes the big countdown is on, no not Brexit, forget all that doom and gloom as Christmas is on its way. It’s finally December and to mark the first post of our festive Countdown we’ve earmarked day one of Advent with a collection of the very best Advent Calendars around at the moment. Not a chance will you be finding some limp Sprigg of holly or a Solitary chocolate button in any of these little beauties, no siree its festive cheer or maybe even cheers with these bevvy of beauties. 

First up one for the ladies, make this year’s countdown to Christmas the best yet with the 24 Days of Clinique advent calendar. Bursting with the brand’s signature skincare, fragrance and make-up must-haves, including the Smart Night, Custom-Repair Moisturizer, Pep-Start, Eye Cream and Clinique Pop, Lip Colour and Primer, it’s guaranteed to get loyal fans of the label and novices alike in the festive spirit.

Now is a daily stationery gift the stuff of your dreams? If so, this stationery-centric advent calendar from super sweet Swedish label Kikki K. is perfect for you (we’re sure it makes a good gift, too, although you might find yourself reluctant to hand it over). From sweet star-covered pens to stickers, candles, little notepads and inspiring quotes, every day holds a new little surprise in the run up to Christmas Day.Yes I know this next Calendar isn’t strictly an Advent Calendar, but it is still the season to be jolly and the Clarins for Men 12 days of Christmas calendar could be an absolute God send if we  indulge a little too much in the Yuletide Merriments. Set contains: Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream 20ml, Active Hand Care, Tonic Bath & Shower Concentrate 100ml, Blue Orchid Oil, Super Moisture Balm, Shampoo & Shower, Active Face Wash, SOS Hydra Mask, Line Control Balm, Relax Bath and Shower Concentrate, 7 Day Double Serum and Hydra-Essentiel Lip Tube. 

Now, down to the good stuff, this one is strictly for Adults only and should be kept out of reach of little prying hands. This Advent Calendar  includes a full bottle of The Lakes Distillery award winning Explorer Gin. Perfect for pairing with the premium tonics behind every door. Just add ice and join in the Christmas Spirit! It includes:  Gin Lakes Explorer Gin Double Dutch Cucumber & Watermelon TonicWater Double Dutch Indian Tonic Water Double Dutch Pomegranate & Basil Tonic Water Franklin and Sons Pink Grapefruit Tonic with Bergamot Franklin and Sons Rosemary Tonic with Black Olive  Lixir Tonic Blood Orange & Cinnamon Fentimans Naturally Light Tonic Water Luscombe Grapefruit Tonic Water, Phew.

 

What better way to count down to Christmas than with the L’Occitane Calendar of Dreams! Hidden behind every door are 24 magic treats for yourself or the loved ones from L’Occitane fragrance, skincare, body and hair care. Illustrating this year’s calendar is French fashion house Castelbajac Paris. When L’Occitane’s ethical and sustainable commitments meet the bright, bold and colourful world of Castelbajac, the result is a happy and poetic expression, beautifully translated in L’Occitane’s Calendar of Dreams.

Ohhh this could keep fellas happy and quite for hours with a Build your own piece of retro technology over 24 days – a working analogue film camera! Construct a mini replica of a classic 1929 twin lens reflex camera. Includes detailed manual, mini screwdriver and surprise accessories! Camera film not included. I do need to point out that this is Suitable for age 14 years +and includes: Camera parts, mini screwdriver, instruction booklet, surprise accessories.

The stunning, five-storey façade depicts the iconic frontage of Newby’s own headquarters: N. Sethia House. Depicting a glamorous Venetian masquerade festive soiree in full swing complete with a smattering of snowfall, the calendar is a work of art you’ll look forward to opening every morning. From the opening of the first drawer on 1st December, tea lovers experience 24 luxury blends from Newby’s Classic Tea Bag Collection. Each drawer includes four individually wrapped sachets of a select Newby blend, and no two drawers are the same.

One for the  connoisseurs of the fine art of craft brewing. This advent calendar contains a selection brewed by Adnams in Southwold. Designed to take you on a tasty beer adventure from lagers via pale ales, it provides a very “hoppy” start to your Christmas celebrations, including the Earl Grey Lager, Blackshore Stout and Ghost ship. Hic.

To counter the inevitable effects of the festive season, those kind folk over at MRPORTER have thoughtfully selected a bunch of products that’ll hide signs of late nights, long days and plummeting temperatures – call it the ’12 Days of Grooming’, if you will, though we won’t blame you if you can’t wait to open each drawer. It comes housed in a compact presentation box that makes it a great gift for loved ones, too And contents everything from Dr Barbara Sturm’s Face Scrub which rejuvenates skin and contains Vitamin A and Horse Chestnut Serum to reduce redness. Baxter of California’s aluminium and alcohol-free Travel Sized Deodorant is made with Witch Hazel and Tea Tree extracts to keep you fresh all day. Right the way through to Marvis’ Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste is formulated to target plaque and dull-looking teeth. 

’Tisn’t the season to do things by halves. Open up this two-sided advent calendar packed full of gifts, which makes a great Christmas present in itself. Daily surprises include Salted Caramel Vodka, crackers filled with pecan praline, a meltingly-smooth Hazelnut Bûche, macadamia and coconut snowballs (too good to throw) and our super-smooth, award-winning Cocoa Gin. Make every day merry and brighter.

Its that TIME of year again – The BEST Watches available at the moment!

 Yes it’s virtually THAT time of the year again, when all our thoughts are obsessed with gift giving, what to get countless loved ones. Nonetheless, gift giving itself just a one way street, yes it is lovely to give but reviving is sometimes equally as rewarding. With this thought in mind we’ve tirelessly sort through every watch brand conceivable to come up with is a watch to suit Everyman, and his budget.  

Now, Deeply rooted in WWII history, OMEGA’s new Seamaster 1948 watches are a tribute to the Swiss brand’s peaceful use of wartime technology.

Between 1940 and 1945, OMEGA delivered more than 110,000 timepieces to the Royal Air Force and other branches of the military. The watches were highly valued by British airmen and sailors for their water resistance and reliability.

At the end of the war, OMEGA responded to the demand for a timepiece with the same robust technology but more aesthetically suited to civilian life. The result was the Seamaster line, OMEGA’s first family of watches: beautifully-designed timepieces, given even greater water-resistance than their military counterparts by OMEGA’s novel use of the O-ring gasket technology.

As part of the Seamaster 70th Anniversary celebrations, OMEGA is releasing four limited edition tributes to those early battle-proven timepieces: two stainless steel models first seen at Baselworld 2018 and two luxury editions in platinum.

All four watches are driven by METAS-certified Master Chronometer movements, tested at the industry’s highest level and resistant to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss.  Both stainless steel models feature a polished bezel and opaline silvery domed dial. Each timepiece is presented in a special soft brown leather collector’s box, with spare NATO strap in the original Admiralty grey colour, spare leather strap and strap changing tool. The polished crown and polished-brushed stainless steel buckles are embossed with a vintage Ω.

Since the launch of their first diver’s watch in 1965, Seiko has brought to professional divers a stream of innovative new technologies and designs that have made diving safer and easier for the professional and recreational diver alike. These innovations include the world’s first titanium diver’s watch in 1975, the first diver’s watch with a ceramic outer case.

By a strange co-incidence, a few months after Seiko’s first diver’s watch appeared two American dive enthusiasts decided that standards of training in diving needed to be raised and founded the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Over the past fifty years, PADITM has become the world’s most trusted scuba diving training organisation.

Likewise Paying homage to the Tudor diving watches from the 50s, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight celebrates 60 years since the launch of the first Tudor watch waterproof to 200m. A smaller case size of 39mm with a vintage aesthetic housing a new mid-size manufacture movement making the overall dimensions of the watch much smaller than the 41mm Black Bays (case width is reduced by 2.6mm).

The new Greenwich skeleton watch by Rotary is designed primarily to present the automatic movement in all its glory; the many sophisticated elements within the timepiece enable the collection to shine. Intricate in its entirety, the new contemporary Greenwich showcases the complexity of the movement with an integrated dial. In addition, incorporating a radial brush finish on the lower dial compliments the overall aesthetic. 

Carhartt WIP has once again worked with Timex to create a timepiece that reflects both brands’ timeless, utilitarian style. 

The Camper MK1 is a re-release of the first Camper model from the 80s, a ‘civilian’ version of the watch originally adopted by the US Army for its convenience, functionality and durability. 

The watch features a custom colorway with a fabric strap, a quartz movement and 30m water resistance qualities. It is presented in a tin display case, and comes with a warranty granted by Timex.

A new addition to a classic range from Rolex, as it has unveiled the new Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea. A divers watch which is waterproof to 3,900 metres (12,800 feet). The new Rolex Deepsea is equipped with calibre 3235, a new-generation movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. This self-winding mechanical movement offers funda- mental gains in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetism, convenience and reliability.

BAPE, the Japanese lifestyle and streetwear brand, has selected 25 partners, including Bell & Ross, to celebrate the brand’s much-awaited 25th anniversary. BAPE isn’t just a clothing line in the same way that Bell & Ross isn’t just another watch brand. It is a lifestyle. Rising from a common passion to design functional products with a clear identity, and a strong taste for timeless inspired military style, the two brands have linked up to play around with their closely related universes. This exciting news was unveiled during BAPE’s recent “BAPE XXV” exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. A story being told with BAPE’s subtle humour! 

The 25th anniversary version will feature BAPE’s logo – an Ape’s head – printed on its black dial at 6 o’clock and ultra-phosphorescent green numbers. Its modern design and functional dial fulfils the mission of displaying time with the utmost efficiency thanks to the Superluminova® C3 treatment.

Last but by no means least, Breitling introduced its first collection of truly elegant watches, which were defined by their fash­ionable flair. The new Breitling Premier collection combines purpose with style, delivering quality, performance, and timeless design that are worthy of the watch brand’s proud heritage. 

The Premier collection introduces five distinct models whose elegance is worthy of their historic name and whose quality and performance are pure Breitling. While Breitling is highly regarded for its aviator and diver’s watches, these eye-catching time- pieces have been created especially for use on land, which was, of course, Breitling’s first environment.

The new Breitling Premier collection takes not only its name, but also design inspiration from the Premier watches manufactured in the 1940s. Like the great films that were released in this era of global conflict and economic uncertainty, those watches offered a form of escape through a certain elegance that people were craving