CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

We’ve all heard and to some extent witnessed the decline of the humble local high street, and in all honesty it isn’t just the local element who is suffering, there are empty units on the most aspirational of high streets in London, Manchester, Paris, New York, Moscow and Tokyo.

However, the reports of the death of the high street are greatly exaggerated and one such proud example of this is the launch of the London flagship of the high end fashion retailer END.

Known for its expertly curated edit of luxury fashion, emerging designers and exclusive sport and streetwear. Founded in 2005 END. has rapidly grown into an Omni-channel retailer. With 6,000,000 monthly visits to it’s website and 1.7 Social Media Followers; offering customers a unique shopping experience via concept stores, online platforms and iOs App for on-the-go updates.

The END. vision is to consistently adapt, sourcing products with provenance, innovation and exclusivity – brining the most immersive and diverse experience to its customers.

Taking residence in Soho, our new Flagship store has opened its doors at 59 Broadwick Street, London. Located in the heart of the capital, END. London is the third – and largest – of their spaces to date. Designed in partnership with Brinkworth, the concept remains true to that of their Glasgow and Newcastle stores, using premium material palette of marble, stainless steel, mirror and maple to create large, monolithic masculine environment.

Inside the 8,500 sq ft space, luxury designers, streetwear and contemporary fashion span across two floors, with a vast sneaker wall wrapping around the entire corner of a glazed façade. At first floor level, the main sneaker collection is housed alongside a grooming area and a launch space with digital screens to display product releases and promotions. Bringing the online experience to END. London, iPads are available for customers to shop at endclothing.com in store.

Undoubtedly David Gandy is currently the biggest name in an otherwise female dominated business. For over ten years he has acted as the ultimate clothes horse to fashion brands as diverse as Dolce & Gabbana to, the subject of today’s post, Marks & Spencer. 

The Great British retail institution, re-confirms its position as the undisputed champion of high Street tailoring with their latest launch. An exclusive capsule tailoring collection, designed by global style icon and M&S Ambassador of Tailoring, David Gandy. 

It comprises of a double-breasted midnight blue dinner suit, a statement-check three-piece suit and a navy wool overcoat. As a renowned wearer of tailoring, David has designed the collection combining years of sartorial expertise, to create smart pieces with versatility in mind.

The double-breasted navy dinner suit boasts rich satin peak lapels, satin covered buttons and side adjusters. The three-piece Prince of Wales suit includes a red check, ticket pocket detail on the jacket and an extra button on the waistcoat, inspired by heritage design. Both suits are crafted in pure wool Yorkshire fabric and have David’s signature hounds tooth lining in burgundy.

The double-breasted navy overcoat has been designed with a longer length silhouette, broad collar, and classic back belt. It is made with wool certified by The Responsible Wool Standard, which is a global standard for growing wool with progressive standards in land management and animal welfare and uses technology to trace wool back to the farms where it was sourced.

Gandy says of his collection;

‘Tailoring has always been a passion of mine, so I am very excited to announce the launch of my first ever capsule tailoring collection for M&S. I’ve learnt a lot about the craft of tailoring throughout my career, and as Ambassador for Tailoring at M&S, designing my own tailoring collection seemed like the natural next step. I’ve enjoyed collaborating throughout the design process, from initial sketches, fabric swatches, fits, trims and details, to seeing the finished dinner suit, three-piece suit and overcoat. Style and fit are at the heart of the design, and everything from the size of the lapels, to the button details and side adjusters have been carefully considered, along with premium cuts and quality fabrics. I have designed each piece with timeless style and versatility in mind, so they can be worn in many different ways for occasions throughout the seasons.’

Mental health disorders affect 12.5% of men in the UK. However, one third of these will never disclose their condition to a friend or family member, and remarkably, 78% of suicides in the UK are men. This Wednesday is World Mental Health Day and Anna Williamson is the author of the hugely successful #1 selling book on Amazon ‘Breaking Mad’. Anna found fame on kid’s television shows on networks including CITV and Disney Channel, but after secretly battling an anxiety disorder, realised there was a huge stigma attached to mental health issues and became an official ambassador of the charity Mind. She is now a qualified counsellor, life coach and Master NLP Practitioner. Anna currently runs her own private coaching practice alongside being the resident agony aunt and psychology expert on TV shows including ITV’s Good Morning Britain and BBC’s Inside Out. Today she give us her expert top tips to deal with Stree in the workplace.

1 – Take a lunch break – so many of us are guilty of grabbing lunch on the go or snatching just a few minutes break for lunch. It’s proven that taking a proper lunch break away from your desk makes for a more productive afternoon, so everyone wins – you, your boss and your health!

2 – Talk to your boss – your boss has a duty of care for your wellbeing at work. Sure, some bosses can be a little unapproachable, but have think about how you could communicate more effectively with your boss (or HR department) about how you’re feeling and any issues or challenges you may be facing. Perhaps an email is the first port of call, but try not to let any stressful feelings simmer.

3 – Set realistic expectations/deadlines – don’t over commit to work deadlines or projects. Be careful not to over promise or try to people please your boss or colleagues if taking on too much is going to leave you feeling pressured or stressed. Have the confidence to set clear boundaries of what you can/can’t do from the outset and update your colleagues along the way so you don’t feel the pressure of them chasing you.

4 – Explore flexible working – if family life is demanding and work pressures are getting too much, have a think about enquiring with your workplace about flexible working. It might be that working from home for a day or so could reduce stress and benefit your mental health – you’ve got nothing to lose by asking the question.

5 – Take your holiday Entitlement – it’s unhealthy for your mental and physical health if you’re taking less than three weeks of annual leave a year. You don’t need to go abroad, a stay-cation is just as effective, but make sure you allow yourself that time away from work to recharge and focus on you.