WOOD – A source of Life, the new fragrance from DSquared

“FRAGRANCE IS A SENSORY EXPERIENCE THAT SAYS EVERYTHING

ABOUT YOU AND YOUR PERSONALITY.

IT IS THE MOST DISTINCTIVE AND INTIMATE ELEMENT BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU RECOGNIZABLE AND DIFFERENT IN A NON-DESCRIPT WAY.

WE LOVE TO THINK ABOUT OUR NEW FRAGRANCE WOOD AS A SPECIAL ACCESSORY THAT IS PERSONAL AND DEFINES DSQUARED2 STYLE AND CHARACTER”,

DEAN AND DAN CATEN

WOOD the new fragrance from Canadian design duo, otherwise known as DSquared.  WOOD is a dual project designed around the characteristics of wood- strong and sturdy, with a complex structure that makes it unique and inimitable- creating two scents that define the contemporary DSquared Man and Woman. Someone who they see as sensual, confident in themselves and their personalities.

The male scent is a powerful, distinctive and masculine fragrance. Opening with the Mediterranean freshness of Bergamot from Calabria, Mandarin and lemon from Sicily and is enriched with elegant, sharp notes of ginger. Vibrant tones of violet leaf and cardamom contrast with the distinct sensuality of Ambrox. A modern and heady blend of white woods brings light to the deep elegance of Vetiver. 

Exclusively available at Harvey Nichols for the seasonal period and Nationwide in February.

Ask the Experts – The Brands for Autumn 2018

In the second of this season’s “Ask the experts” we sort the answer to the age old dilemma of “What brand are you most excited about for Autumn 2018?” below you we find the answers from a prestigious panel of menswear buying experts ranging from on-line e-trailers to traditional department stores to more niche boutique retailers, all eager to inform you of their desired brands for Autumn this year.

“I’m most excited by Portuguese Flannel. This brand consistently delivers the goods – fantastic check, classic plain flannel and chunky cord shirts and button through blazers.”

Pete Parry, Founder and owner – Steranko

 

” I am really excited about the debut footwear line from MR PORTER’s own label, Mr P. Introducing footwear was a natural step for the brand and I think this will be a significant moment for Mr P. as we approach our 1 year anniversary at the end of the year.

Customers can expect a range of styles that reflect Mr P.’s signature aesthetic and values – Easy pieces, smart details, and enduring styles – that will work in tandem with the mainline apparel. Think classic loafers, panelled sneakers and luxury Italian leather and suede.”

Olie Arnold, Style Director – MrPorter

 

We are launching Karl Lagerfeld in selected stores and online this September which is an exciting addition to our portfolio. It has a great, strong logo that we hope our customers will love plus it’s a premium, contemporary brand with just enough ‘showmanship’ whilst still being really wearable. We will be offering lots of strong branded t-shirts but also amazing outerwear pieces for those who really want to splurge on something extra special.”

Simon Pickering, Buying and Merchandising Director House of Fraser

 

I’m very excited about A Cold Wall. We’re stocking the brand for the first time this season and the whole collection has a strong contemporary aesthetic, from the urban accessories and jersey jumpers through to their outerwear offering, which includes a great PVC coat.”

Jack Cassidy, Buying Manager Men’s Designer / Formal / Contemporary – Selfridges

 

I want it all & I want it NOW – Tommy Hilfiger’s new Fragrance

Tommy Hilfiger is one of the world’s most recognised premium designer lifestyle brands. Appealing to a new generation who embraces change with positivity, optimism and refreshing irreverent style always celebrating the power of now. With this in mind we see the launch of the new fragrance from the all American powerhouse. The new men’s and women’s eau de toilette is all about living life in the moment, not getting caught up on the past or worrying about the future, but the NOW.

For men, Tommy Now is a woody and spicy fragrance that fuses citrusy bergamot and zesty mandarin notes with geranium, ginger, cardamom and warm wood extracts for a modern masculine edge. The bottle cap features the brand’s signature red, white and blue stripes complemented by bright white lettering against the navy glass vintage-inspired bottle.

As part of the worldwide #WEARETOMMYNOW social media campaign to launch the fragrances, a community of influencers in the world of fashion, music and travel, will share what “Now” means to them through exclusive video content.

The End of the High Street as we know it – End. New Flagship Store

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.

Un homme pour l’éternité, A Man for all seasons – David Gandy’s New Suiting collection for Marks & Spencer

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.’