CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

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.

Filorga Universal Cream, claims to be, “The solution to any skin situation! No bathroom, gym bag, travel bag or first aid kit should be without this multi-tasking cream.”

Yep you read that right, the solution to ANY situation ! So it Protects, hydrates and soothes fragile skin? yeah. It Repairs dry, cracked and irritated skin? Errr yeah. What and provides comfort and softness for acne-prone skin ? Well it claims to be. What even, soothes sunburn and repairs damage caused by external aggressors such as shaving, temperature variations, UV damage, hard water, aggressive soaps? Well so it says, yeah. What and can be used by all the Family? YES !

So what’s the secret to this Universal Miracle Cream ? Well the secret is a trio of intelligent active ingredients:

1) Urea: a moisturising factor found naturally in the skin to ensure optimal interaction among the cells to restore the moisture balance in the epidermis and maintain optimal hydration. It also brings comfort and softness to damaged skin that is prone to roughness and dry patches.

2) A ramified polysaccharide: rich in rhamnose, galactose and glucuronic acid, it helps to fight tightness, overheating and redness caused by external aggressors – it can even be used to soothe sunburnt skin. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, bringing an immediate feeling of comfort and well-being from the moment you use the cream.

3) A collagen boosting peptide: this activates the healing process and promotes skin repair to restore smooth, new 
skin in record time: perfect for those prone to scarring or peeling due to grazing, abrasion or sunburn.

Few watches have made as much impact on the stylish contemporary men’s wardrobe as the Diving watch. The watch of choice for 007 himself, a real staple of style and charm and only real competition would be the classic Formal evening favourite, the dress watch. Watches.co.uk very kindly produced this great and highly informative guide to the history of the diving watch. Enjoy.

Founded in 1879 in, of course, Northampton, the true home of Great British footwear Crockett & Jones are a British institution. Their name is associated with quality and innovation and in 1914 their footwear was used for the 2nd time on a Shackleton Polar expedition, emphasising the excellent quality of the shoes and their construction. Plus, during the 2nd World War Crockett & Jones manufactured over a 1,000,000 pairs for the armed forces under instructions from the government to switch the majority of the production to military footwear, making officers’ shoes and boots for the army, navy and air force.

Now with the 5th generation of the Jones family to work for the brand. The strong reputation of Crockett & Jones, which today sees stores in London, New York, Paris and Brussels, is built on solid foundations and a great ethos started many generations ago. The fact that the business remains in the hands of the family after more than 130 years ensures their shoes still retain the attention to detail, quality, comfort and durability that was the hallmark of their founders.

This season they introduce us to the Black Edition, three styles, one sole, three leathers and one iconic colour. The collection of three styles are The Chelsea XI, The Lanark III and The Tay II, offering an oversized ‘Cleated’ rubber Soul showcased using a selection of contemporary black leathers. A true British brand influenced by Japanese sharp style.

For more than a century, Crockett & Jones has exported footwear far and wide, today Japan is the houses no.1 wholesale market. Inspired by their knowledge of the market and the close working relationships with with such iconic retailing institutions as Isetan, Hankyu, Barney’s, Beams & United Arrows, ‘The Black Editions’ represents shoemaking of authentic quality, design and insight.