CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

It’s September, the Kids have gone back to school, Autumn’s hitting us with full effect and yes we’ve had to go back to work after the long, hot Summer. Now is it just me that is really struggling to put together a set of outfits that resembles anything remotely professional, is weather appropriate and doesn’t involve shorts or flip flops ? In an attempt to to make back to work more bearable John Lewis has given your 9-5 wardrobe a new spin its top picks for the upcoming season. This time of year is the perfect time to update your work wardrobe and return to the office with a fresh look for the cooler months ahead.
Beth Pettet, Head of Menswear Buying at John Lewis, has curated a capsule edit of highlights from John Lewis’ AW18 menswear collections to create the ultimate ‘Back to Work’ wardrobe for men. When bringing together the selection of designs she has chosen that appeal to city workers and creatives alike, Beth kept three key factors in mind; professionalism, practicality and personality.

“It is possible be yourself in the workplace and let your personality shine through, whilst maintaining a professional air. Modern workwear is no longer restricted to a classic overcoat and stuffy suit. Whilst traditional and formal codes should still be respected, adding an individual and contemporary sense of style to your work wardrobe can make you stand out from the crowd.”
– Beth Pettet, Head of Menswear Buying at John Lewis

Highlights from Beth’s edit includes a black and navy check suit from the Kin by John Lewis collection; a great smart sartorial look for occasions when only a suit will do which she suggests pairing with Merino wool knitwear which allows the wearer to adjust to warmer or cooler office temperatures and adds a pop of colour to your look. She also advocates a mix and match philosophy to Back to Work wardrobes, proposing separates such as formal trousers with a drawstring detail worn with a smart jacket that allows the wearer to dress up or down according to their meeting schedule.

There isn’t many fashion designers who have made such an impact not only on modern pop culture but the wider society than Ralph Lauren. On Friday night, the second day of New York Fashion week, celebrities and fashion elite came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ralph Lauren.

I mean when I say celebrities, I mean beyond A-list, when Ralph does a front row he don’t mess around. We are talking Stephen Spielberg, Pierce Brosnan,  Tom Hiddleston, Anne Hathaway, Kanye West, ohhhh and someone called Opera or Oprah Winfrey conducting a world class toast to the man himself.

Lauren and his iconic Polo brand have been the subject of acres of column inches in the past 50 years. 

The American fashion house marked its half century by hosting a black tie fashion show and gala dinner seamlessly integrated against the backdrop of the Bethesda Terrace fountain in Manhattan’s Central Park, a homage to Mr Lauren’s hometown of New York City.

In keeping with the philanthropy of the brand, the event benefited the Central Park Conservancy – a private, nonprofit organisation that relies on donations to prevent the decline of the world-renowned park.

Ralph initially launched his eponymous label in 1967 aged 28. The lifestyle brand began as a collection of men’s ties, before developing into the first ‘Polo’ menswear collection in 1968. Womenswear was introduced in the 1970s. Today, the designer still acts as chief creative officer at the brand and still the brand goes from strength to strength.

Andrea with Freddie Flintoff at a recent Jacamo Launch

Menswear brand Jacamo have come on a long way since been exclusively known as a plus size clothier for the larger gentleman. It’s now a brand with, not only a stronger digital offer but collections that range in sizes S to 5Xl and wants men of all shapes and sizes to enjoy and develop their own style. Designers for the brand, Andrea Eckersley, tells us how she join the brand in 2016 with the remit to improving the fashionability of the Jacamo range and engaging with a broader, younger age range and a greater size range.

Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given and by whom?
Never eat yellow snow!! – Santa Claus

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be ?
One day you will look back on this and laugh

In your words, describe the collection?
The new Flintoff by Jacamo AW18 collection is a range of carefully curated pieces that provide an effortless wardrobe for every occasion.

The mainline Jacamo collection offers wardrobe staples that have been updated with fresh new colours and fabrics, and complemented with on trend catwalk inspired pieces, for a product range to suit every man no matter what size he is.

What was the inspiration for it?
For the Flintoff by Jacamo collection we worked really closely with Freddie to ensure that his favourite styles were included, and in turn we were inspired to create fashion led pieces that we knew he would look fantastic in!

For the mainline collection we take inspiration from many sources, whether that be the latest catwalk collections, to social media to make sure we have the right, wearable fashion pieces for our customer.

What are the key pieces in it?
From the Flintoff by Jacamo range it has to be the bold check wool coat, the aran sweater and the cord trouser.
From the Jacamo mainline it’s the fur bomber, the purple track set and the floral print shirt!

What do you have to do after this conversation?
Continue working on designing SS19!

What would you like to be doing after this conversation?
Having a pint!!

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101?
Budgie smugglers.

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe?
A great pair of jeans, preferably from our fantastic range of Jacamo denim J

What inspires you?
It can be anything, from getting a lovely swatch of fabric to a picture on Instagram that inspires a colour palette.

If you could have invented anything what would it be ?
I would quite like a personal robot slave but they haven’t invented that just yet. Mind you I might change my mind after finishing the second series of Westworld!

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret ?
You should never regret, everything happens for a reason.

You know the feeling, it can’t just be me? The holiday’s over, the tan’s faded and you’re back to work and the daily grind. There’s no doubt that we lead hectic and super-busy lifestyle, juggling loads of different activities all at the same time. Always on-the-go, lack of sleep, sun exposure, dirt, pollution . . . all gang up to make your skin look tired and dull. Furthermore, these lifestyle and environmental factors are cumulative, leaving his skin looking more & more fatigued and fatigued skin means the first signs of aging.

Clinique For Men have, hopefully, come up with the answer with the all NEW Super Energizer Skincare System – three multi- layered defence skincare products to wake-up tired looking skin.

Firstly, we have the Clinique For Men Super Energizer Anti-Fatigue Hydrating Concentrate SPF 40. This product awakens fatigued skin and provides non-stop energy by supplying skin with energy-boosting ingredients like Creatine,Adenosine Phosphate, and Caffeine and brightening optics. 

Then,  we have the Super Energizer Anti-Fatigue Exfoliating Powder Cleanser. A  dual-function powder cleanser that can be used as an energizing daily cleanser or a gentle exfoliator to lift away fatigue, pollution, and impurities. Waking up the skin, leaving it feeling fresher and deeply cleansed with Salicylic Acid that gently polishes away dead skin cells.

It detoxifies and purifies skin, drawing out pollution and other impurities, while effectively cleansing the skin. Then smoothes the skin’s texture, unclogs pores, and removes excess oil immediately and with continued use.

Finally, the Anti-Fatigue Eye Gel, Is an under-eye serum that helps reduce puffiness while cooling and refreshing tired eyes, by instantly awakens, re-energizes and brightens tired-looking eyes. With the cooling stainless steel roller ball applies gel serum that immediately cools, helps reduce puffiness, and brightens the eye area. It hydrates and instantly comforts eye area with humectants such as Sodium Hyaluronate

that attract and bind moisture to the skin.An under-eye serum that helps instantly reduce puffiness while cooling and refreshing tired eyes.

Sorry I just couldn’t resist this and I know a lot of people would say, “you should know better” or “That’s not for you”. But I’m sorry, IT’S THE SIMPSONS ! Yes Matt Groening’s genius creation telling the madcap tales of a dysfunctional, working class, Middle American Family of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie with a whole host of iconic and unforgettable sub characters including Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak, Milhouse Van Houten, and Patty & Selma Bouvier. Since its debut on December 17, 1989, 639 episodes of The Simpsons have been broadcast and entertained the world over. 

So with its impact of modern pop culture it was only going to be a matter of time before it was tapped into, in a stylistic fashion sense and who else but the King Midas of e-tailing ASOS, the brand who can do no wrong have collaborated with 20th Century Fox, the owners of the brand, to create a retro inspired, painfully cool but incredibly and infectiously desirable range of 34 pieces of bold T-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts and more so what are you waiting for clip on so you d’oh(n’t) miss out !