CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Check your Bad Self ! – Checkerboard Trend Watch

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY

Fashion trends come around in swings and roundabouts. A trend in that we have picked up on recently is the monochrome checkerboard look, with the classic vans silhouette being the most recognisable of all in this style.

oversized checkerboard crew neck by Ami Alexandre Mattiussi

The look can be taken as far as you want; dependent upon how adventurous you’re feeling, the more outrageous the more of the pattern, with some choosing one key piece and others a full outfit. Smart or casual this pattern adds something to every look.

Mid-Length Checkerboard Swim Shorts by AMIRI

One of vans most distinguishable shoes is the checkerboard, in all the different silhouettes. Versatile to say the least, this pattern can be worn with a mixture of styles including; smart, street and casual.

Styling this item you may think how?

Checkerboard socks by Diesel

This look can be a statement piece within an outfit; so pairing the garment with another vibrant pattern isn’t going to work to well.

Pairing a t-shirt or shirt and a pair of light denim isn’t too far off perfection if you ask us.

How daring do you want to be? Let us know at clothes make the man, if you want to be checked out…

 Checkerboard Flannel Shirt by Barbour

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The Rarest Supreme Archive Collection Yet – Ross Wilson x The Idle Man

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY 

Supreme, as I’m sure many of you know, has dominated the streetwear fashion scene for a while, with the cult following increasing dramatically in the last couple of years. However one of the originals in the Supreme game Ross Wilson has opened his vault to the public boasting 1,000 plus garments and accessories, with 841 pieces available for the public to buy at Online retailer The Idle Man.

Ross was first introduced to the brand in 1994 on a trip to New York, where he was cruising around looking for a skate store when he happened to stumble upon Supreme, this was where the unintentional collection began, becoming one of the greatest Supreme wardrobes ever. The collection spans back to 1994 and contains everything from; Box Logo’s, Skateboards through to The North face Collaborations and friends and family items, showcasing a timeline since the birth of Supreme in clothing.

 

The Idle Man retail store in Leather Lane, London will open to the public on the 2nd and 3rd of February, presenting the exhibition to the public containing some of Ross’s favourite items from previous years and will allow newcomers to the streetwear world to experience the heritage of the brand. We were lucky enough to get a preview and one on one interview with Ross and here what he had today!

Who’s your inspiration in fashion?

‘I don’t necessarily have a celebrity influencer, I get inspired by the places I go to and the things I do. I’ve skated since I was a kid and it always been about freedom of expression in dressing and skating.

I’ve been a club DJ for a long time and I feel if you’re open-minded when it comes to music then your open-minded in fashion.’

Describe your personal style in three words?

‘Understated, Open minded’

Thoughts on the youth culture of Supreme?

Good on them, I say. If they’re passionate and believe in it goes for it. One of the reasons Supreme resonated with me was because everyone wearing it was in to what I was. If Supreme puts an older celeb on t-shirts, these kids are that enthusiastic about the brand they will research into them and this opens there eyes and they’ll begin to listen to their music, which is really cool in my opinion.

Your favourite Supreme item ever?

‘I’m actually wearing it now, funnily enough, The Hanes tee as its something which can be thrown on every day and the cut for me is just perfect’

Do you collect anything other than Supreme or Plan on?

‘I never actually planned on collecting Supreme it was just something I liked and stuck with and over time got a lot of it. I like other things such as skateboards, trainers and records, however, the aim of a collection is to get everything and that isn’t my aim.

What are your thoughts on the term Hypebeast?

I mean good for the brand hype beast, but I feel it’s now a derogatory term, it’s thrown around far too easily, yes some people do give into hype, but I saw someone comment on one of my posts saying ‘look at this hypebeast’ and they clearly just don’t understand the meaning.

Would you still buy Supreme in the future?

Yes, I love the brand, for me its up there with one of the greatest men’s wear brands ever with Ralph Lauren, A.P.C, I don’t care who wears it if they make interesting and creative products I’ll wear it.

Shop the collection at http://www.theidleman.com/supreme

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Textual Conversation – OLIVER PROUDLOCK

(image by Adam Spear)

From a young age, OLIVER PROUDLOCK has had three passions; Music, Art and Fashion. Creativity is something that is incorporated into his everyday routine, and has become part of the fabric that weaves his projects together.

Oliver founded the fashion label Serge DeNimes, a design-led brand which focuses on premium, urban apparel of the highest quality. Their original designs epitomize the urban culture and artistic flair that is the foundation of the Serge lifestyle and they strive to create an artistic community that focuses on producing cutting edge designs.

In addition to the exciting progression within his own label, Oliver has worked with numerous global brands over the years including Armani, Diesel, Reiss, River Island, Topman, Joshua Kane, All Saints and Hunter Gatherer. And has collaborated on a number of projects with various fashion houses including high-end shoe label Oliver Sweeney, jewellery designer Theo Fennell and a capsule collection with contemporary headwear brand BySju. All while maintaining a successful modelling career and running his own style/travel/fitness website OLIVERPROUDLOCK.COM and his fashion blog PROUDLOCK STYLE giving a direct insight into his style and the brands he loves

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret ?
Life is too short for regrets

What piece of style advise do you live by ?
Comfort leads to confidence

What piece of clothing best describes you ?
My Serge DeNimes customised distressed denim jacket

What do you have to do after this conversation ?
Get back to completing the new Serge jewellery collection

What is you most memorable moment ?
Hard to narrow down to one moment, but in terms of my brand it would have to be being stocked in the Mens Lab in Harrods. This was my first stockist, and this store has so many memories from when i was a kid. To be stocked there was a dream come true, as well as a divining moment for Serge.

Who would do you ideal diner guests ?
Al pacino, Rihanna, Pharrell, Gisele, Ralph Lauren, Jennifer Lawrence, Adele, Roger Federer, Mila Kunis, Robert Rauschenberg, , – people i look upto within fashion, art, sport, and film.

Favourite hotel in the world ?

The Bowery Hotel (NYC)

If you could collaborate with one brand who would it be ?
I would love to collaborate with Ralph Lauren. Ralph has been one of my favourite brands since i was a kid, and to collaborate with them would be a dream come true.

Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given ?
Always be positive no matter what. Wise words from my mum.

Describe your style in three words?
Eclectic, Comfortable, niche

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe ?
A denim jacket

What are you most excited about at the moment ?
Releasing the new Serge DeNimes mens jewellery collection

(Image by Danny Baldwin)

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A Great British brand – Kent & Curwen Spring/Summer 2018

WORDS BY KEANU ADORABLE

Every man in Britain has, at some point in his life, been part of a team. Whether at school, in a club or perhaps through a sub-culture movement –Mods, Punks or Skaters – teams are part of modern tribal society, defined by a uniform and a dress code. It is how each team-member interprets these codes
to express individuality and personality that became the inspiration for Kent & Curwen’s Spring-Summer 2018 Collection.

Looking at images from past decades of Oxford and Cambridge sporting teams, Creative Director, Daniel Kearns and Business Partner, David Beckham were particularly interested in the way those gentlemen mixed items of clothing to make a sartorial statement. For inspiration they also explored archive
imagery from the 1948 Austerity Games in London, where British Olympians were required to provide their own kit, thereby defining their own national uniform, united by the Union Jack badge worn by all.

For this season, the brand took the traditional British summer dress codes and adapted to bring an edge to a gentleman’s wardrobe in the modern era. This is a collection of respectful yet re-imagined sportswear that blurs the boundary between old and new, worn with a British nonchalance. Oversized striped and brocaded Regatta Blazers in silk and cotton silk, badged with the 1926 Rose of England, is dressed down with a mismatching college scarf, tennis shorts, long striped socks and plimsolls or up with matching trousers, a frayed-edge cardigan and detachable collar shirt for a decadent, sporting take on deconstructed tailoring.

Cricketing attire, the foundation of the brand in the 20’s and 30’s, is referenced through a more creative lens. The cricket jumper is re-imagined and refashioned as a seasonal statement or presented as frayed-edged and lived-in like an old locker room favourite. Cricketing trousers morph into track-pants worn wide and long with tennis shoes for a decisively informal silhouette.

Shop the collection now at Kent & Curwen and Mr Porter

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You need these in your Bathroom Cabinet – ClarinsMen NEW Products

This week sees the launch of two brand spanking new products from the luxury grooming brand, ClarinsMen, which promises to be new favourites when it comes to your all important and hopefully for 2018 increased Grooming time to ensure your looking clean, sharp and handsome.

First up we have the UV Plus Men SPF50 UVA/UVB. Formulated especially for men’s skin, this multi protection sunscreen, yes you read that right, Suncream, as it’s the perfect face guard, no matter the time of the year. It offers high level UV protection combined with an anti-pollution complex in a lightweight, oil- free and water-resistant texture. The perfect accessory for urban activities in the city to outdoor sports in the country. Cellulose matifying powders to absorb excess sebum to prevent shiny skin.
Organic quinoa extract reinforces the skin’s barrier function and stimulates its natural hydration process and ClarinsMen Energising Complex [bison grass extract + gymnema] to energise.

Then we have Hydra-Sculpt, a dual action innovation in one single step. The combined gel and cream textures moisturise, tone and smoothe while visibly contouring and redefining the jawline. This complete resculpting face care offers the comfort of a cream, with the tightening effect of a gel. Skin feels instantly fresh and noticeably firmer.

Lemon extract and salicylic acid encourages the elimination of dead cells on the skin surface to smooth skin texture and prevent the formation of ingrown hairs. Organic oat sugars form a tightening film on the surface the smooth the skin. Glycerin and organic bisabolol preserves skin’s hydration and provides soothing comfort. Also, it includes the ClarinsMen Energising Complex with bison grass extract to encourage and stimulate skin energy regeneration and gymnema extract, used for its capacity to preserve energy, the essential element for healthy functioning cells.