CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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A collaboration on Biblical Proportions – Levis X Jordan

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY

After 2017 being the year of collaborations, 2018 has kicked off with a bang thanks to this beauty from sportswear giant Nike and legendary denim brand, Levis. Both arguably top dogs in their fields. Through the use of Levi’s most signature denim washes alongside the classic Jordan 4 silhouette sounds like a recipe for a spectacular collaboration.

Rumoured to have an extremely limited size range, unless your willing to pay the crazy resale prices predicted by many, your going to have to keep your eyes peeled and with retail for the sneakers rumoured to be £170.00 you can’t go wrong as these will just get better with time. On top of the ever so hyped release of the air Jordan sneaker is the reversible denim trucker jacket combining the classic craftsmanship, flight suit inspired wing detail and the Jordan brand logo, both pieces set to dominate the January Street wear scene upon release.

The only piece missing is recognisable Levi’s horse patch replaced on the back by the jump man logo, with the classic red Levi’s tab included in the shoes design, a reversed denim material fills the in sole and liner. With key details including a gum sole and golden stitching. With only limited, exclusive, personally chosen retailers in the UK will hold both items these being End clothing based in Newcastle, you lucky Geordies and Levi’s Regent street London and if you have entered any of the competitions we hope some of our readers will be lucky enough to win.

Contact us on social media and let us know what collaboration you would like to see in 2018!

 

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6 of the best – knitwear pieces to keep you looking cosy and stylish this winter

Words by Keanu Adorable

We’re right in the middle of the winter season, and it hasn’t been forgiving. Keeping warm is our priority but this doesn’t mean we should sacrifice our style (you don’t really need to put on that sweater you got from aunt Julie during Christmas). But no worries, we have sorted you out in the knitwear department, ranging from high street to high end, it’s time you invest properly in some quality knitwear pieces for, what look so like, the long harsh winter months.

KNITWEAR PIECE 1: JIGSAW – Mock Neck Cocoon Jumper

Made from a chunky lambswool blend in a mouliné slate blue, this jumper by Jigsaw features that statement mock neck. Further styling details include raglan sleeves and deep ribbed cuffs and hem, giving you maximum comfort and coverage – perfect knitwear piece for those cold mornings/evenings.

KNITWEAR PIECE 2: FOLK- Wool Blended Sweater

This Folk sweater is knitted from a soft wool-blend in warm shades and is an exclusive at Mr. Porter. The crew neck is lightly padded to provide extra warmth where you need it most, which is often if you’re in the northern hemisphere these upcoming months.

KNITWEAR PIECE 3: KENT AND CURWEN – Vintage Cable Knit Sweater

With the feel of a favourite vintage piece, this textured knit by our emerging favourite brand Kent And Curwen has been carefully stonewashed and finished with deliberate aged and used detailing. You can pair this piece with a tonal peg leg trouser for a strong winter look for casual or smart wear.

KNITWEAR PIECE 4: COS – Cable-Knit Jumper

This jumper from COS is made from a chunky, heavyweight cotton blend with a mix of half-cardigan and wide cable stitches for detail. A relaxed fit, that is completed with a rounded neck and ribbed edges. A perfect piece for your winter wardrobe.

KNITWEAR PIECE 5: CRAIG GREEN – Cutout Merino Wool-Blend Bouclé Sweater

Awar winning designer Craig Green’s fisherman-inspired sweater is rib-knitted from merino wool-blend in a bouclé effect that’s both soft and substantial – perfect for this season. It has an embroidered cutout on the back, underneath the label’s signature tassel detail. Try teaming this piece with chinos and sneakers for a laid-back and casual fit.

KNITWEAR PIECE 6: OLIVER SPENCER – Talbot Roll Neck Beech Grey

Made from 100% extra fine merino wool, the Talbot Roll Neck is a perfect winter layer. It can be worn over a t-shirt for a more casual look on warmer days or alone under a short jacket for a smarter look. It also features slightly longer sleeve allowing your thumb through the subtle hole in the cuff to keep your hands extra warm.

 

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An Artisan Story – John Varvatos Artisan Pure

Let me paint you a picture on this dull January day, you are transported to the verdant hills surrounding Xalapa, Mexico and its vast coffee and citrus groves. From the Mediterranean cliff sides, to the azure waters of the ocean, to a beautiful estate nestled in the mountains. Close your eyes and take a deep breath and inhale, there you go, can you get it ? Of course you can the revitalizing blend of citrus and fresh herbs with woody accents for a refreshing crisp aroma. The modern, sun-warmed woods from Mexico.

And open those eyes again. Ohhh sorry your back at your desk, but see how vivid your imagination can be when you let go and your sense of smell is your strongest sense for recapturing past memories.

So how about each time you smell the subject of today’s post you’re able to carry yourself off to this South American paradise. The latest chapter of the John Varvatos Artisan story, Artisan Pure, this complements the other members of the Artisan collection and captures the light, natural and laid-back vibe by which the fragrance was inspired and likewise the look and feel draws inspiration from the light, airy natural-tone fabrics of John’s stylish and aspirational menswear line.

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People are L’estrange – L’ESTRANGE LONDON

Everyone at some point in their lives has experienced that infuriating moment when you stand in front of a bulging wardrobe full of clothes and exclaimed, but I have nothing to wear, or words to that effect.

Well please let me do you the pleasure of introducing you to the digitally native menswear brand L’Estrange London whose aim is to simplify the male wardrobe so that you can achieve more with less.

Working to the ethos of, “We make clothes to look effortlessly smart for life. Whether it be a coffee, a meeting or drinks – never overdressed, never underdressed.”

Founders Tom Horne and Will Green, met at Edinburgh University and together founded L’Estrange. The concept behind it is to bridge casual and formal wear, starting by redefining the hoodie; smartening its image and creating a piece of clothing suitable for any occasion. L’Estrange have incorporated a solution-focussed design mindset, continuously re- evaluating to consider how they can better answer modern problems. They focus on creating clothing that adds value, not clutter, innovating to meet the needs of their customers instead of adhering to traditional seasonal drops. The brand offers a modern clothing system comprising of comfortable, season-less, versatile pieces that can be worn in multiple scenarios, stripping away the complexity traditionally seen in the retail industry.So in a world of hyper-convenience and overconsumption, L’Estrange endeavours to strip away the over complexity from you everyday allowing you to do more with less. Their modern clothing system comprises of comfortable, season-less, versatile pieces that can be worn in multiple scenarios.

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6 of the best parkas for this winter keep your self-warm.

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY

With the next couple of weeks being forecast to be incredibly chilly Andy for the UK to be more like the.  Arctic Circle , we thought we’d select our top 6 Parkas for this winter to keep you warm in those frosty condition, perfect for a rainy day in Old Blighty or skiing in the Alps, we high recommend you pay a visit to all sites for your winter jacket.

Carhartt– UR Siberian Parka
Created in 1889 Carhartt is well known for its work wear clothing, with products ranging from basic jean silhouettes through to fire resistant clothing.
However, their coats are some of the brands more popular pieces with their parkas totally killing it, with our number one pick being the classic ‘UR Siberian Parka’ in black, with a white fur hood. Paired with the letters UR on the back this jacket to denote their collaboration with the brand Underground Resistance, adds to your look whilst keeping you warm at the same time, what more could you want.  Why don’t you go and have a look.

Pretty green– Khaki lightweight cotton parka
Fronted by, our kid,  Liam Gallagher, Pretty green is built upon the influence in which British street wear has on the music and fashion throughout the world, founded in 2009, a detailed understanding of the culture has allowed them to stay incredibly relevant.
Our second pick is the ‘Khaki lightweight cotton parka’, this military vibe jacket is perfect for them darker looks and brilliant for layering, don’t miss out.

Penfield– Greylock water proof performance mountain parka
Founded in 1975, Penfield is known for its outerwear and became incredibly popular in the 80’s due to a wide range of retail channel. The brand still popular for its coats and jackets has started venturing out of the original neutral colours, with bright oranges and royal blues.
However, our pick of the bunch is this striped beauty, the Greylock water proof performance mountain parka in Navy its something a little different to the classic parka, for those of you after something a little different.

The North Face– Men’s McMurdo 2 parka
The North face is undoubtly the most well known of all the brands mentioned today, the name came from the north hemisphere of a mountain which is usually the coldest and most difficult route to climb on a mountain, hinting at this gear being up for any challenge.
Our fourth pick being The Men’s McMurdo 2 parka, paired with the goose down insulation and water repellent finish keeping you warm in the worst of conditions and to bring us right bang up to date and for a contemporary 21st century feel,where would we be without ‘a pocket big enough to carry an IPad.’

Parajumper– Pollar Equipment Musher ‘Saffron’
Parajumper is the brainchild of designer Massimo Rossetti, creating high quality outerwear with the name originating from the Para jumpers in the wars being super tough and courageous, just how the jackets are seen for today’s market.
Getting into the Luxury end of the market Parajumper is an outerwear brand known for it high quality jackets, and the Pollar Equipment Musher ‘Saffron’ is a wonderful example of the pieces released by the brand, with the beautiful Saffron colouring, it may not be to everyone’s taste but we would highly recommend having a look.

Canada Goose– Canada coat red Parka
Founded in 1957 Canada goose focuses on high quality winter clothing, producing all garments to keep you warm from gloves through to jackets, beginning in Canada’s cold city of Toronto the brand now sixty years old is untouchable in the luxury winter wear industry.
A new release to finish us off is the Canada coat in red, this is the latest of their offerings, plus their only being four hundred worldwide, what are you waiting for?