The Great British Barber Shop

Words by Charlie Britton

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Recent years have seen the male grooming scene grow from strength so strength, with more and more men taking extra good care of themselves. From hair creams and beard oils to skin care and aftershaves, we all have one thing in common, a trip to the local barber shop.

Cut throat wet shaves to scissor cuts and skin fades, the barber shop is an undeniably British place of rest bite, comfort and relaxation. Here at Clothes-Make-The-Man, we’ve tried our fare share of barbershops across the land, so we’ve decided to give you the low down on some of the best barbers across the British isles, so you can remain doubt free in the search for optimum manliness.

 

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Launched in 2012 in Edinburgh’s West End, Ruffians went from strength to strength, winning hairdressing awards right off the bat with their first store. Now in four locations across the UK, Ruffians is by far one of the cleanest and slickest barber shops to date. Whiskeys and coffees all round, Ruffians offers a tailored consultation, clean cut and even vacuum’s your neck to end on a high, hair free note.

 

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Sheffield’s little gem, Savills barber shop definitely stands out from the crowd. Equipped with 9 highly skilled barbers and a vast apothecary of grooming aids, you wont regret making a trip to the oldest school barber shop in the country. The antique furnishings, reclaimed gear and traditional uniforms ensure you feel you’ve stepped back in time, although the services provided are nothing but modern and clean cut.

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Hidden away on the streets of Angel, Gents of London provides an authentic service like no other. Traditional theme with a modern service, this old school London barber shop can tailor each cut to every client, ensuring nothing but pure satisfaction is produced from some of the best barbers in town. Mod haircuts to skin fades and scissor cuts, this barber shop can offer something for every gentleman, and we guarantee you’ll feel right at home.

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On the sunny streets of Exeter, the original Sandyman Chop Shop sits not so quietly, attending to the needs of gentlemen and lads alike. The tatted’ up guys at the Sandyman Chop Shop don’t look like your usual traditional barbers, but fear not, these guys know a thing or two about cut throat razors. Unwind with a beer or a glass of rum, and let the guys at the Chop Shop do their thing.

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Dublin’s man cave, Cut & Sew, which started as a 1 man pop up, is a barber shop with a serious amount of style. Situated in two locations across Dublin, Cut & Sew provides a slick service with a smile. The original Cut & Sew is located underneath an old school record store, so you can sit back with a drink and enjoy the music, or even browse the apparel that they have to offer while you wait.

So there you have it, a few favourites of ours across Britain, keeping the men of today clean, crisp and ready to go. As the saying goes, ‘You’re only as good as your last haircut‘, so we can rest easy here at Clothes-Make-The-Man knowing you have the tools to find a cut above the rest.

Textual Conversation – Martin Andersson- Head of Menswear Design at COS

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As a child growing up in the small Swedish town of Olofström, Martin Andersson was inspired by iconic British Fashion Magazines such as I-D and The Face, “I wanted to create the style and look I was seeing in British magazines, but couldn’t buy anything right in Sweden so began sketching my own designs”. Martin’s passion for both British style and fashion design was only heightened by attending the preigious Fashion College Central St Martin’s in London. Where after graduating he was snapped up by classic British brand Hackett London; whilst here Andersson launched his own signature line. The label was greeted with an extremely warm welcome by the Fashion community and media and continued to grow organically in a global market.  

After a period at, another classic British brand, Aquascutum, Martin was offered a position which would blend his passion for British Fashion with his Swedish sensibilities and heritage as Head of Menswear Design at COS. The Swedish retailer who pride themselves on offering good quality, understated classics and wardrobe essentials at affordable prices. Since it’s launch in London in 2007 COS (Collection of Style)  are now located in over 30 countries throughout Europe, North Amercia, The Middle East and Asia Pacific.

For Autumn Martin was inspired by the work of Berlin based artist Lev Khesin (see below), the emphasis on Khesin’s work is reflected in both the collection’s rich colour palette and layered silhouette.
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Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given and by whom?
“ God is in the detail” by German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, This wasn’t a piece of advice that was given to me directly but it is something which I have lived by throughout my career, to always pay attention to the finer details.

What track would always get you on the dance floor?
Good question, it would have to be “no one gets the prize” by Dianna Ross but it must be the 12 inch version.

What are you most excited about at the moment?
I am super excited to be travelling to New York this week for the opening of the Agnes Martin retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, COS is sponsoring the retrospective. Martin’s work is a continual source of inspiration for COS so it will be a memorable and honorable moment.

Best present you’ve ever received ?
I am obsessed by the book “The Hyena & Other Men” by Pieter Hugo and one year for my birthday I received a photographic print of one of the images taken from the book, it is one of my most treasured possessions.

If you could collaborate with one brand who would it be ?
I would ask Helmut Lang to come out of retirement and start designing again that way we could collaborate .

Favourite hotel in the world?
I once stayed in the Ammankila resort on the East coast of Bali; it was the most understated, serene place overlooking the sea, everything from the food to the service, it was simply paradise.

If you could live anywhere where would it be?
To be honest it would be London, it really is one of the greatest cities in the world. The infusion of different cultures and the juxtaposition between the old and new creates such an eclectic city.

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be?
I would have perhaps told myself to experiment with style more, have fun with it and don’t be afraid to try new things.

Who would your ideal dinner guests ?
If I had to choose a mix of people I would start with Donald Judd after visiting his house in New York I have so many questions that I would want to ask him, Franz Klien I would want to know how his first figurative paintings from the 40’s later provoked the abstract expression movement. Thirdly, Cormac McCarthy to pick at his literary brain and lastly to inject some fun ( and hula hopping) Grace Jones to provide some entertainment to finish the evening.

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe?
A white shirt, it is one of the most versatile garments; it transcends age, dress sense and occasion.

What piece of style advice do you live by?
A very common one but very personal to me “less is more”.

Who is your style icon?
It’s not so much an icon but more an admiration for Colin Firth in “A Single Man” the sharp, sleek suiting really honors the craft of tailoring.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?
I have a wool trench coat from our AW09 collection; it’s the first coat I reach for when the autumn chill comes. It’s a timeless piece which will always remain in my wardrobe.

COS Menswear Autumn 2016

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Wondrous Wanderers personified through garments – Scotch & Soda A/W16

By: Keanu Adorable

Dutch brand Scotch & Soda, invites us to take a journey across time and various locations for their Autumn Collection. Scotch & Soda referencing diverse locations that range from a small Norwegian village to the Highlands of Scotland. The collection was debuted during New York Fashion week earlier this year, and is now released in store and online.

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Although Scotch & Soda has been around since the ‘80s as a menswear label, the Amsterdam based fashion brand made a new start in 2001, when three new owners joined their broad experience and shared love for making great garments. After Scotch & Soda was re-launched, new lines were gradually added, such as Maison Scotch for women, and Scotch Shrunk and Scotch R’Belle for kids. In late 2010, the first Scotch & Soda was launched by the name of BARFLY. Scotch’s youngest and most ambitious project is Amsterdams Blauw, a compact high profile denim collection.

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A Nordic clash of old and new, the collection features military and outdoor gear, hi-tech sportswear, workwear, and smart/casual pieces. The pieces contain bold colours, patterns, and graphics that juxtapose rich hues, fair isles, and tartans.

With outerwear/knitwear at the collection’s core, varsity jackets, luxe sweatpants, dress shirts, cocktail blazers, and winter accessories give variation and depth. The collection utilises tweeds, wools, satins, velvets, and silks. Standout details from pieces are the mountaineering zips and clips, fringing, wind-proofing, and quilting.

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Scotch & Soda Autumn 2016 is available in-store now and online via the link below.

Scotch & Soda Online Store

Washbag Wishlist – Marcus King, Mens Hairdresser of the year

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Marcus King‘s story of how he first broke into the world of men’s hair styling isn’t unusually, it’s one of dedication and commitment. Starting out at his local barbers at the young age of 14 sweeping the floors on a Saturday, before moving on to develop his skills doing an apprenticeship. Marcus has grown, developed and established himself over the years and is now the Creative Director of world renowned hairdressing group Hooker & Young based in the North East of England.

Marcus has been a part of the Hooker & Young team for 12 years and his creative skills have been called upon all over the world from Croatia, Oman to Argentina. His creative and innovative mind led him to win North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year in 2012 and more recently, he was crowned Men’s Hairdresser of the Year.

However, today we ask him about what grooming product he can’t live without and what is his Washbag Wishlist.

 

img_0171Tom Ford Conditioning Beard Oil Tobacco Vanille
o The best beard oil on the market! It smells amazing and keeps my beard soft but firm.
img_0172Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Session Label Strong Hold Hairspray
o An absolutely must-have for any man! This hairspray has incredible hold and feels light on your hair.
img_0174ClarinsMen Super Moisture Balm
o I love the Clarins Men’s range in general but their Moisture Balm is fantastic. I think it’s so important to moisturise, especially your face to keep it hydrated, supple and feeling amazing.
Schwarzkopf Professional [3D]MEN Cleansing Shampoo
o This shampoo cleanses away stubborn product build-up and removes and traces of oil. It leaves the hair feeling squeaky clean, but soft and manageable.
img_0176Carita for men
o This range is fantastic, a favourite in our salon! The products and treatments available through this brand are amazing and suitable for every age, skin and type of man!

Making it easy for you – The Idle Man Guide Store

Words by Charlie Britton

Idle Man Guide Store
The Idle Man, the menswear e-tailer, til now, have opened up their very first bricks and mortar store in the trendy heart of London. This ‘Guide Store’ is in place to build a bridge between an eCommerce and in-store shopping experience, without the task of shopping feeling like a chore.

The Idle Man, founded by Oliver Tezcan in 2014, with the aim of being the best destination for menswear apparel, shoes and accessories. Their target consumer is the regular 20 to 30 something guy, who’s fashion needs are affordable and on trend, without all the nonsense. They stock a wide range of aspirational brands including Levi’s, The North Face and Hudson and even have their own range of Idle Man branded products, well worth checking out, btw.

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On 97 Leather Lane, sits The Idle Man store. It’s grey exterior and clean aesthetic sit in harmony with the brands theme, although you may mistake it for a showroom rather then a store, not that it’s a bad thing. Inside, the store feels very welcoming and warm. The subtle grey flooring and white walls give the interior a stripped back feel, allowing the limelight to shine on to the products.

The store is run by a team of stylists, who aim to offer expert advice on a hand picked collection of products, tailored particularly with their customer in mind. The Idle Man aim to continue their hassle free selling point in their store, ensuing each customer finds exactly what they’re looking for, without the stress of searching through rails of built up clothing.

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The store will function as a mid-way point to shopping online. The customers can browse the products in-store, try different sizes on and get a feel for the products, before making a purchase, where the products will then be sent to your home or office address or in to the store for collection. The Guide Store will also include a selection of lifestyle and grooming products from Filmore Skincare to Alessi and Laboratory Perfumes, just in case only clothing doesn’t quite satisfy your needs.

From our point of view here at Clothes Make The Man, we like the idea of a crossover store, building that bridge between the online and in-store experience. It allows customers to try on clothing and sizes before making a purchase, hopefully minimising the chance of receiving something that doesn’t quite hit the spot. It also gives you the opportunity to receive some useful advice from the stylists who know a thing or two about fashion, just in case you’re unsure about something working for you.

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If this is something you’d like to try out for yourself, you can find The Idle Man Guide Store at 97 Leather Lane, Clerkenwell, a short walk from Chancery Lane Underground station.