CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Words by Charlie Britton
Photography by Keanu Adorable

It’s safe to say that Vans is one of the most renowned skate brands in the world to date. Since it’s birth in 1966, Vans has gone on to grow into a powerful and respected player in the menswear game and it isn’t stopping anytime soon. Collaborations, limited releases and reinventions of the classics are just a few things that Vans manages to do consistently well and it has proven that once again with its most recent collection.

To celebrate Vans’ success and in collaboration with Farfetch, here at Clothes Make The Man we’ve worked to put 3 outfits together that anyone can pull off with a pair of the classic skate shoes. As the great British summer is here in full hormonal force, it would only be right to work with the warmer weather and produce three summery’ outfits you can rock right now.

The Vans we chose are the Classic White Old Skool 36 DX shoes, made in the original Anaheim factory in California. They combine a modernised comfort with the UltraCush inner sole, original Old Skool design and throwback details including the original colour palette and heavy 10 oz. canvas to complete the shoe. White shoes or sneakers are so versatile when it comes to styling, so we couldn’t resist picking these ones out.

Outfit 1

The first outfit is definitely a casual one perfect for day-to-day wear. Combining soft colours such as this pale blue sweatshirt from COS, raw hem dirty blue wash jeans and a simple white tee to break the colours, we managed to achieve a flattering and simple look. Paired with the Old Skool Vans, it completes the fit and makes for some nice contrasting details. This is Charlie’s favourite fit for everyday wear as it’s stylish but simple and can be changed up easily with different coloured sweats and bottoms. If skinny jeans aren’t your style, throw on some slim-fit chinos or jeans and you’re good to go.

Outfit 2

It wouldn’t be summer appropriate if we didn’t feature an outfit featuring a good ol’ pair of shorts. Despite Charlie’s dislike towards knee length bottoms, this outfit definitely captures a sweet summers day. With this style, Charlie threw on a black hemp tee which allows heat to escape, perfect for the warm weather days and paired it with some smart cotton shorts from H&M. The Vans really complete this look and act as a subtle but statement piece for the fit.

We included some nice details with this outfit too by adding a black tote bag, some Classic 108 sunnies from YSL and a Simple Navy Key Wrap from Campbell Cole. This created some interesting touches and we’re thrilled with the final outcome from this fit. You can put your legs away now Charles.

Outfit 3

For our third and final fit, we wanted to include some smarter elements such as these cropped grey trousers from H&M. Slim fitting, perfectly tailored and well constructed, these trousers are ideal for the warmer weather as they give your legs some breathing space and look great whatever the occasion. To provide the best contrast to the Vans sneakers, we threw on a heavy cotton, oversized, drop shoulder t-shirt in white. This fit is really great as it can be mixed up for any occasion. If you’re going smart-casual, swap out the tee for a white oxford shirt. Formal event? Switch out the vans for some chunky derby shows or slip on loafers and you’re set for whatever the world is gonna throw your way.

So there you have it, three outfits perfect for the summer season whatever the weather. Vans have proven to be not only iconic but a hugely versatile sneaker and we can’t get enough of this white Old Skool pair here at Clothes Make The Man. Affordable, easy to style and an obvious essential every gent needs in their wardrobe this summer, so make sure you pick up a pair!

We’ve all experienced this first world problem at some point. We are trying to work on our laptop/tablet/smartphone and either we’ve forgotten the charger, there isn’t a pug socket or our charger doesn’t fit the socket, Argh !!!!!

Well ARROE (pronounced “arrow”) think they may we’ll have the solution to the common, modern day problem. Based in London, ARROE was founded in order to solve the many problems facing the mobile office user/tech-heavy traveller. With a team of expert designers, directors, and engineers they developed a universal solution to a persistent problem: charging all your devices quickly and easily without taking up space. Thus came the world’s first smart laptop sleeve, charging devices everywhere, for everyone.

Now more than ever you need power that moves with you. ARROE has developed a better way, a stylish Laptop Charging Sleeve that can charge all your devices simultaneously wherever you are, allowing you you to finally free yourself from the wall socket.

LAER (pronounced “layer”) is a laptop sleeve designed to hold and charge a laptop (Mac or PC) as well as USB and wireless devices. The sleeve acts as a protective holder for your laptop and features a stylish nylon exterior. Inside is a thin rectangular insert featuring one Quick Charge USB A port, one QI wireless charging pad, one DC output, and two USB C in/out ports with variable voltage and dual-role capabilities. Using power path technology, LAER can simultaneously charge all connected devices and the internal battery from one outlet. Users can monitor battery levels, change voltage settings, and control all the ports from the easy to use ARROE app. ARROE have also partnered with TrackR to make LAER trackable.

Because of its modular design, the LAER insert can be easily removed and inserted into any other sleeve or bag designed to accommodate it.

Eoin Cooney, Managing Director (CEO) of ARROE describes it as;
“Our product is the first of its kind, a portable laptop charging solution that can be used by everyone.
We faced constant challenges during the development process trying to keep the size, weight and price of the product down but we have an amazing team with lots of experience and that is what made all the difference. We want to create useful technology that will simplify the user’s life.”

The holiday season is upon us and we’re all hoping for a hot, steamy summer. But the heat can also bring trouble of the ‘hot and bothered’ kind. The kids have got an eternity off school and a lot of families find themselves thrown together on a holiday that is anything but stress-free!

Andy Cope is a happiness expert, yes that really ally does exist, and co-author of The Little Book of Emotional Intelligence: How to Flourish in a Crazy World. As a happiness expert (Andy Cope (see below) has been studying the science of happiness and well-being for 10 years), here he advises us on his top tips on how to retain your sanity and relationships in what I am hoping, for all our sakes, will be a long and glorious summer.

It’s not about the money, honey

Almost too obvious to mention (common sense but not common practice) is the fact that happiness is more closely related to relationships than money. I appreciate that a lot of people want to take me to task on this, arguing they’d be happier if they won the lottery. And the short answer is, yes you would, for about 6 months, until the effect wears off. So a better long-term strategy is to spend time with people rather than in a Shopping Centre.

I know your brain will be screaming at me, but this means your holiday is not about the destination, it’s about the people.

Going viral

Related to the above (because I know you need convincing), human beings are wired for emotional contagion. Your feelings and attitudes will spread. In holiday terms, if you have small children, they will be as happy in Whitby as they are in Mauritius. So long as you are!

Similarly, one negative family member will lower the tone of the entire holiday party. Make sure it’s not you!

An attitude of gratitude

Related to the above, some have even attempted to put a monetary value on intangibles. According to an esteemed researcher at the University of London’s Institute of Education, here are some monetary values of happiness:

Seeing friends and relatives is equivalent to a pay rise of £64k a year

Chatting to nice neighbours is worth £37k a year

Getting married is worth £50k a year

And the biggy? Excellent health is estimated to be worth £300k a year to you

So whatever the summer brings you, be grateful.

Happiness is Maximized at 57°F

Weird I know, but the American Meteorological Society found current temperature has a bigger effect on our happiness than variables like wind speed and humidity. It also found that happiness is maximized at 57 degrees (13.9°C), so, technically, you’re more likely to find it in Whitby than Mauritius.

Stop musterbating

I’ve tried to cut down on my own musterbating and I think you should too. ‘Musterbating’ is when you turn things you’d like to have into things you absolutely MUST have. Every advert on the TV is designed to make you unhappy with what you currently own, luring you into the shops to spend money on products that will make you happy. And those products will make you happy, for an hour or two, until the next advert! This ‘must have’ society is driving us into debt! Here’s another list to write… the top 10 happiest moments of your life. I’ll wager that most of your top 10 happiest moments are ‘experiences’ rather than ‘products’. So, to squeeze more from your happiness pound, invest in experiences (and guess what a holiday is?)

Outdoor pursuits

In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor recommends spending time in the fresh air to improve your happiness: “Making time to go outside on a nice day also delivers a huge advantage; one study found that spending 20 minutes outside in good weather not only boosted positive mood, but broadened thinking and improved working memory…”

A UK study from the University of Sussex also found that being outdoors made people happier: “Being outdoors, near the sea, on a warm, sunny weekend afternoon is the perfect spot for most. In fact, participants were found to be substantially happier outdoors in all natural environments than they were in urban environments.”

For the rest of us, we don’t need a university degree to know that fresh air – lots of it – makes us feel a hell of a lot better.

Take a ‘Fakation’?

Yes, I made it up, because the science suggests that planning a trip, even if you don’t actually go on it, will make you happier. A study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life showed that the highest spike in happiness came during the planning stage of a holiday as people enjoy the sense of anticipation. In the study, the effect of vacation anticipation boosted happiness for eight weeks. After the holiday, happiness quickly dropped back to baseline levels for most people.

It seems holidays are just one more thing to add to the list of things that you can fake.

5-3-2

A holiday brings families together, in close quarters for a week or two. You will start to notice things…little things… that make you want to strangle them.

Dr Amit Sood created something that sounds rather like a football team formation, what he terms the 5-3-2 technique. You must first consider five people that you’re grateful to have in your life (the likelihood is that they will be on holiday with you). Then, for the first three minutes treat them like a long lost friend and don’t judge anyone or try to improve them. And, says the doc, for the first two seconds when you see them, send them a silent ‘I wish you well’. It’s rather beautiful and the urge to strangle them just seeps away.

The 7-second hug

This goes hand-in-hand with the above. I started delving into the research behind this and then thought, sod it, nobody cares what the stats say. Here’s the headline news – the average hug lasts just over 2 seconds. If you hang on for a full 7 seconds then oodles of nice warm chemicals flow around both bodies and the love is transferred. One word of advice, don’t count out loud while you’re doing the 7-second hug as it tends to spoil the effect.

Be the Pied Piper of Happiness

Returning to the earlier point that your emotions are contagious – they leak out of you and ‘infect’ those around you. So, when you make the conscious choice to be positive and upbeat, it takes 4 minutes for other people to catch it too. So, top tip, be enthusiastic for 4 minutes and everyone else will feel great too!

This is especially important if you’re camping in the rain. It only takes one idiot (you!) to be enthusiastically jumping in puddles and, before you know it, the entire campsite is doing the same. When you are old and prune-like, you will look back on your life and realise that these ‘little moments’ were, in fact, the best bits of your life.

Andy Cope is co-author of The Little Book of Emotional Intelligence: How to Flourish in a Crazy World. For more information see www.artofbrilliance.co.uk.

Words by Charlie Britton

Let’s forget the marketing with this one gents. A good lip balm should hydrate, nourish, soften and prevent lips from chapping. Aside from a enjoyable flavour, theres nothing else a lip balm really needs. We are aware that it can be rather confusing at times to know which one to choose, but the good news is here at Clothes Make The Man, we do know which 6 lip balms work wonders when it comes to getting lippy. Put down that old chap stick fellas.

Carmex

When it comes to lip care, Carmex may very well be the ‘king of the castle’ as it strives to produce the best and most effective lip balms on the market. Medicated balm in a tube is the simplest way to describe Carmex, as this fuss-free lip balm does exactly as it says on the tin. Featuring an analgesic ingredient which helps relieve pain, this cocoa butter and beeswax balm will soothe lips and keep them feeling fresh.

Scaramouche + Fandango

The newest product to come out of London based grooming brand Scaramouche + Fandango is an impressive shea butter and honey flavour lip balm. Encased in a masculine monochrome tube, this lip balm features a shea butter, soy bean oil and cocoa butter fill that promises to hydrate, nourish and prevent chapping. It happens to do exactly that and what’s more, it uses a honey flavour rather than the real deal, so it’s suitable for vegans too!

Baxter of California

If you’re looking for an exciting little lip balm, then the ‘Hydro Salve’ balm from Baxter of California might just be the perfect pick of the bunch. Mojito-flavoured and enriched with vitamins, this perfectly sweet lip balm will leave lips in top condition whilst delivering a subtle and minty tingle. We wouldn’t necessarily say this tastes like a mojito, but the mint and lime combination is a nice touch, if only it was a little stronger!

Jack Black

Next up in out top 6 is this spicy grapefruit and ginger lip balm from Jack Black. Featuring sun protection with an SPF of 25, this lip balm is enriched with antioxidants and skin conditioners to soften and soothe dry and chapped lips. Jack Black offers quite the selection of flavours but the favourite of ours has to be this citrus and ginger flavoured balm as it tastes really great and brings something a little different to the market. The fact that is features an SPF protection is an added bonus, so this a great option if your off on your summer holidays soon.

retaW x Fragment Design

For the style conscious man, we’ve discovered this beautifully designed lip balm by Japanese fragrance brand retaW (water backwards). This collaborative balm with imprint, Fragment Design, aims to keep lips hydrated and fresh with Candelilla wax, rosemary and peppermint oil. Our favourite thing about this lip balm is the design, as it doesn’t look anything like a lip balm and more a work of art, although it tastes and smells great.

Kiehls

Last up on our list is Kiehls lip balm #1. Mint flavoured, enriched with vitamin A and E, featuring sweet almond oil, aloe vera and lanolin, this balm is a great all rounder you’re certain to find on the high street. You can also choose other flavours such as pear, cranberry and even mango, so theres a flavour for any chapped-lip favour.

Words by Charlie Britton

It’s safe to say that Louis Vuitton is one of the worlds most renowned and recognisable brands to date. An international leading design house and household name that was founded in 1854, Louis Vuitton produces an extensive range of luxury products including trunks and leather goods, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches jewellery and an extensive list of accessories.

In it’s latest release, Louis Vuitton has proven that it can keep up with the times by producing it’s very first smartwatch, the Tambour Horizon. Following the likes of other brands such as TAG Heuer and Montblanc, LV has launched a pricey £1,905 Android Wear-powered smartwatch to compete in the luxury smartwatch market. Aside from even higher priced finishes, there is also a variety of luxury straps on offer that are priced additionally, so you can expect a hefty number to show up at checkout.

Working closely with Google and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., LV has worked relentlessly to produce a smartwatch worthy of it’s label and price tag, combining all the technical capabilities of a smart watch with the elegance and beauty of a Tambour, the iconic watch that began Louis Vuitton’s watch making journey in 2002. Branded as the ideal watch for the contemporary traveller, the Tabour Horizon delivers the very best technology, expertise and design with a Switzerland-made watch that will remain functional across the globe, including China.

With technologies developed in California’s famous Silicon Valley, you can guarantee that this smartwatch is packed full of useful and technologically advanced features. Aside from the obvious mobile phone functions, the Tambour Horizon promises as intelligent platform that will enhance your experience wherever you might go.

An exclusive ‘My Flight’ function emphasizes the contemporary traveller element as it acts as your personal assistant when at the airport, monitoring departure and arrival times, delays and cancellations, gate numbers and information and time remaining until landing. Louis Vuitton’s smartwatch also connects to digital versions of the famous LV city guides, making use of an intelligent geolocation function to connect the wearer to cities, local restaurants, hotels and spots of interest.
The Tambour Horizon is also waterproof up to 30 meters and promises a 22 hour battery life, ample to get you through a long haul flight and every day-to-day life.

In regards to the hefty price tag, the Tambour Horizon is definitely a step up when it comes to the line-up of luxury smartwatches. It doesn’t seem that any form of consensus on the pricing of luxury goods such as smartwatches is being thrown into the mix any time soon, so for the time being, this product will remain a luxury for those who have the disposable income to indulge.

Here at Clothes Make The Man, we’re in agreement that this is probably one of the nicest smartwatches to date. We cant promise that the technology is a cut above the rest as it does carry the same Android Wear platform as other smartwatches in the same league, however the sleek design and exclusive performance features and apps might be enough to take this little guy to the top.

CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

3 Ways to Wear it – Vans

Outfit 1

Outfit 2

Outfit 3

A Multi-LAER Product to make your life so much easier

Summer holidays – kids driving you mad? How to calm down, carry on and create a really happy holiday for everyone.

6 of the Best – Mens Lip Balms