CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Textual Conversation – Julian Fuller – Head of Design at Debenhams Menswear

We haven’t had a textual conversation for a while, that wasn’t meant to sound stalker-ish in any way, shape or form, I promise, so here you go, the start of a new season and a return of a favourite.

Today’s textual conversation is first in a series of conversations where we highlight some of the individuals who play a key role in shaping the way many of us dress and how our wardrobe will fare for the coming seasons. Over the next couple month we will be profiling a number of individuals in key positions in leading retailers. First up is Julian Fuller, (see above) Head of Menswear Design at Debenhams. Julian’s first job after graduating from the first Menswear Degree in Europe was in Italy with Denim Supremo, Diesel. He then worked as a supplier to Retail giant, Next, and spent 6 years designing and developing Menswear (eventually specialising in Mens Denim) out of Turkey, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Shanghai, which lead him to his currently Employer, Debenhams who lured him to head up the development of Mens Denim for them. More recently he was promoted to Head of all Menswear, including their hugely successful Designers at Debenhams, which includes ranges from such Fashion heavyweights as Jasper Conran, Patrick Grant and John Rocha. So let’s see what Julian’s got to say.

Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given and by whom?

“Make your mistakes with someone else’s money” – Tim Wallinger. It was 1999, not long after graduating and I trying to decide whether I should set up my own brand or take a job offer… The rest as they say is history.

What track would always get you on the dance floor ?

‘I get around’ by 2Pac… I’m not particularly a 2Pac fan but this tune has the best beat.


What’s your Favourite movie ever ?

I wish it was ‘Scarface’ by Brian de Palma, but it’s actually a cheesy 80’s Steve Martin RomCom called ‘All of me’ (wow this interview is better than therapy).

If you could collaborate with one brand who would it be ?

Aitor Throup – In my opinion he’s a rare breed. A designers designer akin to Massimo Osti, and a true creative that’s not contrained by one medium or area of design.

If you could live anywhere where would it be ?

London… I’ve been lucky enough to have visited most countries in the world, but nothing feels like home.

Favourite hotel in the world ?

I love Paris, and the ‘Hotel Providence’ near Le Marais is a joy. You even have your own in room cocktail bar!!

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be ?

Don’t sell all your star wars toys at the boot sale

How did you get into the industry, what was your big break ?

It was with a garment supplier called Nashville owned by Mark & Neil Lindsay… I started on January 2nd 2000, and the next day I was on a Plane to Istanbul Turkey. It was supposed to be a 2 day work trip, but I ended up staying 10 days… The whole experience was so intense but I leaned a lot.

How do spent your free time ?

Outside of the norm like trying new resturants (I love food), bars and overdosing on Netflix I’m currently teaching my 9 year old son how to play golf… I’ve also got a residency DJing at the Dragon Bar in Shoreditch.

What music are you listening to at the moment ?

I Mostly listen to 90’s Hip hop, and 70’s rare groove (I just went to Chris Sullivan’s Wag night at the Groucho Club) but I’m enjoying Childish Gambino’s new album, and the new Anderson .Paak collaboration (Nx Worries).Who would do you ideal diner guests ?

I can’t decide between Muhammad Ali or Steve Jobs? Or Donald trump? You never know, maybe he’s just misunderstood (Joke)

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101 ?

I don’t think you can relegate any clothing, everything has the right to it’s moment in time, and you need something crazy for the mainstream media to focus on… You’d also take away the fun of laughing at those pieces, and the confusion of when they’re back on trend.

What do you have to do after this conversation ?

I’ve got a about S/S18 socks meeting.

What would you like to be doing after this conversation ?

Drinking in an Old Fashioned.

What piece of clothing best describes you ?

Straight jacket (HaHa)… I’m not sure, but if you asked someone else they’d Probably say a waistcoat… as I wear one almost every day.

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6 of The Best – Transitional Jackets

Words by Charlie Britton

As the Summer slowly drifts into yesterdays past and we look towards the Autumn Winter season, it’s time we start to think about outerwear. As this time of the year can be a tricky one, here at Clothes Make The Man we’ve picked out 6 of the best transitional jackets to get you through this awfully unpredictable weather.

One thing we can all agree on is that this time of year is humid, wet and rather uncomfortable. Trying to pick out the right outerwear piece can be quite the challenge, with overcoats and overshirts battling out for the win. Rest assured, we’ve chosen out favourite lightweight pieces that’ll keep you cosy and stylish, rain or shine.

The Burberry Sandringham

A British icon and fashion essential, the Burberry trench coat in the honey colourway is the perfect transitional outerwear piece that’ll never go out of date. Heritage, style and flare all come to mind when thinking about the famous trench coat and this mid-length style is the perfect option for the Summer Autumn showdown. Sandringham Trench Coat

burberry trench coat

Cos Twill Shirt Jacket

One of the strongest highstreet brands in our opinion is Cos and this year, they’ve once again proven why. This Twill Shirt Jacket in navy is a perfect transitional piece due to its lightweight construction and stylish appeal. Perfect for layering over sweatshirts and easy to throw over your shoulder, it’s perfect for both humid and cooler temperatures and will carry you through to the Winter season. Cos Twill Shirt Jacket 

cos shirt jacket

Hammond & Co by Patrick Grant Harrington

Fashion Designer and Director of Norton & Sons of Saville Row, Patrick Grant, has made his irresistible design style available on the high street with his Hammond & Co collection at Debenhams. This Harrington jacket is another perfect transitional season piece, constructed using a rich cotton blend. Worn over a shirt for work or a tee on the weekends, this is a great choice for Britains turbulent weather and can be carried through to Winter as a layering piece. Hammond & Co Harrington Jacket 

patrick grant jacket

Engineered Garments Overshirt

American-made is the game, Engineered Garments is the name. A perfect outwearwear piece that’ll fall on trend every Autumn, this Military style Overshirt is great for the coming colder months as it can be worn over a plain tee or used as a layering piece. Thick cotton-twill and utilitarian details make this piece a must have as it really will work with almost every colour and style. What’s more, the beautiful military green colourway will always be on-trend and works effortlessly with with Autumnal shades. Engineered Garments Overshirt

green overshirt men

Oliver Spencer Artist Jacket

This is a piece we spotted on the catwalk at London Fashion Week Mens and instantly fell in love with. Oliver Spencer never fails to disappoint and this indigo Artist Jacket certainly speaks for itself. Made of 100% cotton, this lightweight garment can be incorporated into anyones style and once again, will work well into the colder months as a layering piece. Oliver Spencer Artist Jacket

oliver spencer jacket

Topman Workwear Jacket

Topman has managed to secure a place on this list with a perfect affordable option for the transitional season. This Denim Workwear Jacket is a beautiful piece with lots of character and will work perfectly over the next few months due to its lightweight construction. Don’t let this piece put you off either, double denim is still on-trend and isn’t showing signs of giving in anytime soon. Topman Workwear Jacket

workwear jacket men

Come rain or shine, these 6 outerwear pieces will do you justice and keep you comfortable during this awkward British transitional weather season. If overshirts are ticking the right boxes and you want to see more, you can always check out our piece on 6 of the best overshirts here for some more inspiration.

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At the dawn of another school year, be prepared!

WORDS BY HITESH DODHIA, Superintendent Pharmacist

It’s that time of year again and parents across the country are bracing themselves for a return to school runs, packed lunches and snotty noses. Come September, British parents routinely shell out vast sums of money to purchase new school uniforms, shiny stationery sets and the flashiest school shoes hoping to ensure maximum ware and avoid any unwanted playground embarrassment.
However, whilst many parents ensure that their kids are prepared for a nationwide bendy ruler shortage, how many of them remember to prepare adequately for the one of the biggest problems associated with the new school year? That is, the range of unwanted illnesses, ailments and medical conditions that become far more prevalent in schools when September comes back around.

When the summer holidays are over and kids are thrust back into buildings with hundreds or even thousands of classmates, there is an increased risk of them coming down with a number of medical issues – including outbreaks of head lice, colds and flu. Add to this the risk of allergies and the rough and tumble of the playground, and these problems should really give food for thought as parents prepare for the year ahead.

Take head lice as an example. The return to school brings children back into contact with dozens of other kids in a very close proximity. Head lice, small wingless insects that jump from scalp-to-scalp when two heads touch, thrive in such an environment, so dads and mums must ensure they keep a keen eye out for the tell-tale symptoms. These include itchy scalps and small black specks either in their child’s hair or on their clothes or pillow. If the unwanted pests are spotted, swift action in the form of a shampoo or gel is essential.

Unexpected medical problems also have a huge bearing on school performance, contributing both to days lost in the classroom and causing millions of pupils across the country considerable difficulty in concentrating. The most common illnesses leading to school absence are the common cold, sore throat, stomach bugs, ear infection and conjunctivitis – for which many suitable treatments exist in your local pharmacy.
What’s more, with kids coming into regular close contact and spending time together outdoors at break time and in P.E. as school is back in session, irritating health problems such as eczema, hay fever, cuts and scrapes risk disrupting a child’s happy school life. Making sure you have a suitably stocked medical cabinet will help combat these medical problems and prevent issues worsening or spreading.


So if parents are preparing for a last-minute dash to buy pens, pencils and rubbers, be sure to consider health-related products to protect children and yourselves from unwanted risks that the return to the classroom can bring.

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I got ten on it – Off white x Nike ‘The ten’

WORDS BY ISAAC PERRY



Just when you think surely the appetite for collaborations must be drying up, you hear of yet another to whet the aforementioned appetite for them. This time in the rather shapely form of Off white x Nike. The name for the collaboration is influenced by the ten sneakers created by the duo, it’s one of the most sort after alliances of recent years and it is due to the absolute dominance of the street wear scene.

The partnership showcases classic silhouettes including the retro Jordan 1 Chicago all the way through to one of their most recent releases in the Nike air vapormax.

Celebrities and social media influencers alike including A$AP Rocky and Luka Sabbat have been seen wearing specifically the Jordan 1. This has built extreme interest surrounding the collaboration after being worn at Paris fashion week.

Off white is primarily known for it’s high end street wear fashion, founded by Virgil Abloh former art director for artists including Jay-Z and Kanye West, the Milan based fashion label has been dominating the luxury streetwear fusion scene since 2014.
Nike on the other hand is one of the world’s most classic sneaker suppliers, consistently leading the way in its industry and now these two power houses are collaborating to create a ten part sneaker collection which is set to take over the streetwear industry.

Separated into two different themes, ‘REVEALING’ which will include the Air Jordan 1, Nike Blazer mid, Nike Air Max 90, Nike Air Presto and Nike Air VaporMaxich will be pre-released at multiple NikeLab locations during SS18 fashion week in New York, London, Milan and Paris.
Also the second group ‘GHOSTING’ which will include the Nike air max 97, Nike React Hyper Dunk 2017, Converse Chuck Taylor and Nike Zoom Fly SP and can be found in Nike lab and select stores world wide.

Virgil Abloh himself has been quoted remarking these shoes amongst some of the greatest of all time;
“These 10 shoes have broken barriers in performance and style. To me, they are on the same level as a sculpture of David or the Mona Lisa. You can debate it all you want, but they mean something. And that’s what’s important.”

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Kem he do it ? #boohooMANxKem

Unless you’ve been living under a rock on a deserted love island this Summer, you couldn’t have escaped the escapades and shenanigans of those “loved up” impossibly good looking residents of ITV’s hit show Love Island. Ohhhh please, don’t give me, I don’t know what you are talking about !

Now the stand out individual and just so happened to be winner of the the whole shebang was Kem Cetinay. A young fellow who won over and charmed viewers with his gentlemanly qualities, sense of humour and being an all round good guy.

The next chapter in Kem’s story is unfolding thick and fast right is front of us. Fingers crossed he seems to have found ‘true love’ with fellow contestant Amber then he’s been offered a role presenting on Breakfast TV and now international online e-tailer boohooMAN.com have announced Mr Cetinay as their new UK Brand Ambassador.

Kem said at the recent launch, “I’m delighted to be representing boohooMAN as their first UK Brand Ambassador. We’ve got some big things planned and I’m really excited to get started. Their products are right up my street – there’s so much choice!”

However, there is far more to young Mr Cetinay than first meets the eye and little is talked about his philanthropic ventures, yes you did read that right. Kem is far more than your common and garden reality TV, flash in the pan, celebrity. Yes you may know that Kem is a very accomplished barber but little has been spoken about the good causes that he works with.

Cetinay is already an ambassador for homeless charity Centrepoint and spent a night on the streets last October to raise both awareness and funds for the good cause. But Kem wasn’t always this bright, sparky, confident individual you saw on Love Island. He too has had to fight his own personal battles and unlike other countless reality TV show winners wants to highlight certain issues, like mental health wellbeing amongst young people. Cem knows only too well what a devastating effect this can have on an individual and the people around them. Watch out for this young man not only is the world his oyster but he has a lot, of relevant points, to say.