CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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6 of the Best – Mens Lip Balms

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.

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Introducing Louis Vuitton’s first Smartwatch – The Tambour Horizon

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.

tambour horizon

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.

tambour horizon

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.

tambour horizon

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Swimwear Must Haves for Summer 2017

by Isaac Perry

Another year and another summer settle into the UK, aside from weather warnings – it can’t be a British summer without the torrential rain – and the odd heat wave, swimwear happens to be at the forefront of the season as a wardrobe essential. And we here at Clothes Make The Man have chosen some pieces that you should have for your summer wardrobe.

Key trends seen across the menswear scene are clearly represented through a range of high-street and luxury brands such as ASOS, All Saints and the designer collections at Selfridges to name a few. Timeless patterns, bold and bright colours and exotic prints are all the rage once again this summer, with styles and designs to suit all. Bold reds, ink blues and muted yellows appear to be taking the limelight this season, with the essential navy, white and blacks also on offer.

All Saints

Our picks from their collection have a lot of Hawaiian vibes and tropical patterns, these shorts are perfect for swimming and relaxing on your tropical getaway.

ANANAS SWIM SHORTS

WAIKIKI SWIM SHORTS

 

Topman

Get ready to stand out from the crowd, whether in the pool or the beach with these pieces. You can either go for loud red or a very fruity piece, perfect for summer!

Red Embroidery Swim Shorts

JADED Fruit Print Swim Shorts*

Frescobol Carioca

For those of you with a higher budget, Frescobol Carico supplies your classic shorts with a twist, inspired by the gorgeous views of Rio de Janeiro, with vibrant blues and citric yellows, this brand shows that money truly does by buying quality, to keep up with a busy lifestyle.

TAUARI SPORTS SWIM SHORTS

 

 

Orlebar Brown

Orlebar Brown is a British brand, which specialises in tailored men’s swimming short, these mainly consist of basic colours, however, seen throughout are some standout shorts with standout images on them, catching the eye of many. As summer settles into the UK, aside from weather warnings and the odd heat wave, swimwear happens to be at the forefront of the season as a wardrobe essential.

Bulldog – Beach Mid-Length Swim Short

Vivienne Westwood

If you’re into something a little different, we have these artistic trunks from Vivienne Westwood,  with an all-over print of Francois Boucher’s ‘The Rape Of Europa’, it’s safe to say that you will be turning heads wherever you go.

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Running The Streets – Adidas NMD R2

WORDS BY KEANU ADORABLE

Sportswear giant Adidas has a had a big presence on the footwear market with their highly successful NMD shoes.  And this summer sees a series of new additions to the NMD family in the form of the second generation NMD model, the R2. The latest drop includes three silhouettes; the ‘NMD_R2’, ‘NMD_R2 primeknit’ and ‘City Sock’. To bring to life the latest NMD drops, Adidas Originals collaborated with London photographer @peoplewalkingpastwalls to showcase the NMD additions exploring the city, highlighting some of London’s hidden spots.

The NMD_R2 drops this summer in a duo of understated colour palettes, both featuring a ‘white noise’motif and the already iconic asymmetric EVA insert, now synonymous with the R2 model. Contrastly, this season’s primeknit NMD_R2 uses a unique ‘shadow knit’ technique to cause the shoe to shift colour in the light and is rendered in either a black and striking pink colorway or eye-catching grey. All sitting atop the essential NMD boost tooling, welded 3-stripe and premium nubuck heel-patch.

Finally, the NMD_CS2 sock-fit minimalist silhouette steps out in two new colourways for men and women. Both receive the full primeknit construction with the shoe’s signature single-panel design which wraps around the foot. Elevated with an all-over graphic pattern, the women’s black colourway is elevated with a flash of pink and the men’s features a tonal black palette. Both finished with the classic white BOOST midsole and tooling.

Watch out for these products releasing in store and online at adidas.com from Thursday 13th July.

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49 is the magic number – Strut and Fibre The Football Club Index

We’re in that odd position, 2017 isn’t particularly, or at all you could say, a Summer of Sport. We are equidistance from the end of the last football season and the next.

So this project from Strut and Fibre really whetted our appetite. Strut and Fibre templates have been designed to offer an ideal fit for your tastes and preferences, whether classic or contemporary. They incorporate the latest design trends and seasonal colours, the cards feature a broad range of design styles, typography, colour and patterns so you can be confident of great results through every choice and option.

For their latest project, The Football Crest Index, this is a new publication that tells the stories behind the crests of the greatest clubs in world football. 49 Clubs, 49 Artists, 49 prints, is where 49 super talented designers were handpicked to produce original and exclusive artwork to sit alongside their own favourite club’s history – they have collaborated with The Football Crest Index to make each of them available as A3 prints.