CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Clean as a Whistle – 6 of the Best Body Washes for Men

Words by Charlie Britton

You’re probably curious as to why we’re listing the best body washes for men, but I’ll have you know that we have a perfectly good reason. You’re average Joe shower gel from the local drug store certainly isn’t up to scratch with these body washes, packed full of fantastic ingredients to invigorate, clean and purify you’re skin and set you up for the day ahead, which is exactly what you’re missing out on each morning if you don’t own one of these;

Aesop

The Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser is a mighty botanically enhanced cleanser that gently removes grime, banishes odour and leaves the skin beautifully scented and fresh, perfect for a morning shower. Geranium has a handful of skin and health benefits too, so it’s sure to leave you feeling refreshed.

Scaramouche + Fandango‘s Body Wash is the perfect shower companion, especially being oil, silicone and paraben-free. This Vitamin E and Papaya body wash leaves the skin hydrated and invigorated, whilst removing all the unwanted grime and residue from the skin. Scented with the S+F signature fragrance, there’s not much more you could ask for.

This Molton Brown Bushukan body wash is a refreshing and indulgent bath and shower gel blended with antioxidant-rich Thai Bushukan fruit, a member of the citrus family. This wash also features hints of black pepper and tolu absolute, sure to leave your skin feeling clean and smelling great.

The Kiehls Body Fuel wash is another great body wash in this line up, functioning as both a body wash and shampoo in one. Formulated with caffeine and menthol, this wash is certain to get you going in the morning, with the added bonus of being paraben and sulfate-free.

Surface, a grooming brand designed for city goers, produce a body wash formulated with active ingredients and softening and emollient properties. Refreshing, delicate and antipollution, this is the perfect body wash for those who are always on the move, especially in town.

Last but not least, Cowshed’s Bullocks Bracing Body Wash purifies and tones the skin with petitgrain and grapefruit, combining a masculine and invigorating scent too. Packed with hemp seed oil, this body wash provides nutrients and vitamins for your skin, leaving you feeling refreshed and recharged.

So there you have it, our top 6 body wash picks to make your day that little bit better. Here at Clothes Make The Man, we insist on keeping clean and looking sharp, so as long as you trust in our top 6 picks you’ll be halfway there.

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HOME & AWAY – LOS ANGELES

WORDS & IMAGES BY OMOLARA OBANISHOLA

 

California and Los Angeles in particular don’t quite win the accolade of once in a lifetime trip but Los Angeles should be on everyone’s must visit list. With increasingly frequent flights and direct trips costing as little as £500 I crossed LA off my must visit list with a stay in trendy Silverlake.

Located a stone’s throw from Sunset Boulevard and touted as the sunshine states Shoreditch it’s fair to see why people make those parallels, however in many ways Silverlake is more comparable to Berlin.  One of the most notable differences is definitely the pace.

What makes Silver Lake earn its stripes as one of the coolest places in LA to visit is that the area feels energetic; full of creatives, independent shops, restaurants, bars and things to do.

Yet Silverlake is eerily peaceful and actually quiet compared to other creative neighborhoods which have become victims of their own success, add to this a sub-tropical climate and ironically as the locals say… ‘It’s chill’.

So what to do in Silverlake and the surrounding area?

Things to do:

5) Griffith Observatory

www.griffithobservatory.org

Visit the observatory for amazing views of LA and contemplate whether a return ticket was the right choice to make.

4) The Museum of Broken Relationships

https://brokenships.com

6751 Hollywood blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but with work donated to the museum anonymously from people all over the world who have suffered break ups and lost loves, The Museum of Broken Relationships offers something refreshingly different in the middle of Hollywood. The second museum has opened in Zagreb, Croatia, with 8000 visitors in just four days.

3) Vintage clothing and record shops around Silverlake and Los Feliz

www.squaresvillevintage.com

1800 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Take advantage of the this being one of the most walkable neighborhoods to explore street art, coffee shops, vintage clothing and record shops.

2) Clifton’s Cafeteria

www.cliftonsla.com

648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

A fully restored 1950’s cafeteria in downtown LA with a steep history and comfort food galore. Upstairs contains a large bar complete with forest mural’s and life sized stuffed animals. Must see.

1) The Magic Castle 

www.magiccastlehotel.com

70001 Franklin Ave, Hollywood 90028

It seems slightly unfair to include this one as it is near impossible to get in and they strictly prohibit the use of phones, photos and videos. To experience the magic in action at the Academy of Magical Arts private members club, your options are; become a high roller in the entertainment industry and sign up for membership. As half of Los Angelinos are ‘actors’ you should be thinking Grammy, Oscar level status. Be an actual world class magician or like me have a friend who is training to be one.

What to eat: This deserves two.

Start your day right at LOCAL 

www.localsilverlake.com/

2943 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026, USA

Locally sourced and organic, naturally.  Choose the eggs served however you like, with salad, toast and home fries (diced potatoes with onion) finish with a bottomless coffee (which is the best morning motivation ever, strong as hell) and eye up the person next to you eating the french toast. Local serves breakfast and lunch with all food locally sourced, organic and reasonable enough to eat here every day. Beware though the staff are so nice you’ll likely end up tipping as much as the cost of your breakfast.

End your day at Diablo..

http://www.diablotacos.com/

3129 W. Sunset BLVD

Oh my taco! If there is one thing that pop ups as a must eat whilst in LA other than Kale it’s Tacos. How a piece of toasted Tortilla with salad, salsa and a choice of meats can taste that good is beyond me but they will become part of your staple diet whilst here. I tried the buttermilk chicken and rockfish taco at Diablo. Located at Diablo is closely compared to a sports bar you can watch all the major games whilst washing your tacos down with

If you’re lucky enough to have never tried a taco before they’ll give you a free T-shirt too.

What to drink:

Michelado: A Mexican drink made with beer, lime juice, sauces and spices. Try a diablo michelada which comes with an ice lolly dropped into the beer mug.  When in Silverlake…

Sleep:

http://www.madonnainn.com

The Madonna inn

100 Madonna Rd, San Louis Obispo, CA

Over a hundred kitsch themed and kitted out guest rooms with names such as Swiss chalet, jungle rock and Harvard sq. If you make it out of your room, indulge in the spa, horse riding or the onsite shopping.

Ask a local: Krystle Tabujara  

“Visit Mashti Malone’s ice cream parlour, it’s over twenty-five years old and has the most awesome flavours like rosewater, cucumber and saffron”.

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Not looking bad for 70 – Wrangler

Wrangler is a founding father of jeanswear and the originator of performance denim. The Wrangler brand launched in 1947 on a platform of innovation: to create the best-possible jeans for cowboys. 70 years later Wrangler continues to create the best-possible jeans, but for the needs of modern demanding consumer. Their renowned denim heritage lives on in stylish, functional jeans packed with iconic, original details including flat copper rivets and the ergonomic watch pocket. Signature designs such as the 27MW shirt and 11MJ jackets are beloved by denim connoisseurs and fashion fanatics alike. Broken Twill, the soft-durable fabric that Wrangler invented in 1964, remains the backbone of many denim pieces. The brand have accelerated the evolution of jeans with ground- breaking initiatives: denim that keeps the rain off or helps you feel warm in the cold.

To commemorate this landmark year Wrangler have a number of project up their Birthday sleeve including their Retro Glory collection which rides the wave of interest in all things 70s – a decade where Wrangler became known as a denim icon.

Celebrating an era of sunny positivity in youth culture, the standalone collection for men and women, focuses on four distinct elements: period-correct saturated deep blue denim, Wrangler’s Stone Dyed (heavy stone wash) denim, a bold palette of brights and the rainbow motif popular in the era, here revived from Wrangler’s archive.

For men Retro Glory includes rainbow graphic Ts and sweats, western shirts, slim tapered fit jeans in rainbow brights and a rigid denim Stone Dyed jean with rips and repairs and for both the ladies and gentlemen the collections feature plenty of 70s detailing such as patching, ripping, embellishment and embroidery, notably on a limited-edition oversized trucker jacket in Stone Dyed denim with full back panel embroidery by artist Luke McLean.

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How to style a classic side-parted pompadour with Expert Barber Tom Chapman

The pompadour is a classic men’s haircut that refuses to go out of fashion. It has been reinvented time and time again and continues to remain amongst the most popular choices in barber shops all over the world. Originally named after Madame de Pompadour, who was King Louis XV’s mistress, the classic pomp was made most famous in the 1960s by the King of Rock himself, Elvis Presley. Today, the pomp has many modern variations and has been worn by key celebrity influencers such as Brad Pitt, Jon Hamm, Zac Efron and David Beckham to name but a few.

To celebrate this classic slicked-back look, The Bluebeards Revenge has teamed up with industry-leading barber Tom Chapman. The Devon-based barber owns Tom Chapman Hair Design in Torquay, and is the proud founder of the Lions Barber Collective charity.

Below, Tom has given expert tips on how you can create the perfect pomp in the comfort of your own home. So expect some serious hair envy from those around you!

It all starts at the barbers

To create the perfect side-parted pomp, you’ll need your hair styled a certain way. A typical pompadour features short sides, a short back, and longer hair on top that’s swept upwards. Ask your barber for a tapered cut with plenty of length on top and you can’t go wrong. For a more comprehensive example of what to ask your barber for, watch this barber to barber video.

At home

Start by washing your hair in warm water to make sure any previous hair products are removed. Then, rough dry your hair with a towel and apply The Bluebeards Revenge Matt Paste as a pre-styling agent.

A side-parted pompadour does require some maintenance, so you will need to invest in a hair dryer if you don’t already have one. Trust me, it’s worth the investment.

Blow-dry your hair and use The Bluebeards Revenge Quiff Roller to add volume to the pomp. Getting the best results from a quiff roller requires some practice, especially if you’re wielding a hair dryer with your other hand. It’s all about gently twizzling the brush through your locks and guiding the hair backwards to give the pompadour its iconic slicked-back look. Don’t forget to use a comb to exaggerate your natural side-parting for a bolder finish too.

Finally, finish the look by applying The Bluebeards Revenge Pomade. Take a small amount of this water-based, high-shine product and rub it between your palms and finger tips, then slick it through your hair from front to back. Use a comb to create a tight and tidy style, or just rough it up a little with your hands for a more rugged look.

And there you have it – a modern take on a classic men’s hairstyle that’s suitable for both the office and a night on the town. Enjoy!

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First World Problem, but Problem nonetheless – Tapp Tees

You tell me someone who doesn’t like T-shirts? Whether it’s slung on with a pair of jeans, paired with a suit to give a more casually contemporary feel, or your much loved favourite vintage T-shirt. Every man needs a few plain t-shirts in their wardrobe. They can be styled up in the office, down for the beach and even for that all important date night. Now the problem is, like finding the perfect pair of jeans for YOU, finding your best fit, fabric, wash, colour, it goes on and on. See isn’t as simple as your humble t-shirt.

Well Chris Faulkner, thinks he may jolly well have cracked it and come up with the solution to your apparel problem. Falkner is the head of design at Bulldog Skincare For Men and also consulted for P&G, Mars, Disney and Sony, so he knows a thing or two about branding and design. Now his solution to the T-shirt issue is Tapp Tees is the UK’s first subscription service for men’s plain T-shirts. By offering a subscription service, Tapp Tees will not only save money (£15 a month), but also time and effort- Finding a staple t-shirt is as difficult as finding your perfect pair of jeans. It will also provide you with three Premium 100% ringspun cotton t-shirts (in the staple black, white and grey) every month.