CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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PREVIEW OF THE BEST OF THE HIGH STREET FOR SPRING 2017

Yeah 2017 is barely upon us, Winter is threatening to descend on us any day now. Plus, the days seem shorter than seven well known pantomime characters and yes up and down our High Streets, well known retailers are stocked up to the rafters with T-Shirts, shorts and flip flops. It can only mean one thing, SPRING IS HERE!!! Well it is if you believe the countless brands and accompanying stores who stock them. So let’s cheer ourselves up by having a look at what some of our favourite brands on the high Street have on offer for us and what we can wear once the weather, finally, takes a turn for the better.

Jacamo

M&S

Next
New Look

Burton

Gap

River Island

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Moisturising against the elements – 6 of the Best Winter Moisturisers for Men

WORDS BY AMANDA LEWIS

Forget your “Winter is Coming” malarkey, Winter is well and truly here and with vengeance. With below zero temperatures the winter weather conditions of wind, rain, freezing conditions coupled with central-heating can wreak havoc on male skin. Prevention is always best than cure so ensure your Winter skin care regime, yes that’s right Winter skin care regime and we aren’t just talking a bit of soap and water here, keeps you looking groomed not grizzly. Clothes Make the Man’s winter moisturiser feature picks the best out there for YOU.

First up we have the all rounder when it comes to Moisturising the All-in-one Face Tracement from Lab Series. Not only does it Moisturise, but soothing, repairs and mattifies, essential is does it all for the lazy man Grooming regime.

A classic in every sense of the word, not just the ever reliable Nivea, but Nivea for Men. This formula especially developed for men, is suitable for use on the face, body and hands, is non-greasy and absorbes really quickly, plus great for even the tightest of budgets.

A bestseller within the market over at John Lewis, more of a Balm than a cream this brilliant Super Moisture Balm from ClarinsMen offers immediate comfort. It has comfortable texture and will not leave your skin feeling oily.

If your starting to feel your age, Kiehl’s Since 1851’s ‘Age Defender’ moisturiser combats natural signs of ageing. Specifically formulated for men’s skin, it’s revitalising treatment gently exfoliates dead skin cells, which allows the formula to effectively penetrate skin’s surface layers and smooth out roughness. Containing a blend of Vitamins, Proteins and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, this daily face cream is designed to firm your complexion and soften fine lines with continued use.

OK, bit of a side ball you weren’t expecting, but nonetheless a cracker, the Hydrator from Scaramouche and Fandango, it does exactly what it says on the tin, well packaging anyway. It contains Chronodyn cell energiser which is is clinically proven to help firm and tone the skin to fight against the signs of fatigue.

The last but by no means least, is another classic and must have from Clinique for Men, this lightweight formula delivers all-day moisture as well as skin strengthening ingredients. It absorbs quickly and can be applied first thing in the morning right the way through to last thing at night.

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Taking you from A.M to P.M – A,M bags

imageA good quality multi-functional bag, is something no stylish man should be without, something that can take him from work to play and back again seamlessly is what we’re talking about. London brand A,M hopes and wants to answer these needs. It’s name derives from the Latin Ante, Meridiem: Before and after midday and aims at being a luxury brand that combines utilitarian design influences with modern streetwear to create colourful and timeless men’s luggage. A,M is a collaboration between English art director Matt Gill and Swedish designer Ann Nelvig.

imageThe inaugural collection is comprised of four, hopefully, soon to be iconic styles. The Hungerford is a trapezoid sports holdall, The Fernley is a backpack, The Shifford is a classic sports holdall and The Furze is a mini flight bag executed in full grain leather. Each style comes in five distinctive colourways.

imageTotally thought through in construction, no detail has been missed and completely minimal in design, all products are meticulously crafted in Italy with high quality Swedish and Italian components. Recurring signature details include a hidden zipped exterior webbing pocket for added security, sunken webbing loops, parallel zipper piping with contrasting black pullers and repeat A,M logo embossed details.image

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TEXTUAL CONVERSATION – NICK ASHLEY, CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF PRIVATE WHITE VC

The Private White V.C. brand is a true heritage range based on the on the everyday wardrobe of Private Jack White, not to be mistaken with the White Stripes guitarist. The VC part of the moniker is after the Victoria Cross which was awarded to Jack at the tender age of 20 for outstanding bravery under intense enemy fire during World War I. The clothing line has a subtle nod to Jack’s military legacy, with many items based on classic wartime pieces, updated with added functionality and detail for the modern man.

After returning from the killing fields of the Great War, he undertook an apprenticeship with a local outerwear factory, Cooper & Stollbrand, which is where to this very day his Great grandson, James Eden, produces the collection inspired by the clothing he wore in his daily life, items he customised to suit his everyday activities .

The backstory to this fascinating brand, was celebrated in the Channel 4 documentary, Made in England, which looked into the transition of the Copper & Stollbrand factory from a fossil of a bygone era to the journey James Eden and his business partner Nick Ashley, dragged the business into the 21st Century. Creative Director, Nick has a long and illustrious history in the fashion industry, having worked for Kenzo, Tod’s of Italy, and Dunhill Menswear, amongst others. The son of Laura Ashley, the renowned fashion and interiors designer, Nick was immersed in design and creativity from an early age, so it was little wonder that he should follow in his mother’s footsteps.

The collection is designed by Ashley who’s designs are influenced by Private Jack White’s wardrobe and classic military garments, as well as his passion for motorcycle and car racing. Nick’s ability to immerse himself in everything he does is testament to the passion that goes into his creations. His long-standing love of history and the military make Private White V.C. an ideal outlet to unleash his inspiration.

All clothing is expertly constructed by hand in the Private White V.C. Factory in Manchester, where garments are designed and developed using only the finest regionally sourced fabrics, trims and materials.

Materials are sourced locally where possible with the majority of cloth being supplied from the mills in the surrounding area. These too have a wealth of history behind them.

You can spend an hour with anyone from history – who would it be?

Bob Marley, everything’s gonna be alright

If you could keep one book – what would it be?

The colour wheel manual, harmony is everything

Private White VC Spring/Summer17

Which British subculture will have the greatest style legacy?

Punk, it was the last, before mobile phones killed subcultures

What are you most excited about at the moment?

The craft resurgence

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

Always turn a disadvantage into a massive advantage: my dad

Favourite hotel in the world ?

Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole, Italy

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

A carmaker in Britain, we are all in the same industry

Do you have a Style Icon ?

Gary Cooper : working classy.

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe ?

Every man should have a clean white shirt.

Private White VC Spring/Summer17

Tell us something no one else knows ?

Bob Marley’s father was a Welshman

If you could only wear one brand for the rest of your life who would it be ?

Private White V.C. of course, because it makes me feel good about myself

If you could have invented anything what would it be ?

The Helicopter

Preview of Private White V.C. Autumn/Winter2017

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grüum The new name that will be essential to your daily grooming

grüum (pronounced groom) is a new concept in male grooming hoping it will revolutionise how men shop for their bathroom essentials. Inspired by principles of Scandinavian design ideals of style, functionality and affordable quality, grüum was founded by four friends who were tired of the over- hyped and overpriced male grooming market and set out to challenge it. You’d expect by the nature and general appearance of the brand for the four friends behind it to hail from some super trendy Scandi city like Copenhagen or Stockholm, but no grüum is a young British business that creates simple, effective shave, beard and skincare products, out of none other than the coolest of British cities, Manchester.

grüum is a new concept in male grooming hoping it will revolutionise how men shop for their bathroom essentials. These four Mancunian comrades felt there was something missing and created grüum to deliver personalised quality, simplicity, form and function. It’s facecare, for men, without the fuss. The grüum concept, designed as a monthly subscription service, with added flexibility, focuses on making it easy for the modern man to keep himself looking good, with minimal effort and maximum results, just what we like. Value for money, great quality and ease of use is at the core of the brand – the team at grüum believe this is what the modern man, not only wants, but demands.

So how does it work ? Well, the simple and flexible online subscription service that grüum offers means it can deliver premium quality products for a fraction of their cost on the high street. With no commitments (you’re never tied in), you receive exactly what you need to look your best, delivered to your door. And you can change, pause or cancel your grüum subscription at any time, scaling up or down as your grooming needs change. With grüum kits starting from just £6 per month. It’s the smarter way to look good. Simple, user friendly, and fuss free. So you tell them whether your clean shaven or display a proud hipster beard by simply answering a few questions, they’ll get to know you, your style and your daily routine. Then they build your kit: suggesting a selection of daily grooming essentials to create your own personal grüum kit. They deliver your personal kit to your door, so you can sit back and relax. In no time at all your kit will be wing- ing its way to your home or work. No need to sign for delivery. Finally you can enjoy the benefits of your very own kit for 30 days. If you like what you see? They’ll send your kit each month and keep you looking great.

Now if that wasn’t enough grüum likes to keep things simple, products are only included in the range that that are low maintenance, fit for purpose and are clear of unneccessary (and unpronounceable) chemicals. Free from EDTA, parabens, sulphates, SLS, SLES, arti cial fragrances, artificial colours and made in the UK.