All Present and Correct, as it should be – Albam X Present & Correct

imagePresent & Correct or P&C to its admirers opened its virtual doors in 2008. A place for their own designs, all things stationary, we all love by other designers from around the world & vintage items which they discover around Europe, and sometimes further afield.

It’s a true showcase for Neal Whittington and Mark Smith , the geni behind P&C, to show off all the things the guys have enjoyed since school. A long-term obsession with stationery has culminated in a constantly evolving store. Paper and office objects which are inspired by homework, the post office and school.

imageThey hope to spark a distant memory, make you smile or look at the most mundane in a new, and fonder, light.

And for three weeks this month Albam have invited the Present & Correct guys to curate a space in each of the Albam stores, bringing together a globally sourced mix of new and vintage pieces for your office and personal workspaces.

imageThrough a distinctive photography style and an eye for beauty in the utilitarian, Present & Correct have re-imagined the way in which we view stationary.

image

Hairstyles for Summer 2015


Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 12.42.05
Tommy Taylor
(above), leading Men’s hairstylist at London’s HARE&BONE, who has been with been with the brand since its launch in December 2014 heads up Education as well as Men’s hair for the brand. He takes us though the top three men’s hair trends for Summer 2015. Having styled the hair for shoots with Shortlist Magazine, Tommy is the new face of Men’s hair, you know what I mean !
“This Spring men’s styles become much more refined (read simpler) and low maintenance. We’re seeing fewer undercuts and a return to classic barber techniques and shapes.”
Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 12.36.49

Flat Pack

The fifties Flat Top makes a comeback with clean military precision lines and hedonistic height through the top. Think Val Kilmer in Top Gun with a side of De la Soul fade. Shape should be square cut with subtle movement to avoid looking too Jarhead.

Hair needs to be flexible to avoid looking too ‘done’. Once washed spray with KMS HAIRPLAY Dry Wax in to towel dried hair and blow dry hair. Then finish with two pumps of KMS HAIRPLAY Moulding Paste, rub palms together and apply through hair to create a lived it texture with flexible hold.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 12.36.19Crop N Roll

If you favour simple style the crop is this seasons go to look. A refined and work appropriate look, styling is minimal, quite literally get up and go. Keep a little length on top to soften the look.           “This is the easiest look to style, simply wash and air dry then run a small amount of KMS HAIRPLAY Clay Crème through the top section to add texture and definition”

 

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 12.37.10Push Back

No Parting, pushed back, low key styling. With a nod to Johnny Cash hair is worn pushed back away from the face with a subtle height. Length is longer through the sides and top with natural movement. Use KMS Hair Play Clay Crème for a strong hold matte texture. A great style if you cycle to work.
“Hold is key when it comes to this look, keep your style in place with a foundation of product – perhaps combining two products for a unique effect, not too shiny but with great hold. I would recommend combining KMS HAIRPLAY Messing Creme with HAIRPLAY Moulding Paste for maximum hols and soft texture.”

Bone Idle – The Idle Man just became more Idle-er

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 16.23.28Cast your minds back to February of this year when we selected TheIdleman.com ‘s Thom Scherdel to take us through his selection of the must have pieces for Spring 2015.  TheIdleman is a relatively new comer to the world of e-commerce only, virtually, excuse the pun, launching a year ago under the learned and watchful eye of CEO Oliver Tezcan, ex-head of men’s brands at ASOS. Since then, it has been establishing its reputation and building its brand portfolio, which culminates  with the launch of their own debut capsule collection.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 16.24.15What started out as small range of T-shirts and accessories at the end of last year has grown into a considered line-up of key pieces and timeless staples designed to form the basis of a contemporary, stylish guy’s wardrobe.  The capsule collection features a selection of outerwear, jersey sweatshirts and hoodies, knitwear, long and short sleeve shirts, T-shirts, swimwear, shorts and accessories.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 16.25.06Scherdel explained to us, “ We wanted our first collection to be a real base layer of products for our customers, we have made sure most wardrobe staples are covered and worked hard on perfecting them and getting them out at an accessible price. It’s all simple and considered pieces and the plan to is keep layering on fashion and trend pieces as time goes on “

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 16.26.11

Living the American Dream – Tommy Hilfiger 30th Anniversary

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 13.23.17For 30 years, Tommy Hilfiger has been selling the American dream, classic, cool, crisp apparel to consumers around the world. His designs give time-honored classics a fresh look. With Hilfiger’s guidance, vision and leadership as principal designer, the Tommy Hilfiger Group has become one of very few globally-recognised designer brands.

Born the second of nine children in Elmira, New York, Hilfiger’s career in fashion began as a high school student in 1969, when he opened a small chain of stores called People’s Place with just $150. His goal was to bring “cool big city styles” from New York to his friends in their small town in upstate New York. Hilfiger soon began designing for the boutiques he had always admired, and in 1979 he moved to New York City to pursue a career as a full-time fashion designer. There, he caught the eye of Mohan Murjani, a businessman who was looking to launch a line of men’s clothing and believed that Hilfiger’s entrepreneurial background gave him the unique ability to approach men’s fashion in a new way. With Murjani’s support, Hilfiger introduced his first signature collection in 1985 by modernising button-down shirts, chinos, and other time-honored classics with updated fits and details. The relaxed, youthful attitude of his first designs has remained a distinctive hallmark throughout all of Hilfiger’s subsequent collections.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 13.22.27Soon after saw the introduction of Tommy Hilfiger Collection, men’s tailored, Hilfiger Denim, men’s and women’s sportswear, childrenswear, bodywear, footwear, accessories and licensed products such as watches, jewelry, eyewear and fragrance.

Through his creative efforts as a designer and in working on a series of bold marketing campaigns, Hilfiger has shaped and developed lasting relationships with a wide range of cultural influencers and trendsetters. In 1985, Hilfiger hired legendary ad man George Lois to develop a billboard for the center of New York’s Times Square. The now famous “hangman ad” ignited the designer’s career and launched a dynamic and productive relationship between Hilfiger and Lois. In 2007, they collaborated on the book Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture, which presents a mosaic of over 400 iconic and iconoclastic images from the melting pot of America. In the 1990s, Hilfiger became a pioneer in the industry by featuring emerging musical talent in his advertising campaigns, and his tradition of fusing music and fashion continues today.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 13.21.26Hilfiger’s diverse achievements in business, retail and fashion have earned him a variety of distinguished awards. In 1998, Parsons School of Design in New York City honored him with their Designer of the Year award, as have GQ magazine, countless times all over the world, for their annual “Men of the Year” issue. In 1995 he was named Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 13.23.43

However, it’s not all about fashion, style and trends with Hilfiger, in 2009, he went on to receive the respected UNESCO Support Award for his philanthropic efforts throughout the years and launched The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation in 1995 to enrich the physical and intellectual well-being of youth, with a major emphasis on education and cultural programs. Which In 2013, all Foundation activities around the world aligned under the global banner of Tommy Cares, which supports Save the Children, the World Wildlife Fund, War Child, Breast Health International (BHI), and Millennium Promise globally.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 14.01.47To celebrate his brand’s 30th anniversary, he presented his Autumn 15 fashion show in Beijing. The exclusive recreation of the runway show, including looks from the men’s and women’s collections.

“I am thrilled to be in China for this next stop on our 30th anniversary tour, following our events in New York and Paris earlier this year,” said Hilfiger. “Recreating the show in an international setting for the first time has been a terrific way to celebrate the opening of our largest store in China and the 30th anniversary of our global brand. Our fashion shows create an immersive guest experience that really brings the collections to life, and it has been an honor to be able to share this experience with a wider audience in China.”

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 14.01.13

Debuted at New York Fashion Week in February, the Fall 2015 collection fuses American football, stadium spirit and varsity motifs with Hilfiger’s classic designs. Reflecting on the 30-year heritage of his brand, the collection plays with the established codes of American fashion, luxuriously reimagined with a modern athletic twist.

Screen Shot 2015-06-01 at 13.57.26

 

If it’s good enough for the Son of God it good enough for me ! – Jo Malone London Incense & Cedrat Fragrance

Screen Shot 2015-05-30 at 09.35.55The individual and unique aroma of Incense have made it a desired commodity for over six thousand years. Through history, incense has held a spiritual role. Burnt in ritual, its smoke was believed to connect the earthly being to the divine. The Roman emperor, Nero, burned an year’s harvest at the funeral of his favourite mistress. And it was the favourite scent of the Queen of Sheba. In fact, as Master Perfumer of this scent ,Marie Salamagne notes, ‘Man has always had a special connection with incense. It is something used to find peace and energy.’

Incense & Cedrat is the new addition to Cologne Intense, a collection defined by rich and rare ingredients by Jo Malone London, yes Jo Malone do Men’s Grooming products, it’s not just for the ladies fellas. For this fragrance, Marie Salamagne, used the scent of Omani incense, the most precious in the world. Produced for over six thousand years, it is harvested from the revered Boswellia sacra tree found in a swathe of land between ocean and desert, Dhofar. The harvest is passed down through generations. Twice a year the tree is incised allowing resinous sap to seep out, dry and crystallise.

The distinctive warmth of incense is enriched by three layers of resins. Each one intensifies the character of the incense heart. The lemon and pepper notes of Elemi bring out a radiant freshness as the fragrance opens. Amber-like labdanum ciste highlights sensuality at the heart. Smooth, sweet benzoin accentuates an addictive richness at the base. As the resins unfurl, they are complemented by the brightness of cedrat. A luminous citrus twist.