CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

anthonymcgrath405 / 01/09/2015

Advantage Nadal – Rafael Nadal X Tommy Hilfiger for TH BOLD

The recent U.S. Open in New York on the hottest of hot days saw the launch of new New Tommy Hilfiger fragrance, TH Bold and the announcement of The King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, as the face and body of the brand’s underwear and suiting ranges.

The Majorcan tennis ace and winner of 14 Grand Slam singles titles, a record 27 ATP World Tour Masters 1000, and 15 ATP World Tour 500 tournaments, not bad hey, was announced as an ambassador for the brand. Nadal was chosen, not only just due to a long standing friendship with Hilfiger but because of his synergy with the new fragrance being both fresh and masculine, TH Bold is made for the rebel who plays to win.

The fragrance opens with a mix of crisp citrus notes including pomelo, tangerine and bergamot, followed by herbal and spicy notes like lavender and cardamom. As it develops further, extracts of jasmine and mandarin blossom balance with a woody Boronia accord.The drydown pairs orange flower absolute with powerfully masculine notes of cedar, sandalwood and vetiver, for a combination that excites the senses.

During the launch, where tough jock coach, actress, Jane Lynch played umpire, Rafael showed off the suiting range’s versatility by playing a ‘game’ in his own Rafael Nadal for Tommy Hilfiger Tailored suit only proving the point of its polished and refined nature, with a sartorial ease that’s effortlessly cool. Made from Italian navy wool flannel, the single-breasted silhouette features a straight shoulder and slim fit.

anthonymcgrath405 / 27/08/2015

Stand out from the crowd with Mulberry’s new Dazzle collection

Although the traditional holiday season may be coming to an end, urgh, now might be the ideal time to invest in some new luggage or travel accessories and as per usual Clothes-Make-the-Man has just the right thing for the right occasion. This time it being Mulberry Men’s Collection new season Holdalls in Dazzle Camouflage.

Originally designed by artist Norman Wilkinson to confuse enemy ships during the First World War as battleship camouflage, the ‘Dazzle’ design consists of complex geometric shapes in contrasting colours, interrupting and intersecting each other. The purpose of this type of camouflage was not to hide ships, but to confuse the enemy, as the distinctive pattern made it difficult to estimate a ship’s size and speed.

Wilkinson, a Royal Navy volunteer in World War One, had come all too aware of the threat from German U-boats. He was also an artist and illustrator, and had an idea to use his artistic skills to help protect Allied ships. He realised that it was near impossible to paint a ship in camouflage that would hide it from the sights of a submarine commander. Instead, he decided that the opposite approach might be the answer. Mulberry has taken this iconic British military pattern and used it on printed leather and a hardwearing woven jacquard to give a modern twist to classic everyday styles.

The signature Mulberry Clipper and two new ‘Multi-tasker’ styles come in Mulberry Dazzle Camo Print in Grey and Blue colour options. A range of accessories including wallets and phone covers To complete the collection.

The Multi-tasker collection is based on the principles of versatility and functionality. The Backpack was designed with the contemporary urban man in mind, who needs a bag that can switch easily from cycling to meeting and equally back again.

anthonymcgrath405 / 26/08/2015

Aesop’s Fables – Aesop Grooming Brand

Every week we bring you the best in all things grooming, and style of course, and there must be times when you ask yourself, what another grooming brand ? What more great products that promise me I’m gonna look so much better ? But it’s true and the subject of today’s post only goes to reaffirm this matter.

Aesop is an all round amazing brand, their products are not only exemplary but their brand and packaging offer us a masterclass in how to present a luxury, aspirational and low key product in a completely desirable way.

Established in Melbourne in 1987 with a quest to create a range of superlative products for the skin, hair and body. They offer a commitment to use both plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients of the highest quality and proven efficacy – particularly those with the greatest anti- oxidant properties. Their products are available at signature stores across the globe, counters in selected coveted department stores, and at Aesop Online.

They apply intellectual rigour, sincerity and collective years of learning to What they do. Every product is made with the same attention to detail that they apply to all aspects of their company. Always advocating the appropriate use of their products as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a well-considered diet, daily exercise, and certain therapeutic indulgences – including excellent red wine and inspiring music, of course.

Aesop has maintained a fiercely independent approach to product research and development from the outset and this has been put into practice in all aspects of the ranges they produce. They believe good skin is the byproduct of a healthy lifestyle, careful cleansing and appropriate hydration. Hormonal and genetic factors also play a role in the skin’s health and appearance, as do climate and pollution. As to with their hair care regime, to keep hair looking good, you must take care of the living elements – the roots and scalp – and maintain the mid- and end-lengths as you would with a piece of fine clothing. To complete the trinity Aesop’s range of body cleansers and hydrators was born of a desire to create products for the body that are gentle yet effective. We offer formulations suited to every type of skin.

All these elements are found in their latest emporium on Lambs Conduit Street in London’s West End, created in collaboration with local design studio James Plumb. Copper shelving runs along the retail area’s left wall, patinated to a rich dark tone and fitted with copper inserts that raise product display above a constant stream of water. Feeding back into their principle of using both plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients.

anthonymcgrath405 / 25/08/2015

Living a fast paced life – Dashing Tweeds X Fred Perry

Long gone is the image of Tweed as being restricted to the apparel of old men, Farmers, American Tourists searching out their ancestry in the Emerald Isle and Geography teachers. In recent years we’ve seen Harris Tweed team up with everyone from TOPMAN to Nike and The North Face. Donegal Tweed turned certain financial ruin complete round to working with Fashion heavyweights the like of Jimmy Choo and Burberry. However, you may have not heard ofand we’d forgive for not knowing of the lesser known Dashing Tweeds.

Founded by Guy Hills, who’s love of tailoring pushed him to create men’s suiting/cloth with a twist. The brand has recently launched a flag ship store on London’s, Sackville Street which opened in the last year; they have also been nominated for UKFT awards –for ‘ Textile Brand of the Year 2015’. Dashing Tweeds have collaborated in the past with converse, Hudson, Pharrell’s Billionaire Boys club and have created cloth especially for Louise Gray, Hardy Amies, Holly Fulton and Henry Holland.

Collaboration, not surprisingly, is a key ethos to the Dashing Tweeds brand and it seemed like a natural progression to work with British brand Fred Perry, synonymous with the iconic sportsman and his cotton pique tennis innovative tennis shirts. Fred Perry has its heart in British sportswear and streetwear and Dashing Tweeds is a company with the aim to make traditional British country sportswear urban and modern using fabric development and technological yarns. Both companies share a sense of sporting tradition, yet are sold in the arena of forward looking fashion. Fred Perry are interested to continue their story of fabric development with the creative designs of Dashing Tweeds who are keen to bring their textile designs to a wider audience. Dashing Tweeds have developed a unique reflective tweed cloth for Fred Perry designed in their East London studio and woven on the Scottish borders.

The collaboration consists of a 4 piece capsule collection of men’s travel bags and caps. Dashing Tweeds have also designed a Harrington Jacket adding to this unique range using the finest British reflective tweed specifically designed and woven for this one off exclusive collaboration.

anthonymcgrath405 / 21/08/2015

Flying the flag for Excellent Accessories – WaxandHide.co.uk

London based online retailer Wax & Hide has hand-picked a finely-selected range of items from the world’s leading independent men’s accessory brands to launch their new online store. JBird Collective, This is Ground, Kancha and Bison Made are just a few of the stylish brands that have been carefully chosen to be offered as part of the first Wax & Hide collection. Sourced from the four corners of the world, many of these brands are exclusively available to Wax & Hide.

Born from a passion for quality and stylishly crafted men’s bags and wallets, Wax & Hide is the brainchild of London based founders James Hurst and Haydn Thomas. Sourcing a collection of rigorously hand-picked products from across the globe, they provide a notable alternative to those offered by the mainstream high-end retailers.

These independent brands have been thoughtfully selected on the basis of their quality, heritage and craftsmanship to compete with the top of the range leading luxury men’s accessories the market has to offer. The products include wallets, messenger bags, backpacks and weekend holdall bags with prices starting from as little as £30. Every product on Wax & Hide has been picked to carry everything a dapper man needs with style, durability and craftsmanship at the forefront.

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