CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

We rarely cover furniture here at Clothes-Make-the-Man, but when a friend of ours contacted me and asked me to come down to a launch, I was a little reluctant at first. Until she told me it was a collaborate with one of my favourite bespoke furniture designing duo and my all time favourite tipple, those of course being The Galvin Brothers and Jameson great Irish Whiskey.

Galvin Brothers design and make contemporary handcrafted furniture from their workshops in Beverley, East Yorkshire. The business was formed as a partnership between Matthew Galvin (designer) and Andrew Galvin (joiner) in March 2012 building on their Father’s 61 years of joinery and cabinet making experience. In 2013 they were nominated for the Designer of the Year in Elle Deco’s prestigious British Design Awards. In April 2014 they opened Galvin Brothers: The Shop in their home town Beverley, selling all of their furniture as well as homewares, objects and curiosities.

Their designs celebrate the uniquely wonderful properties of English Oak and other solid woods, placing traditional joinery techniques at the centre of contemporary forms — functional objects with a twist.

The Jameson Works projects are not just what you make, it’s how you make it. Its about sharing the stories and spreading the knowledge of how great work is made in a contemporary setting. This time working to the brief of Form & Function, the Galvin Brothers have created a collection, which sees them working beyond their traditional skillset of furniture making. Inspired by how Jameson makes its whiskey, and by looking carefully at the way in which people consume it, they have created a space that is designed to enhance the drinking experience.

As part of this project Jameson have create an whiskey lover’s paradise, in the Whiskey Den, which provides different ways for drinks to be served with a range of furniture with different functions – some merely for seating, some for the presentation of cocktails and others to create a social enclose and convivial space. Copper pots are also an integral part of the distillation process of Jameson and have inspired part of the design through beautiful copper vessels and ice buckets.

Open until mid-August at The Reverend JW Simpson bar, one of London’s finest cocktail bars. An intimate space with an original design, will serve as the home of The Jameson Works x Galvin Brothers Whiskey Den, before moving on in September to a top secret establishment in Liverpool. This is where the public can experience, unique cocktails and even purchase the bespoke furniture they are sitting on, named The Whiskey Drinking Collection.

Bear and Bear is an online store with a curated selection of fresh, unique and essential products. They search the world, far and wide to present unique items, gifts and accessories that encompass the Home, Style, Tech and Travel categories.

With numerous UK and European exclusive products, the company takes great pride in introducing exceptional brands, products and designs from far flung corners of the world to their loyal customer base. With a brand mix that includes Grand Trunk, Lomography, Native Union, Bellroy, Filson, Flight 001, Sandqvist, Shwood, L’Atelier du Vin – Bear & Bear’s buying team have curated one of the most interesting independent brand mixes there is.

Bear and Bear are perpetually seeking out fresh new products and brands that are the perfect gift, or a personal treat, ensuring you always find differing products upon every visit.

Whether from their dedicated bicycle and camera shops, hammocks and tents to speakers and headphones, stylish homewares and interiors to independent sunglass brands, the newest gadgets and lifestyle essentials, Bear & Bear pride themselves in finding products you may not even know you needed, but we guarantee you’ll want them in your life.

A couple of weeks ago we ran a post to coincide with Hair Loss Awareness Month, to put it mildly we had a massive response, from guys worrying about differing stages of hair loss. So to answer a couple of your questions we’ve sourced the entire industry and looked at and into alsorts of different products, ranging from wild and wacky, to old wives tales, to downright dangerous potions and lotions. But before we start two things have stuck in my mind the entire time we’ve been researching this whole topic. Firstly, there is no magic cure, yes you can have a hair transplant, but currently this is expensive, can be painful and it isn’t always a guarantee to take and then work. Plus, there are a lot of people claiming to offer a cure for hair loss which, basically, just isn’t true and are preying on people’s fears and insecurities. One thing you have to remember about hair loss and that is, don’t ignore it. If you catch it in its early stage you have far more options open to you than if you leave it and think it’ll go away.

Firstly, we caught up with leading hair care brand Aveda’s Master Barber, Stelios Nicolaou, who told us.

“My gents that have thin or thinning hair really love the new Aveda Thickening Tonic, it’s great for them because it will instantly add bulk and hold to their hair, giving them a nice pliable texture and thicker looking hair. Some men find that they are only thinning in certain areas of the head, around their crown or hairline for example, so you can customise how you use this product and apply only to the areas where thinning is a specific need. I can feel a change in texture and mass as I apply the product to guests hair, it instantly begins to feel thicker.”

Next, we sort the advice of leading Trichologist, Marilyn Sherlock – Chairman of The Institute of Trichologists.

Are there any brushing techniques to promote thickness or growth ?
Great hair starts with a healthy scalp. You could try a Nioxin in salon treatment such as the Nioxin Dermabrasion treatment (like a facial for the scalp). Prep hair with a Nioxin system kit. A good idea is to use a hair thickener such as Nioxin Diaboost which actually increases the thickness of each hair strand. Spray a few pumps into the roots and massage in, then blow dry with large round brush, gently lifting it at the roots, this will give body and lift.
Look for styles which will help create the look of thickness. Shorter hair with blunt ends & minimum layers can help hair look thicker, this is why bobs are the most popular for women with finer hair. Also recommend getting your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks to help maintain shape and sharpen the ends of hair.

What are the major causes and how can you combat them ?
There are around 50 causes of hair thinning or hair loss. It is often the case that hair is thin due to genetic inheritance. However, if the hair is normally thick and starts to thin down, look at your diet. Is it well balanced and do you eat regularly? That is the first thing to look at.
You need a broad spectrum of nutrients of course, but do be sure to get you iron, protein and carbohydrates daily. These are the nutrients that your hair depends heavily upon. (those watching their weight can eat all those nutrients without fat or sugar)
Another cause of thinning hair is illness and particularly a high temperature for a prolonged period. However, this does not manifest itself until approximately three months after the illness. ( this is due to the 3 months that elapses after a temperature for example, before the hair can fall.
For more serious concerns I would always recommend seeing a trichologist for the Institute of Trichologists, who are experts on hair and scalp health.

Now, one of the first ports of call, if you are worried about hair loss is your Pharacist. Boots, have their own Pharmacy Hair Retention Programme – If you are feeling anxious about male pattern baldness, you are not alone – it is the most common form of hair loss, affecting 6.5 million men in the UK and Boots has a confidential service that can help.
Specially trained Boots UK pharmacists will hold an initial consultation and if appropriate, provide a prescription-only medicine without the need for a prescription. Follow up appointments to track changes in hair retention, are held after one, three, six, twelve months and annually thereafter, so you can monitor your progress with your pharmacist. The first four week trial supply costs £49, with follow up supplies starting from as little as £7.92 a week.

Another great set of products we found to assist in giving the look of fuller thicker hair are Lab Series ROOT POWER TREATMENT SHAMPOO
Which moisturises and conditions hair to improve its resilience and pliability. Cleans and invigorates the scalp to promote healthier-looking hair. For best results, use in conjunction with ROOT POWER HAIR TONIC. This scalp-energizing formula nourishes from root to tip to strengthen, thicken and repair hair while improving its appearance. Tonic increases luster and shine, in addition to creating an optimal environment for fuller, thicker hair.

Haider Ackermann

And so to Paris, after the delights of London and Milan we have the city of Lights and what do they have instore for us with regard to Spring/Summer 2016 ???

Well straight off we have a couple of trends that were bubbling under, that have been confirmed via the French Fashion capital. Those being the old reliable Rock Star, no not Johnny Hallyday, was very present and visible in the capital of LOVE. We saw Haider Ackermann and Ann Demeulemeester channel a more androgynous look whereas Maison Margiela,went for a more contemporary take on this perennial fave. The other trend that we saw peeking through in London through Christopher Raeburn and in Milan with Jil Sander and Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s No 21 was military, yes I know, what that again, but it was very different for past incarnations, much more contemporary, almost Explorer meets Military, an urban safari, one could say, done best by Balmain and Kenzo.

Balmain

However, the overwhelming story from the Parisien shows was DENIM, and as we said last week fellas the Skinny jean is well and truly dead, RIP. The fit is far more wider, in the words of Shaun Ryder, “It’s gotta be a loose fit. Don’t need no skin tights in my wardrobe today. Fold them all up and put them all away.” Yep, from the AMAZING Louis Vuitton and Valentino to Maison Kitsuné and Paul & Joe. Denim in most definitely in for Spring 16 and in a big way. In fact the overriding look seemed to be rather reminiscent of 90’s band Stereo MC’s, yes them of the One hit Wonder “Connected”.

Louis Vuitton

So from one extreme to the another, this time in the heavenly muse of the Priest, or to be more accurate, the trendy priest, think a little Fr Noel Furlong (Graham Norton) in Father Ted, he’s with it, he knows what’s down with the kids. No but the look of the ecclesiastical trooper was one in favour, reaffirming black is the new black. Riccardo Tisci’s new collection for Givenchy took great inspiration from his Catholic heritage, with Alexander Wang for Balenciaga and Christophe Lamaire for his signature label all following suit.

Givenchy

But black was far from the only colour to strike inspiration into the legion of designers showing in the French Capital, Berluti, the AMAZING Louis Vuitton, sorry have I memtioned how amazing the Vuitton show was ? Dior Homme, Paul Smith all opted for either splashes or full on in your face COLOUR.

Berluti

Now this trend was an interesting one which we saw all over the catwalk shows from city to city to city, in London Coach probably pulled it off best in Milan Dolce & Gabbana offered us a menagerie of prints, but in Paris WOW ! Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten were in print overdrive, Lobsters (not sure why) Marilyn Monroe and Scary Spice’s fave animal print. But over at the house of Vuitton Kim Jones killed it, not only prints in many differing birds and wild cats. This is the way the 70’s should be done, SEXY, forget the ugly 70′,s all Slade, lace and bad hair. Jones topped his show off with the help of a soundtrack supplied by Mr Chic himself Niles Rodgers !!!!!

So get yourself off now and invest in a Bomber jacket, a tasteful Hawaiian shirt, if that exists yet and some, at least, straight leg jeans in preparation for next Summer.

Dries Van Noten

We’ve had Coachella, Parklife and Glastonbury but we still have T in the party, Electric Picnic, V, Burning Man and Benicàssim to name a few. Yes, yet again we are beginning to the enter the widely loved and renowned festival season!!! This season defines the Summer as one to remember every year, whether it was hazy, dazy memories of warm evening music soaked nights with friends or damp, cramped tents and toilet nightmares, either way they are life defining memory making. However, before you gallop off into the sunset to go and camp to your hearts content; there are a few essentials you’ll need to take with you! We’ve outlined the essentials of the essentials list below: