CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

anthonymcgrath405 / 24/03/2015

Alexander the DATE – Savage Beauty, The Alexander McQueen Exhibition at the V&A by Alice Whewell

The widely anticipated Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition has returned home to London. This major retrospective hosted by the Victoria and Albert Museum in partnership with Swarovski celebrates the iconic GENIUS of (Lee) Alexander McQueen and honours the designer’s love of the animal world, ancestry and his exploration of tailoring traditional practices.

This vast V&A exhibition provides the prefect date location, treating viewers to an embellished journey through McQueen’s raw creativity in the London years, transporting you from the shockingly beautiful to the Romantic Naturalism. Savage Beauty showcases McQueen’s signature silhouettes housed in stunning gothic sets in brooding blacks and golds, accented by his East London tones which can be heard as you pass through the space.

‘Savage Beauty is a celebration of the most imaginative and talented designer of our time. Lee was a genius and a try visionary who pushed boundaries, challenged and inspired’.

–Sarah Burton, Creative Director Alexander McQueen.

The heart of the exhibition lies within the cabinet of Curiosities located in the double heighted gallery is home to an array of revolving accessories and 120 garments interspersed with catwalk footage from a rich collection archive. This part of the exhibition has been expanded since the New York exhibition in the Met. This space provides a complete sensory experiences showcasing McQueen’s passion for collaborative creations new design innovations, with the use of industrial machinery and holographic technologies. This is no girly night out, this offers something for everyone with a modicum of taste and is testament to McQueen’s genius status. This man was able to transcend the worlds of Art, Fashion, Design with ease and question the perception of beauty and what defines it so simply.

‘The Collection at the V&A never fails to intrigue and inspire me. The nation is privileged to have access to such a resource… it’s the sort of place I’d like to be shut in overnight’.

–Alexander McQueen

For a spontaneous night at the museum, visit Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Victoria and Albert Museum, until August 2 2015.

anthonymcgrath405 / 23/03/2015

An all Amercian Scent – Alford & Hoff

Recognising a void in the market for men’s luxury grooming Barry Alford and Jefferson Hoffman set out to create a lifestyle brand directed at the “New Generation of Men”. Parlaying Jefferson’s business savvy and Barry’s medical industry experience. The duo are bringing a new level of luxury performance to men’s fragrance, with distinctive qualities that define the lifestyle of the next generation of men. Being both gifted athletes, the academic duo recognised the importance of performance, excellence and success to today’s “New Generation of Men” and set out to create a lifestyle brand that was distinctive, approachable and could successfully extend beyond its original product category. Combining entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for promoting confidence and sophistication for the contempory man.

Crafted by world-class perfumer, Rodrigo Flores-Roux of Givaudan, who has been responsible for amongst other well known scents, Calvin Klein’s Reveal for Men, John Varvatos For Men and Tom Ford’s Private Blend Neroli Portofino. Alford & Hoff Eau de Toilette is for today’s generation of man: Confident, passionate, stylish, successful, masculine and not afraid to take care of himself. A juxtaposition of light and dark, clarity and richness, texture and polish, Alford & Hoff EDT is a modern scent, which includes ingredients ranging from citrus, sweet rum and weathered leather to offer a luxurious fragrance fresh on the top, smooth with an sexy core and deep, rich woody background.

Not bad for a couple of guys from Pheonix and Minnesota, hey ?

anthonymcgrath405 / 20/03/2015

Join the Blackout – New Balance’s Blackout Squad

New Balance Football has officially launched its Blackout Squad competition in association with prodirectsoccer.com , offering amateur players around the UK the chance to become part of a select group to trial New Balance Football boots, just as the brand’s global professional player ambassadors do. The sign-up stage begining NOW and closing on 6th April 2015.

Inspired by the practice of pro-footballers trialling blacked out boots when testing new product, 60 competition winners will be the first members of public in the UK to get their hands on the highly sought-after New Balance boots.
To earn a place on the Blackout Squad applicants will be simply asked to share their views on everything New Balance Football through their social networks. Those chosen as part of the squad will receive new product drops throughout the 2015/16 season in the latest colourways before they hit the shelves.
New Balance’s squad of professional players is backing the scheme, encouraging amateur players around the UK to enter. New Balance sponsored player and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany added, “This is a really unique chance for players around the world who are passionate about football to be part of something very different. The competition is for players who believe they can stand out from the rest and are ready to become leaders amongst their teammates. I have never seen this sort of competition before where so many amateur players get the chance to trial boots before they are even on sale! It’s a fantastic opportunity and really is a ‘money can’t buy’ prize.”

anthonymcgrath405 / 17/03/2015

Ground Control to Major Tom – Tom Joule – Textual Conversation

Once upon a time in the Great British Countryside a man had a dream. The time was the late 1980’s, the man, is, Tom Joule and his dream was to establish a brand renowned for selling well made, colourful, country inspired, aspirational clothing for all the family.

Tom learnt his trade quickly, selling branded country life apparel at shows and events around Britain, his stall fast became the go-to destination for the discerning customers. In 1999, seeing a gap in the market for a design lead, country inspired, quality clothing brand, he began selling only Joules branded products.

Fast forward, the dream has become very much a reality with 97 Joules stores, with an established wholesale business (including partnerships with John Lewis, Selfridges and Next) a successful e-commerce site and a growing International following, Joules continues to be a firm favourite for families up and down the country and the company can still be found at Britain’s leading country shows and events.

Outside of work, Tom lives a somewhat envious life in the English countryside with his family. He has a small holding with chickens, sheep, horses, rabbits, cats and a vegetable garden. In his spare time, he likes to escape to the British coastline and can regularly be found with his family on the Norfolk coast or visiting local antiques and collectables yards. Joule is an avid rugby fan, having played until the age of 40 and is a keen golfer, not a bad life then, hey ?

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret?
Not spending every waking hour with my children.

What would be the one piece of clothing you would rescue from your home in the event of a fire?
An original Naval Peacoat.

What inspires you?
The coast, the countryside, New York and my Mum.

If you could only wear one brand for the rest of your life who would it be?
If cost was no object, Brunello Cucinelli – always classically up to date, wonderful fabrics, amazing cut and accessories to die for.

Who is your style icon?
Edward VIII. He was the epitome of style, wore great clothes, had individual flair and put a unique twist on classic pieces.

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe?
The new Joules Rainier Waterproof Mac, a must-have for every man!

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101?
Crocs.

What do you have to do after this conversation?
Review our Spring Summer 16 collection – there’s lots to look forward to!

What would you like to be doing after this conversation?
Flying to the West Coast of the USA to play Pebble Beach Golf Course.

Who would be your ideal diner guests?
The late Richard Attenborough; a humble man with an extraordinary life. Reginald D Hunter; for his incredible wit, so dry. Anne Hathaway; need I explain!?

If you could give your teenage-self advice, what would it be?
Don’t be frightened to ask.

Favourite hotel in the world?
Hullet House, Kowloon, Hong Kong (see below)

If you could collaborate with one brand who would it be ?
Triumph Motorcycles. Joules take tradition and bring a modern twist using the latest fabrics and detail to work with customers’ needs. I’d love to take a brief from the likes of Triumph and put my twist on a great jacket.

anthonymcgrath405 / 16/03/2015

Morphology – The appliance of science …to face preservation – Lab Series MAX LS Age-Less Power V lifting Cream by Amanda Lewis

OK we’ve told you all about LAB Series before, how they were the first male only skin care – premium range. But they keep coming up with such great products that we just gotta share them with you, honest.
Take the MAX LS Ageless Power V Lifting Cream – it’s been developed to improve and tone that definer of masculinity – the jawbone. This anti-ageing innovation is designed to fight gravity, no not in some Superhuman kinda way and this formula has an intuitive technology that targets areas that could be probe to sagging or in need of some tightening. (ok just the face guys; we haven’t tried it anywhere else.!!!)

It does all this and offers 5 high performance benefits

1) It boosts Moisture

2) Minimises the look of Wrinkles

3) Improves Skin’s look of firmness and elasticity

5) Lifts Skin’s Appearance

Ok the techy stuff, LS power has a five dimensional approach to redefine, result the face, and boost moisture, minimise the look of wrinkles, lift and tighten contours. How? By LS Power V technology and molecular age less complex, yup were none the wiser but it seemed to do the trick!

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