anthonymcgrath405 / 10/03/2015

The Force is Strong in this one – Chunk’s Star Wars Range -COMPETITION TIME

18th December this year is a date marked on many calendars around the world, as it sees the cinematic event of not only the year but the decade as we witness the first NEW live action Star Wars film in a decade, Star Wars, the Force Awakens.

Now call me a cynic but I’d bet my shirt that we will be inundated with a total mix of merchandise ranging from the incredible Musthaves to the more dubious reject bin fodder. Now my advice would be simple, get in quick and the subject of today’s post has been the first and so far best line I’ve seen, in quite some time.

Since taking their first tentative steps onto the London underground scene more than a decade ago, CHUNK is now widely recognised as a quintessential urban-British label with an international reputation based on originality and that great British sense of humour.

With a unique visual signature informed by bold graphics, tongue-in-cheek humour and smart design quirks, Chunk tees quickly garnered a loyal and enthusiastic fan-base and spawned a number of high-profile collaborations.

This glowing international reputation for producing great and unique collaboration is how their Star Wars partnership came about. Since their first collaboration in 2006 of bold, witty and with a signature twist that makes a CHUNK graphic garment unmistakeable, and many designs such as DJ Yoda, DJ Vader and Class of 77 have attained iconic’ status.

To mark this special year – CHUNK have gone back to the very beginnings of the intergalactic story as the inspiration for the SPring 15 capsule range. Bold, old-skool graphics play out against retro vintage ringer style tees, sweats, hoodies and vests. And to further consolidate the collection’s vintage credentials, the original Star Wars logo created by Ralph McQuarrie in 1975 makes a rare and timely appearance.

COMPETITION TIME

Fancy getting your hands on one of these BRIILIANT Tees ? Well you can, it’s simple we’ve got 5 to giveaway and all you have to do between now and Midnight (GMT) 31st March. Is sign up to our & Chunk’s Instagram feed. Yep it truly. Is that simple. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

anthonymcgrath405 / 09/03/2015

Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of them all – The Male Vanity survey by Trevor Sorbie

A recent poll by Trevor Sorbie’s MG Grooming range revealed that while the fairer sex admitted to sneaking a peek at themselves up to 9 times a day, the average guy gazes at themselves more then 10 times each day,enjoying an extra 343 admiring glances each and every year.

It also found, one in four men in London admits that Mr Beckham is number one when it comes to hair idols! And fellas in Northern Ireland: (26.30%) spent the longest on their hair, followed by Wales (23.40%) then London (20.30%). So the big question is from all this research what exactly are the vainest cities (well by by mirror glances, anyway) Edinburgh: 13 times per day London: 12 times per day Cardiff: 12 times per day Birmingham: 10 times per day Liverpool: 9 times per day.

Surprisingly a whopping 18% of those questioned confessed they devote the most time preening their hair to perfection, with hair styling taking priority over shaving and even choosing their clothes. You might think looking perfectly coiffed was primarily the concern of the much maligned Southern male, traditionally considered to be vainer and more effeminate than their Northern and Western counterparts, but nearly a third of men in Cardiff admitted to spending longest on their hair, closely followed by those in Northern Ireland at 26%, compared to only 20% of Londoners. Whilst many men are happy to admit to using and buying their own grooming products, 5% of men admit to pinching their partner’s hair products to make sure they look their best. It’s the northern lads who top the poll as hair product pinchers with 11% of Geordies most guilty of cosmetic theft! For the Scots, fashion comes tops! When it comes to grooming they take the most time perusing their wardrobe, with over a quarter of those from Edinburgh spending longest on their sartorial choices, pipping fashion conscious Londoners to the post, with a more modest 18% claiming fashion as their priority.

Despite the increased vanity and focus on hair styling, the nation’s men are still choosing to play it safe with classic cuts like the short back and sides, and the crew cut proving most popular. While the influence of flamboyant footballers like Ronaldo was most pertinent in the early noughties, the matinée idol look is back in favour with all age groups. Shockingly, more than 5% of so called stylish Londoners admit to rocking a less than fashionable bowl cut, while more than 20% of those from Norwich are sporting luscious long locks!

Style 1: Short Back and Sides The classic short back and sides style clearly still resonates with modern men, emerging as the clear winner with a whopping 29% voting it their favourite look. Groomed but casual looking men such as model and actor Jamie Dornan (above) have been championing this look for some time, proving that classic doesn’t have to mean boring, with the right cut and styling products of course! Hailing from Northern Ireland, Jamie clearly represents his region with nearly 50% of those asked citing it as their favourite hairstyle. Interestingly Mancunians, long famous for their love affair with the mullet back in the 90’s, also chose this as one of their favourite looks. TOP TIP: Use MG Moulding Mud (below)to impart your own personality and stop this ‘do from looking too ‘done’.

Style 2: Crew Cut The classic crew is popular with British males, with 14.10% of men in the nation currently sporting the style. Crew cut celebs such as Jason Statham and Channing Tatum(above) proved equally popular in the celeb poll, voted the 6th most influential male celebrity hairstyle. TOP TIP: Use the MG Deep Clean Shampoo (below) to keep your scalp in tip top condition and prevent grease and product build up.

Style 3: The Combover Once the territory of older gents, the combover has clearly made a comeback with the younger generation in recent years proving most popular with 16-24 year olds, with 15% of those asked choosing this style. Tom Connell from the Trevor Sorbie Covent Garden salon, says the number of clients requesting this look has increased drastically in the last few years. “It used to be that we would get much older gents asking for this, although they do favour it flatter on the top than this latest incarnation. But now the ‘short on the sides, long on the top’ take on the combover is frequently requested from our younger client base, who often cite David Beckham as inspiration at consultation.” TOP TIP: Use MG Fibre Wax (below) to make sure your combover is kept in place, with minimum touch ups required pre-selfie.

anthonymcgrath405 / 06/03/2015

So much more than a gadget – Bang & Olufsen commemorates its 90th Birthday with the Love Affair Collection

Long before their was Apple and their I-this and I-that there was a brand that truly fused anaesthetic beauty and technology. Everything they produced had been throughly thought through and was as much a piece of artwork in itself as the implement it was designed to be used as.

To mark Bang & Olufsen’s ninetieth anniversary, the brand announced the launch of the ‘Love Affair‘ Collection, it sees six of the company’s current products rejuvenated with a new palette option in keeping with the surge in interest towards beautiful materials – especially rose gold, which is experiencing a renaissance in the jewellery industry. One of the most emotive aspects is its underlying meaning. While white gold represents friendship and yellow gold means fidelity, rose gold represents love and is therefore the ultimate inspiration for this collection.

During the roaring 20s, Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen started their journey into technology when it was still an almost magical phenomenon, and with the accompanying flourish of Art Deco, it was clear that luxury, glamour and exuberance were at the heart of the time. Fast-forward 90 years and the company is pleased to launch a collection that truly captures the mood and style of the time, setting the stage for a love affair that could last the ages. Combined with the warm colour fabrics recently developed in a cooperation with fashion designer Stine Goya, the company hopes it will truly capture the hearts of customers who have enjoyed a love affair with the company over the years.

The Love Affair Collection consists the following six current products; the first is the majestic and recently launched BeoVision Avant 85, and then the all-in one entertainment solution BeoVision 11-46 and BeoRemote One. Also included in the range is the extremely popular magic-touch BeoPlay A9 music system and the elegant, lightweight BeoPlay H6 headphones. Last but certainly not least, the collection will include the classic, slender and straight-lined BeoLab 18 with a new walnut lamella front and a cabinet in a stunningly elegant rose golden version.

anthonymcgrath405 / 03/03/2015

It’s the real thing – KIT NEALE X Coca Cola

The Holy Grail for any brand is to be so identifiable with the mass populist that they don’t have to even feature their name. Many try, too achieve that true and heady status. Think about it McDonalds, Apple, Nike, Chanel, but one brand that is the real Daddy when it comes to this practice, that has to be Coca Cola ! I mean, all we need to see is the silhouette of their iconic bottle and it’s enough to get our mouth’s watering.

For Spring of this year the fizzy beverage global superbrand have teamed up with one of Britain’s brightest creative design talents in Kit Neale, who has produced a vibrant and fun collection which provides a wide range of playful pieces including Silk bomber jackets.

Neale launched his signiture brand back in early 2012 and has built its name through pioneering quirky statement prints on wearable wardrobe staples with a unique larger than life perspective.

anthonymcgrath405 / 02/03/2015

Carven out quite an impression – Carven Fragrances

Back in 1957, Madame Carven, of the legendary Fashion House, decided to create a fragrance worthy of her husband Philippe Mallet. The first and as-yet unequalled “VÉTIVER” became an icon for future generations. For Madame Carven, a Fragrance is more than a mere accessory in a man’s wardrobe, it’s part of his signature, his life.

Vetiver is a plant with multiple roots anchored deep in the ground. They absorb and restitute many aromatic agents that make it a treasure for the perfume industry. It develops a note that is warm and woody but also green, of very distinctive character. Vetiver is essentially native to India, Indonesia and Reunion Island. Its roots are distilled to extract a precious essential oil.

Like the House’s resurrected Clothing collections under the strict and visionary direction of Guillaume Henry, for a new audience, but with the same passion for olfactive heritage Carven fragrances this year has given VÉTIVER a new look and energy, without touching the original formula in any way.

It opens on a vibrant aromatic citrus note, brimming with Grapefruit, Bergamot and Lemongrass. Its heart is full with Lavender, Orange Blossom and Geranium that picks up the pace with base notes of sensuous Nutmeg softened by Benzoin, Sandalwood and Cedar with, underlying it all, the glory of Vetiver.

Madame Carven, once said,“Everything I love is green”, and as homage to this statement Guillaume Henry, Creative Director, responded with covering the scent’s bottle in a intense, magnetic neon green lacquer.

However, Vetiver isn’t the only male scent the French Fashion house have produced catering for the needs of their male consumer. Who they see as a man who loves fashion, but who never take himself too seriously; young men with a slightly off-beat spirit, cultivated and urban, seemingly classic but charmingly bad boy at heart.

And so Carven fragrances have created a buzz again with the launch of their new scent: CARVEN POUR HOMME.

The Perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian, defined this fragrance as, “A fragrance that embodies Paris chic as revisited by Guillaume Henry for Carven”.

If Paris chic could be summed up in a scent, it would be that of CARVEN POUR HOMME, a racy and elegant essence, a devil may care attitude. A fragrance with woody, spicy, aromatic notes in the Carven tradition of men’s fragrances, yet with a burst of modernity.

As a counterpart for its older more sophisticated brother, CARVEN POUR HOMME is dressed in a glass bottle dressed in black lacquer as shiny as a pair of patent leather shoes

CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN