Not playing by the rules, Non conforming Sporting Heroes by Peter Brooker

imageLet me tell you something about going to a cricket match. You pay about 70 notes to watch a very slow game from a considerable distance. You have to provide your own entertainment by gambling hoards of money, trying to start a mexican wave and drinking an immoderate amount of Red Stripe. Unless someone like Kevin Pietersen is at the crease, switch hitting sixes over the long off boundary, or getting out first ball, then you can quite easily sleep through the afternoon unperturbed by the middle class grunting and scoffing on salmon and cucumber sandwiches. The ECB have committed an absolute howler by retiring Kevin Pietersen. Here are some other greats of our day that were shunned by the talentless corporates and their petty meddling.
imagePAUL GASCOIGNE – Glen Hoddle turned his back on Gazza, omitting one of the most skillful players of our time from the 1998 World Cup squad. Ok So he had a drinking problem, so he turned up to every training game clutching a can of strongbow, lighting a fag with the butt of another. What of it? He was the best player in the team and do you know who made the plane over to France in his place? David Batty. And do you know who missed the final penalty that put us out against the Argies? David Batty. Nice one Hoddle, keep hammering those cheques from from 4th division Spanish teams for academy of rejects you douche.
imageALEX HIGGINS – This one was a crippler. Alex Higgins wasn’t quite in the same league as Canadian Bill Werbinick who’d hammer 16 pints during a session of snooker. But he’d easily sink a few G&T’s and smoke a 20 pack before head butting an official before attending a press conference. Snookers governing body wanted Higgins out of the sport. They cut his ranking points, banned him from tournament play for a season and just made him disappear. When asked if he could survive without snooker Higgins replied ‘Can snooker live without me?’ The answer was no.
imageMUHAMMED ALI – One of the greatest fighters to ever pick up the gloves was stripped of his world title and banned for three years by the professional boxing commission because he refused to go fight the Vietcong. Now boxing isn’t like racing shetland ponies, you don’t get to pad out a career into your late fifties, you really only have a small window for which to peak. Plus who in their right mind would want to go to Vietnam? Some people are still over there fighting that war that’s how bad it is. It’s like being told to drink horrible apple sour shots by an alpha male and then suffering a 3 day hangover as a result. Yes it’s exactly like that.
Check out Peter’s day job at trafficclothing.co.uk

NEVILLE – A NEW line of grooming products for the discerning gentleman

imageWith quality at the heart of the brand’s complete thinking, NEVILLE is loaded with natural ingredients that work hard to deliver results. Think of NEVILLE as a self-defence system against life’s natural aggressors: grime, pollution, weather and stress, all known to wreak havoc on your skin and hair.

From the people, not only behind the British beauty and lifestyle brand Cowshed, but the Soho House Group, who as we all know are synonymous with luxury, A-list, exclusivity. NEVILLE is the ultimate in premium British grooming for gents who like to look sharp in seconds.

The no nonsense essence of NEVILLE will keep men looking at the top of their game each day with a choice of one of 12 different grooming products, including, NEVILLE Clean & Shave. So face the day with this 2-in-1 timesaver. Simply work into a thick, full lather to cleanse skin, then wash off or use the foam to shave before rinsing away. With moisturising Sugar Beet Extracts and Aloe Vera to soothe and repair, this formula softens and primes skin for a closer shave without irritation.

Also, the NEVILLE Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner, created for the busy lifestyle needs of modern men, this 2in1 offers a quick fix solution to cleanse and strengthen hair. The dual-action formula helps to increase hair retention and reduce loss and breakage. Seaweed Extracts hydrate, Clove and Bergamot fight anti-oxidants, whilst Amino Acids revitalise and repair the hair and scalp. Within the range we have the Tobacco Musk Cologne, offering a woody oriental scent that is full of character and quintessentially masculine. Top notes of Bergamot and Grapefruit combined with middle notes of Clove and Frankincense combine with deep base notes of Vanilla and Cedarwood.

 

6 of the best Designer Trainers by Dominic Heron-Sturt

There was time when style boundaries were very clear cut and definite, casual wear was casual and formal attire was, well formal and the same could very much be said for designer brands and sports wear and never the twain should meet. Then some years ago we started to see the likes of  Y3 a collaboration by Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas or Jil Sander for Puma. Then we saw designer brands like Gucci venture in traditional sportswear territory and producing great looking sneakers, giving these Designer/ Sportwear hybrids a run for their money.

Nowadays, this sort of collection is common place from Jeremy Scott for Adidas to John Varvatos for Converse. In fact even the team GB’s kit for the 2013 London Olympics was designed in collaboration with Stella McCartney and Adidas. So we’ve looked at some of the best Designer interpretations of Sportwear trainers around on the market at the moment. Check em out –

imageGuiseppe Zanotti Eagle High Top Trainers

imageGivenchy Tyson High-Top Trainers

imageMarc Jacobs Parker High Top Trainers

imageKris Van Assche Crocodile Effect Leather Trainers

imageGisueppe Zanotti Crocodile Effect Leather Trainers

imageMasion Martin Margiela Future High Tops

I’m spoking your language -Spoke, by Sarah Gilfillan

imageAs a personal stylist for men I’m fully aware that the current trend for a skinny and super skinny fit is no friend of the gentleman with a manly (read chunky) set of thighs. It’s proving a bit of a nightmare to find much choice in trousers for those clients, especially with chinos, as sometimes when you do go for a more standard fit they can end up looking, how should I put this, a little old fashioned. So, when I heard aboutSpoke I rejoiced, and even more so when I realised I already knew it’s founder, Ben Farren.

imageLet me tell you about them – they have a tightly edited selection of chinos in a variety of colours, and the brilliant part is that they come in all sizes, going up in 1″ increments in the waist size & leg length, plus they also come in different “builds”. All you need to do is to measure round your thighs, your waist and your inside leg, and punch that into their calculator and it’ll tell you the size and build you need to order. They have a wide range of sizes, going up to a 36″ waist and down to a 28″ leg length, but if they don’t happen to have them in stock they’ll make them up to order.

With free shipping and returns, a pretty reasonable price tag, and a complimentary tape measure if you don’t have one, all in all I reckon this makes for a pretty great service. And with no more pesky alterations needed at the dry cleaners to get a perfectly fitted pair of trousers, whether you have knobbly knees or chunky thighs, you might just find that Spoke is your new best friend.

imageSarah Gilfillan is founder of www.sartorialab.co.uk

What’s LOVE got to do with it ? St. Valentine’s day Gift Guide

I do believe it was W.B Yeats that said, “Wine comes in at the mouth. And love comes in at the eye; That’s all we shall know for truth. Before we grow old and die. I lift the glass to my mouth, I look at you, and I sigh.”

Now some of you ole syncs out there might take a bit of a hum bug stance to Valentine’s day, and there’s a part of me that very much agrees with you and sees it somewhat, like New Year’s Eve as amateurs night. But nonetheless we should treat our better halves and if we need a little prompting in the right direction every once in a while then so be it, it could be worse.

So as ever Clothes Make the Man is on hand to offer you indispensable advice on what to maybe purchase come 14th February.

imageCapture every single special moment with this sensational limited edition Leica X2 specially designed by Fashion Legend Sir Paul Smith. This exclusive special edition combines British style with German design, one could say the best of both worlds.

 

 

imageWho doesn’t love a G & T, hands up ? Well those of you visiting the London, Birmingham and Manchester Selfridges stores in the run up to Valentine’s Day will have the opportunity to add a special personal message to their bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin, through an exclusive hand-engraving service. Our engravers will be available on 11th and 12th February in London, 12th in Birmingham, and 13th in the Manchester Selfridges stores to customise the iconic blue bottles with names, initials or unique messages, for a truly one of a kind Valentine’s Day keepsake.

imageWhisk the one you love off for a romantic little jaunt and of course, no jaunt of a loving nature would be complete without the correct accompanying luggage. Globe-Trotter has launched an updated Candy Limited Edition case, featuring ‘Queue for the Zoo’ lining – a fun and quirky Liberty print.

imageAlong with the essential luggage one mustn’t forget one’s Passport when planning a romantic weekend away and who could miss it ?  When it’s protected in this rather apt Passionate Pink Passport cover by Mulberry.
imageThe National Gallery and acclaimed florist Wild at Heart have launched a series of artistic flowers inspired by paintings in the National Gallery. The artistic experience of the National Gallery makes the perfect luxurious Valentines bouquet. Every bouquet is individually arranged using high quality seasonal blooms, making every bouquet unique and special. Orders placed before 2pm will be delivered anywhere in the UK within 48 hours.
imageIts always good to feel your doing something worthy, particularly when buying a present and for one month only, two of Aspinal’s classic leather accessories (a key ring and coin purse) with the Royal Brompton Hospital campaign slogan of #HEART YOU embossed on the front. 50% from products sold will go directly to the Charity’s ongoing initiative to raise £4.5m to build a state of the art hybrid operating theatre which will combine complex imaging and surgery in a way that has never been done before.
imageThis limited edition Gelsomino Nobile by Acqua di Parma is designed to celebrate a radiant end elegant fragrance, as well as a unique flower – Jasmine. A perfect gift dedicated to a woman characterized by a gentle and elegant style and a bright femininity. An amazing bottle that remains as a collector items, and is offered for the first time in a refillable version.