CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

We seem to have our first trend for 2015 already in ‘Spy Style’, this year we’ll see the release of such movies as, the questionable, Johnny Depp vehicle Mortdecai, later on, what looks from the cast and titbits we’ve seen AMAZING, James Bond’s Spectre. But, first up is the dashing, daring and what looks like a bloody good romp, Matthew Vaughn’s, Kingsman(see trailer above).

So what do all of these films have in common ? The suave, sophistication and general Dapper elegance of Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The British Spy network has been the source of countless iconic films over the decades, not just the undeniably stylish Bond Series, but Michael Caine’s, Harry Palmer, John Le Carrè’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the wonderful The 39 Steps and of course who could forget Richard Burton as Alec Leamas in The Spy who came in from the Cold. Literally just a few examples, where the shadowy world of intelligence and counter intelligence have served as entertainment to whet our appetite.

The latest in this long line to join the ranks in the Spy movie genre is Kingsman, a film directed by Matthew Vaughn(Layer Cake, Kick Ass and X-Men:First Class) and hosting a stella cast including Messers, Colin Firth, Samuel L.Jackson, Mark Strong and Micheal Caine, but get ready for it, cameos by Elton John, David Beckman and Lady Freakin Gaga !

As part of the launch of this movie treat, and in somewhat of a first in cinema history an entire bespoke 60-piece collection designed in collaboration and exclusively with MrPORTER‘s Buying Director Toby Bateman, Matthew Vaughn and award-winning Costume Designer Arianne Phillips including suiting, outerwear, shirting, knitwear and accessories made from the best of British cloth and from the best of British craftsmanship. The range includes: Kingsman original tailoring; Kingsman by Bremont timepieces; Kingsman by Turnbull & Asser shirting and pyjamas; Kingsman by Cutler & Gross eyewear; Kingsman by George Cleverley shoes; Kingsman by Drake’s ties and pocket squares; Kingsman by Swaine Adeney Brigg umbrella and leather accessories; with additional product from partner brands including Mackintosh, Corgi, Deakin & Francis, Lock & Co Hatters, Conway Stewart and Smythson.

EXAMPLES FROM THE KINGSMAN COLLECTION

For those of you not aware of the Mondrian Group of Hotels, they sit in the crown of the Morgan Hotel Group which boasts such internationally renowned establishments as The Sanderson and St Martin’s Lane in London, The Delano in Las Vegas and the Hudson in New York, to literally name but a few. No, we’re not talking a Travel Lodge Chain of Hotels here, that would kinda be like comparing a beautiful piece of Filet Mignon lovingly prepared for you with some dirty Donner Kebab you pick up from some dodgy den of iniquity in the wee small hours of Sunday Morning.

The Mondrian hotel are a selection of fine hotels in key locations, Mondrian London is the first of its kind outside the good ole US of A. It was designed by Design Research Studio under the creative direction of visionary Tom Dixon, yes he of the amazing lamps and shades, the iconic building boasts 359 guestrooms and suites, truly stunning riverside views, two contemporary and engaging bars, an expansive restaurant with private dining rooms, a maritime inspired 56-seat cinema and what is promised as an exciting new spa concept.

The former Sea Containers House, takes full advantage of the hotel’s unique location, on London’s South Bank overlooking the River Thames and the backdrop to many of the iconic examples of fine architecture which make this city’s vistas the envy of the world. Many of the design-led 359 bedrooms and suites offer river and city views. With the golden age of transatlantic ocean fairing travel as a departure point and ocean liner cabins as the point of inspiration, Dixon has created fitted and well-thought-out rooms, incorporating metallic and brass throughout. In addition, each room features bespoke furniture from him and unique, some might say marmite like, piece of art which adorns the wall. The mini bars in each room also offer bespoke pre-packaged Dandelyan cocktails, mixed by the mixologist supremo himself, Mr Lyan.

The restaurant, named Sea Containers, in homage to its prior existence is headed up by New York’s award winning, Seamus Mullen, known for his modern take on Spanish Cuisine and like the Mondrian itself, is his first venture outside the US. Working alongside him is Executive Chef Luke Rayment at Sea Containers and what they try to achieve with the restaurant is bringing Seamus’s talent and passion for cooking fresh, seasonally considered cuisine that is sustainable and carefully sourced.

One of the most interesting elements of this set up is the 56-seat screening room, available to book for events during the week, if you so please and at weekends, it sees the inimitable and endangered Curzon cinema take over the space and take charge of programming, showing their choice of the latest leading arthouse hits for both guests and the public to enjoy.

Plus Point – Apart from the sensational views the amazing Customer Service from the reception desk to the concierge, the restaurant to the bar staff. A level of Service that you only really receive in old school luxury hotels of a bygone era or that great and unfortunately increasingly slipping standard of American Service where nothing is too much trouble and you utterly at rest and spoilt.

Minus Point – The area in which the hotel is homed is under some what of an extensive redevelopment at the moment. So issuing a hi-visability vest and hard hat to each guest as they are about to leave the hotel wouldn’t be a bad idea as you do feel as though you are part of a construction team at times.

Heritage N3-B Parka

(The names of the people involved in the following incident have been changed to protect the innocent and their stupidity)

Picture the scene a group of young, well some of them, handsome, well ish and intelligent men, well maybe one, at a push two of them, in their prime, OK maybe prime is pushing it, are experiencing the many delights and beauty of the Polish city of Gdansk on a Cultural weekend away. Yes, these young fellows are soaking up the beauty of the city’s historic architecture, it’s culinary delights and the sites and sounds of its varied but extremely cold night life. Ahhhh the weather of Gdansk in March is something that very few people seem to warn, sorry inform you about prior to your visit and on this fresh and frosty trip the mercury wasn’t rising much above -16C.

So when this group of tired and weary travellers, saw a short cut back to their hotel, surely this was an opportunity not to be missed ? Alas, the short cut was via the Frozen straits of the Vistula River, was this as good an idea as it first seemed ? Half of the intrepid adventurers headed cautiously across the banks whereas the remaining gents, maybe the ones who hadn’t sampled as much of the liquid delights of the olde town had to offer took the high road.

Now this is where things got serious, from the safety of the bridge we started to hear a cracking and then a yell and one of the compadres, a Mr Adrian Cummins-Ham, had fallen through the ice and into the equally freezing water…. Thankfully, this happened, relatively near to the banks of the river and one, unusually for him, fast thinking cohorts, Mr Paul O’Monagle, bravely grabbed him, before the rapid currents managed to put him under the ice and drag him away !

Now, while all this was going on, what on earth does a Spiewak Parka have to do with the whole proceedings, I hear you ask ? Well, this was the item of outerwear, yours truly was wearing at the time and was able to gallantly but carefully toss the aforementioned Spiewak Parka down to his chums below so that his rather damp and shivering pal could wrap around himself for warmth and prevent exposure from setting in.

The Spiewak Parka in all its many glorious incarnations genuinely is a great piece of kit. Created by Isaac Spiewak, honestly, back in 1904 he started manufacturing handmade sheep-skin vests for stevedores, basically dockers, on the Brooklyn waterfront. Today, more than a century later, the company that Isaac began in working class Brooklyn endures as an iconic outfitter of utilitarian clothing for today. Trusted by the soldiers of WWI, WWII, police, firefighters and first responders all over the world.

More recently, the 110 year old American outer-wear brand, has launches the next chapter in its iconic history. The brand has transformed its heritage and molded it into a modern expression of classic utilitarian garments.

Industry veteran Maurizio Donadi is serving as the brand creative director and is leading all associated channels for the brand and bringing expertise and experience to guide the Spiewak brand vision into the future.

“The new Spiewak is an exercise in utility and simplicity. It’s a perfectly modern expression that fits the way people live now. We wanted people to experience these products and un- derstand them through the lens of current culture and then discover that the brand is over a hundred years old.” Said Donadi.

The Winter offerings will be split into two distinct product lines, the main Spiewak range which consists of outerwear that blends modern details, fabrics and shapes with distinct Spiewak styles and 2014 saw the launch of Spiewak Golden Fleece, an offering of the iconic Spiewak pieces from its archive. This heritage collection will be solely focused on recreating special pieces from Spiewak’s rich history.

OK, OK it’s the last day of Christmas, no more Festive puns, I promise, until next December. Before I start on today’s post I have to point out the reason this press release and it’s accompanying images stood out to me. All to often I find myself having to go away for a night, whether that be a Press trip, meeting, work related or plain old pleasure. I don’t want to be lugging around bags, you know a bag with your laptop etc, an overnight bag and then on many occasions a suit carrier, as folding a suit and placing it, no matter how carefully, in a holdall just doesn’t work. Let me tell you dragged through a hedge backward isn’t a good look when you are trying to impress and at least try and convince someone your half way professional.

Well, I’m not on my own in experiencing this problemo and rather then sit there complaining and fuming at luggage manufacturers, this man has got up and done something about it.

Paul Magi takes an architectural approach to his new accessory brand. Defined by a masculine aesthetic, the design style expresses the structural details of a product. The impetus to create a bag-based brand was defined by the needs of a contemporary well-travelled man, not unlike yours truly. The starting point for the ‘Overnighter’ was a list of essential items for a one night stay, with a constraint to conform to airline carry-on size restrictions.

Paul Magi, himself an architect, presents a brand that focuses on the use of sustainable and responsibly produced materials and components. The ‘Overnighter’ uses water-resistant cotton canvas and vegetable tanned leathers to create a considered bag that features the Paul Mag logo embossed in an understated script and comes in the masculine and understated tones of Black and Cognac.

When considering form, Paul’s desire was to present an extrinsically symmetrical shape, which could maintain the bag’s structure when unpacked. Signature reinforced leather bracing straps provide the ‘Overnighter’ with sufficient rigidity in its horizontal position, to pack clothes and buckle them into position with ease, so therefore, no more excuses for tardy appearances when dressing to impress. The three compartments allow for clothing, laptop and personal items to be stored separately yet accessed easily. Stitching around the middle section showcases the technical padding for laptop protection.

The distance between the handles of the Overnighter (175mm) is also considered detail, determined by the size of a man’s hand. This allows easy access to the front zipped pocket, deep enough to accommodate a jet-setters passport, airline tickets, and any other small items. Finally, the padded shoulder strap sums up the whole design philosophy; effortless style with the comfort of the user in mind. Ahhhhhh what more could you want ?

I never want to see another Turkey and stuffing sandwich again and don’t get me started on the the Terry’s Chocolate Oranges, no seriously don’t, plus if I drink another drop of alcohol I’ll be fermenting myself. Well it was Christmas but it’s over for another year and all that over doing it mixed with late nights and a lack of general, or any exercise, is really going to take its toll on you and the first place to start showing these telltale sign is your skin. So to not only help you guys, but myself aswell, we sort the advice of an Expert dermatologist and Skin technology expert Dr Paul Jarrod Frank. Dr Frank is the Skincare guru for the leading male Skincare range LAB SERIES, he’s a cosmetic dermatologist and industry expert, specialising in anti-aging skincare innovations and minimally invasive cosmetic surgery. His practice boasts over 50% male clientele and is dedicated to the very latest in groundbreaking services, procedures, machinery and technology, so in a word he knows what he’s talking about.

“With the excesses of the holiday season weighing us down, there is price to be paid on our skin as well. Alcohol, excess sugar, cooler temperatures and changes in humidity all effect our skin’s ability to function and look its best. On a physiologic level, the best way to battle these changes is to drink plenty of water and step up the aerobic exercise to increase the body metabolism to flush out toxins. In addition, the best thing you can do for the skin at a topical level is to “ultra hydrate.” For this I recommend AGE RESCUE+ Water-Charged Gel Cream by LAB SERIES. This gel cream gives skin a burst of hydration along with a surge of energising ginseng. Skin will look refreshed and hydrated – perfect to combat the negative effects of holiday imbibing.” – Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, LAB SERIES Skincare for Men Global Dermatologist and Skincare Technology Expert

CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Dressed to Kill – Spy Style

EXAMPLES FROM THE KINGSMAN COLLECTION

The Mondrian London – Home & Away

Not often you can say a Jacket saved someone’s life – The Spiewak Parka

A gift suitable for the Magi – Paul Magi

A word of advice from an Expert – Dr Paul Jarrod Frank

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