CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

anthonymcgrath405 / 27/03/2013

Minimalism just got more interesting – Minimum

Minimum was established by entrepreneur Peder Tang, as a small shop in Denmark’s second city, but ever so trendy area, of Aarhus in 1997. Gaining more and more notoriety the brand soon evolved into a independent clothing brand, launching its first collection back in 1999. Later, in 2007, Minimum added a female line and today it’s an international clothing company. Well established and stocked in stores throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada.

The general vision behind the brand is that of Scandinavian coolness mixed with a metropolitan vibe which has lent to the brand’s appeal and popularity across all the territories its available in. The brand aims to give their customers high quality products and unique details at an affordable price. Their collections are characterised by an interesting mixture of materials, shapes and colours and should be seen as a contributor to the basic wardrobe, working perfectly with existing favourite pieces, while at the same time providing prominent items for special occasions.

For Spring 2013, Minimum have turned their inspiration to what is without a doubt one of Denmark’s most fascinating, colorful and happy places to be. Christiania, an abandoned military site in the very middle of copenhagen which proclaimed itself as a FREE self-governing utopian society when squatters took it over in 1971.

Ever since the controversial area and it’s 600, so called, “Christianitter”, which have become a symbol, loved by so many around the world and have established a strong synonym with freedom, love and easygoing bohemian lifestyle.

This Spring 2013 collection brings together the social and design boundaries that have been pushed and blurred, via Christiania and Minimum emulates this ethos.

Minimum Spring 2013 Menswear range

anthonymcgrath405 / 26/03/2013

Raindrops keep falling on my shoes – SWIMS

SWIMS take on a Loafer

April, famous for its inclement weather and of course those pesky lil showers that so often catch you out, is only days away, plus, almost as a bonus, this year winter’s hanging around like a Pepper Pig sticker stuck to your fridge door, doesn’t seem to be budging ! What we need is some sort of device that allows us not to be restricted to carrying around a pair of Wellington boots with us no matter where we go and in constant fear of ruining a great and beloved pair of formal shoes that cost us a pretty penny !?!

Fear not dear reader, our good friends in the Scandinavian region, yes up there, no further, have come across a solution to ease our poor stressed out minds. SWIMS, originally established in 2005 by Johan Ringdal in Norway. The re-launch of the classic galosh with a modern twist proved to be a big success and is now found in over 25 countries in more than 650 high end stores such as Neiman Marcus, Scoop and Brooks Brothers in the US, Isetan in Japan,Trunk, Harvey Nichols, Orlebar Brown in the UK and Merci, L’Eclaireur and Le Bon Marché in France. The SWIMS collection includes galoshes, jackets, loafers, shoes, umbrellas and bags – all based on classic, nostalgic styles made with modern and unexpected materials, don’t worry, paper isn’t one of them.

The SWIMS loafer is made of water resistant rubber with nylon upper and a molded foot bed offering complete support. Some models have the velvet flocking that gives that extra luxurious finish.

The SWIMS for John Lobb

The sole is non-marking with a ribbed pattern designed to maximize traction on slippery surfaces and the ventilation gills on the sides ensure great breathability and ultimate comfort. Unlike traditional loafers, water will not damage the SWIMS loafer making them the perfect all round shoe come rain or shine and the SWIMS loafer is machine washable up to 30 C°.

In fact, growing love of this ingenious solution is such, that designer brands as diverse as Giorgio Armani, John Lobb and Agi & Sam have all collaborated with SWIMS in their own very individual manner.

SWIMS for Armani

The product is best summed up by Mr Ringdal, himself;

“A stylish solution, embodying the essence of practicality: Wear your favorite shoes, slip on SWIMS when the weather is rough, slip’em off when you arrive at your destination. Enhanced comfort is assured and your shoes are guaranteed to stay shiny.”

SWIMS for Agi & Sam AW13 collection

anthonymcgrath405 / 25/03/2013

Scent of a Man – Kouros Limited Edition

Kouros really is an iconic scent from an iconic Fashion House in Yves Saint Laurent. It’s well documented that the sense of smell can invoke a strong presence of emotion in oneself and just smelling Kouros transports you to a different time and conjures up vivid memories.

Kouros translates from ancient Greek to mean Youth and I have to be honest smelling this fragrances transports me back to mine. The fragrance was first launches back in 1981 and is the most successful male fragrance for the house of Saint Laurent and still today is one of the world most popular fragrance due to its timeless appeal.

A legendary fragrance, the triumphal emblem of a living Greek god whose masculinity is sculptural, solid and powerful. The ever more sensual Kouros idol draws summer’s vital energy from the limited edition Eau de Toilette. Kouros reinvents itself in a bright expression bathed in the light and warmth of Greek shores (yes I do really need a holiday at the moment and like all of us a little bit of sun). KOUROS ENERGIZING EAU DE TOILETTE soars on essences of bergamot and lemon, enlivened by a breath of aldehydes and anise notes, like a summer breeze on sun-warmed skin, ahhhh. This limited edition scent has its sensual core in Egyptian geranium. Incense and Virginia cedar are fused with leather and Indoesian Patchouli to try and capture a real ode to masculinity, ROAR !

anthonymcgrath405 / 22/03/2013

A winning combination – Bradley Wiggins for Fred Perry

2012 was an amazing year for a lot of people for a lot of different reasons, both Mrs Mc and Mrs Beyonce Carter gave birth to beautiful children, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years on the throne, the predicted end of the world didn’t happen, Francois Hollande was elected President of France, Manchester City won the Premiership (OK this didn’t make everyone happy), the two Biggest nations in the world elected leaders, one a returning (Barack Obama) and one new (Xi Jinping), a blog called Clothes-Make-the-man.com launched and a guy called Bradley Wiggins had a VERY good year. Not only did Wiggins win the Tour de France, he also picked up Gold at The Olympics Games and finished the year in the Guiness book of records and was knighted by the aforementioned Monarch.

Now, some might say Wiggo’s biggest achievement of last year was not given enough coverage and may have even gone unnoticed by a number of you. Well did you know that Sir Bradley Marc Wiggins collaborated with legendary casual wear brand Fred Perry ? For this collection he has followed a clear brief to create an authentic, non- technical range of off-cycle wear. The collection is not high-tech performance sportswear or track memorabilia, it is a single-minded collection that can be worn every day. British to the core with a typically clean, lean Fred Perry aesthetic refreshed with iconic cycling details such as extended hems and rear patch pockets.

The Spring 2013 Bradley Wiggins x Fred Perry collection is a collaboration that genuinely reflects Bradley’s personality. The understated but distinctly retro-Mod personality is epitomised by a ‘vintage’ palette inspired by colour cards from the Fred Perry archive. Wiggins’ passion for his country are reflected in the GB red, white and blue, particularly in multi-stripe trims and tipping.

Key pieces include the zip neck short sleeve cycling shirt, a more sporty panelled cycling shirt, a vintage track jacket that harks back to the days of Reg Harris and Tommy Simpson and a stretch twill city short and a drop hem Harrington.

anthonymcgrath405 / 21/03/2013

Lord of the Skies – Bell & Ross by Leo Parker

Aviation style luxury watches are set for a big year in 2013 and there is one name that typically stands out from the crowd when it comes to this style of timepiece – and it is that of Bell & Ross watches. Although they are a relative newcomer to the luxury watch industry (forming as recently as 1992) but they have not wasted any time at all in establishing themselves as one of the powerhouses of the industry and their aviation style timepieces certainly forms the cornerstone of their endeavours.

The brainchild of Bruno Belamich (Bell) and Carlos Rosillo (Ross), these breath taking timepieces have found favour amongst luxury watch aficionados the world over and all Bell & Ross watches are designed for professionals and crafted to 4 essential criteria – namely, precision, readability, performance and water resistance. Bell & Ross have a number of different collections of timepieces but the aviation feel permeates them all to some degree or other and it is a feature that has certainly made them popular amongst those looking for a highly functional and visually appealing luxury timepiece.

Just some of their most popular collections include the WW Vintage, BR01, BR02 and the BR S series of watches and these all positively exude luxury and elegant sophistication. Many of the Bell & Ross watches are purpose designed for pilots and this is something that is extremely evident from some of the features that you find on Bell and Ross timepieces. These classically styled, aviation themed type of watches are set for a big year in 2013 and Bell & Ross will inevitably be the driving force behind this popularity.

Let’s take a look at some of the stunning watches with an aeronautical feel that could be yours from the luxury watchmaker, Bell & Ross:

Bell & Ross Vintage Collection:

The Vintage Collection from Bell & Ross is unquestionably amongst their most stylish and sought after range of timepieces and you can see just how eye-catching they are from the spectacular Bell & Ross Vintage BR 126 Officer timepiece pictured.

This excellent series of striking timepieces is based on a profound need for military precision and they are designed on the military style timepieces worn by officers throughout military history.

These Vintage Bell & Ross watches are incredibly popular and this popularity is set to continue in 2013 as more and more people look to add a classic style luxury timepiece to their wrist over the next 12 months.

Bell & Ross BR02 Collection:

Famed for their versatility, Bell & Ross watches are one of the most stylish, rugged and precise collections of timepieces on the market and that is typified by their extraordinary BR02 Collection.

This unusual and striking collection is a departure from the aviation style watches that Bell & Ross are most renowned for as it is a series that is purpose built for divers and boasts an incredibly impressive water resistance with the pictured timepiece capable of plumbing depths of up to 1000m.

Bell & Ross BR03 Collection:

The Bell & Ross BR03 Collection is their square aviation style timepieces and they have become one of the most symbolic watches that they offer and for a fan of oversized timepieces, this collection should be your first port of call.

These watches are genuine aviation instruments and are popular amongst pilots the world over for their high-visibility and precise mechanics. Needless to say, those who spend a lot of time in the skies require a highly functional timepiece and watches like the Bell & Ross BR03-94 Heritage pictured certainly ticks all of the right boxes.

A great watch for aviation aficionados and one of the collections from Bell & Ross that will likely fly (pun not intended) off the shelves in 2013.

All Bell & Ross watches are made in their modern watchmaking facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds and all of the timepieces that roll off their production line have been tested in hazardous and inclement conditions to ensure their durability because, as aviation timepieces, then need to be capable of withstanding even the most inhospitable of environments. If you want one of the most rugged and stylish watches on the market in 2013, it is difficult to look beyond Bell & Ross.

Take a look at Bell & Ross watches from The Watch Gallery.

Minimum Spring 2013 Menswear range

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