CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Ohhh I do like to be beside the Seaside, in style, of course ! – the New Seaside inspired New Balance 577

 

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This month New Balance launch their latest Made in the UK shoe pack, the New Balance 577 ‘Seaside Pack.’ Inspired by all that comes with a typically British day at the seaside, no not cold wet weather, donkeys and unpleasant pollutant surprises in the sea !

The 577 ‘Seaside Pack’ takes inspiration from the sea, sun and sand with bright pops of colour which represent all the fun that the seaside brings, woop woop.

The helter-skelter design on the tongue label and striped insoles mimicking the stripes of a classic seaside deckchair collide to make these shoes a must have for sneaker collectors and allow these classic 577 models to tell the story of a quintessentially British seaside experience.

When introduced in 1989, the 577 was arguably the most supportive trainer for serious runners. Today this heritage style is more likely to be seen on a catwalk than a running track having been firmly cemented as a highly sought after fashion favourite. Take a look a the short film below –

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One hell of a notch for the Bedpost – Notch London

imageA key philosophy behind the Notch brand ethos is belief in simplicity, class and understatement. Conceived by a passion for clean modernist design and menswear sat comfortably alongside a penchant for meticulous detail sums up the overall aesthetic of its debut collection that offers a considered range.

Founded by three ex colleagues of World Design & Trade (Sonetti, Firetrap, Full Circle) with an ambition to produce ready to wear, quality product which reflects their full on, urban lives. Notch London launches for Summer 14, a collection encapsulating modern Britain’s minimal, smart and functional aesthetic.

imageWith a desire to create product that will remain in wardrobes and over time become loved go to items, Notch London focused on detail, silhouette and fabric choices oppose to fast fashion trends.

The collection is made up of essential wardrobe pieces for style savvy men from clean cut button down shirting, ageless knitwear, functional outerwear and seasonal jackets. An area Notch have excelled, is in its shirting. A classic menswear garment, Notch wanted to do it justice and created a quality selection of styles. Completed with reduced collar sizes for a sharper and more contemporary shape. This range is complimented with the Notch denim range, jeans coming in slim, skinny, tapered or standard fit. All the denim washes draw inspiration from vintage samples for authenticity. All pieces are designed to fit and flatter utilising form and function in equal measure.

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Who’s da Boss – BOSS Bottled Unlimited by Amanda Lewis

imageInspired by the Alpha male’s determination and drive for success, BOSS BOTTLED, UNLIMITED, is the energising new scent from HUGO BOSS Fragrances.

This limited edition fragrance is inspired by the endurance required to succeed combined with the rush of adrenalin when a goal has been reached. Celebrating that exhilarating sense of energy that comes with achievement, BOSS BOTTLED. UNLIMITED. is an instant invigorating boost. Available for a limited time only, it’s the must-have scent during this exciting summer of sports.

The face of the fragrance is England’s Goalkeeper Joe Hart. As a master of his profession through determination, ambition, dynamism and a confidence in his ability, Joe Hart shares his views on success, how to achieve it and how more importantly how to sustain it.

“To succeed, you have to be committed to what you do and love what you do. I’m really passionate about my job and give it my all. I’m so lucky that I’ve always had a team around me that have helped me get to where I am today – family, friends, and coaches. You have to take every opportunity possible and you just have to keep going, keep improving and constantly moving forward.”

Let’s hope he remembers those words in Brasil this Summer. The scent is inspired by vibrant green notes BOSS BOTTLED. UNLIMITED. has been created with a striking blend of refreshing mint and evergreen cistus, combined with juicy pineapple and enduring masculine to create a fresh and modern take on a classic masculine scent.

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Give Peace a Chance – Lynx Peace Range, ‘Peace for a Week Challenge’


imageSo as I’m sure you’re very aware, a couple of weeks ago, Grooming brand, Lynx challenged our good selves here at Clothes Make the Man, to take part in their ‘Peace for a Week’ Challenge. So rather then losing the head and your temper when life throws at you the slings and arrows of modern everyday life, you take a deep breathe and make love not war. So in the name of the new Lynx Peace range,  they want to inspire you guys;

– To focus your passions
– To dedicate your talents
– To use your talents in a positive way

All of this non agressive statement is in support of the Peace one day Campaign for World Peace Day on 21st September, all a very worthwhile cause, I’m sure you’d agree.

After we readily accepted the gauntlet thrown down to us by Lynx, quicker then you could say World Peace Day, then a package was delivered to Clothes Make the Man HQ. Contained inside this rather mysterious hamper was a rather nifty Polaroid camera, a t-shirt and the complete range of Lynx Peace Grooming range to assist us in keeping to our pledge of ‘Peace for a Week’.

imageThe Lynx Peace range has a none surprisingly rather settling and peaceful fragrance which starts with top notes of violet leaf, bergamot, mandarin, lemon peel and yuzu. Its mid notes include apricot nectar, violet flower and nutmeg, with a dry finish that includes cedarwood, golden amber and patchouli. Lynx worked with Ann Gottlieb to develop the fragrances with the world-class fragrance house, Firmenich, to ensure it’s calming properties.

So how did our Peace for a Week challenge go and did we complete our mission ? Well, in all honesty, we did of course as we channelled our Yen like inner peace, but that wasn’t without certain modern day instances sent to try us (all you are about to read is 100% truthful! scouts honour).

Now, I have to point out we had just returned from a lil family break, which wasn’t without its own stresses and strains, but enough about that, overall we returned rested and stress free. Until, we arrived back and on Day one, yes day one, an articulated truck went into the side of my car ! And to make matters worse decided to carry on driving, Gawd bless him, or words to that effect, but it was Peace for a Week. You can imagine my reaction to seeing this, but that mantra of Peace for a week, Peace for a week. Well that and the fact the first person I saw was a kindly elderly lady in full salvation Army uniform. You can picture the scene like something out of a Jeremy Beadle Nightmare, expletives of all nature were on the tip of my tongue. But this angel in full Sally Army glory not only had witnessed the whole episode, but caught all of the driver’s details and proceeded to contact the local constabulary on our behalf plus had the crime reference number all ready for me, bless her.

Now, one might think, bad luck old boy, but it could have been worse and at least it’s over, well that’s what I thought too. That was until a representative of our Insurance company returned my call several days later to inform me that a Tow truck was on its way as in their infinite wisdom and without seeing the car, had decided it was written off ! Once again, yours truly had to recite the mantra of Peace for a Week and think of such great peaceful individuals of humankind like, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Will-I-am rather then the figures I really wanted to channel like Napoleon Bonaparte, Mike Tyson and Joan Rivers. It would have been all too easy, and satisfying to, both physically and metaphorically, tear a strip of this pen pusher, errrr sorry corporate representative. After all I had accepted a challenge and I was going to complete it, yes even if it did kill me. Now, you may be wondering, but how does this tale of woe finish, well in fact it does have somewhat of a happily ever after. As after several more mistakes a la our wonderful insurance company, including replacing our family sized car with a three door fiesta, which resulted in. Mrs Mc’s use of some rather. colourful language. I am happy to inform you we are currently driving round in a rather suave Volvo XC90, for our troubles and we came out the end other end of Peace for a Week relatively unscathed, thanks Lynx.

 

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Disgruntled Yoof – Ben Sherman X Matthew Miller – Dissaffected Generation Forever

imageMatthew Miller is on somewhat on a run of great Collaborations at the moment, this Stoke-on-Trent lad cut his teeth working on projects for Sportwear brand Umbro, Suiting Supremo Brioni, Oliver Sweeney and Timberland amongst others, either before or in the early stages of setting up on his own. More recently he and a whole host of bright young things, including Katie Eary and Christopher Raeburn worked exclusively with MRPORTER.com and Grenson on a brilliant footwear project. Vogue have labelled him, “One to Watch” and Selfridges picked up on him after only his second collection. For his latest partnership its the turn of Ben Sherman.

This time, Miller explores the notion of a ‘disafffected generation’ that forms an identity through rebellion and the pressure to conform. The collection focuses on  Matthew’s trademark of investigating traditional structures and subverting them with new fabrications. Classic elements, such as the Ben Sherman ‘House Check’  has been enlarged and applied as a new print for t-shirts, shirts and a jacket. The shirts and t-shirts have been dissected with a cross-fading ‘House Check’, whilst the others hold a ‘DGF’ chest badge, which sits like an emblem for the  ‘disaffected generation forever’. The enlarged print continues on to the light-weight jacket, which carries signature Ben Sherman details like the back locker-loop.