Selvage a pair – Nudie Jean Dry Organic Pima Selvage Jeans

The Dry Organic Pima Selvage  anatomy

Nudie Jeans, have built a world class reputation since their launch in Gothenberg, Sweden in 2001 with a no nonsense, Anti-Fashion, common sense message of if you like the brand join us and enjoy their product and if you don’t thats cool, OK. Their core values were decided upon even before the brand was founded. To work with suppliers and partners who respect human rights and take responsibility for the environment was a given base to start from. Apart from doing what they enjoy the most they wanted to work with people who share this simple and genuine philosophy. They wanted to create a platform for realising idealistic projects and they entered into a collaboration with the humanitarian organisation, Amnesty International, in its launch year.

The guys behind the brand have a beautiful approach to the denim business believing that besides leather, only denim has the ability to age so gracefully, formed by its wearer into a second skin. The Indigo colour of denim is the living colour thats fades together with the lifestyle. The longer it lives, the more character and attitude it gains

The latest addition to their family is an, unsurprisingly, Organic premium Pima cotton grown on a small scale organic farm in New Mexico, USA. Selvage fabric woven in Japan on narrow shuttle looms by skilled denim artisans. Cut and sewn at one of the world’s best denim producers in Italy. The Grim Tim Dry Organic Pima Selvage Jeans.

The fabric has a streaky appearance which is a feature thanks to the long fibres of the Pima cotton. Combining Pima cotton with the benefits of the selvage weav- ing technique creates a durable, dense and soft fabric. Each pair has an individual number, ranging from 1–480, stamped on the back leather patch. To break-in this dry 13,5 oz selvage jean, wear it for six months before first wash.

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Not tonight lads its Gentlemen only – Gentlemen Only the new fragrance from Givenchy

Gentlemen Only 100mlNo its not some grand mahogany door clad, pretentious media hungry private members club, no this a universal club with no door policy, no discriminatory management and no silly meetings in front of a panel of po faced harridans to gain membership. You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon perched in ones mouth or a case of who you know not what you know. This is a club where you will recognise its members by smell alone, as Givenchy, the French Power Fashion House launches its new Gentlemen Only fragrance.

The Scent uses a mix of the finest essences and natural ingredients. It starts with giving off  an aromatic and spicy freshness, created by a blend of green mandarin orange, pink peppercorns, nutmeg and birch leaves. Then its depth is revealed by trio of cedar, patchouli and vetiver before a powerful charm of of incense hits you.

Each element of this fragrance has been thought through, the bottle is classic and yet contemporary, reminding you of a

Actor, Simon Barker Face of Gentlemen Only by Givenchy

Actor, Simon Barker Face of Gentlemen Only by Givenchy

gentleman’s hip flask and the thick glass bottom is reminiscent of a paper weight you would find on the desk of a man of the world. The House of Givenchy has thought long and hard as to who could epitomise the elements of what encapsulates this scent and what it is all about and they choose the Australian actor, Simon Barker, currently seen in the film, “I give it a year” and the investigator in the TV series “The Mentalist”. Barker is seen as a modern day gentleman in the same way as Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant were in the Golden age of Hollywoods films.

 

Givenchy's 10 ways to spot a modern day Gentleman, are you one ?

Givenchy’s 10 ways to spot a modern day Gentleman, are you one ?

 

Bags of Likeability – Universal Works X Millican Collaboration

Screen Shot 2013-04-22 at 15.47.08Screen Shot 2013-04-22 at 15.47.08Screen Shot 2013-04-22 at 15.47.08It honestly is a rare occurrence when I’m able to say, watch this, it explains everything, but that is exactly what the below short film does. Two Great British Menswear brands have come together to produce a concise capsule bag collection, offering everything, any man, any bag he could possibly need. Universal Works, who produce a well made, easy to wear and affordable collection for men who want contemporary clothes, but understand tradition and looking good without trying too hard. They have teamed up with Millican,  a brand that follows the path left by eco-adventurer and godfather of sustainable living, no not Tom Goode of the Good Life, God Rest his Soul, but Millican Dalton, who in turn produce a collection of organic canvas bags and accessories. Watch and Enjoy –

SS/13 Universal Works x Millican Collaboration from Millican on Vimeo.

Age Defence – Korres Black Pine Anti-Ageing Serum

Korres Black Pine Serum jpegHaving just returned from what can only be described as being a full on trip to Las Vegas, more on that at a later date, plus having a very bad sleeping new addition to the family, I feel I’ve aged 10 years recently. I’ve started to avoid mirrors and when I find myself confronted in a mirrored lift or washroom I catch myself scrutinsing those “laughter lines” and what can only be discussed as shopping bags under my eyes.

So, when the press release for Korres Black Pine Anti-Ageing Serum arrived in my inbox it really was a sight for, not only, sore but tired eyes. The Greek organic skincare range, whose first product was an aromatic herbal syrup with honey and aniseed, a recipe inspired by “rakomelon”, a warming spirit with honey concoction, which George Korres’ grandfather used to favour in his hometown on the island of Naxos. Set up in 1996 with the aim to utilize its extensive scientific resources for the development of clinical effective and safe products, Korres today offers a natural and certified organic range in all areas of beauty and skincare. The brand’s core values remain the same as in its pharmacy days – the use of herbs and natural ingredients of the highest quality; skin and environmentally friendly products with clinically tested effectiveness; affordable for every day use yet of high-aesthetics with strong artistic direction.

With the Black Pine Anti-Ageing Serum 100% of the test panel users reported positive results with firming and TempSure lifting action for wrinkle reduction, skin elasticity and re-contouring. To further push the benefits of its serum Korres then asked Dermatologists to clinically measure the results on the members of the test panel. They confirmed improvements on every member of the panel.

To achieve these impressive results Korres collaborated with the Institute of Biology of the Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Ageing, I promise I didn’t make that up, honest, to investigate and harness the exceptional qualities of Black Pine polyphenol [Epigallocathechin] in regulating metalloproteinases [MMPs] thus maintaining the dermis junction (the acellular zone that is between the dermis and the epidermis of the skin).

The combination of black pine extract, a rich source of polyphenols and pure polyphenol Epigalocatechin reduce the action of MMPs and effectively firm the skin and along with the other active ingredients ensures real results.

 

Sitting at the dock of the bay – Sebago Shoes

Screen Shot 2013-03-20 at 11.36.15Boat shoes are not everyones cup of tea and it has to be said it does evoke a certain marmite effect in men. But over the last couple of summer seasons it can’t be denied they’ve been growing in popularity, to the point that you can see everyone from your trendy wendys over the “long” summer months busting a battered up pair, your Dad thinking he’s down with the kids to even your Grandad who sees the comfort benefit of them and don’t get me started about the normal everyday man on the street, down the football, in the pub etc. This trend is even further compounded and confused when you have everyone from Lanvin and Junya Watanabe to BHS and Primark producing a version of.

Now, one brand is surnonimous with this style of shoe and hails from an area equally famous for its sea fairing activities. Sebago was founded by three New England natives, Daniel J. Wellehan, Sr., William Beaudoin and Joseph Cordeau in 1946. Their very first shoe, the hand-sewn penny loafer, fashioned after the popular Indian moccasins. In 1970, Sebago introduced their own-branded shoe, the classic dockside. Beloved by many,Docksides would eventually come to define the entire boat shoe category and this very shoe still remains their most popular style to this day.

Screen Shot 2013-03-20 at 11.34.44Recently, the brand has partnered with true craftsmen who continue the tradition and techniques of the leather tanning processes, in the Horween Leather Company of Chicago, Illinois. The Horween Caftsmen run a century old tannery and offer an array of the finest tannages. The Chromexcel Leather, exclusive to this tannery, selected for their Docksides boat shoes in the original premium leather, crafted from Horween’s proprietary recipe of natural oils. Horween’s time honoured traditions and formulas provide Sebago with a soft, yet highly durable leather, which a little like myself, improve with age and add to their handsome appearance.

Examples of the Docksiders by Sebago

Examples of the Docksiders by Sebago

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