anthonymcgrath405 / 18/03/2013

Acqua Di Parma OUD – Scent of an Oasis

Acqua Di Parma is a brand you should know and enjoy the myriad of amazing products they produce, if you don’t, don’t despair they completely deserve a post dedicated to them and the amazing job they do. But, however, that is another post that hopefully, dear reader you will enjoy and can look forward to in the coming weeks. Today’s post, nonetheless is dedicated to a single product from within the family of this timeless luxury brand.

Acqua Di Parma’s Colonia Intensa OUD offers a unique fragrance combining the all-Italian freshness of iconic Colonia Acqua di Parma with the oriental traits of the most precious Agarwood, an essential oil which is a distinctive element of the fascinating Middle-East sensory tradition.

For this fragrance Acqua di Parma explores the rich olfactory tradition of the Arab civilisation. In this world, balms, incense, and perfumed oils are obtained from precious woods, musk, spices and resins. One of the most charismatic ingredients is Agarwood, also known as OUD, which is the most precious of all. An essence obtained by means of a long, painstaking, complicated manual process from the resins of Aquilaria, a large tree which originates from India.

The scent of Colonia Intensa OUD offers what can only be described as journey through many lands starting off in Italy the home of Acqua Di Parma, amongst the Orange groves of Southern Italy. Where Orange Oil is blended with Calabrian bergamot to obtain the top notes. The journey then takes us deep into the spice routes, south of Russia where we collect coriander, mixed with the warm accents of Amyris wood. This is when things get really interesting and we enter the heart of the fragrance through the Gulf countries for the essential ingredient of Agarwood essential oil. The route then leads us through the countries of the Middle East for the base notes of Cedarwood Atlas oil of Marocco, Patchouli oil, Leather accord, Sandalwood accord, Musk which completes this unique cologne.

anthonymcgrath405 / 15/03/2013

One for the Men – House of Fraser Menswear events

Men are often the second thought, forgotten party when it comes to Fashion and Style often losing out to their higher spending, fashionista female partners and counterparts. Events specifically for the female customer are common place making them feel pampered and cared for as a shopper. Well no more I tell you, no more ! House of Fraser have been aware of the neglect we feel as a consumer body and as a result are offering Menwear events up and down the country, see below for dates. Each of the participating stores are offering tailor made events for us, yes us humble male customers to partake and participate in. Staring this weekend, yes as of TODAY ! at their Oxford Street Flagship store in London where amongst other things you can;

Win a year’s supply of underwear from Superdry
Your chance to win £1000 to spend on Tommy Hilfiger
Enter the Tombola to win £200 of Label Lab Clothes
Receive EXCLUSIVE Gifts with purchases from Fred Perry, Lyle & Scott, replay, Penguin and Tommy Hilfiger, Barbour, Ted Baker and many more !
Customise your jeans with Replay Denim Campus
One for the ladies, see WE don’t forget you, you can meet the Calvin Klein Hunks in trunks, moving on.
Plus Drinks and DJ will be on hand to make the experience even more pleasurable !!!!

The dates for further events include ;

Bristol 21 – 24 March

Dundrum (Dublin) 28 – 30^th March

Westfield 4^th – 7^th April

Reading 11-14^th April

Birmingham 18-21 April

Manchester 2-5 May

Glasgow 9-12^th May

anthonymcgrath405 / 14/03/2013

Every little thing they do is magic – POLICE Celebrate their 30th Anniversary

The celebratory Special Edition POLICE sunglasses

2013 marks the anniversary of a number of brands within the world of style and fashion, the first being POLICE Sunglasses, the Italian eyewear brand celebrate their 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion POLICE are launching an exclusive special edition set of sunglasses and commemorative book, called Look Beyond, which features a collection of artistic photographs that looks back over the past 30 years of the brand.

Over the years POLICE have seen such iconic figures as Bruce Willis, Antonio Banderas, David Beckham, George Clooney and currently Welsh Actor Luke Evans all act as the face of the sunglasses range and as part of the celebrations, the brand will launch a Special Edition sunglasses using a signature Police Aviator style model with unique details. The classic pilot shape is given an exclusive edge with a special gold plated frame, leather detailing and the iconic winged Police logo. A classic and timeless frame the sunglasses will available in both silver and gold at Harvey Nichols in the UK & Ireland from April 2013.

Additionally, a book, Look Beyond, is based on the work of noted Italian photography, Giovanni Gastel. Through a collection of portraits of personalities from the world of film, music, sports and art. The photographer depicts what it means to look beyond, to overcome those boundaries that often prevent us from truly understanding our surroundings.

As well as celebrating 30 years of producing great sunglasses, the project has also been created to support the charity Doctors Without Boarders and the wonderful world they do across some of the most dangerous and stricken parts of the world. A proportion of the proceeds from the sale of the book and sunglasses will be donated to the charity to provide a complete cycle of treatment for malnourished children.

IMAGES FROM LOOK BEYOND

Model Alek Wek

Actor – Luke Evans

Footballer Clarence Seedorf

anthonymcgrath405 / 13/03/2013

Form an orderly McQ for this range – McQ

McQ was founded by the late and great visionary of British Fashion and true genius, in the creative artistic sense, Lee (Alexander) McQueen in 2005. The range finds inspiration in street culture and sub-cultures, offering individual pieces that fit perfectly into the modern wardrobe of not only die hard McQueen followers but can be adopted by any and every stylish individual. It follows the main signature of the house collection, including structured tailoring, the nipped-in waist and of course, tartan, these are all distilled into wearable pieces that are distinct and evoke a quiet confidence but always hold a little piece of McQueen DNA. McQ collections often reference uniform and the military, drawing inspiration from Britain’s rich heritage and often reflect the emotion and raw energy often exhibited in his signature collections and Fashion shows. Traditional British techniques and fabrics are used in contemporary ways, creating pieces that are both functional and beautiful.

After Lee’s untimely death in 2010, Sarah Burton undertook the unenviable role of Creative Director of not only the main range but McQ as well, to which she has more then rose to the challenge and excelled. With particular reference to McQ she has offered collections of youthful, modern pieces that draw on the unique design archive of Alexander McQueen. Sitting in parallel to the mainline, that remain loyal to the brand’s house codes yet are designed to be worn every day.

For Spring 13 she offers a continuation from the more elevated AW12 McQ collection, the new season features soft, washed military pieces realised in shades of khaki and moss, alongside modern interpretations of classic street wear staples, like the military parka and the cotton drill military shirt.

The influence of luxe sportswear trend can be found throughout the collection, on everything from aertex jumpers and tracksuits to polo shirts. Almost as a juxtaposition, a make do and mend feel begins to emerge, with several pieces featuring sewn-on patches and several fabrications in one garment. Pieces feature ghosting detailing under lapels and of course the McQ tartan comes in camouflage colours, to tie in with the ubiquitous military undertone of the collection. That famous Gothic fingerprint of McQueen is evident in the insect and animal prints which appear on pieces.

anthonymcgrath405 / 12/03/2013

Super-ga Shoes – Oliver Spencer Per SUPERGA

The 2750 Heritage, the shoe style Superga are best known for, isn’t looking to bad for being over 100 years old. Born in Turin, Italy in 1911, the shoe and also the brand have built up a loyal and stylish following, from Ryan Reynolds to Guy Ritchie and Alexa Chung and the Olsen Twins have all been spotted sporting the vulcanised rubber soled footwear.

Ohhh and its not just style conscious Hollywood A-listers that are getting in on the act. Last year to celebrate the brand’s centennial anniversary Henry Holland launched a collaboration of unique shoes that only the House of Holland could dream up. to keep that momentum a flowing the brand have worked with one of Clothes-Make-the-man‘s favourite designers for Spring 2013, Mr Oliver Spencer. The refined collection combines Oliver’s modern aesthetics with Superga’s timeless styles. Reflecting on the collaboration, Oliver Spencer commented:

“The concept behind the collaboration is to be something that is very clean with a feeling of luxury. I wanted to show the brand’s versatility through modern day inspirations. The shoes represent a bridge between sport and luxury.”

Marking the first ever menswear collaboration from Superga, the Oliver Spencer per Superga collection combines colour blocking, brushed nubucks, premium shirting material and retro gum soles with a modern twist. Oliver’s play on textures and colour combinations creates a clean, minimalist look giving the iconic 2750 a deluxe makeover.

CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN