CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Following on from Ahmed’s bag issue in the first post of Ask Ant a couple of weeks ago I was sent a tweet from a Mr David Glynn, who was so impressed with the advice dished out that he felt compelled to contact me with his own dilemma.

Any suggestions? Par ! Of course Our Dave, that’s the name of our game here at Clothes-make-the-man.com we are your essential style guide, sir !

Right then, so your after something, slightly smaller and cheaper. OK first up, I’d take a look at Medwinds, a Spanish company, so their leather goods are going to be good standard but not cost a fortune.  For Spring 2012, the Barcelona based online brand offers a complete collection of wardrobe staples designed with the Mediterranean lifestyle in mind.

Medwinds overnight bag £90

Next then I’d take a look at the good ole reliable and trust me great at Manbags Marks & Spencer. As with everything M&S do and  part of their fundamental DNA is their quality and reasonable priced products. You know when you buy something from Mark & Sparks that it isn’t going to fall apart after a couple of weeks. I’ve selected two for you David.

Leather dispatch bag from the Autograph Collection £99

The Heritage Satchel £59.50

For your third option, I’ve gone for another retail institution, but this time it’s from across the pond, GAP.  In answering your question David I’ve wanted to ensure anyone, no matter where they’re from can get access to the bags we’ve cited in the post and no matter if there isn’t a bricks and mortar outlet of these fine retail cornerstones you can rely on their flagship websites to cater for your ever need.

So, once again I’ve gone for two options for you.

Black leather messenger bag £65.95

Tuxtured leather briefcase £99.95

Finally, if you’re after something little different and more customised to YOU, maybe think about commissioning a designer to make one for you. WHAT BESPOKE !!!!!! It’s really not as expensive as you might think. There is a wonderful designer in Brixton Village Market, Nneka and her brand N’Damus,  will happily take on individual orders (see the bag below) and will tailor a piece to your individual requirements, take a look at her website www.ndamus.com for more details. But if this is a little far away, you could always contact your local fashion college and enquiry if they could recommend a student who could undertake a commission of visit designer/artist coops, along the lines of somewhere like Afflecks Palace in Manchester or the Corn Exchange in Leeds.

Brown Leather Satchel £125

So David, all that is left for me to do is to tell you, the choice is yours ??? Let us know what your decision was and join us again next Tuesday for another style clinic.

A.M.

STOCKISTS

www.gap.eu

www. medwinds.com

www.marksandspencer.com

www.ndamus.com

This week’s dilemma for Askant comes in the form of a problem which I think affects most men at one time or another and that is buying trousers which AREN’T jeans.

Well Blubes, I hope you don’t mind me calling you Blubes, thanks for taking the time to get in contact and firstly don’t worry this isn’t a problem that affects just you, this is an issue that affects men up and down the country. We all like what we know and know what we like and when it come to jeans once we’ve found a pair and brand we like, it’s like the footie team we support, we like them for life and grief them once they’ve gone.

The first matter I think we need to address though is your fear of chinos or Chinophbia to give it, its correct term. Now, this may stem from having to have worn them as part of your school uniform, or a dislike to yuppies in the 80’s, which is very similar to the phobia many people suffer, Coulrophobia or the fear of Clowns. Now Chinos have moved on an awful lot these days, so please no longer think of them as the remit of sailors and bankers on their day off (that was bankers BTW). There is literally a pair to suit any man of any colouring and body shape.

Brad, Dave, Zac, & Ash - The Chino boys

Regardless of your budget, I would set a side an hour and visit TOPMAN and take advantage of their personal shopping service, get someone else to do the running around store for you while you have a bit of a seat down. They have a multitude of colours and fits, (check out topman.com) or if TOPMAN puts the fear of God into you, maybe try the home of the chinos GAP(gap.eu) or Burton, yes you did read that right Burton (burton.co.uk).

A selection of TOPMAN's chinos

A snippet of Gap's chino selection

Bags more Chinos at Burton

After you’ve got a better idea of what cut, shape and colour of chino actually suits you then you can expand your search, if you so wish, to reflect the amount you wish to spent. Do a little retail research but I’d recommend a brand like Ralph Lauren, Maison Martin Margiela or Albam.

Ralph Lauren Chinos £170

Maison Martin Margiela @ Mr Porter.com £245

Albam Chinos £105

Now remember Chinos are not the only casual trouser, another option open to you are the humble cords, don’t think Geography

OK maybe not the orange but you get the idea !

teacher, but do think geek chic. Dressed down with a pair of plimsoles/trainers or boots, like the above images and your cords can be ever bit as versatile as your chino, plus they come in nearly as many colours as the chino and can be dressed up by pairing them up with a blazer and if you’re feeling adventurous thrown in a pocket square and you have the look down to a tee.

Lastly, Blubes, I’m going to throw you a screw ball and put out there the idea of maybe buying a suit or using already the suit

See Blubes maybe you could look as cool as this dude busting his trousers and trainers

trousers you already have and utilising them as an individual piece in their own casual right. Once again wear the suit trousers with a pair of plimsoles and a T-shirt rather then a shirt and tie and you instantly give them a new lease of life.

So Blubes, all that is left for me to do is to tell you, the choice is yours ??? Let us know what your decision was and join us again soon for another style clinic.

A.M.

Firstly guys, thank you for heeding my call for your sartorial conundrums, I was pleasantly surprised to see regular emails to the askant account seeking advise and calls for help on solving matters of problematic styling. I promise I will get through them and please keep ’em a coming to askant@ymail.com.

So first up is a stylish young man with an issue regarding looking his best when carrying his gym kit to and from that accursed fitness place. Basically, he’s asks –

Right, quick as a flash, I sprang into action. On inspection of this mighty fine piece of weekend luggage.

Hugo Boss leather Weekend bag £655 hugoboss.com

I do have to say, although I agree with you Ahmed, £655 is a little steep for something that, primarily you want to lug around your sportswear in. You have to see a purchase of this nature as an investment piece, this is something that you, SHOULD, be able to use for many years to come, for weekends away, holidays, business trips etc. The materials used on an object of this level will be some of the best leathers money can buy.

However, this was not what you were asking, so I sourced the great and the good of the UK High Street from Designer names to more humble price points, but something you do need to bear in mind when making a purchase of this nature, particularly with regard to luggage is, buy cheap buy twice. You get what you pay for when buying a leather weekend bag.

Nontheless, this is Ask Ant and answers to your problems is the name of my game. So option one is –

Zara black leather holdall £79 zara.com

From the Espana retail giants Zara, Zara just seem to have come from nowhere to being major players in the style stakes when it comes to menswear and yet they still seem to want to keep somewhat underground with it too ???? This piece is a real bargain, but PLEASE remember the aforementioned maxim, buy cheap buy twice. Spain is known for its leather goods and the quality of them but the price is the price and at £79 it’s an unbelievable one, get it while stocks last !!! Buy two at that price.

Leather weekend holdall £245 from Reiss (not available online as

Option two comes to us from Reiss’s Spring Summer Collection. Although this piece isn’t on their website at the moment it is available from their stores and in the requested Black. At £245 it is a little more but hey it’s not £655, it’s a really versatile and masculine weekend bag that you won’t be embarrassed to pick up at the luggage carousel on the next business trip. It’s just the job for slinging your gym togs into and it’s appearance will improve with age.

Finally, we have option 3, which is brought to us via the fantastic mr porter(.com). If you haven’t had a chance to check this

Black leather bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs £470 available from mrporter.com

amazing emporium out yet, what have you been doing !!! let it be your first job after reading this. It carries everything you could possibly need and so much more, it does take itself a little too serious, but we all can’t be perfect. The bag in question is by Marc by Marc Jacobs and comes in at £470. Probably keep the name of the designer behind this bag from your girlfriend as he IS the King when it comes to girls handbags and you could find yourself, shall we say sharing this lil number. Ahmed, if this be your choice, strike while the irons hot as this piece is selling like the proverbially hot cake. As the learned ones at Mr Porter put it, “Whether heading to the gym or jetting off for a weekend away, this Marc by Marc Jacobs holdall bag will ensure you do it in style. Crafted from tough full grain black leather, it has rugged attitude, so pile in your essentials and go”.

So Ahmed all that is left for me to do is to tell you, the choice is yours ??? Let us know what your decision was and join us again next week for another style clinic.

A.M.