CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Nothing is more attractive than smelling nice, and with the long hot summer days in full swing, prolonging your chosen scent at events such as weddings, graduations, and proms is essential to feeling confident.  

It can be frustrating when spending lots of money on expensive perfumes for them not to last longer much more than an hour which is why fragrance sample specialists at Parfumery have put together top tips on how to get the most out of your fragrances during the peak of summer – leading you to smell amazing all day long.   

Put your fragrances in the fridge 

You should be cautious in deciding where you store your fragrance/s, as many factors can cause the scent to change purely based on whether they are sat in direct sunlight and how humid the area is. Putting your perfume in the fridge is a great way to keep your perfumes at a cool temperature, therefore maintaining the aroma within the scent. It also works as a great way to enhance any fresh notes that may be in your scent such as lemon, mint, and bergamot. If putting your fragrances in the fridge might be a step too far for you, you should still make sure to store your scent in a cool and dry place such as a draw or cupboard in a cooler room.  

Top Tip – Although your fragrances may look pretty on display, you may also be damaging the surfaces on which they are stored if any are known to leak or are easily knocked over. Check over your bottles and see if there have been any signs of leakage; if so, it might be worth changing around their home. 

Use petroleum jelly 

If you want to try something physical to aid your scent in lasting longer, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to your skin before applying the fragrance. The jelly will lock in the scent and help it to last all day, especially if applied to pulse points. 

Spray your hair 

Use specific hair mists and scents to accompany your everyday fragrance. Your hair is known to hold scent extremely well, which is why so many beautifully scented hair products are on the market. To apply hair scents  or mists, it is best to flip your head over and spritz an even coating of the scent to your hair throughout the lengths and leave for a couple of seconds to allow it to dry. 

  Top Tip – Try spraying your hairbrush or comb with your scent and running it through dry hair. Avoid directly applying fragrance  to your hair, as the alcohol in the fragrance can cause damage to the hair.

Spray more than one area 

By restricting your application to spraying the neck and wrists, you neglect many other areas that may hold your fragrances better throughout the day. Try spritzing other body parts, such as your belly button, back of the knees and elbows, as these areas tend to get less sunlight and effectively sweat less. The heat can cause your scent to evaporate quicker than when applied on cooler days, so try experimenting with applying it to different areas of the skin that are not exposed to sunlight. 

Layer it up 

 You can maximise your scent in many ways when performing your everyday skincare routine. Try opting for fragranced shower gels and body creams to start off the layers, then apply your perfume and other body mists you love to top off your scent for the day. If your deodorant is part of your specific smell, you can layer these up by applying roll-on and topping off with an aerosol. 

Top Tip – If you are attending a special event such as a wedding or prom, make sure you have a mini-sized perfume or spray that you can take in your bag to top up throughout the evening.

New research reveals this summer’s most sought-after menswear items. The study, conducted by clothing experts boohooMAN, analysed Google search data to determine the most in-demand menswear items.

The research examined the average monthly search volume for menswear items, such as men’s earrings and men’s sandals, and revealed the interest in men’s fashion is at its highest.  

1. Men’s shorts  

Men’s shorts have been named this summer’s most sought-after menswear item and nobody is wearing men’s shorts better than Pedro Pascal. The beloved actor graced the Met Gala 2023 red carpet in a pair of black Valentino shorts styled with a blazing red trench coat and attention-grabbing black combat boots. In fact, as a result, searches for ‘men’s black shorts’ increased by 61% during the week of the Met Gala 2023, meaning that men’s black shorts could be the optimal style choice for this season. 

2. Men’s bracelets  

Men’s bracelets are the second most searched for menswear item. Timothée Chalamet is one of the most fashionable men in Hollywood. So, it’s not surprising to have seen the world-famous actor wearing two beaded bracelets at Paris Fashion Week 2023, with searches for ‘men’s bracelets’ increasing by 122% in the same week. Chalamet styled two beaded bracelets alongside a leather-accented black bomber jacket and relaxed navy-blue joggers. This summer, people can wear men’s bracelets with similarly casual outfits, as well as accessorizing tailored suits for formal occasions.

3. Men’s sunglasses  

Men’s sunglasses take a bronze medal as the third most in-demand menswear item. Sunglasses are a summertime staple. Trending styles grace menswear outlets every year, so the trick is to find your favorites and stand out from the crowd. And in true rock ‘n’ roll style, Lenny Kravitz made a statement at the 2023 Oscars with his chunky, eye-catching black Saint Laurent shades.  

4. Men’s earrings 

Men’s earrings are this summer’s fourth most sought-after menswear item.  Famous for their bold, fierce fashion statements, Lil Nas X captured the whole world’s attention at the Pre-Grammy Gala 2023. The academy award winning artist owned the red carpet by accessorizing a pink illusion suit with a pair diamond encrusted, heart shaped earrings.  

5. Men’s sandals   

Lastly, men’s sandals are the fifth most searched for menswear item. Sandals are perfect for the warmer weather. Comfortable and versatile, these shoes suit both smart and casual outfits, as well as everything in-between.  

Tyler, The Creator wore pair of sports sandals while performing at Coachella 2023, styled with white socks, green cargo shorts, and a pink graphic shirt – and online searches for ‘socks and sandals’ increased by 270% one week later.  

Ace Bower was created by self confessed footwear geeks and proud of it! With commercial and technical knowledge combined of around 90 years.  Black British Footwear Buyer Chantelle Scott and head designer, Milton Cato bring the sneaker brand to life. Then produced by artisans from a family owned factory in Spain. The fact is, Ace Bower could be the game changer of sustainable fashion sneakers.

Ace Bower produces unisex footwear using premium environmentally responsible materials, creating designs inspired by 1970s & 80’s old school classic sneakers. Driving the strong belief ethical sourcing is the only way forward! Each style is made to be worn and create a timeless look.  With a strong focus on reducing waste and operating with sustainability values at the core of the, each product is produced on a made-to-order basis, so each sneaker is made personally for the consumer. 

Using the best premium responsible materials to create each style. Recycled nylon, eco rubber and dead stock suede, are all sourced from verified and certified suppliers.

Their styles are made to be worn and taken care of to make them last. Responsible components. comfort and on trend colour palettes are the key features

All styles are made for all genders, working by the maxim if you love them, buy them, wear them, take care of them!Equally they believe there is no age limit , each pair created at ACE BOWER are for all who know their own style and want to contribute to doing their bit for our planet.

Their design inspiration comes from their love for the 70’s / 80’s old school classic sneakers is where they started, combined with colour palettes from street art and life. They evolve using innovative technical components, expanding the offer to be the next emerging brand to wear.

Summer is here, well kinda or is it just me ?Which means many of us will be eating healthy and hitting the gym to get beach body ready. However, experts have revealed that your results could be impacted depending on the time you work out.

Late-night training and early-morning training both have their advantages and disadvantages, however depending on your training goals these pros and cons could significantly be impacting the efficiency of your workout. 

The sports nutrition experts Bulk have weighed up the pros and cons of an early morning workout and a late-night workout- highlighting which is best depending on the results you want to achieve.

Early morning workout- 5am-8am 

Advantages 

Increased alertness 

One of the biggest advantages to an early morning workout is feeling more alert- believe it or not.  

Whilst you may feel exhausted as you drag yourself to the gym, your body produces a hormone called cortisol which is at its peak level at around 8am in the morning. 

Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, helps you keep awake and alert. This hormone will only cause you problems if there is too much or too little of it. 

Therefore, if you have a healthy circadian rhythm- the 24-hour cycle that includes physiological and behavioural rhythms like sleeping- your body will be more primes to exercise early in the morning.  

Can improve weight loss rate 

For those looking to shred some body fat, a big advantage of working out in the morning is it is generally better for weight loss. 

Elevated cortisol levels and growth hormone in the morning are both associated with your metabolism.  

Therefore, taking high intensity exercise in the morning can help to boost the metabolism and burn more body fat, drawing more of your energy from your fat reserves. 

Improves your body clock 

A study published by the Journal of Physiology found that exercising at 7 a.m. can shift your body clock earlier. 

Not only will this improve how alert you are in the morning but can also prime you to fall asleep easier and earlier that evening, allowing you to get enough rest to wake up and repeat the same routine again the following day.  

Helps with appetite control 

Exercise generally helps to control your appetite. 

Studies have now shown that aerobic exercise, like running, cycling, and swimming decreases appetite. This is because it alters our hormone levels that drive hunger. 

The theory behind exercise as an suppressant or stimulant of your appetite is based on the activities of two main hormones, ghrelin and peptide YY.  

These are hormones with opposing actions, both released during exercise. Ghrelin stimulates appetite while peptide YY decreases appetite. 

Therefore as exercise suppresses the ghrelin hormone, this will help you to control your appetite. 

Disadvantages 

Less time to warm up before weightlifting 

For those who are wanting to build muscle or tone up, an early morning workout could do more harm than good.

This is because the body needs time to warm up before lifting weights. If you don’t give your muscles enough time to loosen up, you could risk an injury. 

Lack of sleep 

If you didn’t get to bed early enough the night before, or perhaps had a restless sleep, getting up at the crack of dawn and working out could also be extremely straining to the body. 

Ensuring the body is fully rested before engaging in any workout is extremely important. 

If you worked out the night before, sleep is what allows muscle tissue time to recover between workouts.  

Having enough sleep is also important for having the energy to exercise, therefore not getting enough can lead to being less physically active during the day and reduced any muscle strength during workouts. 

Inability to build muscle 

Working out first thing in the morning generally doesn’t help with building muscle.  

This is because your body needs a few hours to refuel stores that it has used up during the night. 

Your muscles primarily use glucose to fuel weightlifting and resistance exercises. A morning workout does not result in significant gains in either muscle mass or strength, as you don’t yet have sufficient stores. 

Therefore, if muscle or strength increases are your primary goal, workouts will see more benefits later in the day. 

Metabolic rate can impact eating habits 

As an early morning workout will boost your metabolism early in the day, your metabolic rate then generally slows down again in the evening.  

Whereas an afternoon or evening workout will boost your metabolism later in the day, which is more beneficial if your dinner is your main meal of the day, providing the most calories. 

For those looking for results in weight loss or weight maintenance, ideally you want to align your workouts with your biggest calorie intake to ensure best results.  

If you want to burn calories and fat, changing your workout routine to the time of day when you eat your largest meal could be extremely beneficial. 

Late-night workout- 7:30pm and onwards 

Advantages 

Higher energy levels 

A study from The University of Birmingham shows you can go up to 20 percent longer when exercising in the evening, at a higher intensity.  

Therefore, doing workouts at a longer, faster, stronger rate will demonstrate results a lot quicker. 

Muscles will tone up faster 

Muscle strength and function peaks in the evening, as fluctuating hormones can make workouts later in the day more effective.  

High levels of cortisol in the morning can prevent muscle growth, however high levels of testosterone in the evening boosts it. 

P.M workouts having negative impacts on sleep is a myth 

Whilst many people believe that working out late night can be extremely disruptive to your quality of sleep, as endorphins are still buzzing, this is a myth. 

Endorphins actually help to improve the ability to sleep, which also helps reduces stress. 

A study in Sleep Medicine found that only two percent of vigorous exercisers said workouts interrupted their sleep, as 30 percent slept better after a good sweat. 

Of course, depending on how late night your workout is, people may tend to rely on caffeine and taurine which are known as popular pre workout supplements. 

Whilst there is a lot of research to support their performance benefits, particularly if you are strength training, the caffeine can be problematic and impact sleep quality. 

Therefore, opting for caffeine-free pre workout is a better option, which contains Beta Alanine and Citrulline Malate which helps to preserve muscle pH and acidity levels – delaying the build-up of lactic acid and muscle fatigue. 

Effective stress relief 

After a long day, exercise can help you unwind and de-stress. 

This is because physical activity produces endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers.  

Studies show that among those who exercise, 33 percent of high-stress adults said they feel less stressed after exercising, compared with 18 percent of low-stress adults.  

Disadvantages 

Can impact consistency

Exercising later in the day can make it much more tempting to move it to the next day because you are too tired. 

Studies also suggest that fixing your workout session to morning time may make it easier for you to turn exercising into a daily habit than setting it at night-time.  

Your post-workout fuel is consumed too late 

It is important to help your muscles recover to replace their glycogen stores. 

Therefore, eating a meal which contains both carbohydrates and protein after your exercise session is recommended. 

However, if you are completing a workout late at night, your hunger levels may take a lot longer to kick in, therefore you are eating extremely late. 

Eating late at night go against your body’s circadian rhythm, impacting your metabolism and make it more difficult to maintain blood sugar levels. 

Less time for post workout stretching 

You may be going to the gym at 9pm, however it closes at 10pm, which can make you rush out of the door. 

Not giving yourself enough time to complete thorough pre and post workout stretching can put you at risk of injury. 

Muscles and tendons that aren’t stretched properly after exercise may be more susceptible to injury.  

Whilst it’s not only important to make sure you’re stretching after exercise, but also that you’re doing the right types of stretches. 

Bulk.com experts recommend using the RAMP method to help structure your workouts.  

Following these steps for a warmup which should last around 15-20 minutes should put you in an optimal state to carry out your workout. 

A spokesperson for Bulk says, 

“There is no bad time to exercise, it just depends on the types of workouts you do and the results you want to achieve. 

“Generally, for those who want to achieve weight loss, an early morning workout is more effective, and for those wanting to build muscle and tone, afternoon or evening is better. 

“The most important thing is to find a time that suits you best, and if you feel better working out early morning as opposed to late night or vice versa, then do so. A workout should give you a sense of achievement and make you feel good. 

“For those who do have certain body goals, consistency is key, therefore chose a time you feel you can stick to help your body ease into a comfortable routine.” 

While enjoying the sunshine during the day is a dream for many of us in the UK, sleeping in the heat can be a nightmare.

With this in mind, James, ‘the sleep geek’ at MattressOnline, has collated valuable tips to help alleviate the discomfort of sleeping in the heat.

1. Use hot water bottles to lower your core temperature

1. Use hot water bottles to lower your core temperature 

Using a hot water bottle might sound like a strange way to combat heat, but James the Sleep Geek recommends raising your core temperature slightly by placing a lukewarm hot water bottle on your feet thirty minutes before bed; that way, when you go to sleep your core temperature will drop.

2. Use separate covers from your sleeping partner

Use different covers if you are sleeping with a partner; although it might still be tempting for some to snuggle up to your significant other, their body heat will only transfer to you, so use separate covers and if you can and swap out your duvet for a thin cotton sheet.

3. Avoid daytime naps

Hot weather can make us sleepy; as tempting as it is to have a daytime nap in the glorious sunshine, don’t. Multiple sources, such as weather presenter Abbie Dewhurst and Doctor Azmain, recommend saving your precious sleep for nighttime by staying in your normal routine.

4.Put your feet in a bowl of lukewarm water 

Much like a lukewarm hot water bottle, putting your feet in a bowl of tepid water offers a longer lasting cooling process. It also avoids the shock of using ice-cold water, which can jar you awake and make it harder to get to sleep.

5. Open your loft hatch

Heat rises, meaning it will be hotter if your bedroom is on the top floor. According to experts at MattressOnline, opening your loft hatch is one way to get rid of the accumulated hot air by allowing it to escape somewhere else.

6. Use Aloe Vera

Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh states that using Aloe Vera before bed can be even better than taking a cold shower because it absorbs into the body four times quicker than water. Apply it to your skin just before bed for a cooling effect.

7. Shut out the sunlight

James states that one of the main things to help alleviate the comfort of a hot night’s sleep is to keep your house cool during the day. To do this, ensure you are shutting out the sunlight, particularly in your bedroom, by keeping blinds and curtains closed.

8.Swap your sheets 

Lastly, why not replace your sheets and pillow cases with ones made from natural materials such as linen, bamboo and cotton. Not only are they soft and breathable – perfect for the summer heat –  they also draw away mositure more effectively.