CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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We’re all going on a Summer Holiday ! I wish – Essential packing tips

Wish you were here ?

With the foreign holiday season well and truly up in the air this year and a staycation looking increasingly far much likely, again, we at Clothes-make-the-man.com, as always, are looking out for your best interests and to offer you invaluable advice. Now because of all this holiday shenanigans, we know no one like packing, it throws up all sorts of issues, leaving it to the last minute, have you packed enough or too much, I really should replace those speedos, yes you really should replace the budgie smugglers, honestly !  Do I have my passport, suncream, travel adaptor. The list is literally endless as is the headache, until you’re laying on that lounger, relaxed with a bright coloured drink in hand. So, because we think so highly of our beloved readers we sort the advice of the experts and asked travel expert  Ian Chapman, to kindly provide a few essential tips on how to look great in the sun, wherever your holiday destination. He advises ;

Pack light: Have a good think about your destination and what you’ll need. Don’t just empty your entire wardrobe into your bag.

For example, are you really going to need that expensive, crisp shirt in the clubs of Ibiza? Likewise, those lazy sweat pants aren’t going to get much wear for your long weekend in St Tropez!

If you pack carefully and selectively, you should be able to get a week’s holiday clothing into one carry-on bag (thus, saving money and time on checked baggage). All airlines have restrictions on the size of carry on luggage you can use, of which Ryan Air seem about the most onerous with a measely 55cm x 40cm x 20cm, whilst Easyjet and British Airways offer a more reasonable 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.

Ahhh this should get you in the mood

Plan ahead: Think about how you can mix and match different pieces to create different outfits; which shorts can you wear with t-shirts and vests during the day, but can be dressed up with a smart shirt worn casually for evening? Planning ahead and visualising your different outfits, and different scenarios will help you realise you’re never actually going to wear those extra pair of jeans – so just leave them at home. In fact, if you think you’ve packed the right amount of clothes, chances are you’ve packed too many!

Pack carefully: Cramming things into your bag an hour before your flight departs will have you looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed at the other end. Creased, shabby-looking garments will not get you access to the Yacht Club de Cannes. Take tips off those assistants on the High Street. A few minutes properly folding your clothes will help no end with their condition at the other end. Another method is to double up items such as shirts and tees etc and roll them. This avoids those sharp fold creases.

Materials and ‘the look’: When you’re at home, it’s easy to look brilliant in a freshly ironed top, but once that has spent four hours stuffed into a bag, the effect isn’t going to be the same. Think about those items in your wardrobe that might need a little less care or attention. Linen hangs great, even with a few creases in, and patterned or check shirts can disguise the well-travelled shirt quite well too.

Take time on arrival: Don’t be tempted to chuck your bag on the bed and hit the pool bar straight away. Spend just a few precious minutes getting all your essential shirts, t-shirts, trousers and jeans out of your case and onto hangers. Your mates may think you have the early onset of OCD, but you’ll have the last laugh when you hit the clubs looking pristine.

The shower trick: Whilst getting ready for a night out a good tip is to hang any creased clothes in the bathroom whilst you take a shower. Keep the door closed and let the steam take effect. The creases from your clothes will fall out much quicker.

Re-use, recycle: We know. It gets hot on holiday, especially if you’ve just spent eight hours sweating in a Balearic super club, but think back to your match-ups you thought about when you were packing back at home. Time to switch around a few of your outfits so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing the same get-up every day.

Flip the flop: How many pairs of shoes do you really need to take? Once reserved for the beach only, the flip-flop has become a summer must-have which goes with almost any look. Havianas in a neutral colour will sit just as comfortably with a pair of swim shorts by day or some chinos at night.

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A suit to suit a man – AskAnt

Good Day folks, the start of yet another week and another sartorial dilemma arrives for me, this time via our Facebook page and following my piece on the launch of the Inspired by Savile Row Range by Richard James for Marks & Spencer. This inspired a young man to contact us to seek stylistic advice;

As always Loz and like anyone who drops us a line searching for guidance, thanks for taking the time out, we appreciate it here. Now then, you have at least two weddings coming up and you, “need to look the business” and you are looking to spend around the “400 bags” (£400) mark. OK right off, you were obviously impressed with the Richard James collaboration with Mark & Spencer, as seen here last Thursday as that’s what drove you to seek my help and right you are too. Richard James is a Master Tailor and as mentioned in the post, has dressed everyone from Messers Liam & Noel Gallagher to Sir Elton of John. For this range he was very hands on and personally oversaw each detail of the collection. So I would certainly recommend take a look at www.marksandspencer.com/Savile-Row-Inspired-Mens/b/1634465031 

Furthermore, as the suits costs in the region of £349, have it slightly altered to fit you perfectly to ensure you, “look the business”. Larger M&S stores offer alteration services or sort a local TRUSTED tailor, but remember to give enough time before the big events.

One of the fundamental things you need to consider when buying a suit is go to someone who knows what they are talking about, i.e. a retailer who is known for their suiting and who has been around, therefore have a heritage and know what they are talking about. You wouldn’t go to a fishmonger if you’re after a good piece of steak now, would you ?

So this brings us to the next retailer, Moss, this brand has over 160 years of experience in tailoring and are somewhat of a forgotten quantity on the British high Street today but with approx 150 outlets nationwide, they know a thing or two about suits and how to make a decent one. They offer a bespoke suit service, which currently has an offer, where suits start from £299. Plus, if this doesn’t flow your suiting boat, for some unknown reason, they also stock quality suits from Calvin Klein to Zegna to Ted Baker & French Connection. You can’t say fairer then that and this will have you putting the groom to shame in the dapper department. www.moss.co.uk

Lastly,  in researching for your quandary Loz, which was difficult, I don’t mind admitting, but I was far from beaten. £400 is a good price to pay for a suit,  but  a lot of designer brands just fall outside this price bracket, so we had to discount the Hugo Boss’s, Paul Smith’s, Nicole Farhi’s etc. But while investigating on your behalf I came across two great finds, one, a suave piece of tailoring by the tres talented Irish man Paul Costelloe. He offered an air force blue coloured single breasted suit over at House of Fraser, but this lil number beat it by a nose and it’s by the dapper Mr Joe Casely Hayford exclusively for John Lewis.

Now before, I forget, you must remember not to fall at the final hurdle Loz and the devil is in the detail when one wants to, “look the business”. Always wear good quality, high polished shoes, finish the look with a pocket square as seen above, be as discreet or flamboyant as you want, but go for it and if you can’t tie a good knot, ask someone who can, untidy sloppy tie knots ruin the look you’re trying to achieve. Ohhhh and by the way, between you and me, there are some great bargains to be had in the mid season sales at the moment, so if your quick you can pick up a tidy lil number making your buck stretch a lot further, but purely between the two of us.

So Loz, 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.marksandspencer.com

www.moss.co.uk

www.houseoffraser.co.uk

www.johnlewis.com