CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Offering the best of both world, Looking good, feeling safe – Matchless London

Screen Shot 2013-10-28 at 11.41.39Matchless is a brand which can boast many firsts, from not only being the oldest British brand of motorcycles, clothing and accessories, with the first product manufactured at the end of the 19th century. Also, did you know, a Matchless motorcycle won the inaugural TT in 1907 and again in 1909. Plus, the brand was the first motorcycle manufacturer to work on rider safety, creating a department of study where clothing was designed to protect riders.  Now then, don’t ever let anything tell you  Clothes-Make-the-Man isn’t educational !

Screen Shot 2013-10-28 at 11.48.40From as far back as the 1960’s Matchless advertisements showed for the first time the link between motorcycles and style. Leading riders of all disciplines chose Matchless products for the perfect mix of safety, performance and of course timeless style. The first Matchless motorcycle was made in 1899, and manufacture began in 1901. All motorcycles were marked by a winged M on the tank, symbol that shortly became synonymous of quality.

Screen Shot 2013-10-28 at 11.51.30Screen Shot 2013-10-28 at 11.52.16Those icons of bad boy, Teen spirit and Rebel attitude, Marlon Brandon and James Dean both fell in love with all things Matchless but the greatest testimonial has to come from Malcolm Smith, the little known Godfather of Motorcross and Enduro. One of the world’s premier off-road motorcycle racers, Malcolm won eight gold medals between 1966 and 1976 in the International Six Day Trials, the European cross- country event considered the Olympics of motorcycling. Malcolm’s talent on two-wheels earned him a co-starring role in Bruce Brown’s 1970’s classic motorcycle epic, “On Any Sunday” with Steve McQueen.

 

 

MATCHLESS LONDON

The Donington Jacket

The Donington Jacket

The Wild one Jacket

The Wild one Jacket

 

The Marlon Jacket

The Marlon Jacket

 

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The Top 5 Style icons – A Barbour shared post

I don’t think its going to come as any shock revelation to say we are big fans of the British Heritage brand Barbour here at Clothes Make The Man, well guess what, they’re fans of us too. So much so they recently asked use to contribute to their blog who we saw as our top five style icon. Easy, says you, well not as easy as you may think as the label STYLE ICON is a term pinned to people all to easily and quickly in modern menswear today, in the same way that Genius is banded about in contemporary language. No sooner has a pop star, footballer or reality TV celeb employed the services of a decent Stylist who selects a suit for them from Savile Row, encourages them to go for a classic haircut that flatters their features and won over a couple of the weekly women’s mags in the “SACK THE STYLIST” features then they are being crown with the accolade of Style icon. If only it was truly that easy, what we are going to look at today is five TRUE style icons in every sense of the word. Men who have really left their foot print in the DNA of mens style and will be remembered for their sartorial splendour and dapper style for eons to come.

Screen Shot 2013-02-13 at 15.45.061)    David Beckham – He’s come a long way baby, this Leytonstone Eastender from humble beginnings, has transformed the world of style and no one has influenced the everyday man more in the style stakes and pushed him to experiment or even try, when it comes to an introduction to fashion and his wardrobe. From the moment Beckham made his professional football debut in 1992 for Manchester United, he was known equally for making headlines for what and how he was wearing, as the goals he was scoring. Barbers the world over watched Beckham with bated breath as they knew, if he changed his hairstyle so would legions of men, whether it was a change of colour or cut, if Beckham had it so would scores of blokes.

Additionally, clothing retailers fight furiously for a piece of Brand Beckham, from Armani, Dolce & Gabbana to Marks & Spencer and H&M, as they know his Midas touch is literally worth its weight in golden revenue.

Screen Shot 2013-02-13 at 15.47.142) James Dean – Not only an eternal Style and cultural icon but defined what it was to be a Rebel without a cause. The saying, “The brightest stars burn out the fastest,” must have had James Dean in mind. He was only alive for 24 short years but what a legacy he left behind, three films, which have gone on to become classics in every way possible, defined his career, East of Eden, Rebel without a Cause and Giant. Dean has been used a stylish reference point  for countless examples over the years including from Fonzie in the TV show Happy days to Morrisey in his Suedehead video. The words James Dean and icon are like hand and glove, they just go together.

To find out the who the other three STYLE ICONS are please click on the link –

http://barbour.com/blog/anthony-mcgrath-my-style-icons