CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Eat, Drink & Be Merry ! Ideal Food Gift Ideas by Amanda Lewis

250x250_CMTM_BannerAhhhh what would Christmas be without the overindulging ? If its not the Turkey with Gammon, its the booze filled trifle, or the Turkey and stuffing sandwiches on Christmas Night and we can’t forget the tin of Quality Street, I mean i would be rude not to have another Chocolate Noisette Pate (The Green Triangle) and don’t get me started on the Baileys or the cheeky glass or two of Red while peeling the veg and singing along to Wizzard’s “I wish it could be Christmas everyday”. Ohhhhh Food its part and parcel of the Yuletide and to help you along the way, here’s a selection of some great and impressive gift ideas –

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Bubbles …this is the way to impress, and what better way then Laurent Perrier Rosé NV fine Champagne.

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Crumbly, melt in the mouth, Rosemary biscuits are perfectly partnered with fig & balsamic vinegar chutney and an Olive wood board making this gift perfect from Marks & Spencer for any cheese lover or Cheesy Lovers…

If stuck for Gifts Ideas – Fortnum and Mason is always great for inspired and delicious and very festive gifts…

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Old school – five miniature sponge puddings using Fortnum’s preserves. Including Triple Ginger, Raspberry & Blueberry Preserve, Lemon Curd, Spotted Dick with Pusser’s Rum and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Medjool Dates & Caramel Sauce, this is a brilliant gift for any lover of traditional sponge puddings.

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Not only does it play a cheery rendition of ‘Deck the Halls’ when you wind the key in the base, but also the cherubs’ candles on the label flicker on and off to add to the Christmas magic. Inside you will find a generous feast of some of Fortnum & Mason favourite biscuits, namely pistachio and cranberry, chocolate and macadamia nut, lemon curd and clotted cream digestives. We predict that it will be a palpable hit and a very popular gift.

 

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This food box contains the very best of Brindisa. A delicious creamy cava, three more wines, two cheeses, a superb range of Ibérico charcuterie, and the prized ventresca cut of tuna are among the long list of outstanding products. This is really two hampers in one, with chilled products for now and luxurious Pantry additions.

 

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For a real treat try the Artisan Food Hampers from Belleek Castle. The lovely people there can make up delicious bespoke hampers to your taste; includes treats from their award winning restaurant – jams, marmalade, lemon curd, dressings, black & white truffle oil and chutneys.

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May your Days be Merry and Bright – What have you bought your Mum this Yuletide ?

728x90_CMTM_BannerOK then, its Mum’s turn to give you guys a couple of helpful hints on what to buy one, if not THE most important lady in your life. Remember, your mum looks after you 365 days a year and we don’t get a lot of opportunities to show our appreciation for this most wonderful of creations, so follows these simple gift ideas, which should suit every budget.

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We love these Faux Fox fur slipper sox from Joules – Mums expect to get slippers at Christmas and these wont disappoint.

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The perfect combination to help your Mum to set the festive mood with these gorgeous scented candles that capture the essence of Christmas and create a festive atmosphere from Diptyque. Pomander: Reminiscent of a Christmas orange, sprinkled with cloves and cinnamon. Feu de Bois: This sophisticated blend of rare woods recalls the crackling of an open fire. Warm and familiar during the winter days and Opopanax: Extracted from the bush of Persia, the resin is captivating and enigmatic by the warm vanilla undertones

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Keep Mum cosy in this British designed Beige Rainbow Stripe hot water bottle from the Row Pinto Collection in 100% Lambswool from Liberty London.

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The Tuscan Sun Cashmere Scarf at Banana Republic – will brighten up even the most Wintery day and bring a little ray of sunshine that will delight Mum.

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This is a glamorous and warm Dressing Gown from Marks and Spencer for lounging around over the Christmas holidays and you can wait on Mum for a change.

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Blow her away with this hairdryer by hairdresser extraordinaire Nicky Clark at next.com

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For Mums with a sophisticated sweet tooth try Cocoa Boutique’s Best of the Best Selection. Chocolate tasting experience. Includes award winning 3 star Passion Fruit, Salted Caramels and, hand finished treats from Artisan chocolatiers John Beard and Catherine Bracegirdle which brings together pralines, fruits, caramels and cheeky alcoholic truffles.

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This Mesh Rondal necklace incorporates links and chains to create a piece that is light and wearable. In rhodium plated sterling silver or gold plated rings of delicately wrapped mesh from tateossian.co.uk

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No Mistletoe required – Getting Office Party Attire Spot on

250x250_CMTM_BannerThis Friday night is, that night of the year, some see it as the most dreaded night on the calendar, whilst others count the days down from last years one. Yes, if you work in an Office environment the likelihood is you’ll  be heading off to your annual office party. Making an impact at this event is all too important, be too gregarious and your seen as not being professional. Staying quite and keeping yourself to yourself, your seen as being standoffish and not a leader of people. Plus not attending is not an option as then your seen as. not a committed member of staff, who sees himself as better then the rest and you can kiss goodbye to that promotion or pay rise.

If you feel you need a little more advise to avoid the minefield that is the Office Christmas Party take a look at this link from last year when we covered the do’s & don’ts etiquette of this nightmarish event.

Now to ensure you look your best for the big bash, we’ve selected  an outfit to cover each scenario that could possibly cover the Partay, we really are too good to you guys.

The casual Office event

So it might be a meal, drinks down the pub but essential quite an informal setting, where you don’t wanna rock up looking like you’ve made a real effort and overdressed for the occasion.

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This is a winning choice from Barbour, as it shows your entering into the spirit of the Yuletide without going all out Christmas Jumper extravaganza.
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I know I’ve said this before but its an absolute staple, the Black Shirt, this one from Marks & Spencer, is a great all rounder. If the Christmas do takes a turn and you wanna take it onto a club or somewhere a little more upmarket you can whip the jumper off and it gives a completely different look to your outfit without having to go home and change. Plus if  you pair this with.
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A pair of chinos, my advise is keep the look simple you don’t wanna look like one of Santa’s lil helpers in your fair isle knit and red or green chinos so stay traditional. These are a great example from Ben Sherman and the reason for Chinos over jeans is simple, it gives you more options. Alot of establishments, particularly at this time of year aren’t welcoming of lads wearing jeans so do yourself a favour and make sure your night doesn’t come to and abrupt and early end.
Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 20.43.26Finish this look off with the highly versatile Finton from Grenson,  these lil lovelies can pretty much be worn with anything, they will see you through so many different occasions over the years. Not only timeless, they can be dressed up or down and still look great.

The Semi-casual event

Now this is when your boss is flashing the cash and has hired a venue for the Annual shindig, whether it be hotel, hall or even if its not been such a great year, pushed all the desks and chairs to the walls to make a dance floor and some room for Sharon from accounts Boyfriend Mark to show what he’s worth on the decks.

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This is a great look that sends out all the right messages, from yeah, I’ve made just the right amount of a effort, to Ohh yes I know how to put an outfit together effortlessly. This herringbone jacket and waistcoat combo can be bought as separates but also include a pair of trousers all from NEXT.

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These are a great pair of jeans from Oliver Spencer, Comfortable fit on the waist, front and back rise and a regular fit on the leg Dark Indigo Denim plus great value for money and will look great with this jacket and waistcoat.

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I’ve gone for a Chambray Oxford style shirt from Joules, rather then a white shirt as this can sometimes look too formal and you can easily smarten this look up with a navy tie and a pocket square. Plus it goes really well with the grey herringbone.

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Once again I’ve kept the outfit simple and finished it off with a classic pair of shoes, this time with Brogues from Oliver Sweeney. You want to keep things simple so there’s less for you to worry about and if you know you look good this will help with your confidence on the night. This look strikes a real balance and shows that you know what you’re doing.

 

The Formal event

So here you have it the final in the options for the Christmas Party looks to impress. The formal event, this is often when you have to attend a ball style function. Now once again you need to strike a balance of looking good, looking confident and standing out form the crowd for all the right reasons.

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Now this is a tuxedo that ticks all of those boxes from Banana Republic, you’re making a statement by going Navy rather then traditional black but at the same time looking totally dapper.

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You’ve made your statement with the Navy tux so you need to keep the rest of the look classic and sober. This is a brilliant dress shirt from the French brand Ami, which does does that, understated yet chic.

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Its all in the detail and this classic with a twist Black bow tie from TOPMAN finishes of this look perfectly, its just a little smaller then the traditional bow ties.

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These are a great dress shoes from Ted Baker and aren’t too traditional so you can easily wear these on other occasions with jeans.

So whatever your Christmas party follow these tips and it should hold you in fine fettle so you can hold your head high come Monday Morning.

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Make him feel Wanted this Yuletide – Ideal Christmas Gift ideas for Dads

250x250_CMTM_BannerTo put it mildly, Dad’s often get the short end of the stick when is comes to Christmas Presents. All to often a lot is expected from Dad’s, when it comes to gifts sat under the tree, but when it come to dear ole Pop, the feeling isn’t always reciprocated. Father’s are often met, come Christmas Day with an underwhelming token of our appreciation, whether is be socks, booze or after shave, by the way, nothing wrong with any of the aforementioned gifting categories as long as it isn’t from Primark’s finest selection pack, a bottle of Morinov (yes Morrisons own Vodka Brand) or that ole favourite and often recycled, a Hai Karate gift set !

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Having a staple jumper in your wardrobe is essential, and we love this one from Marks & Spencer‘s Best of British range, made from pure cashmere, spun in Scotland. Furthermore, the characteristic Scottish handle of this jumper is a result of drawing soft water from the local well. Tactile and warm, choose from an array of rainbow colours to brighten up dreary winter days; fibre-dyed yarns promise a more lustrous and even colour for your jumper. Go on you know it makes sense !

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Ahhh Pyjamas, the inimitable and rather unsung Father’s Christmas Gift, never in this case as these are from the King of the Traditional American Christmas himself, No not Nat King Cole ! Mr Ralph Lauren, of course. Look every regal in this traditional jammies. In fact, have a holly, jolly Christmas and have the whole family in matching one ! Maybe not.

 

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Always a winner, help Dad’s stay warm these Holidays with a pair of gloves courtesy of Banana Republic. These great examples of leather gloves not alone look the part but won’t have dear ole Dad hiding his hands away, shoved into his jacket pockets.

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Now if you have some making up to do with your Dad or if he’s been a particular Star this year then make him feel super special come 25th with this Longines Avigation Oversize Crown Watch. Its Scratch and Water resistant, is self winding and has a tres chic Black Alligator strap. You’ll be the apple of his eye once more and all for the right reasons.

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This is a real investment piece by Louis Vuitton and something your Dad will have for many years to come, which will always remind him of you whenever he wears it. This is no ordinary run of the mill scarf, yes it keeps you warm but its a real statement and shows Dad, he’s one in a million.

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There are certain fragrances that are unmistakably Father Fragrances, the sort tat when you smell them you are transported back to years gone by, watching your Dad shave and wishing you could too. Aramis is the Daddy of all mens Fragrances and this excellent gift set offers not only great value but everything that a Dad could possibly want from a grooming range.

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This beauitful gift box contains a week’s supply of Hamilton & Hare tailored boxer shorts. Each boxer is individually embroidered with each day of the week. Savile Row expertise go into each pair ensuring a more flattering and comfortable fit. The finest two ply twill cotton, mother of pearl buttons and a silk lined fly, all go into these superior underwear.

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The Best of British Luck, Marks & Spencer Best of British range

Screen Shot 2013-09-23 at 18.13.25Way back in January of this year, during London Collections:MEN, we had an invite to come along and have a look at a best of British range, yeah OK, be a bit of a break from the treadmill of show after show in the pouring, freezing rain. Yet this invite was from no fashion designer, or cutting edge East London label, no, but from a very bastion of Britishness a quintessential National Treasure, none other then MARKS & SPENCER ! Yep, you’re not mistaken and any of you more loyal readers will note what followed, was yours truly falling in love with a Marks & Spencer product range more then their Christmas Sandwich selection !

Even M&S had underestimated their pulling power, for as we turned up shaking off the excess of the wintery showers, so did Supermodels David Gandy & future face of the collection Oliver Cheshire. Fashion Director of the Sunday Times STYLE Richard Grey, Shortlist’s Style Director, Adrian Clark, British GQ’s Editor, Dylan Jones and a plethora of style press big shots.

The collection is a celebration of the best in British design and manufacture, using some of the industry’s best cloths, suppliers and age old knowledge to produce a collection which is completely contemporary all the whilst drawing on inspiration from stylistic British icons.

The Man behind this concept is Tony O’Connor(see below), the brand’s Head of Design for menswear, who joined the company in 2008 bringing with him a wealth of experience and a strong focus on design and brand clarity and who we caught up with to find out a little bit more about the collection and his good self.

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In your words, describe the collection ?

The Best of British collection is an edit of timeless pieces – I would describe them as confident and masculine, constructed in contemporary shapes with an emphasis on traditional British craftsmanship and quality

What was the inspiration for it ?

The M&S archive in Leeds was a key reference point for the collection. We were able to look back at traditional British styles that M&S has made through the decades, and the craftsmanship that went into British made items, to produce an updated collection that not only shows an appreciation for the technical skill involved, but also has a timeless essence that remains relevant today  

What are the key pieces in it

The double breasted suits and coats are a key stand out shape for the collection

If you could collaborate with one brand (Who you currently aren’t) who would it be and why ?

Quite honestly, it’s been really exciting working with the British suppliers for this collection, such as Cheshire Bespoke for suits and Cheaney’s for shoes

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be ?

Start thinking about what you want to do as a career, explore it and do it! I got into art and photography at an early age, which was a useful start to my career

How did you get into the industry, what was your big break ?

I got a taste for menswear, after getting a Saturday job at a clothing store in Newcastle. Working here helped me decide what to do creatively

What piece of clothing best describes you ?

The formal jacket and the pocket square

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101 ?

Dungarees

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe ?

A tuxedo for special occasions

What piece of style advise do you live by ?

Choose British made shoes

Who is your style icon ? Why ?

As young men, Hugh Hefner and Oliver Reed. They had a sexy masculine style.

If you could only wear one brand/Designer for the rest of your life who would it be ? Why ?

Working on a collection born in Britain and with British suppliers has been a lifelong ambition of mine, so it would have to be this brand!

 The Best of British collection hits Marks & Spencer Store and website from 10th October.

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