Mens Style Archives - CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Words by Isaac Perry & Keanu Adorable

With all the festivities ahead, there’s no excuse not to have outfits for each occasion. Even though the weather has been really rough lately, (there’s snow though, that’s good right?!) you don’t have to just pick the thickest pieces of clothing from your wardrobe and put them all on without thought. Let us help you with some outfit ideas you can rock around the Christmas tree (or not).

Christmas Eve/Day

Topman Oversized Checkered Flannel

Flannel shirts are the perfect garment for a smart casual look, with them being incredibly comfortable yet looking the part and with this one only being £10, what are you waiting for?

Levi’s 511 Slim-Fit Tapered Jeans

A black pair of jeans is such a classic look which can be dressed up or not, we all know the quality that Levi’s is known for and these jeans definitely do not fall short.

Grenson Declan Chelsea Boots

The Declan boot is a perfect fit with our other picks, Grenson showcases some of the finest handmade boots in England, so don’t miss out on these beauties and all their other amazing selections.

Threadbare Fairisle Turtle Neck Christmas Jumper

For Christmas Eve we feel a smart casual look is perfect for whether you want to go out or stay in and enjoy a nice meal with your family, however, a Christmas jumper is a must have at this time of the year, with the largest option being found on ASOS. Who says Christmas jumpers have to be cringy?

Boxing Day

Zimmerli Silk Piped Pyjama Set

We’re an advocate of being cosy and staying in during Boxing Day, away from the masses of people trying to fight each other unnecessarily for items they could probably buy cheaper at any other point time of the year. This silk pyjama by Zimmerli is the perfect outfit to just relax, listen to some music and drink a hot beverage

New Years Eve

O’Keeffe Felix Suede Wingtip Brogues

New years eve is a time of celebration, so if you want to look the part the classic brogue silhouette is the way to go, however, O’Keeffe offers colour variants rarely seen, with this product being a prime example, spice it up a little bit.

Jigsaw Italian Wool Cotton Single Pleated Trousers

A simple but quality pair of trousers is essential for every man’s wardrobe, with some of our favourites being from Jigsaw, these trousers are made from a cotton wool blend, with a relaxed silhouette, perfect for a smart evening.

Noose and Monkey Floral Shirt

A plain white shirt with a little something to set you apart from the crowd. Noose and Monkey offers a selection of shirts, which would all suit this outfit perfectly so why not go and take your pick.

Reiss Gable Wool-Blend Overcoat

The weather may not be beautiful but this piece is, and with the chilly winds and snow coming around you won’t be able to leave your house without a coat this Christmas, with the gable wool blend coat offering warmth along with a pinch style and class, something which Reiss continuously showcase.

The award-winning Mr Porter is known for being one of the hot spots online for men’s fashion, showcasing an array styles and selling hundreds of leading international brands all on one site.

Dominating its market for the previous years, the brand has become incredibly well known within the industry, never letting us down, whether it be for advice on men’s fashion or the actual product available. However, the brand is now branching out in creating there very own clothing in the name of ‘Mr P’, with the first collection containing 53 pieces.

Within the collection you’ll be able to find timeless staple pieces which we all can appreciate, the collection offers everyday pieces including trousers, cashmere-blend overcoats as well as Oxford shirts just to name a few, all pieces with should be included in your wardrobe.

The brand will be releasing 5 limited edition capsules a year and with this being there first I’m sure if you aren’t already you will be excited for what is to come. Here’s a look at a few of our favourite pieces:

Wool-Blend Sweater

Comfy and stylish, this wool-blend sweater is based on a vintage fisherman’s design that was unearthed from private archives. This textural piece graduates from a herringbone weave to ribbing. Embrace the rustic feel and team it with brown or deep-green corduroy trousers.

Shearling-Trimmed Leather Aviator Jacket

We love leather and we also love a good aviator… This smooth leather aviator jacket is fitted with a detachable shearling collar that looks cool turned up against the cold. The full lining provides warmth and a bit of structure.

Houndstooth Virgin Wool Coat

This specific houndstooth overcoat is made with practicality and style in mind. It has a roomy fit that means you can comfortably slip it over a jacket, while the flashes of red will brighten up winter outfits. The unlined construction shows off the expert craftsmanship and as the fabric is double-faced, it looks just as good inside out. Horn buttons and handy flap pockets round things off nicely.

Ribbed Merino Wool Zip-Up Sweater

We love how the Mr. P collection offers the kind of timeless foundation pieces that are essential to every wardrobe. This zip-up sweater has been knitted in Italy from pliable five-gauge extra fine merino wool – it’s weighty enough to wear as a light jacket between seasons. You’ll find that the green shade works equally well with dark and light colours.

Slim-Fit Selvedge Denim Jeans

We love quality pieces, especially these Mr P jeans have been made in Okayama, Japan, from narrow-loom selvedge denim – the trim at the centre-back belt loop is a marker of the fabric’s quality. Detailed with contrasting tobacco stitching for an authentic finish, this indigo pair has a comfortable mid-rise waistband and tidy slim-fit shape. You’ll find that they mould to your frame as you break them in.

Words by Charlie Britton

As we continue to take more and more care of ourselves, both body and appearance, it’s no surprise that retailers are tailoring their products towards this trend. We however here at Clothes Make The Man don’t believe that this is a trend, but a growing example of the modern man and the pride he takes in taking care of himself.

As we’re on the topic of conversation about growing, let’s talk facial hair. There is most definitely a blurred line between looking smart and scruffy with facial hair and often when the occasion requires, it’s time to smarted up and check that neck line.

Braun are a much loved player in the men’s grooming game and we have them to thank for some truly great products that have kept us looking our best. With the recent release of it’s new Beard Trimmer, Braun have taken the time to help us gents smarten up, whether that may be for an interview, business meeting or a date night down your local bar.

The Braun BT3040 is a precise and effective beard styling tool with 39 length settings for ultimate control. It gives you the opportunity to pick and chose the perfect length to suit your requirements, face shape and occasion, so you can always guarantee a smart and well kept mane.

With this release, Braun has shared some great tips for smartening up your stubble, whatever the occasion;

First, allow your stubble to grow a little but longer than you’re aiming for to gauge coverage, then trim back to 5mm using the Braun BT3040 Beard Trimmer.
After trimming your stubble to a uniform length, clean up the edges using the Precision Trimmer attachment. It’s recommended that you use two or three fingers width and extend past the jawline for a more flattering look, then completely clean up the neck line from the Adam’s apple down.

For a short stubble look, create a neat line and cheat the desired cheekbone definition with the Contour Edging blade. Make sure you use your finger and place it against the skin to ensure the line is straight.

Lastly, if your beard connects with your hair behind your ears you should always separate the two. It’s small details like these that separate the men from the boys and keep that stubble looking designer, rather than discount.

If you’re looking to smarten up and keep that facial hair tamed, this might just be the perfect option for you. Braun also produce a really great range of men’s grooming tools and products so if you’re interested, you can see the full range here. Have any tips, tricks or questions you’d like to ask? Get involved and leave us a comment below!

Words by Charlie Britton

When it comes to clothes shopping, a favourite and must-visit store on the majority of peoples lists is H&M. The Swedish clothing giant operates in 62 countries, with 6 other brands operating under the H&M group umbrella. These are COS, Monki, Cheap Monday, & Other Stories, Weekday and its newest member, ARKET.

As the second largest clothing retail company worldwide just behind Spain-based Inditex, who are responsible for the likes of Zara, H&M group has well established its name in the industry and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. The introduction of ARKET proves that the fashion brand still has more to give and we’re excited to see what the future holds for the Swedish clothing company.

Introducing ARKET

ARKET, meaning ‘sheet of paper’ in Swedish, has launched it’s first store at 224 Regent Street in London, next door to H&M group’s first British based Weekday store which also opened its doors just weeks ago. ARKET’s offerings include menswear, womenswear, kids and home products, tailored towards the modern-day individual. It’s mission is to ‘democratise quality through widely accessible, well-made, durable products, designed to be used and loved for a long time.’

To fully understand the brand, we went down to the ARKET store in London to view the store concept and products offerings. The store looks great and strongly represents a Nordic style of living. The minimal colour palettes used throughout the interior work well by giving the products the limelight and the shelving and furnishings are well fitted, contemporary and functional.

The new Regent Street store occupies 2 stories of an old department store corner building, incorporating womenswear and kids on the upper floor and menswear, homeware and even an ARKET cafe on the ground floor. The character of the building only complements the brand, reinforcing a Scandinavian style of living. This is again exaggerated in-store with the use of lifestyle elements, design details and products that fit with the brands unique selling point.

The Product

With offerings from other brands such as COS, H&M and Weekday, we were keen to see what ARKET could bring to the table in terms of originality and design. Weekday tailors towards the younger generation, with a focus on modern and mindful fashion. COS heads upmarket slightly, offering modern, functional and considered design. Both brands are heavily influenced by Scandinavian design, so we expected to see a similar approach with ARKET.

The product is very much similar, but different, in respect to COS. Its almost as if COS have taken its more formal collections and products and expanded this into its own brand. The price point is again very similar to COS, however ARKET stocks several other brands and produces slightly more expensive garments, especially in regards to outerwear.

The majority of the mens, womens and kids collections are very simplistic, minimal and contemporary in design. The clothes work well as essential pieces, however it would also be very easy to build a wardrobe from the brand. Block colours, tailored fits and on-trend details run throughout the menswear collections, making it easy to build stylish and flattering outfits that’ll work well through the seasons.

The homeware products are what we would expect from a Scandinavian brand. Functional, aesthetically pleasing and well designed are words that come to mind, with colours, materials and silhouettes strongly representing a Nordic style of design used throughout. There are definitely some homeware products we would love on our shelves at home and in the office, so it’s worth checking them out if you’re planning on redecorating anytime soon.

ARKET plans to expand its store offerings across Europe, with another UK based store opening in Covent Garden in the coming months. Here at Clothes Make The Man, we’re excited to see how this brand moves forward and encourage you to check out a store soon. Alternatively, the brand is of course available to purchase online at ARKET, so pay it a visit to check out the collections for yourself.

Words by Keanu Adorable

Swedish tennis legend-turned-designer Björn Borg has unveiled his “SIGNATURE” collection at the Royal Tennis Hall during Stockholm Fashion Week. Borg, whose signature Scandinavian style helped formulate the slick ’70s tennis player style, has inspired the likes of Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) and George Michael, among others.

The Signature Collection and the Main Autumn Winter 2017 Collection, were showcased simultaneously formed by two armies epitomising retrospective and futuristic features. British stylist Tom Guinness presented a real hybrid between old and new points of the brand – clashing contrasts of retro silhouettes of the Signature Collection and bold, futuristic performance sportswear of Fall Winter 2017. Guinness gave a contemporary interpretation of the limited edition Signature Collection that highlighted the tracksuits in bold colours, sweatbands, and sneakers. The Main Autumn/Winter 2017 collection is a representation of maximal-minimal and more advanced technical active wear.

“This show emphasised what Björn Borg is all about and was an empowering statement for us. Contemporary and prospective, yet true to our DNA and the legacy as a tennis and sports brand. We wanted to state our position as the ultimate fashion sports brand” says Jonas Lindberg Nyvang, Global Marketing Director at Björn Borg.

Flip through the runway show below and head over to Björn Borg’s online store to shop the pieces.

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?12 Posts of Christmas, Post 12 – Outfit Ideas For The Upcoming Festivities