Navy blue, the new Black?

When I was young, I thought black was the ultimate colour for a suit. Of course the ultimate colour of a suit depends entirely on the person being asked. Their preference, their style, their individuality amongst a vast number of other possible reasons, however this post is not about the ultimate colour of a suit.

I really can’t remember the last time I saw someone wearing a black suit. A while ago grey was the new black, but it seems navy blue has taken over. And why not? I personally don’t know what it is specifically, but there’s something about a navy blue suit that makes the wearer look distinguished, sophisticated and exudes class. Even Le Ross, Esquire’s best dressed real man in Britain 2010, had three bespoke suits made recently, setting him back between £800 to £3,500 for each, all in shades of navy. He talked about it on his blog, and the first line he wrote is ‘At what point do you suddenly become aware that you’ve “made it’’?’

I am still of the opinion that every man should have at least one well fitting classic cut black suit in his closet, but if you want a suit that could possibly get you an upgrade from business to first class on an aeroplane, I think you should at least give a navy blue suit some strong consideration.

 

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Getting a Signature Fragrance.

As far back as I can remember, my dad has had three signature fragrances; Old Spice, Polo Green, and Aramis. They all have strong scents in common, and they last.

Like my dad, you should know what you want in a signature fragrance as people will come to associate you with it.

Finding the perfect fragrance  isn’t a walk in the park however, as its not just about picking a nice smelling perfume. A perfume could smell really good in the bottle and even when sprayed in the air, but smell quite differently when sprayed on your skin.

So here are a few tips on choosing a perfume that will be your signature fragrance.

Know your preferred scent. There are about four categories of perfume scents: FRESH (citrus, marine, green grass/leaves), Floral (rose, gardenia, jasmine) WOODY (woods and moss), and ORIENTAL (spices, vanilla, patchouli). So if you do not like floral scents, you will not want to wear a gardenia perfume.

Utilise your sense of smell. Go to a perfume counter and ask the sales associate to try some of the perfumes. Try as many as four perfumes, spraying a different one on each wrist, and inner elbow. Don’t make a decision just yet, leave the store and walk around for a good 30 minutes or so to give time for the scents to mix with your body chemistry. Write down the names of the fragrances on each corresponding inner elbow and wrist so you don’t forget what scent is where. Avoid spraying your neck and behind your ears, as you will not be able to accurately judge the scents there.

Ask for opinions. When walking around ask for opinions. A fragrance only you approves of won’t do much good. The look of disgust on people you stand next to on the way to work can easily put a dent in your confidence.

Also, hunt around for the best price. You’ll probably find that department stores have the highest prices. With that in mind you can save money by purchasing your fragrance through an outlet mall. Usually anything purchased at an outlet mall is a little bit cheaper. So it might make the fragrance you are seeking for, a little more affordable.

Finding a signature fragrance could take a while, but its definitely worth the journey.

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London Fashion Week round up…part 2.

Alfred Dunhill

Burberry Prorsum.

David Koma

 

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London Fashion Weekend

Judging from the turnout at this years London Fashion Weekend, with an average of about 500 people per show, it was a success. From designs inspired by the black swan movie, to no-nonsense summer day wear, every designer had something to offer. Sharp tailoring and subtle designs made up a beautifully managed show with all the quality but less of the pizzazz. Enjoy.

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London Fashion Week round up in pictures…part 1.

Paul Costelloe

Jean-Pierre Braganza

Mulberry

Paul Smith

TOPMAN.

JAMES LONG

Mr Start

Christopher Shannon

J. W. Anderson

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HATS…ways to pull them off.

Hats are one of my personal favourite accessory pieces of all time. Apart from the fact that they add flavour to your outfit, they are also very versatile and can be worn in any season, providing warmth for your head in the cold periods and shade in the sunny ones.

There are as many reasons to wear hats as there are hat types, the important thing to remember when wearing one, is that like clothes, they should fit. Fit your head, the outfit your’e matching it with, the season and the occasion. One would look rather silly wearing a bespoke suit with brogue shoes and a knitted hat, to a summer wedding.

Another great thing about hats, be it a fedora, top hat or a drivers hat is that, they can be used to tone down a formal attire or smarten up an other wise casual or even sloppy look, giving it that casual/smart twist.

Also, when wearing a hat, you should consider the shape of your face. A person with a long oval face should wear a hat with a short brim. While a rounded faced person should opt for a hat with a wider brim.

As for colours, you might want to keep it neutral. Remember it is an accessory so it should be there to compliment your outfit.

At the end of the day though, as with any outfit put together, the confidence with which its worn is just as important as the pieces. No matter how well put together your outfit is, if you don’t carry it with the right attitude, it’ll seem flawed.

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For Accessories sake.

I have recently been asked about accessories quite a bit. How to wear them, what type to wear, what to wear them with, and even if certain pieces, a bow tie for instance can be worn as an accessory.

So I have decided that over the next few posts I will focus on accessories and shed as much light as I know on it. However before then, there are certain pointers I think should be known about accessories and wearing them, or as I like to say ‘learn the rules, then learn how to break them’.

With that said, keep this in mind before and when wearing accessories.

The ‘job’ of accessories is to detail your outfit, giving it character and depth, and making you stand out. Its said that details is what makes the gentleman, but what should also be said it that too many details could easily ruin your look. There are outfits and occasions where accessories would be complimentary, but you can also look as good without wearing any accessory. Yes accessories are great, I have quite a collection myself, but don’t feel the need to always wear some form of accessory when you dress up.

When accessorizing, there isn’t a specific amount to wear, but to be safe one or two pieces is standard, three is a maybe. Anything more HAS TO BE DONE TASTEFULLY. Remember accessories are meant to spice up your look, not be the spice of your look.

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EDITION, new design concept by Debenhams

Debenhams new collection, EDITION is a design concept created in collaboration with contemporary designers, such as Jonathan Saunders, famed for his signature prints and use of bold colours. The fashion duo Preen, best known for their sophisticated yet edgy style with both masculine and feminine aspects. Shoes, bags and accessories are by Jonathan Kelsey, which is definitely something to look out for, as his impressive repertoire  includes designing for Jimmy Choo, Mulberry and Pucci.

EDITION launches in stores and online on the 14TH of February.

From the red carpet at the SAG awards.

Natalie Portman in Azzaro

January Jones in Carolina Herrera

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta

Angie Harmon in Monique Lhuillier

Claire Danes in Louis Vuitton

Christina Hendricks in L’Wren Scott

Dianna Agron in Chanel

Eva Longoria in Georges Hobeika Couture

Mila Kunis in McQueen

Amy Adams in Hervé Leroux

Hilary Swank in Versace

Winona Ryder in Alberta Ferretti

Jennifer Lawrence in Oscar de la Renta

Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta