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Winter Style Essential :- The Camel Coat

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A quick-fire guide on a winter essential.

Camel Coats are great. They are incredibly stylish yet also very practical. So let’s start with the boring stuff first. Wool (of which most camel coats are made) is an incredible fabric, it is hard wearing, absorbs water and is incredibly cosy to boot. Therefore when looking for a camel coat you should find one that is mostly or entirely made of wool, if you can afford cashmere (although if you can you probably have too much money to be reading this) then that can be even better though less durable.

Now that that is out of the way it’s time for the fun stuff. What is one item that goes with everything from joggers to a suit? A Camel Coat. What looks effortless and chic whilst also giving off Italian and Parisian vibes? A Camel Coat. Not only does a Camel Coat do all of these glorious things but it also adds colour to what can often be a drab and dark time of year. Similarly the coat just looks a bit more unique than the many navy coats out there. Whilst it works with almost everything as I said if you really want to channel your inner stylish Parisian wear your coat with an all-black ensemble. If you lean more Italian in the style stakes just sub in some white jeans and similar neutral colours. It really is that easy.

Now what are you waiting for? Go forth and buy extremely chic coats.

Winter Style Essential :- Black Commando Sole Boots

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A guide to the trending and practical footwear essential.

What if I told you there was a way to be sensible with your footwear choices and yet still wear one of AW19/20’s biggest menswear trends? You’d call me crazy? Well I must be crazy because a Black Commando Sole Boot is exactly that. It is sturdy and practical in design with the elevated sole making it perfect for winter conditions. Not only that but it was also present on runways from Prada and Botega Veneta to Fendi and Paul Smith. If that isn’t illustrious company I don’t know what is. Black Boots aren’t just trending now though, they are timeless as well. They have been stylish ever since the likes of James Dean, Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen became some of the first icons of rebellious fashion, showing how style could be ultimately very cool. Since then Black Boots have been adopted by the stylish everywhere from Parisians to Rockstars.

Find boots made out of high quality materials and a good construction and you are all set. The practical and trendy boot for the upcoming winter. Which is also versatile as hell, these bad boys can be worn with pretty much anything including a suit but look especially good leaning into the rocker vibes with slim black jeans.

After all if it’s good enough for Prada it’s good enough for us too. Right guys?

The Importance of Accessorising

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Leather Jacket, Chelsea Boots, Black Jeans and a White Tee. That sounds like a great outfit right? It is, however there comes a time where classic starts to become a little boring. That time is when accessories come into play. Jewellery, Watches, Belts and Shoes. These can all be used to add personality to your outfits. They let you stamp anything you wear with a little more you, adding a necklace to the above outfit or a belt by your favourite brand keeps things classic but with just enough of a twist to keep things from getting stale. Accessories can be used to add just a little more je ne sais quoi to your outfits and elevate them from classic to fantastic. They add personality and interest and they even make it seem like you have put in more effort then you have. Tucking a t-shirt into a pair of trousers to show off a belt just makes things look more considered. Similarly it is the little variations in shoes that separate them. A flash of colour here, an unusual silhouette there. These are all things that allow you to keep your outfit measured and classic just with more personality.

This is why accessories are important even for a fashion novice. They let you play it safe with the rest of your outfit and yet still stand out and look just a little more interesting than your average joe.

So, people, get on out there and accessorise.

Spring Outfit #4

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Colour Block

Colour blocking is here in a big way for SS19 here is an easy way to match the trend.

Base Layers

White Jeans – A spring and summer essential the white jean has evolved from a hooray associate into a stylish staple. They just as easy to wear as black jeans only with added flair and this makes them an ideal basis to an outfit. Endlessly versatile. Endlessly stylish. Get some in a slim fit for the easy riviera vibes.

Simple Tee – Now this is the part that can be debated. Everyone has their own favourite T-shirt brand and style. I would personally recommend Uniqlo on the high street and Sunspel if you want to take things upmarket. The key here is getting a T-shirt that fits you perfectly and picking any colour you like. Navy, Red, Orange as long as you keep them simple and pick a colour that doesn’t wash you out feel free to go crazy. Just make sure to pay attention to fit. Whether you want a classic style or hyper modern slim fit make sure you get one that is just right. After all the sky is the limit.

Outerlayer

Chore Coat – A complementing Chore coat is the perfect accompanying jacket to wear with this outfit. It suits the colourful theme and is a style that is trending hugely at the moment. The key here is to go for a colour the compliments the tee you are wearing. For example if you are wearing a light blue tee opt for a jacket a few shades darker or vice versa. This keeps the colours flowing and makes the outfit seem more harmonious. Not to mention all those pockets will come in useful. For a bit more of a swerve wear a darker tee with a lighter chore coat.

Footwear

Complimenting Trainers – Now the best way of matching this to the outfit is to opt for a pair of shoes in a similar colour to either your jacket or your tee. This keeps the outfit colourful amidst the white canvas (literally) of the Jeans. Once the colour is just about matched you can vary it up with style. Anything from cutting edge chunky sneakers and sneaker socks to retro vans and Adidas feel free to express yourself.

Accessories

Black Woven Belt – This brings more summer vibes as well as an additional texture to the outfit. It’s simple laidback accessorising that helps elevate the outfit.

Style Move

Shirt Tuck – This streamlines the silhouette whilst also keeping it perfectly balanced between smart and casual. Giving it a perfect blend of retro and trending. After all of its good enough for Virgil Abloh it’s good enough for us.

Sockless – Wear no-show socks to expose some ‘mankle’ and give the look a summery vibe. This exposure of skin goes a long way to making the outfit seem sharp and contemporary as well as letting you lean into that Spring/Summer fun.

Spring Outfit #3

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Tonal Blue

Tonal dressing is a massively stylish move to utilise. It makes any outfit look pulled together and interesting. Also despite it being monochrome it also shows a great amount of originality and personality. The key with tonal dressing is to mix textures and colours whilst maintaining an overall theme of one colour. Like this example with blue.

Base Layers

Blue chinos – Now I think the perfect base for this would be some light or pastel blue chinos. Most people would say you should go darker with your trousers than your top so this subverts that. Keeping things light down below also nods to the fact that this is an outfit with the warmer climbs of spring and summer in mind. The light colour nods to the current trend for pastels in SS19 and going for a chino makes it a perfectly versatile balance between smart and casual. Seeing as it is spring you can either opt for a cropped pair or give the trousers some turn ups.

Navy Polo Shirt – Another preppy staple and smart-casual master – the polo shirt. There can be a fair amount of options here. You can go for a standard polo or mix it up with a retro inspired open collar polo which is what I would recommend. Further more you can keep things plain or experiment with a pattern. For tonal dressing additional pops of colour are always good so I would recommend opting for one with white trim. Overall a knitted polo shirt with a base colour of navy and white trim or stripes is the most stylish option here.

Outer Layers

Light Wash Denim Jacket – Introducing an additional colour and texture to the outfit as well as a casual air. This prevents the outfight from looking too formal and provides a sharp contrast with the other textures present on the outfit. It is also the lightest colour of the outfit which provides an additional blue to keep things tonal.

Footwear

Blue sneakers – Perfect to keep things both casual and in keeping with the tonal outfit would be some blue sneakers. However you also want to add an additional element of interest and colour with the sneakers. Something like Adidas Campus’ with white trim or Vans Old Skools with their two tone blue would work perfectly here. This also leans casually providing perfect contrast with the smarter polo and chinos.

Accessories

Navy Woven Belt – An additional texture to bring to the outfit whilst also keeping things tonal.

Style Moves

Shirt Tuck – This streamlines the silhouette whilst also keeping it perfectly balanced between smart and casual. Giving it a perfect blend of retro and trending. After all of its good enough for Virgil Abloh it’s good enough for us.

Sockless – Wear no-show socks to expose some ‘mankle’ and give the look a summery vibe. This exposure of skin goes a long way to making the outfit seem sharp and contemporary as well as letting you lean into that Spring/Summer fun.

My Hairstyle

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So, many of you will have noticed from my photos on Instagram that I take great pride in my hair. It took me a lot of experimenting and research to find a style that I am truly happy with and suits me. In the end I settled on the textured, voluminous quiff that I sport today.

It was a case of one day deciding to reinvent my hair I always used to favour a more low maintenance hairstyle of my fairly unruly hair just thrown over to one side but I decided it was time for an upgrade.

I started by just looking though pictures before settling on the fact I wanted a quiff. In the end some of my main inspirations ended up being people like James Dean, Armie Hammer, Harry Styles David Beckham and of course Elvis. One of the key appeals to me was the timelessness and glamour of it all. To modernise it and after further research I decided I’d like the sides to taper (ironic given it originated in the 19th and 20th centuries). This gives the whole style a clean look and makes it far less maintenance.

After making the initial switch I continued to experiment with different styles and products. For a long while I used a pomade to really get that old school shine to my hair. However my hair is extremely thick and messy naturally so this took a lot of work. Ultimately I made the switch to using sea salt spray and a paste. This lets me harness the curls of my hair rather then combating them. The extra texture is easy to apply and looks great given the natural state of my hair. This more textured and slightly messier look is less old school and more in keeping with modern trends and I must say I’ve never been happier with my hair. I can play around with volume and texture to my hearts content and end up with some great styles which I can very slightly from day to day but keeping the overall style intact.

To style I use the salt spray first and then use a hairdryer to add volume and to style the shape of the hair. Then I’ll use a paste to hold it in place and then a spray of hairspray to add some additional strength and shine.

So there we have it, the journey I took to get my current hairstyle and how I style it.

Spring Outfit #1

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Oh hello 80s. The 80s and 90s are trending hard at the moment and this is an outfit to help lean into this trend without looking too much like a tribute act.

Base Layers

Uniqlo U Oversize White Striped Tee – Now available from the latest Uniqlo U drop as part of their 2019 Spring Summer collection. Wonderfully retro. Wonderfully on trend. Wonderfully oversized.

Light Wash Jeans – Build on the retro appeal of the retro tee with some light wash jeans. A typically 80s and 90s addition to the outfit that matches perfectly with the striped tee. It brings another element of colour to the outfit whilst giving it a more summery feel. As well as all of this Light Wash jeans are trending hard this season.

Top Layer

Light Wash Denim Jacket – Another Classic piece. Not only is light wash denim trending hard but so is doubled up denim. Match your jacket to your jeans and it creates a wonderful retro silhouette. The overdose of denim is toned down slightly by the contrasting top. Take inspiration from films such as Call Me By Your Name to help perfect this trending outfit.

Shoes

Converse High Tops – Trending since their inception in the 30s Converse have continued to be stylish for nearly a decade. They continue the wonderful retro theme of this outfit with a classic shoe. To add a modern twist maybe opt for one of converses many great collaborations such as those with Comme Des Garçons. Either way you can never go wrong with this classic shoe.

Accessories

Woven Navy Belt – Use a contrasting belt to help tone down the bold double denim either side of it. Additionally the woven belt adds an additional summery and casual air to the whole outfit.

Style Moves

Shirt Tuck – To give the outfit a more modern twist tuck the Tee into the Jeans. This streamlines the silhouette whilst also prevents it from looking like too much of a throwback.

Turn ups – Turn up or even get your jeans cropped. Show just a little ankle above the Converse High-Tops. This leans into the Spring/Summer feel of the outfit whilst again giving a slight contemporary twist. This helps make this outfit just that tiny bit more special.

My Favourite Clothing Brands Part 2

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Picking up where we left off…

Saint Laurent

A brand that oozes Parisian chic yet still maintains some edge. Ever since the brand was reinvented under Heidi Slimane it has gone from strength to strength. Meeting the perfect balance between bohemia and rock n’ roll, Saint Laurent is a master at what it does. It popularised the whole ‘skinny’ aesthetic and continues to do so to this day. Come here for the perfect meeting of French Opulence and a more modern edge.

Sandro

Another French brand. Shocking, when I attempt to dress Parisian most of the time. Sandro’s collections are just so wearable. They are one of the few major brands that produces clothes that you could wear with little difficulty in any setting no matter the dress code. This inherent wearability does not diminish the unique and stylish goods on offer however. A brand that manages to balance everyday wear with Parisian style is not to be missed.

COS

COS is a brand that has fully mastered Scandinavian minimalism. All clean lines and sleek colouring COS manages to keep things minimalist without making things to stark and boring. The odd splash of colour here and there help. As does the incredible attention to detail and fit. COS has some of the sleekest and simplest selections around and yet is never boring. As well as keeping things minimalist COS isn’t afraid to indulge in the odd trend led item such as wide leg trousers, chunky soled shoes and bomber jackets.

J.Crew

Now hopping across the pond to masters of American prep. J.Crew is a one stop shop for anything and everything preppy. From pastel coloured shorts and trousers to excellent oxford shirts and cable knit jumpers. If it’s preppy J.Crew sells it. As well as stocking some of the best chinos around, all of J.Crews offerings are great. Having great range from trending Cuban Collar shirts to everyday basics J.Crew is a must for your wardrobe.

Ralph Lauren

Another prep king. Ralph Lauren rejuvenated the American fashion game with his eponymous brand. Having multiple differing lines at various price points helps Ralph Lauren to have mastery at every level of the fashion game. The range from exquisite tailoring to your basic tee is staggering and the brand pulls all of this off with aplomb. Ralph Lauren is of course famed for its oxford shirts and these are among the best in the game, excellent fit and impeccable quality. Don’t sleep on the Polo shirts either, particularly the soft touch variety

My Modern Day Celebrity Style Icons

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As someone interested in the fashion world I have numerous celebrity icons and influencers that have a great impact on the way I dress. There are innumerable fashionable celebrities. However I will try and narrow down to 5 key choices who influence the way I dress in the most fundamental ways. They each have various impacts on the way I dress and aim to dress.

1. Timothee Chalamet – Probably the least known name on this list Timothee Chalamet burst on to the scene due to his performance in Call Me By Your Name. Both in the film and in real life Chalamet has serious style nous. In the movie he boasted some serious preppy and riviera inspired outfits. In real life he tends to go more flamboyant. One of the best at integrating high fashion onto the red carpet Chalamet is not scared to experiment. Even with more out there trends such as a body harness. His printed suits are a particular highlight of mine.

2. Harry Styles – Now Harry Styles has gone through one hell of a style evolution since his boy band days but then haven’t we all? Bringing back the flamboyant rock star looks of old Harry Styles is channeling the best aspects of the Rock and Roll scene of the late 20th century. His Gucci campaigns are further proof of this. He’s not scared to experiment with what he wears and it is always bright and flamboyant and often anchored with Chelsea boots – never a bad thing. His brightly coloured suits combined with a envious head of hair are making his best looks

3. Rami Malek – Another relative nobody until his star making turn as Freddie Mercury. Malek excels at sharp red carpet looks and smart casual off-duty ensembles. With both it’s his attention to detail that really works. A subtle printed shirt for instance. Malek also expertly combines smart and casual items for effortless high-low combinations. His outerwear game was exceptional this past winter. As is his ability to elevate the seemingly mundane item to something that makes a statement. His combinations of printed shirts and suits are among my favourite of his looks.

4. Donald Glover – Now a true Renaissance man. Donald Glover has managed to pull of domination of the music, film and television worlds. No mean feat. Almost everything Glover wears is newsworthy and nobody wears Gucci loafers quite like him. Glover just excels and looking excellent. Whether that be on the red carpet with statement red tailoring or in the casual sphere with a V-neck jumper Glover is able to capture attention. He utilises prints and colour to a mind boggling extent and is always pushing boundaries. His use of print and colour in particular is how he really catches attention nothing is ever too simple it’s either in a bright colour or sharp print and this is to his credit. His off duty outfits always look incredible – simple and yet boundary pushing and truly copyable.

5. Micheal B Jordan – Jordan is a man of incredible acting talent and eclectic style. A true chameleon, Jordan floats between high-end sportswear and luxe suede bomber jackets to impeccable and youthful evening-wear. It’s his versatility that is truly astounding. He is able to walk the red carpet in true eye catching yet elegant style and then the next morning effortlessly pulling off a casual look. Often his casual looks come with a twist such as a luxe sneaker or statement piece of outerwear which only serve to elevate them. It is this ability to pull off anything and everything that really sets Jordan apart. His casual outfits with statement items such as luxe outerwear or sneakers are outrageously good and deserve all the credit they receive and more.

Winter Outfit #4

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Base Layers

Pleated Cropped Wide Leg Trousers – Now trousers such as these are trending hard at the moment. This is one hell of a way to sidestep the crowds of chinos and Jeans wearers and add a unique element to the outfit. Trousers such as these also sit higher on the waist elongating your legs and creating a flattering silhouette to every body type. These are just as versatile as your favourite pair of jeans, they just add a high fashion slant to your outfit.

Cuban Collar Shirt – Continue to lean into the mid century feel of the outfit with a Cuban Collar shirt. Either a plain or printed example will keep the retro feel of the outfit whilst also leaning hard on current trends. The printed shirt also adds a vibrancy to the ensemble and gives things a splash of colour. If your bold enough I would always go printed with the shirt as part of this outfit. It modernises the ensemble whilst giving just enough of a retro feel. A look favoured by the fashionable 50 years ago that endures to this day.

Mid Layer

Overshirt – Now this is winter after all and whilst nodding to summer is all well and good we do need to get practical. A navy coloured overshirt will help ground the potential vibrancy of the printed shirt. Even if the shirt is a plain colour this will still add some texture. The overshirt also provides the opportunity to show some serious layering skills providing an extra element of interest and extreme versatility.

Top Layer

Leather Biker Jacket – Keep walking the line between mid-century and modern with a leather biker jacket. The whole point of this outfit is to modernise the classic and nothing symbolises that more than a leather biker jacket. Having been in style since the 70s this is an item that personifies timeless. Furthermore the combination of this and a printed shirt will also bring a rock and roll style to the outfit and keeps things from getting too formal.

Accessories

Black Woven Belt – This adds texture to your waist which is even more important when you wear high waisted trousers. This texture just creates further interest to an already multidimensional outfit.

Footwear

Luxury High Tops – Now any high tops look excellent with a pair of cropped trousers but a luxurious pair in something like suede will just take this outfit to another level. The suede would bring a new texture to the look and just gives off a luxurious and stylish vibe. Suede needs to be protected of course but it is worth it because nothing quite matches suede for luxury. When paired with the cropped trousers these statement shoes are allowed to be on full show and elevate the outfit.

Style Move

Tuck – With high waisted trousers it is normally better to tuck whatever top you are wearing into the trousers. This keeps the outfit looking timeless and streamlines it. Tucking your shirt also keeps the outfit looking sharp. It also helps you keep a sophisticated style that helps set you apart from the crowd. After all this is a move favoured by the likes of Virgil Abloh and who can argue with him?