ManChic

Men's watches

Men's fashion is always a complicated topic. For women, there are much more of a range for styles and accessories to set themselves apart then for men. One feature that does stand out though, is a stylish watch. Watches have a long tradition in men's fashion and are often considered to be a constant trend-item among style-conscious men. This is probably because luxury watches, just like the wearer of the watch, are said to have their own character.

Tradition and style of luxury watches

The popularity of men's luxury watches has persisted over the course of the years due to many factors. On one hand, there its functional aspect. They tell you the time and nowadays they integrate other useful functions. But this is only part of a much wider story: There are many simple stop-watches or even cell phones that can tell the time and have other integrated functionalities. Luxury watches have the chance to really tell something about the wearer and his character. While women have a multitude of fashionable accessories to set themselves apart and create their individual style, styles for men could be regarded as more streamlined.

Every brand and every model has its own story; one might even say its own character. For example, retailers selling Maurice Lacroix, one of the most famous brands for high-end watches, does not only sell a simple watch but rather a unique piece reflecting the tradition and heritage of that company. It is therefore not surprising that the most famous luxury watch brands have usually been in the business for generations.

The 2013 Barbour Jacket Collection – Which is for you?

It’s no secret that one of the key items in any wardrobe is a truly stylish jacket. The jacket is perfect for those days when it’s too cold to just wear a pullover, and not cold enough to wear a coat. Mixing style with practicality is always important; I don’t care what anyone else says. The crème de la crème of fashionable jackets has got to be Barbour. I could spend a whole article describing why that is, but I just don’t think it’s necessary. It’s just a fact of nature—the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The Earth orbits the sun. Barbour make some of the most beautiful jackets around; it’s just how things are. But what kind of Barbour jacket is right for you? Let’s explore the most recent collection and find the right one.

Discover your inner biker

A chic snippet from the Steve McQueen collection, the Sunblast jacket has been inspired by original biker style, yet features a stars ‘n’ stripes badge for a USA twist. Slight tailoring and a waxed finish in true Barbour style. UK shoppers, the Barbour jacket is on sale in olive for £328.99 from Jules B. US shoppers, browse the whole Steve McQueen collection from Royal Male.

Get in touch with the soldier in you

Taken from the 2013 Miliary collection, the 

Drileton Quilt Jacket 

combines classic Barbour quilting with splash-proof fabric and patch pockets to create a masculine appeal. Corduroy collar as standard.  Available for £249.95.

 

Reinvent yourself as a country gentleman

Stand out from the flock with the Ardmore Jacket with pheasant detailing. Part of the Country collection, the piece comes with handy game pocket.

Discover the explorer in you

Waterproof, breathable and everything the modern man could want from the Beacon Heritage collection’s Colpel Jacket. It doesn’t hurt to look good while staying dry and warm. This is a perfect marriage of style and practicality. Love it. 

Unearth the rugged farmer in you

Embrace the Countryside collection with the Lowland Jacket from the 2013 line. Classic waxed exterior with studded cuff adjusters and drawcord hem. There is a charm and elegance to this traditional English farmer look that isn’t likely to fall out of fashion any time soon.

Be a Prince

Attain regal status from the Royal Jacket, part of the Classic Country collection. Leather trim on cuffs, all-round style for the dapper gentleman. This jacket is fantastic and should only be worn by someone who looks the part and walks with a bit of swagger. After all, no one wants a shy prince.

There you have it: a bit of insight into the latest that Barbour has to offer.  I know that none of these jackets come cheap. But you only ever need the one to help complete your wardrobe. I hope I’ve helped you find the right jacket for you, and just in time for spring. 

 

Lookbook: Hackett takes you through A/W in style

Not satisfied with being ready for anything, the modern gentleman wants to look great in any situation, and Hackett is ready to deliver with its stylish answers to the colder seasons’ style dilemmas. Whether the snowy climes are calling or city chic is on the menu, Hackett’s nostalgic blend of clear quality and crowd-parting style is the only route to take. But what are the key looks this season?

The smart shirt – tougher, cooler, stronger

Start with a shirt that has an ultra-casual streak. The Hackett chambray indigo shirt from the Modern Prep range balances a smart slim fit with soft buttons down the collar to provide an instantly relaxed, yet extremely masculine look. But this shirt is a hybrid; worn with a checked tie for geography teacher-chic, and a tonal V-neck jumper, it’s as smart as any formal situation could command. Team with a chocolate-toned leather jacket, gloves and a coordinating holdall for weekend style that fights back against the winter chills.

The luxury jacket

Outerwear makes an outfit, and the country-dwelling gent needs to get it right. Finish off the stylish pairing of cream chinos and a shawl collar jumper with Hackett’s nubuck down filled jacket. Once again, coordinating gloves offer much more than just warmth to the ensemble, and a retro-inspired holdall in a subtle shade of grey is the perfect way to punctuate this classic look.

The hoody – repurposed

Forget nondescript loungewear, Hackett’s London Rowing Club hoody is the ideal layer to make a shirt and bow tie easy-wearing. Topped with a dark blazer to hit the streets, Hackett delivers a new way to bring the hoody into the modern man’s wardrobe.

How to Wear a Polo Shirt

Designed as a practical shirt for playing tennis in during the 1920s, the polo has been through some transformation. It is now a staple in men's wardrobes all over the world, with it being equally at home for work or play, providing the wearer with the almost perfect smart-casual mix. There are many styles of polo available, and we have highlighted a few of the best looks for you below.

Mod revival

The mods were arguably the first group to really take the polo on as one of their own during the 1960s. Paired with a bomber jacket, turned-up slim jeans and a pair of Dr. Martens, you will have the modern, smart-casual mod look down to a tee. The classic combination pairs navy bomber and dark blue jeans with a red or burgundy polo, but any combination of darker jeans and jacket with a colourful polo should do the trick.

Layers

Whereas a standard tee hides under a warm winter jumper, trying to give everything it has to give through the couple of millimetres protruding at the neckline, the polo shirt is much more in your face and assertive with its collar standing proudly above your sweater. The added coverage for the neck will also be appreciated during winter. A polo works equally well with a cardigan too, with the extra real estate on the chest perfect to showcase the button-up collar of your polo.

Relaxed formality

Instead of wearing a standard long-sleeve button-up shirt every day, a long-sleeved polo shirt could make a refreshing change. The extra fabric creates a layer of understated formality, so it will feel perfectly at home when paired with a dark overcoat and black, polished shoes. This also helps to provide added warmth during the current colder months, without having to resort to layering up as described above.

Draper style

In the last few series of Mad Men, the unconquerable Donald Draper has been spotted swapping his slim-cut suits and tie clips for the humble polo. Usually opting for a blue polo with white trim around the collar and breast pocket, the Don pairs his offering with neutral slacks for summer evening drinks and relaxing away from the office. We can all afford to be a little more like Don, so follow his lead with this look too.

For the Casual Outings

After a long workweek, it is time to break out the clothes that make you feel comfortable yet stylish. Comfortable, casual clothes are just as important for the wardrobe as any work clothes or business suits – and they are usually much more enjoyable to wear. Shopping for new casual clothes can be easy if you already have ideas of the styles you want or where you want to wear them. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

A Walk in the Park

Warm spring or summer days are perfect for walks in the park and picnics. A pair of cargo shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers is the right style for most of these occasions. Wear a polo shirt if you want a slightly more formal look, such as at a company picnic. Otherwise, a plain t-shirt or a t-shirt with your favorite sports logo is stylish enough.

If you are among the men who do not like wearing shorts, jeans work just as well, although you will not stay as cool when the weather turns hotter.

A Trip into Town

For a rugged, masculine look that is casual yet sharp, choose jeans, cowboy boots, such as those you would find at Langstons Western Shop, a plain white T-shirt and a classic style cowboy shirt. You can also add a cowboy hat to this outfit if that suits your tastes. If the jeans are new, the boots are well cared for, and the shirt is ironed, this outfit easily transitions from your running weekend errands around town, to meeting up with friends in the evening.

For this look, jeans should be well fitting. They should be loose enough to be comfortable, but not baggy or sagging. A black or brown belt pulls the look together. There are many colors and patterns for cowboy shirts. Purchase several and you will have a new look just by switching the shirts. Wearing a t-shirt underneath looks better, and if you get too warm, you can take the outer shirt off.

Watching the Game

If you are watching the game with family or people that you know really well, it is okay to wear your lounge clothes. If you have guests over, however, you will want to look more stylish and less like you just got out of bed. A pair of jeans, a sports jersey and a good pair of boots or sneakers makes this look.

British Heritage Brand: Barbour

For heritage brands it can be tricky to remain current and find a common ground with each new generation of customer that comes through. A lot of them you won’t have even heard of; that’s because they probably didn’t even make it into this decade and sank without a trace. The ones that have made it and are leading the way you probably take for granted – and that’s how it should be.

Why? Because that means they’ve seamlessly embedded their classic heritage styles into the current trends, one range that does this well is Barbour’s classic heritage range . If you’re unfamiliar with Barbour it’s a family run business based on the north east coast of England, they’ve gained such global acclaim that they’ve collaborated with the likes of Paul Smith, TO KI TO and another English heritage brand Grenson on various collections. Despite this, it’s still the likes of their ‘Heritage’ line that continue to do extremely well and it’s from this line that we pick a lot of our stock for the coming seasons.

Here we’ve picked out 3 key items from the latest Barbour collection to give you a taste of what to expect…

Let’s start with a must-have for any man during the autumn/winter season; a jacket to help combat the elements. The Skipsea jacket will do that better than ever with 4" Cube quilting, 80/20 Duck Down and a detachable hood for heavy downpours. This jacket utilises naval inspired features from Barbour’s classic duffle; for instance the twisted string and wooded toggle fastening.



Knitwear is great for layering and they don’t come much better than the Caister Fairisle Crew knit that with alcantara elbow patches. Nothing says “quality” quite like ‘100% lamb’s wool’ and that’s exactly what you’re getting here.



To round things off, you’re going to need a solid shirt to suit virtually any occasions. The Spoke Shirt with slant pocket detailing in 100%brushed cotton is a great option.



Bring a little heritage into your life with great heritage brands from Northern Threads’ webstore .

Bond is Great Britain you be AGENT-UK

Though he may roam the globe and be influenced by different fashion styles, James Bond will always be a British gentleman.

Play : AGENT-UK now

The extensive international production of SKYFALL filmed in iconic London locations, including the National Gallery, Whitehall and Greenwich, as well as Glencoe and Glen Etive in the Scottish Highlands where Ian Fleming’s family once owned a home, is now over, and movie is hitting cinemas internationally soon.

And this new game AGENT-UK is all it took to hook me up and plan my next visit to London. The city is one of the best places for fashion therapy, and not to mention that once you are done with your makeover you should not forget to explore the country, ... you will have the time of your life.

+ http://www.facebook.com/LoveUK

The Perfect Autumn Look

It is that time of the year when we are all going back to all good layering , making sure that we are warm when needed and that we can take off a few things if we need to be more comfortable. But one of the main pieces to make this transitional time not as complicated as it sounds is the right Jacket.

Puffa jackets are back and Lanvin, has sent on the runway loads of silver, grey and black puffa jackets for this season. Great think is that they work with any styling of clothing under. Pretty neutral in stile they are a unique piece that should be considered a basic now. There are plenty of other options online , but we have found jackets by Debenhams to be pretty close to what we have seen on the runway.

Than you need the right glove, and Pringle of Scotland are known for their quality and classical stile, but still with a hint of fun. We tent to prefer leather jackets to any other kind as they server the purpose better and work with many clothing options.




As we continue to take off the layers, there is a surprise, this amazing Tuxedo Jacket by Versace, is not for all the occasions, but definitely makes a statement. Just pair it with an interesting shirt, and you are ready to sit in the first row of Paris Fashion Week. It is decisively European cut, but it keeps the universal purpose it should have.




And no we could not forget the watch. In the Latest issue of BELLO mag we have seen this crazy piece of art by Devon Works a Los Angeles based advanced engineering and design laboratory. They are reinventing the watch with the new version of the iconic Tread 1 and calling it Steampunk. Devon Tread 1 Steampunk Limited Edition Watch sells for $25000.




With its bolted brass casing and aeronautically engineered mechanical conveyor belt time system, this exclusively new timepiece will be the epitome of the steampunk movement, which was originally inspired by the inventive and daring spirit of the Age of Steam, the period of industrialization that took place approximately between year 1770 and 1914.

Men's Accessories from Front Jewelers

Seasonal changes are exciting times for new fashion. There are always a few weeks early in a new season during which no one is quite sure which clothes and accessories are going to be regarded favorably. While it is fun to watch other people make humorously bad fashion choices, it is advisable to avoid becoming one of those people. One can be a beacon of good fashion by wearing some jewelry like the kind sold at Front Jewelers.

Men's Jewelry is Back in Style

Many men balk at wearing jewelry. Their distaste is misplaced, since the ability to wear jewelry without sacrificing any masculinity is an attractive quality. Period dramas like Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men prove that men can be tough and authoritative while wearing tailored suits and flashy gems. Shows like this have helped to usher in a new age of fashion for men. If anything, men are now expected to overdress as a matter of course. The grunge years were hard on everyone, and the suffering of fashionistas was especially egregious. Fitted, classic styles have returned, and it is easier than ever to dress with flair on a daily basis. Sometimes all it takes to elevate a normal casual outfit to a classier level is one piece of tasteful jewelry.

The most fashionable men are the ones who look good without trying too hard. A gold chain is a great piece for someone who is just starting to experiment with fashion. Curb link chain necklaces are very common in many different subcultures. They are worn by hip hop aficionados and businessmen alike. Even surfers are fans of these necklaces' simple elegance. There is a lot of space between the links, so the wearer will not feel like he is wearing too much gold around his neck. It can take a lot of time to work one's way up to wearing more ostentatious pieces. People who jump into fashion too quickly are referred to as individuals whose jewelry is wearing them. Everyone has a natural comfort level when it comes to fashion, but no one's innate limits preclude him from wearing high-quality jewelry.

Starting with Rings

Men's rings became fashionable with the advent of the metrosexual. Men who take pride in dressing well and having impeccable hygiene are known for also wearing flashy rings. Pinky rings studded with diamonds are especially popular among men who dress in this style. It is more likely that a man will only be shopping for a ring if he is going to be married soon. Since it is trendy for men to wear jewelry right now, there are lots of ring options available. A man does not have to choose a traditional wedding band. Any of the diamond-studded or streamlined plain gold ring would be an appropriate wedding ring.

Men who want to match their jewelry to their fall wardrobes should opt for yellow gold over white gold or silver. The warm tone will wear well with earthy browns, reds and oranges.

Fashion For The Larger Man, Remixed

Often, when you are a more sizable gentleman, you can feel as though you need to constantly focus on making things look slimmer, more toned down. In other words, you may feel you need to fade away into the background. Stop this, now! As a bigger guy, you are going to stand out. This is no bad thing. Some people spend their whole lives trying and failing to stand out from the crowd.

So now, with your confidence bolstered (hopefully), let's take a look at the new rules for the big man:

Brights are right

In the spirit of not trying to fade away, inject some bright colours into your attire. You can do this with the right accessories: if you are a fan of the sporty look, a pair of bright trainers are a great addition to your weekend casual look. For a more modern, preppy look, colour-pop canvas loafers are hot right now. If you're ready to take a plunge into the deep end, attention-grabbing T-shirts are a guaranteed way to stand out. Consider this season's trendy colour; bright blue. Pastel shades are big news for guys at the moment, but opt for zesty, eye-popping shades rather than wishy-washy dulls.

You can do smart

Not enough men do the full suit these days, but it's often for good reason. Smaller-framed men can drown in all that regimented tailoring - but not you. A larger gent can handle the severe lines, the added definition - and the assumption that you mean business. So go on, get fitted.

If a suit-able occasion doesn’t arise, opt for just a blazer. Worn with jeans, this offers the perfect blend of smart and casual. Jacamo – a retailer who specialises in knitting out larger men - could be a good place to turn as you'll know your choice is going to fit. Style up your blazer to proudly and firmly state "I am stylish" by teaming with a knotted scarf a la tall guy Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, or go the unexpected route by throwing it over one of your bright tees - just a single coloured one, though.

Knee length, tailored shorts have crashed the men's fashion scene recently, bringing with them a new, stylish and even smart way to keep your cool. Once again, colour is key. Choose an all-over shade rather than a pattern that may enlarge thighs, leaving them out of proportion with the rest of the body. Khaki shorts are a great choice for semi-smart occasions, as they look cool paired with a shirt. Roll up your sleeves, buckle up a chunky belt and you've got city-chic sorted.