Men’s Boots

Let’s face it, Those of us who love a good bit of sartorial wear, love winter. It gives us the perfect excuse for layering up; to wear not only a t-shirt – like we might in warmer climes – but jumpers and cardigans and coats and blazers. It also gives us the opportunity to wear boots.

The market is currently awash with boots, but it’s also rife with questions: what ones should you be looking out for, can you wear them with a suit and are bikers’ boots just for bikers? Read on and you may just find the answers.

Billy Ruffian – Chelsea Boot Tan

Brogue Boot

In the summer months, wearing a brogue shoe with no socks and a small turn up on your suit trousers gives a great slim-line silhouette to your legs, unfortunately, winters do not allow for such luxuries but with a brogue boot, you can keep the turn up in your suit trousers and show off the detail in the boot too. Brogue boots are both stylish and dapper and while I recommend wearing them with a tapered or skinny jeans, they look just as good with a smart suit. Just don’t forget that roll up on your trousers.

Oliver Spencer black brogue boots are as hard-working and stylish as the men they’re designed for.

Biker Boot

Let’s get one thing straight: fashion is very personal, what I like and you like might not be the same but surely we can agree, the biker boot is for ‘proper’ bikers only. The biker boot needs to be worn by the man’s man – it is not for skinny Hedi Slimane type models, it is for the rugged outdoor type, the man on the Harley or Triumph not the Ducati or Honda, it’s for the man in black. Strong, rugged and built to last, biker boots should be kept simple and when you are off the open road and out of your leathers, worn with a good pair of raw, straight or tapered leg denim i.e. Tellason, Mister Freedom et al.

Johnny Depp in Cry Baby

Classic Work Boot

The boot has been adopted by fashion but it’s origins stem from hard work in factories and fields. Brands such as Red Wing and Grenson have a fine heritage in the work boot and are now, thanks to the world of fashion, more popular amongst the masses than ever. Fusing traditional and modern-day methods, the work boot has become the go-to-boot for any informal event while still retaining its roots in the world of outdoor labour.

Red wing Moc toe boot

Fashion Boot

The A/W’12 menswear shows witnessed an abundance of men sauntering down catwalks in boots; from Paul Smith, Diesel Black Gold and Vivienne Westwood the boot played an instrumental part in the male wardrobe. Worn with suits, large work jackets and even jogging bottoms, the world of high-end fashion really has taken to the boot for the coming season.

On the left Westwood 2012 and on the right Diesel black gold 2012

Hiking Boot 

If ever a boot was having its moment in the fashion limelight, it would have to be the hiking boot. Once solely the preserve of the outdoor explorer, the hiking boot has marched from the wilds of nature and into the urban sprawl where it can be spotted teaming up with hipsters in skinny jeans, oversized shirts and bleached denim jackets.

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Movember Moustache

Ok, first things first, I have a confession to make. I cheated. I didn’t start clean-shaven. There, I said it and while it still makes me a cheat, my conscience at least feels the better for it. And at least by the month’s end, I might actually be able to see the few blonde hairs sprouting from my top lip.

I’m talking about Movember of course; that time of year when us gents embrace our facial hair in the battle against testicular and prostate cancer.

While the beard has come back into vogue in recent years – you can not wander down the street without a hipster, tattoo artist or graphic designer sporting some form of gargantuan facial ensemble – the moustache has remained very much its poor cousin…until Movember opens its door and the ‘tache takes an honourable spot in the limelight.

Of course, it often depends on your personal facial growth as to which ‘tache you will sport – I am stuck with a moustache that resembles a fighter pilot circa 1940 – and over the course of the month I shall be giving updates on how my own moustache is but in the meantime, here are some options you may wish to trial as the month progresses.

Get growing, trimming and pruning gents and raise awareness of testicular and prostate cancer in the process Gentlemen unite!

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If ever an item of clothing portrayed an image of rebellion, contempt for the conventional, a disregard for rule books and regulation, look no further than the seminal leather jacket. Throughout the ages the leather jacket has become synonymous with outsider-cool, a rights of passage for the rebel within desperately trying to fight its way out.

Marlon Brando epitomised his rebellious nature terrorising small town America in The Wild One as far back as 1953.  The Sex Pistols and The Ramones, with their sultry, bratish punk behaviour would never have looked the same without a leather jacket on their back. While to this day it’s rock’n’roll, devil-may-care attitude is exuded through bands such as The Strokes and Kings of Leon.

Rules for Leather Jackets

However, even a leather jacket must adhere to some rules:

• No hoods: It is not a rain-mac. You are not wearing this jacket to keep warm or dry, you a wearing it to look good.
• Minimal zips/pockets: You’re jeans are for phones, wallets and loose change, your leather jacket requires two pockets and those are for putting your hands in. Plus, the lady hanging off your arm will be carrying a handbag anyway.
• Collar optional: A tricky one this with no set rule. Personally I go for the round neck but if you want to rock a collar don’t let me stop you.
• No logos: Unless you’re a Hells Angel or part of a motorcycle gang keep your leather jacket logo free. If you want a jacket with logos, get yourself a baseball jacket.

Marlon Brando

Caleb

Rock Stars and Leather jackets go hand in hand

Grease and leather jackets were inseparable

Cool is an understated word for James Dean

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Five Summer Essentials

Here in England we are in the midst of a prolonged spell of sunshine the like of which hasn’t been seen for over three decades. I think it’s fair to say we are not accustomed to such fine weather and from the sartorial monstrosities I have seen melting on our sun drenched streets in recent weeks, it would appear the English gent isn’t quite equipped for such weather either.

At the risk of tarring everyone with the same proverbial brush, English men seem to leave their sartorial choices in the deep-freeze when the sun rears her effervescent head; garish, ill fitting surf shorts worn by men who won’t even go near the sea, tight t-shirts covered with slogans aimed at young teens, brown Velcro-strapped sandals the disciples of Jesus would have laughed at. And that’s without even mentioning men who think wearing a football shirt to the beach is socially acceptable.

Quite often in my articles for MSF I find myself repeating the age old mantra of keeping your wardrobe sharp and simple, elegant and understated and I stand by such a code of clothing conduct when it comes to your summer wears and those essential items to be worn under clear blue skies

So wherever you happen to be venturing during the summer months, there are certain items one should always pack:

Shoes

Having spent my childhood growing up in Cornwall, where there must be a law insisting flip-flops are worn for at least six months of the year  (no matter the weather), I have something of an aversion to grown men in flip-flops and those awful strap-on sandals which the Germans seem to be so fond of. I know it’s hot but a good pair of Gucci horse-bit loafers, Ralph Lauren driving shoes or Mr Hare tasselled loafers will keep you looking cool. And remember, socks are a definite no-no.

Swim Shorts

The latest collections to appear at the various fashion shows definitely had a nod towards baggier, sportswear led styles. Swim shorts however should still be worn more like James Bond rather than an Aussie surfer. Some of the best British brands producing an array of colours as well as both plain and print shorts come in the form of Hentsch Man Paul Smith and Orlebar Brown, all of whom have produced vibrant collections for the summer months.

Chinos

When the mercury is pushing 30 degrees – that’s sweltering for us Brits – skinny jeans are definitely not the way forward. I have never really been a fan of chinos, they remind me too much of golfers and posh folk aboard Monaco yachts, but this season has season a welcome shift in the shape of the more formal trouser. Brands such as Levis Made & Crafted have produced a wonderful pleated chino in sky blue and blush pink, colours which fuse majestically under the golden haze of summer while the likes of Christophe Lemaire, Margaret Howell and Vivienne Westwood all presented S/S’14 collections with a prominent display of tapered, lightweight trousers which make the straight-leg khaki chino a thing of the past.

Sunglasses

For all the talk of round framed sunglasses being part of the fashion zeitgeist this summer, trying to find a good pair has proved somewhat troublesome. Everywhere you look the classic square framed sunglasses are still clogging up the shops and the streets. Garrett Leight however does seem to be on the cusp of the sunglasses fashion curve with a splendid collection for this summer. Ray-Bans are also a failsafe brand but for the hipper kids amongst you, check out the Han Kjobenhavn range. You won’t regret it.

Han Kjobenhavn – Timeless Amber sunglasses

T-Shirts

People always seem to get holiday t-shirts so wrong, it’s almost as if they’re trying too hard. The trick is to keep it ultra simple. Forget garish emblems and witty slogans and instead concentrate on colours and the finer details. Sunspel, one of the UK most respected t-shirt manufacturers produce not only the finest cottons but an eclectic mix of colours from beautiful burgundy’s to turquoises that are just waiting to be worn in the summer months.  Oliver Spencer and his fashion nuances always produce a great tee in a multitude of exciting colours and with his button down pocket t-shirts, his customary attention to detail never fails to impress.

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Mustard Colour

With the Autumn solstice recently passing over the horizon and the dark nights drawing in, the palette of the male wardrobe ­usually finds itself becoming darker – dark shades of greys and blues replacing the brighter, more exuberant colours we associate with the balmy summer months. But why do we feel a need to do this? Why lower the mood? As the mercury declines we should be doing our utmost to keep the wardrobe, more, vibrant, more, I don’t know…mustard.

Why wear Mustard?

Mustard is such a wonderful colour to fool around with and yet so often it is like the neglected child, left to play on its own while the more neutral (one might go as far to say boring colours) are left to garner all the attention.

And yet mustard goes with everything: stick on a mustard jumper with a pair of black skinny jeans or formal navy trousers; pull on a pair of mustard trousers and team them up with a white shirt and a black leather jacket; throw on a mustard beanie and do whatever you like from the neck down and I guarantee you’ll look good.

So forget about the usual navy blues, ditch the greys and start giving mustard the credit it deserves.

Meadham Kirchoff – Mustard Military Jacket

Zara Jeans for men

Zara briefcase in mustard colour

Yes, you can even find shoes in the mustard colour.

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As the winter months close around us, the rain taps against our window like a notion we cannot shake and the wind whips at our bones, so our wardrobe thoughts turn to items we help to ward off the evils of winter and her ills. Large winter coats with their goose down padding and hoods will suddenly appear on door hooks, trainers will be replaced with thick-soled boots, hats and chunky knit scarves will be pulled from the bottom of neglected drawers and you definitely won’t be going anywhere without a trusted sweater.

But while you are in the midst of preparing your new season’s wardrobe, spare a thought for the t-shirt and the power it still holds, even if the mercury is falling faster than a boulder from a cliff face.

The doctor t-shirt is still an essential item no matter the climes. Under the sweater or a coat, whenever we head out for a casual social occasion i.e a drink with friends (something us Brits do with aplomb), the t-shirt is still the go-to item in helping us stand out from the crowd.

Pop into a shop or browse a web site during the summer months and I can guarantee you will not see a thick woollen sweater or large coat for love nor money – the same can be said for shorts or linen shirts in the winter months – but take a look at the rails of your local boutique or scrolling down a web page and you will still see a plethora of t-shirts no matter the season.

As with the summer months, this season sees the graphic tee retain its place as one of the go-to pieces in our wardrobes. From floral and animal prints (both of which have really become a mainstay of the print t-shirt) to urban and landscape imagery, the bold print t-shirt is very much an essential part of the winter wardrobe come rain or shine.

Intro Clothing aren’t afraid to mix it up when it comes to the graphic tee. With a wide range of brands and a great variety of prints.

Here’s a quick look at some of the best:

Topman

Topman always knows how to do print t-shirts and this season proves no exception. Team with a large oversize coat, bomber jacket or puffa for the look of the moment.

All Saints

Back when everyone was playing it safe with t-shirts, All Saints were carving out a place in the market for everyone else to follow suit. Still at the forefront of the print t-shirt genre, if you love your washed-out blacks and dirty, rock’n’roll whites, you simply cannot go wrong with what they have to offer.

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When they are on the field of play, footballers may be known for their speed of thought, their quick feet and seeing a pass in the blink of the eye but off it their sartorial choices often leave little to the imagination and a great deal too poor decisions and bad taste.

You see them stepping off the team coach in those gaudy tracksuits, headphones glued to their ears as if they would rather be anywhere else in the world rather than living all school boys dreams. Bling is often the order of the day for footballers; they exude their wealth through logo splattered sweaters, jeans with diamond encrusted jewels sewn in to the back pockets or ill placed designer rips slashed through the fabric. Understated class is certainly not part of the footballers clothing DNA.

Thankfully, there are a few managers out there who know what taste, tact and decorum and their wisdom and age often dictate a classier side of the sartorial game.

One such man is Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Being a Frenchman and with a philosophy of team before individuals, Wenger has recently recruited French fashion house Lanvin to design and create a suit for his players to wear every match day. Not only is this a sign of camaraderie and collectively, it is a nod towards an appreciation of fashion and the unity something as beautiful yet simple as a suit can bring to the team.

Arsenal may be leading the way when it comes to the re-introduction of the match day suit but here are a few other examples of teams sporting that sense of harmony through the clothes they wear not only as a team on the pitch but off it too.

FC Barcelona

The world’s best – and arguably most famous team – joined forces with Italian denim specialists Replay this season to wear not only suits but their very own range of denim jeans and shirts. Teams and players have often appeared in ad campaigns in the past (D&G and the Italian team, Beckham for H&M, Ronaldo for Armani) but it is very rare an entire casual range is created for one team to wear. Stepping off planes in light blue denim shirts and navy blazers isn’t something most teams could do but then again most teams are quite as sublimely talented as FC Barcelona.

England Suits

It will be interesting to see what England turn up in for the 2014 in Brazil. Of course being England the designer or brand has to be English – last time out it was a light grey number by Marks & Spencer and before that it was Burtons – but without Beckham in tow taking all the plaudits in whatever he wears, it will be interesting to see both the name of the tailor and brand who proudly get to see their name on the necks of those Three Lion suits. The suits in the past have always been a very classic three piece affair so hopefully this time out the designer goes for something a little more adventurous – we all know Roy Hodgson and his players need to be more free thinking in their philosophical choices.

Liverpool Suits

No article on football teams and their suits would be complete without a look at Liverpool FC, those horrendous white suits they wore at the XX Cup Final and a ‘what not to wear’ label attached! It was an awful Cup Final that few care to remember, unless you are Eric Cantona, a Man Utd player or fan, but Liverpool’s choice of bright white suits with red pinstripes (supplied by Armani) will ensure that final lives in the memory of football fans forever. It is a sartorial disaster, a display of pomp and panache that typified a team nicknamed the Spice Boys but so often flattered to deceive. Since then no team has dared to venture past black or navy blue when it comes to choosing the colour of their cup final suits.

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Apart from supposedly sunnier climes, the summer brings with it a myriad of events that all affect our warm weather wardrobes; from huge sporting events such as Wimbledon (for the more formal attire) and the World Cup (for our lads about town demeanour) to more personal gatherings such as festivals and family holidays, there are a plethora of outfit choices we must consider as the nights grow longer, and hopefully, warmer.

However, the one event that seems to crop up time and again over the summer months are weddings. Be it close friends or distant relatives, it never fails to amaze me how many weddings we find ourselves at throughout the months of June, July and August; we seem to be inundated with invites the length and breadth of the country – and more often than not to foreign shores – and thus the one outfit that stands out over any other each and every summer is your wedding guest ensemble.

Greg Minnaar 3 Time World Champion Down Hill Mountain Biker

Dress Shirt Style Tips

From the suit blazer to the shoes, tie to the trousers, there are many elements that must come together to make up the perfect outfit but possibly the most important is the dress shirt. It says a great deal about our character, it confirms our status as men who can look the part – even if we don’t always act it – and more importantly the plain white mens dress shirts transcend social occasions of a formal nature.

The shirt fits the spectacle of a wedding with aplomb. It’s suave, sophisticated approach – worn with a good black tie–gives off the air of a man who knows how to dress and frankly, if it’s good enough for James Bond, then it’s good enough for us all. There is nothing quite like the feeling of pulling on a new piece of clothing and better still, nothing beats the crisp, smooth feel of a good cotton dress shirt when it crosses your shoulders for the first time.

There are certain pieces us gents should always have in our wardrobes and along with a classic pair of black dress shoes, we here at MenStyleFashion know the dress shirt is uppermost in our sartorial thoughts. It simply covers every great occasion – it doesn’t matter if you are heading to your local football teams awards ceremony or the Oscars, it is simply the classic piece of elegance tinged with a sense of panache.

Wedding Attire

I have already attended two weddings this summer and with another couple to go I am thankful I invested in a new dress shirt early. Of course there are a plethora of retailers both on the high street and high end who offer a diverse range of dress shirts – collars, buttons, cuffs and stitching will always add an individuals take on the dress shirt –  but wherever you choose to shop, just ensure you own one.

There may be more adventurous items we can buy this summer but remember style never fades and never does that old adage ring truer than it does with the dress shirt.

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YMC Spring Summer 2014

YMC once again proved why they’re the doyens of fusing high-end street fashion with the catwalk, sending out a S/S’14 collection that had me wishing the year away in order to lay my hands on these latest pieces.

The great thing about YMC is their clothes are actually wearable; fashion is often ridiculed by the masses for pushing boundaries so far the clothes and concepts compare closer to fine art than so it is great to be able to sing the praises of a brand that looks good not just on males models in their late teens and early twenties but middle-aged men going about real jobs in the real world.

Rolled up shorts, oversized blazers and open sandals all made for a mouth-watering array of designs which combined to transcend the worlds of fashion and the man on the street. Minimalism was served up with tranquil blocks of colour, with soft greens and whites coming to the fore and dominating much of the collection.

Relaxed trousers worn with sandals made for a very casual approach – as one would expect from a summer collection – and of course there was the quintessential beret which made this a signature show for YMC.

A more relaxed fit – which has been evident at many a LC:M show this season – was the order of the day, knees being knee length and trousers a baggier affair than has been seen on the male catwalk in recent years.

Two of my favourite pieces were the striped blazers and bomber jackets which gave this show an air of traditional British heritage which is at the very heart of the brands DNA.

The Collection

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Mr Hare & Mr Start

I think it’s fair to say Mr. Hare and his shoes are riding the crest of a wave that has been building a steady stream of momentum over the last couple of years.

The dreadlocked, gentle giant Marc Hare has been causing a stir in fashion circles in recent times and his S/S’14 collection does nothing to dispel the myth; there was a fine blend of traditional colours – including the quintessential tan brogues and black tassle loafers  – alongside the more adventurous summer palettes which included sumptuous yellows, aqua and greens which all combined to create a collection that kept faith with the esteemed values of traditional cobblers while adding a kaleidoscope of colour that was very much in the mould of Mr. Hare and this wonderful new collection.

Alongside the Mr. Hare collection sat the aptly named Mr. Start. Simple block colours and elegant tailoring were very much the order of the day with blazers, shirts and tailored shorts dominating the small collection. I really wish I could wax lyrical about the clothes on show but for me this was safe and simple and while I can appreciate its relevance to classic menswear, it left me flat and uninspired.

Oliver Cheshire Interview

Oliver Cheshire talks us through some style tips about this collection

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Fashion, if we are brutally honest, is a funny old business – one moment an item is ‘in’ the next it’s ‘out’ (even the phrases themselves seem peculiar when you stop to think about it.) There is this ceaseless battle of keeping up with the latest brands, the sharpest cuts, the who’s, the how’s and the why’s. It can all be so exuberant at times.

Thankfully, and to paraphrase the legendary French designer Yves Saint Laurent, unlike fashion, style is eternal. Great style is a grand composition fusing the classic with the contemporary, somehow eschewing the crazed maelstrom of fashion to retain a sense of class and decorum. Which is exactly what the hat designers over at Tom Smarte’s manage to achieve.

Tom Smarte’s Heritage

Taking their name from Devonshire born hat maker Thomas Smarte, who was making hats in as far back as the 1770’s, these London based hat makers are proud to say they still use the same tools and methods dating back to 18th Century. This is very much a brand that places good old honest traditional hat making at its core but at the same juncture updates said hats to ensure they are befitting of the modern gent.

The beauty of the Tom Smarte brand is that while a genteel doth of thy cap is tipped towards traditional values and retaining their British heritage, they are unafraid to move with the times, offering hats that no matter the shape of ones head, will suit every man. In fact in this is where their beauty lies.

We here at MSF often hear men saying hats simply don’t’ suit them but the gents over at Tom Smarte can prove this is simply not the case. Offering a wide range of styles – from Trilby’s to Fedoras and flat caps – in an array of colours, the fact all of their hats are painstakingly crafted by hand and with each individual customer in mind, helps to ensure there is a shape and style for all us men.

We live in an age where the beanie hat has become the go-to piece of headwear for young men but that needn’t always be the case. In this modern world where we want everything here and now and our fashion choices are endless, it is refreshing to know brands such as Tom Smarte are ensuring the skills of great craftsmanship and traditional styles are not being lost.

With the renaissance of workwear as a fashion trend and with more men stepping foot outside of their comfortable clothing norms now is as good a time as any to invest in a hat that will last you a lifetime. The hat is the companion of respectable gents, rock ‘n’ rollers and workwear hipsters so there is really no excuse for not owning one. And of course, the hat is the Smarte choice.

Fedora – Wool Felt – Grey

Drivers Cap – Tweed Wool Brown

Newsboy Cap – Tweed Wool

Trilby Hat Herringbone Brown

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French Fashion For Men

It is no secret that the French are renowned for their elegant refinery when it comes to fashion. There is a tangible sense of sophistication in the way the debonair Frenchman dresses; those crisp white shirts, tailored trousers or chinos, loafers with no socks adding a dash of Gallic flair to their sartorial grace. The French are known for their sense of classicism, a wardrobe which errs on the side of caution but does it with such aplomb it becomes dashing rather than stale.

However, while the general consensus does still lend itself towards this classic mode of dress and the behemoths such as Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Dior will always hold sway with their historical importance, a new breed of French brands are slowly cutting a swathe through the fashion world.

With the rise of street style in the past few years, there has been a small yet significant move towards brands creating an aesthetic which lends itself towards the urban playground and the French fashion fraternity have been quick to capitalise on this market.

Street style has become key to the way brands market themselves in the modern market place and the French brands who have seized on this opportunity have managed to create a contemporary look while at the same juncture retaining those slender silhouettes and refined tailoring the French will always be famous for.

Here’s a quick look at three of the hottest brands coming out of France at the moment.

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Suits for Men

Harking back to my early teens and the favourite items that were thrown haphazardly within my wardrobe, I cannot recall a time when the suit would have ever entered my mind as a must have in my collection, in fact I’d go as far too say it was probably the last item in the world I wanted hanging from my rails.

Throughout my teenage years, those years of rebellion and angst, wearing a suit meant one of three things: you were either attending a wedding, going to a funeral or you were making an appearance at the behest of Her Majesty’s Service.

In the mid 90’s – an era of grunge and indie – neither my friends nor I would have ever been seen in a suit unless the occasion truly called for it, it was simply non-granta in the lexicon of fashionable clothing.

2013 – Suits

Leap forward a decade or so (ok, add another five years plus), and the suit has become a main stay of any mans wardrobe; it may still have it roots immersed in the aristocracy and the city gents but walk through the streets of any city or town in modern Britain and you will see hipsters and teens mixing it with the gentrified urban man.

The suit has become a major player in all walks of life. No longer do you have to be a banker or working along Savile Row to be seen adoring a well crafted suit; rappers such as Tinie Tempah and Jay-Z can often be seen strutting their stuff wearing a suit, while actors such as Ryan Gosling and Ben Wishhaw are making the suit a hybrid of contemporary and  classicism.

Tinie Tempah and Reggie Yates wearing tight fitted suits at London Collections, men 2013

When I spoke to the personal stylists at Topmans Oxford Street mecca recently and asked them what was going to be on trend for this season they informed me that guys as young as 15 were looking for suits to wear on a ‘casual’ basis. The idea of dressing up, of making oneself look smarter has filtered down from the workplace and onto the street.

TOPMAN Suit

The Key In Wearing The Suit

The key to it all is in the cut. Men want to look sharp, they want to look smart but they want it with a modern day twist. The suit can no longer be a hand-me-down from your father, it has to be cut to your figure; it must sit well on the shoulder and the trousers can’t look like the final scene in Big (if you haven’t seen it, watch it).

You will see the suit in so many guises upon the torso of the 21^st century man. Be it worn with a pair of trainers, a high roll-up leg (thanks in part to designers such as Thom Browne), or with a t-shirt instead of the classic shirt, the suit has fully immersed itself in the streetwear savvy shopper looking to smarten up their attire while at the same juncture maintaining a sense of youthful promiscuity.

It is a far cry from my youth and shows the perpetual evolution of fashion. Which can only be a good thing.

Thom Browne, designs wearing suits for 2013

TOPMAN suits for 2013

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Savile Row Fashion

The one recurring theme that kept running through my mind during the stunning Savile Row showcase at London Collections: Men was Where does Savile Row sit within the world of men’s fashion?

For many, including the likes of LC:M director Dylan Jones, Savile Row is an integral part of what the three-day showcase of men’s fashion is all about, part and parcel of the British DNA, ingrained within our heritage and still the inspiration for today’s menswear. While I cannot argue with the fact that the models, the grand Spencer House and the intricate tailoring made for a beautiful scene, for me, the whole charade spoke of elitism rather than inclusion.

I understand that tailoring has a part to play in the current sphere of men’s clothing, but fashion? Well, I’m yet to be won over. Modern men’s fashion should be about expanding the boundaries, making men more aware of how to dress, how to take pride in themselves and their attire when they leave the house for work in the morning. The suit is an essential part of us chaps identity but can we not be a little more E Tautz or Oliver Spencer about it (more on them later), rather than harking back to an age that modern man, to be frank, has little interest in.

The suit is classic, it is classy; yes these wonderful suits were being adorned by chiselled young models but you could have put the man on the street in these suits and they would have felt, a more importantly looked, a million dollars. Whether the show will spread that word, I have my doubts.

MenStyleFashion – Opens the doors for Inclusion For Savile Row

National Tailoring Design Awards 2014

Savile Row – Classy Show at Spencer House

We leave you here with some beautiful images of the classy Savile Row show at Spencer House.

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Golf Wear

Usually, when I think of golf and golfers – unless you count the late, great Payne Stewart or modern day dandy Ian Poulter – style and fashion are not at the forefront of my thoughts. The classic, staid golf outfit has never played a part in the pioneering fashion industry but that might just be about to change.

Hits The Runway

This season has seen the emergence of check print trousers and diamond, geometric v-neck sweaters – both staple pieces of any self respecting golf course – with catwalk shows and high street stores resplendent in prints and patterns once deemed suitable only for 18 holes followed by a few drinks in the club house.

Both E Tautz and YMC sent male models sauntering down catwalks in attire that would not have looked out of place had the models been walking with a golf club in tow, a plethora of geometric lines criss-crossing both jumpers and trousers. While over at Topman, ASOS, River Island and the leading menswear stores and e-commerce retailers you will see them producing an abundance of check print trousers – as well as check shirts and blazers – for their late winter, early spring collections.

It is a fashion statement that no one really saw coming but one that has certainly captured the imagination of the fashion press and style savvy gent who have all leapt upon the check trend this season.

The fashion crown may be heading to Topman et al to grab themselves a slice of the golfing sartorial pie but there are also some really good golf websites offering the same styles and cuts the designers are renowned for. You can find a stylish range of golf shirts for men that coincidentally doubles up to be part of this seasons style scene. Besides the shirts you can also find golf trousers in a range of style and patterns.

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