MensTrends: December 2015

Monthly Haul

08:09

Each month I am going to do a post about what I have bought, whether it be a full outfit or just a a couple of accessories.

This haul is a full outfit from head to toe, cap to shoes. The colouring is mainly white, beige and black as it suits my skin tone pretty well. Pastels don't work so well for me, I like to keep it simple. Most of the garments are from H&M but few others aren't. I'm going to show each garment explain why I bought it, price etc and then will put three outfits together using the garments. Simple.

The Cap

I have been on the hunt for a really nice hat for while now. I was thinking of buying just a plain black one from Asos but felt that was a bit too boring. Then a few spotted my eye, like the black converse ones knocking about in Topman but at £20 I felt that was a bit too expensive for just a black cap. Then I thought out a NY one....but then I realised I'm not Turtle from Entourage. Still searching and searching I came across Luca Fresko (link to his Youtube) and his ridiculous leather cap and now I didn't just want a black cap I wanted a leather black cap. Let me tell you something, it is really hard to find a black leather cap for a good price. I went to all the vintage stores in my area and online but couldn't find one. Then one day I'm searching for some hauls in TKMaxx and boom out of no where I find this wool/cotton blend hat with ear protectors....yea god dam ear protectors.

I snagged this little beauty for £10. The best bit though, yea there is more, I thought I would check out who it was made by (Wigens), as I am always intrigued to find RRPs when I buy from TKMaxx. This little joy of wonder is worth $128 roughly £85. Cherchinng.

It wasn't the price to attracted it to me though I really like this hat because of the padding inside. It means it will always keep its shape and not flatten. Plus the material is a wool, cashmere and other natural fibres making it wind and rain proof. Perfect for the British Winter, Autumn......Spring...........and Summer.

Caps are going to be pretty essential this Winter season and going in to the SS16 I feel we will see them a lot on the runways. Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Prada typically love a good cap. If you are going to buy one don't skimp out make sure it fits well and the material is durable, keep it to a solid colour typically Black, Navy or even White. I mean unless you are a certified roadmap then grab a couple Northys.

My Fake A.P.C

Okay so it's not an actual knock off A.P.C its just a long beige light weight top from H&M but look at it, it could easily be A.P.C or Acne. I bought it in store for, I think £15.99 (I cant find a link sorry) but since buying this I have not stopped wearing it. It works with literally everything. I wear it with shorts or skinnies could even throw it on under a suit for a casual drinks/dinner. It has a real Parisian skater feel to it which I love and the fit is perfect its just hangs nicely off my slender frame.

The Essential Tees

You need to always buy three new tees a month. Tees loose shape so easily and stop looking good. This month Im going black, white and beige mainly because thats the colours I'm wearing most and they are all very versatile colours. But you should always have a navy and grey t-shirt in your cache, always.

Feeling as though my t-shirt collection was running a little dry, I thought I better pick up a few new ones. Now normally I just go for basics from the likes of Uniqlo, Zara or Topman depending on my style of the month and the fit I want. I went a bit different this month and headed to H&M just to take a quick peak as they can't do wrong at the moment and I was right. Their basic range of tees are perfect. I picked up these three for £4.99 each. The fits are really nice, I actually went down a size this time, I normally buy large tees for the hang but feel at the moment more fitted tees are they way forward. I will tell you why. Currently I wear loose tapered trousers (like look fitting suit pants) so a longer flowing tee goes really well but when I stick the skinnies and chelsea boots back on an oversize tee for my frame looks silly. My legs are too skinny. So buying a better fitted tshirt gives me the options of the bottoms I can wear as these tees looks great with both skinnies and loose tapered pants. Highly recommended.

The Risky buy that payed off

For the last few months now I've been experimenting with different trousers as all I seem to wear is black skinnies. So I dug out some old chinos and tried those on and rolled up the bottoms but nothing really suited that well. I've always loved tapered Levis but never really thought I could pull them off and I didn't want another pair of jeans. Then I stumbled across the holy grail of trousers. I was walking through the London H&M and saw a mannequin wearing a overside jumper, hat, backpack, trainers and THESE trousers. They are the most comfortable thing in the world. I can wear them out to the office, a night our or even just to lounge about in. The are like a jogger/pant blend and probably the best pair of pants I have ever owned. So versatile. Very similar to these (can't find the exact ones, again sorry). H&M currently stock loads like these check out their online trend section here, its fantastic and cheap. (Pants shown in pics below, couldn't take a good one due to poor lighting)

My Marble Floors

These were again very iffy buy for me but glad I did. The shoes are from the Garment Project. The specialise in simple, sleek designs that are very on trend at the moment. I would say that these between a sneaker and a shoe, meaning you can easily skateboard in them but they wouldn't look out of place with a suit in a boardroom.

I'm not a big sneaker head and have worn mine out and about a fair bit and they are still like new. The leather they use is brilliant. I always scuff up my trainers a bit anyway as I find brand spanking new trainers weird. Plus the marble effect of the bottom makes them stand out a lot making them better and trendier than just a normal black leather shoe. I will 100% be buying some more in the near future.

I must admit though I did not get these at full price, TKMaxx came to my savour again and I got these for £30. Garment Project mens shoes start at £115, so a nice steal again.

The Outfits

Here are three outfits I put together using all the different garments plus a few others added to them. I have pieced together in a sense a summer/spring out fit and two winter/autumn outfits.

(From L to R)

Outfit 1 - Is a laid back look using the hat, the H&M fake A.P.C top, H&M trousers and Garment Project Shoes. This could easily be changed with some black skinnies and chelsea boots which I do regularly.

Outfit 2 - This look has a lot more edge and raw to it. The leather in vintage bought in Sheffield 2 years ago for £40. I modified it a bit by cutting loads of the silver zipping off as I didn't like it. Adding the hoody under makes it more casual. Oversides hoodies are big at the moment with the like of Justin Bieber, Kanye and A$AP Rocky all rocking them. Again team with the H&M pants and GP shoes. Easily change this us with some Stan Smiths which I do do or instead of the hoody use the H&M fake A.P.C

Outfit 3 - Now this is a real winter outfit. Chunky knits are in big style I am seeing them everywhere from Barbour to Zara to Topman to Prada. So get one. Mine is from FCUK I bought about 2 years ago in a sale for £40 and the quality has stayed the same since. Over the top is my trusted overcoat is a William Hunt Saville row I picked up last year for £100 from my trusted TKMaxx. The fit and length is brilliant. Again the Wigens hat, H&M pants and GP shoes to go with it. Easily change this up to make it more Beckhamesqu with some fitted dark jeans and boots possibly accessorise a chain wallet with it.

So there we have my monthly haul. I would say I spent about £100 on all these so pretty good to be fair pricing wise. Im not about labels, I am about looks and quality so I buy what catches my eye and don't really care if its Supreme or Acne or some underground outfitter, I will just wear what I like. Don't get me wrong I love those label but sometimes the bank doesn't so you have use your creativity and imagination. Thats a big thing for fashion its not knowing or wearing the biggest most expensive brands its about making things look on trend and showing off your personality even if that jumper is 20 years old.

Merry Christmas

Sam

(please excuse the camera quality, I used my iphone I shall be upgrading my camera)

Style

A Christmas Guide to Buying for Gents

12:37

Influences

Inspirations

07:07

December, December, where have you sprung up from? After a a few hots months in the summer and a couple of dodgy ones between September and November, its now the last few days of 2015. I feel like its time to name a few of the people who have inspired me throughout the year.

Casey Neistat

You can’t explain this guy with just words, you have to watch his films to understand this guy. He doesn’t just think out side the box, he takes the box turns it into a 3D model, spray paints it, turns it into a piece of art then films about it. This guy takes the simple and makes it extraordinary. Just one of his days consists of more than I can do in a year (as you can see in his picture perfect vlogs). When he isn’t taking time laps of the concrete jungle that is New York or making extraordinary films running around the world, he is working tirelessly on his new app Beme (hit me up sam_palm). Oh and he had a kid last year. Forget Kanye for 2020 I’m calling for Neistat 2020. Plus his shoe game is strong! Remember kids ‘Work Harder’.

Oliver Cheshire

Probably Britain’s 2^nd most influential model (behind the man himself David Gandy), Oliver Cheshire first made waves in the fashion industry as a spritely young teenager after being made face of a certain underwear brand, Calvin Klein. Now dating Pixie Lott and helping Marks and Spencer up its game the gent also has his own blog (Iwearthetrousers) and has written for the Telegraph. This is one guy you definitely want to be following.

JacksGap

So this is actually two guys. Twins to be precise. Jack and Finn. Having started aYouTube channel by Jack to make films documenting his year off, his videos blew up enticing his brother to get involved and they attracted an army of teenage girl fans that could rival the boys of 1D. The two boys have now grown up and taken slightly different routes with Finn going to study in New York at Parsons School of Design. Jack currently working on production company ‘The Good Collective’. These are two seriously talented twins.

Luca Fersko

Now I’m not sure I can call this guy an inspiration yet as I only found out about his a few months ago but he knows what he is talking about. He may only be 17 but his knowledge of fashion could rival that of any fashion editor. His simplistic monochrome outfits combined with his headwear and footwear will keep you glued to his YouTube videos. Oh and look at that head of hair.

These are the guys I look to when I have inspiration block. They seem to see to be able to find the interesting out of the dull and are stand out guys who seem to never sit down. Even just sitting here writing about these guys makes your feel inadequate. Christ, I’m off to do something productive.

Sam

(Images taken from instagram no copyright intended, if you would like them removing please do not hesitate to contact me)

Entertainment

Welcoming The ‘Spornosexual’ Male

14:16

There’s a new boy in town.

His name? He is called the ‘Spornosexual male’. So long Metrosexual males, lets see what Mr Spornosexual has to offer.

In 1994 whilst at an event put on by GQ called ‘This is a Mans World’ journalist Mark Simpson coined together a term that would define the lives of future males. From that moment on the term Metrosexual was defined. Simpson had seen the future of masculinity and it was moisturised.

“Metrosexual man, the single young man with a high disposable income, living or working in the city (because that’s where all the best shops are) is perhaps the most promising consumer market of the decade,” Simpson predicted.

Lets take a moment to lay to rest the long-standing metrosexual and reminisce in the glory that it brought us. So how did this newfound image take the world by storm?

Step forward David Beckham. He became the poster boy the phenomenon that swept not just the country but also the globe.

“Beckham is the biggest metrosexual in Britain because he loves being looked at and because so many men and women love to look at him: He’s the future, but also a way of adapting other, less advanced specimens to that future,” Simpson wrote in 2002.

It paved the way for men to finally be able to express themselves. At a time were being homosexual was still not fully accepted as it is today, it gave the ability for straight men to feel comfortable applying moisturisor or spending thousands on designer clothes. I mean remember when Beckham wore a sarong?

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Alas, it’s now time for the metrosexual to step aside. He has had his fun, whining and dinning the elite city socialites and drinking the finest in vintage champagne. Gone is the guy who you weren’t sure was gay but by god he new how to wear a suit. It’s time for the Geordie shore pumped up primed prince(ss) to make its way into the spotlight.

Where has this sudden newfound sport/porno image come from? The actual term ‘sporno’ was created when sex symbols became sports stars, and sports stars became sex symbols, Simpson declared in Out magazine. The “sporno” had been born. A cross between porn and sports star, these new aged “jocks” are now “fetishising themselves,” Simpson wrote.

According the expert Simpson, we can still blame all of this on British soccer star-turned-H&M underwear model David Beckham.

“With their painstakingly pumped and chiselled bodies, muscle-enhancing tattoos, piercings, adorable beards and plunging necklines it’s eye-catchingly clear that second-generation metrosexuality is less about clothes than it was for the first. Eagerly self-objectifying, second generation metrosexuality is totally tarty. Their own bodies (more than clobber and product) have become the ultimate accessories, fashioning them at the gym into a hot commodity – one that they share and compare in an online marketplace.

This new wave puts the “sexual” into metrosexuality. In fact, a new term is needed to describe them, these pumped-up offspring of those Ronaldo and Beckham lunch-box ads, where sport got into bed with porn while Mr Armani took pictures.”

These evolved into the spornosexuals, the trickle-down cultural derivative of the sporno.

But what is this Spornomale and how do you spot them in the wild? Well. They are the overzealous, hyper-sexualized, body-obsessed cultural offspring of the metrosexual. They have thrown out the hand me down bespoke tailored suits and opted to wear….well nothing at all really. Their land has moved on from the high class cocktail bars to setting up camp in the gym with the only sunlight they see being the artificial light of the tanning bed. Think Gaz from Geordie Shore or those Towie people.

The following of the celebrity spornomales has certainly increased with more and more young men and boys wearing increasingly tighter jeans to show off those calve muscles. In a world where social media, selfies and porn take dominance its understandable why suits are coming off and pecks are getting bigger. It’s a shame now young men are more concerned with if their ‘arms look good in this t-shirt’ rather than if his oxfords are polished for the days work ahead. One thing I must say though is…

Welcome to the world Mr Sponosexual lets see what you have to offer.

Entertainment

What Do Girls Notice About A Guy When They First Meet Them?

14:07

Lifestyle

Rise in Male Grooming

13:51

Jack Parr, recently crowned Top Model UK 2015 and current Mr British Empire says 'People look at someone like Beckham and think how does he look like that at that age? Oh he wears moisturiser better get some of that on'. Thanks to superstars like the man himself David Beckham, boyband One Direction, actor Jude Law and a generation of selfie takers men have come to realise that looking good is not only for women. The male grooming industry has boomed in the last few years. At the end of 2014 the sales of men’s skin care products was worth £25m in the UK, having grown by more than 4% the year before. Areas such as Liverpool, Manchester, Essex and London have taken charge of the phenomenon with male only salon and skin care products popping up to cater to everyone's needs from hair removal to pedicures

In our new social media dominated world were a relationship, love, date or sex comes at the swipe of a photograph, men have learnt that not looking good could cost the possibility of finding their next partner. It's not only wellbeing products like moisturiser that are on the up it's the old male taboo products like concealer and guy liner that is seeing a massive increase. The last time the world saw make up and men come together, Dale Winton's orange face was all over our television screens. It's now less about the Bowie-esque sparkles or heavy gothic guy liner but more about using the subtler products and treatments that millions of women use on a regular basis. Deeply manly male celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Bradley Cooper have been photographed with but of the old slap on. Rumour has it Harry Styles is partial to a bit of lipstick, sporting it at the bands film premier back in 2013. It's not just the celebrities getting in on the action. Superstore Debenhams reported that men spent 24% more on grooming products than in the same period last year. 'It used to be seen as a negative for men to wear make-up but it's now being promoted you see it in shops male make-up, male foundation, it's seen as an okay thing to wear now' says Jack. Even major male designers such as Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs launched their own male skin care products back 2013 due to the rapid growth of the male skin care market. Not all products have succeeded. Back in 2008 Superdrug launched TaxiMan but many felt the world was not ready for it with it since being withdrawn from shops. Now in 2015 the majority of 18-55 year olds are happy to describe themselves as 'metrosexual'.

Although some feel it wasn’t a boom as such but more just the male mind taking inspiration from other types of celebrities. Jessica Punter grooming editor of GQ said "When I began covering grooming in 2006, we were still at the stage of trying to convince men to even moisturise – let alone pay for facials or manicures." She feels the sudden interest in male grooming is less about insecurities than it is about new standards of beauty, " I am pretty sure male hair removal is influenced by the porn industry and I don't think this is necessarily about a conscious insecurity, just what men perceive as the new normal,". Jack though feels that the 'boom' is down to male insecurities. He feels that because "the male model industry image has increased in recent years and it has put pressure on the so called normal day to day life male. Males are pressured now in keeping their skin clear and spending time on their hair it's now a normal thing spend 45 minutes doing your hair". The fact of the matter is men have now caught up with women when it comes to insecurities. Men strive for the perfect body or look now. I study conducted by the YMCA revealed that 38% of men questioned said that they would sacrifice a year of their life if it meant that they could have the perfect body. Whether it is down to insecurities or a sudden realisation that men just want to take care of themselves, one thing is for sure, the male grooming industry still has its stabilisers on. With the success on Tom Fords and Marc Jacobs products its set that male spending on grooming products will possibly equal that of women's in the next five to ten years. At the end of the day it’s your face, why wouldn’t you want it to look good? Here is my interview with recently crowned Top Model UK and currently Mr British Empire Jack Parr.

Lifestyle

How To Boost Your Energy

12:57

We have all had that feeling of tiredness where even blinking becomes an effort. All you want to do is rest those sandbags you call eyelids and drift off into a sleep so you feel recharged and ready to go. The only problem is you wake just as tired and when you feel asleep.

It’s hard to overcome that sate of tiredness when you feel you have nothing left in the tank. Lucky for you I spoke to nutritionist and personal trainer Oli Williams about how to overcome this state and how to make sure you steer well clear so that you wont be feeling this again!

Here are Oli’s tips to boost your energy levels;

Get up

People don’t seem to understand that when they are feeling tired or drained the idea is to not sit down or go to bed it’s actually to get up and do something. I’m not saying go run a marathon but going to gym and doing a 20-minute circuit blitz or 10 laps of the pool will get your blood pumping and get those needed nutrients to your muscles. Also move out of your comfort zone and start doing exercises or activities that will get new muscles moving. Instead of a standard arms workout why not try a boxercise class. By changing up your weekly routine you will start to feel more pumped, start to burn fat and significantly elevate your metabolism.

Catch those Zeeeees

I feel like I’m eating my own words now but you must get your sleep. The most you need is 8 hours. The least you can fully function on is around 6 hours. Sleep is needed for cell reproduction as well as the release of proteins for growth and repairing muscle tissues. Sleep deprivation will cause mood swings, weak immune system, poor concentration as well as lack or concentration and productivity.

Breakfast in the most important meal of the day

I can’t stress enough the importance of breakfast. The literal term of breaking the fast after sleeping supplies your body with a jolt of fuel that sets the tone for the whole day. Food is your fuel to keep you going. A car won’t go very far without petrol and it’s the same as your body. I recommend slow energy releasing food like porridge that will keep you going till lunch. Just avoid the flavorer kinds, which can be packed with sugar. Instead, sweeten your bowl with milk and a bit of honey, and top with fruit and nuts.

Its time to get complex

Carbs can be the savior or the devil. When people go on diets the first thing they cut out is carbs/ That’s the worst! You need carbs in your daily intake but you need the right cards. There are two kinds - complex and refined. Refined carbs are foods such as white rice, white sugar or white flour. These are nutritionally poor and cause a spike in your blood sugars. Complex carbs such as whole grain products, oats, brown rice and sweet potato stabilize your blood sugar and energy levels. The one thing I would say is no carbs after 7pm as this is normally the time of the day you will be resting, watching TV or even getting ready for bed resulting in these carbs being stored as fat.

Cut the caffein

People think that if they are feeling tired a cup of coffee will sort them out. Yes it will but only for a short space of time then they need another one. Caffeine increases the production of stress hormones, causing a short energy boost. This energy boost can later result in anxiety, frustration, irritability, insomnia, muscle tension and weakened immunity. Limit yourself to a couples of cups a day or try and switch to a healthier alternative like green tea.

Pumping iron…the tasty kind

Iron is needed in your diet as it produces energy from food or glucose. Make sure your diet is packed with foods such as red meats, fish, chicken, eggs, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds. These natural sugars will keep you going throughout the day.

Go for a check up

A lot of people go through life with an undiagnosed illness. I would advise anyone who is suffering from lack of sleep, fatigue, mood swings, anxiety or rapid weight gain to go to the doctors and get a check up. You may be suffering from Hypothyroidism, a common thyroid disorder.

Monthly Haul

The Cap

My Fake A.P.C

The Essential Tees

The Risky buy that payed off

My Marble Floors

The Outfits

A Christmas Guide to Buying for Gents

The 'I love myself' Guy

The 'Stylish' Guy

The 'Sports' Guy

The 'Tech' Guy

For the 'I seriously have no idea' guy

Inspirations

Welcoming The ‘Spornosexual’ Male

What Do Girls Notice About A Guy When They First Meet Them?

Rise in Male Grooming

How To Boost Your Energy

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