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The best damn guide: t-shirts

Posted on by dansinnott

tshirt-guide-web-header

Is there anything more versatile than a T-shirt?

Jeans, maybe. But, like shopping for denim, finding a tee that fits just so is a task nothing short of Herculean. Faced with rails, shelves and product pages heaving with a mind-bending array of fits, fabrics and finishes, it’s alarming how fast something that should be straightforward turns into a full-blown identity crisis. After all, one man’s perfect T-shirt is another man’s practically unwearable.

Well we think we may have found the answer! The chaps at MrShaw75 have just made life easier for you gents!

Look through any man’s wardrobe. No matter his style or size, all men have one thing in common. They all wear T-shirts. But is a T-shirt really just a T-shirt? Not every plain, white tee is exactly the same, and while seemingly every brand offers one, how do you really know which to buy? It’s easy to choose the perfect T-shirt, once you know the basics of this basic.

Not only are we fans of MrShaw75 because there are local lads (it just makes us a little biased) they have a cracking range of tees, suitable for any occasion, and made to perfection.

“But, how do I know what’s right for me” we hear you holla…well alongside MrShaw75, we’ve compiled some fail-safe tips for finding your glove fit – from the length that keeps your midriff under wraps to the colours that complement the rest of your rotation.

(Crew) Neck It

classis-crew-t-shirt

Obviously there’s more to T-shirts than the classic crew neck. But we’d wager that nine times out of ten a time-honoured crew neck trumps the neck-elongating, cleavage-baring weirdness of a V-neck. Unless of course your name’s Danny and you split your time between supersets, spray tans and taking excessively hash-tagged selfies. In which case, we’re sorry, but you’re too far gone.

A well-fitting crew neck frames most necks, chests and sets of shoulders far better than a V-, scoop or boat neck; there are, of course, exceptions to every rule but that is most definitely the rule.

A Fighting Fit

green-colour-tshirt

Born as an undershirt with the sole purpose of soaking up sweat, the T-shirt has come a long way from its humble origins. The way it should ideally fit, though, remains much the same.

The fit of a T-shirt is really important when picking the perfect one. And trust us, fits vary. Currently an over-sized block is on-trend for the season but ultimately I would choose something you are comfortable in. A T-shirt that sits nicely against your torso is a staple for your wardrobe.

So what exactly does “sits nicely” look like?

In theory, a T-shirt should highlight the part(s) of your upper body you’re happy with, without drawing attention to the part(s) that are still very much a work in progress. Which means:

  • Your tee should strike a balance between fitted and skin-tight; err too baggy and you’re doing yourself no favours-slash-maybe wearing a nightgown? Steer too tight, though, and you’re – depending on your build – either a) a dead ringer for someone who’s just walked off a porn set, or b) The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy. Not ideal. There’s no hard and fast rule apart from that the perfect-fitting tee sits as close to your body as possible without stretching.
  • The length of your tee shouldn’t sit any higher than the top of your hips, nor finish below them; this will ensure you can raise your hand without turning your tee into a crop top.
  • Sleeves (whether rolled or regular) should hit around the halfway point on your upper arm, neither billowing nor bracing. Unless you’ve got exceptionally long arms, in which case you can get away with sleeves that fall about an inch further.
  • Shoulder seams (i.e. the point where the sleeves of your tee meet its body) should ideally align with the point where the curve of your shoulder ends.

Material Concerns

White t-shirt in wrapper - MrShaw1975

Now you know how the ideal tee fits, it’s worth talking the stuff it should be made of too:
In the search for the perfect T-shirt, the first point of consideration should be the fabric, as this is fundamentally the building blocks of the garment.

Poly-cotton or fully synthetic materials work well to wick away moisture and retain their shape, thus earning their place in your workout wardrobe, but 100 per cent cotton tees invariably look and feel better for anything that’s not exercise.

Men go wrong, mistaking a tee’s thickness for its quality. The opposite is, in fact, true, with the highest quality cottons – mercerised, combed, ring-spun, pima, supima and Egyptian, for example – being lighter, thinner, durable and more lustrous.

While it’s true that you’ll want a certain degree of thickness to wear your tee as easily with tailoring as a pair of jeans (lighter, sheerer styles serve you best at the beach rather than the bar), too-thick tees often don’t drape as well as their welterweight brothers.

In summary, swerve synthetics in favour of superior quality cottons, making sure your tee’s fabric is light enough to sit well and feel comfortable, without coming up Ricky Martin levels of sheer.

Colour

Three men in white, green and black t-shirts for highstreetgent

Key to upholding your T-shirt’s status as the workhorse of your wardrobe is buying one in the right colour. And by ‘right’, we mean versatile, enabling you to wear your tee with as much as your wardrobe as possible.

White

White is iconic. Worn by the likes of James Dean and Marlon Brando – the men who first gave the tee the unfussy appeal it retains today – the white T-shirt works with all skin tones and sits well against pretty much every other colour you’ll want to wear it with.

Grey

Grey, especially grey marl, comes a close second, gelling well with most other hues and capable of bridging the smart-casual gap.

It’s not, however, one for the prolifically sweaty, as its colour draws a lot of attention to moisture stains. You’ve been warned.

Black

Not, for most, as versatile as white or grey, a classic black tee still deserves a slot in your rotation – whether for finely tuning your rock-infused ensembles or giving things a slight Beatnik bent. Also a staple for head-to-toe monochrome getups.

Colour

Finally, bring some colour to the table without sacrificing styling potential. Particularly good for teaming with tailoring or an all-blue tonal approach to your off-duty wear.

Everything else is fair game for experimentation, but know that bright yellow and lilac probably won’t cut it as the cornerstone of your wardrobe. That said, if you’re going to dip your toe in the technicolour, a tee is a much more sensible access path than a pair of trousers or a suit.

Prints

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So we’ve already told you that MrShaw75 is a local brand and if you head over to their website, you’ll see that their entire range is influenced by the city in which they work and play: Derby. With this in mind, the prints on the tees can be explained below.

We spoke to Director and designer Karl Shaw, and he told us: “The clothing brand has evolved from a philosophy. I describe it as Influence and Pride; Influence others, and Pride in what you do. Heritage and respect are important factors too. Old fashioned values in a modern, diverse world, hence the name ‘Mr Shaw’ rather than just ’Shaw’ – a kind of gentlemanly touch.”

“The ’S’ Icon has been carefully considered, and is a combination of Form and Function.
The form is obviously from the ’Shaw’ name but the design has more meaning and depth than just a memorable shape.

“It is designed to appeal to all ages, so youth, middle and old age are represented by the 3 lines that form the letter shape.”

One of our favourite tee’s is the Derby County FC Retro tee (sorry, not sorry if you’re a Notts Forest fan reading this). The cleverly designed images reference retro DCFC Legends, the stadium C-Stand, The BBG and The Pride.

So I guess, all we’re saying is, when it comes to prints on your tee, make it personal, be proud and show what you believe in. It’s far more hard hitting!

Final Word

Has this guide tied up all your tee-related concerns? Or is there still ground to be covered? This brand is top dog, when it comes to what you’re looking for tees. What’s even better is, Mr Shaw75 currently have 40% off selected lines until the end of January 2017 – if that’s not worth checking out, we don’t know what is!

Shop MrShaw75 here.

Bargain Time. #Watches

Posted on by dansinnott

Watch

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend”

…and on time is what I’ve spent my money. Not a lot of money, but hence the reason for this very short, but very sweet post.

Unfortunately, my trusty watch stopped at the weekend, I’ve had it for a good few years, so tasked myself with finding a new one. I wanted something suitable for work and play and more importantly not too pricey.

If you’re like me, I feel naked without my watch on, so I wanted a new one pretty sharpish…having spent 3 days looking at my bare wrist for the time. Not cool.

After browsing the first places online that sprung to mind, nothing was jumping out at me. They were either ridiculously chavy or came with a hefty price tag. That was until I remembered ASOS had sent me an email about their Men’s Watches Sale a few weeks ago, so I head on over to their site.

I found it. It’s smart, classy, eye catching and not a chunky number that screamed “rob me”.

The Sekonda Leather Strap Watch with Mechanical Detail (Item 3426.27) was mine.

The best part about it is that it only cost £39.99. Right on time.

I’ve blogged about ASOS before and how speedy their service is, it’s cracking. I ordered at 6 pm at night, with next delivery for a fiver. At 10 am the next day my wrist was fully dressed again, not catching the breeze and I could relax, ready for anyone to ask me time. (I’ve been some what walking around the office today with my sleeve rolled up, hoping someone will ask about it).

I’m my own worst enemy though, I give away all my secrets and told them how much it was.

Chaps, if you’re looking for a new watch, that looks expensive (minus the price tag) take a look at ASOS’ Watches range – with currently 70% off a lot of items, even watches, it’s top notch.

 

Style it! #ClubHumbug

Posted on by dansinnott

 

You chaps have been more interested in what I’ve been wearing and how recently, so here goes another ‘style it!’

This time however, I’m going to share with you a cracking little store I’ve stumbled across  that has some great items at very reasonable prices…

Humbug.

Humbug is a casual wear label created in the UK to provide a new wave of men’s casual wear that is uniquely styled on bridging the gap between popular British streetwear & traditional themes. Inspired by the everyday wear seen on British streets with added indie-rock influences for an individual style of off-duty staples.

Humbug have looked at creating a label of accessible, stylish casual wear, suiting to any informal social occasion, derived from a laid back, on the go lifestyle.

The indie-rock influences show in their products through the bold prints of the Rock ‘n’ Rolla and  Charleston , and relaxed fits of the ‘901’ & ‘Old Fashioned’ faint gingham shirts, and both sweatshirts, all directly inspired by the band member, gig & festival goer.

A relaxed modern style, cool & contemporary, open minded, no borders and a youthful edge is just how we would describe ourselves.

I’ve been chatting to Emmett from Humbug and he told me about the brand: “the thinking behind Humbug was to produce high quality, stylish, cool clothing for those who were perhaps paying too much for rent in trendy areas, or living a city life – eating out, partying at trendy bars whilst also trying to keep up style wise, much like ourselves and everyone else we know coming out of uni.

“Looking at being that bridge between popular street wear & traditional themes, offering contemporary casual wear that is relaxed and designed for the everyday but also takes that craftsmanship from the likes of many of the Scandinavian brand which are so prominent in the menswear market at this minute.

“Our ultimate aim is to provide the average paid gent with quick tips and pointers on how to look good with high street and online brands, without spending lots of money on designer items. This is exactly where we are looking to place ourselves as an everyday casual wear label that offers uniquely styled clothing.”

So, for what I’m wearing (majority of it being Humbug)…

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The 901 Shirt

This faint blue gingham check shirt gets it name from the cocktail ‘the 901 blue’ made using 901 silver tequila. The rich blue colour in the drink comes from the blue curacao, a liqueur flavoured with the dried peel of the laraha citrus fruit, grown on the island of Curaçao.

This shirt is brushed to add softness and a textured finish to the exterior of the fabric. Finished with a faint gingham pattern by pairing two close shades of a light blue, creating an illusion from a distance of a solid coloured shirt.

The trim but comfortable fit allows for a relaxed look making it the ideal casual shirt which can be worn to fit, or over sized. At its best with a pair of dark jeans & boots.

Currently £60  £40.00!

Blue Monday Sweatshirt

Your everyday get up. Navy sweatshirt with logo patch label detailing. One of those must have items. 100% Sueded Cotton.

From its athletic roots the sweatshirt has become one of the most popular items in the wardrobe. Its casual styling has made it the ultimate everyday item for any social occasion.

Currently £40 £30.00!

…Twinned with some Asos skinny jeans and Nike Roches, you’ll be onto a winner! Take a look at Humbug for some great items.

Style it! What You Wearing?

Posted on by dansinnott

A quick blog post to start off 2016…the optimum time to grab yourself a bargain lads!

At the beginning of December I was at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, wearing what I thought was a pretty casual set up of clothes. My mate took a picture of me and naturally it became my profile picture across social media…

…Since updating my profile picture, I’ve had lots of people ask me where I got a few of the items from, therefore, as a New Year ‘style it’, I thought I’d let you into a secret, my secret chaps…

It’s a relatively cheap and versatile outfit, suitable for many occasions, so here is a little insight (if you’re even bothered) to where and how to dress for these dark, depressing and freezing cold months at the start of the year.

Plus, you may get a ‘Brucie Bonus’ in the January sales by getting them even cheaper than I did!

Double Button Camel Coat: Primark £30.00

Burgundy Long Sleeve Polo Jumper: Primark £8.00

Black Extreme Stretch Cropped Skinny Jeans: ASOS £12.00

Camel Barbour Scarf: Debenhams £20.00

Burgundy Suede Chelsea Boots: H&M £25.00

Outfit cost total: £95.00

There’s my little cheat for you, if you’re looking for a similar look, whether it be for a smarter event or even a casual stroll around town, it’s well worth a look around!

By twining day-to-day brands with household favourites like ‘Barbour’ you can re-wear, recycle, and mix up your outfits.

Of course, ninety-five smackers for one outfit may seem a bit steep, but remember £30 of that is a coat (wear it whenever) and £25 boots, which are a nice alternative to leather shoes when heading into town on a Saturday night!

New to 2016 we’ve launched our Instagram page, if you haven’t done so already, drop us a follow @highstreetgent!

Don’t Get Caught With Your Pants Down…

Posted on by dansinnott

“You can tell a lot about a man from his underwear.” 

There is one thing a lot of us have been bought this Christmas…underwear! Whilst, for some of us it’s the one time of the year to overhaul our undies drawer, we do want tasteful, reasonable and supportive underwear! At the same time, with all your Christmas money burning a hole in your wallet, don’t get caught with your pants down and look nasty!

For this post, me and a few of my pals have reviewed a variety of pants and socks from online brands, to give you an idea on where, what and how the best undies feel if you end up needing some new ones for the new year! (Girls, also take note).

While a lot of time and effort can be taken with well fitting outerwear, underwear is an area a lot of guys seem to not like to think too much about. They may think they like a colour, brand or fabric but the way it fits them often isn’t high up there, so here’s some pointers for you.

Supportive underwear is key for comfort and well-being. And while most men understand the importance of support, they also tend to opt for underwear that provides ease of movement and breathability. However, when choosing your underwear, you should ideally find a pair of boxers or briefs that offers both.

So how can you tell if you’re getting the best support with your underwear? The first thing to consider is what type of underwear you’re wearing most frequently. Boxer shorts, while loose and comfortable, offer the least amount of support. However, this isn’t to say that you should avoid boxers entirely. The important thing to remember is that you should choose boxers that offer an element of support. This could be structural, as a result of the way that the panels and seams are arranged, or material based- as a result of the fabric being elasticated.

We put out a Twitter Poll and 93% of you said that when you’re buying underwear style & support was more important to you than cost & value. So all of us are just about on the same page…

Poll Results

Boxer shorts are best avoided when it comes to support. They are considerably less supportive than other underwear, and boxer briefs for example, are much a much more effective choice for men. In fact, boxer briefs offer the ideal combination of comfort and support. They offer a similar cut to the loose boxer, while also providing the close fit and necessary support that is typical to traditional briefs.

Briefs are the ideal option where support is concerned. They offer structural support, that keeps your body comfortably in check. For this reason, briefs are the underwear of choice for most athletes and sportsmen. Briefs are also more supportive as they consist of less material, and more elasticated fabrics.

When buying underwear, it’s also important that you choose the right fit. While it can be tedious to try new purchases on before buying them, or worst yet return them once paid for- the power of a good fit shouldn’t be underestimated. Ensuring that underwear is tailored for your body will give you the support you need.

Here are a few of our top picks of underwear to think about:

Undies…

Jacksy

About: Jacksy provides a refreshingly real alternative for guys who recognise that style comes in all shapes and sizes and isn’t simply about how you look –it’s about how you feel…

Their designs embody the modern, fast-paced lifestyle: a little quirky, a little edgy and yet a lot of fun.

Jacksy’s inspiration comes from what surrounds us in our everyday life; from the beautiful beaches of North Wales to the bright lights of London and Manchester.

The quality and the fit of their products have always been their top priorities, making Jacksy one of the best value and quality underwear brands around.

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Review: When we tried Jacksy’s classic boxer-briefs we noticed instantly that Jacksy are a vibrant brand, for a confident chap that want a supportive and flashy pant for the locker room. As a new brand the boxer-brief comes in a variety of 5 colours, the distinctive wide waistband is both comfortable and eye-catching with  ‘Jacksy’ logo across the waistband. Matt (HighStreetGent) said:

“The soft cotton feels and gives in all the right places. Nice to the touch and comfortable enough in size…had no need to rearrange like I would with some pants.

“For £8.00 (currently on the website) it’s a steal, they feel and look great.  Jacksy is a high quality brand… and I definitely would buy them if I saw them on the High Street…maybe a couple of subtler variations may be good too as the brand expands.”

Jacksy currently have their Christmas SALE on, head to the website and use xmas25 for 25% off.

We were lucky enough to speak to one of the Directors of the Jacksy, he’s passionate about this brand and aim to make them the highest quality…We pin them to be a brand of 2016!

SUKREW

About: While a lot of time and effort can be taken with well fitting outerwear, underwear is an area a lot of guys seem to not like to think too much about. They may think they like a colour, brand or fabric but the way it fits them often isn’t high up there.

SUKREW have 6 current overall styles at the moment with plans to double that in the coming year. SUKREW stock boxers, briefs and jock style pants. Three of them are the unique ‘U’ styles, that holds you firmly in place every where, which, for the kinkier of you out there may well be up your street. The others are  ‘Full’ styles, that SUKREW took a lot of time and effort over, to shape to your manhood, rather than having your manhood shaped.

sukrew

Review: SUKREW is definitely a brand if you want something for the bedroom, something kinky and absolutely to impress. In the modern world we’re in, us guys are urged to ramp up our sexy side too. Well here’s your chance guys.

In a variety of style, colours and cuts, there’s something for all of us. We tried a variety of the ‘U’ and ‘Full’ style briefs they have to offer.

Dan (HighStreetGent) said: “Have you ever slid a pair on and before they were all the way on you knew the pair would be awesome. This is what we felt with the Sukrew briefs. Then when I got them on they felt so amazing. The pouch, which was my biggest point of concern, fit me amazing. The way it held me was more ergonomically designed and was deciding on how well it stretched and conformed to me. The nylon material was one that I wasn’t sure how well it would fit.

“Another area I had concern was the waistband. The band is a bit larger than most brands on underwear. So my biggest concern was that it would roll or bind through the day. I loved the design of the band the blew with the off set Sukrew name is pretty awesome. As the day went on I totally forgot what I was wearing. Which is how great underwear should be. You shouldn’t have a second thought about what you are wearing.”

With prices ranging from £7.99 on wards in the current clearance sale, they are great value for money!

Again, we had the opportunity to talk to the Founder and Director, who was more than happy to provide us with the samples. Open your mind guys and give this underwear a try!

British Boxers

About: Designed in Britain. Engineered for Comfort. Filled with character. British Boxers are knockout undies and nightwear for men and women who know how to protect what matters. Made from some of the finest woven cottons and exceptionally soft, supportive and breathable jerseys, our entire range is designed to for superior comfort and finished with exceptional design details. British Boxers are the foundation of the thinking person’s wardrobe and ready for the ring of life.

British Boxers 2

Review: Tom (HighStreetGent) said: The British Boxers Stretch Trunks – Blue Monday “are a great looking pair of pants that any chap would buy and wear proudly. Modern and stylish no one would be worried to strip off and wear them in the locker room at the gym.

“The material is of high quality and feels soft, stretchy with enough room for movement and breathing. They’re extremely comfy to wear.They fit snug around the legs, bum and groin with no restriction but enough support to wear for everyday use or even sport.”

The variety of styles and ranges for men is great for “everything under the belt. ding, ding!” Take a look for prices, but for £18.00 a pair, there’s no worry as your money will go a long way with this brand!

Socks…

Now for ankle wear, socks are becoming noticed more and more, so here’s a few of those to tickle your toes. As these little piggies went to market to find out about some niche sock ideas:

The London Sock Co.

About: The London Sock Company, a stylish sock brand for today’s modern gentleman, proudly offer quality, luxury men’s socks also available on their popular Sock Club subscription service, where members receive new socks conveniently delivered monthly; the perfect gift for any modern gentleman.

For the founders, this is part of an exciting entrepreneurial journey that began with a simple observation; that people really do notice your socks.

The brand has backing from David Gandy himself! (Come on chaps, if he approves, we’ve got to).

Copy of Simply Sartorial 15 pair set

Review: Men are increasingly more style conscious. Socks are a really simple but effective detail that allows a man to add style and express personality with anything they are wearing. Socks are most definitely moving from being a commodity product to a style accessory.

We said: “You can buy individual pairs, but the London Sock Co. also has a subscription service. Inspired by the Dollar Shave Club in the US, so you can pay a monthly fee (from as little as £10) to receive socks each month.

What about the socks themselves? Are they any good? The company goes to great lengths to stress they’re all designed in the UK. They majority of them are also manufactured in Britain.

They’re a mix of cotton and man made fibres but cotton always makes up the majority of the fabric. This is important as I can’t abide socks that aren’t predominantly cotton or wool.

Most importantly, they look and feel great. You don’t imagine there’s a huge difference when it comes to socks but you really can tell when you’re putting on a decent pair. The quality was instantly apparent compared to the pairs I usually throw on if I’m simply spending the day at home.

In terms of cost, the socks represent very good value for money. I thought they may turn out to be prohibitively expensive but they start at £10 a pair while the subscription service costs from £10 – £25 a month depending on how many pairs you wish to receive.”

London Sock Exchange

About: They’re “bringing socksy back! Receive new socks in the post . Recycle your old ones.”

The London Sock Exchange do the hard-work for their subscribers. They craft high quality socks in maximum comfort and a superior fit, but also curate and deliver the very best in British design for your ankles.

The London Sock Exchange offers a very reasonable sock subscription service (price info below) that also encompasses a free recycling service for your old socks. Their motto: “One small step towards helping the planet. One big step towards a better sockdrawer.”

How it works: Re­fill your box with any old, unwanted socks you might have in your sock­drawer. Re­seal the box, pop on the freepost label and send it back to us at The London Sock Exchange

Each pair of socks is sorted and ranked in order of their highest value, so they can be recycled in the appropriate way.

Socks of sufficient quality are sent to developing countries, where they will be distributed to communities in need. The remaining socks are turned into recycled fibres and given a new life as industrial textiles. Socksy.

Just over half of the old pairs of socks received will make their way to developing countries, where they’ll be distributed to communities in need.

Cool, right?

London Sock Exchange

Review: You can really tell that the company are focused on fantastic quality for fantastic prices! The quality and styles are great.

Each sock design is dreamt up by British designers which create socks exclusively for the The London Sock Exchange with the modern gentleman in mind…you definitely don’t see these in TOPMAN or River Island. They’re far better!

Most importantly, they look and feel great. You don’t imagine there’s a huge difference when it comes to socks but you really can tell when you’re putting on a decent pair. The quality was instantly apparent compared to the pairs from High Street giants!

One of the beauties to the idea is that 3 pairs are delivered to you in a box custom-built for the British letterbox.

You can ‘spice up your socks life’ with a subscription for £60 for the year or £15 for a quarter! It’s a brilliant concept and great value for money.

Pants Up, Round Up

So there we have it chaps – a short insight into what underwear is available out there at the moment, straight from the horses mouth!

A brilliant collection of online brands that offer a range of support that will help all of us.

Stock up your underwear drawer and stay lucky!

140 Characters away from a new wardbrobe

Posted on by dansinnott

Man holding up iPhone displaying the Twitter App in a City with Sky Scrapers

Did you know Twitter could become your newest fashion tool. It’s an app a huge percentage of us have already got, but have you noticed how down played the power of Twitter is as a fashion tool?

There are a vast amount of companies, brands, back street shops, designers, artists and textile companies battling it out on Twitter for a bit of lime-light and your custom, all to for your benefit.

In doing our bit to keep your wallets protected, we’ve got a few handy tips on how Twitter can help you save a little money…

Start by following as many of your favourite fashion brands and bloggers as possible to broaden your horizons so the places you purchase from are easy to find. With tweets from the brands, the deals will automatically seek you out and you’ll know where to get things for a bit of a bargain.

Not only will our favourite brands use those 140 characters to keep you updated on the new trends, newest stock and top picks…they’ll also notify you when they have some great sales on! This means we’re all carrying around a guide to sale items around in our pocket gents. It’s all there at our finger tips! Come on, we check our phones on the reg; on our lunch break, on the loo (yes we all do it) or when we’re bored – and it’s worth following our favourite shop just to get that valued information delivered to us without doing anything, its a free service!

But, hold the phone, that is not all Twitter has to offer…  By following an array of small brands, upcoming and local stores, you’ll often get a Direct Message (‘DM’ for you cool kids) with discounts and offers just for following them!

We’ve worked out 92.3% of 178 small brands over the passed months have dropped us a DM with discounts. It’s a clever marketing tool used for saying “thank you for the follow” and probably for the reason we mentioned above…the stores come to us now, it’s up to them to prove to us we’re worthy of their custom.

Standard offers usually include:

  • 10% off your first order
  • Free Postage & Packaging
  • 25% off selected ranges as a new customer
  • Free returns policy
  • Buy one branded tee get one half price

We’d therefore recommend when you’re treating yourself on payday or any-day – take a look on Twitter first.

Try and find the item through an independent store, you may be able to save yourself a few pennies! In the process you’ll be helping the small business man too and still be looking good, with a bargain on your shoulders!

Festival Fever – I’ll pitch the ideas, whilst you pitch the tent

Posted on by dansinnott

With V festival this weekend, Leeds, Reading and Creamfields to name a few this coming bank holiday weekend, you’re going to want to look good right? Take the right things? All weather appropriate? That’s because you may just catch the eye of Hannah Wants, yeah?

The trouble is music festivals have long served as a breeding ground for the most experimental of us for style. The likes of Coachella, Glastonbury and Benicassim have become platforms to catapult developing trends into the mainstream and see brands we’ve never heard of trudged up and down in the mud (in good faith).

Any guide of what-to-wear for the circuit reminds us all that these are just as much opportunities to be street-snapped as chances to carouse around a field, desert or public park.

Festival fashion tips for guys, on the other hand, seem comparatively thin on the ground. Then again, do we really care chaps?

Let’s be honest, will there be beers? Yes. Will there be sun? Hopefully. Will there be unforgettable performances you’ll bear witness to and boastingly reference at parties in the future? Most likely. So, why the hell would you care about you’ve got on?

Today, festivals are just as much about flaunting your style credentials as they are about catching live performances from your favourite bands. They may not be formal occasions but they do come with a loose dress code and looking the part could be the difference between scoring a date in the midst of a mosh pit and sitting sulky, soaked and mud-stained back at base camp.

We’re slowly getting braver and braver lads. There once was a time when we’d travel light, now we take as much as we can to stay looking fly. However, if you take the right items, the bare minimum, you can mix it up a tad and know everything will be fine.

With this in mind, see below for a few outfits that are light to carry in, should be all weather appropriate and reasonably priced for you fashion conscious chaps. From weather-appropriate must-haves to the all-important accessories, here goes…

Option 1: 

Basketball Tee – Vintage Wearhouse // Mint Sweater Jumper – Tu at Sainsbury’s // Chino Shorts – Topman // Socks – Primark // Nike Air Max – Foot Asylum // SnapBack – Size?

Option 2:

Sleeveless Shirt – Cow Vintage // Grey Chino Shorts – Topman // Socks – Primark // Nike Air Max – Foot Asylum // SnapBack – Size?

Option 3:

Flannel Shorts – H&M // Cream Vest Top – Topman // Shirt – A-Hand-Me-Down // Nike Air Max – Foot Asylum // SnapBack – Size?

Option 4:

Waterproof coat – Primark // Tee – eBay // Flannel shorts – H&M // Nike Air Max – Foot Asylum

The majority of the items above I have picked, as being a festival goer myself, you want light, quick drying items that don’t leave you soggy around the edges if you get caught in the rain. Having a light weight coat is always a must!

Last but no means least, the must have, your wellies! Gents, they’ll be your best friend, your safe guard all weekend. If your feet are dry and warm the rest of you will be! Keep the toes toastie!

Happy festival-ing chaps!!

Denim Deals, Denim Discounts

Posted on by dansinnott

“I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes.” – Yves Saint-Laurent

Denim. We all wear denim, we all own denim, its a timeless classic, an everyday, every kind of occasion material. Whether its for trousers, jackets, shirts or shoes, we all wear it.

The trouble is, and I’ve noticed time after time, some people get it SO wrong….well in my eyes anyway. Its either really ill fitting, the wrong colour, or downright disgusting!

I’m not saying I get it right every time, but I’d like to think I give it a damn good go! I have a few key denim items that hopefully will inspire you – here goes, it may give you a little bit of an idea how to wear them as well….and of course all reasonably priced!

Look out at the bottom of the page for links to the Top 5 places to bag yourself the best denim deals that  are on at the moment.

Top menswear denim essentials:

Jeans

The pair below are from TOPMAN’s ‘Stretch Skinny’ range, however I grabbed both these pairs in the sale at £20 a piece! Dark blue or a light blue jean complement almost any occasion and are a good wardrobe staple item. 
Shirt

As above, this ‘Acid Wash’ effect denim shirt is from TOPMAN. It’s an easy to wear shirt, it suits being worn open with a vest underneath, buttoned up or even twinned with smarter wear for a formal occasion. 
Jacket

A few years old now, but this Jacket from TOPMAN keeps the style a little alternative with the cotton Aztec paneling. Its good for any season and always in the forefront of my wardrobe! 
Bomber

A more modern take on the denim jacket as Bomber’s are well and truly back in fashion – I found this one in ARC Clothing. The jacket cost me £40.

Shorts

These ripped and frayed denim shorts are from H&M – a denim short is essential for any guy during the summer season. These were a steal and currently still in stock for £9.99! Twinned with a tee, vest or shirt, they add the ‘punky’ edge to your outfit. 

 

To Cheat The Street, A Treat..

Posted on by dansinnott

I may have stumbled upon something rare and exotic that I have to share with you…

FasionBeans.com have collected a wide range of fashion discount codes for some of the biggest online retailers available in order to give you the chance to not only look great every season but also to save money while doing so.

Whether you are looking for that key piece for an upcoming event or simply want to freshen up your look in line with the latest trends, they can help you to find the best discounts possible, pushing your money further than ever before.

Simply find a retailer that interests you by visiting their A-Z of discount codes, head directly to the store via the retailer menu at the top of the page or simply browse the fantastic offers, discount codes and multi-buy deals that FasionBeans have to offer.

So I know this just a menswear blog, but FashionBeans doesn’t just cater for menswear either, they have full discount code listings available for women too, so it maybe your Mrs birthday, your anniversary or you want to treat her…she doesn’t have to know it’s discounted!

Take a moment to think about the retailers you love and go find out what discounts and offers they have in place with them but hurry, some of those offers won’t be around much longer!

 

Snapback, Flash Back – Best Summer Deals

Posted on by dansinnott

If anyone knows me, you’ll know I’m all about snapbacks and fanny packs…not on there own, I do where clothing, to which the head and waist wear compliment.


Snapbacks and other head wear are pretty versatile to wear, I wear mine day-to-day, for festivals, for gigs, for nights out…they’re becoming more and more an item of clothing outright, rather than an accessory. There’s a huge range out there stocked by most High Street shops – however, they often come with a whacking price tag and your left deciding whether it’s ‘worth the investment?’

Believe me it is! Well, price dependent.

As you’ve read through my blog, you’ll probably see I like to keep it reasonably safe, but, throw into the mix something slightly ‘coolternative’. My snapback choices are similar. I go for something different, that’s variable with outfits and well priced.

So here’s a little guide to what I think are the Top 3, at your finger tips, where at, how to, variety of caps, hats and snapbacks that won’t burst your bank balance…

Size?

By far my favourite place to shop for caps is Size? they always have a broad range of caps, bucket hats and woolies, and always seem to have discounts or sales. I have managed to gain quite a few over the past few years, with an ever growing collection.

Foot Asylum

Ok, so it might not be the first place you’d think of to look for a hat, considering your feet are the other end of your body, but Foot Asylum do some fantastic head wear. Their summer sale is on at the moment with first reductions being up to 50% off (further to be announced).  Stocked in the sale are brands such as New Era, New Balance, Umbro, North Face, Creative Reaction, Mitchell & Ness, plus many more…

JD Sports

Similarly to Foot Asylum, JD Sports offer a wide range of hats and caps with their summer sale in full flow with up to 50% off. Note also, JD Sports offer ‘Next Day Deliver’y on all orders placed before midnight.

Just to add, there are also lots of great vintage shops on boutiques on the that often design, make, create and sell their own snapbacks at VERY reasonable prices.

If you are not Midlands based and haven’t heard of them, I’d suggest certainly checking out Cow Vintage…not only for hats and accessories but for one off pieces.

 
Remember, by grabbing a snapback, there are alternative ways you can wear them, it’s not just a ‘one-trick-pony’ item of clothing, be adventurous, wear it backwards!