A strong advocation towards the home-grown design talent in Britain right now, JOY’s in-house menswear label, HYMN brings a style uniform of timeless yet interesting aesthetics to the table, with an attitude-infused tagline that packs just as much of a punch: Our Daily Bread.

Launching with the aim of supplying pieces to suit every aspect of the modern gentleman’s daily lifestyle, the artistic nature of the London-based team pulls through in bursts of signature twists. A game of spot the detail takes place on everything from the hand drawn prints found to the inside of collars, to the brightly coloured locker loops reminiscent of mountaineering ropes. It’s this fresh vision and attention to the little things that really help the brand stand apart.

Autumn/Winter ‘15’s offerings take a steady departure from previous seasons’ edits; gone are the hazy-ocean Breton lines, the nautical nods and the deckchair brights that held strong for Spring Summer. In place, the mood of an autumnal transition seeps in with the greying of skies, green-to-red leaves and the chill of dark navy nights. Where previous collections have taken iconic men as inspiration – Swayze jacket anyone? This season’s curation pulls reference from the Welsh countryside, angular mountains - transformed playful - and some of the simply spectacular scenery that makes the great British outdoors so great.

You can expect to find an abundance of texture and layer-upon-layer of shade on staples like shirts, jackets, sweats, trousers and even mannish accessories. Spotlight forms on picks that relay traditional techniques with individual expression attached, like the wool-mix Chaplin pea coat and the heavy grey Saltney trousers. Of course, there are classic picks too, such as everyday check shirts, graphic tees and denim to live in. The key being that each item embodies HYMN’s up-to-the-minute approach, but with a firm back-up of tradition, quality and, most importantly, wardrobe appeal.

Intrigued? Find the label online at www.joythestore.com, at the brand’s BOXPARK venue in trendy Shoreditch, in-stores at Independent Stockists across the country. Contact info@hymnlondon for more information.

Article by Menswear Style

Heard of HYMN? Designed in-house at JOY by a team of London-based creatives, this individual menswear label is teaming up with Menswear Style to give one of our fans’ AW15 style a nudge in the right direction. Get your hands on mountain and scenery-inspired pieces (& more) with the chance to bag a £200 voucher.

JOY is a unique fashion and lifestyle brand, renowned for innovative womenswear, menswear, accessories and an eclectic mix of fun, quirky and seriously stylish gifts. A quietly eccentric and achingly cool Brit stamp marks everything from JOY’s bespoke store interiors to its lovingly curated collections.

How to Enter 

To be in with a chance of winning this prize simply Click Here to leave your details and validate your entry via Twitter. We will be randomly picking a winner at 4pm October 29th – Good Luck!

Article by Menswear Style

A popular men’s accessory is the watch. It’s something men should take their time on when investing because not only is it a practical accessory, but it’s also something that can completely make an outfit. So whether you want something for day-to-day or for dress occasions, there are many brands which offer models to suit both - here is our top nine right now.

Corniche 

Sleek, masculine and bold. Corniche watches are a traditional style watch with a modern twist. With mysterious black faces and minimal features on the dials these watches make for both day and night. Or if black is too serious for you, they have rose gold and white face options complete with contrasting azzuro blue dauphine hands inspired by the Cote d’Azur of the French Riveria.

Montblanc 

A slightly newer of the more established brands, having launched their first watches in 1997. Their designs are sophisticated with a high class sense of style, and since they are Swiss made they're reliable with high performance quality. Their style is rather classic with a modern flair. Then on the other end of the spectrum they have a Sport range which is suited those energetic guys who are always on the go.

Zenith 

Zenith’s story is that of an interesting one, they take a lot of inspiration from stories of past achievers e.g. their Captain and Pilot ranges are based on those who have left a legacy from their past voyages. The watches have more dials than usual which would have been perfect for those on Marine or Aviation travel. Their El Primeo range has one of the most accurate mechanical movements that a timepiece can have - Zenith is a true luxury watch.

Bovet 

A brand with one of the most unique designs in the industry. Bovet’s designs today are still somewhat inspired by the heritage of the pocket watch. Not only do they pay close attention to detail, they are handmade by female artisans which is rare in the watch manufacturing business. They're known for not only their high quality enamel but also their ‘miniature painting’ designs where you find precise pictures created colour by colour - the work is incredible.

Officine Panerai 

One of the older watchmakers, established in 1860 in Florence, Italy. The brand prides itself on Italian and Swiss made watches inspired by the sea and the Italian Navy. So, if you've seen their designs you’ll notice they are military inspired with blue, green and brown leather straps with a combination of square and circular faces with bold numbers. An elegant and durable watch made with precision.

Longines 

A more traditional style of watch which is great for those who desire something that can be worn time and time again and won’t date. Their designs are very graceful and sophisticated, which ties in nicely with the brand’s slogan ‘Elegance is an attitude’. With classic designs and attention to accuracy they have been a long household name in the watch industry. From designs with a clean simple face in their elegant range with stainless steel straps to the bolder more detailed styles for the ‘man on the go’ where they have paid attention to details in the crown and links.

Article by Menswear Style

British-based Vector Watch announces the launch of its new collection of premium smartwatches. Committed to delivering the highest quality of craftsmanship, Vector Watch marries impeccable design and exceptional materials with cutting edge software and a streamlined experience to enrich the lives of its users. Handcrafted as wearable technology that’s more than just a gadget on your wrist, the new Vector Watch collection features 12 models and includes Performance, Contemporary and Classic styles to appeal to every type of personality.

The round-faced Luna and the rectangular faced Meridian models pay homage to the traditional wristwatch design. Manufactured from stainless steel for a precise finish, each smartwatch delivers an unrivalled 30 day battery life and offers convenient multiplatform compatibility with iOS, Android and Windows smartphones. The always-on display provides at-a-glance overview of daily schedules and subtle meeting reminders and notifications. The bespoke platform allows the device to understand and respond to patterns in user behaviour.

Customers can download Apps from the Vector Store including trackers, alarms, and events as well as branded Apps for CNN, BCC as well as many more to be added. Vector Watch can be customized further with Streams, areas on the watch dedicated to key contextual information such as time zones, calorie counters, stock market information and calendar events, all connected via a low-energy Bluetooth. Vector Watch will be opening up third party development of Apps in 2016. The full Vector Watch smartwatch collection retails from £219 to £349 and is available to shop now at www.vectorwatch.com

Article by Menswear Style

Nestled in a quiet, upscale part of London, a stone's throw from Baker Street station, is one of London's best kept retail secrets. Chiltern Street has been going from strength to strength with a rich 40 year history of providing bespoke, high-quality goods to the discerning shopper, but when global brand Club Monaco chose it as the address of its first standalone menswear store in Europe, it was time to investigate what exactly this street has to offer.

The first thing that strikes you when you chat to the retailers on Chiltern Street, is the sense of community that exists in the enclave that cannot be replicated on a typical British high street. The shops are small, but each has been creative with their space, housing on-site workshops and even customer dining areas to appeal to the clientele who wants conversation along with their shopping experience. Each shop is however, very individual, and there isn't a sense of competition between the retailers, but more of a feeling of synergy with each store strengthening the offer of the area as a whole.

The newest kid on the block is Club Monaco, a Canadian brand founded in Toronto in 1985 which has become a major player and anchor in the American retail landscape. However, this is not obvious from its discreet presence on the street and it's clear that the company decided to take a different direction with this store. The shop fit felt much more like a congenial living room than the imposing monochrome showroom that was more typical of its stores in the US. Everything on display was for sale. Customers could pick up everything from vintage cufflinks and cocktail shakers to cashmere blend suiting and trademark chinos, reinforcing the message that the brand could cater for a range of needs.

The store has been very well received so far, even by American customers, and there are plans to open more around London. When asked if the other stores will follow in the vein of this one, a spokesperson for Club Monaco replied "Judging from Richard Street to this store, it carries a different vibe. This kitchen here is probably our pride and joy. Having this in our store is part of our identity as well. It's not a gimmick, but it's really functional and our clients really enjoy it. It's a nice place to relax and have a little catch up as well."

Another jewel in the crown on Chiltern Street is Trunk Clothiers and Trunk Labs. Both are owned by the charismatic Managing Director Mats Klingberg, with Trunk Clothiers celebrating five years on the street this month. This store prides itself on really knowing their core customers and anticipating how the clothing works in their lifestyles and wardrobes, particularly under the pressures of travel.

When asked what their customers keep coming back for, Klingberg replied: “In general people like the smart casual look that we do and also the unconstructed jacket/suit that's very easy to travel with. Our clothes are not too precious; they're quite expensive many of them, but they're very nice materials. Most of the jackets, you can just fold up, put it in your bag and when you get to your destination, you just take it out and put it on and you look smart."

Although the team keeps a small list of constantly stocked brands (such as Boglioli, Incotex, Barena and Alden), they do experiment with new labels not available anywhere else in London. On average they introduce five new brands per season, but this is not done on impulse as the stock is very carefully edited so as not to confuse customers. This approach has worked so well, that the brand opened Trunk Labs two years ago a few doors down. 

Stocking a range of accessories and homeware suitable for the man who has everything, this store serves as the perfect complement to the simple, yet stylish feel of the brand as a whole. Not content on simply providing great pieces that they know their clients will want, Trunk also have an in house brand which will soon be expanded to include a made-to-measure service to further personalise what they have to offer.

Article by Menswear Style

Elegance is something that can be created with just the details of an outfit. Adrian Azodi; founder of men’s accessory brand Monsieur Fox believes luxury is a staple. Rather than sticking to the norms of everyday wear of formal, business or casual it’s about playing around with all three. Monsieur Fox is an ode to the gentleman; while keeping a refined style he is someone who dresses well but is also well liked and well mannered. The brand strives on dressing in the details, where they come into play; they make high quality luxury menswear accessories.

An extension of this is they create stories within their collections in unique designs and colours to capture and relate to their market. If you take a look at their Instagram page and or their website you can see a range of colourful images imprinted into their pocket squares and ties - perfect for added details to an everyday outfit. They're all designed in house and the pocket squares, ties and scarves are handcrafted in Southern Italy while the lapel chains and cufflinks are made in Dubai.

So with this in mind, delving into the brand’s history you come to understand how much inspiration goes into creating their pocket squares which makes the brand personal and gives it depth. So, with each new range we see a journey of discovery which is then captured into a print. In the latest collection ‘Quest of the Daimyo’ Monsieur Fox has taken inspiration from the bygone era in Japanese history. With the upcoming Autumn Winter season expect to see something new and unusual. With the Japanese history entwined into their collection; founder Adrian explains that at the time in Japan it was illegal for its inhabitants to travel; in particular to the West. However, with a few hidden secrets they came to learn several groups were recruited and secretly sent by Daimyos regional leaders to London to study and bring their findings back to Japan.

Whilst doing this, the students were told to integrate into the city and delve into the culture surrounding them. This alone would have been hard enough for many. Adrian elaborated that this began as a really interesting story for them and a great way to start combining language barriers and cultural differences. For those Japanese kids in London, wearing clothes they hadn’t worn before in unfamiliar surroundings, would want something to remind them of life back home while still conforming to their new British lives. So with this is mind the pocket squares in the ‘Quest of the Daimyo’ collection are a small detailed creation of these memories without drawing too much attention.

For an exclusive 10% off sign up here and Monsieur Fox will email you unique discount code.

Article by Menswear Style

Under the bright lights of Vancouver’s China Town, commenced an equally vibrant showcase; Vancouver Fashion Week 2015. The growing exhibit of Canadian and international fashion designers will run until October 4th. This year’s focus is on Social Media, involving the guests with an online profiling of the event through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Vancouver fashion week is set to be an international spectacle of fashion for both the organizers and this year’s designers. 

The opening show’s Presenter introduces the guests to this year’s event and after a delightful musical performance by some young and extremely talented Piano players, it’s time for the main act: The Fashion. The lights go down, the music starts. Vancouver Fashion Week 2015 has begun.

The SS16 Designer Preview runway, one by one, plays host to the beautiful and bespoke creations of the Week’s 111 designers from over 25 international destinations. A night of sensory indulgence was promised and was delivered in the form of a fresh, exhilarating Fashion show. A vast spectrum of colours, textures and fabrics tell a variety of stories celebrating different cultures and lifestyles the world over and guarantee a magnificent exhibition of world class fashion and design in the runway shows to follow. From contemporary street wear, to avant-garde gowns, to swimwear and ready-to-wear garments, there was a wonderfully diverse display of designs, building yet more anticipation for the coming days.

Interview with Designer Lui Iarocheski 

How did it come about for you to showcase at VFW? 

"I’ve always known about the VFW reputation on opening the doors for new designers and its reputation as one of the most inspiring and growing fashion weeks. After presenting my menswear graduation collection at two fashion events – one in Brazil and one in Austria – the VFW organization offered me the opportunity to show at their fashion week line up. Without thinking twice, I updated my collection and now I am packed and ready to fly to Vancouver. My show will be on October 1st, 7:50 PM and it is one of the few menswear collections." 

What has inspired your designs until now? 

"I have an experimental approach to design. I am always manipulating materials, shapes and colours to achieve new expressions in menswear and my experiments are often conceptually ugly but visually beautiful. For the collection I am bringing to VFW, for example, I was inspired by the artwork ‘Parangolés’ of Hélio Oiticica and by photographs of homeless people – the less money you have the more creative you are with clothing. Through my manipulation with rectangular pieces of fabrics and with a textile I developed with cotton ropes, the collection materializes into garments that are very dynamic – can be worn in many ways. In general, I enjoy looking at unexpected places for inspiration, trying to get out of the obvious and mixing that outlook with a practical and hands-on design process." 

What would you like to achieve with your brand in the coming years? 

"I want to keep exploring new expressions in menswear, breaking stereotypes and proposing disruptive ideas regarding clothing. Through the bridge between tradition and innovation, black and white, classic and experimental, male and female, function and style, I want to propose a new way to study, view, create, explore, support and make fashion. It involves fashion directly with people empowerment to consequent social transformation, conscious consumption and care for the environment and people."

Interview with Designer Shen Yao 

How did it come about for you to showcase at VFW? 

"It started from an e-mail from VFW at the end of July asking me to show my collection. I thought maybe it was good timing to start my own brand, although I had less than two months to plan my collection. VFW provide what every designer needs to hold a fashion show, such as venue, make-up, hair styling and models, which reduces the pressure a lot. This gave me the confidence to showcase my s/s 16 collection at VFW."  

In regards to your brand how do you differ from others? 

"Although a menswear designer, I often borrow silhouettes and details from womenswear which makes an interesting hybrid. It's neither totally menswear nor womenswear, it's in between. I think beautiful things are beautiful things, beautiful clothes should not be confined by social gender role. I believe every creature can look beautiful if they put on my clothes." 

What would you like to achieve with your brand by next year? 

"Although the fashion industry is often defined as dreamy and fancy, it's not so true when on this side of it. I will be very realistic with my ambitions. I hope I can have at least 5-10 stockists around the world in 2 years. I also hope I can rent a studio of my own within 5 years because I'm currently making my collection on my kitchen table and my room which is not so flattering or practical."

Article by Menswear Style

"Give it some gas" blasts the stuntman, my ass hairs on end at the first bend of the Circuito de Navarra in Northern Spain. The stage for the all new Jaguar XF, where the rubber meets the road, but who will be the best in show? The Prestige, the R-Sport, the S, or the Portfolio? The all-new four-door XF with adaptive response reads the road like Stephen Fry reads Fyodor Dostoyevsky. And what better way to see-in Jaguars 80th Anniversary. The new-XF boasts greater agility, more breadth of ability. Fluid and composed and unopposed in its efficiency. With a weight saving of 80kg versus its nearest competitor, it trumps its predecessor by 190.

It has a shoulder line like Schwarzenegger, strong and defined with every line a purpose, nothing's superfluous. The waistline sits on the tarmac like Christina Hendricks' hips on a high-backed Chesterfield. Horizontal, more formal for the business model. The mesh grille sits up with new belief, like a private saluting its commander-in-chief.

Inside I was in Tom Cruise control with the in Control Touch Pro infotainment system. The touchscreen interface, replaced the old buttons and dials. Swipe and drag like your smart phone, it allows you to pinch, zoom and spread like Sharon Stones legs. You can let the Commute Mode compute your daily route, give parking suggestions and offer alternatives to avoid congestion. There's more leg room, headroom, knee room, more va-va voom than Thierry Henry, more volume than Vidal Sassoon.

On Pamplona plains I pushed the XF to the extreme and like a dream it caressed every corner and contour like a streamline butterfly. At the end of the show the air vents closed like flower senescence, the rotary shift controller waved goodbye to its audience, retreating into its luxurious console. It's the gold icing on the fois gras cake, efficient like a fat-free T-bone steak. It's handsome like Han Solo, balanced and composed like a Mozart Concerto. Sophisticated and sleek. The all new Jaguar XF has got has got that je ne sais quoi, so to speak.

Article by Menswear Style

Emma Willis has been specialising in bespoke shirts since 1989 and from her London store in Jermyn Street since 1999. Adhering to the highest standards of English shirt making; single needle stitching, cross stitched real mother of pearl buttons, and patterns matched at seams. All her shirts are hand crafted by highly skilled cutters and machinists in Bearland House, an elegant 18th Century townhouse in the centre of historic Gloucester. Emma spends 2 days a week at the factory overseeing design, cut, make and quality control of all bespoke and ready to wear shirts. Emma has managed to build a team of 30 tailors who are passionate, diligent and above all take pride in producing the highest quality luxury shirts, boxer shorts, pyjamas, dressing gowns and walking socks.

"When I worked for a well-known corporation, I had to infiltrate a sect of mostly male engineers. The challenge to be respected in my field made me work harder, think faster, push further, and know more."

Emma Willis is no longer one of the trades best kept secrets after recently being nominated as a finalist for the Draper Award 2015, to add to her accolades of being nominated in GQ Style magazine as 'London's best bespoke shirtmaker', and by Nick Foulkes in the Evening Standard as one of 'The top 5 bespoke shirt makers in the world'.

"I learned to listen. I learned to apologize when I was wrong and act fast to correct my errors. I learned to respect my teachers, but also respect my own abilities. And I will always remember the men who saw my potential and the men that didn’t judge me but saw a light in me that told them that I had something to contribute."

At emmawillis.com you can learn more about the craftsmanship that goes into each garment, and read more about her popular Style for Soldiers Christmas Party which is the largest annual reunion for injured service personnel. One of Emma's regular clients is eye-candy David Gandy who has appeared on the front cover of Vanity Fair wearing an Emma Willis Silk Evening Shirt. After hearing of Emma's work and her regular visits to the Headley Rehabilitation Centre, he became an ambassador for Style for Soldiers. Each injured patient from the Centre is given a complementary bespoke shirt from Emma's Luxury Cottons. Also to those patients who need them, a hand carved ebony walking stick with a buffalo horn handle, and silver band engraved with their regiment and initials.

If you would like to book an appointment at Emma's Jermyn Street Shop in London, please contact sales@emmawillis.com. There is a minimum order of 3 shirts, with the first sample made in white Poplin. This initial shirt is £290 and subsequent shirts depend on the fabric chosen, but range from £280 - £340.

Article by Menswear Style

For this giveaway, we’ve teamed up with our dapper buddies over at Moss Bros to offer one of our fans the chance to win a cheeky £250 voucher to spend at moss.co.uk on anything you like. Choose from the traditional tailored suits Ermenegildo Zegna or Lanificio F.lli Cerruti Dal 1881 or the fashion suits of French Connection or Ted Baker. If a more casual look is more your thing, head towards the own label ‘Moss London’ for a vast selection of on-trend jackets and chinos.

How to Enter 

To be in with a chance of winning this prize simply Click Here to enter your name and email address before specifying whether you prefer ‘slim fit’ or ‘regular fit’. Entrants can only enter once, competition ends midnight 31st October. Winner will be contacted on Monday 2nd November. The email address you enter with will be added to the Moss Bros email database.

Article by Menswear Style

Subscription clubs are becoming all the more prevalent in the UK, and no matter what your passion or hobby may be, it seems like there is a club out there that is specifically catered for your needs (Although that said no one has started a monthly Butt-Plug club, trust me I've looked into it. Another one for Dragon's Den). So here are some of the most popular clubs out in the ether right now. 

PACT COFFEE

Are you constantly asking girls out for coffee but are struggling to get them back to your bed-sit? Well now you can entice them back to yours promising them a coffee from Pact Coffee. Their coffee is bought directly from the best farmers across the world. All Pact coffee is roasted in small batches at Pact HQ in Bermondsey, to ensure the very optimum quality. Every bean is different of course and needs a roasting profile to be carefully tailored to ensure a well-balanced coffee. They even grind the beans for you so you can concentrate on thinking about what your date looks like naked.

CARNIVORE CLUB

Now if we had a club like this back in the day maybe Jeffrey Dahmer wouldn't have killed all those people, know what I'm saying? I'm sure Carnivore Club would have seen to his meat cravings. Each month their members receive an impressive faux-wood box filled with 4-6 handcrafted cured meats from top artisans. Cured meats such as: French Charcuterie, Italian Salumi, Spanish Chorizo, South African Biltong and Artisanal Jerky are but a few. Carnivore Club celebrates the individual recipes of each cured meat savant, no two meats are alike even when similar in name.

BEARDED COLONEL

Tired of being treated like a criminal in Boots having to ask for the razors from behind the glass case? It's bad enough having to go to Boots in the first place right? It means leaving the house for one. Well Bearded Colonel has you covered. With the Bearded Colonel, you’ll get fresh blades regularly delivered, at a fair price. They’ll fit through your letterbox so you’ll always get them. Their razors are made in Germany, so you know the quality is going to be good. Ever seen a German with a shaving rash? Exactly my point.

BEER BODS

I don't know about you but I like to tell people about the new best beer on the block. It makes me sound well-travelled, less of an alcoholic, more of a connoisseur on the best liquid known to man, beer. With Beer Bods You get 12 beers in the post every 12 weeks for £36. All of their subscribers drink the same beer (just one) every week. They then email you every Thursday with the story behind that week’s beer so you can educate your friends. Well at least it gives you something to talk about at half time other than the barmaids rack.

SOCK FANCY

In the past couple of weeks I've had to do numerous interviews for the BBC about socks. All of a sudden people care about socks. So if you're looking to get on the sock-train then let’s do it right with Sock Fancy. All of their socks are made from high quality cotton blends on a 200-count needle machine, guaranteed to last numerous slides down the hallway, Tom Cruise style (Timely reference). For $11 bucks a month, throw a pair of awesomeness on, roll your pant leg up, and show those puppies off.

COLLAR CLUB

Ah so you've reached that time in your life when your friends are all getting married and now all they want to do is go to wine bars and bore you with stories about their home improvements. All of a sudden you can't be seen in that T-shirt with the naked girl riding a horse. It's time to smarten up your wardrobe with Collar Club. Collar Club bring you the finest quality shirts without unnecessary mark-ups. They're designed in Britain and made by the finest shirt makers in Italy. As part of their subscription offering, you can add their luxury laundry service on a 'pay as you play' basis. Stay lazy whilst looking classy.

LONDON TEA CLUB

Look, if we didn't have tea in this country then every episode of every soap would only be ten minutes long. London Tea Club is where it's at people. You tell them what you want and they'll source accordingly. Each month, they pick three teas that match, complement and expand your flavour profile. They'll more than likely have names like Gwyneth Paltrow's kids. These could be black, green, white, oolong, puerh, herbal, blended, fruity, and more. Membership is £10/month for UK members and £12/month for international members; no contracts, cancel anytime. Shipping costs included.

Article by Menswear Style

For one of the stand-out collections from London Collections: Men AW15,Christopher Shannon seemed to have translated the mood of a disenfranchised generation into a witty and wearable collection, with a serious underlying message. The simple, yet bold slogans and literal carrier bags as accessories were a real commentary on the socio-economic situation that continues to be a reality for some. In Shannon's hands, the collection was delivered with a bit of cheek and a light-heartedness that came off as self-deprecating, rather than sardonic.

For this collection, Shannon collaborated with Zippo, an iconic American brand in its own right with a long history of creating covetable lighters and collectors pieces, which appeal to the same demographic that Shannon's work seems so in tune with. Ahead of his upcoming AW15 launch, MenswearStyle sat down with the designer to speak about his influences from the AW15 collection and why the carrier bag was suddenly a statement piece.

Congratulations on the launch of your AW15 collection. When it hit the runway in January, it was one of the most talked about collections, owing mostly to the carrier bag accessories and bold slogans. Why did you think that that was the time to make such a statement? 

“I think I was feeling some pressure after winning the GQ Menswear Award, it was the first one and suddenly the focus on me seemed to be more serious, yet I didn’t want to change the way I work. Also so many designers I know were going out of business, really talented people, I suppose my mood was quite reactionary. It takes so much to build a new label, so many things go wrong and I think people don’t really realise that.” 

What was the starting point for this collection? Was it a mood, a particular garment or another outside factor? 

“It was plastic bags, I kept noticing they were in my research. I’m always drawn to quite crude references and items, I never see the value in doing obvious luxury or just copying designer labels. The plastic bag seemed like the right mascot for the time, I didn’t want to suddenly start making leather bags, it seems so predictable. Disposable culture is so foul, I always want my pieces to feel collectable, something quite singular. I’d also come out of a long relationship and other stuff in my life, I didn’t realise until later how much of that was going into the work.”

Season after season, your collections seem to speak directly to the disaffected youth. What is it about this demographic that resonates with you and why do you feel they need a voice in menswear? 

“I’m not sure I try and speak to anyone directly, it’s maybe more that there’s a lot of content in that period of your life that is handy for drawing on. I don’t really think about people’s interpretations of the work, I just work in the moment. If people want to use the garments to express something then that's fine with me.” 

The scrapbook feel of your collections is recurring theme; is this a personal influence or an observatory one? 

“I think probably both. I’ve always collected imagery since I was really young, I started buying photography books in my early teens, I wasn’t really aware that I was doing it I just always really liked getting lost in images. I was always reading CD booklets and album covers, devouring any magazines that took you out of the drudgery of school and the awfulness of being a teenager.”

How did the collaboration with Zippo come about, as it is an iconic brand in its own right? Did you feel like their brand values complemented yours? 

“I had the idea of using the lighter as a graphic in the collection, it seemed really fitting with all the party imagery I was looking at. It seemed like the right vehicle for the tone of the collection. So we worked on a few elements of the show together then decided to start work on a range of lighters.” 

How did the collaboration inform this collection? 

“It’s more of a back and forth. Looking at ways to incorporate the lighter as an accessory and sort of memento of nights out, so we have them on the knits and also made into sort of pendents for around the neck to compliment the Judy Blame accessories.” 

What was your favourite piece to design and why? 

“I always like working on knitwear, it’s quite new to me so I work quite loosely with it and see how it goes. Also the last few looks with the deconstructed jackets, just cutting away and revealing the body, feels quite fresh rather than just piling more clothes on. I like to work all around the body which you only really see at the show, so many collections are just designed for catwalk images online.”

Article by Menswear Style

As we come to the end of the year, we’ve decided to handpick ten of our favourite fashion books from the MenswearStyle HQ bookshelf that were published in 2015. Whether you already work in the fashion industry or are currently in education, we’re sure you’ll find a few of these rather useful. 

The Details 

The Details tells the stories behind the ultimate, classic men’s accessories – their heritage and design, the personalities that famously wore them, and how each item has shaped contemporary men’s fashion. From classic diving watches to the simples pocket square, The Details pinpoints the iconic accessories every man should own.

Printed Textile Design 

This book explains the fundamentals of printed textile design, from design brief through to the completed collections, and introduces the basics of colour, drawing, composition and repeat with a series of step-by-step exercise and examples.

The Parisian Gentleman 

Paris has always been seen as the centre of fashion excellence and elegance with leading designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and Dior. However, holding women up as a beacon of timeless elegance has cast a shadow over the equally astounding world of menswear. The Parisian Gentleman is here to change this. Celebrating the finesse and devotion to the French artisans and ateliers dedicated to the male style.

Copy, Copy, Copy 

In our novelty-obsessed culture, copying is something that almost always has negative associations, yet history proves an ability to do it well has been the basis of success for many people – from Isaac Newton to Steve Jobs, Elvis Presley to Tsar Peter the Great – with each building upon the efforts and ideas of others.

The Finest Menswear in the World 

The difference between a fine piece of menswear and the finest in the world is minute, yet it is the most seemingly insignificant details that can elevate a garment into something unique and extraordinary. In a world of consumerism, this fine tailoring has become a fading beauty with people taking refuge in familiar brands they know and love. This book aims to bring the luxurious craftsmanship of menswear back into the foreground by deepening our understanding of the industry and enabling us to make more discerning choices.

Editorial Design 

Generously illustrated, including case studies, practical exercises and tips, examples of best practice and profiles of individual designers including Mark Porter, Scott Dadich and Jane Froelich, the book explains the fundamentals of editorial design and layout.

Marketing Fashion 

This book explains key theoretical concepts and illustrates how they are applied within the global fashion and retail industry, from haute couture to the mass market. All tools in the modern marketer’s kit are discussed, from attending fashion fairs to viral marketing and online strategies.

Article by Menswear Style

We’ve teamed up with Guide London to offer one of our fans the chance to win £325 to spend on their stylish threads. That’s enough to get you a two piece suit and shirt! As a British brand where every detail matters, Guide London is dedicated to bringing you superb-quality, stylish men’s designer clothing. Crafted using the highest-quality materials, their luxurious collection of men’s designer clothes is perfect for adding elegance and sophistication to your wardrobe. From sharp-cut tailoring to superior shirts and funky socks, they know how to cater for a well-dressed man.

The latest collection includes everything from smart shirts to tailored trousers and jackets, so you can create a timeless look that’s ideal for formal occasions. For a more relaxed style, their menswear range is also home to knitwear, polo shirts and casual shirts. The main focus of the Guide London brand is detail, whether it’s a concealed button down shirt collar or a contrast cuff insert on a knit, each piece is always carefully designed and cleverly constructed.

How to Enter 

Simply sign up to the Guide London newsletter here to be entered into a prize draw to win £325 to spend at Guide London. You can earn extra entries by visiting our website and our Facebook page, following us on Instagram and Twitter and referring the competition to your friends. Good Luck!

Article by Menswear Style

The concept of traveling tailors have become increasingly common and it enables many people to access something that would be otherwise unavailable in their region.Sartoria Vanni has developed a combination that merges the most classic tailoring tradition dating back at the beginning of the XiX century with the dynamism of a modern Made-to-Measure service offered in many of the world's major cities - including London.

History 

Sartoria Vanni was founded in 1818 in Florence and quickly grew into a well-recognised player. Seven family generations have devoted their expertise and excellence of tailoring to this Sartoria. The selection of the finest fabrics together with the craftsmanship know-how creates the prerequisite for the perfect fit and the perfect quality. Each garment is entirely handmade in Italy, therefore it becomes the embodiment of a piece of art and history. Today, the family legacy continues and evolves to a new authentic and cutting-edge future.

A new chapter 

The rebirth of Sartoria Vanni started in 2013, when Oliver Scavetta and Nicola Papa partnered with the Vanni family and joined the board of directors. Having worked for many years as professional lawyers, they decided to pursue their true passion and enter the world of luxury sartorialism. Together with Fabrizio Vanni, heir of Sartoria Vanni, the new leadership delivers a cutting-edge and international flair to the brand. As a matter of fact, this new approach enables to combine the workmanship expertise of the past to today’s technological advancement for an ultimate outcome. As explained by the new associates, Sartoria Vanni’s new direction is generated by their own personal experience, which led to the desire of eliminating the geographical boundaries that separate the local artisan from its cosmopolitan client.

How it works 

The Sartoria Vanni team visits several of the world's major cities (such as London, New York, Paris and Stockholm) several times a year to take measurements of their clients. And here lays the key element that distinguishes Sartoria Vanni from other online made-to-measure services, where the customer himself is asked to take its measure without knowing the product. To maintain the exquisite detailing and effortless elegance of a made-to-measure garment, the importance relies on the most important aspect: the professional body measurements. Oliver and Nicola and all the Sartoria Vanni team will properly get the measurements. Once the customer's perfect fit is reached, the measurements are saved in an online database which allow the client to place new orders directly from the website where over 1,500 premium fabrics from textile mills such as Loro Piana and Vitale Barberis are well digitalised. Delivery time from order to finished garment is only 4-6 weeks.

Our readers are invited to join a little cocktail reception at Margaux Restaurant (152 Old Brompton Road, London) on Thursday October 8th, from 7pm to 10pm and also enjoy a special 10% discount if they book an appointment for their London trunk show (from the 9th to the 11th of October) on sartoriavanni.com/en/trunk-shows

Article by Menswear Style

Here comes the best season of the year for menswear. It’s when the art of layering comes into play and when your wardrobe choices can truly aid you in your daily battle against the elements. The following AW15 pieces are a perfect go-to uniform for the season ahead... and all for under £1k from London’s Regent Street stores. This is one of our favourite shopping destinations of London due to its architecture, London buzz and great mix of high-street, high-end, and luxury stores combined with a few great restaurant hangouts.

Coach York Lace Sneaker - £180 

Suits and sneakers are currently the hottest couple in fashion and this design is a classic style which works well. It’s simple, clean and understated. Crafted in fine leathers with a welt detail found only on better-constructed shoes, this minimalist sneaker elevates a casual outfit or finishes a crisp suit with unexpected style.

Aquascutum Creedy Garment Dyed Cotton Blazer - £350 

A classic jacket with statement peaked lapels in a casual finish. It is tailored from garment dyed pure cotton but has a relaxed appearance of an unstructured workwear jacket. This item also features working cuffs with horn button fastenings and back vents for ease in movement.

Hackett Chunky Heel and Toe Socks - £15 

The winter season sees the sock game go back to that of a more discreet and simple design in neutral colours. It has often been said one can never have too many socks, but make sure a simple plain navy option is one of them this season.

Reiss Giani Backpack - £195 

It makes sense to own a backpack which is suitable for both work and pleasure. This Reiss leather backpack is minimal and clean, and crafted from pure grained leather. The Giani black backpack is a contemporary fusion of practicality and style.

J.Crew Midweight Flannel Shirt - £82.50 

Flannel material is one of the reason we get excited for autumn and shirts don't get much more comfortable or classic than one made from Flannel. This one is made in a premium brushed midweight cotton that's not only soft but also comes in a timeless plaid pattern.

Reiss Casino Stitch Detail Belt - £45 

A good quality real leather belt will last you decades. This Reiss stitch detail belt is crafted from luxe leather and makes for a stylish off-duty aesthetic. The dark brown colour option is perfect for nearly all outfit options such as navy suits and denim.

Article by Menswear Style

The Campaign for Wool has marked its sixth successful year with its annual ‘Wool Week’. Wool Week will celebrate everything woolly with a week of activities around the UK From 5th – 11th October, seeing over 100 retailers and many leading fashion, interior and craft brands from across the UK unite to highlight the innovative ways in which wool is used. Over the course of seven wool-filled days, the public will have the opportunity to participate in an exciting line-up of activities taking place across the country. This year’s Wool Week highlights include:

Savile Row – Sheep on the Row 

One of the largest public events for UK Wool Week 2015 took place on a grassed area over Savile Row with two flocks of sheep grazing in the heart of men’s luxury bespoke tailoring in London. Visitors were welcomed to the open tailoring houses to learn how wool fabric from the leading producers in the UK, Europe and Japan is used by the British tailoring industry. The iconic street was transformed into a green pasture and closed to traffic while Bowmont Merino and Exmoor Horn sheep grazed along The Row, shepherded by Alex James, the Blur basist and farmer along with Nicholas Coleridge, Chairman of The Campaign for Wool, whose patron is HRH The Prince of Wales. With barns at either end of The Row, the focus was on the landscapes of the main wool growing countries, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK.

Murdock London, the men’s groomers, partnered with The Campaign for Wool to create a ‘Shearing Shed’ offering a menu of sheep-inspired grooming treatments, as a street style photographer from British GQ snapped visitors on The Row in a ‘wool street style’ reportage of the best dressed men in London. The ‘live’ model presentation brought together by leading wool mills, Savile Row, West End and London City bespoke tailors showcased over 25 bespoke menswear outfits and demonstrated the versatility that is found in wool. Each tailoring house partnered with a wool fabric mill in creating contemporary bespoke menswear key pieces for AW15. The garments were accessorised by the gentlemen’s houses of Mayfair and St. James’s, and Globe-Trotter who supported the ‘Traveller’ theme with some key bespoke wool/leather travel pieces.

Wool in Fashion 

The Campaign for Wool has chosen a key edit of woolly items for AW15 from brands including, Abraham Moons & Sons, Anderson and Sheppard, Barbour, E.Tautz, Finisterre, Harris Tweed Hebrides, Holly Fulton, Jaeger, Jigsaw, Marks and Spencer, Pringle of Scotland, Topshop and Wool & the Gang. The edit has been styled by Luke Day and shot by Nick Leary on location in Scotland featuring model Devon Windsor. In addition to the creation of stunning fashion photography, a film captures the journey of wool across the highlands of Scotland – a love story. The love of wool, the feeling it imparts emotionally and physically and the love of nature.

Article by Menswear Style

As previously discussed on MWS, we are now living in an age of 'crowdfunding' where the public are put in control of pledging money towards brands and products which they believe are worthy of a place in the consumer market. We recently looked at projects which have been hugely successful due to crowdfunding, however I wanted to highlight 5 Kickstarter brands, in the UK, which are currently 'live' and in need of some assistance in support. Having riffled through a lot of different products, I believe the ones below deserve your pledges and shouldn't be missed out. Be quick though, there isn't a huge amount of time left for these ones. Don't miss your chance!

SunGod Revolt Goggles 

It is that time of year when people will be starting to think about potentially booking a trip to the mountains to hit some snow. An impressive project on Kickstarter comes from a company who have previously focused on the production of sunglasses. SunGod have now put forward a new design of Ski/Snowboard goggles, Sungod Revolts, which they claim are "the world's first interchangeable, fully replaceable goggles". Their aim is to produce a pair of goggles which are top quality but at a decent price point. The flexible TPU frame means they mould onto your face providing a highly comfortable fit. There are 6 lens tints and 12 strap designs available for you to create a bespoke design exactly to your liking.

Unity Utility Belt 

Unity are looking for pledges to help raise money for the their hard-wearing and heavy duty utility belt. Handmade in Yorkshire these simple but beautifully crafted belts are supposedly guaranteed to last you a lifetime. This belt can be worn as part of your daily casual attire or it can be used in many different ways as a piece of urban equipment. The Utility Two Eight had a 28mm Cobra clip with a break load rated at 18KN so there is no way the buckle will let you down. The Utility Three Eight, designed more for outdoor adventures, has a heavier duty buckle with a 38mm Cobra buckle. The largest belt, the Five Zero comes with a 50mm buckle. Hip pouches can be easily attached and they can also be strapped across the body to aid carrying a camera or work tools. These belts are definitely designed for man who is fond of his DIY!

LeRouxWear Cycling Hoodie 

If you are an avid cycler in the city with a good sense of style but find it difficult to decide what to wear on your commute to work, you should definitely consider pledging towards this hoodie from LeRouxWear. They have come up with a simple but trendy design focusing on the 'revival of the original spirit of the sweatshirt.' A lot of thought has been put into the design of this piece with each hoodie comprising of multiple pockets, earphone access, mitt gloves for wind-resistance and a neck warmer attached inside. Cycling safety is obviously key but it is great to see a smartly designed sporty hoodie which means you will stand out for the right reasons. The hoodie is long in length at the back, and short at the front to maximise comfort for your ride. T-shirts are also available with their modern black and white artwork on the front.

Boston and Stewill - Tourer II 

For you men out there that take pride in their timepieces, look no further than this stunning watch from Boston and Stewill. The stand-out sleek design of the main body and the vintage face of these watches sets them apart from many other designs in the market. The original design idea stems from the speedometers found in classic race cars. The normal 1-12 numbers for each hour has even been replaced by 10-120 representing the measurement of speed. The dials are available in three colours, cream, white and black and the straps come in either black or brown perforated leather. It is obvious these watches are of an extremely highly quality with a double dome glass face, discrete stainless steel butterfly clasp and a Swiss Ronda Quartz movement. There is a really nice added touch with the crown sitting at the 12 o'clock position. The Tourer II is definitely a piece which can confidently compete with the more well-known high-end watches out there. With not much time on the clock left for pledges for this potentially exciting brand, I would highly recommend you consider investing. It would be a great shame to see a watch design like this disappear and I can guarantee if you were to wear one of these on your wrist, there would be multiple compliments thrown your way.

Ohyo Multi-Purpose Bag 

I think men still struggle sometimes when it comes to the decision as to whether it is cool or not to carry a bag. The episode of Friends with Joey's 'man-bag' automatically springs to mind. We understand you guys like to keep it simple and would rather not carry around too much. However sometimes it is unavoidable and the Ohyo bag is the perfect solution. This multi-purpose waterproof bag can be folded and clipped in order to change its size and therefore can be used to carry your laptop in the morning, but carry your groceries home after work. It can even be transformed from a backpack into a weekend bag. It is an incredibly simple but very clever idea. It is available in black, green or grey and each comes with a leather-trimmed strap. This bag is definitely not one to be embarrassed about!

Article by Menswear Style

If you’re wanting to invest in a pair of good quality autumn shoes, then purchase something that won’t date or fall off the trends once it hits Instagram. Footwear is a very important part of creating a stylish look, so it’s important that you take your time choosing where you want to invest your money. If you want durable footwear with unique designs, there are brands amongst us which create great styles without compromising on quality. Here are our top five...

FARAH 

Established over 90 years ago, Farah have finally launching their debut footwear collection this September. With their extensive history and close attention to modern day culture their styles are ever changing. In their footwear range they have classic lace up boots in muted colours as well as oxblood, along with chukka boots for more autumnal days. Key items to look out for are the ‘Margo’ high top boot in full grain tumbled leather, the ‘Famous’ a classic desert style boot updated with a thick vulcanised rubber sole and the ‘Quan- Lo’ a sportswear-inspired suede and phylon runner.

H BY HUDSON 

H by Hudson are a popular brands for chukka boots which are a favorite shoe for this season. With a range of leathers and suedes, some smarter and others more rugged, they make for great everyday wear with jeans or chinos. You can find a sleeker lace up or boot in browns and black leather which make them completely versatile. If you want to dress for an autumn wedding, you can pick out one of their monk straps or dress shoes in patent black.

OLIVER SWEENEY 

Oliver Sweeney have managed to build themselves as a reputable brand season after season. They have a rich British heritage so you can choose between the popular styles of the classic brogue or modern unusual designs. In their latest collection they have Chelsea boots, Brogues and sleek lace ups in brown, oxblood, tan and chocolate.

CHURCH’S 

Brogues, brogues, brogues. We all know what this brand is synonymous of, right? One of the most perfect autumn shoes is the brogue and with this brand dating back to 1873 I think we can all put enough trust into them that they won’t fail you. They also have a strong range of other styles such as the sleeker lace up, the dressier monk strap and also trainers.

SANTONI 

Italian shoemaker Santoni have been producing luxury handcrafted footwear since 1975. They're perfect for those wanting to invest in a luxury shoe with an antique feel combined with modern features. They're known for their signature loafers for everyday wear, but for the more autumnal months you can expect to make good use of their boots with stitched eyelets on the vamp to be worn with jeans.

Article by Menswear Style

The shows were heavy with local talent, as 6 of the featured designers are working and selling here in Vancouver. Connally McDougall’s show was arguably one of the stand-outs. The show commenced with a men’s streetwear collection, coupled with an avant-garde display from the models draped in flowers and foliage against an equally impacting backdrop of Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’. Modern pieces accented with vintage touches made for the perfect collection of wearable statement pieces and interesting yet playful streetwear.

Maaji sets the scene with the familiar notes of ‘Sweet Home Alabama' to establish the distinct American country feel to this swimwear collection. The tempo shifts up and the models burst onto the runway energetically as full of colour and fun as the swimwear they are dressed in. The festival, road trip vibe works perfectly with the timeless prints and styles of the collection which conjure thoughts of youthful summer road trips, festivals and camping. The collection has something for all shapes and touches such as tassels and intricate back details on the pieces add an extra flair to an already beautifully crafted collection.

One of the penultimate shows was an exclusively Men’s Couture collection by Tommy Chong. This fascinating collection immediately conjured images of old world Japan and expertly combined modern day formal attire with Samurai inspired cuts, shapes and layering. An amazingly unique collection, unlike anything else exhibited on the VFW runway, Chong’s creations were a bold and intense collection of strong and theatrical menswear.

Article by Menswear Style