11 Free Ways To Upgrade Your Summer Wardrobe

If the fashion world had its way, you’d be replacing your wardrobe every three months. But your bank balance – and the planet – won’t thank you for it. Yet, read between the lines and you’ll find that last season’s must-haves often reappear, in the new season’s guise.

Sure, you could spend your hard-earned on brand new jeans that look five years old. Or you could ‘new season’ them yourself by adding a few rips or even turning them from dark to light at home.

Here are some free ways to upgrade your summer style without dropping a dime.

Have A Clear Out

Sometimes, taking away is just as good as adding to a wardrobe. Particularly when it’s crammed full of clothes that don’t fit, are damaged, or aren’t quite right for your skin tone, body type or lifestyle.

A small capsule wardrobe of high-quality, well-fitting garments is far better than one crammed full of impulse buys. So, start by having a clear out. Aim to keep only items worn regularly and that can be mixed-and-matched with other pieces. These will usually take the form of classic menswear staples (plain T-shirts, jeans, shirts) in neutral or earthy colourways (black, white, navy, grey, brown).

Anything damaged that can be salvaged, set aside and get to work on that after. Otherwise throw it away or donate it – you’ll be left with a solid selection of versatile basics that will not only make you look your best, but will save precious minutes when getting dressed in the morning too.

Learn To Layer

The Best Dressed Men Of The Week

Who: Zachary Quinto

Where: 2017 Los Angeles Film Festival

Fresh on the campaign trail for his latest indie flick Aardvark, Zachary Quinto went alternative on the threads too, switching out a red carpet two-piece for an on-trend Cuban collar, easy-to-wear polka dots and black denims to ground the print.

Who: Blair Underwood

Where: GQ Fashion Week Party,

Street Style Gallery : Milan Fashion Week SS17

 

 

 

 

Grooming Treatments Every Man Should Get

We men are odd creatures. We’re quick to claim man-flu, we’re proud of our man-drawers, and we’ll even helpfully man-splain something while man-spreading and holding a man-bag, if need be. But man-pampering, ‘manpering’, or just plain old taking care of ourselves? Well that’s all a bit girly, isn’t it?

Not so. Blokes now make up one in five salon customers, according to a 2017 report by industry supplier Salon Services. And as a result, testosterone-fuelled treatments and gentleman’s club-style spas are popping up all over the UK. From the tan that’ll give (the illusion of) gains to the sports massage to fix a niggling knot, here is the ultimate edit of grooming services every guy should get.

Facial

Being a man can take its toll on the face, all that wood chopping, fire starting and car fixing (read: beer drinking, pizza eating and gym sweating). Add to that the damage caused by regular shaving and sun exposure and it’s easy to see why it pays to get a facial.

Many spas, like Alfred Dunhill’s Bourdon House, offer tailor-made solutions for men such as the Skin IQ treatment: an anti-ageing booster for tired, stressed and dehydrated skin. “There is a range of options available to men,” says one of the centre’s senior aestheticians, “each targets a specific need; including cellular performance, cleansing, reconditioning, removing impurities, lifting, firming, brightening and resurfacing.”

But don’t worry, it’s not all whale music and cucumber eye pads. These days, manly outposts offer, ahem, ‘extras’ including wet shaves, haircuts and even film screenings all in one place.

Expect To Pay: From £45 for a 30-minute treatment

Frequency: Once a month

Sports Massage

Key Men s Hairstyles Trends For SS17

Style is a breeze in winter. Faced with sinking temperatures, severe winds and snow; piling clothes on, rather than peeling them off, becomes priority number one. Which means more blocks for building a look you like.

In the summer heat, however, priorities shift. Meaning most of us – when we’re not in air con – are intent on getting as close to naked as possible. Which leaves, as you can probably imagine, little to work with in pulling together an expertly layered outfit, or one packed with texture and colour contrasts.

And that’s where your hair comes in. The one thing you’ll be wearing constantly at your desk, on a plane, at a bar and in a pool over the next few months, your mop speaks to your style in ways clothes often can’t once the mercury rises. So you’d better make sure it looks good.

To that end, we caught up with three of the UK’s best barbershops to get the long and short (as well as the in between) on this season’s hottest hair trends.

Short Hair

If ever there was a time to ditch that top knot, it’s now (if you haven’t had the good sense to already, that is). Opting for shorter hair once the summer hits means less sweat, not to mention less chance of carefully sculpted styles frizzing up, Sideshow Bob-style.

“The short back and sides remains one of the most popular styles for men,” says Lloyd Hughes, creative director of award-winning grooming brand Men-ü, who puts this classic cut’s popularity down to its versatility.

According to Hughes, the length of the hair on top can be varied beyond the standard short and neat crop, from new recruit-tight to dramatically long and wavy. “A thick, textured cut that’s choppy and layered [is most popular this season though],” he says.

(Related: The 5 Best Men’s Short Back And Sides Hairstyles)

While most short back and sides styles might involve clipper cutting the hair to a short – but not super-short – grade 2, 3 or 4, Adam Gore, founder of Birmingham barbershop Barberology, suggests stripping the length right back for an exceptionally sleek finish. “This season’s key style for short hair has to be a skintight tapered crop, with hair on top styled with a matte clay for texture and a messy wave,” he says.

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