6 Outdated Men's Summer Style Taboos

As men, we’re faced with several challenges when it comes to summertime. Finding a seat in the beer garden, mastering the perfect BBQ sausage, trying not to drown in sweat as we look to work off said sausage in high heat… we could go on, but we’re here to talk matters of style.

With our fair share of difficulties to contend with, the last thing we need are some passé style tips to confuse us further. So, read on to see some of the most prevalent warm-weather style myths debunked.

1. Sandals Are For Feminine Feet

Girls have nice feet. Lovely, in fact. Men? Men do not. Rather understandably, most of us are afraid of the dreaded man foot. But we urge you: don’t be afraid of it, embrace it instead.

If you’re UK-based, it’s totally possible to completely avoid wearing sandals and keep your feet from ever seeing the light of day. But when that beach holiday eventually comes around, you’d better be prepared. If you’re going to get your plates of meat out, best do it in style, right?

At the smarter end of the spectrum is the leather sandal. This style owes its enduring success to its versatility, working just as well with a pair of tailored shorts as it does lightweight chinos or slim jeans. Recently, German brand Birkenstock has become the go-to for this silhouette and – at around £50 – their sturdily built designs won’t break the bank. However, if you’d rather take the premium route, both A.P.C. and Marni offers solid selections too.

Another option is the sport sandal, a style that’s surged in popularity over the past couple of summers. And for good reason – they’re super comfortable, lightweight and perfectly suited to guys who like to dress in a more casual-contemporary, rather than conservatively classic, way. Teva and Suicoke are particularly well versed in the art of the strappy sport sandal, never failing to marry form with function. Wear them with jeans, shorts or even a pair of tailored joggers.

When you do finally expose those pasty pinkies to the outside world, remember that regardless of how fantastically awesome your new sandals are, if your feet resemble mangled griffin talons, then your dedicated shopping efforts have been for naught.

Get a pedicure guys, there’s no shame in it anymore.

Key Pieces

5 Male CELEBRITY Styles Worth Stealing

We tend to operate relatively honest lives from the day-to-day, so it pays to live a little when choosing what we wear for work, rest, or play. And how we come to get it. Motive is the first step: working out what it is you want can sometimes be the hardest part. The second move is somewhat easier: planning out the course ahead or tactics to get the job done. And then, attack. Encouraging the art of burglary, let’s take a look at five celebrity styles worth stealing, featuring some well-known, well-to-do, well-dressed men who have accrued a rather fat style wealth in recent years. But don’t feel bad. As far as we’re concerned, these millionaires can afford it.

1. Ryan Gosling

No stranger to the red carpet or strolling the urban streets of LA, Ryan Gosling has ramped it up again recently in the style stakes. This time, the Place Behind the Pinesstar has found a sweet fashion spot, somewhere in between tailored suits and comfort pants, adopting Bretagne striped tees tucked into slim trousers. Steal-worthy styles include Gosling’s love for denim shirts over relaxed fit jeans and vintage brown boots. Not to mention, his purposeful tonal colour-blocking with olive green chinos paired with a green thick-stripe shirt.

Our style steals:

• Formal – Razor sharp tuxedo in cobalt blue and slight shine finish.
• Casual – Leather jackets and wayfarers, as well as double denim.
• In Between – Linen jacket worn unbuttoned over striped tee. Add a rope/beaded bracelet for an added touch of Euro chic.

2. Eddie Redmayne

The former face of Burberry and 2015 Oscar

Forecast Spring/Summer 2015 Advertising Campaign

5 Footwear Styles Every Man Should Own

The Life And Soles

It’s here. It’s really here. The clocks have changed. You no longer see your own breath as you exhale. It’s out with long johns and thermal vests and in with the tees and shorts. Spring has well and truly, officially, properly, sprung. Historically, spring is a time of new beginnings and rebirth. What better time, then, to reassess your wardrobe?

Let’s start with arguably the most important investment of all: your shoes. It’s often said that the first time you meet someone, you’re judged on a number of factors – with three of the main counts being your hair, handshake and footwear.

Whether it’s a job interview or a first date, if you’re hoping for approval from a prospective employer or potential love interest, you’re probably not going to get it when they glance down to see a rather sad-looking pair of battered old winklepickers.

“But there’s too much choice!” we hear you cry. With an ever developing array of footwear styles available both in stores and online, shopping for shoes can be overwhelming. Fear not, we’ve whittled down the bulk to these five essentials:

1. The Brown Leather Brogue

Originating in Scotland and Ireland as the go-to shoe for those bound for the turf bogs, the brogue has since become a footwear mainstay for the contemporary gent.

What’s so unique about the brogue is its versatility. The traditional punch hole design on this silhouette’s upper – known as brogueing – gives it a distinctive character that other smart shoe styles lack. To capitalise on the brogue’s ease of wear, we’d recommend opting for a traditional brown leather style complete with leather or rubber soles.

Whether tan, chocolate, russet or chestnut, a pair of brown leather brogues will slot seamlessly into your wardrobe and team well with plenty of outfit permutations, from smart to smart-casual, as well as many of the hues you already own, particularly navy and grey.

For those of a more dressed-down persuasion, a brown wingtip brogue is ideal. Wear them with a white button-down shirt and rolled-up dark denim jeans for a look that’s casual and comfortable, yet still refined.

When it comes to brands that produce high quality brogues, look to traditional English manufacturers such as Tricker’s, Church’s, Cheaney, Barker and John Lobb who are particularly astute at their craft, offering a wide-ranging selection of interpretations of the classic.

However, be mindful that leather in lighter shades of brown may be a little more high maintenance. Give your brogues some TLC though, and they’ll not only last, but also improve with age. “Choosing the right polish for your shoe is simple – always read the label,”says Tim Cooper, cobbler-in-chief at Oliver Sweeney.

“A good polish should be composed of natural ingredients like beeswax or carnauba wax. These components nourish the leather in the same way a moisturiser does your skin, preventing it from getting dry, cracking, and losing its lustre.”

Recommended Brands & Key Pieces

Mid-Priced/Luxury: Church’s, Grenson,

10 Of The Very Best High Street Basics For Men

The high street really comes into its own when it comes to ‘wardrobe basics’ – those essential building blocks that lay the foundations of any solid capsule wardrobe: Oxford shirts, quality denim, knitwear, underwear and footwear.

Due to the sheer volume of orders high street stores place with manufacturers, they can often secure better materials for less, and because many of the items that appear on this list are bestsellers for the retailer, they tend to hone in on them, refining the quality and design over time to retain our interest.

So, if you’re looking to stock up on essentials but find yourself a little light of pocket, check out our hit list:

White T-Shirts

It’s a debate that’s probably raged since humans started wearing scraps of fabric to conceal their modesty: who makes the perfect white T-shirt? In this writer’s humble opinion, it’s undoubtedly Sunspel, but at £55 a pop they don’t come cheap.

That said, plenty of high street retailers offer great alternatives.

Uniqlo’s white tees are well known for their quality, and what’s more the Japanese retailer offers a wealth of styles – from long- and short-sleeved to V-necks and crew necks:

If you prefer thicker, more sturdy T-shirts, on the

The Fail-Safe Guide To Finding The Perfect Sunglasses

50 Shades Of Shades

While the diligent among us won’t stored their sunglasses away for the autumn/winter season (UV is year-round, remember?), shades are an indisputable essential for the coming months, unless of course you’re fine with permanently squinting.

But which to choose? The range of frames available these days is dizzyingly diverse, and that’s before you factor in variables like face shape, sun protection and budget.

Sunglasses are not just a style statement – they can attract or repel, be a mirror or a shield. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the perfect pair of sunglasses aptly deserves to be called ‘shades’. With this guide, you can let just the right amount of light in.

Shaping Up

Before you even consider style and colour, it’s essential to identify the frames that complement your face shape best.

Oval Face Shape

Those with oval faces will always be lucky in life, since pretty much every haircut or pair of shades will look good on them.

Aviators, Clubmasters or Wayfarers; heavy rims or none – anything goes. The only advice for oval face shapes is to refrain from novelty oversized frames, as they do no one any favours.

Round Face Shape

Those with an undefined jaw and roughly equal face width and length should avoid classic aviators, as the curved shape will only emphasise roundedness.

“If you’re round-faced, aviators will never work,” says Christopher Maul, stylist and fashion director of D’SCENE.“Instead, opt for frames that pack an angular punch or wrap around the face.”

Short rectangular designs and Wayfarers will offset this shape’s natural curvature, helping create definition while also making the face appear longer.

Square Face Shape

Square-faced men with prominent jaws and foreheads will