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.

Products

The Best New Menswear Pieces To Buy Right Now

Axel Arigato Tori Hooded Sweatshirt

Prolific Swedish sneaker label Axel Arigato has been turning out new designs every week for a little over three years. Presumably by cutting out staff toilet breaks and, you know, letting employees going home, the firm has also found time to launch its second clothing collection, which includes this excellent hoodie with an embroidered bird motif.

Available at Axel Arigato, priced £125.

Tod’s Mid-Length Striped Swim Shorts

Luxury Italian outfit Tod’s is perhaps best known for its iconic pedal pushers (and by that we mean driving shoes, not nasty three-quarter length jeans). However, it turns out the brand is a dab hand at everything from tote bags to swim shorts, as shown in a new exclusive capsule collection for Mr Porter.

Available at Mr Porter, priced £195.

Michael Kors Jet Set Painterly

7 Street Style Trends From The Men's AW2016 Fashion Weeks

Crowds have dispersed. Collections have been dissected. And street style photographers everywhere are finally nursing their battle wounds. Menswear fashion month is – with the exception of New York’s addendum next week – done and dusted. And while AW16 wasn’t without its on-runway moments, we’d be lying if we told you style outside of show venues wasn’t equally impressive.

So, if you’re more likely to take your cue from a big-time buyer than a 16-year-old boy getting paid to wear a skirt because he was told it was ‘career building’ (bless him), then get a load of this, your guide to what men are actually wearing in Florence, London, Milan and Paris.

Showstopping Coats

Well, maybe not showstopping, but certainly striking enough to delay one while photographers stall you for a snap. Statement outerwear, from patterns to primary colours, colour-blocking to exaggerated cuts, hit hard for AW16, with most of menswear’s dons covering up in eye-catching styles.

Granted, this is fashion week, and you’re (understandably) probably not all that hot on the idea of shelling out wads of your hard-earned cash for a coat you could only get away with wearing a couple of times a year. Nodding your head in agreement? Then swerve the photographer bait for something less brash: like one of the several forest green styles, or the Woost’s colour-block design. Boss.

Yu yang for Fashionbeans

Key Pieces

• Brioni Single Breasted Coat
• A.p.c. Wool-blend Overcoat
• Reiss Banks Checked Tonal Overcoat Black
• Haider Ackermann Double Breasted Corduroy

How To Build A Solid Streetwear Wardrobe

Before we dig into the specifics of what those staples are, here are a few signposts to get you started on the streetwear path:

On Fabrics: Above any other material, cotton is king. You’re looking for classic cotton textiles – jersey, Oxford cloth, chambray, twill and one more essential that we’ll cover in more depth shortly. Some of the more ‘decorative’ fabrics like herringbone and seersucker are nice, but they technically skew more #menswear than straight-up streetwear if you ask me.

On Shape: See me, I’m a classicist. I’m enamoured of that early 1990s Ralph Lauren-led interpretation of streetwear: slightly loose-fitting chinos, baggy shirts, beanies, you know the look. But if you want something more contemporary, then longline cuts and dropped crotches should be your go-tos.

On Consistency: As you’ll have gleaned from the points above, definitions of ‘streetwear’ are several and, despite my own preferences, all of them are perfectly valid. But once you’ve made your choice, stick with it. Mixing styles can be a winning combo, but trust me when I say your double-layered street Goth shorts won’t work with those Wallabees. Just here to help.

Now we’ve covered off the basics, let’s survey that list, shall we?

‘A Good Pair of Dark Blues’

Frank Ocean knows what’s up. If your streetwear wardrobe doesn’t start with a decent pair of jeans, then someone’s led you astray. This is the very guts of any solid streetwear line-up, and the piece you’ll likely bolt everything else onto. While selvedge isn’t vital, the tell-tale strip running up the leg has become commonplace in the streetwear landscape, and is generally a mark of superior quality and durability when it comes to denim.

Then it’s a question of wash. And in most circles, it isn’t even a question: raw denim all the way. Menswear mythology has turned the gradual fading and distressing of denim into a personal journey of self-discovery which you may or may not entirely endorse (cough), but I’ll at least admit that wearing my first pair almost daily and refusing to wash them (until a dog came up to me on the bus and started licking the stale sweat, food stains and god knows what else off my leg – true story, feel my shame) was something of an experience.

For cost-per-wear, my money’s on Edwin ED-55s or A.P.C. New Standards – if you’re plumping for the former, consider buying 2 inches under your normal waist size to allow for stretch.

Selected Homme Jeans 2014

Key Pieces

Army Outerwear

While menswear pieces have been lifted from other areas

The World's Most Stylish Stuff This Week

Paul Smith Ant Motif Backpack

Creep out your fellow commuters with Paul Smith’s myrmecological backpack. From a distance, it’s simply a smart, monochrome way to ship your stuff to work. Up close, the durable nylon is encircled by a trail of worker ants, giving a consummate lesson in dedication to the day job.

Available at Oki ni, priced £425.

Czech & Speake Zebrano Wood Shave Set

We’ve already rung the beard’s death knell, but for those still lingering, it’s time to invest in something that turns your daily shave from chore to much-needed me-time. Queue Czech & Speake’s luxurious new shave set.

The badger hair brush lifts and softens your beard hair, making for a smoother shave, and the shaver is handcarved from the same Zebrano wood favoured by early skimakers for its imperviousness to moisture. So it won’t gunk up on your sink.

Available at Czech & Speake, priced £395.

Larose Paris Zip Fedora In Navy

Thanks to Olly Murs, hats are tricky. So upgrade your

7 Ways To Wear Monochrome

Colour is hard to master. Your complexion, the weather, the tube line you ride; all conspire to shift aesthetic harmony in your bedroom mirror to discord in the street. But evict pigments from your looks and suddenly every piece in your wardrobe matches.

Monochrome (in this instance, we mean black and white) is styling sorcery that also sheds pounds – hence its status as fashion week’s unofficial uniform. Make the most of this magic by bringing the penguin aesthetic to every day.

Easy-Going Offices

Even if you’re lucky enough to earn your keep in an office with little in the way of a dress code, that’s not exactly carte blanche to lead meetings in gymwear.

Joggers and band tees might not cut it, but a well-fitting white crew neck T-shirt, polo or Oxford button-down paired with cropped black trousers and white trainers (you take care to keep white) will do, says Ryan Lee, stylist at menswear label Harry Stedman.

While your tee and trainers can sit comfortably at the core of this laid-back look year-round, be sure to switch up your slacks as the seasons shift. “In winter, try a wool pair. And in summer, lightweight cotton – although a good pair of chinos will suit most types of weather,” says Lee.

Corporate Offices

Wearing a black suit may be a potentially bankrupting mistake in business. But that’s not to say your only viable option is navy. Charcoal, particularly darker, almost-black shades, can balance the books between boring and business-appropriate.

You’ll want yours in a slim, not skinny, cut, with a subtle notch lapel – because as much as we’re into wider trouser legs, the boardroom isn’t for birthing (style) trends.

As important as getting your suit’s hex code right is what you combine it with. For an on-point partnership, style your charcoal suit two-piece a classic white formal shirt and either a black or black and white micro-patterned tie to make your pared-back base really pop.

All-Black Eveningwear

If there’s one thing black does well, it’s make you look

9 Classic Men's Hairstyles That Will Never Go Out Of Fashion

Some say footwear is the first thing people’s eyes fix on – but we’d argue hair is up there too. And, unlike a pair of subpar brogues or some battered white leather trainers, you can’t easily slip out of a questionable hairstyle.

So it pays to get acquainted with the classic cuts that work for you, and that won’t fall hopelessly out of favour six months down the line.

The Textured Cut With Fringe

Daniel Davies, general manager at Pall Mall Barbers

“First things first, you’re going to need a good bit of length in your hair before you schedule a cut for a style like this. Also worth noting is that this textured style works best with thicker rather than fine hair, and if you’re receding, then this isn’t the style for you.

“Guys with double crowns or cows licks should definitely consider the textured look as it’s a style that generally lets your hair lie the way it wants to. It’s best not to battle against these hair quirks.

“When it comes to achieving the textured look, I’d recommend bringing a picture [try saving one to your smartphone] with you to demonstrate exactly the type of cut you want. A good barber will be able to tell you from the picture if it’ll suit you and your hair type.

“One thing to watch out for when you’re having your hair cut for a style like this is thinning scissors; a lot of barbers tend to get trigger happy with these, but they should never be used on the top of the hair as they can make ends wispy and hair at the root excessively bulky by comparison. Instead, point cutting and razoring (using a straight edge razor) should be the techniques used.

“When styling a textured look, you need to make sure the hair is pretty dry. Once dry, manipulate a little texture enhancer, clay or putty into the hair with your fingers. But remember that this is a carefree style so you don’t it want to look too groomed.”

The French Crop

Daniel Davies, general manager at Pall Mall Barbers

“The French crop suits most face shapes and is ideal for men going thinner on top. Since you’re taking the hair forward slightly here, leaving length in the fringe, it can help to cover any receding patches.

“It’s a low maintenance, easy in-and-out style – perfect for someone in and out of the gym or swimming pool – as you can wear it without styling product, just letting it fall naturally into place.

“If, however, you do want to use product, try a little hairspray [and not a drop of anything more], as the French crop is a style that’s meant to be left natural. The upkeep with this cut isn’t in styling but in making a point of getting it trimmed every three or so weeks.”

The Buzz Cut

Brent Pankhurst, founder of barbershop and grooming

ModelloMomento Best Dressed Men: 2015

Jamie Dornan

2015 was quite the come up for Northern Ireland native Dornan, with the silly yet staggeringly financially successful, pseudo-erotic romp Fifty Shades of Grey selling out in cinemas worldwide.

As a former male model (he cut his teeth baring all for American retailer Abercrombie & Fitch in 2002), Dornan knows a thing or two about fashion, moving deftly from off-duty athleisure looks through to tonal smart-casual and full-blown formal ensembles.

He’s also a proponent of short beards and stubble, showing that when it comes to facial hair trends, he’s already well ahead of the game.

Jamie Dornan Lookbook

Get The Look

• Acne Studios Garret Melton Wool Coat
• Hackett Black Satin-trimmed Wool And

5 Style Moves To Steal From Conor McGregor

 Disgruntled fans of the sharp-suited Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar gave us a severe dressing-down. So lest we endure an actual kicking, we thought it prudent to pen a belated tribute to The Notorious’ style nous. We’re menswear enthusiasts, after all, not seasoned fighters.

McGregor is by no means the only UFC bruiser bringing some much-needed sartorial flair to the octagon – traditionally a place where style, along with lesser competitors, has gone to die. Welterweight Rory Macdonald is also overturning long-held notions that the thriving sport is all Ed Hardy tees and snapbacks. But McGregor displays a level of swag to match his unrivalled swagger – and fighting prowess. As the Irishman himself puts it, “There’s two things I really like to do and that’s whoop ass and look good.”

At the risk of mixing combat sports, allow FashionBeans to be the grizzled Mickey to your Rocky – or the Sly Stallone to your Michael B. Jordan (who did make the list incidentally). Like a style version of a training montage, these moves will help you punch up your own wardrobe.

1. Have A Cut Man In Your Corner

McGregor’s custom suits fit him like a 4oz glove, which is more than half the battle. Even the finest suit will fall flatter than Ronda Rousey after a roundhouse kick to the face if it isn’t tailored properly. Indeed, if we had a dollar for every Hollywood actor treading a red carpet in a borrowed designer suit with sleeves sliding past their wrist and trousers puddling on their shoes, then we’d pay for their alterations ourselves.

Conversely, with a few judicious tweaks, an inexpensive suit can punch well above its weight. As a rule, set aside between 10 and 20 per cent of your budget for alterations. Especially if, like McGregor, you have an athletic physique with shoulders far wider than your waist – i.e. a ‘drop’ (the difference between the two measurements) greater than the standard six inches of most suits.

And if your quads are bulging at your seams, size up in your trousers and get them taken in. The only belt you should need is a championship one.

2. Keep Your Body Covered Up

Most men think of a waistcoat like the tailoring equivalent

6 Go-To Men's Party Season Looks

1. Suit With A Twist

It’s galling dropping money that’s earmarked for presents on an outfit you only give a couple of annual outings. Instead, use luxe accessories to make everyday looks party-ready, with less outlay.

First, take your darkest suit and an equally shadowy shirt. Then, layer a silk scarf beneath the jacket. Muted tones pop against inky tailoring and, allied with contrasting fabrics, elevate your workwear for cocktail hour.

Subtle patterns lift things further, says Austin Reed buying manager Clotilde Blanc, who recommends geometric or pinpoint designs. Just stick to jewel tones to avoid dazzling the other guests.

David Naman AW14

Get The Look

2. Black No Tie

By now the air tie should be a regular element in your tailoring rotation. But it can cross over over into your formalwear, too, if your tuxedo is pin-sharp.

Ditching the dickie exudes rock ‘n’ roll loucheness – Mark Ronson and Yeezy are no-bow proponents – so the slimmer and darker your tux, the better. It also pushes things casual, so tone down the rest of your look to suit; a shawl collar beats peak lapels, rich velvet trumps shiny wool, and don’t be tempted by studs or wing tip collars.

For extra frontman points, go all-black, from shirt to patent leather shoes.

Reiss AW15

4 Go-To Ways To Wear Boots In Winter

You already own boots. Hell, you’ve probably got a few pairs gathering dust on your shoe rack right now. But are you exploiting them to their full, weather-defying potential? Possibly not. And that’s understandable; boots’ higher profile and reasonable heft can sometimes make them seem more appropriate for a building site, rather than a bar.

Here, we equip you with four foolproof ways to wear boots this winter and put a few different outfit combinations on your radar – all of which will ensure you style out the season’s coldest months well-clad.

1. Chelsea Boots + Tailoring

Not only does the Chelsea boot play a crucial role in your year-round smart-casual wardrobe, it also leads the charge in winterising your formalwear for the snowy season. Unlike Derbies or Oxfords, a quality pair of Chelsea boots offers better grip and warmth than a traditional dress shoe – plus, pulling them on with your tailoring just so happens to look progressively stylish.

Yet whether you’re looking to kick out Saint Laurent-inspired rocker vibes for a night out or simply for ways to make your work attire more seasonally-appropriate, there are a couple of things worth bearing in mind before teaming your tailoring with Chelsea boots.

Firstly, Chelsea boots really only work with similarly slim or skinny suits. This is because boxier tailoring and trousers tend to jar when put against such a sleek and refined silhouette. Secondly, you’ll want to mind your toes. Pointed-toe Chelsea boots, when worn with a suit at least, look a little off, so keep your sights firmly set on round-toed styles instead.

Finally, as with all things made of leather, the price you pay is often directly proportional to the quality of the product – so consider upping your outlay for a pair that looks the part with a sharp suit. And that won’t be in pieces in a year’s time.

Key Styles

• Reiss Tenor Chelsea Boots Black
• Jack & Jones Radnor Leather

How To Choose The Right Fragrance For Your Age ?

They say time waits for no man. Which is why, collagen creams and anti-ageing products aside, all of us should seek to age with grace. No one likes a #cooldad, after all, with his trainers, Topman cardigan and ‘trendy’ haircut.

Don’t be that guy.

By the same token, it’s worth realising that your fragrances have a shelf-life of acceptability, just like your attire. No skate shoes past thirty. No Joop Homme after college. Bin the snapbacks when you get a proper job. Stop using that adidas Sport fragrance your gran bought for you five Christmases ago.

It would seem simple, but certain scents have youthful connotations – or will at least remind everyone of something once popular in the 1990s, and should have stayed there. Others are better matched with suits, the preserve of men well into middle age. And some will make you whiff like an old people’s home. What you need is the right spray at the right time.

We’re all for raging against the dying of the light, of course. But it’s time to stop clinging onto your youth when you’re floundering at the fragrance counter in Boots. Like the tide, time moves inexorably on. This, then, is your lifeline: a guide to the fragrances best suited to your age. Consider yourself plucked from the current. We’ll see you for the dry down.

20 And Below

During these sprightly years one truism holds supreme: you can do whatever the hell you want. It’s unlikely you’ll have a job for which there are draconian fragrance rules, so go all out.

Once you hit your late twenties, you’ll probably begin to look back on this version of yourself with envy; these are the good years during which not giving a sh*t is positively encouraged. Youth is wasted on the young, if you believe George Bernard Shaw. So don’t squander this opportunity.

To that end, go bold with your fragrance. Your peers will certainly lean towards a sweeter smell, usually top-noted with strong citrus and possibly even something metallic. Davidoff Cool Water is of course a major component of most amorous teenage boys’ dating kit and remains a bestseller (for good reason), so don’t turn your nose up at it. If you’re looking for something bolder, Paco Rabanne One Million is as youthful but with a touch more distinctiveness.

Davidoff Cool Water, available at Boots, priced £24 for 125ml; Paco Rabanne One Million, available at Harvey Nichols, priced £42 for 50ml.

21-25

Look at you, getting all grown up. Time to get a job,

Streetwear's Most Stylish Instagram Accounts

1. Eugene Tong – @ettong1979

You probably know the Taiwanese-born style director of soon-to-close Details magazine from every fashion week gallery ever. A menswear veteran, Tong has been an ever-present in the viewfinder of street style tastemakers like Tommy Ton and George Elder for years, usually snapped oozing understated cool that cuts through the try-hard din fashion weeks tend to foster.

His Instagram, you’ll be happy to learn, is more of the same.

Tong’s looks tend to be pared-back and a little more ‘grown up’ than most of the others on this list. Heeding the title of the mag where he served for five years, his focus is firmly fixed on the little things: trainers with gum soles, watches, impeccable outerwear. Plus his penchant for relaxed trouser fits is a move we’d all do well to steal.

Naturally, he’s also got the fashion month game on lock, bringing us front row action from showings by modern labels like N. Hoolywood and Public School NYC (a brand Tong styles for) – you know, the kind of access that schmoes like us daydream of.

Why follow? Come for the name, stay for the details. Tong has an eye for subtle accessories and shows that old axiom ‘less is more’ still rings true today.

@ettong1979

2. Tom Emmerson – @tom.emmerson

At the centre of London’s teen creative scene, a loose-knit