Accessories – ASPIRE to be different

Fashion trends come and go. Just take a look at facial hair for example. The well-groomed beard is riding high but who knows? A few years from now it just might be all over. This year’s skinny and tight in the menswear department becomes next year’s big and baggy and so it goes. The one thing that never changes is the need for classy accessories that will boost any look. The best of these survive all fashion trends. They become part of every well-groomed male’s wardrobe. They make any outfit look better and the more you have of them the more stylish choices you will have. See how many you can tick off.

Waistcoat

Once the quintessential part of any three-piece suit, the waistcoat has always had a mind of its own. There is something about a classic waistcoat that draws the eye in. No matter what your figure is doing right now, the waistcoat seems to have the ability to trim it and slim it. There aren’t too many waistcoat howlers, though the t- underneath can look a little tired and lazy. The three piece suit is a matter of taste. But a waistcoat in a subtle complementary material adds a nice sense of style to many outfits and combinations. Large swirly pink patterns might look a little like you got lost on your way the wedding party. But a classic waistcoat buttoned or unbuttoned is definitely a must have style accessory for any male wardrobe.

Watch

It’s back and better than ever. Most guys know a good watch never really went away. It’s gone through a heap of changes in style, but the classics endure. The watch and strap lend a real sense of style to any look you want to create. Wearing a classy timepiece lift’s your style and draws the eyes. Bling is out, but understated elegance will do it every time. Of course, you are not going to be content with only one. Some days you’ll want to be all outdoors and rugged and then some evenings a little more svelte style is required. A watch winder is the best place to store and keep your watches. Top watch winder brands are becoming a must have accessory in their own right.

Hat

With the possible exception of the Fez, the hat is riding high and making a comeback. For decades, no man would ever be seen without one. Check out any crowd photos from the first half of the twentieth century. Even the straw boater got a look in. Once your choice of hat firmly placed you in your class and status. Think flat cap and bowlers. Today the hat just shouts style, from a svelte fedora to a good old-fashioned cap. The hat and all the headgear from berets to beanies is definitely up top and keeping us warm and rather cool. Display the ones that are not on your head, on a coat or hat rack. Having a hat for every occasion makes you look sharp and stylish. Just check you hair when you take them off. But then you probably already own a mirror, right?

I regularly travel to London, for work, and I thought I would put together some essential city accessories.

There are two main priorities when you are travelling to/around London, namely, not losing everything en route and making sure your phone/Mac never runs out of juice. To help avoid the former I keep everything together in a briefcase. For the latter you need portable power packs plus chargers and car adapters galore. Sunglasses are a must, of course….

Clockwise from top left:

Bellroy Note Sleeve and Passport Sleeve Wallets

Simple accessories are a great way to make effortless statements – something I particularly appreciate with my fashion sense – no oversized, outlandish logo’s or patterns. This is why I choose Bellroy. They are no-nonsense, to-the-point, and know what they want. This includes their choices of leather wallets. No frills, fancy gadgets, or extra bells or whistles. That’s why men prefer wallets made by Bellroy. Bellroy is a company that makes comfortable, sturdy wallets for the no-nonsense man and is why Bellroy wallets really are a cut above the rest.

Bellroy uses premium vegetable-tanned leathers that are made to the highest standards. They don’t cut corners to make a quick profit. They create high-quality products, and they back those products with a 3-year warranty that guarantees against defects in materials as well as workmanship.

Bellroy make wallets that fit your life, not the other way around. Bellroy wallets are slim enough to easily fit in your pocket, but sturdy enough and contain just the right amount of pockets/compartments for all your necessary cards and coins.

Bellroy makes everyday wallets, as well as passport wallets. One example of the everyday wallet is the Note Sleeve wallet. This wallet easily holds anywhere from 4 to 11 business or credit cards, flat bills, and has a full-size note section and coin pocket. This wallet features 3 quick access slots and a pull tab for less-used cards. But this wallet is not bulky or heavy. With Bellroy wallets, you can say good-bye to the dreaded ‘wallet bulge’. Acquire Magazine describes the Bellroy Note Sleeve wallet as, “…a fully-featured billfold without the cumbersome size and some clever design trickery that helps keep your wallet slim and everything in it easily accessible.” Check these out here.

The Bellroy Passport Sleeve is a perfect passport wallet for those times you need to travel. Here is what the Gizmodo magazine had to say about the Bellroy Passport Sleeve: “…The sleek Bellroy Passport Sleeve…has room for everything you need on your next trip.” This passport sleeve easily carries 2 to 4 cards. It also has a separate section for your passport and folded ticket. And for quick access to your cards, the Bellroy Passport Sleeve contains 2 quick access card slots. This passport sleeve also comes with a micro travel pen which I thought was really handy. I always end up trawling through my travel bag to find a pen, and so this is an awesome idea! Check these out here.

Bellroy continues to impress customers by providing wallets made by the highest standards and providing excellent customer service. Their use of premium materials, fast delivery of their products, and outstanding customer support makes Bellroy an all-around good company to buy from. Check out their website today to see how they can make your everyday- or travelling life – much lighter, more convenient, and easier.

We’re kicking off 2015 with a belated post – so apologies for neglecting the blog so far this year! January has been pretty manic, but we do have loads of exciting posts to publish over the next few weeks.

We wanted to kick off 2015 with one of our favorite Men’s Jewellery Brands – Northskull – a London based brand founded in 2009 by Davron Christian & Jordan Forbes, who wanted to create an male accessory brand that would take the Jewellery industry by storm. They really have done just that, and created some awesome pieces with huge individuality, with the unmistakable Northskull ‘esq design. They offer a range of luxury accessories such as; Bracelets, Card Holders, Necklaces & more.

Here’s the brand name explained by the founders;

‘Many different cultures believe we can honor and enhance the attributes of something by giving it directional energies. “North” brings Adaptability, creativity, new growth, wisdom and infinite possibility to anything it is associated with. We wanted to bring those energies to our products, by using all of these attributes in our creation process. Our insignia arrow logo represents north on the compass, infusing all of that positive energy in one symbol.’

When we set our eyes on the Northskull brand, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on one of the pieces, and this piece has now become a staple part of our daily style. We chose the Matt Black Onyx & Gold Braclet with a Crystal Skull – and we weren’t dissapointed!

Each piece comes in it’s own box, with a protective leather pouch and certificate of authenticity. We found that the bracelet paired well with a two tone Rolex and pair of De Santos Cartier Sunglasses to take advantage of the Winter Sun and add suave to any outfit.