Total look: Pepe Jeans London / Sunglasses: Gucci / Shoes: YSL

There are two types of pattern-heavy outfits:

The one that turns heads…

…because it's impeccable.

And the one that does the same…

…because it's atrocious!

If you can pull off patterned outfits successfully, the return can be big. Among other things, it can up your chances of catching a woman's eye in a crowd of men. But it requires a bit of courage and a fair amount of know-how. Fortunately, there are time-honored and simple rules for pairing patterns so they'll look great, and today we're going to be teaching you all of them.

#1. Keep Colors Muted

Go with colors that you already love and have in your wardrobe. I'm partial to blues like navy, indigo, cobalt, and admiral blue, plus greens like pine and juniper and browns like chocolate, cinnamon, and gingerbread. Yes, these are all real names of colors that I wear. For accent colors, I like to bring in whites, reds, perhaps a bit of orange.

Stick with colors that you know are going to work for you so you can focus on the pattern.If you're going to try out a super bold pattern that you've never worn before, don't bring in a color you're not sure about. Otherwise you'll

#2. Bring In Patterns Gradually

Base items like jackets, trousers, and shirts cost a lot more than small accessories like neckwear and pocket squares. So start with patterned accessories. They're items that you can switch out easily. Since they're less expensive, you can afford to experiment and make mistakes with them.

The next place to bring in patterns is in your shirts. A patterned shirt that doesn't work for you is a far cheaper mistake than a patterned suit that you realize, too late, you can only wear once a month. Patterned items like suits, trousers, and even shirts have to rotate through your wardrobe. You can't wear them again and again. This is why solids should form the basis of your wardrobe.

Total look: Pepe Jeans London / Sunglasses: Gucci / Shoes: YSL

3. Complement, Don't Match

When two pieces match exactly- same pattern, same color – it looks boring and amateurish. Try to complement your outfit instead.

If you want to level up your style, look for colors that work well with other colors in your outfit. That's why I like colorful accessories: they allow you to choose from many different colors when putting together an outfit.

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose; 
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays. 

Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool, 
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through. 

The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad; 
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles. 

Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground, 
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook. 

Above the hills, along the blue, 
Round the bright air with footing true, 
To please the child, to paint the rose, 
The gardener of the World, he goes. 

Summer Sun

Robert Louis Stevenson

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Total Outfit: Hackett London by Shop And Trade

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent 

Summer has arrived and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the season of BBQs, beer gardens and trips to the seaside! I really love summer and below you will find the 10 reasons why summer is my favorite season of the year!

1. Ice Cream. The perfect date? Strolling along the sea front, with great company and a delicious gelato!

2. Late nights. There’s something about getting home from work when it’s still light that gives you bundles of energy! Dinner with friends, strolls in the park, there's so much to do when the evenings are longer.

3. The best foods are in season. Strawberries, cherries, grapes and watermelon, beautifully ripe like they only are in summer. Perfect for a fruit salad on a sunny day.

4. Al-fresco dining. We love a good picnic, and what better way to enjoy the sun than with tasty food outside?

5. The weather! There’s nothing like a sunny day to give you those happy feelings! Trips to the seaside are a must when the sun is shining.

6. Festivals. The season of fun has arrived! There’s a festival to suit everyone, so why not have a look at what’s out there? The smaller, quainter festivals are often the best…

7. Adventures. The warmer weather makes outdoor adventures much more fun! Bike rides, country walks – what are your favourites?

8. Barbeques. As soon as the sun comes out, so does the BBQ! Friends, family, sunshine and food, what could be more perfect? Leaving the winter coat, hat and scarf in the wardrobe and replacing them with sunnies, shorts and flip-flops!

10. Nature. And last but not least, nature! We get to see the flowers, butterflies, and beautifully coloured birds in all their glory.

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

Jacket: Ralph Lauren / Shirt: Vivienne Westwood / Pants: Massimo Dutti / Shoes & Sunglasses: Saint Laurent

If you had any lingering doubt that 1990s street culture was back, the rise of skatewear into mainstream fashion should put the matter to rest. Because suddenly it’s everywhere. The skateboarders who Anna Wintour would have once ushered away from the steps of the Palais de Tokyo have been invited inside to model what hangs in their own wardrobes, albeit reimagined at 10 times the price.

Skate has always had a hard-bitten aesthetic, equal parts protective and anti-authoritarian. Thick twill trousers are robust enough to prevent concrete shredding too much skin, while a hoodie shields the face from cameras when skating where you shouldn’t. And though practicality remains a long way down most designers’ lists of concerns, it is as obsessed with the underground as ever. What it means for you and me is that some of the most comfortable and hard-wearing threads you can buy also happen to be the most fashionable. What it doesn’t mean is that Tony Hawk is the new Don Draper. 

The Rise Of Skatewear

Before we get to the rules, it’s worth stating that while brands have adopted skatewear in part as a way to lend bank balance-draining clothes some much-needed authenticity, the look’s surge is not entirely cynical. In the late 1980s, the boom in VCRs turned a niche sport into a global movement, as kids were suddenly able to share tapes of their favourite skaters.

Those kids have long since hung up their decks. But they are now at the age when increased spending power and nostalgia meet. They work in places where a suit seems out of place and they want clothes that are stylish but comfortable. They want trousers with a little more room, shirts with a softer handle, even if they’re being tested in a co-working space rather than on a flat bank.

They also share taste with the new heads of many design houses. Gosha Rubchinskiy, for example, centres his shows around the crew he sessions Moscow’s streets with. Meanwhile, Vetements and Balenciaga boss Demna Gvasalia and streetwear obsessive Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton have both spearheaded collaboration with skate OGs Supreme. These men – and they are almost universally men – are channelling their own and their customers’ love of skate culture into garments that reimagine and upgrade what kids have always worn on their boards. 

All of which makes the ‘skater look’ an odd thing: at once a blatant cash-in and a genuine expression of a subculture that has influenced streetwear since the 1960s. It also means that any man can steal the look. Even if you can only heelflip in a video game.

Hoodies

If you can’t (or at least don’t) skate, then co-opting the full Palace look smacks of desperation. “Wear the pieces that are a natural fit for you,” says Giles Farnham, head of River Island’s Style Studio. Hoodies are a skate staple, and this cultural cache means they can be used to nod to the aesthetic even if you don’t know your Eric Koston from your Eric Clapton.

Skate Shoes

The grip tape that forms a buffer between foot and board is like sandpaper. Its endless rubbing and scuffing means skaters value shoes that are affordable and hardwearing, since they’re only going to get battered anyway.

Logo T-shirts

True streetwear is simple. Because it was cheap, brands tended not to experiment too far outside staples: hoodies, sweatshirts, caps and T-shirts. Distinctiveness came not from the cut, but from branding, which meant oversized logos and knowing spins on more established iconography.

Total outfit by Pepe jeans

Spring is around the corner! And we have to be well prepared for the new season. One of my latest crushes is this Pepe jeans bomber jacket! A bomber jacket is the perfect men’s spring jacket as it works just as well for both day and night. Just like many other men’s wardrobe staples, the origins of this garment can be found in the 20th century’s military wear. The MA-1 flight jacket was designed for the US Air Force in the 50s and was worn by US pilots up until the Golf war.Today, bomber jackets come in different fabrics. The most common ones are nylon, suede and leather.  If you already own a black bomber jacket, it may be time to pick a whiter tone. 

Style and Fit

With bomber jackets, you can keep it casual or dress it up. Match your jacket with a pair of trousers, a pair of trainers and a white shirt to get a trendy and sharp look. 

Total outfit by Pepe jeans

Total outfit by Pepe jeans

When choosing a bomber jacket, you should pay special attention to the shoulders. It’s the most important aspect for a perfect fit.

• The jacket seams should lie directly on the corner of your shoulder
• You should be capable of lifting your arms without struggle
• Regarding the length, the jacket should hit the top of your hips.
• Bomber jackets are usually slim fitted, yet you should be able to zip it up easily

Total outfit by Pepe jeans

Total outfit by Pepe jeans

Jacket: Tommy Hilfiger / Cap: Balenciaga (old) / Shirt: Massimo Dutti / Turtleneck: COS

Parisian style is legendary. More than clothes, it's state of mind. With winter on the approach, take a look at how I styled my looks during my last visit in Paris. Most Paris men have moved on from the beret and pencil-thin moustache, but some classics like the Breton tee, rollnecks and well-cut blazers remain. Not forgetting the refined bohemian who still wanders the cobble-stone streets in silk, linen and some floppy type of hat. Key tip on how to dress like a Parisian? They are big on neatness (no hipster beards here) and impeccable fit, wearing clothes that highlight the silhouette, more so than big statement prints and look-at-me colours. Active wear is big in the French capital too, mixing with traditional tailoring that changes with the seasons: tweed in winter, cotton in summer. But the coolest truc of all for how to dress like a Parisian, is the simple way they work the basics – effortlessly donning a bomber, jeans and tee.

Cota: Zara  / Pants: Levis / Knitwear: Acne / Shoes: Santoni Shoes

Jacket: Joseph  / Cap: Zara / Turtleneck: COS / Pants: Diesel / Shoes: Gianvito Rossi

Jacket: Tommy Hilfiger / Cap: Balenciaga (old) / Shirt: Massimo Dutti / Turtleneck: COS / Pants: H&M/ Shoes: Gianvito Rossi

Jacket: Joseph  / Cap: Zara / Turtleneck: COS / Pants: Diesel

Jacket: Tommy Hilfiger / Cap: Balenciaga (old) / Shirt: Massimo Dutti / Turtleneck: COS / Pants: H&M/ Shoes: Gianvito Rossi

Black is by far one of the most popular colors when it comes to fashion, and it’s easy to see why. The color black in fashion has traditionally been associated with class, sophistication and even mystery, which makes it amazing for smart style and formal wear. Be careful when buying your black clothing though, it’s easy to see when a piece of black clothing is low quality because after a few washes it fades to an icky grey color. When it comes to black, quality is very important.If you live in a warmer climate, I’d steer away from wearing too much black in your outfit, as it can look awkward and feel awkward. Sunny climates are meant for color! While there is nothing wrong with wearing an all black outfit, make sure black doesn’t take over your entire wardrobe like it has a tendency to. Wearing black all day every day can and will get boring. Layering your black outfits with things such as hoodies and black leather jackets makes for a great look. Sometimes when the outfit calls for it, throwing some vibrant or earth tone colors can make an all black outfit look even better.

Among the many classic menswear staples that have gone in and out of style only to see a resurgence in popularity recently, the history of the double-breasted jacket is particularly interesting and unexpected.

When you think of a double-breasted jacket/suit, what’s the first thing to come to mind? My guess is either a stodgy 80s or 90s banker-type or a wide-shouldered caricature of a mafia boss. Either way, it’s all formality and rigidity, right?

THE DOUBLE-BREASTED JACKET WAS ORIGINALLY BANNED BY MANY BUSINESSES AS INAPPROPRIATE OFFICE ATTIRE.

But that’s where your assumptions would lead you astray. In fact, the origins of the double-breasted jacket go back to a distinctly casualstyle called a ‘reefer’ jacket.

Like most all men’s jackets, the reefer jacket was born in the sporting world. Originally very casual and usually worn as outerwear, in the late 19th century it was associated with gents heading to tennis matches or other country affairs, and was in fact banned by many businesses as inappropriate office attire.

THE DOUBLE-BREASTED JACKET ORIGINATED IN THE SPORTING WORLD AS A CASUAL GARMENT CALLED THE REEFER JACKET.

Yet, over time, the double-breasted jacket was slowly adapted into a more formal piece – a shift heralded in large part by the Duke of Windsor (who led many style trends of his time). However, even when he started wearing the style to official public outings, it was originally seen as gauche and poor taste (or rebelliously counter-traditional, depending who you ask).

However, just as the recent wave of menswear enthusiasm has brought the more simple and versatile single-breasted suit back into the casual wardrobes of stylish men, the double-breasted suit has made a more widespread come-back as well. It’s a bold move, but the payoff can be a striking and distinctive look.

Thanks for reading.

Coat: Massimo Dutti / Jeans: Zara / Cashmere scarf: Hackett Lodnon

Oh Instagram. With your odd algorithm where you don’t actually see any of the posts you want too and your Snapchat-esque Stories function, you’re not exactly flavour of the month with most people right now, but I can’t help but still love this photo sharing gem. Now I’ve never been one for a ‘theme‘ in the Instagram department per se, but a month or so ago I decided that my Instagram needed a bit of a refresh and a tidy. The only theme that I now follow is that I like the pictures I post to be taken on my proper camera, because photos taken on my iPhone seem to look like they’ve been shot on a potato these days (maybe the lens just needs a good clean?). However there are a few apps that I’ve been using to edit pictures that I haven’t mentioned before, so I thought I’d share incase your Instagram is giving you potato-vibes too.

VSCO. I’ve been using this bad boy for years. It’s got it all from filters to the ability to add warmth, coolness, brightness, contrast – it’s like the swiss army knife of photo editing on your phone. Personally I don’t use any of the Instagram editing tools and just use this instead. I love a bit of the F2 filter with a touch of coolness added, down two notches on contrast and up four notches on sharpness. DONE. Well, not exactly…

Facetune. Hear me out on this one. I don’t use this app for photoshopping aspects of my face and body (although it does make for some good entertainment to see what I’d actually look like with a jawline, smooth skin and cheekbones). However the whiten tool on this that most people use on their teeth is great for getting rid of any areas of yellowness or grey in photos that you want to look bight white. It’s a lengthy process mind you and is made much easier by having some sort of smartphone pen.

Snapseed. My sister introduced me to this and I feel like it’s made such a difference to my photos. There a tonne of functions on here, but it’s the brush tool that I love and I use it to spot overexpose and under-epoxse certain areas in a photo. Take the before and after picture above. I popped it through VSCO using my usual mix of filter, coolness, contrast and sharpening and then I edited it in Snapseed, increasing the exposure of the whole photo and then taking the exposure back down over the products to make sure that they showed up clearly and true to colour. OMG, I’m eye-rolling at myself right now – what an effort, eh? 

Mosaico. This is a great app for creators who like to plan. I first heard about it from my friend Nikos and although it cost around a fiver to download, for me it’s money well spent as I can add pictures into my ‘grid’ to see what they look like when they’ll be uploaded and even write the captions so they’re all ready to go which hopefully saves me from some embarrassing typos. 

Jacket: Tommy Hilfiger / Jeans: Pepe jeans / Scarf: Hackett London / Knitwear: Massimo Dutti

Jean Jacket: Maison Margiela / Jean: Zara / Knitwear: Massimo Dutti / Hat: Vintage

Jean Jacket: Maison Margiela / Jean: Zara / Knitwear: Massimo Dutti / Hat: Vintage / Shoes: River Island

Christmas has come to town again, the festive lights are on and Santa's are appearing in shop front windows. So now it's time to sort your way through the ideal present  you can get for your best friends and family, as well as a mini style guide!

To help get your mind in the festive spirit, we've got the perfect gift idea. Whether it's a present for your wife or girlfriend, your parents or your co-worker, there is nothing better to get them than a bottle of fine french vodka. Grey Goose this holidays suggests to celebrate it with the ultimate cocktail of all, and that is the Espresso Martini. You just need Grey Goose vodka, espresso, espresso liqueur, salt, ice and a chocolate bar.  Everyone will love it. So do not overthink it, gift a bottle of Grey Goose and receive one!

Being stylish during the holiday season is very important as well! Choose a nice tailored suit that will make you look polish and fine! And to keep you warm and stand you out of the crowd choose a statement trench coat! Like the one I am wearing in the pictures and it is made by Dimitris Petrou.

Received an invite to a swanky party? If so, then you’re going to need to know what to wear. Although black tie events can be daunting, they’re not as scary as they first appear. So, here’s our black tie guide, with all you need to know about what to wear to a black tie event.You may think that black tie dress is the most formal look you can wear. However, this is actually white tie dress code. Fortunately for you, not many people still wear white tie dress, which means that black tie has become the standard dress code for formal social events. Wearing black tie can be a fun, but sometimes expensive, style to get right. So, carry on reading for all our best tips.

Black Tie Event

Very simply, a black tie event is a formal evening event or party that takes place after 7pm and involves men and women wearing a specific ‘black tie’ dress code. Black tie events are social functions that are generally more formal than a run of the mill party or business event. You wouldn’t wear the suit you wear to work to a black tie event for instance.

An example of a black tie event would be along the lines of a ball or a corporate business party. Unless you’re James Bond you probably won’t go to too many black tie events. However, it’s still important to know what and how to wear black tie dress code, for those instances when you need to whack out the bow tie and spruce up.

Black Tie Event Dress Code

Many of you may be think “what is a tuxedo?” or “what is black tie?”, well, the black tie event dress code, known as cravat noir in France, is a semi formal evening dress code. It originates from the western, British, men’s evening wear of the 19th Century. You would usually only wear a black tie dress code at events that take place after 7pm. A black tie dress code is less formal then a white tie dress code that involves a man wearing a tailcoat jacket with a starched shirt, waistcoat and white bow tie. Black tie dress code however, is more formal than business wear. It typically involves a man wearing a white dress shirt, a black bowtie, an evening waistcoat, a dinner jacket in which the lapels are a different shade to the rest of the jacket, and a pair of black oxford shoes. You may know a dinner jacket from its American name, tuxedo.

Today, the majority of us think black tie dress code as being very formal. However, when men first began to wear dinner jackets, in the Victorian era, it was originally a much less formal item of clothing in comparison to what upper class men wore everyday. Therefore, it was originally a less formal alternative to a tailcoat. However, declaring it inappropriate to wear in mixed company, not many men wore black tie dress. It wasn’t until after the First World War that the dinner jacket became the principle form of evening wear for men.