To mark the end of Movember

Razors at the ready… in light of movember’s close, Monsieur Man decided to do a featured photo shoot at the Moustache store. The venue seemed highly appropriate considering!

Men, interestingly enough new research from Marie Claire suggests that a quarter of women are reluctant to see movember end, so good news for those of you who want to keep your tashe a while longer. 

Collection available from Moustache
Photos by Martice Milton 

Monsieur Man website is now live

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been pushing our brand visibility, which means we have been working on our online presence and tangible business cards, both of which compliment and are consistent with our brand Monsieur Man. Please take a look, and next time I see you I will be sure to give you a business card!

www.monsieurman.com

Bow ties are back

Apparently bow ties are back (personally I never thought they went away). This is great news for all you closet bow tie lovers. No longer reserved for antique dealers and university professors, the bow tie popularity has to give huge kudos to the ‘bow ties are cool’ episode on Doctor Who, thereafter sales rocketed.

Many men think bow ties should only come out once they’ve received an invite to a black tie. This is completely not the case, the beauty of the bow tie is that it allows you to mix it up, and have some fun without losing your level of formality. The bow tie ensures you stand out from the crowd, when there is a sea of guys wearing standard straight necktie. If you say no to bow ties, you're just cutting yourself off to some great styling options.

Be warned though, the bow tie is not for the guy just starting to develop his style. Monsieur Man advises you not to buy one before you understand the proportions of your clothes or before you've build up a hefty straight tie collection. Buy them once you have your basics down and feel ready to develop your style. I actually think right now is the best time to start wearing a bow tie either in wool or cashmere, as it is a great way to add texture to a look.

Bow ties available at PHERES

Pictures taken by Martice Milton

Styling by myself of Monsieur Man

Best Dressed Man in Hong Kong

We have been scoping the streets, shops and event scene in Hong Kong for a few weeks now, and we have finally chosen our best dressed man for 2012 the winner is

JJ.Acuna

When it comes to anything art, culture and fashion for that matter JJ Architect-Designer, is your man, he is The Wanderlister after all.  Always dresses the part, come rain, or shine he constantly looks dapper, impeccable and effortlessly styled.

Monsieur Man sat down with JJ and asked him to describe his four favourite outfits over the course of the year.  We starting with-

#1 Moustache

“This is my relaxed weekend look. I was wearing a Moustache long sleeved jersey tee in Mango color and corduroy shorts in Mustard and red. Loved it. (Monsieur Man loves it too) With a nice pocket square hanging out to the side. This look goes well with sunglasses and espadrilles.”

#2 Club Monaco

“This is the weekday spilling over the weekend look. (classic, a very prepared well dressed man) Thick heather grey blazer by Made in USA Club Monaco with Blogger Michael Williams of a Continuous Lean. The salmon shirt is from the same collection as well. The red pocket square is actually a bandana made just for the Men's Shop in Hong Kong with Club Monaco. The drawstring shorts are from Uni Qlo and shoes are by TOMS.”

#3 Obamarama

“This was the outfit I wore for my Obamarama Election Night party I co-hosted with The General Store at Salon No.10. The theme was Americana. I was late for work that morning so the first thing that popped into my mind was cowboys and indians, so I just put on this vintage denim shirt, mustard jeans from INITIAL. The glasses are a Thierry Lasry x Garrett Leight collaboration. They're really sunglasses but I made them into prescription lenses for work. Im an architect so it's okay to have funky glasses.”

#4 Anthony Hill

“This outfit is actually a more work-friendly version of my Obamarama look. The shirt is oxford from JASPAL. I got the pocket square from a thrift shop. The jeans are from INITIAL. The belt I got from a shop in China. The shoes is SEBAGO and the envelope sleeve bag in black leather is by COS. Glasses are by Robert Geller. The most important look of the outfit is the bespoke jacket, a relaxed cotton in navy blue by Anthony Hill for HILL Menswear. This was for his popup at Kapok!”

Thank you very much JJ, and congratulations once more for being Monsieur Man’s best dressed man in HK 2012!

Blockbuster hit

Blockbuster hit! I’m not talking about a Blockbuster 007 film, but the newest trend in form of a blockbuster coat, that I have started to witness on the streets of HK…yes I know couldn’t believe it myself it’s actually cold enough to wrap up- who would have though? Certainly not me arriving here in the heat of the summer. So,‘Blockbuster’ in this content refers to a statement and eye catching coat. Of course, blockbuster coats come in all styles, check out the ones I’ve witnessed out and about.

My favourite is the middle one, cape style blockbuster teamed nicely with a matching snood! Secretly it’s the bag I love. So his girlfriend, thought I also wanted a picture of her, didn’t have the heart to explain, it’s a menswear blog. But her scarf is cool, most importantly the guy is displaying a great blockbuster duffel.

So his girlfriend, thought I also wanted a picture of her, didn’t have the heart to explain, it’s a menswear blog. But her scarf is cool, most importantly the guy is displaying a great blockbuster duffel.

We took it to the streets...

Last week a strong team of ladies, captured and created some great moments on our location shoot in Sheung Wan. The fabulous four included Narcisa Pheres, Martice Milton, Michelle Proctor, and myself of Monsieur Man.  

These picture almost looks Wall Street esq- love!

English Gentleman at its best, one of my favourite pictures! 

Cool, urban chic- love the backdrop. 

 

That's a wrap our model, with his well deserved champagne!

Tux Time

The Christmas party season has arrived. I’m sure over the next few weeks, your diaries are chocka with numerous social events. I know mine definitively is. Office parties, dinners the list goes on.So if you haven’t worn your Tux yet this year, its time to brush of the cobwebs and let it see the Christmas lights!

Your work Christmas party is definitely a time to relax and unwind with your coworkers, just ensure you do so in style and with not too much alcohol in your system. I’m sure you guys know how to rock a Tux, after years of partying, this year try styling your Tux with a bold outlandish bow tie, waistcoat or opt for a velvet jacket. Remember to pay attention to the detail, shined cufflinks, patent shoes, or at least get your non patents shined from your local cobbler before your hit the dance floor. 

 Jacket available from DSquared2

Cufflinks available from PHERES

I personally think this cute dog is rocking the best Tux I have ever seen!

Is that a square in your pocket?

A pocket square is a small accessory that when added to an outfit, allows you men to express yourself and vary your everyday looks without having to buy a large variety of different suits. It injects interest to your appearance without looking like you’ve tried to hard. It is an ideal accessory for the colder coming months to add colour and warmth to your outfits. They also make for a great Christmas gift, for your dad, brother, uncle or partner. 

Photo taken by Martice Milton. Pocket Squares are available at PHERES.

SWAG

She Wants A Gentleman

The word SWAG to me, conveys how you carry yourself; with confidence! Some however say swag is for boys and class is for men!  There are some elements of truth in that, but I feel mixing the two- is key. So now that you are a man, what is your real definition? Is it to make more money, drive a bigger /nicer car, or is it to dress better. If it’s the latter, Monsieur Man can help.

  

When I look at the way some teens or young adult men dress,  they are in Versace shirts with the top three buttons open and sunglasses often worn by the likes of P before he was Diddy, baggy evisu jeans and bright white air force ones, surely this is not the definition of Swag. 

There is a saving grace when men grow up, and have reached lets say over 25 they come to realise the likes of a dapper Bradley cooper for example, who  keep it quite simple, with smart jeans, a blazer and a pair of brogues, is ultimately more effective.

So it is this that encapsulates the definition of simplicity, and for many of us women, this is the visual definition of a man. Remember you can tell a lot about a man by the way he dresses.

Men, us women pay close attention to the way you dress! If you are a younger man reading this, and find yourself stuck in that transition period, here are a few tips to achieve a look from boyhood to manhood, remember for us women its all in the detail. 

1. What time is it?

A watch is a must have. Automatic qualifier of value. Time is money and all! They say a lot can be said about a man by his watch, a loud watch signifies wealth and plenty of confidence but some could signify insecurities as a result the need for others to recognise his achievements. A simple watch could imply a man who is assured of himself and recognises the need to go about his business with an appreciation for time. You choose. 

2.      What is that smell?

Ive mentioned the importance of a great cologne in my previous post. Never underestimate the importance of smell .The right smell will have a woman’s head turned as you walk past, its what I would call the Icing on the cake.

3.      Most importantly….look at his feet!

Its true guys, shoes are one of the first things us women notice. Let’s face it footwear has the ability to make an outfit a winner or a sore loser, so just based on that its fair to say that footwear constitutes a large part towards a man’s outfit. Shoes which still maintain the smart look without the need of a suit is a winner for example a pair of derbies, loafers or boat shoes maintain the tailored appearance even with a pair of jeans.Dare I say, it is indeed well dressed British men who are renowned for their shoes. Well heeled and perfectly fitted. When it come to shoes, a British mans shoes are the epitome of quality, and the rest of the world follows!

So there you have it my top three items to ensure you have the right amount of SWAG to be a classy gentleman!

Enlighten me men, what type of watch, aftershave and shoes are you wearing? 

Monsieur Small

Mr. Strong is the smallest person in the whole of mistaland. If you relate to this MR MEN character, you may find it tricky finding styles, and shapes that suit your petite frame, so the trick here is to create the appearance of height. 

This can be done by wearing:

• No big prints- visual clutter, such as large eye-grabbing stuff on the body, breaks up the impression of height, and gobbles you up. Keep print simple and small.

• Accessories: need to be small, for example never wear a wide tie, always skinny and slim ties, for the elongation effect.

• One colour- wearing head to toe in the same colour will prevent obvious breaks in your natural frame, and as a result can give the illusion that you're taller.

 

If you feel you need more advice on dressing for your shape, please email monsieurman@live.co.uk to arrange a style consultation.

A social strand weaved like no other….

Bonham Strand is a brand of quality bespoke menswear and a productive social enterprise aimed at restoring the legacy of Hong Kong's fine art of tailoring and suit-making. I had the pleasure of going to the factory near the new territories, to see it all in action. Having visited many factories in the UK, this was a nice change, to see Hong Kong’s rich heritage of bespoke craftsmanship. The unique strand that sets this brand, apart from any bespoke tailors that I have seen before is its involvement and commitment to social responsibility. After speaking with the marketing director it began apparent that Bonham Stand believes in opportunity and not charity, by empowering the craftsmanship that forms the pillars of Hong Kong tailoring industry. By training, and reintegrating this skill to the local people, it ensures skilled artisans for future generations of HK.

To make your order, visit the website at bonhamstrand.hk or call 3563 9217 for more information.

 

GQ men of the year award

Last night it was that time of the year again- The GQ men of the year awards in association with Alfred Dunhill. We have selected a few of many that made Monsieur Man top list.

Designers Of The Year: Dolce & Gabbana

Solo Artist Of The Year: Tinie Tempah

Politician Of The Year: Boris Johnson

Chef Of The Year: Wolfgang Puck

Legend: Sir Tom Jones

Sportsman Of The Year: Didier Drogba

Icon: Robbie Williams

 

Editor's Special: James Corden

We decided it would be to hard to determine Monsieur Man's, man of the year, it could be Daniel Craig, Obama just to name a few so we decided to showcase our woman of the year.....and the award goes to Rhianna!

There is a new Hill in town, move over Dunhill

Hill is a Hong Kong based menswear label by British designer, Anthony Hill.

“Our philosophy is to create high-quality clothing for the man who cares about his image but disregards fast-fashion trends. He is defined by his own thoughts and actions yet appreciates unique and understated design”. Anthony Hill.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the charming designer, in his central based studio. Questions were asked, pictures were taken, and here is the outcome-

So Anthony, I understand you studied womenwear design at Central St Martins, so why the transition to menswear?

I grew to love menswear after I was heavily involved in freelancing. I then took a vested interest, in the shopping habits of men, and what was lacking in their wardrobe. So with that in mind I decided to fill the gap, with my brand Hill, which sits in the middle of tailoring and high fashion. The collection concentrating on smart/ causal, shorts, chinos and blazers. The blazers are canvassed and measured to rakish perfection. Shorts and chinos are comfortable, durable and uncomplicated.

 

 

 

As you know I’m an image consultant, and I am always interested to know other people’s style personality, so Anthony, what would you say your style personality is?

Oh, that’s an interesting question; well I like to take elements of Italian, British, and American preppy styles together to create my unique individual look. I love waking up in the morning and putting outfits together.  I feel everyday it’s important, to ‘own what you wear’.

Anthony invites you to enjoy the edited simplicity of his range, visit www.hill.com.hk

Monsieur Tall

Mr Tall was extremely tall. He had the longest legs in the world. If you relate to this MR MEN character, you may find it tricky finding styles, and shapes that suit your lean and long physique. 

If you are tall in the legs you should:

• Make sure that your trousers are at hip level, and that tops are below the waist, to balance out your proportions.

If you are tall in the waist you should:

• Wear contrast top/ bottoms, wear your trousers at the waist and tuck in your shirts, to balance out your proportions. Remember to never wear vertical strips.

 

If you feel you need more advice on dressing for your shape, please email monsieurman@live.co.uk to arrange a style consultation.