WOVEN FOOTWEAR

A couple of months ago I posted about the spring/summer footwear trends to look out for on the high st and one of the key fabric options for fringe detailed shoes, featured on the catwalk was woven leather. Burberry used the style heavily in their S/S12 catwalk show.

This look has now become a trend of it's own with numerous retailers adopting the 1970's inspired style and working it onto loafers, espadrilles, sandals and formal footwear options.

To get the1970s inspired look go for a woven shoe in tan. This colour will go with the current Aztec trend and the global traveller look.

UNION JACK PRINTS

Rule Britannia!
The upcoming Queen's Jubilee and Olympics have resulted in a surge of patriotism across the high st. Union Jack prints are on literally everything, from t-shirts and vests to plates and bunting.

In recent years, the Union Jack print has been more commonly associated with British "Chav" culture which for the style conscious male, isn't the ideal advert. The time has come however to wipe the slate clean and where your blue, white and red with as much enthusiasm as the stars and stripes we see, season upon season in our stores.

As we start to build bridges with the Union Jack print there must be a degree of caution with your outfit choice, the last thing you want is to be branded a "Chav". So, it should go without saying that unless you are part of Team GB in the Olympics, avoid wearing sportswear with your Union Jack print. Certainly take inspiration from the Olympics but aim for a more "sports luxe" look mixing chinos, shorts with hoodies rather than jogging bottoms.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Prints are big news right now. Whilst printed trousers and shorts are harder to pull off for the everyman, prints are accessible to every man.

With this in mind, this weeks top three items from the high st offer three very different printed tops.

Reverse prints are a big look right now and work particularly well with Aztec and Hawaiian prints. By printing on the inside of the item it creates a washed out look which is perfect for those of you not bold enough to wear the trends. This reverse print Aztec vest from Burton is ideal for spring/summer as it can be worn under shirts or on its own on the beach.

Bold, graphic prints are only for the brave. I love this longline banana print t-shirt from Horace at ASOS. It's really quirky and is certainly different to any other print I've seen on the high st.

Every time I see gold, turquoise and blue together on a print I immediately think of Versace and this beauty from Zara is no different. I love the vintage look to the print, I think it's a great 'every day' t-shirt. It's something than you can throw on with jeans, chinos or shorts for an instant style boost.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

I don't know about you lot but the brighter, warmer days of the past week have got me in the mood for spring!
I'm bored of wearing layers now, bring on shorts weather!

This weeks picks are inspired by the current warmer climate and something to get you all excited for Spring! Also, they are all 'value' items for their trend so you won't break the bank updating your wardrobe.

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I posted about Hawaiian print shirts earlier in the week and Burton have just released their take on the trend. I seen the shirts at their High Summer Press Day back in January and this beauty was my favourite! I'm so glad it's finally available to buy, and the £22 price tag means its cheaper than the competition!

I love this vintage print aqua t-shirt from H&M. It's great for wearing with shirts or chinos making it great for spring or summer! H&M have maintained affordable fashion over the past few years and it's great to see that they haven't compromised on quality prints during tough economical times.

Republic's White Label continues to go from strength to strength. Through A/W they produced a value fashion offer through shirts and chinos and these chino shorts are the perfect seasonal follow up. The colour way makes the, transitional through lots of trends and the styling is great! I've worn my White Label shirt (from their A/W collection) to death so I'm hoping for similar quality from the spring/summer collection.

CAN WE ALL LOOK AS GOOD AS DON DRAPER?

By Stephen Roberts

So finally, on the 25th March and after 525 days (not that I have been counting) Mad Men returns. I truly love this show and although I do not want to be tagged with title of “Maddict” I am totally in awe of Jon Hamm or as he is more commonly known, Don Draper. It is not his womanising ways or how well he pulls off the tortured creative genius, it is his ability to wear a suit and look amazing doing it and his return is a perfect opportunity for me to write a piece about suits.

I could now make reference to many different designer websites, for example Tom Ford and make it easy for anyone to find that perfect suit. But where is the fun in that? It can be done using the high street!

I will explore the options of suits out there and how to achieve that classic look, whether you desire it for work, a wedding, or even to just look good when you step out of the house.

One thing everyone should remember when buying a suit is that it is an investment piece. Go to different shops and scout out the best style and fit for you. You need it to fit you well and every shop is different. This goes for the shirts as well. But most of all, make sure everything matches. Buy the suit and the shirt, then match the shoes, belt and accessories to complete your perfect look.

Suits

When it comes to suits, there are only two rules I can think of: The first, keep it dark, bright suits may look trendy but they aint 'classic'. The second is a bit of a personal opinion, which is to avoid pin stripes. They belong in gangster movies and on overweight businessmen only.

I have always loved Topman suits and when I look online I could pick easily 10 suits I would love to own, but I have managed to narrow it down to two choices. The first is a dark sand ‘Taylor’ single breasted suit jacket with black contrast peak lapels, which I think contrast perfectly to make the complete fashion suit for almost any occasion. The second is a brown heritage wool suit which looks so elegant and embraces this seasons love of heritage and tweed.

Of course, you don’t have to go to Topman, there are many
other shops out there. Here is a selection of some of the best out there.

Burton is much underrated and this Lambretta slim fit grey
suit is a perfect example of why we should all be shopping there more often. I love the suit from Zara because it is a bit different. Yes, it is plain black but the double breasted styling will make you stand out instantly from all other black suits. Finally, this 3 piece suit from ASOS is an absolute bargain. Three piece suits look brilliant when worn properly and this shows how it can be done well with a reasonable price tag.

Shirts

When it comes to shirts, they should be kept simple. In my opinion either a white or very pale colour work best. No one wants to see a bright, garish coloured shirt under a suit. It is no coincidence that all the models above are wearing light colours, it is simply the best way to do it.

You also don’t need to break the bank to get a good shirt, just make sure it fits. For you skinny guys out there, yes a fitted shirt looks good but if you can’t do the top button up without cutting off your air supply it is the wrong size. Take your time to try them on and look at different brands to find the best fit for your body shape.

A good tip to make a simple shirt more stylish is to make the most of one of this season’s biggest looks, the oxford shirt. I have chosen a few from many different choices including a brilliant white oxford shirt from ASOS. The different coloured buttons means you could easily wear this shirt without a jacket and still look smart. The light blue shirt from H&M is an absolute bargain and they have this shirt in a range of colours. It isn’t a bad thing to look for a bargain shirt for every day wear and this one is perfect. The white shirt from Topman with black buttons bring a touch of class to what could be just a plain white shirt, I actually own this shirt and it looks great worn with any suit. And finally, a subtle grey tinted oxford shirt from New Look, which is another bargain!

The Final Touch

So you have a suit and you have a shirt but you need to complete your look. You can't wear a suit without the necessary accessories to go along with it. This means shoes (not usually deemed an accessory, I know), belt, tie and possibly that most brilliant of fashion statements, the pocket square.

Shoes

When it comes to shoes, it has to be either black or a dark brown. Keep it simple and again, make sure it matches your suit. Please do not wear brown shoes with a black suit, this is one of the ultimate fashion faux pas and should be avoided. Your shoes should be formal, but this does not mean they can’t be fashionable. I have suggested two shoes, one brown and one black that cover two big shoe trends, the brogue and the chukka boot.

When it comes to shoes, socks have to be mentioned too. These can divide opinion. Although, I don’t personally do it, I do not see a problem with a single coloured sock. It adds a bit of risk to your style. Note, I said single colour not multi coloured. Make sure if you do it, you don’t wear white socks. Stick to an autumnal pallet and never wear “comedic” socks. Socks should not have writing or cartoon characters on them. That said, if you want to complete your Mad Men look, then you have to keep the socks black. And make sure they are long enough, no one wants to see a flash of leg when you sit down next to them.

Belts

The belt should again match your suit in style, although in certain situations, a clash of colour can work in your favour. Brown belts do look good against some dark charcoal colours but generally I would mindful of this. There are some people who believe your belt should match your shoes, I don’t agree. If it looks good and you feel confident then wear it. But keep it plain. No one wants to see superman staring back at them from your crotch.

The two belts I have suggested cover the two colour options for me; brown and black. They are also both a complete bargain for what you get. One thing to remember when buying your belt is, you get what you pay for. It is definitely worth spending a decent amount on a belt that lasts.

Ties and Pocket Squares

Finally, this is your moment to have a bit of fun. I know most of my suggestions have been quite plain and I would've loved to suggest a pink suit with neon yellow shoes but it just does not look good. However, your tie and if you choose to have one, a pocket square is definitely a chance to inject a small amount of colour into your suit. That is not to say you have to. There is nothing wrong with keeping your outfit classic. It never fails to looks good, however if you want to add some colour here are a few suggestions.

You can see from my suggestions that there is colour, but it should be worn in small doses. There is no neon, or bright colours. Any colour used should be subtle. It is a way of showing off your personality without making it glaringly obvious you are a nutcase and again make sure there are no cartoons or singing ties anywhere near your wardrobe.

So, is it possible to look as good as Don Draper using only the high street? Of course it is, you just have to follow a few simple rules.


1. Get a plain dark coloured suit that fits you and your style well.

2. Keep the shirt white or light pastel.

3. Don’t have cartoons or bright colours on any of your accessories.

And most importantly, wear it with confidence. Like Don Draper would.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Spring is on our doorstep and the high st is gearing up for warmer times ahead with shorts and t-shirts starting to fill the stores.

The 'Global Traveller' look is really starting to build now with Aztec prints, backpacks, wovens and moccasins being the key pieces to look out for.

Two of my picks from the high st this week will sit perfectly into the 'Global Traveller' look and the third pick is from the trend which is showing no signs of stopping, the tourist print.

I love the t-shirts from Pull and Bear. Not only do they produce great prints which fit perfectly but they are so affordable. This tourist print is a cool take on the trend and a nice change to the usual New York skyline prints which have dominated the high st.

You have to give Burton credit. This season they are flexing their fashion muscles and proving that Arcadia has two menswear brands to be proud of. This Aztec print hoodie is a great up style for this seasons most versatile piece and it's perfect for the 'Global Traveller' look.

I need these woven shoes in my life! The colour and leather will look great with ikat shirts, Aztec prints and chino shorts. If ASOS is reading, I'll have mine in a size 9! Thanks!

BASEBALL JACKETS

On December 6th 2011 I said "Baseball jackets have been around for ages", almost 3 months later, it is still one of Mansnaps most popular posts and the look is still prominent on the high st.

Now that the days are getting brighter and at times warmer, baseball jackets are the perfect spring companion. They have a similar versatility to hoodies in that they are both lightweight and warming, which is ideal for the unpredictable British climate.

As well as some of the great jackets featured below, Primark have some amazing pieces. Loads of colour and style options not to mention bargain prices!

I'd love to see how you guys have styled up your baseball jackets!

PACKING FOR A HAND LUGGAGE HOLIDAY

It's fair to say that low cost air travel isn't always as low cost as it may seem. Whilst the cost for your seat might be reasonable, some of the additional charges and taxes aren't.

I love to travel abroad and I'm always lured in by the adverts of return flights to exciting European cities for under £20. Yet by the time I get to the payment screen the price has doubled, if not tripled. And the one charge I always begrudgingly pay is for check-in baggage. Not that I don't want the extra kilos (believe me I do), its just that the cost attached for the privilege is extortionate.

A friend of mine tweeted at me a couple of weeks ago with the only solution to to avoiding check-in baggage costs, hand luggage.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, I started thinking about what I would pack for a seven night stay in Spain using hand luggage. I excluded toiletries and sun lotion as I'd buy them at the destination to allow maximum room for clothes!

My top tips for packing for a hand luggage holiday are:
1. Plan your outfits. I always lay out my tops and match my trousers or shorts to ensure I have outfit options. There's no point packing your favourite shirt, if you have nothing to wear with it. Also, try and wear the bulkiest items on the journey.
2. Pack versatile pieces. It's important to have a good mix of basics and patterns to ensure you can mix and match the things that you pack.
3. Contingencies. Although your space is tight, try and make sure you have packed more tops than you have the number of days you are staying. This is to cover any unplanned activities or accidents.

Whenever I go on a summer holiday I always pack too many footwear options! I always kid myself that I will be able to comfortably wear gladiator sandals around the city but the truth is, I usually wear them on the first day, burn my feet and can't wear them again because the straps rub against the sunburn. So what I have now learnt is that I spend the majority of my summer holidays wearing flip flops. Comfortable, great for the beach and the city and you can wear them with anything. I also always take a pair of shoes for the flight and for going out at night. There's nothing worse than getting off the plane on your journey home to wet weather when you're wearing flip flops. Trust me, those aircraft steps are a hazard in the rain.

For a seven night, hand luggage holiday I would take three pairs of shorts. I love mixing prints through tops and shorts so I would pack one plain pair that I could wear with print tops and one patterned pair I could wear with plain tops. When I'm on holiday I prefer to explore the place I'm visiting rather than stay by the beach everyday so one pair of swim shorts would be enough for me. I love these bright orange ones inspired by the S/S collection from DSquared2.

If you're going somewhere like Spain then you are almost guaranteed sunshine and warm weather so unless you are incredibly unlucky, you should be spending most of your time in shorts. Personally, I never like to fly in shorts as I always get cold. So these chinos are a great travel and evening wear option.

I can not go on holiday to a hot climate country without a selection of vests. I think that slub vests are the most comfortable thing to wear during the day and look cool on the beach or when you're off exploring. The loose fit means that they keep you cool and if you haven't had time to hit the gym, they won't show you up. I always try and pack a selection of different prints from a selection of trends to try and create a different look each day.

With t-shirts I always try to include a few basics to wear with the patterned shorts and also as layering pieces for your shirts.

I never usually pack many shirts as I find them too restrictive to wear when the weather is hot. It's good to have a little selection though for daytime and evening wear.

This hoodie is perfect for travelling. It's lightweight and it will keep you warm during the flight. Plus it's always good to have jacket incase the weather takes a turn for the worse or the nights get cold.

Sunglasses and a straw trilby are a must have for a summer holiday, they're both essential for sun protection. I always carry or wear my hat on board as packing it usually ruins it and I hang my sunglasses from my t-shirt.

Here's a few snapshots from my travels.