THE DENIM JACKET

The denim jacket is back!

A long time favourite of Kanye West, the hottest jacket for spring is making an appearance in nearly every high st store. The double denim trend has been going for a couple of years now since denim shirts came back, making denim acceptable attire for your top half. What will make denim jackets easier to wear than the denim shirt however is the popularity of the chino. Men are no longer restricted to wearing denim jeans which means that for those of you who fear looking like a Bros tribute act (look up 1980's boy bands) need not worry.

As Mr West has demonstrated through his love of this latest trend, chinos and denim jackets actually work well together.

The high st has a range of washes and styles to choose from. Dark, raw denim washes will give you the greatest flexibility of a day/night jacket but light washed denim will look amazing with chinos and chino shorts through the sunny days.

If you want a vintage jacket then check out Urban Outfitters or Topman's vintage sections as they usually have loads of denim jackets to choose from. Alternatively, scout around your local charity shops. I found a great denim jacket in one of my local charity shops for just £7!

GIAROYE

I receive a lot of emails from high street and independent retailers, designers and up and coming menswear brands. And whilst I love the variety of brands that i communicate with, every so often, one of those emails contains something new and exciting. Something which makes me go straight to Google to find out more.

For those of you who haven't yet discovered them, Mansnaps would like to introduce to you, Giaroye.

Giaroye Clothing is a British independent men’s fashion led label, whose style focuses on a Tailored Streetwear look, being clean, crisp and a little bit classy, relying on the quality, detailing and cut to carry the look of the brand.
Gia and Roye are the men behind the brand that captures the essence of Britain, embracing its traditions with elements of inner city youth culture. Its influences are mirrored in the look, easy to wear, casual smart… all the proper components with a touch of Brit heritage. A bit like a gentleman with a streetwise attitude, they take pride in being British but realise that the days of the bowler hat are over, the modern gent needs to adapt.

Along with the styling, I also like the fact that Giaroye manufacture their range in the UK using British mills to buy their fabrics, and when this can’t be achieved, as close to home as possible. “Giaroye believe in British manufacturing and continue to manufacture and source fabrics and trimmings from the UK”. They take a lot of pride in being a Brit fashion led label and want their brand to embody that pride, which is achieved by always trying to have garments made in England, with only limited quantities produced.

I love their A/W12 look book, the wax parka has my name written all over it. Check it below.

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!

PICKS OF THE WEEK

I don't know about you but I have found the weather this week a challenge. In fact, I've seen elements of all four seasons on my travels around the country. I'm definetly ready for spring.

My three picks of this week reflect my clothing battle against the elements over the past seven days.

This double breasted beauty from Zara is a great jacket for spring. We're often lured into a false sense of a heat wave when the sun comes out but this bright yellow jacket will protect you against the reality of spring.

I'm always looking for different types of shorts to wear in the summer, from printed to coloured and everything in between. I love the detail at the bottom of these shorts. It gives them a worker edge beyond your average chino short.

This blazer from Republic is a real bargain. Navy is great for the current nautical look but can also work with varsity prints. It's a great day to night jacket.