ORANGE

Orange. Yes, orange!

Don't run away just yet, it's not as scary as it sounds. Whispers of this zesty colour making an appearance this A/W have been prominent since the designers showcased their collections earlier in 2011. The colour was cleverly used by a handful of designers to create an instant impact in their catwalk shows, and it did just that. So much so, that ever since, everyone has been predicting it's appearance on the high street and finally it has arrived!

There's no doubting the fact that this colour will present a challenge, but if worn with caution there should be something here for everyone. Here are the basic rules that I will be following:
1. As a ginger, orange on the top half is a HUGE no-no. Unless you are doing a Carrot or Orange for fancy dress - avoid at all costs. If in doubt, google 'Catherine Tate Gingers For Justice' and watch the clip for yourself!
2. Orange accessories are a cool, easy to wear way of keeping up with the trend without over doing it. I love the Topman bracelet and Nike hi-tops featured below.
3. Unless you want to look like a glowstick - do not wear with yellow/pink/green or any neon!

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PICKS OF THE WEEK

TGIF!! Does anyone else think that time seems to drag in January? Hopefully my top 3 picks of the week will help lift those January blues.

First up is this Aztec print jumper from River Island. I was surprised by the response to my Aztec Print post and I'm pleased that most of you are as excited about the trend as I am. This River Island is a nice interpretation of the trend and is extremely wearable for those of you perhaps a little reluctant to go all out with an Aztec printed shirt.

I love this vintage biker jacket from Urban Outfitters. The red trim gives it an 80's Michael Jackson feel, and it will make any outfit look effortlessly cool. The £95 price tag is an absolute bargain for a jacket like this, if you go to somewhere like All Saints for something similar you can expect to pay around £250.

At first glance, I didn't like this jumper but the more I looked at it over the week the more I grew to like it. It reminds me of early 90's children's TV presenters which I'm sure some of you will hate. Everything I have ever bought from Jack Wills has been of fantastic quality, so that should justify the £79 price tag.

COLOURED CHINOS

 

This S/S is going to be all about colour. Same as every year then, I hear you say. Well yes, except 2012 we should see it taken up a notch with the introduction of Coloured chinos.
They were a big feature in the S/S12 collections for many designers and now we're seeing the trend coming through on the high st.

Although we've already seen coloured jeans on the high st, I think that coloured chinos are a little less scary for a lot of men. The lighter fabrics mean that they can be worn on holiday which is the perfect trial run for the clothing you're not entirely confident in wearing around your home town. Plus there is a certain ruggedness to the feel of denim which lends itself better to a formal look to give it balance, especially when the denim is dyed a bright colour.

Like coloured jeans I would avoid wearing another bright colour on your top half unless you are really confident with how to work colours. That said, don't be afraid to mix with a printed t-shirt for a cool, casual look (Pull&Bear and H&M always do great prints). Although let the print add the colour and stick to a white/black/grey/navy t-shirt for balance.

AZTEC PRINTS

At the start of the season, Navajo prints were huge. Shirts, t-shirts, accessories and outerwear were influenced by Navajo designs. Then as Christmas approached, the trend merged into fair isle prints. Now that Spring is approaching we have something a bit brighter to lift these cold dreary days, Aztec prints.
 
Aztec prints are a fun way of adding interest to your wardrobe and you can get your hands on a fully printed shirt if you're brave or a simple pocket detail on a t-shirt if you're not so adventurous, either way you'll be bang on trend.


Here are some of the Aztec printed beauties available now.

ASOS £18

NEW LOOK £9.99

REPUBLIC £16.99

RIVER ISLAND £13

RIVER ISLAND £32

TOPMAN £38

TOPMAN £28

URBAN OUTFITTERS £25

TOPMAN £32

If you want something a bit more vintage, check out Ease The Squeeze they're a boutique on ASOS Maketplace and have some amazing vintage aztec pieces. You can follow them on Twitter @easethesqueeze.

EASE THE SQUEEZE £35

EASE THE SQUEEZE £35

WINTER ACCESSORIES

Completing #mansnapswinter weekend is the finishing touches to every mans  winter wardrobe... winter accessories!

Hats, gloves and scarves are the ultimate must-have this season. When I'm shopping for winter accessories I always try to avoid anything which has an over busy print, things that are so fashionable that they aren't practical and that the colour can be worn with almost any outfit. 

Here are some of the best winter accessories on the high st right now.

First up is Scarves. Scarves are a great way of adding your own personality/style to your outfit. There are a rainbow of colours available to help brighten up a dull outfit, fairisle and navajo prints are a great way to dip your toes into the trend and there are lots of different fabrics from wool to jersey to suit your requirements. Snoods also feature heavily on the high st still and are perfect for those of you who can never quite figure out if your scarve should be left at the front or it should be wrapped around your neck.

BURTON £20

NEW LOOK £7.49

TOPMAN £16

HOLLISTER £38

MATALAN £7

PEACOCKS £9

ZARA £19.99

RIVER ISLAND £13

PULL & BEAR £17.99

Hats are essential for keeping you warm during winter. It is well known that you lose a large percentage of body heat through your head so it is worth investing in something to keep the heat in. I always find hats difficult to wear as I never seem to think that they suit me and I'm sure plenty of you feel the same. The trick is, to try all styles and wear the one that you feel most comfortable in. After all, the priority here is keeping you warm. There are loads of different styles available, bobble hats, beanie hats, slouch beanie hats and trapper hats (I posted about them previously).

ALL SAINTS £35

ASOS £12

BURTON £5

CRAFTED @ REPUBLIC £9.99

NEW LOOK £9.99

NEXT £12

RIVER ISLAND £13

TOPMAN £12

ZARA £9.99

Personally, I think that gloves have to be practical. I'm not a huge fan of fingerless gloves (my fingers get cold) and I can't be bothered to have to keep taking them on and off all the time. Although I do like my gloves to have a bit of character! Unlike a hat or a scarve, your gloves are generally not as instantly noticeable so you can afford to try a crazy print or colour.

NEW LOOK £5.99

RIVER ISLAND £22

MATALAN £7

PEACOCKS £3.20

TOPMAN £10

URBAN OUTFITTERS £12

ZARA £19.99

PULL & BEAR £9.99

H & M £24.99