Beat the Sales.

The summer sales are now well underway with top high street stores offering up to 75% off on some of last season’s styles. Some of the biggest stores are literally giving clothes away, but part of me thinks; if no one wanted these clothes before and during the season, who would want them now? But let me tell you, the sales are a perfect chance to buy staple clothes for any wardrobe. Going away this summer? You can buy some shorts for half price from French Connection. Even though they might be from last season, you’ll still look stylish sitting around a scorching pool in the South of France.

Of course, there’s always the chance to shop ahead for upcoming seasons. Last year I brought an Armani coat with a price tag with £100 off. I knew that style of coat was style going to be in fashion next season and that I would be stupid to miss the opportunity. You can also buy (relatively cheaper) clothes you can customise without the fear of going wrong and messing up an expensive garment. Add materials, take in hems, tear off sleeves etc without worrying of wasting all that money.

Garments such as suits and shirts never go out of fashion and if you shop around you can buy some classic pieces with amazing discounts. Selfridges has (well, had) a numerous array of luxury designer shirts with prices starting from around £50 for a Hugo Boss shirt. The same goes for dress shoes. I bagged a pair of Kurt Geiger’s for an amazing price. And of course, for the ladies, classic shoes and evening gowns are meant to last forever so why not save a fortune and buy them in the sale? It’s pretty logical to shop in a sale.

However, let’s face it. Not all of us have a qualification in “shopping the sales”. A few lifesaving tips are listed below:

- Make sure you get in fast to get the best pieces.
- Shop online to avoid the mad hustle of the store.
- Know the seasons, really, ponchos aren’t making a comeback anytime soon so don’t get one.
- Know if you’re actually getting a good bargain.
- Know what you have already so you’re not just buying repeat items.
- Know what you’re looking for.
- Make sure you’re buying for a reason, not just “because it’s a sale”.
- Have fun... Sales are gifts from heaven.

Top Summer Beauty Tips for Lads and Lasses

We all know how the weather can play havoc on our skin, especially when you're trying to catch a tan so I've compiled a list of my top tips for summer skin...

1) Not a fan of sun tan lotion on your face? I for one hate the greasey texture it leaves behind, therefore, I use a moisturiser with built in SPF. My favourite ones are "Asda skinsystem: face" with an SPF 8 and "Boots Botanics Active Plant Extracts" with SPF 12. The latter is part of a general male skin care set that includes face wash and shaving gel. The moisturiser keeps your skin protected and hydrated during those long summer evenings.

2) Caught the sun but not a fan of those icky aftersun lotions? Use cocoa butter. It hydrates your skin taking away the redness, it smells so much better and they often have natural ingrediants. Plus it can be used as a general skin care product.

3) We've all spent fortunes on spot products over the years and we all know hardly any of them work. I've started to use TCP, yes, that's right, TCP. It works as an antiseptic and literally burns you spot away. Use sparingly and a couple times a week to get rid of those major spots. (Take precautions and read the label for this one!)

And there you have it. My top tips for lads and lasses for perfect summer skin.

What are your rituals? Are you a fan of the aftersun lotion or do you prefer cocoa butter? Leave a comment to share your tips!

The Summer Style starts to sweet stores...

Just as we've finally managed to get our spring outfits to perfectly match and coordinate with the weather, the shops decide to pull out the new summer collections. Thankfully, it's pretty much a smooth transition from the spring style, merged with hints from the last year's summer collections. We are seeing the return of the polo t shirt, mixed with coloured shorts to inject some "summer-ness" into your style. Trainers are out, boots are in. Sloppiness should be a thing of the past as your turn your look from casual to dapper, simply by changing a certain t shirt, you can turn your Spring look into a Summer style setter.



TOP BUYS FOR THE SUMMER 10 SEASON:



Number 1: A Summer Polo



A light toned polo shirt is a must, but this season they're becoming more fitted and less casual. Ted Baker has some great t shirts available (I especially like the button details on the collar).

Click Here To Purchase

(Remember to use lighter tones on top to avoid looking top heavy).



Number 2: Nautical Shorts

It’s hot, therefore we need shorts! Gone are the combat shorts, it’s all about looking smart! What’s a better way to look dapper than taking the style designs from navy personal? Light tones, or crystal white seem to be popular among the fashion houses this season. Go for yellows, light blues and (for the brave!) light pinks to create a clean cut yet casual vibe. Lacoste are big on the nautical shorts this season.

Number 3: Boots

Trainers are a no no, plimsolls are boring, shoes are too much. Therefore, it’s time to invest in a good pair of boots. Don’t bodge the cost and get a cheap(er) pair. INVEST! Go for trusted brands like Timberland. Not only can you wear them with shorts in the daytime, they will transition perfectly into in the double denim look of the spring for a night out, and they’re sure to carry on looking hot during the autumn / winter season.



So, with that in mind: get shopping! Get the style before your friends and colleagues do because before you know, you’ll be giving your wardrobe a spring clean for the autumn / winter season.

"Fashion Grub"

The City Dream blog is now listed on "Fashion Grub", an iPod / iPhone app available from the Apple App store for free. It's listed under the "Men's Fashion" tab.

Make sure you download the app and check it out!