The Dapper Look: French Connection and Ted Baker.

This season it’s all about looking sharp and looking dapper. Gone are the days where you can get away with throwing on a pair of jeans and a hoodie to stroll down the high street, this Spring / Summer it’s all about taking pride in your appearance. This look is definitely combing itself with the “military” style with collections using more neutral / earthly tones to create outfits that scream “care taken to dress this morning”. Two of the biggest high street brands that have always fused the clean cut style are French Connection (FCUK) and Ted Baker, for years they’ve always infused their collections with a dapper style giving off oozes of confidence.

As previously mentioned in an earlier blog post, the trench coat is a staple for any wardrobe. This season is the perfect opportunity to invest in a good quality trench coat as they appear dapper and combine the look of World War I military. For the skinnier man I advise in purchasing a trench coat with a belt to draw the figure in and add feature around the waist. French Connection has the classic black trench coat available for £150. I cannot advise how important this is for any stylish man's wardrobe!

(http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Man+Collections/50AB3/Storm+Terry+Mac.htm)

For the (cough)larger(cough) male, it’s important not to have a coat that goes lower than the hips unless you definitely know how to wear it. (Otherwise that beer belly will just make you look pregnant). French Connection seems to be catering for all shapes and sizes and the larger male can look just as fashionable in their “Corporal Jacket”. Even though it does have a belt, the many pockets will allow the eye to be drawn away from the larger figure. Again, priced at £150 it definitely is a staple item for your wardrobe.

(http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Man+Collections+Bestsellers/55AN3/Corporal+Jacket.htm)

A major mistake for the older man (anyone over the age of 25) is the “white trainers and jeans” look. There is nothing worse than see a perfectly dressed gent and them looking down to see a pair of shiny white trainers. No, no and no! Unless you’re a teenager or a student it’s should not be happening. It’s all about boots and shoes this season. French Connection have the perfect example of neutral boots. The “Arid Dessert Boot” can be worn with jeans (or for an edgier look, try them with flesh / cream tone shorts). For just £75 these suede lace ups can transform you from trainer teen to booty bloke.

(http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Man+Collections+Shoes/TFAE3/Arid+Desert+Boot.htm)

One of my favourite ideas this Summer is to mix and match style with practicality. Therefore, it’s a good idea to mix a slim fit shirt with a pair of shorts and plimsolls or casual shoes. For an even more preppy look, add a tie and polo knit jumper to it, throw in a pair of sunglasses and you’re set to have heads turning.


Ted Baker’s neutral shirt is perfect for this look...


Mix it with these denim turn up shorts...


And throw on this tank top to give that preppy edge to your Summer outfit.

Ted Baker definately is the place to shop for shirts this season (and pretty much any other season). With their famous floral designs they are perfect for the working day and the nightlife partying. With prices starting from around £65, it's definately worth taking a trip to your nearest boutique.

And on that note, I leave you with one tip. Mix style with practicality for an infusion of fashion and individuality.

"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!

Some links to other sites...

Doing a quick google search, I found a great blog on buying designer shoes, a good read and some great tips:

http://a-man-fashion.blogspot.com/2010/01/man-fashion-tips-how-to-look-for.html

Another great fashion site I also thought worth mentioning is "The Urban Gent":

http://www.theurbangent.com/

It has some style tips, check it out!

Bags for all Occasions

We've all been there, we're going out and we have a lot to carry; so much in fact that there's not enough pockets in the world to cater for your three wallet, Blackerberry, iPod, notepad, stationary, train tickets, tissues, chewing gum and every other piece of junk you own. There's always a slightly scary sight of anyone over the age of 12 with a turtle back rucksack and (in my opinion) they should be banned except for mountain climbers and little kids. Women have a million options for handbags yet us men aren't too aware of all the options we have. For one, there's the drawstring (perfect for the gym), the messenger bag (perfect for a casual day out), the pouch (ok, slightly chavvy but we can dress it up), the holdall, the newsboy's bag and (dare I say it?) the bumbag!

Now, bags don't tend to go out of fashion very quickly, I mean, look at the messanger bag, it's been around for what seems like centuries: therefore I highly reccomend investing in the more expensive bags that will last centuries in your wardrobe.

My favourite style of bag is the messenger bag, it is worn with one strap over the shoulder and then drapped around the lower back. It is very contemporary and can be dressed up or down to make for a laptop carrier at work or a day out bag with the family. Ok, what type of journalist would I be for running an article on bags and not mentioning the renowned Louis Vuitton? One of my favourite messanger bags this Spring is in the LV collection. Entitled "Roman GM", this bag is heavenly, made from leather and detailing the Louis Vuitton label across the strap this bag is perfect for the more sophisticated man wanting to ooze confidence, at a wallet deepening price of £1,190 not everyone's gooing to want to buy it, but after many hours searching the net and shopping in a million stores I genuinly can't find another similar bag that offers such quality. If you've found one, please do let me know! (Leave a comment, Twitter me, email me etc and I'll feature it and you!)

(Can be brought from: http://www.louisvuitton.com/web/flash/index.jsp;jsessionid=3QLBG3CQRTQ1KCRBXUDVAFYKEG4RAUPU?direct1=ebou&langue=en_GB&buy=1)

The next type of bag is appropriate for travelling, it's called "the holdall" and is pretty self explanatory. My favourite is available from Ted Baker for the small(er) sum of £55.


(http://www.tedbaker.com/gifts/men%27s/80238-micro_check_document_bag/detail.aspx)

This bag is definately for anyone of any style, the light grey tones really add a sense of Spring to any outfit and differ fro mthe usual blacks. Another bonus is that it definately doesn't appear to be a tacky holdall brought from a camping store. Top marks for Ted Baker for this bag!

Now, a bag for the students wanting to inject some colour into learning!


(http://www.tedbaker.com/accessories_+_shoes/men%27s/bags/80242-flight_bag/detail.aspx)

Drawing on the style from aircraft pilots this bag really screams "SUMMER!" to me. With the use of white and blue this bag really brightens up an outfit and can also draw the eye away from any disasters going on with a garment. Once again priced £55 it seems Ted Baker is the place to be for bag buying this season.

Similar styles (and prices) can be seen in FCUK and TopMan's collections:
http://www.frenchconnection.com/product/Man+Collections+Accessories+Bags/TBAA3/Airline+Pu+Shoulder+Bag.htm

http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=17551&storeId=12555&categoryId=172032&parent_category_rn=39002&productId=1480823&langId=-1

For any man going to the gym or doing any sort of sport, they're going to need a bag to carry equipment in. If a holdall is too big, we go to the "drawstring". Republic has some classic drawstring bags available for a small price. My favourite being this "gym sack bag" by Soul Cal for £5.99.


(http://www.republic.co.uk/Bags+Wallets/Soul-Cal-Gym-Sack-Bag/invt/78845)
What more can I say? Simple, practical, affordable. Get your credit card out and order it immediately!

Bizarrely it appears that male tote bags are becoming more and more popular, I'm not too keen on this idea (yet) but I suppose as more a more fashion houses bring them into their collections the idea might take off and be the next fashion must have (or an epic fail like male poncho's!)

(Check out TopMan's tote bag and let me know what you think:
http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=17551&storeId=12555&categoryId=172032&parent_category_rn=39002&productId=1619805&langId=-1)

I've had my fair share of disasters with bags in the past. Everything from snapping off my back and breaking, leather being scratched off within a week, buying overpriced bags then finding them in a half price sale the next week and overloading my bag to the point it looses it's shape. I don't want anyone to become a victim of any of these natural disasters, therefore I've included a list of rules.


Rule number one of bags: Bumbags need to be destroyed, they are not acceptable even if you are a tourist.

Rule numer two of bags: Never overload you bag, it'll loose it's shap and look bulky.

Rule number three of bags: Invest in a top of the range bag for long lasting and quality.

Rule number four of bags: Supermarket carrier bags are not acceptable. Sometimes designer shopping bags are. (Except JD Sports bags, come on, you're not a 13 year old chav plus they break easily.)

Rule number five: The colour of your bag should match the colour of your t shirt (if a jacket is worn) or the colour of your other accessories if not coat / jacket is worn.

Finally, rule number six: Think before buying. Is it a good price? Will it last? Can I fit everything I need to in it? Is it stylish? etc.

I hope you've enjoying my little "bags" artcile. Let me know what you think and share some of your bag disasters.

Home Decor Art.

After studying Fine Art for three years I'm always on the look out for pieces that are unique, tell a story and are attracting to the eye. People often think that "art" is for the more elite and that there's no way on earth they'd be able to afford some top pieces for their homes. After sourcing department stores and doing some internet shopping I've found some top pieces that will brighten up any room and add some style to a boring wall.

Now, I often find myself re-arranging furniture and art pieces to suit the needs of my own feng shui. I also can't stand looking at the same thing each and everyday with no diversity, therefore I find myself arranging and changing art pieces almost every fortnight. This doesn't necessarily mean buying expensive pieces every two weeks, I simply search department stores for quirky images on canvas and frames to change the style of rooms.



One of my favourite pieces can be found at John Lewis, it's very "Rauschenberg" inspired in use of the abstract nature and sense of "anything goes". The red and brown tones of paint applied randomly with white / cream highlights create a modern yet stylish piece. Entitled "Spiritual Painting" it costs £300, slightly pricey for those looking for a bargain and not to appreciate art. However, take a look at some of the work by "Robery Rauschenberg" and it's easy to see why his work (and pieces like "Spiritual Painting") are so popular and have the ability to attract the eye.

(Copyright and piece available from: http://www.johnlewis.com/230720451/Product.aspx?)source=46387



Another one of my favourite pieces, and slightly less modern is another piece avaiable from John Lewis. This piece entitled "Over The Top Print". This canvas print by Shyama Ruffell draws on influences from Hundertwasser in the use of bright colours and child-like image. A more cultural piece it costs £90 and is definately worth the price.

(Copyright and piece available from: http://www.johnlewis.com/230720465/Product.aspx?source=46387)



An interesting piece for the modern household can be bagged from Marks and Spencer's. This piece uses photography with a Pop Art (think Andy Warhol) influence to bring out the best of New York City's monuments. At a priceo f £39.50, this image is defaintely one to brought up quickly as the vintage styles of 60's peaks. Entitled "New York City Wall Art" I like the simplicity of black and white photos used to create a collage print.

(Copyright and piece available from: http://www.marksandspencer.com/New-York-City-Wall-Art/dp/B002I6F88I?extid=af_a_Content_79682)



Lastly, it's always nice to inject a sense of Britishness into any household with Britain always having that quirky and elegant feeling in all of it's decor. This quirky canvas print features the simplicity of limited colour in which the typical "red London busses" are set against the black background and white/grey outlines of London's momumental sights reminding the viewer of what makes Britain so elegant and characteristic. Definately a bargain piece (£19.99) for the type of person who likes to change their walls (like myself) to create different moods for the mood you're in.

(Copyright and image from: http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/products/arthouse/buses/71885?siteID=0RpXOIXA500-oIH86sek4agkmVhGIv7YoQ)


And finally my favourite saying "art is what one wants it to be" means that you should never be restricted in the artwork you buy and how you arrange it. Pieces that clash can look stylish (if arranged correctly) or contemporary pieces can look classic if you want them to. When buying art, lead with the heart and you'll never go wrong.