Fashion & Grooming: The Men’s Room

Say hello to our new monthly focus on sartorial styling, grooming and what’s hot for discerning gents. . .

Own That Cologne!

Just like fashion, cologne changes with the seasons, and whilst we love a zesty summer scent which transports you to warm azure waters, we’ve got a soft spot for autumn’s rich bounty. Our current opulent favourite is Jo Malone London’s Bronze Wood & Leather Cologne Intense. Intriguing and irresistible, it’s smoky and warm, evoking the scent of leather encased in a medley of woods. Think vibrant juniper, aromatic wood sage, fresh sea salt, precious myrrh, rich Tonka and sensual patchouli. It can’t fail to ignite the senses!

Jo Malone London Bronze Wood & Leather Cologne Intense, starts at £75 for 50mls. Visit Jo Malone London at Rose Crescent, Cambridge, or jomalone.co.uk

Let It Rain

Welcome to October; the leaves are turning burnt orange and cascading to the ground, jewel-like berries glisten on hedges. . .it’s all glorious, until the heavens open and you get drenched in a downpour of cataclysmic proportions. What you need is an umbrella, and not some cheap, flimsy number that’ll invert at the first gust of wind, then be discarded in a puddle of woe. We’re talking a stylish, executive brolly. Allow us to introduce Mr Stanford’s London Collection, boasting beautiful bespoke woven fabrics, classic canopies and lightweight black metal frames with a stylish lacquered wooden handle. Crafted by England’s oldest umbrella manufacturer, established in 1805, these beauties will have you singing in the rain the minute the weather conspires. Available in black, brown, camel, holly, navy – and this buoyant statement yellow, London Collection umbrellas are £75 and available in John Lewis stores or at mrstanford.com

Under The Quilt

It’s the coat trend that’s blown up the AW19 runways; just when you thought puffa jackets had been laid to rest along with East 17’s singing career, the quilted cover-ups are back en vogue!

Here’s three of our favourite designs. . .

Synon quilt coat, £229, Barbour

Blocked puffa jacket, £50, Jacamo

Jacket, £39, M&Co stores

Brush Up

Smarten up your grooming routine with this luxurious four-piece Edwin Jagger shaving set, featuring a high-performance Mach2 Razor and delicate badger hair brush. A classy addition to your bathroom cabinet, the duo – boasting matching ebony handles – are complimented by a pristine chrome stand and stainless steel shaving bowl. Time to start dropping Xmas gift hints to your nearest and dearest perhaps? It’s never too early, you know. . .

Edwin Jagger shave set, £95, by Farrar & Tanner, at farrar-tanner.co.uk

Canine Companions

Celebrated entomologist and adventurer Charles Tottenham left behind quite a legacy; a respected collector, his phenomenal finds, garnered from worldwide expeditions, are housed within The Natural History Museum in London. Charles lived in Cambridge, on Eltisley Avenue, and a lot of his beetle studies were conducted within our city’s universities. Today – with unfettered access to all Charles’s original botanical field note books - his great grandson Paul Charles and business partner Joe Stefanko have created illustrative interiors brand, Charles Tottenham, the designs encompassing entomology, expeditions, botanicals and canines; all of the explorer’s passions. There’s scarves, cushions, gifts and prints, all depicting wonders of the natural world. These dashing silk pocket squares, £39, made from 100 per cent silk twill, are the perfect accessory for dog-loving dapper chaps. We particularly love the dinky Dachsund design!

The Charles Tottenham Studio is based at Wendens Ambo, just outside Saffron Walden. Shop the range at charlestottenham.com

Embracing Organic

With growing concerns over the amount of chemicals existing in lotions and potions, it’s refreshing to hear about a brand that champions natural ingredients. Vonbros Men’s Grooming, the brainchild of Canadian brothers Scott, Mark and Steve Von Riesen, is a collection of handcrafted body, beard and skincare products packed with all-natural, cruelty-free goodness. The aromatherapy Body Sprays, £16.95, which can be spritzed on body, clothes, face and home interiors, come in three inspiring varieties; The Canadian Shield is reminiscent of a forest, infused with balsam fir, cedarwood and cypress, said to protect you from colds and infection; Great Barrier Reef is a fusion of sandalwood, bergamot and ylang ylang, perfect for calming and stress relief; and New York Hustle is a stimulating mix of frankincense, labdanum and bergamot, promoting clarity and mental focus.

Great for travelling, try the Vonbros Solid Cologne, £15, an essential-oil rich balm, which you rub onto pulse points for a lasting, natural scent. It’s available in exotic Rio De Janeiro, smooth Salzburg and Dead Horse Creek, a homage to the brothers’ hometown, fusing leather, sawdust and spruce.

Shop Vonbros products at organic lifestyle store liveinthelight.co.uk