Fashion & Grooming: The Men’s Room
From warm woollen beanies to hand-crafted leather belts, high-performance grooming products to statement signet rings, welcome to this month’s emporium of male must-haves. . .
Leave Your Hat On!
If you thought the Beast from the East was a bone-chiller, brace yourself as forecasters are warning of the coldest winter in a decade. Brrr! Time to invest in some serious winter woollens. Here’s a hat-trick of brilliant beanies to keep you toasty through the cold snap . . .
Oxus beanie, £18, Dune London
Mustard stripe turn-up beanie, £22.50, FatFace
Cashmere cable beanie in Espresso, £60, purecollection.com
Timeless Pieces
Whilst it’s easy to be seduced by flashy designer timepieces, wouldn’t you rather have a watch with an inspiring story shrouded beneath its clock face? At the very least it’s a dinner party conversation starter!
Marloe Watch Company, an independent designer and producer based in Henley-on-Thames, creates handsome models inspired by great British endeavour and adventure. Each is named after a body of water, either in Britain or somewhere of historical importance to the UK.
Our favourite is the Coniston Bluebird, in tribute to its namesake lake, where Donald Campbell and his father, Sir Malcolm Campbell, set numerous water-speed records in the Bluebird K7.
Each watch features sequential numbering, so you know exactly which model you own, and the case backs showcase the inspiration behind each specific design. Tick (tock) for originality.
Coniston Bluebird watch, £299, at marloewatchcompany.com
Beard Science
What do Ronaldo, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Pratt and P. Diddy have in common? Apart from being celebrity A-listers of course, all four are devotees of the anti-ageing sheet mask. Said to improve the appearance of the skin through hydration, the masks are the must-have beauty tool for today’s metrosexual man. But what about if you’re sporting a beard to rival Rubeus Hagrid? Surely a sheet mask would struggle to adhere? Well, yes, which is why Oliver Barg created Skinbuddy 2-in-1 face and neck masks, developed specifically for bearded hipsters everywhere. Each sheet mask is designed to suit larger male facial features, created from natural stretch-cotton, with a detachable strip to accommodate beards. Infused with age-defying facial serum, they help to hydrate, reduce pores and minimize wrinkles too.
Skinbuddy, £38.65 for 5 masks, at skinbuddy.com
Charmed Life
A real statement piece, this Thomas Sabo black onyx signet ring features a compass, known as a symbol of hope and direction in life. It’s the perfect lucky charm, and the ideal time to buy, with the new year of opportunity stretching ahead. Go on, pop it on.
Compass ring, from £149, at thomassabo.com
On The Men-ü
This dinky bottle of men-ü Shave Crème is a bit of a wonder product. Its ultra-concentrated formula allows superior razor glide, minimising painful nicks, it has up to 90 per cent less packaging, so takes up less space in the bathroom cabinet, and enriched with soothing Tea Tree Oil, it’s kind to skin too. With a clever locking pump feature, it dispenses an accurate dosage per use, adding up to 165 shaves from one bottle, plus refills are available, giving it great eco credentials. We’re not surprised it’s won a plethora of awards.
Men-ü Shave Crème, 100ml, £10.95, at mankind.co.uk
Belt Up
Team this Thistleton belt with tan brogues and a smart suit, for a dapper office look. Or dress down with jeans and a polo shirt for a weekend brunch. Crafted in the UK from Italian leather, and featuring an antique style buckle, it’s a versatile wardrobe addition.
Thistleton belt, £30, at farrar-tanner.co.uk
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Louise Cummings