Tote bags for men

This season, men can look forward to totes in chocolate, tan, or black shades of leather, twill or even canvas. Consider where it would most often be used, and pick one to complement your dress style. A smooth, dark leather tote with metal hardware is perfect for dressier looks, while washed leather helps to take the outfit down a notch. Just as important is the durability of the bag. Since weather in the UK tends to be rather rainy at the best of times, look for totes made from water-repellent materials. Some shops also offer water-repellent sprays to help maintain the durability of the bag. Another helpful feature that many designers are now including is a closed top, as opposed to the tote’s traditionally open top. Interior pockets are also excellent for helping to keep the bag’s contents well-organised and undamaged. Instead of having to juggle keys, wallets, business card holders, iPods, phones, the newspaper, food, and so on, slip it all into a tote. Simple, efficient, and effective!

Recently however, runway shows showcasing collections from such designers as Armani, D&G, and Prada, amongst many others, have fixated on one particular trend in men’s fashion accessories. That trend is the man’s brooch.

What was once rather commonly worn in bygone eras is now making a wide-sweeping comeback in the men’s fashion world. Brooches are suitable for summer or winter, spring or fall. They can go with dressy, formal attire as well as with a more casual ensemble.

The New Britannia revival has spurned the best of the brooches for men. Trendy styles range from vintage Anglo-Saxon looks to English and Scottish-inspired motifs. Old-world looks such as stag’s heads and eagles are also really hip and add a masculine feel. Some even go for a military look, while others include chains that hang from button-holes.

Whatever your choice, remember that some of the best brooches for men should say something about you. Some of the best ones are of the vintage variety and can be found in vintage shops, consignment shops or even antique dealers online. Some retailers are now coming out with modern lines of brooches for men as well.

First, men must take a look at the fabric. Wool is a classic, inexpensive choice. Cashmere is a more luxurious option but will cost more. Furthermore, cashmere requires greater maintenance than wool. Cotton is the cheapest and easiest option. Cotton is easy to maintain and is made thin – a great feature in dress socks. Cotton is often combined with other materials to give it a little more stretch and strength.

The next consideration should be colour. This will hinge on the colour of the suit the socks are to be paired with. A dark coloured suit requires dark socks. A light coloured suit requires light socks. However, the socks should be one or two shades darker than the suit itself. Men should always match their socks to the suit itself, rather than to the shoes. The only colour that must always be avoided is white. White coloured socks will not look good with any colour suit or shoes.

Men who are bold enough to look for textures and patterns in their socks must ensure that they do not choose socks that are too busy; they should try to match their socks with the suit so they do not clash. Regardless of the texture of the socks chosen, the socks should roughly match the texture of the suit. Silky socks should therefore be paired with silky suits and wool socks with rougher suits.

A plain scarf is always going to be the safest option, but it does not need to be dull.  For example, the Polo Ralph Lauren Lambswool scarf comes in a choice of six different shades.

This season, stripes are right on trend, and the multi-stripe scarf by Linea is available in five seasonal hues.  Ted Baker’s College Striped scarf in charcoal works with a suit, and the Fred Perry Tartan warp stripe scarf is funky with a ribbed knit for the weekend.

A chunky knit scarf is the warmest option, and looks great with a biker or bomber jacket. For additional coverage and warmth, go for a cable knit scarf, such as The Original Penguin Chunky scarf.  However, for the gentleman who is discerning but also a little chilly, a scarf in pure cashmere is where warm and cosy meets luxurious.  If this is the way to go, check out the range by Burberry.  By trying out different designs, it is easy to find one, two or even three great pieces that will give any outfit a touch of flair.

During the winter months, every man needs a good scarf.  Make a statement with a bold design scarf from brands such as ETRO, or for a more subtle effect, try a lambswool or cashmere mix design, from the range by Dents.

When choosing gloves, it is wise to select two pairs, one for work and one for the weekend. Piping gloves including the range by Aquasutum are ideal to complement a suit and overcoat whereas plainer gloves such as the collection by Linea are very versatile for downtime.

Hats are back and bigger than ever, if this season’s trapper hat is anything to go by.  This is the ideal choice for ultimate warmth, and looks great with jeans and a jacket.  During the working week, a knitted hat in a single neutral colour adds style.

A wallet needs to be practical but an eye-catching piece will make an impact and is a great style statement.  Check out the collection from Fred Perry or Hugo Boss.

And finally, they may come free at the station, but there is no need to settle when it comes to travel-card holders.  The department store is a great place to start hunting for one.

Mens top accessories

All Belted Up

Belts are the fundamental style accessory, serving both a functional and decorative purpose.  The range of leather belts available today is stunning; this season, over-long belts additionally knotted at the waist, as well as extremely narrow belts have been seen in a number of designer collections.  Equally popular is the wide-width belt, used as a waist-cincher to enhance one’s figure.

One trend that is making waves is that of vintage leather belts, the vintage look being achieved either through recycling or by finishing.  Vintage blue leather belts and woven belts are an essential in one’s wardrobe.  Other vintage belts seen on the fashion-conscious are the 1970s skinny kitch and classic black leather variety.

The cowgirl and biker trends are also hugely popular this season with studs enjoying a comeback.  Wide leather belts with simple buckles and cut-out decorations complete the cowgirl look and add a dash of adventure to one’s outfit.  Oversized buckles are another rage this season; these belts add class to any outfit and turn the most ordinary ensemble into something glamorous.

Finally, for that ultra-sophisticated evening glamour look, try a python-skin leather belt or an animal print, three-hook belt, sure to add a touch of chic to any night time outfit.  A leather belt can jazz up day wear or bring instant elegance to a tired trend, so stock your wardrobe with this style enhancer now.

Versatile and Exotic

The obi belt is an exotic accessory that blends in easily with almost any kind of outfit.  Use it to add a twist to maxi dresses and jumpsuits, wear it with a pair of jeans, or even wrap it around a chunky cardigan.  Whatever the look, there is nothing like an obi belt to accentuate one’s waist.  As seen from the collections of top designers this season, the obi belt has become something of a fashion necessity.

Obi belts can be bought off the shelf in leading stores, or custom made – just buy a few yards of satin or leather and make your own obi in the colour and pattern of your choice.  Obi belts work best with the colour blocking trend seen recently; adding a metallic obi belt to a colour block dress adds an Eastern appeal that is very glamorous.

Now that the cinched waist look is in, obi belts are the easiest way to create this look.  By opting for wide corset-style belts, even those without hourglass figures can flaunt the cinched-waist look.  The key is to wear it around your natural waist, without belt loops, so that the smallest part of your waistline is emphasised, making for an impressive overall look.

A good item of clothing to add to any wardrobe is chino trousers.  These are loose-fitting and quite comfortable.  However, they also fit the dress code criteria for many offices.  Men who want to look good and also feel comfortable often choose these as an alternative to denim.

Most men will probably prefer to have a few casual button-down shirts available.  These look smarter than T-shirts, but don’t require that a jacket and tie be worn.  Many men choose to wear chambray shirts because they are very comfortable.  Casual shirts can be purchased in almost any colour that you can think of.

Boat shoes are a good casual choice for settings where wearing trainers is not recommended.  These shoes are non-slip, so they are ideal for a variety of settings.  Suede and canvas are popular materials.  You can also buy shoes in this style that are made from patent leather and other, similar materials.

There are any number of occasions for which men need to wear suits.  Sometimes, it is desirable to wear one made of lighter-weight fabric.  One favourite choice is seersucker, which is made from lightweight cotton and has a subtle striped pattern.  There are other types of cotton suits available in a variety of colours.

A new solution has arrived on the men’s fashion scene in the form of Bspoke, a line of clothing intended for people who want the exercise and environmental benefit of a cycling commute but do not want to change clothes once they reach the office. Bspoke’s clothing is well-designed, bridging the worlds of professional and exercise menswear with such items as a black Holburn cycling jacket or Holland cycling trousers.

Attention to detail means that cyclists will find their unique needs met. Bspoke’s cycling trousers, for example, feature a Velcro strap attached to the right cuff, so that the legs can be tightened and protected from getting caught in the chain. Their cycling jacket includes an mp3 player pouch that incorporates a small hole that users can string the headphone cable through, thus keeping dangling cables tucked away from the bicycle’s moving parts.

Both items resist stains and wrinkling and are appropriate office wear.

Although the style of these bags has changed with the seasons, one thing that has stayed the same is the hefty price tag. Part of the it bag’s allure has been its exclusivity, its price far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. However, since the global economic crisis struck, it has become less and less fashionable to flaunt your wealth in the form of an it bag. People who would once blown a large proportion of their disposable income in order to keep up with the latest handbag trends no longer have the means to do so, and those with the money have come to find it vulgar to spend hundreds on a handbag that will be out of fashion within six months.

So it seems that the fashion world is coming to the end of its long love affair with the it bag. Women have become immune to the heavy-handed marketing of the world’s largest fashion companies, and are wisely choosing to spend their hard-earned cash elsewhere.