The fashion industry in the United Kingdom is responsible for employing around 800,000 people. As well as this it contributes over £21 billion a year to the UK economy, making it one of the most important creative industries in the country. The British fashion industry has long been a firm favourite across the world, with London Fashion Week being at the forefront of the fashion season, along with the other ‘big four’ events in New York, Milan and Paris.

There are a range of brands available in Britain, and this is partly what makes the British high street one of the best in the world. At the more affordable end of the market there is an abundance of high street stores, from British brands such as French Connection, to European brands such as G Star Raw, to worldwide brands such as Soul Cal Deluxe. Many of these brands offer current styles that are on a par with the high fashion brands, as they have become more and more adept at taking influence from the catwalk and quickly delivering it to the typical consumer.

Since the turn of the 21st century, brands have also cleverly used collaborations with high fashion designers to create some unique collections for their customers. By giving a guest designer the opportunity to create a collection, the brand is able to offer their customers a piece of high fashion at a much more affordable price

New-style graphics are of bold design and imprinted with long-lasting colour mixes to ensure your chosen hero keeps looking good even after many washes. The new-style graphic designs are durable enough to be machine washed regularly and the 100% cotton material ensures they retain their shape too. Diesel does a nifty line in super hero boxers from the fluorescent Green Lantern to the Joker, Batman and the Flash containing a fun thermo-sensitive print which reveals the Flash picture as your body temperature rises.

Other widely available super hero clothing includes an innovative range of Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Captain America tees and hoodies as well as the more contemporary sci-fi heroes of Hellboy, Star Wars and Ghost Rider.

No longer only available in comic strip stores, super hero clothing now has its rightful place in streetwear designs everywhere. Accessories include baseball caps, belts and buckles, sneakers, socks, sunglasses, wallets and bags. Other lesser-known but fun time accessories on the market for men include super hero vacuum flasks, nightwear, gym bags, belts and aprons.

Designers have made sure you will not be disappointed, whether you want original retro design or contemporary graphics of the latest film. Wear your chosen super hero proudly. Retain cool by teaming up with twisted jeans or chinos and light-coloured trainers to give an urban and edgy image unique to you.

#6: Don’t turn your nose up at house fashion lines. While these were once seen as not as good as designer, there are plenty of shops around the world that now feature house lines that are both affordable and incredibly fashionable. This revamping of these necessary basics at prices that don’t break the bank has been a welcome change in men’s fashion in this rough economy.

#7: Look into adding some accessories with a vintage feel or a modern edge. Brooches for men are becoming popular again and come in all styles, making it easy for you to work the whole “British Invasion” in fashion that has happened this year. Also, tie bars are great for men looking for a sharp, professional edge. Black watches are also big this year. Shiny black steel and carbon fibre are two options, giving a distinctive edge to your look that is also more discreet than gold and silver watches.

#8: Invest in a boxed set of travel guides and plan a little adventure this year. Now that you are dressed to kill, don’t be afraid to show it off wherever you go!

#9: Adding a tie to your ensemble when you’re not required to wear one adds a sharp touch with minimal effort on your part. Banana Republic makes some nice tweed blazers and cords that are casual but can be classy with just the addition of a tie.

#10: Seven-fold ties are the best. Put out the little extra cash and make sure you get a quality look to top off your overall fashionable look this year.

#1: Sometimes it’s nice to embrace the new fashion trends, even if you are attached to the classics. New collections are featuring new looks and updates on the classics, like denim. Don’t be afraid to make room in your closet for these modern upgrades!

#2: Restocking the basics can be a wonderful thing! Sometimes you just need to toss out those old dress shirts and well-worn tees. They have served their purpose. Give them a fond farewell and purchase new staples for your wardrobe.

#3: Upgrade your casual wear to include some nice pieces for the weekend. New styles this year for men include bold colours and Baja-inspired looks that look cool and feel comfortable.

#4: Buy a new pair of dress shoes. It’s now hip again to dress up nice when you go out to eat or to spend a night on the town. Don’t be afraid to use these more dressy accessories for something other than work.

#5: Suits are a must-have for any man. They help him exude confidence, masculinity and power. Made-to-measure suits are an investment, but most definitely worth it! Try to purchase a suit from Prada’s MTM program. You won’t be sorry!

Popular a decade ago, twisted jeans are currently experiencing a comeback and the new and improved design ensures they look good on everybody. Wear twisted denims loosely or opt for a fitted style. Twisted jeans are as versatile as you are and are tough enough to give you long-lasting wear, comfort and style.

All styles are available whether you like skinny, super-skinny, straight-leg, bootcut or vintage flares, and a variety of wash finishes will make your denim look great whatever you are doing.

If you are a real denim head why not try the on-trend drain twisted denims? Sitting just below the hip line on a snug fit, these jeans look absolutely stunning with their wide leg twisted detail. Drain twisted denims look great with a pair of new style trainers in a fresh white colour.

If innovation really is your thing check out the latest cotton waistband denims with fitted look and side pockets for the ultimate in casual effortless style.

Overstuffing Pockets

The most stylish, well-fitting jeans, chinos and jackets can be ruined by the tendency to cram as much in the pockets as possible.  You may need to carry around a phone, a wallet, house keys and car keys, but if your pockets are bulging at the seams with them, it is time to get a messenger bag.  Any man who does not think he would look good with a bag will look considerably worse with bulging or ripped clothes.

Taking it too Tight

This means either trying to squeeze into too-skinny jeans, or an overly tight t-shirt.  Any man who is ever in any doubt should take the next size up, and that also goes for underwear.

Avoiding the Mirror

There is no need for preening, but one of the last things you should do when you leave the house is check the mirror.  There is no excuse for missing buttons, mismatching socks or even shaving cream or toothpaste marks when a few seconds up and down in a full length mirror can avoid them all.

The Wrong Footwear

Flip flops are rarely permissible off the beach, and sandals should never see socks.  Smart jeans require smart footwear not tatty trainers, and suits demand polished Oxfords with undamaged soles.  A good pair of Vans will take you a long way.

With a huge array of colours and styles out there, knitwear is a look that can be worn well by absolutely everyone. Bright colours, bold stripes and fair-isle designs are very much back on trend, and a sweater is a great way to wear them well, without overloading.  There is certainly a lot more to knitwear than just keeping warm.

V-neck sweaters are versatile as they can be worn over a shirt to complement jeans or even suit trousers, creating a simple but stylish look that works well from day through to night. Wear a V-neck instead of a jacket for a great smart/casual look.

Crew-neck sweaters are very much the look of the season.  They look great with jeans and there is a huge range of colours and styles to choose from.  A crew-neck adds style and flair to simple outfits.  A smart sweater worn on a cold winter night out not only looks stylish but can also be very useful for keeping warm on the journey home.

Cardigans that fasten at the front with buttons or a zip have made something of a style comeback and the right piece can add flair to a casual outfit.  Choose a cardigan in a comfortable wool fabric, in a colour that complements everything else.

Knitwear

Jeans

Not just one pair but two or three really good quality pairs in dark denim, lighter denim and a black pair. Police jeans can see you through any event whether really dressy but not an occasion for a suit or down at your local. Straight cut with no fancy detailing is what you are looking for, something that will easily go with anything else in your wardrobe.

Trousers

Trousers are seeing resurgence this season whether they are chino trousers, corduroy trousers or just coloured trousers. You don’t need a whole collection, just something to make a change from wearing jeans if the occasion arises.

Tops

Under tops you will find dress shirts, casual shirts, long sleeved tops (granddad tops) and t-shirts anything that goes on top really. Not forgetting during autumn winter, jumpers, hoodies and cardigans.

Suit

Self-explanatory really every guy needs a good well-fitting suit, as long as you don’t drastically gain/lose weight a good quality suit can last you years. The only thing you will probably find you change is the shirt and tie, depending on fashions and your tastes.

Outerwear

For the winter months a good wool coat will see you through the coldest of the UK weather and when we don’t have artic conditions then a jacket will do. I would probably say investing in a good quality black wool jacket in a classic style would be the best idea, something that will last you a number of years and won’t go out of style. Jackets on the other hand can be less expensive and you could go for more trend led styles.

You can really pick up some good brand bargains with clothing from Designerwear, so why not top up your wardrobe today, to make sure you have the essentials you need.

Donna Karan exclaims “This collection was about the empowerment of women, their words of wisdom and their ability to be strong and take a stand without giving up their femininity.” And she explains this is what has influenced her to bring back the bold statements pieces such as the famous, knee length skirt.

Other designers, such as Gaultier, kept it sexy and included a slight modern-edge to the collection, by adding a revealing thigh-high slit to pencil skirts, while Jonathan Saunders used a series of unexpected colour combinations to help and an ‘upbeat vibe.’

Whatever your fashion style, you would be stupid to miss out on ‘forties fashion’ this season. For those who aren’t as confident when it comes to fashion, you could always start by adding just a few pearls to an outfit. Once the confidence is gained, you can always go the extra-mile and go for the complete look!

Forties fashions

Firetrap was founded in 1993 just when Britpop was forming and on the tail end of grunge style, so these elements were taken into consideration when the company was defining their style. Over the years the company have always stuck with a dark, edgy style perfect for those with a rebellious attitude to fashion which can easily be seen in their standalone stores.

Firetrap have not only standalone stores, but also numerous concession stores, selling in over 30 countries with 1,500 outlets worldwide as well as a huge online presence, you can get Firetrap clothing from Designerwear as well as many other online stores.

Like other brands Firetrap also champion new music as a way of communicating with their customers, looking into underground music talent at venues around the country. During 2009 Firetrap were heavily involved in many of the definitive music and fashion events. They offer endorsement to up and coming artists and Firetrap have also been headline sponsors of the Stag & Dagger festival, plus they were also the sponsor of Bestival’s first ever signing lounge and press area.

Firetrap clothing for A/W 11/12