Category Archives: Style and Fashion

Style and Fashion

Sunday best

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The idea of Sunday best for me personally means wearing my well thought out garments to go to church. It’s like saving the best for that first day of the weekend where I can express myself through what I wear.

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Sundays themselves can mean so many things to different people depending on various factors ranging from family gathering around the dining table for a roast, to good old powering down after a hectic Saturday night out. For Christians, it means going to church to worship and fellowship with one another.

In fact Sundays were days I looked forward to as it meant I get to spend more time with my mum and sisters whiles ‘chit chatting’ over lunch. It used to be like a routine where we would gather around the small TV set in the living room straight after lunch to watch our favourite TV programme. Watching TV for hours on a Sunday afternoon came with a corvette that we must have completed our school assignment the previous day.

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Yep, no slackers and skivers allowed in the house. I have such great childhood memories with my siblings most of which were formed through our time together on Sundays.

However, none of the above comes close to waking up in the morning to get ready for church. Going to church was something my family did every Sunday without fail. It became tightly woven into our lives so much that it felt very strange if we did not go which rarely happened.

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The drive to church, playing with the other kids at Sunday school and popping round to our aunt’s house on the way home from church were thoroughly enjoyable. Even then, the best part for me was when I wake up in the morning to get ready for church and I get to pick what I wear.

As a child, this excited me so much as I get to wear my very best. In fact Sunday outfit was so special that I had a separate suitcase where all my church clothes are kept in a neat and pristine manner.

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As a teenager, I remember vividly pressing my shirts the night before just so it looks perfect for church in the morning. There was no way I would wear any of the clothes in my church suitcase anywhere else but church.

This was a routine I followed religiously all through my teen years and to a great extent still do today.

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So my idea of ‘Sunday Best’ was born way back in my childhood days but continue today.

So when Lifestyle photographer Charles Augustus called me up on a Sunday morning to do a shoot after church, the two words that popped into my head were “Sunday Best”. Because Charles and I thoroughly enjoyed doing the shoot and the entire project itself, I have decided to share the photos with you in three instalments making them a short series. I will describe the entire look in my next post on Sunday best.

Styled by: Cuts for him
Photographer: AugustChild (Charles)
Location: The Royal exchange, Bank, London

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Style and Fashion

Raise your layering game with a waistcoat!

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Summer is that time of the year everyone looks forward to for obvious reasons such as the festivals, trips to the beach, park hangouts and BBQ. I mean who wouldn’t love doing BBQs all year round right? Unlike our Australian, Bermuda, sub-Sahara African and other countries around the globe that enjoy all year round sunshine, Europe is only bless with a couple of months where decent weather is somewhat promised. Promised being the operative word as even the two months of continuous decent weather is not guaranteed. As Trevor Noah puts it in one of his comedy sketches, the UK only get 5 days of summer.  Trevor Noah, we love your shows and all but you don’t need to rub it in dude. To all my UK people, stay strong and keep your head up.

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The thought of entering into autumn and eventually winter could make anyone feel a bit nostalgic about the summer sun.

Even though there is nothing we can do to change the weather conditions around us especially colder months of the year, there are certain things we can do to prepare for them. Autumn season generally starts at the end of September which means the air is chilled, nights are colder whiles days are shorter. This is a sign of things to come in winter when thoughts of the glorious sun are nothing but a distant memory.

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Don’t get me wrong autumn in my view is the most beautiful season of the year with all its vibrancy and colourful leaves on trees. Even when leaves fall, they form beautiful carpets of colours which seem to be in unison to the ones still on the trees. This is nature at work showing us a beautiful art form and it’s all free of charge.

Unfortunately as nature redecorate our surroundings, the air gets chillier and it becomes practical to start wearing layers. When it comes to layering, nothing looks more elegant and stylish than the all-time classic, waistcoat. The waistcoat is one of those garments that has been around for centuries and have been evolving ever since its introduction into the Western society from Persian by traveling English men.

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Referred to as the vest at the time, King Charles 11 proclaimed in 1666 that the waistcoat should be recognised as proper court attire. The waistcoat was worn in bright colours with intricate decorations on it. Since then, the waistcoat has been worn as part of formal attires with its design and look varying and evolving over time. It modern day use has been extended to the smart casual look which has assimilated very well into trends and styles.

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The waistcoat works very well as a layering garment and it happens to be one of my favourites because of it versatile. It is a garment that seamlessly brings together and connects a look whether it is smart or smart-casual. It is perfect for days when the weather is chilled enough to add an extra layer of garment but not cold enough to carry a coat or blazer and still look stylish. Apart from your three piece suit, a decent waistcoat is a must have for every gentleman out there.

Location – Lymington, New forest
Models – Oliver Kumawu and Cuts For Him
Photographer – CANO

Style and Fashion

That casual Friday look

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Friday is one day in the week which seems to bring a sigh of relief to many especially those who work Mondays to Fridays. Its means the weekend is finally here and we can afford to do the things we enjoy doing (with people we love) and when we want to do them. We can even put our feet up and do nothing at all if we so choose. Amazing isn’t it?

Friday is that one day we can actually walk into the office with a pair of chinos without raising eyebrows. But wait, there is a name for it and it’s “Casual Fridays”.

In the spirit of casual Friday, let me share a few looks on men I came across in London over the past three weeks or so. These looks fit perfectly into the work environment depending on what you do.

– The first look is by Sez, a look I’ve being channelling all summer. Blazer over shorts!

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Sez, outside the apple store, Regent street, London
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Sez, outside the apple store, Regent street, London

Blazer – Burberry
T Shirt – Ralph Lauren
Shorts – top man
Loafers – Alexander McQueen
Pocket square – Ted Baker

– Second is by David and here is what he wore.

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David at great Portland street tube station
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David at great Portland street tube station

Blazer – Asos
Shirt – Reiss
Jeans – Top Man
Shoes – Aldo

– The third shows a couple of mates sitting in a park enjoy lunch. The honest truth is that I actually forgot to ask what they wore so you will have to forgive on the details and just enjoy the vibrance  of the summer  colours in the pictures.

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Justin and his friend at St Pauls Cathedral
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Justin and his friend at St Pauls Cathedral
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Justin and his friend at St Pauls Cathedral
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Justin and his friend at St Pauls Cathedral

Tell me what else would work well for “Casual Fridays” in the comment section below.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Style and Fashion

Top 5 men’s footwear for the summer

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Before the summer ends, I thought I should put together a quick list of footwear every gentleman should be wearing right now. If you are here and are thinking you are going to see trainers/sneakers and the likes then I suggest you close your browser and walk away now. Simply put, you are in the wrong place. 5, 4, 3, 2……..1. By the way that was me counting. Are you still here? Phew, thank goodness you stayed. I appreciate that. Right let’s get straight into it.

One thing men sometimes find challenging when it comes to putting a look together is finding the right pair of footwear to go with the rest of the outfit especially during the summer months. I mean I have seen guys pulling all the stops from the right type of blazer to the right length of chinos only to look further down to discover a disappointing pair of footwear. Let’s be honest guys, we have it much easier than the ladies. For the most part, we don’t even have to worry about squished up toes or the prospect of walking on six inch heels. Do you agree? Please say yes otherwise I seriously worry about the kind of shoes you have been wearing. Errmmmm anyway as I was saying, we have it easy so really and truly there are two main things we need to consider when shopping for footwear for the season. Practicality and functionality in relation to the weather, in this case hot weather, and looks in relation to the rest of what you wear it with. With this in mind, here are my top 5 picks for this season.

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  1. Penny Loafers

The fact that its summer does not mean you cannot or shouldn’t dress smart. These Penny Loafers from Tommy Hilfiger are perfect for the office and evening out afterwards. They are versatile enough to be worn sockless and classy enough for a night out requiring a tie.

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2. Boat Shoes

Boat shoes are a man’s best friend when it comes to pairing with chinos. No other footwear goes better with chinos. You can get these from Tommy Hilfiger.

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3. Slip on

Some may refer to these as monkfish shoes but I’d rather just call them slip ons. These are very light weight and comfortable which means you shouldn’t miss your trainers/sneakers at all. I bought these last year from Russell and Bromley.

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4. Tasselled loafers

These black tasselled loafers made by Bass have served me very well. I get a complement every time I wear these and are one of my favourites.

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5. Suede Loafers

Suede shoes in general commands a sense of maturity from the wearer as they require extra care and attention for their upkeep. I went for a more casual option with these blue Northern cobblers. They are colourful enough for the season.

There you have it, my top 5 pick for the season. Leave a comment below if you disagree or want to add to the above.

Meanwhile, if you are interested in handcrafted shoes that will last you for a long time and get people talking for all the right reasons, then head over to gracill and get yourself a pair of these bad boys. Gracill is a growing shoe brand which means you satisfying their customers is very important. This company is headed by a friend of mine which means I can personally vouch for them. Check them out and see what you think.