MENSWEAR – Gallus Lad

My “SPRING” Wishlist

March 22, 2016July 3, 2017 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

Regular readers will know that my blog is usually reserved for my writing about style mistakes which I have witnessed each week or gleefully boasting about the wonderful trips that I have managed to wrangle unsuspecting people into accompanying me on. However, this week is a little different.

With this being the first week of the Spring season … I was reminded of New York’s SPRING store which I was introduced to at roughly this time last year. I love rediscovering online stores; however, I ALWAYS end up flicking through the site and adding approximately 60% off their offering to my “TO BUY” list that I keep on my phone. It’s an expensive process…

So below…is a Top Ten Wishlist from SPRING this Spring.

1) Comme De Garcons Play – Peek A Boo

Living in Scotland, wearing canvas trainers is the equivalent of living on a knife edge. Even in the height of Summer we have the ever-present threat of rain. However, for these Peek A Boo beauties, I am willing to take this wet-sock risk. I think I have found the ideal pair of Summer trainers for me this year. I’d pair these with a some light blue slim-leg jeans and a plain white tee to create the perfect Summer barbecue outfit.

2) Uniqlo – Oxford Shirt (Pink)

I have big-love for the brand Uniqlo. It makes the staff uncomfortable. Unfortunately, Uniqlo haven’t yet opened a store in Glasgow, resulting in me always finding the nearest Uniqlo store whenever I travel out of the city. This particular shirt mixes Uniqlo with two of my other Menswear passions …oxford shirts and pastel colours. A great item for the office during the Summer months.

3) Uniqlo – Short Socks

Nothing fancy. These were added to the list because I need new short socks. Carry on…

4) Pintrill – Speech Bubble Pin

Those who know me personally will be aware that I am a big collector of pins. Whenever I travel I buy one of these tourist pins you see being sold in shops with titles like “I LOVE LONDON”. The SPRING accessories store (unisex) has a good collection of day-to-day pins …but this one was definitely my favourite.

5) Ray-Ban – Clubmaster Wood

When buying Ray-Ban glasses you can always be guaranteed both style and quality. The Clubmaster Wood only further enforces this reputation…

6) Gents – Matt Paint Splatter Cap

There are two types of people who can successfully pull this cap off. Body Builders and professional football players. I fit into neither of these categories (clearly). However, I do fancy taking a risk on it and seeing what sort of feedback I get…

*Bonus Note* …and the need for this model to be topless is??

7) Scoop – Knit Jacket

Another article for my office wardrobe. Combining the polished look of a smart blazer with all of the comfort of your favourite house-sweater. Superb.

8) Axel Arigato – Chukka White Marble Sole

Drool. Everywhere.

9) Everlane – Large Backpack

Backpacks are an essential item for me, especially when I am travelling or attending some kind of convention. It is also an item you need be extra careful when selecting though. There is only a tiny line between the stylish gent look and the private school-boy look! That’s why I included this Everlane Large Backpack on my wishlist. Simple, elegant, stylish.

10)Uniqlo – Dry Stretch Pants

I love these. Uniqlo does it again!
Combine this with an open neck white shirt for a casual summer look.

Let me know what you guys think, what is on your TO BUY list this Spring?

Style 101: Valentine’s Day – What to Wear!

February 10, 2016July 3, 2017 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

First off, let’s get the hard part out of the way….Valentine’s Day is a pointless holiday isn’t it?

It has been pushed upon us hard by jewellery designers, card companies and those wonderful people who sell individual roses outside of train stations – but no one has yet been able to find a justifiable reason as to why the holiday exists at all.

Also … if as a couple you only celebrate and appreciate each other one day a year – then you are doing life wrong.

However, that doesn’t mean you can simply ignore Valentine’s Day.
Despite the holidays many flaws, sometimes you have to make that extra effort.
Maybe it’s even a first date? (eek!).

For us guys, it can be a daunting task trying to pick out your outfit for Valentine’s Day. You have to try and blend what you feel confident and comfortable in with the expected dress code for the evening. That’s before you even factor in what your date for the evening is wearing.

This week I’ll be giving you a helping hand with regards what to wear in different situations.
Before we get started, remember, you want to make sure that whatever you put on your body makes you feel as comfortable and confident as possible. This will ensure you keep your full attention on your beautiful date and not the fact that your tshirt is slightly tighter than you remember it being.

Let’s start with the most casual of dates and move up from there:

The “Quiet Night In” Date

This option is quite easy to dress for because it’s casual. You don’t want to be strolling up to her front door in a three piece tuxedo. You will definitely look creepy…and creepy is not a good look on anyone.

What you want to do is wear what you normally would for the occasion… except dress it up slightly. Normally wear jeans and a tshirt? …possibly with a hoodie on top? How about we swap out that hoodie for a blazer.

You will look smart … but in the middle of the evening when you have settled down to watch a film, you can take it off and be as relaxed as you like. Perfect.

I would say this method would also be suitable for the “Cinema Date” too. However, I can’t advise you take a girl to the cinema on Valentine ’s Day. Take her somewhere you can actually talk to her.

The “Let’s Go for Drinks” Date

Perhaps you don’t know the lucky lady well enough for a quiet night in?
You may, instead, decide to go out for a few drinks!

For this option, you’re going to want to look appropriate for the evening’s activities while still being able to mask the inevitable stains which come from spillages and drips on a good night out.

An easy “go to” outfit for this would be some straight/slim leg black jeans – combined with a maroon or oxblood tshirt / polo shirt / casual shirt. This can be topped off with a black leather jacket for a classic “bad boy” look!

This particular outfit would also be appropriate for a more casual meal.

The “Fancy Dinner” Date

You know the type of date I am referring to; the type hosted in that restaurant you can’t afford any other night of the year (…and secretly on this night too!).

If you are going to go for this option, you really need to step it up a gear.

I would recommend wearing a suit because you simply can’t go wrong with a suit. However, it’s a relaxed evening, not a boardroom meeting. Therefore, skip the tie and loosen up those top buttons.

It’s also best to choose a suit with a bit of texture – a grey tweed or brown hopsack. It will reinforce the relaxed nature of the suit wearing.

Remember, this article was always meant only as a suggestion. It’s best to go with your gut.

You will know best, get a feel for the expectations of you and ensure you match or surpass them!

5 Things to Learn When Starting Your Menswear Journey

February 2, 2016July 3, 2017 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

The idea of “wanting to dress better” is one which many guys have spoken to me about this week.

That first step can be a daunting task, it’s definitely easy to feel uncomfortable and out of your depth.

I’ve had a few private messages on twitter about tips for someone who is at the beginning of the journey. Where to look for ideas, rules to follow etc. It has inspired me to put together this list of 5 simple facts you can learn which will help you improve your style faster than you thought possible!

1)The “fit” of clothes are one of THE most important aspects of your look.

One of the common misconceptions is that this rule only applies to formal wear. Yes, the fit of your suit is very important. However, this rule can be applied universally across your entire wardrobe.

A poor fit can make a Hugo Boss suit look like a £5 Primark effort; however, very solid fit can make a full Primark outfit make you look like you’re carrying around million dollars (in a good way … not a mafia way).

It really is the No.1 rule of menswear and the faster you get to grips with it, the faster your style will improve. An easy way of thinking about it: strong style is about a strong silhouette of your body; this becomes impossible to achieve if your frame is drowning in excess material.

You should always try on clothes before you buy them. Make sure they fit you properly.

2) Self Grooming and Hygiene is as Important as Clothing

This one is a little self explanatory … but I feel it still needs to be said.
There is very little point in being dressed to the nines if you are absolutely stinking of piss.

…or have an uncontrollable monobrow.

It’s a simple fact, but it is the truth.

It’s a little sad in the modern day to hear fully grown men describe using moisturiser as “feminine”. Don’t be one of those guys. Men’s skin get damaged the exact same way women’s do. Therefore, it is important to take care of it. You’ll thank yourself later.

You’ll never see the “best dressed man in the world” with a scraggly beard and monobrow.

3) Sizes Vary Between Stores

I mentioned above that the No.1 style rule is getting the “fit” of clothes correct.

It is important to point out that the stores on the high street have different fits to their clothing, even if they are sized the “same”, e.g Small, Medium, Large.

Therefore, try not to go into each store with a pre-given size that you “know” fits you.
Try on each item before you buy it. Make sure you are happy with the way that it sits on your body.

Don’t be afraid of trying the next size up/down. It could potentially fit you better?

…and besides, it’s only you who knows what size the item is once it’s on your body!

4) Get a good tailor

Important point, body types vary significantly, they simply can’t be broken down into the “Small, Medium, Large” brackets that modern high street stores use. (Are you beginning to see a pattern?)

When you start to consider the different body shapes you see on the street every day, it becomes unreasonable to expect most articles of clothing will fit you perfectly straight from the rail.

It’s not even a matter of your weight; it can be down to sleeve length or should width.
I, for instance, have a wide frame developed from my days playing rugby as a growing lad…but I suffer badly from T-Rex arms. Most items of clothing I buy require that I roll up my sleeves, or have them tailored to fit properly.

The art of tailoring is all about making clothes fit perfectly on your body. Find yourself a decent tailor and things get even easier. With just a few nips and tucks, a tailor can make even the most basic of pieces look like they were made for your body.

5) Do your homework

The internet is now awash with Menswear resources. Utilise them!

If you are not sure about any topic? Google it.

Almost every question can be answered online!

Also … feel free to fire any questions to me on Twitter… @galluslad.

HIS NAME IS “PAUL”

January 27, 2016 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

The world famous designer Paul Smith was recently in Glasgow to celebrate the opening of the “Hello, My Name is Paul Smith” exhibition at The Lighthouse venue in the city. The exhibition was first displayed in London a few years ago; but has since spent 2015 and 2016 (so far) touring Europe. Now it is Glasgow’s turn to host…

Paul Smith, along with his counterpart Ray Kelvin, has always been vocal about his affinity with Glasgow, previously writing:

“I’ve always had affection for Glasgow based on the city’s strong art heritage and its wonderful link with creativity. Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the School of Art and just the whole atmosphere of the place is fantastic.”

I was invited down to meet with Paul and get a sneak peak at the Glasgow-leg of the exhibition, guided by the man himself. “Hi, My Name is Paul Smith” draws on Paul’s personal archive and memories, spanning from the company’s very beginnings in the city of Nottingham to the now infamous international prominence the company have built.

The first thing that was instantly noticeable as I entered The Lighthouse was the charisma of Paul himself, he could instantly be identified, despite a) facing the other way …and b) wearing a traditional blue suit and pastel shirt combination.

As he turned to address the noise of us coming through the door, his face was welcoming and content, instantly putting my nerves (I WAS MEETING AN IDOL!) at rest. There was no ego at play here, it was obvious.

I could tell this before he had even opened his mouth yet…

One of the first things that Paul wanted to clarify was the real purpose of the creation of exhibition in the first place. He stressed (almost defensively) that the aim was not to create a vanity project, or an exhibition of how fashion has developed through the years; the exhibition was put together in an attempt to inspire more young people into starting their own business. Any business, in any industry.

The exhibition was mainly recreations of essential rooms in Paul’s business history. However, also included was the “Inside Paul’s Head” room, which aimed to pull together all of the different muses Paul uses to try and inspire his creativity. There is also a room which collects the most bizarre items Paul has been sent by his biggest fan. He/She has been sending him items since the late seventies; Paul doesn’t know their identity, he doesn’t want to. However, if you are reading this, you should know…he has kept them all…

For me, the highlights of the exhibition were:

A recreation of Paul’s first shop in Nottingham (which measured 3mx3m!!)
A recreation of the Parisian hotel room in which Paul Smith sold their first collection
A recreation of Paul’s office (a nonsensical sensory bombardment)

There was no doubt in my mind walking around this exhibition that the Paul Smith in front of me was the same Paul Smith that was welcoming strangers to view his home-made creations in broken French many years ago. Fame and success haven’t changed him; they have simply facilitated his creativity.

Style 101 – How To: Layering

December 8, 2015December 8, 2015 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

Winter has arrived hard and fast.

With the unpleasant arrival of the cold and the wet comes the necessary art of layering. Layering becomes a daily essential. Even the heartiest of men begin to require a few extra layers to keep themselves warm.

However, though this need arises like clockwork year-upon-year …are you prepared when it finally arises?

What IS layering?

It really isn’t complicated, laying is essentially the art of combining your clothing on top of each other while ensuring that they keep you warm, protect your body and are still aesthetically pleasing.

Why should I “layer”?

Layering’s appeal is twofold really.

Layering is Practical.

An obvious function of the layering process is keeping yourself warm. If you’re wearing more layers (all of them stylish, of course) you can retain more heat and keep your body temperature higher during these cold seasons.

Layering looks awesome!

Layering gives you the opportunity to step away from the regular summer staple of a t-shirt and jeans. Layering items on top of each other gives the opportunity to display your own take on style. It also enables you to get the most out of your clothes …as the same garments can take on dramatically different looks when used in different ways.

How do I “layer”?

In all honesty, layering isn’t all that hard. In fact, if you break it down to its basest level … you can follow one simple rule “thin to thick” and make sure it looks good (in your opinion)!

The “Think to Thick” rule is simple: thin clothing should be closest to your skin, with every piece of item you wear becoming thicker in size and weight as you progress through your outfit.

However, if you are looking for a little more detail in how to layer properly, here are a few further points to keep in mind:

Remember Pattern Matching Rules

Pattern Matching rules are a whole different Style 101 article which I promise to bring to you soon. However, to keep it simple:

If you are not confident, keep it to 1 patterned item in your outfit
If you feel confident, try to keep it to 2/3
Any patterns you do choose should contrast with each other in size/density.

Keep your outfit balanced

Layering largely tends to be top heavy for obvious reasons. When piecing together an outfit, make sure to regularly check your top half isn’t disproportionately bulky compared to your lower half.

Sorry lads, no spray on jeans matched with bulky shearling jackets!

Be care of colour coordination

Unfortunately, increasing the number of layers you are wearing means exponential growth in possibility of poor colour combinations.

If you are not confident, keeping your clothing colours in the natural hues (black, navy ect) should help keep you on the right side of taste.

Each item of clothing should be suitable to be worn on its own.

Layering shouldn’t be an excuse to wear (and hide) those tacky t-shirts you haven’t brought yourself to throw out yet. A key benefit of layering is the option of adding/removing items as you see fit.

You will need to wear most layers in the mornings (as that’s when it is coldest) and as the weather gets warmer, you may want to take off a layer or two – so it’s vital that your comfortable showing each layer.

Style Hotspots for Visiting Glasgow

November 19, 2015 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR, SCOTLAND, TRAVEL

Will you be visiting Glasgow soon?
Here at some of the areas you style aficionados will not want to miss…

Merchant City

Once the home of the thriving trade scene in the city, stacked to the rafters will wealthy tobacco and spice dealers, Merchant City has grown to become of the upmarket epicentres of Glasgow.

High class designers, cool bars and cafes, independent designers and highly-priced apartments compile every street.

Jewellery desigers Brazen, winner of Scotland’s most stylish retailer Cruise, Agent Provocateur, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, Armani and Hugo Boss are only some of the incredible brands which make of this small area of a few streets.

Princes Square

Princes Square is a shopping centre situated in a restored listed building right in the heart of Glasgow City Centre. Hidden behind a main shopping street, with only a slim entrance doorway on Buchanan Street – Princes Square would be very easy (but heartbreaking) for the inexperienced Glasgow-shopper to miss.

Offering over five floors of quality shopping, drinking and dinning – it would be dangerously tempting to spend your entire trips budget in a couple of hours.

You will find the likes of Belstaff, Cos, Kurt Gieger, Vivienne Westwood and Ted Baker rubbing shoulders with the well-designed and high-quality cafes and restaurants.

Silverburn

Silverburn is a shopping centre located outside of the main Glasgow City Centre. However, the centre is still easily accessed by public transport or taxi. With over 75 acres (214,000 sq ft) of high-end shopping Silverburn is one of Glasgow’s largest shopping centres.

Silverburn is a relatively new location for Glasgow, having opened their doors for the first time in 2007, however it has grown rapidly in popularity over the last few years. The main reason that Silverburn stands out against the other shopping “malls” in Glasgow is due to the fact that the original developers aimed to attract a mainly wealthy clientele from the more affluent suburbs of Glasgow.

This has resulted in the process of selecting which stores are allowed retail space within Silverburn being particularly strict. Don’t expect a MacDonalds in there anytime soon.

Buchanan Street

This wider-than-average, pedestrianised, stretch of road is the city’s main shopping district and is flanked by a highstreet hit-list of upmarket outlets.

Sweeping from the infamous Sauchiehall Street down to St Enoch Square, Buchanan Street is a gracious boulevard lined with architectural gems.

The magnificent House of Frasers store, boasts Scotland’s largest and most comprehensive beauty hall. Buchanan Street’s status as a hot fashion destination for men and women of style is further evidenced in the beguilling array of quirky labels at Urban Outfitters. Scotland’s first branch of American Apparel on Nelson Mandela Place is just around the corner, while cool London fashion label All Saints, the jeans-led Italian powerhouse Diesel and iconic varsity style specialist Jack Wills all have stores close by.

5 Tips to Better Understand and Organise Your Wardrobe

November 9, 2015November 24, 2015 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

So it’s November …. when the hell did that happen?!

Honestly, it feels like yesterday I was singing in the bells for 2015…now I’m another year older!

It’s not all doom and gloom though – the one benefit of the November rain pouring down is that the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are rapidly approaching (November 27^th).

In order to sift through the deals on offer and pick up bargains on the items you REALLY NEED you should do a little homework and gain a better understanding of your wardrobe and the essential items you are currently missing.

I’ve put together a few helpful tips to help you organise your Wardrobe in order to accommodate this incoming flux of Black Friday purchases…

1. Compartmentalise What You Already Have

I find it fascinating the significant number of men that I speak with who still have very little organisation to their wardrobe. I can’t stress enough how much organisation is essential to style.

In my own wardrobe, I have every style of clothing grouped together.
Cardigans, Shirts, Hooded Tops, Blazers ect.

The reason for this is that it allows me to keep track of what I have in my wardrobe; the types of clothes and how many of each item have. It also speeds up the process of selecting an outfit … if I fancy wearing a cardigan, they’re all there, in one place.

2. Captain Hook, At Your Service.

Have a look in your closet, is there wall/inside door space that is not going unutilised? Stick a hook on it. Multiple hooks if possible! This is a great way to maximised currently wasted space, and potentially double the available storage! This leads nicely on to number 3…

3. Hang Your Belts and Scarves

Not only does hanging your belts and scarves (on the hooks mentioned above^) save precious storage space, it also gives you the opportunity to gain a better sight of every item that you own … therefore, better utilising more of your wardrobe.
Are you beginning to see how strong wardrobe organisation can assist your style in a very cost-effective, simplistic, way?

4. Insert a Ray of Light

Wardrobes can be dark places, hidden out of the way in a corner of the room. To get the best view of the clothes on offer to you – stick a light in there!
This can be a much simpler process than many imagine – I’m not talking running wires or soldering LED lights … for me, I have an £8 camping light taped to the inside wall which has enough power to illuminate my collection. Easy.

5. The Hanger Warning System!

Ever feel like you are wearing the same clothes all the time?

Well this one is a very effective technique designed to show you exactly which of your clothes you do not wear.

STEP 1: Turn the hangers to all face the one way.

STEP 2: Once you have worn an item, turn the hanger the other way when you put your clothes back in the closet after washing.

STEP 3: After a certain amount of time (I usually use 3-months) review which direction the hangers are facing.

You’ll be able to see see what you wear a lot, and what you never touch!
It’s a great way to mix up your style and decide which of your clothes are heading for the charity shop!

Up Close With: Jack Edwards

October 29, 2015 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

I have returned ladies and gentlemen!

Feeling refreshed and ready to roll after my trip to Dubai (more information to come!).

So back to what you want to see…
I am always very passionate about sharing good resources with you and I am not shy about promoting other bloggers!

I have been lucky enough to make some good friends through this blogging malarkey … and it just so happened that one of the first people to check in with me (pun intended) following my Dubai trip was the good lad Jack Edwards from The Jack Experience.

I decided to grill him on your behalf…

Hi Jack, great to speak to you again.

Hello!

So – I’ve been reading your blog for quite a while now…but how long have you actually been blogging? What inspired you to start in the first place?

I launched my blog The Jack Experience in September 2014 after months of tireless work on the website’s design. I tried out different servers such as WordPress but nothing I was creating felt quite right. Instead, I designed my own website entirely from scratch; a blank canvas which allowed my creative reservoir to flow freely without being confined to the boundaries of strict layouts. Although it did take a lot more time to produce, I’m really proud of the outcome.

The effort was definitely worth it … the website looks great and is responsive across all of my devices. In terms of the content though, you’ve managed to create a space where you can quite literally blog about ANYTHING you want. That can be quite difficult to achieve without readers feeling that a blog is “off topic” … is that something which was quite important to you from the offset?

That’s exactly what I wanted!
My blog derived from a passion for writing and sharing my perceptions of the world… it’s a hobby. Writing in the real world involves lots of strict guidelines and rules – “we want you to write this number of words on this number of topics with a deadline of this number of days” – but on a blog you can write about anything your heart desires! I can write just about anything I like, and the broad ‘lifestyle blogger’ title umbrellas so many different topics. I love setting myself challenges and stepping out of my comfort zone, but I also love creative freedom. I’m like a little pug let loose from its cage which just jumps around excitedly because there are so many different places to explore and bums to sniff – or maybe not the last bit.

We don’t judge. You can do with your spare time what you like haha.
Having just left school – you are younger than most of the other male bloggers I have come across. This is a breath of fresh air in a sector which can become quite repetitive. However, I know as well as anyone that when you write …you open yourself up to serious criticism. I can’t imagine dealing with that kind of thing while at school. How did you find that?

Most comments I get about my blog or my writing ALWAYS somehow gravitate back to my age. In the blogging world, it’s important to never judge based on number of years but simply by the quality of the content; yes, I may be younger than many of my peers but that’s not to say that I cannot produce a kick-ass article for you just as well as anyone else can.

Opening yourself up to the world is absolutely terrifying – it’s daunting to completely expose yourself like that. However I can’t say I’ve received much criticism at all. In my experience, I’ve found people in the blogging world to be very accepting and friendly, so this hasn’t really been a problem for me. Of course I’ve had the odd ‘mean tweet’ but sometimes you just have to laugh – the haters gonna hate hate hate….

I think that’s exactly my point. You write as well as anyone …better than most if we are honest about it. I highlight your age as it gives a frame of reference for the level of talents you have. I’m glad you haven’t received many haters. I agree that the blogging community (from my experience) is full of really lovely people!

I always find myself laughing on your website, you write with a comedic breadth I haven’t seen on many other blogs – is comedy important to you?

I think that comedy is the most important thing; the ability to make someone laugh or smile should never be under-estimated. It’s one of the greatest feelings when someone tells me something I’ve written cheered them up or helped put a smile back on their face – what more could anyone in the entertainment industry ask for? The blogging world is so rewarding because you get to see this impact directly.

You have a very popular blog – with expectedly similarly popular social media accounts. I love your Instagram account. The photos are incredible…but I’ve noticed you DON’T have much video content across your blog or social media – is there a reason for that at all?

I’ve just launched my first ever YouTube video and I’m really excited for what the future holds with that. Stay tuned!

Very mysterious …looking forward to seeing what you come out with.
Moving on, you recently teamed up with ASOS – working with a brand as well known as ASOS is pretty much what most male bloggers strive for. Can you tell us a little about how that came about?

They just asked and I obviously jumped at the chance! I’ve been lucky enough to work with some great brands such as boohoo, ASUS, ASOS, Harrods and Goldsmiths but this doesn’t just happen overnight. You have to work hard to build up a brand identity and a positive reputation in the industry before brands start to get interested, although it may seem unrewarding at first. I focus on every meticulous detail on my blog, pouring my heart and soul into everything I upload. You shouldn’t be in this industry for the money or for the freebies, you should be here for the passion and then watch those things happen as a side-effect. If you write with passion, it will radiate from your blog like rays of light, I promise!

Great advice for all those hoping to make their mark.
You’re obviously a man with style; what shopping tips do you have for the Gallous Lad readers?

Firstly; wear what you want. Fashion is about you and your style, because no two people are the same. I’ve always tried to hear my blog away from telling people what they should or shouldn’t wear and what or what isn’t ‘cool’. As long as you’re happy and feel confident, dress however you want! My one tip would be that the best fashion inspiration comes from the streets; see what people are wearing around you and decide what you like. I love going to big cities and checking out the street-style for inspiration!

Brilliant, great speaking to you again Jack, thanks for taking the time out!

You can check out the debut Youtube video Jack mentioned above here:

Style 101: Formal Wear – Identical or Different, Never Similar.

October 17, 2015November 24, 2015 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

Style is a cruel mistress, difficult to master; easy to get on the wrong side off … sometimes you must wonder why you bother?
Even the experts don’t always get it right.

Never fear – Gallus is here to teach another easy to implement lesson which can have a drastic impact on your every day styling.

The lesson today is simple – when it comes to pairing formal wear; the jacket and trousers must be identical or completely different – similar is a BIG NO. You need to remember that simple rule.

When you are buying formal wear – you must either buy it with the corresponding trousers or pair it with a suitable option in a noticeably different colour and texture.

(Here is a strong example of the “Corresponding” option)

(Here is a good example of the “Different” option)

The reasoning behind this rule is the two major factors mentioned above: Colour and Texture.

Choosing a pair of trousers which give the illusion of a matching suit fails to look as good every time because it will neither straight-up match or functions as separates clothing entities.

The best example I can find of this common mistake is Guy Ritchie’s outfit below from the GQ website:

As you will be able to see yourself – Guy’s outfit doesn’t really work due to the similarity of his linen jacket with his trousers. They are very similar colours … but clearly not identical. The textures of the two fabrics are vastly different too.

It’s a shame, as if it had been a better jacket/trouser combination the outfit would have been pretty strong. The colour combination between the jacket and the shirt looks good …and I like the white pocket square to match.

Guy Ritchie is normally very good with his style, but as I said above – even the experts get it wrong sometimes!

Menswear Dog – My Favourite Thing on the Internet

October 14, 2015November 24, 2015 by Gallus, posted in MENSWEAR

It has previously been said that dressing well is 90% fit.

We’ll now … it would seem that dressing well is 90% fur!

In case you have not been privy to the growing phenomenon that is “Menswear Dog” – the principle is simple.
It is a dog…who dresses in Menswear.

It’s not very often you get a successful mix of humour with fashion. Menswear Dog not only breaks the mould of humourless, emotionless fashion models. He smashes it into smithereens.

To me, Menswear Dog is essentially the greatest idea ever, a perfect mix of the internet’s two favourite things … cute animals and strong fashion.

Bodhi, the Shiba Inu (it’s a type of dog) who stands in front of the camera has managed to create something truly original in the beloved Menswear Dog brand. What has been created is an easily accessible menswear guide with a greater intention.

In fact, the endeavour has been so successful that it has already spun out into it’s only book:

The book highlights menswear essentials organised seasonally and is filled to the brim with serious fashion advice to coincide with the hilariously posed outfit ideas.

Menswear Dog can solve two problems – if you are a pet loved, you will find this page endlessly amusing – if you are still trying to grasp the ins-and-outs of what works in menswear, this book can help with that issue as well.