Men's Fashion: the sales are here!

You have to remain optimistic when you live in the UK. When it nears the summer holidays, you hope (and pray) that the weather will shine and you'll be able to relax in a pair of shorts, flip flops and a tee. Ok, so it usually doesn't happen unless you go abroad for the summer, but we remain in hope!
Yet as the summer holidays draw closer, you really should have your summer wardrobe all sorted. But don't panic if you haven't, because now is the best time to go shopping because yes, that annual event (which seems to start earlier every year) is here: the annual Summer Sale.

All your favourite stores have now started their sales, and from just a quick rummage of the rails and a click of a few buttons, you could complete your summer collection with a few bargain items.

With sales at stores such as Gap, Topman, H&M and Clarks offering discounts of up to 50%, you really can't afford to miss out. Here are my picks of the sales:
 

                                               

Shorts - H&M                                       Tee - River Island                           Shirt - Gap      

Shorts - Topman                         Chinos - New Look                        Shoes - Clarks

 

Sunglasses - Republic                          Jacket - Debenhams                   Polo - Urban Outfitters 

Don't forget to check online and instore for all the latest bargains!

Read more fashion posts by the jourknow below:

- the Man Bag

- the Polka Dots are in town!

- Men's Fashion Summer 2012

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Men's Fashion: the Man Bag

When it comes to going out, us men are easy. Get washed, shaved and dressed to then walk out the door with a few necessities; wallet, ID and mobile. You don't really need anything else.

Or do you? Because if the latest fashion trends are anything to go by, men are becoming dependent on accessories. And with more accessories, you need something to store them in. Yes, the Man Bag.

The Man Bag has been around for a while, but it's noticeably more popular now than ever before, and it seems like the moods of those who condemned them are changing.

But why do you need one? Well, if you're like me and many other blokes I know, the 21st century man is fashion conscious and needs his appearance to be impeccable 24/7. If I go out for the evening, I tend to just keep to the bare essentials, but when at work/ out for the day, the list of accessories expands. Deodorant, aftershave, gel, umbrella (you never can tell when the British weather is likely to turn), my iPod, a book (occasionally) and so on. Some of you may need a bag for glasses, a drink, food, cigarettes etc.

You get the picture. The man of today needs his own bag, and here are some of the top bags for different occasions.

School/ College bag:
(The canvas rucksack is really in this season, replacing the messenger bag. Block colours are best for school, but if you fancy going for something more daring on the playground, try Aztec patterns or stripes.)

   

River Island/ Fred Perry at Debenhams/ Urban Outfitters

Everyday rucksack:

(You can't go wrong with the simple rucksack design. It's practical, because you can fill it up or just use it to carry a few things.)

Westpac at Next/ Topman/ H&M

Gym/ short vacation bags:

(The holdall was really popular last year, and is still in fashion with the barrel holdall complimenting last years designs.)

    

  

Burton/ Republic/ Next 

Shopping bag:

(This is the ideal bag for a guy that might be out all day shopping but needs a bag to store all those essential items I mentioned above. Plus, you can help the environment by using this to store your new items!)

Asos/ Topman/ H&M

Work bag:

(For the man with the top job, you need to look swish. Leather bags are still very popular, and can either be carried or hung from your shoulder.)

River Island/ Clarks/ Ted Baker at Boros

Other fashion posts from the jourknow:

- the Polka Dots are in town!

- Men's Fashion Summer 2012

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Let it Snow!

It has been promised for the last few weeks, and with an overnight flurry of the white stuff descending on the majority of the UK, it looks like our prayers have been finally answered.

Yes, the snow has arrived. And with it, comes the flight cancellations, road accidents and numerous days off from school and work. A nightmare, some might say?

But honestly, every year the same thing happens. It snows, the nation goes crazy and we soon start to moan about the snow before it has even settled. Why? So it might cause a few problems here and there. It might mean you miss a concert, a train ride back home or mean you are stuck inside for the next few days, but does it really matter?

Personally, I love the sense of chaos the snow brings with it every year. You can guarantee, that by February, Britain is bracing itself for a coating of Snow, so thick it is going to ruin everything. Yet we never seem to truly grasp the snow by its horns. It still manages, without fail, to wipe us of our salt supplies, and ruin the public transport system.

But who cares! For kids, it is magnificent. No school, no work; just lots of snowball fights, snowangels and snowmen! And for even bigger kids, like myself, it is a chance to reminisce over your childhood, as you re-create the Spanish Civil War outside in the snow.

For everyone else though, it is a nightmare. Blocked roads, empty shops, a cold house, the prospect of spending 3 days stuck with your children. Damn you blasted weather! Every year is the same. On one side, you have those who love it. And on the other, you have those who despise it.

Which begs the question, what are the real benefits of the snow? According to a recent article in The Sun, the snow provides a £100 million boost to the High Street, as maniacal mums descend on the supermarkets. According to the paper, the amount of goods bought on the High Street last week was up 200% compared to other weeks. Marks & Spencers reported a 95% rise in coat sales, up on a year ago, and Debenhams reports a 40% rise in the number of high tog duvets being sold.

So as temperatures hit -11c, it seems the snow can bring benefits to the nation. And in these dire times of economic struggle, surely we all deserve a day off once in a blue moon, to enjoy mother nature and relive your youth. Let it snow Britain, let is snow!