What to Wear with a Pork Pie Hat

Pork pie hats get their tasty name from their resemblance to a classic British pastry. Their low, round crowns and short brims suit a wider variety of face shapes and body types than most hats. Once the favored style for Victorian dandies, pork pie hats evolved into the fashion statement of choice for jazz musicians and ska bands. Since very little is cooler than the jazz scene, it's no wonder that pork pie hats are making a comeback.

Like any topper, the pork pie hat has its own fashion rules, although the pork pie is such an adaptable hat that it might be better to consider them guidelines rather than rules. If you have the confidence for it, you can wear a pork pie hat with almost anything.

Casual Pork Pie Hats

The simple silhouette of a pork pie hat goes well with casual clothing. What makes a pork pie hat look more casual is its fabric; in an open-weave straw or canvas construction, it looks a bit less starched than in more formal fabrics. Prints and patterns also make a hat look more appropriate for weekends than for work days. Pair a pork pie with a button-down shirt in a vintage style or with a simple t-shirt. It's a natural match for a bowling shirt, especially if the hat and brim colors coordinate with the two tones of the shirt.

Pork Pie Hats in More Formal Styles 

When you think of formal hats, you probably think of bowlers, fedoras and other shaped felt hats. Pork pie hats and felt hats have a few elements in common, but pork pies have an affable approachability that wider-brimmed fedoras may lack. That friendly appeal makes them well suited to more relaxed styles rather than extremely formal silhouettes that call for a more complex hat. A lightweight blazer with jeans and a pork pie hat is an excellent date-night option. For work wear, a pork pie is a good way to dress up long shirt sleeves and slacks when you aren't wearing a jacket. Save short sleeves for casual Fridays; even with a dapper hat, that style may be a little too relaxed for some offices.

How to Wear a Pork Pie Hat

Tipping the hat back on your head makes a pork pie hat look a little more rakish and casual. If you're slight or short, wearing your hat toward the back extends the line of your body upward rather than capping it with a flat horizontal brim. Moving the hat forward is a more businesslike look; it also tends to shorten a long face. Play around with how you wear your hat to find your best angles.

Complete the Look with Designer Accessories for Men

In the world of fashion it is probably fair to say that when considering the term “accessories” this tends to be something that is widely considered on the whole, an area of the clothing industry that is by and large predominantly associated with women’s wear , with items such as jewellery, hair accessories, designer handbags, purses and the like all regularly a focus of discussion - and indeed in many instances a “hot topic” - on online fashion blogs, as well as in the printed press in countries all over the world.

     But what of fashion and accessories for men I hear you cry? Surely there must be demand for suitable matching designer accessories to compliments men’s clothing too? Well, when it comes to men’s fashion accessories there is indeed now an increasing level of market and demand - and in turn a growing industry of specialist shops and online retailers tailoring their products purely toward the male accessories market and shying away from what is already a massively competitive and largely flooded female accessories marketplace.

     Moodys Worldwide for example, are one such retailer who have opted to specialise purely in a range of accessories for men – with a broad selection of quality leather wallets, smart ties, Mens silk scarves, leather belts, caps and other men’s accessories inspired and popularised by the recent resurgence in gentlemen’s country style clothing. Perfect alongside a quilted jacket, these fine accessories will suit any man looking for a classic country look, even if living in more modernised urban surroundings.

Designer Clothing - Big Brands for Large Men

Larger or taller men can sometimes face big challenges in the smart style stakes as a lot of clothes targeted at those with a bigger build tend to be extremely casual in nature. Jogging bottoms and tracksuit tops, though comfortable, aren't a great style fit for every occasion.

With this in mind, I've been looking at the offerings of Jacamo Menswear this week to try and hone in on pieces that tick the boxes of smart and stylish, yet stay suitable for men of all sizes.

One collection that stood out is the Penguin spring/summer range. Available in sizes up to a 5XL and in longer length options too, Penguin largely concentrate on polo shirts and chinos that are smart enough to pass the pub/club test while staying comfortable. Prices sit around the £50 to £70 mark, making their pieces slightly pricey but still realistic for designer gear. They also design boots and shoes to complement the street smart look.

Penguin clothes perfectly encapsulate the preppy sportswear look that's popular at the moment. The polo shirts and chinos have a touch of the American Ivy League style, but are grown up enough for men in their twenties and beyond to wear.

The brand itself does have its sporty connotations, though with a more gentlemanly nature. Penguin was started by American Abbot Penderson, who was a keen golfer. It's also a brand that has been favoured by some real male fashion icons in the past including Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood and Dean Martin - if it's good enough for Ol' Blue Eyes, I'm sure it's good enough for a pint down the pub, a trip to the shops and putting a few holes on the local golf

Belstaff Still Lead the Way in Mens Designer Jackets

From its humble beginnings in Longton near Stoke on Trent, Belstaff has now established itself as the most iconic and leading brand name in the world of men’s designer leather jackets. Unrivalled in terms of the quality of materials and build, and always at the forefront of technological advancements in fabric, Belstaff now produce the ultimate range of men’s (and women’s) leather and waxed cotton jackets designed for the 21st century adventurer and free spirit.

     The brand has always had strong links to motorbikes and the life on the open road - and its trialmaster jacket has remained a favourite amongst bikers for many decades (and was also warn by Will Smith in the film "I Am Legend"). Belstaff’s Mojave jacket is also a classic design based on the jacket motorcycle legend Steve Mcqueen used to race in during the 1960s. The brand has a rich heritage and history of producing high quality and stylish designer jackets and combining the classic and the contemporary to produce the ultimate collection of men’s designer clothing.

Grenson Shoes: The Ultimate Range of Mens Designer Brogues & Boots

If you are looking for a range of men’s designer shoes that offers style, quality of build, luxury and comfort then look no further than the latest range from Grenson. This long established brand has emerged from Northampton in the UK and subsequently launched itself into the forefront of men’s fashion over the last few years with their stunning range of men’s designer brogues – with the tan coloured Grenson “Archie” and Grenson “Stanley” models proving extremely popular this season.

The brand also do some very stylish men’s designer boots which are perfect to combat the cold, rain and snow during the winter season - and could also therefore make a perfect gift this xmas. The Grenson “Sharp” and Grenson “Fred” boots like the brand’s brogues are made from extremely high quality calf leather – and are superbly stylish and comfortable to wear in the current cold and wintery conditions.

Mens Penfield Jackets: The Perfect Winter Warmer

During the winter month's its perhaps not surprising that rugged outdoor fashion brands come into their own, and in this regard Penfield is no exception.  First established in Massachusetts in 1975, the Penfield brand has emerged initially out of necessity - anyone who has visited this part of America will tell you that due to the climatic conditions during winter the need for outerwear that provides, warmth, durability and protection from the rain and snow is all but an essential.

     Since its initial conception however the brand has gradually established itself in the mens designer clothing market on the back of a fantastic range of winter coats and jackets, in addition to other winter warmers such as fleeces and jumpers - all of which are essential purchases for the stylish young man to survive the winter months.

     The last year or two has also seen the brand  break into many of the leading mens fashion stores here in the UK - and with a selection of stylish quilted and down stuffed jackets and sleeveless body warmers available to buy now they are a great fashion item to help you survive the frozen wastelands of Blighty this December. This season's mens Penfield jackets also feature some nice details like fleece lined pockets to keep your hands warm and comfy when out and about, plus leather "shooting" shoulder patches which are very popular in designer mens jackets and jumpers during winter 2011.

Buying Xmas Presents for the Mrs

Well it only seems like yesterday since last years stress and grief set in for the festive period, but sad to say its already come round once again to that dreaded time of year. As hard working men young and old across the world site in their offices staring at computer screens, the burning thought remains in the back of the mind: the sheer rising panic about what to buy your wife or girlfriend for Christmas. Of course you want to get her something special - right? You don't want to end up buying her a voucher or something similarly thoughtless! After all if you don't hit the xmas jackpot you're most likely going to get another 12 months of bother from her until the next xmas time comes around - and nobody wants that.
      Luckily however, the inspirational hand of help is here - and you can even get yourself a little bit of joy out of the event as well by picking a gift carefully. If you have to buy your girlfriend a present this xmas - why not invest in some nice clothes for her? Ladies fashion garments can sometimes take a bit of choosing and prior thought - but you can always try and get one of her friends to help out in picking something nice. She will simply love a nice bit of designer clothing for the festive period - and with all those parties for you and her to go to you can dress her up stylishly and attractively in your dream date night wear - then both of you get to enjoy the full benefits of her Christmas present ;-)

Designer Clothing Trends for the Whole Family

Christmas is just around the corner and it’s time to start shopping for the whole family. Here we have picked out the latest designer trends for men, women and children so you can shop around for this season’s hottest luxury clothing and the most stylish stocking fillers.


Men’s Designer Clothing Trends

• Fairisle knits – the fairisle pattern is back once again and this time it’s come back with more variation, drawing inspiration from tribal influences.

• Winter brights – there’s nothing more exciting that bright knitwear. Brighten up any winter outfit with some brightly coloured V neck jumpers such as the smart yet colourful Lyle and Scott collection.

• Cords – chinos are out and cords are in! If you have every colour of chino pants in your wardrobe, it’s time to shift them along the rail to make room for winter chinos.


Women’s Designer Clothing Trends

• Nordic knitwear –fairisle has take a turn for the quirkier, so this A/W it’s all about patterned ponchos and Scandinavian inspired pieces. Try designers such as Nordstrom and French Connection for pretty fairisle gifts.

• Tribal trims – the tribal look has carried over from the summer and we now see a tamer version of tribal attitude, including tans and suedes, large prints and big, chunky jewellery.

• Capes and ponchos – Capes dipped its toes into the fashion scene last year and now they are all over the high street.


Kid’s Designer clothing Trends

• Nordic knitwear – the Nordic fairisle print is extremely cute on little ones and you add to the cute factor with some frills, ruffles and pom poms.

• Fur collars – faux fur has been huge this season and Moschino can offer a wide range of fur collared jackets and faux fur coats for extra warmth.

• Down gilets – the gilet is super stylish at any time of year, but add the luxury of Down feathers to keep little ones extra warm this winter.

Keep up to the latest children’s fashion trends on the Kids Designer Clothing blog.

Luke Roper Leicester Store to Open September 2011

The official Luke 1977 website has announced the scheduled opening date of its new Leicester store is set for around 2 to 3 weeks’ time – great news for men's designer clothing lovers (or doting mums and girlfriends) who are looking to get their hands on some quality Luke clobber from the winter 2011 collection in plenty of time to avoid Christmas rush.

The new shop located in the Highcross Shopping Centre will be the 5th "bricks and mortar" incarnation of the leading men's designer clothing brand here in the UK.  The news of the Leicester shop opening comes following the successful recent launch of the Luke Roper store in St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff on 7th of August.

Famous for its rugged but stylish collection of designer menswear, the Luke brand has been continuing to look to expand its horizons beyond designer Luke Roper's old stomping ground in the West Midlands. The Luke shop in The Bullring in Birmingham opened with a bang in late April 2011, with the opening party attended by members of indie band The Enemy as well as Premier League stars from Aston Villa FC.

News of the Leicester launch party bash should be surfacing soon on Luke's official Facebook page.

Lyle and Scott Heritage Autumn / Winter 2011

The distinctive red coloured Lyle and Scott eagle logo is the instantly recognisable hallmark of this long standing brand’s fantastic new men’s autumn and winter 2011 Heritage range. With a style ethos that is essentially centred around a smart and refined yet still semi casual sense of dress code and styling, the latest Lyle and Scott Heritage collection comprises some excellent warm garments such as jumpers and jackets which are perfect for the winter months. 

Alongside these are the obligatory selection of the ever popular men’s Lyle and Scott polo shirts that have proved an extremely big hit over the last few years, and have been an integral part of the brand’s 21st century renaissance.

Barbour International Range Remains At Forefront of Mens Fashion

Everybody has heard of Barbour - the iconic British lifestyle brand famous for their classic wax jackets. Not many realise that they sell more than wax jackets for the country set. Barbour were founded in 1894 by John Barbour in the northern English town of South Shields. A lot has changed since then!

Barbour's original wax jackets are still made close to where the company was founded. However Barbour have also expanded their range. From classic, heritage countrywear that still looks 120 years later, Barbour now produce more modern styles.

Barbour International is a range of urban clothing for both men and women. Inspired by Barbour's original motorcycling outfits of the 1930s, the range has been brought up to date to fit in with the lifestyle of the modern 21st Century fashionista.

As well as traditional "Barbour green" the range includes bright and bold colours. A variety of leather, quilted and nylon jackets form the basis of the range. Parkas and Polar Quilt jackets are guaranteed to keep the wearer warm on cold days. For warmer weather, the Barbour International range also includes shirts, crewnecks and t-shirts that look just as good on a night on the town out as at a motorcycling event.

Cruyff Trainers A Breath Of Fresh Air For Mens Footwear

This fantastic range of mens designer trainers has grown massively over the last couple of years - and the brand's new Autumn and Winter 2011 product range is sure to prove a big hit amongst young, fashionable lads across the UK who are seeking something truly unique and different from the usual run of the mill mens footwear. Taking their inspiration from one of the world's all time great football players Johan Cruyff, these stunning and extremely distinctive range of mens designer footwear sport a unique slim fit and football boot esq design and styling that suitably reflect the skill and passion of the great Dutch forward himself.

Using the highest quality leather for their product, Cruyff trainers offer the wearer some highly striking, bold and innovative colours and designs including some hi tops, low profile and quilted trainer models. The Vanenburg trainers in particular has proved to be extremely popular and will certainly make you stand out from the usual crowd of mates who will no doubt stay true to the usual Adidas and Nike designs that seem to have been around for decades. So check out the latest Cruyff trainers and find a unique breath of fresh air in the world of mens designer footwear.

Mens Designer Chinos A Great Alternative to Jeans

Unless you have been living under s rock for the last 12 months you will probably have noticed that designer men's chinos have made a big comeback this last year or so. For the fashionable young man in 2011 the rise of the chino has been a positive for those like me who had a wardrobe full of only blue denim jeans. As much as I love the jeans from labels such as Nudie, Edwin and Denham it has to be said it is refreshing to now have a more varied collection of garments.

     If you are looking to buy men's chinos then you don't have to look very hard to find them. Many of the recently emerging leading fashion labels such as Humor have built their reputation on the instantly recognizable drop crotch men's pants with the sand or beige colours proving popular. More established brands such as Dockers have also brought out a good range of men's designer chinos recently for Winter 2011. However you can also find cheaper options on the high street with my rust coloured chinos with nice white button detail coming from Top Man at just £28 and other high street favourites such as H & M have different styles of chino available.

Fantastic Stylish Mens Footwear from Paul Smith

Whether you are looking for casual or smart footwear, the latest range of men's footwear from leading designer Paul Smith is going to blow you away. With a range of trainers that carry a style that is distinctive but casually understated (including their new “Cloud” and “Musa” range of Paul Smith trainers), the brand have gone that extra mile to make a footwear range that is really unique and gives the wearer a great sense of fashion and style but with a degree of subtlety.

The Paul smith brand have also recently released an excellent range of smart leather shoes alongside their selection of increasingly popular deck shoes style (such as the “Hashbury”), so check out their latest menswear range and see if you can find a product to complete your look – be it casual or smart.

Havaianas Still Lead Way In Mens Summer Footwear

For the ultimate in stylish and comfortable summer footwear look no further than Brazil’s greatest export: Havaianas flip flops. From as early as 1962, this leading international brand in the world of men’s fashion footwear has been championing its own secret formula of rubber that give their flip flops unparalleled comfort as well as long lasting style. Durable as well as comfortable to wear, the brand has released dozens of different designs over the years, but remains the market leaders when it comes to men’s summer footwear.

     Remaining as popular today as in their time of origin Havaiana flip flops are once again a must have item for any fashionable young man heading to a beach holiday or one of Europe’s great festivals this summer. Let your feet breath and enjoy the comfort that Havaianas flip flops provide as you laze around the beach or park. Also for the spring/summer 2011 season you can check out the brand’s range of pumps and canvas slip-ons which have added a new dimension to this great men’s designer clothing line.

Finding the Best Mens Designer Clothing Websites

With the arrival of the all new spring and summer 2011 lines of men’s designer clothing now filling our city centre and shopping centre stores and fully stocked onto the UK’s leading online retailer’s websites, fashionable gentlemen across the country are understandably on the lookout for the latest deals on both new stock and also the end of line sale items still available from the previous autumn and winter 2010 season. With the weather set fair, it’s time to grab those designer polo shirts and shorts as well as those cool sun shades.  

Indeed, it doesn’t take a scientist to work out that the internet is awash nowadays with clothing websites offering the latest men’s threads from top brands like Lacoste, Lyle & Scott, Barbour, Hugo Boss and much more - so finding and comparing the best few websites offering the latest men’s designer clothing may often prove to be a difficult and time consuming business. Luckily though, help is at hand as there are some easy to use comparison sites, blogs, web directories and websites around that can help you find and identify the best men’s clothing websites that the internet has to offer all at the click of a button – by listing all the best clothing sites for men under one roof. 

Humor Jeans Sales Set to Rise in 2011

As I have previously highlighted on this blog, the last couple of years have heralded the emergence and growth in some fantastic new designer jeans labels including Nudie and Edwin as well as a resurgence for some classic brands like Levis and Lee Cooper. Hot on the trail of these fantastic denim lines is the Danish brand Humor.

 
     The Humor brand takes its inspiration for its jean designs, colours, styles and cuts from urban electronic music and the lifestyles of inner city men who enjoy it - and they have burst onto the mens fashion scene with some aplomb in 2010. Humor's fashion philosophy claims they are seeking to incorporate styling elements from workwear, sports clothing and classic club fashion - as well as the streetwear of some of the worlds greatest fashion centres: London, Tokyo, New York and Berlin.
     Perhaps the most popular line of jeans that the brand has produced is the Humor Santiago jeans. Standing out from many other lines of designer mens jeans, Humor Santiago jeans sport a distinctive low crotch and carrot fit - giving them a style all of their own in the world of mens designer clothing.

Best Men’s Designer Quilted Jackets for Winter 2010

One of the hottest products at the moment in the world of men’s designer clothing seems to be the quilted jacket – and for me it seems pretty clear why they are proving so popular in the world of men’s fashion this season. Not only are these bad boys a great way of keeping warm during the seemingly never ending freezing temperatures that have plagued us this winter, but you’ll also look the business whether its on the football terraces, out Christmas shopping with the missus, or taking a nice winter stroll.

Barbour remains the big brand name when it comes to men’s designer quilted jackets, but I’ve also seen some great lines from the likes of Peter Werth, Lyle and Scott, CP Company and even the humble high street shops such as Primark have a few nice quilted jackets at an incredibly cheap price. So ladies, if you are reading this and struggling to find the perfect Christmas gift for your fella look no further than a quilted jacket to keep him warm this winter!

The Rise of Barbour Jackets in Urban and Terrace Style

It doesn’t seem a very long time ago that Barbour jackets were perhaps something that was generally only associated with middle aged country gentlemen who spent more time hunting and shooting small furry and feathered creatures than walking the streets of the UK’s biggest cities or mixing it up on the terraces on a Saturday afternoon - but there is no doubt in my mind that the biggest name to emerge in the world or urban clothing and designer terrace wear in winter 2020 so far has to be the Barbour brand.

Perhaps most famous for their quilted Men's and ladies jackets, the uptake of the brand in major high street and online stores that had been more famously connected with urban clothing and terrace fashion has helped propel this classic winter warmer into a brand new audience of fashion lovers and chart territory that it had perhaps never imagined it would take. Both stylish and practical, the Barbour brand is great to keep lads warm on the terraces this winter - and with a more “fitted” range of quilted men’s jackets in the brand’s winter 2010 range that also come with a more stylish waste length fit compared with many of their previous models, the latest quilted men’s jackets such as the Barbour Embleton (which also sports a rather cool high button up neck as seen above) and Barbour Chelsea are now increasingly been worn by fashionable gents of the inner city rather than the countryside.

New Heritage Range of Lyle and Scott Jumpers

Following in the very hot footsteps of Lyle and Scott’s highly successful vintage collection that has been flying of the shelves of mens designer clothing websites and shops over the last couple of years, this winter the brand have released an excellent range of mens Lyle and Scott jumpers, polo shirts, shirts and jackets as part of their “Heritage” collection. Whether you prefer the fit of crewnecks, V-necks, shawl necks or funnel neck designs, when it comes to mens overgarments, the latest Lyle and Scott jumpers are sure to have something that will be a great addition to any well dressed gentlemen’s wardrobe this winter.

Available in numerous colours and styles and backed up by some fleece tops in the range, the latest heritage range of Lyle and Scott jumpers is sure to be a big hit both on the highstreet and online. The official Lyle and Scott brand website describe the heritage collection as “A sophisticated lifestyle range that is both timeless and modern.” - and suggest that this range of quality men’s designer clothing products will provide the wearer with “A looser fit than Vintage, with subtle self coloured Eagles”. One thing that is for sure is that the Lyle and Scott heritage range is sure to be a big hit in the run up to Christmas.