The Best: Messenger Bags

The messenger bag is a classic, and should be present in every man's wardrobe. Just one, in a suitably classic style, will take you a long way.

I'm a huge fan of our number one, the Mulberry Brynmore. I own the classic design, but the updated version for the MacBook Pro (below) is sleek, elegant and quintessentially British. Having said that, any one of these top five are going to give you a slick and modern look.

There's something here for the workplace or the weekend, so take a gander.

1. Mulberry, Brynmore for MacBook Pro (£895.00)

A classic amongst messenger bags, this natural leather will age wonderfully if cared for properly. A sound investment from the British brand. Great stitching detail and the traditional postman's lock, it's not high fashion but it is high end.

Designed for a 15" MacBook Pro, there's never been a better way to transport your technology.

2. Rag & Bone, Rugged Briefcase ($450.00)

British-born New York outfit Rag & Bone have produced an excellent smart/casual option. This is certainly the bag that treads the fine line between the office and the bar the best. And a good khaki canvas lining too, which is both hard-wearing and won't shed on the contents of your bag. 

The wool body and leather trim makes this a fantastic autumn/winter choice!

3. Sandqvist, Izzy (€179.00)

For the more casual amongst us, this messenger from Swedish brand Sandqvist is definitely the way to take those work documents and the laptop to the nearest cafe at the weekend. The blue canvas with leather detailing is relaxed and super-cool.

For those starting or heading back to uni this month, this is my recommendation for lectures this year!

4. Burberry, Small Alligator Detail Messenger Bag (£4,995.00)

For the richer gent. Beautiful. Sleek. Classy. Banker. *anker. Jealous.

5. Longchamp, Safari-Sur-Seine Shoulder Bag (£250.00)

Longchamp have a good (and extensive) range of leather and nylon totes and messenger bags. This one, in its lovely copper, is my top choice. Reasonably priced, too.

Take me to Paris and wear this with a grey COMME des GARÇONS jumper (I don't care they're Japanese). I'd be yours.

I'm Wearing: Sunday 29 September 2013

I was in East London this weekend for the final Street Feast of the summer. Here I'm drinking an aperol spritz in a run-down storage facility in Dalston Yard. It doesn't get much more London than that.

Animal-Print Jumper: Acne Studios

Sunglasses: H&M

Watch: Cartier

Wish List: Acne Studios, Webber Diamond Tie in Brown (£90.00)

Acne tailoring is incredible. I have a number of suits and ties from the Swedish design studio and this 60/40 wool/silk tie is another winner for this autumn. 

7cm at its widest, it could never be termed "skinny", but this tie on the slimmer side of average to ensure that it looks modern and sharp, both casually and in the office. And it's beautifully detailed.

My tip? Buy one. Oh, and buy one in navy too.

Björn Borg Says Da!

Björn Borg Says Da! 

A full-page ad in the Moscow Times this week heralded the launch of Swedish underwear and sports-wear brand Björn Borg's Russian website and online store.

Now please immediately note the rainbow-coloured arrangement of the men's underwear. 

The Marketing Director at  Björn Borg, Lina Söderqvist, had this to say: 

"We are opening up for e-commerce on the Russian market. The opening advert is a way for us to reach Russian influencers. Björn Borg as a brand has always advocated equality on all levels. It is a human right to love and to make love to who-ever you choose and we want to make a point of that through the advert in the Moscow Times today”.

So that's two fingers up at Putin then!

A big congratulations and well done from me to the people at Björn Borg!

Wish List: Marni Panelled Mohair-Blend Sweater (£350)

Block-colour panelling is everywhere this season, and I've totally bought into the trend. Although, I would say it's hard not to when it's done as well as this sweater by Marni. A mohair/wool blend - snug and delightful - this jumper would make you (read: me) look crazy stylish on that autumnal or winter afternoon spent in the pub and treading the crisp fallen leaves in the park.

Available on Mr Porter, it's only a click away!

My New: Redken, Intra-Force Daily Use 3-Step System

Okay, I don’t know that much about hair. Or the science behind hair care in fact. But as I am one of the many unfortunates who struggle with the extra-ordinary pain of a receding hairline, a stimulating and thickening shampoo is fairly close to the top of my list when it comes to grooming essentials. 

I put Murdock Hair Doh in my hair every morning. I style my hair in a quiff. I run my hands through my hair while sitting at my desk all day. In combination, my habits naturally result in more breakage and hair loss around the front of my scalp. And I'd do almost anything to protect what's left. 

I’m not deluded. I don’t think there’s a “re-growth” shampoo or treatment on the market that’s going to prevent or cure baldness (I would be very, very happy to hear from anyone who has found the miracle cure), but what I’m talking about here is a treatment that is going to strengthen and protect your hair.

With that lengthy prelude in mind, I have been using the Redken market offering - Intra-Force - for the last six weeks. This 3-step approach, involving a shampoo, toner and treatment, offers a (relatively) cost effective and simple option. You can pick up a small set of all three products for around £25.00 on Amazon. And I’m kind of obsessed with how it smells (I think it’s the zinc)... 

Step 1 – Shampoo

Step 1, as you may well imagine, is to shampoo. The detoxifying formula (it's the zinc PCA again!) is designed to help reduce excess sebum (natural oiliness that is secreted through the hair follicle) and DHT (which can play a major role in hair loss by causing follicles to shrink). The idea being that the shampoo creates a healthy environment and therefore encourages hair to grow.

Step 2 – Tone 

Step 2 is toning, or conditioning. This is the part that's going to nourish and moisturise, helping prevent premature hair breakage. After shampoo-ing, I comb about a 10p piece sized amount of toner through damp hair and leave it in for a few minutes. Then rinse. The vitamin E content here nourishes and preps your hair before moving on to step 3...

Step 3 - Treatment

The final, post-shower, step is a spray treatment. Claiming to energise the scalp (I'm not certain about that), this treatment is a fast absorbing spray that promotes hair density (via the amino acid content) and makes hair look fuller and thicker. After showering, spray the treatment over towel dried hair and comb or gently massage into the scalp. 

I find that step 3 gives you that blissful, albeit brief, massage-moment in the morning. And for an extra-special treat, you could always pay someone to do it for you at a Redken salon!

I'm Wearing: Sunday 22 September 2013

Photographed in everyones favourite brutalist meta-metropolis the Barbican. Lots of good earthy autumnal colours going on for me this weekend.

Patent Shoes: Paul Smith

Trousers: Filippa K 

Jumper: Cos

Shirt: Nudie Jeans

Neck Tie: Miu Miu

Blazer: Mr Rick Tailor

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

London Fashion Weekend, 21 September 2013

This week I was given a ticket by suitably high-end fashion destination Browns to go to London Fashion Weekend.

I saw the trend catwalk show styled by Pandora Lennard, was tempted by some shopping at Dolce & Gabbana, and had my photo taken by Canon at the 360º Studio. Below are a couple of my shots from the day!

London Fashion Weekend runs 19 - 22 September 2013.

The Fashion Weekend trend catwalk show Finale (Look: Victoriana)

The Fashion Weekend Show

Browns - my reason for being at Fashion Weekend!

Keeping me warm this winter, courtesy of Mr Dolce and Mr Gabbana.

...and finally, my Canon 360º Studio shot. Angles of myself that I have never seen and hope never to see again!

Product Review: Korres, Vanilla Plum Body Milk (£10.00, 200ml)

Okay, so I know I wasn't too emphatic about the face cream, but I do like Korres and I do like this vanilla plum body milk, which I have been using for a couple of weeks now.

I've written about body lotions before, and I question whether men really use them (or just their girlfriends occasionally). But given this is my second review in as many months they must have an audience in me at least.

This offering is both reasonably priced and effective, and the fragrance has a really nice (almost) smokey edge to it. The plum becomes more pronounced over time for me - around 20 minutes or so after first application for me. The vanilla extract is much more prominent up front.

My skin always feel soft and hydrated after use, which is important especially around the elbow where skin can become hard and worn. The almond oil and shea butter make sure you're left supple and smooth.

Not so much a milk as a cream (all the better in my opinion), the product is rich and satisfying. And finally, there's no mineral oils or parabens anywhere near this product, and it's dermatologically tested, so apply away in safety!

My only criticism is that it takes a wee while to absorb. So if you need to put clothes on immediately or you're about to get in amongst those fresh sheets at bed time then you definitely need to factor this in. Otherwise bask in the lovely aroma in your birthday suit for a few minutes.


If vanilla plum isn't your thing, Korres are fantastic at producing a huge variety of options to suit every taste. At the moment there's Bergamot Pear, Fig, and Basil Lemon on offer to name just a few.

Product Review: Baxter of California, Night Cream AHA (£24.00, 120ml)

With the changing of the seasons comes the need to change your skincare regime. As we most certainly moved into autumn last week, I have been in search of a nourishing night cream to provide some super hydration while my skin rests overnight.

The very good people at Niven & Joshua, answering my prayers, sent me this option from Baxter of California.

If you don’t know much about the brand, it was founded by Baxter Finlay in Beverly Hills in 1965 after Mr Finlay had searched in vain for a moisturiser that wasn’t totally woman-ified. After this failure, he decided to make his own. By the 1970’s Baxter of California products had become a Hollywood staple and since then the brand has gone from strength to strength.

This night cream is enriched with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (that’s the AHA in the name), anti-oxidant vitamin C and wheat amino acids, which means this is both super hydrating and also mildly exfoliating, to remove all those dead cells while you’re abed.

It’s also designed to provide collagen support (that’s the wheat amino acids at work) and promote cell renewal, so your skin is plumped, fresh and revitalised come morning.

And I really, really like it.

The texture of this cream is great; it's rich and silky. I also love the non-fragrance fragrance, if you know what I mean?

I tend to be fairly liberal everywhere other than my forehead, where I’m a little more cautious of breakouts. Although for all skin types I’d say this cream is best suited for normal to dry skin. Don’t forget your neck, which also needs hydration to keep smooth and supple. Man-version of chicken neck is not cool.

The ingredients also mean that there is an anti-ageing element to this cream too. For £24.00, I think that is pretty good value. Give it a go this autumn, I’d say.

Hermès, Autumn/Winter Advert 2013

I bloody love the latest Hermès ad's. So much so I went out and bought this tie before it had even hit the racks (thanks to a lovely gentleman working at the concession in Harrods who hooked me up).

Is this not the modern man epitomised?  

Product Review: Clinique, Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel (£22.00, 15ml)

Eye creams, gels and serums are one of those products that I don’t normally buy, or buy into. They’re often over-priced and play off the insecurities of people like me (desperate to avoid crow’s feet and the effects of all that life well lived)! In most cases a good moisturiser should provide you with all the support you need for this delicate area.

With that in mind, I’ve been testing out Clinique’s eye specific offering for men over the past two weeks or so. The result, I must say, has gone a little way to countering my initial sentiment. But only a little. While I adore some Clinique products (like the Face Scrub), this eye gel is not breaking any boundaries for me.

The gel is designed to reduce puffiness and dark-spots under the eyes whilst cooling, refreshing and hydrating. A big promise. And as the winner of GQ’s Grooming Award for “Best Target Solution” in 2012, I was kind of expecting to be wowed. 

Starting with the positive, the gel is cool and soothing, and vitally non-greasy. I'm also pretty confident that you could use this with any skin type without side-effects.

It’s caffeinated, which constricts the blood vessels, helping to reduce those nasty bags under the eyes. Of course no coffee smell to help wake you up though. In fact it’s totally fragrance free, which is perfect.

The roller-ball applicator is quite fun, but I haven’t found that it gives a very even spread. Afterwards I certainly have to use my ring finger to smooth the gel over the desired area (basically outwards along my cheek bones) to make sure everything’s absorbed. However, the roller-ball does helpfully avoid wastage. I sometimes can’t help but be tempted to scoop a little too much out of those pots!

Because the gel is quite light (and does absorb well, even if it requires a little manual assistance), I think you could apply it over a light cream-based moisturiser if you were so inclined. I tend to put a little bit over Aesop’s oil free hydrating serum, which is why…

…there is no need in my opinion to keep this product in the bathroom cabinet. Keep it in the office for that pick-me-up during the day, when you’re starting to flag and your skin is struggling from the over-active air-conditioning or from being out in the howling wind. Or following a boozy lunch, maybe? I just don’t think it’s going to perform any miracles in the bathroom.

If you’re interested, the gel is widely available in stores and online.

My Best Accessory

My best accessory ever. Also known as my nephew.

Shirt: Handmade

I'm Wearing: Sunday 15 September 2013

Tailoring. Any excuse to wear it, I'll take it.

Brogues: Church's

Socks: Uniqlo

Suit: Acne Studios

Shirt: Handmade

Tie: Hermès

Tie Clip: Tiffany & Co.

Veronica Maggio, Sergels Torg

Some Friday music for you from my favourite pop star, the lovely Veronica Maggio (she was the most streamed artist on Spotify in Sweden in both 2011 and 2012 don't you know).

This song has a great middle eight and an amazing banshee-like final chorus - give it listen! But if you don't speak Swedish I wouldn't find a translation of the lyrics, they're a little depressing.

Sergels Torg, by the way, is a reference to a part of Stockholm (not the best part either).

Happy Friday!

Product Review: Dermalogica Invigorating Shave Gel (£18.20, 177ml)

Disappointingly Dermalogica

Dermalogica launched this shave gel to offer an alternative to the shave cream and the close shave oil. I thought I'd give it a try, having been convinced by the sales assistant that it would do all sorts of good stuff.

Now, starting with the positive, the peppermint and Tea Tree in this product means it smells amazing. And the Tea Tree is tinglingly cool on the skin. On that basis, the "invigorating" part of the gel's name is totally appropriate.

That's all. Now on with my issues...

The clear formula is designed to give maximum visibility whilst shaving. As I specifically asked whether this product foamed (I was, needless to say, in search of a foam) and was informed that it did, the fact that it doesn't (particularly or at all) was quite disappointing.

Also, although meant to calm redness and dull any irritation, I've not found this product particularly helpful at combatting shaving rash, which can be quite bad for me around the adam's apple. Further, the gel dries out quite quickly, so it's almost best to shave in two stages (perhaps the face and then separately the neck) so you can apply the gel just before taking the razor to it. You also need to use more of the gel than prescribed to get a good coverage - you should never be shaving over dry skin!

Most annoyingly, and a reviewer on the Dermalogica website agrees with me, is that the cap doesn't have any application control, so the gel simply falls out of the tube if held at the wrong angle. I made this mistake when I first used the gel, much to my dismay.

All in all I'm quite disappointed by this, and once I'm out I'll certainly be on the market for a new shaving assistant. Preferably one that foams! Any suggestions?

My New: Diptyque, Tam Dao Eau de Toilette (£50.00, 50ml)

I have been inspired since reviewing Terre d'Hermes last week to break out of my (admitted heavenly fragranced) Penhaligon's rut this autumn and to try something new. I searched high and higher for my autumnal signature scent, but have now landed on Diptyque's Tam Dao Eau de Toilette.

Part of the woody family in Diptyque's range of personal fragrances, Tam Dao is a unisex eau de toilette that is full to the brim with character. To me, this is a truly unisex scent. And I'm certainly not alone in thinking this. In fact, one reviewer on the John Lewis website says that both she and her husband use it...

Maybe I just have a thing for sandalwood (see my earlier body lotion product review), which is the real heart of this scent, but I find Tam Dao deeply intense, rich and dryly inviting. Perfect for a sunny afternoon in an autumnal Hyde Park or for an evening by the fire wrapped in your favourite blanket. 

With its blend of rosewood, cypress and cedar, you can also see how this woody fragrance maintains its light and class, which is so emblematic of Diptyque. You get a faint whiff of rose in there for good measure (one of the top notes), but it's the musk and amber at the base that really ground this for me. Everything works together cohesively, giving you something natural and earthy whilst still very sophisticated.

The longevity is also pretty awesome.

I have been wearing Tam Dao to work and it has received a number of compliments. My lesson learned from this: although lovely Tam Dao is not a fragrance to go unnoticed. As a result, it might be best to wear with caution if you're in a set of the ultra conservative.

The bottle is pretty damn classy too I must say. The name of the fragrance is woven into a jungle scene, with elephants roaming around to tell of Tam Dao's Indian inspiration. 

Tam Dao is £70.00 if you want to splash out on the 100ml bottle, otherwise it's £50.00 for 50ml. I would at the very least urge you to go and request a sample!