Introducing... Notch London and its Perfect Spring Essentials

I will never tire of saying how important attention to detail is when it comes to menswear. And it's twice as important when talking about contemporary brands. Creating quality classics isn't just about choosing the right materials and fits but about being meticulous about elements only the wearer knows about. I buy special pieces for myself, not to show off.
It's precisely these principles that newly-launched brand Notch London lives by. Their debut collection includes a perfect mix of wardrobe staples, including easy to wear shirts, soft jersey pieces, denim and outerwear. Their slim silhouettes and modern details such as the reduced collar sizes make Notch London a fantastic go-to label to prepare you for the spring.
My favourite pieces from the brand are three spring essentials I believe every guy should always have in his wardrobe. The first is a slick parka to throw over any outfit, be it to go to the office or out on the weekend. The second is the chambray shirt, much lighter than denim, chic and a perfect match with any shorts, chinos and even jeans. And the third is the work jacket, a casual and young alternative to the blazer which looks just as good on its own as it does layered under another outerwear piece.

You can buy Notch London here on the brand's website.

Courtesy of Notch London

Introducing... Exemplaire: The best jumper a man can have

This week I stopped by the PR Consulting press day to have a closer looks at what some of my favourite brands have in store for SS14. One these favourites of mine is Exemplaire, a French label which prides itself in its subtle designs and excellent quality – what we now call 'everyday luxury'. They first launched witch a cashmere collection produced in a limited number, which added to the luxurious feel. They have since introduced fine leather goods – jackets and small accessories produced in the softest, lightest leather.
I fell in love with the brand, its philosophy and their super products from the moment I first laid hands on one of their jumpers. Their latest offering for the new season consists of slightly lighter knits best worn over tees but equally as practical for the colder seasons.
The seemingly ordinary pieces also have a perfect fit. Getting away from some of the boxy, baggy even, fits of classic jumpers offered by many other luxury brands, Exemplaire is all about a fitted silhouette, which is much more contemporary.

I hear the brand is soon to expand into ready-to-wear territory – it will be excellent, no doubt – and will also soon be opening a stand-alone store in Paris.
In the meantime, you can shop Exemplaire at Dover Street Market in London and on Mr Porter.

My two favourites above: The grey crew neck cashmere jumper, and

The cable knit rollneck cashmere jumper.

Fashion, Frankly

Introducing... Lescott Stewart, Available Exclusively at Harvey Nichols

This Autumn sees the launch of new menswear label Lescott Stewart, which is the brainchild of lifelong friends Joleon Lescott, Aaron Lescott and Jordan Stewart. Their new brand aims at bringing together high-end style and mainstream accessibility in quite a new way. Their experience with luxury fashion and sportswear adds an interesting point of view to the contemporary staples that make up their debut collection. Find out a bit more about the motivation and influences behind the brand, which is exclusively on sale at Harvey Nichols, on the interview below.


Fashion seems to be such a present element in the life of a successful footballer. Had fashion always been something you were interested in or was there a moment or experience earlier in your careers that made you really get into it? If so, what was it?
Joleon: Growing up my first love was always football, but a close second was fashion.
Aaron: All kids want to look sharp, whether its sportswear, casual or formal-wear. I've always wanted my style to stand out, dressing well inspires confidence.

How do you think your experiences in sport influence your choices in fabrics, shapes and styles?
Jordan: All footballers like to think they are fashionistas. Some get their style and fashion right, while some get it horribly wrong! There are numerous sport-related charity, club and broadcast events and appearances throughout the season, many formal, but some casual, which has provided a good testing ground to make your own fashion statements, which include different styles and fabrics etc, and see what works and what doesn't.

Contrast Collar Cotton Jersey Shirt, Leather Panelled Jacket

Which are the high fashion brands or designers who you look up to or whose style or aesthetic inspire your own?
All: Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Louboutin, and Sons Of Heroes.

Sportswear has become such a relevant influence in high fashion over the last few seasons and it seems to be growing stronger. Was it a conscious move to launch your brand during this time? Do you think Lescott Stewart will always have a strong sportswear influence or are you planning on exploring different influences in the future?
Joleon: Lescott Stewart captures the fashion identities and aspirations of myself, Aaron (my brother) and Jordan Stewart (my best friend), they are my partners in the label. The range is aimed at a customer who has a keen fashion sense and British contemporary style, but who doesn’t necessarily want to spend £1000+ for outwear pieces. Our jackets cost between £300-£400 and we offer more affordable tailored designs, believing that in today’s market we form part of what we'd call mid-high-end fashion.

Your FW13 collection seems to strike all the right notes a contemporary brand should. Do you do a lot of research into upcoming trends or silhouettes or do follow your own instincts instead?
Jordan: We initially launched online to see the public's reaction to the brand. It's easier to get feedback online. Potential and actual customers are more than happy to share their views and opinions by email, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Aaron: Feedback is really useful for such a new brand, and has given us the added assurance that the brand is now ready for the retail market place.
Joleon: We also took early samples into training a while ago, and the lads went mad for them… They didn't understand when I said they would have to wait a couple of months 'for production'. And now some of the samples mysteriously vanished! Joe Hart, Theo Walcott, Nigel De Jong and Jack Wilshere all have pieces from Lescott Stewart. Even some faces from the music scene are wearing our stuff, including Kano, Wretch32 and 50 Cent!

Leather Trimmed Merino Wool Blend Cardigan, Leather Biker Jacket

Introducing... Burberry Travel Tailoring

Today sees the launch of Burberry's latest menswear line 'Travel Tailoring'. Continuing on the brand's perfect marriage of tradition and innovation, the new collection proposes classic tailored silhouettes created in a lightweight and comfortable fabric which follows the movement of the body allowing for increased flexibility.
All of the new tailoring is made from a new cloth, 100% Merino wool, developed in Biella, Italy. The long yarn of the material woven in a 'spring-like' structure on an extra large loom, which increases flexibility and reduces the creasing while maintaining its structure – hence why it's perfect for travelling.

Travel Tailoring is available in a slim fit in the traditional navy, mid grey, dark grey melange and, my favourite, the mid grey melange palette. It is also available in a number of petters such as Herringbone and Price of Wales Check (!) and it starts off at £1,195, which is actually a very competitive price for a designer two-piece suit. The new style is already available to buy online at Burberry.com




The most notable innovation is the motion canvas construction with fewer internal components. The chest canvas and shoulders contains no wadding and fewer layers while traditionally "while traditionally used horsehair canvassing extends to the shoulder, anchoring the jackets' shape and creating a sharp silhouette."

Courtesy of Burberry

Introducing... Evocha: Original Luxury

One of the things I love the most about menswear – apart from the fact that I get to wear it every day – is how steadfastly it has been growing over the past couple of years. It is doing so in such a unique way, with new brands being born every few months inspired by very focused points of view.
Such is the case of Evocha, a British-founded name who came to live exclusively online on July 30th. They are championing a much-needed concept of high-quality clothing cutting the 4x markup of designer brands. They believe in simple, classic, elegant designs to provide the essential luxuries a man needs without disregarding the values of quality, ethics and craftsmanship. Kickstarting their launch are the Henry, Francis and Carnaby that make up the Oxford Collection. Each of the pieces are made with the finest Egyptian cotton woven in Italy and hand-sewn in Britain and toped-off with mother of pearl buttons.
I was lucky enough to get a 'Carnaby' all for myself and I can't recommend it enough. The quality of the material beats even that of the made-to-measure designer shirts I have bought in the past. The body and sleeves are light as a feather and feel soft on the skin. The collar and cuffs have been structured to perfection and sit just as nicely under a tailored jacket as they do under a casual loopback jumper. I have worn it everywhere form work to drinks out with friends and I couldn't possibly have received more compliments – especially from my male friends, who were impressed with the quality and envious that I was the one wearing it. At £85, the Evocha Oxford range is the perfect example of an investment one should do in quality wardrobe staples. They come in the classic white, blue and pink so they easily adapt to any situation and are that perfect subtle statement a man likes to make with his personal style.

I also invite you to watch the video below, where you can observe the entire process of making the Oxford Collection pieces. If this and my keen words are not enough to push you to buy one, Evocha is offering Fashion, Frankly readers a 20% discount across their products (that'd make your shirts £68) – which also include incredible cashmere scarves and womenswear pieces. Just enter the code FASHION-FRANKLY at checkout to get your discount. The code is valid until October 1st. Click here to shop.

Courtesy of Evocha

Introducing Public School NYC, this Year's CFDA Swarovski Award Winners

It totally took me by surprise when I woke up this morning to the whole CFDA Awards aftermath. I also couldn't believe I hadn't heard of Public School NYC before! The NYC-based brand received last night the Swarovski Award for emerging menswear talent. And very rightfully so!
Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, the designers behind the brand, had previously worked at P. Diddy's fashion line 'Sean John' before launching their own in 2011 and first showing their FW13 collection in New York last February.
The designers are part of the CFDA's Incubator Program, which help them set up the domestic production that helps define their brand. With factories in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan it's no wonder that New York City is their main source of inspiration.
Unlike a lot of contemporary menswear brands, Public School NYC has a very down to earth point of view, which chimes with the direction menswear is currently going (and it's absolutely up my street). The style it's edgy and the silhouettes modern but never loud. It's got an understated attitude with a polished streetwear influence. Chow and Osborne tried to get away from luxury fashion because "when you say luxury, there’s a bit of fantasy in it, and there’s no fantasy in what we do", they say. And this really reflects on the prices. Despite being manufactured in NYC and using excellent materials such as Japanese and Italian denim, the brand has really competitive price tags starting at around $150 and only reaching the $1/2K mark for the (stunning) leather outerwear pieces and the tailoring.

Make sure you visit their website for a look at their FW13 collection. You can also check their list of stockists, which for the moment are all in the US, but a few of their pieces are available to buy online and are delivered internationally. I personally recommend their denim pieces.

Getty, HypeBeast

Introducing 'The Hood' by L'Estrange London

I am one of those guys you will never see in a hoodie unless I'm at home or at the gym (as if). It's not that I'm not a fan, on the contrary, they could be a great casual piece to wear to work and for drinks, especially in the Spring. I am quite particular when it comes to fit and cut so I'm not too keen on the slouchy feel most hoodies have, it feels too informal. I need a slim cut and a structured hood I can wear anytime. This is where 'The Hood' comes in.
L'Estrange London was born as a project between two friends who wanted to create the hood with the perfect fit, style and produce it with the best materials. What they came up with was a smarter more luxurious take on the sportswear piece by taking a construction approach similar to that of tailored jackets. Even some of the details like the breast and internal pockets and the buggy lining are taking from traditional tailored jackets. My favourite part of their chic and modern design has to be the lining, which ranges from classic Oxford stripes to more daring prints such as paisley and their latest feather print created in collaboration with Liberty.
All the L'Estrange pieces are produced with 100% cotton jersey knitted in Portugal (home to the best jersey in Europe). Even non-jersey elements have a luxury approach – the zips are produced in Italy and the hood chords are exclusively produced for them in 100% cotton.
At £175 - £195, you're not buying your average hoodie here – this is a luxury item for the modern man who cares as much about quality and style as he does about comfort.

Explore the L'Estrange London website here, where you will also be able to buy 'The Hood'. I definitely need 'The Red Paisley' in my life this season! And it's not just that their products are great but their art direction and packaging are bang-on.

Courtesy of L'Estrange London

Introducing Antoine + Stanley: Shoes with an Australian Sole

It would be fair to say that, within fashion, I am the most keen on shoes. I see them as the way to top off any look – a way to dress it up or down, to give something simple the perfect vibe. And it would also be fair to say that I know what I talk about when it comes to footwear because I own quite (a lot) bit of it from a range of brands and designers.
One of my biggest struggles is to find comfortable, light and breathable shoes for the summer that are not sneakers. Antoine + Stanley seem to have the perfect solution for this. The Australian brand founded by Paul Waddy in 2005 is now landing on the UK via ASOS. Their philosophy is to create traditional styles such as brogues, desert and Chelsea boots and loafers in premium materials. And they do so with an edge – bold colourful lines on the soles and contrast trims – which makes them perfect for the summer. Their models are great for pretty much any scenario: from picnic at the park to drinks on a rooftop to even a summer wedding.
You can shop the collection online at ASOS. My favourites (see below) are the Smith loafers in navy, the multi-colour Ralph brogues and the white leather Hensel brogues. The latter were a style I always thought only Chuck Bass or Jay Gatsby could pull off but I am totally infatuated with these Antoine + Stanley ones!

Courtesy of Antoine + Stanley

Introducing... StefanomanO Accessories

As I've mentioned in the past, one of the reasons why I love going to Milan for fashion week every season is because I get to learn about new exciting menswear brands. Such is the case of StefanomanO.
Like most of Italy's best leather-good-making companies, their activity started as a traditional family company focused on the production of leather suitcases. StefanomanO was born in 2005 with one intention: to create classic products handmade in Italy for a client with a love for details and quality. Since then, they have been selling internationally and have been especially successful in Japan, where men are known for their love of craftsmanship and details.

The FW13 collection consists of pretty much one hit after the other. My absolute favourite, I must say, is their Niloticus line (above), a limited edition of super luxury bags made of crocodile skin from the Nile and treated with an innovative process that makes the skin soft and flexible like suede but also 100% waterproof. It is one of the most stunning skins I have ever seen! (*See note below)
Also new to FW13 are the Spazzolato line, StefanomanO's signature style. For the new season they have introduced new colour variations with beautiful leather linings and trimmings in contrast (see below, in red).
The Morbidone line introduces to FW13 the softest leather, which StefanomanO's tanners obtain by an exclusive process. The designs are timeless, elegant and practical and their great size makes them perfect for going to work or even an overnight business trip.
Every single corner, strap and stitch is handmade and the general finish of all their bags, wallets, laptop and iPad covers are not only beautiful but also incredibly strong so they can stand whatever lifestyle. The entire collection – Niloticus aside – falls perfectly into this new concept we refer to as affordable luxury. Their range starts under 200€ for one of their classic nylon bags (I love the camouflage one!) and go up to under 500€ for the leather lines, which is crazy when you consider everything is done by hand!

You can find out more about StefanoManO here on their website. Click here to check out more from their collections!

*Note: My 25th birthday is coming up so feel free to get me one of these in black.

Courtesy of StefanoMano, Fashion Frankly

Introducing... Dyer-Smith Frey

Monkey Bar

I have never posted about interiors or design before because even though it is probably my biggest interest after fashion I know nowhere as much about its in and outs. I finally decided to break the habit after my last trip abroad. A few weeks ago I spent the weekend in Zurich to visit a very dear friend. I had been there before, about 13 years ago, so not only my memories and perceptions of the city were different but a city can change a lot during that time.
The most charming thing about Zurich is the fact that on the surface it appears untouched by time and yet it's so obviously a city of the 21st century with a buzzing nightlife. It's a beautifully relaxed place with a subtle but undeniable luxurious touch. Visiting the city with a local is always the best way to know it and this particular guide of mine is not only a great friend but a super talented London-trained interior designer who just happens to work for Dyer-Smith Frey, Zurich's coolest design company.
It was also a coincidence that my three favourite places from my trip are all designed by them. On my first night in Zurich I fell in love with the Monkey Bar, a 20's inspired space with the perfect balance between modern design and vintage references. A mossy colour palette and a Chesterfield sofa are always a good touch in my book. Even though I didn't actually go inside it I loved the old-school and slightly New York-meets-Paris feel of Brasserie Louis. Just upstairs from it is Tina Bar, my favourite spot in Zurich. Also inspired in the 20's, this bar referenced my favourite decade more literally by reflecting that fun and verboten feel of a speakeasy. I can't think of anywhere nicer to drink an Old Fashioned.

I also had a chance to visit the Dyer-Smith Frey showroom. In addition to their excellent interior design work the two partners also design their own collection of furniture. As I said before, I am no expert in this field and I follow a sort of gut feeling for these things that stems from my taste and aesthetic preferences. But these furniture pieces tick all the boxes. Just like with some of their interiors, the furniture references other decades popular in design but they do so in such a contemporary way. Some of my personal favourites are the Vice TV stand, the TV Loker, The Station and the Lounge Chair (!!).

Check out their super slick website here to find out more about their work and products.

Tina Bar  Brasserie Louis  Dyer-Smith Frey, Fashion, Frankly

Introducing... Sutor Mantellassi

Back in June when I was in Milan for fashion week the lovely people from Sutor Mantelassi invited me to their store on the legendary Via Monte Napoleone so I could get a feel for the latest collection and learn about the shoemaking brand founded near Florence in 1912.
The founders, Enea and Ettore, started out with a little workshop and, after training with expert shoemakers in Bologna, they begun to create shoes for the wealthy bourgeoisie – the only ones who could afford quality shoes. By 1950 the shoemakers had shops in Bologna and Florence and in 1962 Enea's son, Ledo Mantellassi, created the Sutor (shoemaker in Latin) Mantellassi brand. Over the 1970's the brand steadily grew maintaining their high quality standards. This gained them a celebrity clientele, a spot at the Pitti Uomo trade show and eventually led them to open their Milan store on Via della Spiga. Sutor Mantellassi has since become a cornerstone of the 'Made in Italy' revolution and turned to Asia, opening a shop in Tokyo. This year the brand celebrates its centenary with the opening of another two stores: one in Shanghai and a second one in Milan on Via Monte Napoleone.

I am an absolute sucker for tradition and heritage when it comes to fashion and accessories. It's one thing to appreciate beautiful shoes but a completely different one to know you are wearing carefully crafted pieces handmade following century-old traditions. The entire process is stunningly documented on the book the brand has published for their anniversary.
I was lucky enough not only to be gifted a copy of the book but to my very first pair of Sutor Mantellassi shoes. I'm ashamed to admit I didn't own a classic pair of smart lace-up shoes so this was my perfect chance. They fit like a glove and are a lot more comfortable than I expected worn new. But my favourite feature, of course, is the unmistakable blue sole. My pair on the picture below is still looking that good after two crazy dance sessions at a black tie party and a wedding – they're not just pretty but tough too!

Click on read more at the end of the post to see images from the shop after the jump.

Introducing Burtonwode: Boxershorts for the Discerning Character

I always think I am immune to new underwear campaigns and products because, quite frankly, I firmly believe that real men don't buy neon pants made of ill-fitting non-breathable fabrics. Even though I always defend comfort over style I admit that when it comes to certain garments, I can be persuaded to choose style first sometimes. But not with underwear – it has to fit like a glove and it can only be made of one material: cotton.
This is where Burtonwode comes in. Looking at their look book I was really amazed by their range of styles all of which are based on a single classic boxershort design. And, of course, they are made of 100% cotton, which they treat in two different ways to achieve what they call "peach handle", that makes every piece nice and soft.

David Huglin founded Burtonwode with the intention of tackling the lack of choice us men have in the underwear department. He took a timeless shape and, inspired by a sketch of some pyjamas, created 4 base prints custom printed in a 19th century Carlisle mill. The shorts are then cut, assembled and stitched in Canning Town. Burtonwide underwear is also 100% Made in England.
The packaging is just as sartorial – each print has its own box design. Don't expect chiseled 6 foot models with perfect six-packs. Instead, enjoy the fruit drawings, which are so nice you will probably end up having them on display in your room.

Because not every man is looking for the same when it comes to his underwear style Burtonwode has created 4 different models for every print. A full print one, a plain-colour one based on the print's palette, one with a printed waistband and plain leg, and a printed leg with a plain waistband. So whether you're more or less bold there is a style for you.
You can see all their styles and models on their website – click here – and even buy them online. They all retail at a very respectable £26. You are not only buying quality and unique style but also a piece that your girlfriend would love to lounge in.

All images courtesy of Burtonwode