Fur Coats for Men-Hot or Not?

Browsing through the latest fashions for men in the autumn/winter addition of GQ Style, I came across an interesting trend, fur coats for men.

Fur coats are definitely big this winter for women. They've taken over the high street stores in force, leading to the donning by the average woman as well as the style-conscious indie queens!

But fur coats for men? Hmm...I'm intrigued!

Predominately seen on the catwalks of the big fashion houses such as Gucci, Armani and Dolce and Gabbana; fur coats are definitely making a coming!

Men whom wear fur coats are generally imagined to be gangster, bling, bling P-Diddy types, or drag queens, or perhaps even James Bond villains. But to think I may be about to see the average guy walk past in the centre of Leeds or Manchester all wrapped up in his fur coat is quite ground breaking! In fact, I'm unsure if I even known a guy who'd even dare to before now, I wonder how much difference this will make?

To see the fur coat forcast to supposedly gain 'cool' factor for the fashionable men of Britain, I'm thinking this should be interesting.

Just picture this...the dudeish British cool guy (I say British because I don't really have a clue what’s classed as 'cool' in other countries or continents!) wearing his skinny jeans, winkle pickers, checked shirt and perhaps even sporting some Ray Bans-all wrapped up in that oh so chic fur coat. Marvellous.

Although I may sound like I'm mocking this image, I'm actually finding it quite provocative! There's nothing more attractive or exciting than seeing a man who is daring enough than to try out something so new and so, well, fashion taboo in a way I suppose-kind of like 80s Lycra leotards are for women.

As of yet I have yet to see a fur coat to be warn by a man in public, I suppose there is still time though and winter is still approaching!

UPDATE!: This winter I've seen H&M stocking fur coats in the men's department.

Price's Candles

Price's candles were established in 1830, and between now and then they have definitely perfected the art of candle making. As the biggest candle manufacturer in the United Kingdom today, and as a key producer in the history of the candle, I was surprised not to have heard of them before.

I came across Price's candles this year whilst at University. I needed some time to de-stress and relax, to take my mind off looming final exams and assignment deadlines. My solution was an aromatherapy face mask, Moon Safari by Air and a scented candle.

I decided to look in the cheap, cheerful and questionably tacky, Au Natural. Surprisingly, it was there I found a small stand displaying a very appealing collection of vintage style candles, Price's Candles, and at £3 for a lantern I couldn't complain!

From previously purchasing 'scented' candles before which haven't really smelt whilst burning, this was completely different. My room began to be filled by the scent of honey and lemon, I was really impressed by the strength of the scent which was perspired.

Although only one collection was for sale at the place of purchase, having ventured onto the Price's Candles website I have become aware of the vast array of colours and scents in which the company produces their product. From floral to odour reduces, Price's have every possibility covered.

So, the moral of this story is, if you want a candle that actually smells as it burns, buy a Price's Candle!

www.prices-candles.co.uk

'Frock Me' , T4 Sundays-Alexa Chung and Henry Holland

After receiving my weekly dose of Hollyoaks this morning, Miquita and Steve introduced me to a brand new addition to Sunday morning T4.Staring fashion designer Henry Holland and presenter-come-IT-girl Alexa Chung as our hosts, T4 present its premier programme dedicated to fashion.

'Frock Me' offers the young T4 audience a unique perspective on the world of fashion, focusing on the relationship between street style and high-end fashion design-something which had only been touched upon in Gok Wan's 'Fashion Fix' earlier this year which also featured Chung as a presenter.

From the outset is it clear this is a programme which focuses on individuality and creativity, as well as pushing a 'who's who' of the fashion world (notably the majority of the guests were well known friends of the presenters-Daisy Lowe, Agyness Deyn and Vivienne Westwood to name a few).

The main concept of the show features style scout Gemma searching the streets of British cities for individuals whom 'stand out' from the youth culture crowd. Two ‘chosen ones’ are then put forward to a 'frock off' in a bid to win £1000 through the creation of their own quirky outfits to an agreed criteria set by the style scout, this weeks task was to incorporate vinyl into the look.

To finish the show The Kooks played their ‘new’ song ‘Sway’ (I say ‘new’ as I understand the song has been performed at Kooks gigs two years previous to its release this year.) as the in house designers and those street ‘stylists’ paraded their creations in front of the band. This format is set to follow in weeks to come, with a consideration to the relationship between fashion and music-something I thought about as an initial dissertation subject back in the day!

Surprisingly, I found 'Frock Me' quite inspiring and entertaining. On the outset I expected more parallels with ‘Fashion Fix’ as yet again it was Alexa Chung presenting along side a fashion industry gay! Yet I only heard the phrase 'on trend' about once or twice as opposed to Gok’s ten (at least) every minute-what a relief! Instead I enjoyed watching Holland’s underlying bitchy-ness and irony, I found it quite humorous and comforting to know these presenters were human and actually had their own opinions!


Again in comparison to Gok's 'Fashion Fix' ,’Frock Me’ focuses on being yourself and creating your own style, instead of following what is ’expected’ and what trends should be followed I was left feeling inspired to do just that and by the end of the programme I wanted to go down to my local sewing store and buy some fabric and get started!

The Future's Bright, The Future's Orange.

Seriously, why do some women think its a good idea to all look the same?

Scantily clad, pale skin-toned lipstick, boobs in your face, arse hanging out, fake extended bleach blonde or black hair, fake nails, fake orange tan.

I go into a nightclub and this is what I see, I'm surrounded by about a hundred Jodie Marsh lookalikes.


What do I think when I see this?


YUK!


Since returning from University in the lakes, to a populated area which clubbing and going out is more predominant in the social lives of many young people, I have noticed a huge difference in the ways these women construct their appearance for a 'night out on the town'.

A few nights ago I decided I'd have a night out during fresher’s week at the local 'hot spot'. The place was absolutely rammed, as you'd expect in fresher’s week, yet about 70% of women looked the same, sporting the popular 'orange vogue' look.


I really do not understand where this fashion sense of 'porn star' has come from, well, apart from watching x-rated films perhaps. But the fashion industry has never really promoted a tan-tastic model for young women to follow at all. When we watch models walk down the catwalk we see a pale, fresh-faced woman whom beams natural youth and beauty.

Yet to walk into any busy town centre on a Saturday night we are greeted by an army of Umpa Lumpa aspiring women looking for that 'perfect' man who will of course really respect her...especially when she's dressed like that of course.

These woman, or girls even, strive to display sexual availability to men, they want to look 'sexy' (although they just look grotesque to me). They want to follow the crowd and be part of what is conceived as this beauty 'norm' that their peers and social groupings have constructed.


Obviously it is their choice to dress in such a way which may result in unwanted male attention, yet I don't see what the need is, unless the need is actually a desperation.

This is where I pride myself in being different. Although I wouldn't actually say I was in the same social group of these girls, I do go to the same night clubs, whether or not they dance on a different floor to a different kind of music, they are still present in the same space.

I enjoy dressing for myself, in my own quirky ways. I show my personality in what I wear and I still get attention from the opposite sex, but its more likely to be 'look at what she's wearing' than 'look at what she's not wearing'. Thank god.

Clothing and style make enough impact on their own, so if you really want people to look at you, you might as well make them look at you with some respect- and I may sound like a granny, but I don't care!