FIVE QUALITY ACCESSORIES EVERY GUY SHOULD OWN

This post is more of a checklist. I imagine you fashionable lot who already read my blog have these five items plus a lot more stored away in the wardrobe. In that case, I'm just sharing my favourite quality accessories with you. If you're new to my blog or want to learn a little more about which crucial pieces you need, I've put together my list to inspire you.

Number one - a belt. I have a lot of belts, so it was quite hard choosing just one to talk about. I've gone for this one, it's from The Kooples and it's the one I wear the most. I love it as it pretty much goes with everything. The silver metal buckle & belt strap are the two most noticeable thing about the belt. I love the detail on the buckle, it reminds me of an old art nouveau motif. 

This belt is made from 100% leather and when you look closely you see the amazing crocodile skin pattern imprinted on it. The belt always looks killer and it sets off any pair of dark jeans I wear it with. As I've mentioned before, I don't really use belts as functional accessories, they're more of an add-on, to make an outfit look cooler. I always think an outfit is won or lost on accessories. The more the better but the first place to start is nailing one of the most simple pieces, the belt.

Number two - sunglasses. I've mentioned these a fair few times on my blog, so I'll keep it short. However, I think every guy should own a pair of designer sunglasses, a pair of dark shades is the ultimate cool piece, which when worn makes you feel like an untouchable swaggering rockstar. These are my Gucci shades and they make me feel just that.

Number three - a watch. I was lucky enough to be given a watch rather than going out there and buying one, and what a watch it is. This wrist watch is very special to me as it was passed down from my Grandad. I remember him wearing it all the time, that's until the strap broke. It then spent around 15 years not being worn lying on a shelf gathering dust.

After that long timeout it was then given to me. The first thing I did was give it a good clean and obviously bought a new strap for it. I chose this classic, tanned brown strap, which I think complements the watch face. I love this watch, it's a true treasured position of mine. I only wear it on very special occasions when I'm going somewhere smartly dressed. It's the perfect accessory that makes any suit look 10x better, plus reminds me of my grandad.

Number four. A bandanna. Bandannas are so versatile, they can be worn in so many ways! It's funny how a small square piece of material can change an outfit so much, but believe me, it does. A pop of colour to a signature statement, a bandanna always looks dead cool when added to an outfit, showing that little extra twist & flair of personality.

This monotone bandanna is my go-to favourite, once again from The Kooples. It's a jet black bandanna with a skull printed on the fabric, so it's a little different to most. You can pick a bandanna up on eBay for as little as 99p. It's a cheap accessory that brings a lot to any everyday outfit. To read my bandanna blog click here.

Number five - a scarf. The weather's getting colder as each day passes meaning a quality scarf is always a welcome accessory this time of year. I've owned this vibrant red scarf a few years now after I picked it up in the Reiss sale. It always looks really cool thrown over a white shirt, it makes any outfit look that little more interesting.

This scarf, in fact, doesn't keep me warm, it's yet another style over function item. That's all accessories are, they're all about embellishing your outfit, making you look that little more individual, that little more stylish, that little cooler (physically*). Adding small details here and there all add up to one bigger overall outcome. Raising the outfit bar from cool to bloody awesome and memorable!

Once you have a collection of these core five items you'll find each one will complement your outfit & improve your style on a daily basis. All the items above are my personal favourites so they suit me and my style, but that's the best bit, all the items I've featured above are available in such range of colour, size, material, make and look, there's literally one of each item out there to suit everyone.

What I'm saying is get out there and accessorize! It's the key to any super cool look. What are your favourite accessories? Do you think I've missed a core item? I'd love to hear your opinions on accessories.

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THE OVERSHIRT, THE PERFECT TRANSITIONAL PIECE

Hey guys, today I'm going to be talking about an item of clothing I've not really heard of before, the overshirt. I'll start off with a quick definition to get you up to speed. The Overshirt: most commonly fastened by buttons, the style is closer to a shirt than it is to a jacket, making it a formal piece of attire, which can also be dressed down. Buttons allow the wearer to wear it on its own, over a tee or another shirt, hence the name.

Since you're up to speed with the lingo I'll carry on, this is the piece I'll be talking about today, look at it, it's crazy, isn't it? I bloody love it!

I spotted this piece last week whilst scrolling down Topman's new in section. The full-on leopard print pattern was obviously the first thing to catch my eye. This overshirt is a little different to the classic as this shirt has a zip instead of classic buttons. I, however, like the zip detail as it makes the overshirt more similar to a jacket. The overshirt does have one downside, not having any pockets, but I guess that would be a little strange for a shirt.

The jacket is made from a Polyester cotton mix but has the feel of hessian. Apologies to the jacket for comparing it to a bag for life across on my YouTube channel, (it was early, okay). The overshirt has some nice design features for a simple item, for instance, the darted collar with black reverse. Along with single button sleeves for you to roll up or wear however you please.

This jacket was modeled online with a blue Breton t-shirt underneath, not a massive fan of those two pieces styled together, so I've put my own spin on things as per. I think this outfit looks awesome, the leopard print really comes into its own, giving the wearer that air of rock 'n' roll cool.

I decided to style my overshirt up by wearing it over a denim jacket, which I think works, it looks way better in my opinion than the way Topman did it. I bought this in a small, it's a tiny bit bigger than normal but I imagine that's down to the garment being an overshirt. I've left the link below for this overshirt including some of my favorites online right now. 

My top three Overshirts:
1. Featured Topman Overshirt - Click here.
2. Scotch & Soda Overshirt - Click here.
3. Asos Overshirt - Click here.

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THE SIMPLE SKIN PRODUCTS I USE WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER

As the weather is now changing, I have to update my skin care routine. I thought I'd run you through some of my go-to products and remedies for the cold months ahead. Thinking back to last A/W my skin, especially on my face felt incredibly dry. This is something I don't want to happen this year.

It's becoming more & more acceptable being male to actually look after the skin you're in, so why not, modern man and all that! The male grooming market last year was worth a staggering £14.8bn so a lot of you guys are way ahead of the curve than I am!

I’ve never used anything on my skin before, bar the seasonal suntan lotion regime whilst on holiday but now that's beginning to change. I'm still pretty rusty on knowing everything about the whole male grooming movement but here is my small list of very basic products in my bathroom cabinet.

I’ve recently bought a facial moisturiser for the first time. I didn’t know where to start or what look for. There's a lot of men's grooming products out there, so it took a little time to narrow down the one best for me.

After a quick search on google before shopping and a lot of guess work I had a rough idea of what to look for in a moisturiser. The main ingredient to any good moisturiser is glycolic acid. This gently exfoliates the skin, helping your skin loose any layers of dirt.

Choosing a moisturiser with an SPF is also beneficial, this covers the face like suntan lotion, protecting the face against harmful rays from the sun, which is the number one reason for prematurely ageing skin. Another two ingredients to keep an eye out for in whichever moisturiser you choose are; antioxidants & peptides, which both help to stimulate collagen production which basically make your skin look plumper (fuller looking skin.)

After around fifteen minutes of standing in aisle seven in Boot I opted for this No7 moisturiser for men. I have very sensitive skin on my face, so this product is perfect for me. It has 0% alcohol and it is fragrance-free and also has an SPF15. It's a 24-hour moisturising cream which I’ve now been using daily for around a week. I would really recommend this great moisturiser for you newbies out there.

There's also one more product I've been using recently after returning from Greece. I did mention the geography of the island I was staying on in one of my posts, but if you missed it I'll give you another brief description. This particular rock was everywhere, the whole island was built upon it. The locals used this natural grey rock (which is actually a hard clay) as a face mask and body scrub. They mix it with water to form a grey paste which they rub all over their skin. After smuggling a huge piece back home in my suitcase, I've also been using this every other week.

Another simple but crucial product for me is a lip balm, this Nivea chapstick is great as it protects your lips from getting chapped and prevents them drying out in the wind. Alongside the odd pamper session here and there, here are some more general tips for better skin.

Drink more, keeping yourself hydrated with at least two litres of water per day is a must if you want good skin. There's nothing worse for your skin than being dehydrated, it can cause your skin to overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture, so water is key to keeping your skin looking at its best!

Your diet also has a massive effect on your skin, what you eat will either help or hinder you. Cutting down on fatty foods and replacing them with fresh fruit & vegetables is a much better option. Towels and bedsheets also play a big part in the health and appearance of your skin. Using the same bathroom towel or sleeping on the same pillow without changing regularly, will also impact on your skin. These are the main two items which absorb your skin's oils and dust, changing these on a regular basis is a must. If you keep my basic skin tips in mind I'm sure you'll see an improvement in your skin immediately.

I'd love to know some of the products you use to get you through the winter. As I'm still quite the novice to all this and I need as much help as I can get!

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A KILLER WINTER JACKET

This jacket, in my opinion, is the only jacket you'll need this Autumn & Winter. Since it's already mid-September (where did the summer go?) I've decided now is the time to invest in my first winter piece. This jacket is from Zara (AGAIN) I can't get enough of their new season's styles, although, this biker is a little different from the rest.

So, where shall I start? It looks bloody cool, doesn't it? Yes, I realise it's yet another biker jacket I have to add to my already extensive collection, but who cares? I'm not passing on a biker when it looks this good!

This double-faced, biker-style jacket with zip fastening and adjustable strap collar is killer! I love the whole look of the jacket, with its diagonally placed pockets, and raw cut edges. It's a true standout piece. The only confession I do have is that this jacket isn't leather. *Music stops in background*.

I'm never a 'pleather' type of guy, I always go for a genuine 100% leather, but as this jacket looked so damn good, I let that rule slide! The main reason this jacket caught my eye in the first place, was all down to its fleece lining and collar. It's like the love child of a biker and aviator coat. It's a fully lined dream!

Every detail on the jacket is perfect but the most striking aspect has to be that feature fleece collar which incorporates a chunky buckle & strap design. Sadly with my long hair, this characteristic is unfortunately covered, but I guess you guys with shorter hair could wear the jacket to its full potential. It's leather look outer shell, and soft fleece lining are all you'll need to keep you warm & dry this winter.

Another design feature I noticed immediately was the raw unfinished edge it has. The fleece and outer shell abruptly stop, there's no tailored edge to the jacket, which is unusual and right up my street.

The jacket is very thick and bulky, reminiscent of vintage motorbike jackets from the 70's. I don't normally like wearing heavy set jackets, but this is an exception. It's just very cool! The jacket is coated in a weather resistant finish, I imagine rain, sleet or snow would just run straight off, keeping you warm & dry underneath.

The colour is jet black inside, and out, with only the zips and buckle fastening in a contrasting silver metal. This is much more than your everyday biker. I love the touch of aviator this jacket has been given. The final detail that stands out to me, is the rounded piping over the seams, you especially notice this around the shoulders and back of the jacket. Overall it's an awesome piece costing £89.99.

I purchased this biker jacket a few weeks ago but have just noticed that unfortunately, at this moment in time, the jacket is out of stock. Apologies, I hate featuring clothes on my blog that are hard to get your hands on. However, I'm pretty certain this jacket will be restocked online, if not you might be lucky enough to find it in store. I've left the link to the lined biker below to get more details on the jacket click here.

Fingers crossed you'll be able to hunt one down!

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