There's nothing fashionable about frostbite, so it's worth investing in a pair of quality gloves to protect your hands from the elements this winter. Practicality aside, gloves are great for adding a contrasting point of texture or colour to your outfit and, crafted from fine leather, they are attractive to the eye in their own right. After all, gloves have been worn by kings and emperors as a status symbol since antiquity. -Mr. Porter
I am standing outside an anonymous multistorey car park in Paris' civilised but unremarkable 17th arrondissement. Venturing into the depths of the building, I discover a small space at the back that's part workshop, part hang-out. If grown men were able to create dens, the way that little boys do, then they'd look like this. There are vintage motorbikes and motorbike parts littering the floor. There's a ratty-looking sofa and a coffee table on which sit bourbon bottles. There's a nude calendar, and, tellingly, there's an iMac. It's an undiluted dream of what a man's workspace should look like, and it is the home of Blitz Motorcycles, the custom bike shop run by Messrs Fred Jourden (who has a big beard) and Hugo Jezegabel (who has a smaller beard). It's here that they transform old motorbikes, from humble Japanese 125cc examples to grand vintage BMWs, into unique, individually tailored works of automotive art. Mr Jourden told MR PORTER about Blitz, while in the background Mr Jezegabel worked on the company's next project.
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Given the relaxed nature of modern dress codes, men's clothes must be versatile, and few items are as versatile as the tweed jacket, one of MR PORTER's fall Essentials and one of 20 items we think every man should own. Need to dress up for a client meeting? Put on a tweed jacket, a shirt and tie, a pair of grey wool trousers and some brown suede shoes. Going on a date? Put on a tweed jacket, a white T-shirt, a pair of slim jeans and some desert boots. Going for a walk in the country? Put on a tweed jacket, a flannel shirt, corduroy trousers and a pair of Wellington boots. You get the idea; like a Land Rover, a robust tweed jacket can go almost anywhere, and like a Land Rover, a tweed jacket is a British design classic. As for how to wear them, this season we favour the American Ivy style over the British country look. This involves slim chinos, Oxford cloth or chambray button-down shirts, and brown loafers or desert boots. Click through the slides above to see seven men who have helped secure the tweed jacket's status as a true menswear staple.
The 28-year-old is part of a school of designers who through their work consider the effects of emerging technology on daily life. In particular, he examines the shifting role of architecture - an area in which he has trained, having spent two years after university working at Atelier Bow Wow, the much-lauded Tokyo architects known for their innovative use of urban space.By way of illustration he begins to describe his upcoming project in collaboration with Veuve Cliquot, opening at the V&A this September as part of the London Design Festival. Prism will be hosted in the museum's cupola room - the building's domed tower - and aims to express this virtual-physical boundary by using the city itself as an illustrative device.
There's something about leather biker jackets: as soon as you slip one on, you instantly become a more rebellious, alive version of yourself, with the swagger to match - even if you're not actually a biker or rock star. It doesn't matter if the closest contact you have with a motorbike is when a courier delivers your online shopping; biker jackets are such a masculine and effortlessly stylish wardrobe staple, it's impossible to resist getting in on the action. Click through the gallery above to see a handful of men who have worn them well, and to learn more about the origins of this enduring classic.
Although we're not against small suitcases with wheels for practical purposes, especially when travelling for business, you can't beat a good old-fashioned holdall in the style stakes. The fact that you have to exert some effort to carry a full holdall adds a masculine dimension to their appeal. If you're whisking your beloved away for the weekend, a small pull-along case (incidentally similar to the ones that air stewardesses use) won't convey the optimum message. You should be thinking spontaneity, adventure and style, and not look as if you're trundling off to the annual cost-cutting conference. Click through the gallery above to see five holdalls that fit the bill.
Mr Carlos Huber, the founder of perfumer Arquiste, has simple advice: "Don't be afraid of florals." With a background in architectural design, the Mexico City-born entrepreneur launched his line of niche fragrances that "transport you to another place and time". Currently in the process of mixing his seventh scent, Mr Huber's goal is to preserve time and history with his creations. From his childhood memories of buying flowers for his mother to the Palace of Versailles, he's masterfully created a series of time capsules that translate into intoxicating smells. Here, he fills us in on finding the perfect white tee, the proper way to apply aftershave, and why a floral base can more often than not be the most masculine scent of all. Check out the full interview HERE
Exhibiting Mark McNairy‘s refreshingly signature take on classic footwear silhouettes is this new Canvas Camouflage Desert Boot from the designer’s namesake collection. Made in England, this take on the timeless chukka sees a camouflage-printed canvas upper with leather lining and a crepe rubber sole. The Mark McNairy Camouflage Canvas Desert Boot is now in-stock at MR PORTER for $410 USD.
Whether you call it claret or burgundy, dark red is dominant next season. It formed a big part of the designer collections, from Burberry to Gucci, and took the form of everything from cotton trousers to velvet jackets. In a new feature MR PORTER explores the many ways a man can combine claret with his existing wardrobe. They've focused on the clothes that work as well with a casual outfit as with a smart one because life, and dress codes, are more flexible than ever.
