Everything you need to know in the latest style and fashion, presented by Michael 84. Find out how to dress better in the style guide, and find what's the latest menswear from the high street to high end in the collections. You can find out what's hot this season by checking the fashion trends which are popular right now.
The summer season is on the way, and you’re probably thinking of booking yourself a holiday if you haven’t already. One thing you have to get right is your wardrobe, and an essential part of your summer holiday wardrobe are a pair of shorts. M A C K E E N E have a range of premium swimwear ready for you to take them to the beach into the ocean.
One thing I love about the spring fashion is spring knitwear. It’s not warm enough to walk around in just a t-shirt, and not cold enough for a winter coat and layers of clothing, it’s perfect weather for spring knitwear.
It’s important to remember that knitwear such as jumpers and cardigans should not be put away when the first glimpse of sunshine comes, and that they are great pieces to build up your wardrobe and look with.
You can keep it simple and toned down with darker colours such as dark greys, blues and black, or a great thing to do is to add some subtle colour to your look with a pastel colour knit.
I am back on the Air Max horse 😀 Today is Air Max Day, and what better way to celebrate it than getting a brand new pair of Air Max. I am taking it back to the beginning, and got the infamous old school and original style, the Air Max 1.
I love my Converse collection, but I have decided that I would mix things up a bit and a pair of Air Max. I have a pair for running, however they are old and tired and are in really bad condition, I only use them for running and have done for a long time. For the past few years I have bought so many pair of Converse, and before that KSWISS, with the odd pair of Adidas in between. Now I have a fresh pair of Air Max, and I love them.
I love this colour, a nice light smart colour which is not too boring and dull, but not overpowering and bright. They come with the customary and iconic air bubble to the side, a classic design.
What do you think? What are your favourite pair of Air Max?
This is one for the kids who were born in the 80s and grew up in the 90s…
If that sounds like you, you must remember Kappa? The younger kids will associate it with Vicky Pollard, Charvas and the like, but Kappa was huge, popular, on trend and one of the things to wear back in the 90s.
From sponsoring huge global football teams such as Ronaldo’s Barcelona and Del Piero’s Juventus, Kappa became one of the trendy 90’s brands. If you did not have Kappa you had nothing! 😀 Then came the eventual decline, in the UK at least, as it did with a lot of similar sportswear companies.
But I loved my Kappa, and if you’re honest you did too! 90s fashion trends are huge now, not so much the brands and labels, but the styles. 10 years ago there was the 80s trends, 80s themed parties and all things 80s nostalgia, and now it’s the turn of the 90s, obviously the best ever decade! 🙂 No matter what the trend retro will always be popular, it reminds us of a time we loved.
Several months ago I heard about Kappa selling their old style tracksuits, and I was hesitant about getting one. Sure, once they were cool, but now, not so much. But they are nostalgic, they remind you of a time when they were cool, which sort of makes them cool again. Not to mention I really wanna go to a 90s themed party, and if I do, I have my outfit sorted 😉
Yes, I have bought a Kappa tracksuit! Almost the same as the one I used to own, except mine had red track stripes, this navy blue piece of genius brings back memories of my childhood.
I got it direct from Kappa, sent from Italy, and they hardly had any stock…In fact I had to buy a small rather than a medium, it’s all they had in this classic colour. The bottoms fit fine, they jacket, a tad small and fits where it touches.
Me a few years ago when I got my coat. I was so happy! 😀
If you’re a veteran reader of my blog you’ll know that a couple of years ago I got a Canada Goose coat. After extensive searching, talking to retailers and even talking to buyers in the UK it seemed so difficult to get my hands on one of these, but I did eventually get one, and since then never looked back.
OK, we may not get -30C temperatures that they can get in the arctic North, but when it’s cold here it sure does feel like it! When the Winter comes you’ll need something to keep you warm, and a Canada Goose does exactly that. After owning mine for 2 Winters, it still looks brand new. This is because it’s a high end, high quality product, made to be rugged and withstand the most harshest of conditions. Canada Goose maintain the quality of their coats by manufacturing them in Canada, no “Made in China” labels on these!
Why are these so special then?
As mentioned they are made in Canada. That means two things; good, high quality manufacturing and experience of cold weather. Canada gets pretty cold in the Winter, so they know a thing or two about making jackets to keep you warm, and Canada Goose have been going strong for over 60 years. They are used in Arctic missions, used by mountaineers and are the outerwear of choice for anyone who is working in Siberian cold temperatures. They survive this hellish weather, so even the coldest of British Winters is no match. You’ll know you have something special when you pick one up and put one on, the weight, feel and everything from the zip to the hood feels premium.
Which Canada Goose style to choose
There are several different styles of jackets and coats which are available to buy. The Hybridge is a relatively new range which are lightweight padded styles of jackets. Right at the other end of the scale there is the Ontario Parka, Expedition Parka and the Heli-arctic Parka, designed for extreme temperatures. I would recommend coming in between both of these, and go for either the Chateau Parka, Chilliwack Bomber, Borden Bomber or Langford Parka. I recommend choosing one with a hood which gives you extra protection in the snow, and especially the cold winds which I found out for myself.
My choice was the Chilliwack, which was the perfect choice for me. I wanted a shorter length, bomber style, which makes movement much easier. You may want a longer length jacket if you want to keep your lower half warmer, the best thing is to try one if you are able to.
What weather are they for?
It sounds like a stupid question, but it’s not. In the UK we get cold winters, but they are nothing in comparison to the harsh winters of places like Scandinavia or Russia. These jackets are designed for very cold weather, so when it’s not really cold out then it’s not the choice for your outerwear. Depending on how harsh the winters are, you may get 4 months a year out of this, but it will be the warmest 4 months of your year!
Are they worth the money?
A Chilliwack bomber will set you back around £580 at the moment. That is a lot of money for anyone to spend on a jacket they’re only going to wear for a few months a year. However you have to look at this as an investment piece. They do not follow trends, it’s not something which is going to go out of style next year, it’s something you’ll be able to wear year on year. For the durability, the comfort, the luxury and the quality they are worth the money if you can afford it.
Buy genuine, stay away from counterfeits and fakes
As with most high priced goods, Canada Goose faces a problem with fakes being sold, especially on the Internet. The same rule applies for this or anything else; If it looks too good to be true, it probably it. The fakes will not be the same quality, if you see a so called “Canada Goose” for £99 from a retailer or buyer you’ve never heard of, it’s probably going to be fake! Always buy from a retailer you have heard of, and if you haven’t you can check to see if they’re an official authorised retailer on the official counterfeit checker here.
Find Canada Goose Jackets In Newcastle, United Kingdom
So back when I wanted a jacket they were pretty hard to find. I found the odd retailer which had them, but they either did not have my size, colour or the style I wanted, or I just could not find any! Now there are a couple more retailers in Newcastle who are stocking them, and more and more places in the UK online where you can buy them from.
Newcastle/North East official stockists
LD Mountain Centre – Dean Street, NE1
Jules B – Osborne Road, NE2
Northern Threads, Ocean Road, South Shields, NE33
If you’re looking to get yourself something warm to wear this season, make sure you check out my men’s winter jacket guide, featuring the Canada Goose, and plenty of other options for all budgets 🙂
You can be old with a young face, or quite young with an old face.
If you’re young and look even younger, this can be a problem getting into a bar, and even when you’re in you may look like a child. A lot of this can be determined by the way you dress.
There are a few tips which can go a long way, and a few faux pas when it comes to getting ready to go out.
Today was the opening of Jack Wills in Newcastle, right at the Monument. I was invited down to the launch to sample the great atmosphere and check out the new space, as well as the fabulous collections which they had on offer. The store was packed, and there were a lot of great pieces in store, as well as offers such as 25% off classic gilets. No fashion store opening is complete without cocktails and a DJ, and this was no different. It was too early for me to begin drinking (even if it is a Friday!) but the DJ was pretty good.
All the staff are so happy and friendly. You have to check out the store this weekend, with cocktails, music and shopping, it’s something you need to experience for yourself!