Spring smart!

It came as quite a surprise when I was looking through my wardrobe, that I didn't own one pair of trousers. I have always been a jeans type of guy. I mean, I haven't really had any need to own any trousers. However, recently I have found myself branching into smarter clothing choices.

Spring trends are showing pairing a tucked in t-shirt/shirt with some fitted trousers to be super popular. I have been loving this look, it is something completely different for me. I chose to keep this outfit fairly neutral, opting for whites, blacks and greys. Not the most adventurous but it works.

The full outfit again is by boohooMAN, apart from the shoes. If you read my post about boohooMAN's new spring collection then you'll know all about this jacket. It's amazing. Super lightweight, amazing colour and it practically goes with every outfit. I paired it with a tucked in white t-shirt and some fitted black trousers that taper to your ankle.

For shoes I opted for some loafers. These are by Aldo and I absolutely love them. Really comfy and perfect for a warm day.

Again for accessories I kept it super simple with my Redherring watch from Debenhams, and some Topman wayfara sunglasses.

You can copy the codes into boohooMAN and shop the look here
Longline cap sleeve t-shirt: MZZ73493
Button through suedette trucker jacket: MZZ74513
Skinny stretch chino trouser: MZZ73989

boohooMAN | #NOVACANCY

Spring. It's officially here...well sort of give or take the odd rainy day. This is the UK after all. Aside from the warmer weather, I absolutely love this time of year. No longer do you need to have a hundred layers on to actually brave outside. It also means you can inject a bit more colour into your outfits.

We were super lucky when shooting this outfit as the weather was definitely on our side. Knightsbride is such a nice location to grab some outfit photos and you can even see some blossom starting to show on the trees. All very promising for a good few months ahead (hopefully).

Now, to the outfit. BoohooMAN have just dropped their #NOVACANCY Spring 2017 collection online and it is safe to say it is a winner. I opted to go fairly neutral with the colours of this outfit. I worked around the main piece of the outfit being the suedette grey jacket. It is really lightweight and can be paired with most items in my wardrobe. I wore it with some raw edge denim ripped jeans, a longline curved hem white t-shirt and some white Adidas superstars.

In terms of accessories I wore my black Red Herring watch and some aviator style sun glasses from Topman.

Shop my look by clicking the links below:

BUTTON THROUGH SUEDETTE TRUCKER JACKET 

LONGLINE LOOSE FIT CAP SLEEVE T SHIRT

SUPER SKINNY RAW EDGE DISTRESSED JEANS

BoohooMAN Outfit

As some of you may know, recently I received the news that successful in my application to be taken on to be a brand ambassador for BoohooMAN. I couldn't believe it when I found out the news that I had been accepted, I do feel incredibly lucky. As you can probably tell from my Instagram I am an avid shopper. I spend way too much money on clothes than I probably should. So being given the opportunity to work with boohoo who I have been a huge fan of for years was a dream.

I really struggle to define my style, It completely varies from day to day. Whether I choose to go for a classic look with a smart shirt and trousers paired with some trainers or a bomber and ripped jeans and some loafers I do try and mix up my style.

With this look I chose to stick to a neutral colour palette, this pretty much sums up my whole wardrobe to be fair. I really am trying to introduce some more colour however my inner monochrome self still chooses blacks, whites and greys...I will get there!

The full outfit apart from the shoes are from Boohoo. The jumper has a fitted style to it, with a vertical textured ribbed effect. I particularly like the neck zip, I think it add's a little more detail to this piece. I chose to pair this with some skinny black ripped biker jeans. These jeans are such a key piece in any wardrobe as they offer something different to your classic black jeans.

As we are half way through February, jackets are becoming suited rather than heavy over-coats. This jacket is a classic with the shearling black neck and pocket detail. It also has a cut that allows you to layer underneath it. I think a shearling jacket is another essential this winter/spring.

I chose to smarten up the outfit on the whole with some leather boots from Aldo. They have an ox/dark leather look to them, adding some finesse to this street look.

In terms of accessories, I choose to keep it really simple with a silver watch from Armani and a Thomas Sabo bracelet to compliment the watch.

You can shop this outfit here or copy and paste these product codes into boohooMAN to be taken directly to the pieces:
Wool look melton jacket: MZZ75010
Black ripped biker jeans:  MZZ79361
Grey ribbed jumper:  MZZ77279

Accessories:
Boots - Aldo
Watch - Armani
Bracelet - Thomas Sabo

Grüum | Shaving at it's finest

Shaving. It's a task not many people do enjoy. Summoning up the energy to address the ever growing stubble on your face is a challenge in itself. Then to realise you forgot to buy razor heads or that you're out of shaving gel. It is a situation we have all found ourselves in.

So when I found out about Grüum I was extremely interested to test out their products. They are a monthly subscription based company that provide "Face care for men, without all the fuss." The process is simple, you answer a couple of questions about your skincare routine/shaving habbits etc and they match you best with their products.

In a four stage simple process you tell them about you, they build your kit, deliver it to your door and you enjoy the benefits. The hassle of forgetting to buy razors is long gone! 

The thing that appeals mostly to me is that this brand only use natural products meaning they are perfect for every skin type, even sensitive skin. Ingredients like Eucalyptus and Which hazel which are known for their anti inflammatory qualities provide a shave that is so beneficial to the skin. 

In the shaving kit you receive:

x1 Daily exfoliating face wash

x1 Daily moisturiser

x1 Shave gel

x1 Facial tonic

x1 Razor handle

x4 Razor heads

It also includes an instruction manual on how to achieve the perfect shave with full descriptions on how to use the products and their benefits. They also have a 'Beard Maintenance Kit' which caters to those who choose to have a bit more growth. 

Now lets get to the serious business. 

kóri - Daily exfoliating face wash

Orange, Eucalyptus & Which hazel

Whenever I shave I always start with exfoliating my face. It lifts up all of your hair follicles and means that you are less likely to snag any hairs when it comes to shaving. I particularly enjoyed this product a lot. It had a fantastic scent and the exfoliating particles in the gel meant that my skin felt super clean afterwards. Great start!

danne - Shave gel

Orange, Rosemary & Eucalyptus 

I usually use shaving foam when I shave, I am yet to try a balm or in this case a gel so I was intrigued. It didn't lather up as much as I expected however it did work into the skin very well, covering my full face and neck with very little product. 

Razor cartridges and handle

To the most important part. How well did this razor work? In all honesty brilliantly. Probably the best shave I have ever had give or take a cut throat visit to a barber shop. The head has five blades, which are so simple to attach to the handle, with a simple click. 

The thin ergonomic design makes it easy to hold allowing you to see where you are shaving and not struggle with dexterity. The blades glided over my skin and even on my neck where usual razors struggle this one effortlessly addresses each hair. I shave with a structured line along my jaw and on my cheeks so the fixed head worked perfectly for me. If I was so suggest an improvement possibly the head could pivot slightly for those who prefer an all over clean shave. 

gösta - Facial tonic
Orange, Rosemary & Which Hazel
I think that this was a nice additional product in the kit and allowed your skin to really sooth the skin after shaving. The smell was very natural and it left the skin feeling very cool. It also removes unwanted shine after you have shaved. This is a fantastic product that I have never tried before and will definitely continue to use.

käre - Daily moisturiser 
Cedarwood, Sage & Rosemary
Now to moisturise. This final step is crucial after shaving as it allows your skin to remain smooth and keeps the razor rash at bay. The moisturiser went a very long way, with a small amount easily working it's way into my face and neck. It worked into my skin easily and left a smooth finish.

The kit works fantastically together. Each product perfectly preps the skin before a shave and refines the skin afterwards for the ultimate shave. 

This brand works on a 'No commitments' basis meaning you can change or cancel your kit at any time if you wish to do so. Ultimately Grüum are providing a kit that you can tailor to your face and what works best for you. 

I can honestly say that my skin felt fantastic afterwards, with a extremely smooth finish. I would completely recommend this brand to other who are in the market for a new brand of skincare. 

Click here to be taken to Grüum's website where you can see a full list of their products, prices and kit's to get more of an idea of what is the perfect match for you. 

I just want to say a huge thank you to Grüum for providing me with this kit to review. 

Thank you for reading,

Luke. 

January Favourites.

I figured I'd give something new a go on my blog. I love hearing about what people have been enjoying recently. It's always great to find out about a new product or a TV show that you haven't heard of before. I think I really enjoy favourites because I am secretly a little bit nosy...

I have split this months favourites up into categories. Food, Drink, Fragrance, Technology, Shoe, Clothing, TV/Film and Book. I think that pretty much covers everything, but feel free to comment down below if there is something you would like to be featured next month.

So...without further adieu, let's get to it.

Food: Crosstown Doughnuts  - Locations across London  
https://www.crosstowndoughnuts.com/
I have been a fan of crosstown doughnuts for a while now. I went to the store in Soho back in July 2015 and have been a regular ever since. They regularly change their flavours to fit the seasons. Since returning to London one of the first things I had to go do was visit Crosstown...priorities I know. I always try to go for something different every time. This doughnut was their 'Black Forest" flavour which uses their cake dough recipe rather than their traditional sourdough and it was THE BOMB. Give Crosstown a go for an epic sweet treat or just to get a cheeky Instagram because all of their doughnuts look insane.

Drink: Oatly - Oat Drink (Tesco £1.40)
http://www.oatly.com/
Bit of a random one, however I have been really trying to cut down on dairy recently. There is just something about it that doesn't sit right with me. I have tried a lot of dairy free milk options and this one by far is my favourite. It's by a brand called 'Oatly' and honestly guys it's the one. There is no dairy in sight and is packed with nutrients. I really do love almond milk however this one has less of an impact on the flavour of foods and drinks. I highly recommend. I've noticed a huge difference in my skin too since cutting down on dairy - it's a win win.

Fragrance: Giorgio Armani Code Profumo, Parfum Pour Homme (Debenhams 60ml £66)
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_117024900999_-1
I received this fragrance for Christmas after testing it when it was first launched. I am a huge fan of Armani fragrances. They are always classy, sophisticated and refined. I have the Aqua Di Gio and it is my all-time favourite fragrance. The best and simplest way I can describe Armani Code Profumo is woody and almost smoky with top notes of citrus. It is an all rounder, you can wear it throughout the day for a casual scent or pair it with a crisp shirt and it will give you that perfect evening scent. I have wore it none stop and had a lot of compliments on how nice it smells. Nice one Armani.

Technology: Lava Brightsound 2 - Speaker & Light (Amazon £39.99)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lava-BrightSounds-Portable-Lantern-Bluetooth/dp/B01HTKLRCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486143491&sr=8-1&keywords=brightsound
This little gadget is awesome to say the least. My flatmate got this speaker for Christmas and after walking in kitchen and hearing the sound quality I knew I had to get one. I was expecting it to be super expensive for the quality of sound, but for under £40, value for money is insane. It has a certain richness to the sound, handling a variety of music really well. It also doubles up as a lamp to keep by your bed for night time reading etc. The design is brilliant, with the e carry handle being perfect for moving the speaker around with you. They also come in a variety of colours to match any interior or taste.

Shoe: Adidas Tubular Grey (JD Sports £75)
https://www.jdsports.co.uk/product/grey-adidas-originals-tubular-shadow/241389/
Admittedly I have a thing for trainers. So it's no surprise that I have welcomed a new pair into my collection. These were advertised on JD's Instagram and I immediately knew I had to have them. Again, I was expecting them to be priced in the hundreds but for £75, I didn't even think twice. They are very 'Yeezy' esque dividing opinion that they are dupe's of the famous trainer. However with Adidas making Yeezy's it's no wonder they have a similar look to them. They are honestly so comfy and really nothing like I have in my collection. I have wore them none stop since ordering them and I can see them being a firm favourite in the coming months.

Fashion: Black leather shearling jacket (Zara £89.99)
http://www.zara.com/uk/en/man/jackets/biker-jacket-c586542p4238056.html
This jacket has by far became my favourite thing in my wardrobe. I've had my eye on it for a while now, seeing bloggers and people on Instagram wearing similar styles and absolutely killing it. The thing with shearling is that it's so warm you don't really need many layers underneath making it perfect for the transition seasons. I picked this up in Zara and was surprised at the price considering the quality. You can fully zip the jacket up to the neck for those colder days. It just fits so well and makes any outfit look that little bit more classy.

TV/Film: A Series of Unfortunate Events - Netflix 
https://www.netflix.com/browse
So...this will probably divide some people's opinion. But I have to feature this in my favourites. Since moving to London I am watching a lot less TV purely down to lack of time. But Netflix is still very much used on an evening. I loved the original film version back in 2007 so when I heard that Netflix were making a spin off series I was very interested. Now I know people are saying it's predictable and not very much like the books, however I still think it has very quirky and funny element to it. Neil Patrick Harris plays Count Olaf, the horrid guardian of the Baudelaire family. Although he isn't a patch on Jim Carrey in the movie, he still fits the role really well. Give it a go and see if you get hooked like I did.

Book: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two (Amazon - £9)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Potter-Cursed-Child-Production-x/dp/0751565350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486143521&sr=8-1&keywords=harry+potter+and+the+cursed+child
I know I am hugely late to this book. Calling myself a Potter fan and not actually reading this book for months is an outrage I know. I finally took the plunge and purchased this book at the back end of December. I am about three quarters of the way through and so far it is brilliant to say the least. It is written as a play so it does take a while to get your head around it and the which characters are talking etc. However you soon get into it and it becomes enchanting. JK Rowling is a genius and this book is no exception. I really am desperate to see the play in London however the tickets are crazy expensive. So for now, the book will do just nicely!

So there we are. Just a little round up of the things that I have been loving throughout the month of January. Bit of a random selection but none the less some great mentions. Feel free to leave a comment if you have enjoyed this post or anything you have been loving recently.

Thank you so much for reading,

Luke.