A gentleman’s guide – How to dress for each business occasion

Posted: 11/08/2019

Navigating your way around business events has never been an easy task for the modern man. From questioning whether to pop on a tie, wear a suit, or rock a tux – we sat down with the experts at leading Australian made-to-measure tailors Oscar Hunt to help guide us through dressing for each business occasion. Cocktail Dress When it comes to cocktail events, often it can be confusing to balance smart business with casual. The rules however, are quite simple. Do: The cocktail dress code is one of the most fun and exciting, as it gives you the greatest opportunity to express your own sense of style. Distinction to stand out is key and also a great opportunity to try new combinations and stretch the rules. We recommend experimenting with colours and patterns, whether it be a bold shirt, bold pocket square or playful socks. Do Not: Steer away from formal ties and black suits to keep it moderately casual. Also, dress to the appropriate atmosphere of your workplace (i.e. sombre tones over a bright orange shirt if your workplace is quite conservative). The Lounge Look The lounge dress code is one of the least familiar, however one of the easiest to pull off. Much like the new kid on the block, the lounge suit sits just under the cocktail dress code – initially worn during periods of leisure (think relaxed tailoring). Do: Dress conservatively. You are expected to wear a dark suit and tie. If in doubt, select a charcoal or navy. Pair with… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, MEN'S STYLE, STYLE

Your face can save lives: WWF Australia and VisionDirect create sustainable sunglasses

by James Banham

Posted: 09/07/2019

They’re now turning gill nets into sunglasses and the world’s bloody thankful! The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia and eyewear company VisionDirect are teaming up to upcycle the plastic net, taking enough of the stuff to make 1,000 pairs of shades for the environmentally-minded trendsetter amongst us. It all comes after the initiative from 2018, where thousands of supporter donations helped WWF-Australia buy and retire the licence for the last commercial gill net operating full-time in the northern Great Barrier Reef. Talk about success. At the end of the day, it was all to protect dugongs and other endangered marine creatures which can be accidentally caught as bycatch and quickly drown; but not anymore. VisionDirect CEO David Menning said upcycling old nets is another way to give back to the community, following on from the company’s program to donate eyeglasses in less fortunate nations. But what will they do with the first thousand pairs they’ve made? Well, they come embossed with a marine animal whose future depends on a Net Free North, and half of the money they make from sales will go back to WWF for conservation work like advocacy for a #NetFreeNorth. For more info and to be apart of it all, head to the Vision Direct website.

Category: ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY, LIFESTYLE, MEN'S STYLE, STYLE, WOMEN'S STYLE

Tags: Gill nets, Green sunglasses, THE F WWF Australia, vision direct, VisionDirect WWF Australia, WWF Australia sunglasses

Good watches for good times: EverSwiss from Watch Shop

by James Banham

Posted: 19/06/2019

For the times in life you need something a bit nicer for that work meeting, dinner date, night at the opera or just to coordinate well with your non-around-the-house clothes, then maybe EverSwiss is the brand for you. From the people at the Watch Shop – one of the UK’s leading retailers of brand name designer watches that prides themselves on having one of the most efficient shopping systems available – EverSwiss fits the bill A Swiss made line of watches, they’re for the casual, the moderately stylish and the full-blown corporate amongst us, offering traditional leather bands, through to the more classic like a two-tone steel and brass range for men and women. Find more about the Watch Shop Official range at their website.

Category: LIFESTYLE, RETAIL, STYLE, TECH & GADGETS

What to look forward to from Victorinox this year

by Emi Berry

Posted: 14/06/2019

Seasoned travellers generally have a list of essentials they take with them and more often than not, that includes a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. And now Victorinox has upped the ante with their new design SwissCard – an in-wallet multitasker now available in rose and lilac-hued botanical print, with 10 clever functions incorporated in its credit-card-sized frame. Tools include a nail file, tweezers, scissors, tooth-pick, ballpoint pen and letter opener. Stylish yet super practical, it’s so compact you can pop it in your wallet or handbag for convenience. If chic luggage is your thing, Victorinox has also added more colours to the Connex Hardside range that will have heads turning at the baggage carousel. Colours includes rose gold, lilac and the same rose and lilac-hued botanical print that features in the new design SwissCard. In the Lexicon Hardside range, there is now a stunning gold version available, which is also going to be hard to miss when collecting this highly functional bag at the other end of your journey. And yes, you can enjoy style-matching your new gold case with the Alox Swiss Army Knife Limited Collection 2019, which also features this gorgeous shade. For a stylish, lightweight option for those outdoor adventurer types, Victorinox has also launched a large range of new backpacks including a roll-top, compact and duffle version in teal, red and black. Office goers needn’t feel left out, with a broad range of slimline laptop backpacks on offer, including the hip, flap over version. Going to work just became fun, with… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, RETAIL, TRAVEL

Tags: Luggage, New Victorinox luggage, Suitcase, the f luggage, the f victorinox, victorinox, Victorinox suitcase

Nike gets inclusive: The new BETRUE 2019 collection

by James Banham

Posted: 03/06/2019

As we approach the half way point of 2019, NIKE has joined the fold, becoming more inclusive than ever before and turning out a new collection that’s all about inclusivity. The Nike BETRUE 2019 collection pays homage to activist Gilbert Baker and his iconic rainbow flag design that 40 years later remains a worldwide symbol for the LGBTQIA community. For the first time, the footwear, apparel and accessories all feature the icon’s original eight-colour flag, a timely homage in this era of diversity and acceptance, that no one is alone. It also celebrates the fact that Baker handmade everything he designed. Nike designers gave each shoe a hand-crafted effect by embroidering symbols including the eight-layer Swoosh on the Nike Air Max 90 BETRUE and the rainbow flag on the Tailwind 79. Get the shoes from Supply and Sneakerboy and the clothes online.

Category: LIFESTYLE, MEN'S STYLE, RETAIL, STYLE, WOMEN'S STYLE

Tags: Betrue sneakers, nike, Nike Betrue, Nike gay, Nike rainbow, Nike rainbow sneakers, nike sneakers

MR PORTER launches its Japan edit: 15 collections from Japan’s most influential menswear brands

by James Banham

Posted: 15/05/2019

Some of Japan’s most revered labels are now available thanks to the efforts of MR PORTER. Japanese design is renowned for its unique takes, preference for quality fabrics and inimitable silhouettes, which make ranges some of the most desired by everyone all over the world. And now from 6 May, labels like Ambush, Auralee, Beams Plus, Blackmeans, Blue Blue Japan, Flagstuff, Hender Scheme, Human Made, Kapital, Mizuno, Needles, Neighborhood, Remi Relief, TakahiroMiyashita TheSoloist. and Wacko Maria x Fragment Design will offer 122 new pieces to the MR PORTER range online. Each brand has created a unique collection, interpreting their own take on Japanese style and culture as they nod to the leading and defining voices of Japanese design in contemporary and luxury casualwear. See the whole range at MR PORTER.

Category: LIFESTYLE, MEN'S STYLE, RETAIL, STYLE

A whole new IKEA: Shop without the crowds and queues at Warringah Mall

by James Banham

Posted: 05/05/2019

Gone is the IKEA you know – and love. They’re opting for a new iteration of the Swedish look and feel without any of the crowds, queues, lanes on the footpath or aisles of self-serve furniture. It’s called the IKEA Home Planning Studio and you’re in the market for a refreshed take on kitchen and bedroom storage solutions, then it’s for you. It’s a new 98m? studio within the homewares section of Warringah Mall in Sydney that will provide one-on-one planning consultations and developments if you need. Everything is done online within the studio and delivered directly to the your home, so there’s none of that post-visit awkwardness in trying to fit a 10-seater anything into the back of your Mini Clubman. There’s a stylist and design consultant on-hand, too, for two hour sessions that are booked in advance, where you’re are guided through each stage of their kitchen or bedroom planning process, with a stunning end result. Make your booking here.

Category: INTERIORS, LIFESTYLE, RETAIL

Tags: IKEA Studio, IKEA Warringah Mall, the f ikea

Canterbury’s new range: Everything you need to train, live and play

by James Banham

Posted: 26/04/2019

There’s something to be said for activewear that’s as easy to live in as it is to exercise in and Canterbury has nailed the brief with their latest range of stuff for dudes. The new range of training and casual sports gear is all about life and fitness, promising to be “everything” you need to do you. The whole range comes with what they call “Vapodri” technology. It keeps your body dry, and the clothes doing their athletic thing as good as possible, covering their range of hoodies, long and short-sleeved tees, drill tops and pants, and an array of shorts and pants. The sport casual range also uses Canterbury’s historic toughness and leading technology, integrated with clever graphic design and styling, to work as hard on the street as on the training field. Oh, and they’ve also got a new online portal they’re calling the Canterbury Training Hub. It’s for men, women, players and supporters and serves up some clear, practical, insightful, helpful and fun content, from how to build a great women’s fitness capsule wardrobe, to a parent’s guide to junior footy to making sure a night of romance doesn’t affect your on-field performance. Check it out.

Category: HEALTH & FITNESS, LIFESTYLE, MEN'S STYLE, RETAIL, STYLE, WOMEN'S STYLE

Tags: activewear, Canterbury, Canterbury menswear, Canterbury rugby clothes, Canterury activewear, THE F Canterbury

Specsavers Autumn Winter collection blends fashion with functionality

Specsavers Kenzo eyewear sunglasses glasses 1

by THE F

Updated: 17/04/2019

Specsavers has revealed the must have statement eyewear pieces for Autumn/Winter 19, with bright colours and bold shapes the name of the game this season. Deriving inspiration from the born again 90s trends spotted on the runway, Specsavers’ collection is divided by colours; luminous greens, reflective blues, bold reds, dusty pinks, and hues of gold take centre stage. Gone are the days of thin, black rectangular eyewear being the sole option for the visually impaired; letterbox shapes, aviators, cat-eye frames, and oversized logos are all back with a bang. MORE: Alex Perry’s collection does good things on social media The collection poses a sartorial escape from the cooler months, with colourful frames from the likes of usual suspects Australian designers Alex Perry and Collette Dinnigan as well as new collaborations with Parisian fashion house KENZO and British label Red or Dead who are releasing a collection of frames with interchangeable arms, offering a world of customisation options. Also on offer from Specsavers will be a new range of frames with removable nose pads to cater to those with wider faces, lower nose bridges, and higher cheekbones. Global head of product design for Specsavers, Stig Engelbreth Hansen affirmed the idea behind the Autumn Winter 19 collection, saying, “Glasses wearers are becoming more and more daring when it comes to selecting their frames. This season it’s all about the attitude and confidence that glasses can bring out in the wearer.” Specsavers has a vast array of options ensure you’ll never have to forgo fashion for the sake… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, MEN'S STYLE, RETAIL, STYLE, WOMEN'S STYLE

Tags: Kenzo eyewear, Kenzo glasses, Kenzo sunglasses, Kenzo Sydney, specsavers, Specsavers Kenzo, Specsavers Kenzo eyewear

A short guide on how to match your shoes with your outfit

by James Banham

Updated: 08/07/2021

With so many options and types of shoes to choose from, who can blame you for being a little confused while making the right pick? Shoes are magical and it’s true that you can never really have enough of them. The best part is that they always fit even if you eat a lot of desserts! Every shoe has a story to tell but the wrong one can make you look awkward. Here is how you can pair the shows to your outfit seamlessly. Choose according to the occasion People often forget about the purpose of shoes and buy them anyway. It is important to wear the right shoes to match the given occasion. For instance, you should wear running shoes when you wish to practice for a marathon or want to go running. The shoes are designed specially to serve their specific purpose. Not being mindful of this will make you feel uncomfortable. Wear formals for work and events like weddings. Casual shoes can be worn on a daily basis and while going out with friends. Focus on quality Once you pick the right type of shoes for an occasion, you should consider the quality of shoes you are investing in. it is better to buy quality products at the first go rather than buying multiple shoes throughout the year. Shoes that are cheaper in quality are made from materials such as cardboard and glue which naturally deteriorate with time. Buying expensive shoes which will last for decades is a way smarter choice. Your… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, RETAIL

Tags: How to match shoes, Matching shoes, THE F matching shoes

Category: STYLE