Michael 84

Men's Fashion & Style

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.


A Barbour Quilted Jacket For Winter – Worth It?

Monday, 30th November, 2015

Is A Barbour Quilted Jacket Good For The Winter? - Men's Fashion Tips

I have had my quilted Barbour jacket for a number of years now, and while I do like it, it has got me thinking, is it the best jacket for Winter?

If you’re thinking about a jacket or coat for this Winter, I have answered some of the questions which you may have on the Barbour quilted jacket, and my thoughts on where it should fit in with your wardrobe this year.

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The Best Men’s Christmas Jumpers 2015

Friday, 27th November, 2015

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What do you think of the good old fashioned ugly Christmas jumpers then!? :mrgreen:

Christmas jumpers have gained enormous popularity over the past 3 or 4 years, and there’s even an official Christmas Jumper Day, to raise money for charity (it’s 18th December this year). If you’re going out or going to a party over the festive period, you have to do at least one night in a Christmas knit, and at least 1 work day if you’re allowed that too, and if you’re not, ask your boss, if he says no, convince him to say yes 😉

This year I have so many jumpers! A couple from last year and the year before, and I have some new additions from Fat Face, Tokyo Laundry and the amazing Funky Christmas Jumpers once again. When choosing your festive jumper there’s a few options you can go for; From a fair isle knit to the ultimate in a novelty design and even light up tops! It’s up to you to pick which style suits you, and you can of course get yourself more than one 😉

UPDATE: 2016 Christmas Jumpers

Check out the updated 2016 Christmas Jumper Guide Here.

Funky Christmas Jumpers

Funky Christmas Jumpers have some amazing designs, they’re so funny and if you have a look on their site you’ll probably end up getting more than one. This year they’ve got some brand new hilarious jumpers, including a Kim Kardashian inspired jumper from the Paper magazine cover.

Happy Birthday Jesus – £40

Kim Kardashian Reindeer Christmas Jumper – £40

Hipster Santa Christmas Jumper – £40

Baby Jesus Selfie Jumper – £40

I Know What You Did Last Christmas – £40

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Fatface

If you want something a little bit Christmassy but more formal and toned down from an all out novelty design, Fatface have got a few jumpers to get you in the spirit without going overboard. With a few fair isle style knits, and some featuring reindeer, you can wear these with some festive cheer in a more toned down manner.

Stag’s Running – £45

Stag Head – £45

Fairisle Knit – £45

Red Fairisle Knit – £45

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Tokyo Laundry

Tokyo Laundry have some brilliant festive designs at a great price. Classics include the elf costume, and other Christmas knits, including some with a 3D vibe to them with 3D pompom detailing.

Merry Christmas Elffie Jumper – £20

Happy Holidays Knit – £20

Penguin Blue Knit – £17

It’s Christmas Time Jumper – £20

Burton

Burton have a nice little selection of Christmas jumpers, including this one which I love, a Santa outfit. This design comes with a few funny extras which I haven’t seen anywhere else which are the naughty list, a hip flask and some faux buttons.

Merry Christmas Peeing Santa – £25

Reindeer Jumper – £25

Overworked And Underpaid Christmas Jumper – £25

Bad Santa Christmas Jumper – £25

My Other Christmas Jumpers

A few favourites of mine are these two; I got a light up Christmas jumper a couple of years ago which is always makes people stare which is pretty funny, it gets some attention in dark bars on a night out 😉 Another is my Santa Claws jumper which I got last year for my 2014 Christmas Jumper Guide which I really love 🙂

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Check out the best men’s Christmas jumpers this year for some novelty festive knitwear this season.


Me My Suit And Tie Style Box

Monday, 23rd November, 2015

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If you’re a regular reader of my blog you’ll know that for the past few months I have been talking about adding small details to a look, in particular pocket squares.

A simple pocket square can add a little bit of colour to an otherwise plain looking jacket, it adds a touch of class and will not go unnoticed. I really do like these fine details, and it doesn’t have to stop there, with other additions such as bracelets, lapel pins, ties and even tie bars can add small touches to finish off any outfit.

When the guys over at Me My Suit And Tie got in touch about their style boxes, I had to find out more. Check out their kickstarter here, and read more about them below.

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Men’s Autumn Style – Leaves And A Santillo Shirt

Wednesday, 18th November, 2015

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Hey guys! I hope you are well. How Autumnal are these pictures?! :mrgreen: I really do love the Autumn, and we’re having the most odd one in years, It was 15C the other day…In November! That is quite insane.

I have been talking with Finaest, an Italian boutique set up by Luca Gianmaria Catalano, which offer luxury fashion with history and the best craftsmanship. I discovered this light blue shirt, from the label Santillo. Santillo was founded in 1970 and is a family run business, with a high emphasis on quality craftsmanship. All their shirts are hand made from high end Italian cloth, and offer both bespoke and ready to wear products.

The shirt feels amazing and I love the fit. I have tried to do a close-up shot so you can see the quality of the cotton which is remarkable. It has no front placket, often called a French front placket, and Australian mother of pearl buttons. You can get this shirt in light blue, or other colours at Finaest here.

I wore the shirt with some navy blue chinos, my Jaeger grey jacket along with Kurt Geiger derby shoes. The outfit is finished off with a D&G watch and classic white pocket square. Remember to check out more of my fashion tips, including what to wear this Autumn.

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Selvedge Jeans From H&M Review

Tuesday, 10th November, 2015

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I love good quality denim.

I’ve bought a lot of high end jeans from high end fashion houses such as Balenciaga and Dior, to denim brands such as PRPS, Nudie Jeans and True Religion, and how can I forget Evisu, who use premium Japanese denim in most, if not all their jeans.

Good denim is well worth the money, from the fit to the finishing, you can tell the difference in a good pair of denim. If you’re a regular reader then you’ll remember I got a pair of Nudie Jeans Selvedge denim which are fantastic, and fast becoming one of my favourite pairs of denim I own.

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90’s Fashion Trends: How To Wear The Best 90s Trend Today

Sunday, 4th October, 2015

90's Fashion Trends - A 90's Style Guide For Men

When it comes to fashion trends, I have always loved 90’s style. It’s the decade which I grew up in, so the clothing from the decade always has fond memories for myself.

It was in the past, and was a bit retro, but then several years ago came the re-emergence of the 90’s trends, with the biggest menswear labels of the day making a comeback.

Are you looking to get some 90’s style, or create the perfect outfit? Read the guide below to know the best brands, key pieces of clothing and must have items for any 90’s style outfit.

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Nudie Jeans Selvedge Denim For Autumn 2015

Thursday, 1st October, 2015

Nudie Jeans have released their Autumn 2015 collection which includes premium selvedge denim at it’s heart. There’s several key pieces including pairs of jeans, shirts, outerwear all made from organic cotton.

Your favourite fits are back for this season, including Steady Eddy, Straight Alf, Grim Tim and Thin Finn available, so whichever fit is your style you’ll be able to get it in in the latest Autumn collection.

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Test Driving A Tailored Custom Made Suit

Monday, 28th September, 2015

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Recently the guys over at Tailor4Less got in touch with me to ask if I wanted to test drive their service.

They are a retailer who offer a complete custom suit service online with a plethora of options including choice of fabrics, fit, style, size and as far as finishing touches such as embroidered detailing on the inside of the jacket.

I took them up on the challenge and got to work picking my suit.

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Herschel Little America Backpack For Autumn

Sunday, 27th September, 2015

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Autumn is here which means for a lot of people back to school, college or Uni, and for those of us who are out of studying it’s a new season to get in style for. Whether you’re back at Uni or at work, the chances are you use a bag of sorts to keep your daily needs with you wherever you go. If you’re looking for a refresh, I have a few recommendations for you.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Little America Backpack by Herschel Supply Co. from UNDSCVRD. Herschel Supply Co. have become one of the most popular and fashionable backpack brands out there in the last few years, and it’s not hard to understand why. Their backpacks are not only stylish, but they’re really good quality, and above all, practical which is a core feature which you should be looking for when selecting a backpack.

The design is inspired from a mountaineering backpack, with leather strapping being the key to the design. The main compartment is accessed with the leather straps, which are kept closed using magnetic clasps, meaning you have easy access to get into the backpack while keeping it secure. It’s made from polyester, meaning it’s easy to keep clean and will stand up well against the elements. The front also features a small pouch pocket, perfect for small gadgets or loose coins. It’s secured by magnetic clasps again which hides the zipper compartment, once again keeping your goods secure.

The insides are the signature Herschel Supply Co. striped fabric, with a padded laptop sleeve which will support up to a 15″ laptop, it’s perfect to keep any device separated including a tablet or even a DSLR camera. One of my favourite features about this bag is the backing and the straps; If you’ve ever had a backpack on your back for long periods you’ll know it’s not always the weight which makes things uncomfortable, it’s the straps. This is addressed with custom Air Mesh straps and and Air Mesh back which gives unbelievable comfort.

You can get this from UNDSCVRD

About UNDSCVRD

As mentioned, I got this backpack from UNDSCVRD, but they do a lot more than this Little America Backpack. If you’re looking for a fashionable bag that packs a lot of style as well as your daily products, they’ll have something for you. From contemporary backpacks to messenger bags, laptop sleeves, wallets and leather goods, you’ll find them all under one roof. They have the labels you’ll already know and love, and are home to The North Face, Eastpak and Herschel Supply Co. as well as some great exclusive, boutique brands.

This includes the high end brand Porter, the main brand of Yoshida & Co. which has been around since 1962, and takes the name from a porter, who carries bags into a hotel. The Japanese brand is famous for it’s high standards, with it’s bags being exclusively being produced in Japan using high quality materials and skilled craftsman.

Crafted Goods are another brand to keep an eye on. With ethics and quality at it’s heart, their bags are designed in Switzerland and Japan while being manufactured in house at their factory in Bogotá, Columbia where they guarantee good working conditions for their workers. There bags are made to last, with their coveted Ballistic using the best quality raw materials and components.

Here’s a couple of other bags which caught my eye.

Backpacks

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Crafted Goods Ballistic Kaminito | Herschel Nylon – Lawson Navy | Eastpak: Floid Black2

Messenger Bags

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Sandqvist: Erik Messenger Blue | Crafted Goods: Carrerita – Black | Eastpak Claster Black

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*This post was written in collaboration with UNDSCVRD

Underwear, Swim Shorts & Loungewear From Jockey

Monday, 3rd August, 2015

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Jockey is launching it’s NOS collection, and have teamed up with legendary photographer James Dimmock to produce some iconic shots for their brand new collection. They have sent over some pieces which includes a pair of boxer shorts, swim shorts and loungewear.

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