FASHION: Atom Retro - Retro, Mod & Indie Clothing

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Atom Retro asking if I would like to take a peek at their website and choose an item of clothing to style for this here blog. After deleting my initial response of “are you saying I dress like I’m stuck in the 1960s” I took a peek and was instantly hooked on the sheer amount of clothing available for both men and women and how reasonable the pricing was.

For the sake of transparency, I was gifted with my choice but as ever, I'm being incredibly objective when it comes to sharing my thoughts.

Lounging in the library at work

So, who are Atom Retro? This is what they say about themselves over the site here:

'Based in the UK and launched in 2004, Atom Retro has quickly become the one-stop shop for every sixties fan, retro lover or heritage connoisseur looking for authentic, high quality and original clothing.

We specialise in stocking iconic heritage brands such as Baracuta, John Smedley, Original Penguin, Farah Vintage, Ben Sherman and Gabicci Vintage – but we also have an eye for new and original independent designers and brands with a Retro or Indie edge such as Madcap England, Common People and Gonsalves & Hall.

Atom Retro was inspired by the Carnaby Street boutiques of the Sixties – recreated here online for the contemporary era. Reflecting classic, timeless style with Fashion that will live forever.'

They have everything you could possibly need to pull together an alternative look that will make you stand out in a crowd or simply state your own style in a unique and interesting way, without breaking the bank. Being a little conservative I opted for the Penny Dot Lane MADCAP ENGLAND Retro 60s Mod Shirt that sells for £34.99. A reasonable amount I think for a well made quality shirt. Normally when looking at casual shirts I can spend anything up to £100 so just £34.99 is not something to be sniffed at. 

Check out that retro old school phone! 

When I showed my better half my choice I could tell from the look on her face that this wasn't something she would pick for me but it has grown on her and she now likes the outfit when I combine it with dark blue jeans and my biker boots or my brown Chelsea boots from Chatham Marine.

I’ve worn the shirt twice now to work and I can categorically say I’ve never received so many positive comments about it – people love the shirt and the look, which is a shift away from my usual all black outfits for work! Navy is the new black people….Strangely, I wasn't even wearing the shirt to work today and someone commented on how cool it looked while sat in a meeting. 

Atom Retro don't just limit themselves to clothes either, you can also pick up some amazing retro stuff like this vintage record player for £169, this Dunlop flap satchel bag for £15 or these Winklepicker Chelsea boots for £89.99.

Atom Retro - well and truly bookmarked and somewhere I'll be shopping from again and again. As I've said above, I'm being objective and there are lots of retro clothes on the site that I personally could not see myself wearing, in fact I just enjoyed looking at the wide range of sometimes bizarre clothes available. Go and take a look, I think you'll find something that appeals to you.

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What do you think to my choice and the outfit?

*thanks Robbie for taking the pics!

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Men's shirts from Jacamo

Shirts are an item of clothing that I used to wear nearly every day either with a suit, with jeans or with trousers and a blazer. I was really picky about my shirts then and I still am. It is very very rare that you will see me in a short sleeve shirt, I just don't find them comfortable and they remind me of a guy I used to work with who wore then, stains and all - to my former colleagues if reading, I'm "sure" you know who I mean. Any way, I digress, so long sleeve for me it is, double cuffed if I'm going to be wearing a suit. When it comes to colour, I leave that to the wife as I am colourblind, but my one rule is nothing denim and nothing lumberjack.

With that in mind, I have just de-cluttered my wardrobe and need a few new shirts to fill the gaps and Jacamo have a pretty impressive selection of men's shirts and these are the ones which have caught my eye.

While I can go casual in the office I do like a shirt for when I go out for dinner or out on the town. These shirts I think would look great with a pair of dark blue jeans and biker boots.

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  It has been a long time since ive found a French Connection shirt that I like. This floral shirt is one which I feel I can pair with smart jeans and a loose-fit blazer or on its own.
  
  
  This Mythic long-sleeve shirt from Mish Mash is perfect for your smart to formal wardrobe. Pair with jeans for a smart casual look and wear under a suit or blazer for a smarter occasion look.
• Williams and Brown London isn't a brand I am familiar with but I like the style of shirt. Something I can wear with a suit or with jeans and still look smart, perfect for work.
• Finally this Brakeburn floral short which is totally different to the offering from French Connection by way of design and cuff style. I like that it has double cuffs and can be worn with smart or casual wear.

Personally I have shopped at Jacamo before (it surprised my friend as she mistakenly thought they only sold ranges for the taller and larger man) and still love my Pea Coat and have just taken delivery of some summer wear which again is high quality (the Firetrap tee is awesome) and doesn't leave you feeling as though your wallet has been violated. If you have never visited the site I highly recommend that you do, they have men's clothing to suit a broad spectrum of styles.

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Hawes & Curtis - Quintessentially British

Hawes & Curtis, well they are a luxury shirt maker founded in 1913 based on Jermyn Street, London. Since being founded they have expanded from everything tailored and exclusive to a range of clothing for the man (and women with their range) who wants to look stylish no matter what the occasion.

You can read more about the history of the company over at the Hawes & Curtis website, but this is what they say about themselves:

‘Hawes & Curtis was founded by two accomplished outfitters, Ralph Hawes and George Frederick Curtis, who opened the first store at 24 Piccadilly Arcade in February 1913. From the beginning the heritage brand has been acclaimed by aristocracy and Hollywood's elite. Notable customers have included the Duke of Windsor, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Lord Mountbatten, Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire.’

I was lucky enough to be approached by the company to see if there was anything in their new ranges that I would like to try and style. I opted for two shirts, the first casual and the second to go with a suit on the unlikely event that I would be thrust into a formal setting.

The first shirt can be found at the Hawes & Curtis site here:

It’s the men’s blue and white medium check classic fit linen shirt. I opted for large and it is rather large on me, in fact my frame must have shrunk quite considerably! This shirt normally sells for £49.50, £34.50 in the current sale or for £25 if you buy four men’s shirts (at the same time). 

This is how's I styled it (said in a bit of a country bumpkin voice).

The second shirt can be found on the Hawes & Curtis site here:

It’s the men’s lilac and white dogstooth check tailored fit shirt with a double cuff. This shirt has something of a silk feel to it despite being made out of cotton and sells for £49.50 normally, £34.50 in the current sale or for £25 if you buy four men’s shirts (at the same time). 

I think I managed to pull it off, despite not wearing a suit properly in over a year! 

These aren't cheap, although you can pick up bargains as part of their multi-buy deals. That said, the quality of the shirts, the comfort and ease to wash and iron (yes, that is a consideration) they are well worth the outlay. If these last even half as long as my other tailored shirts then I would be happy to pay upwards of £50 for just one. I was surprised at how comfortable the casual shirt was, how the material let my skin breathe despite the exotic London temperatures and generally left me feeling at ease as everyone else around me melted. The formal shirt was equally as good and even with the suit jacket on I didn't feel overly hot or sweaty. Excellent chaps, excellent.

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Guide London Shirts + Giveaway

If you saw my TK Maxx Haul earlier in the year you will have seen the lovely flowery shirt from Guide London I managed to pick up well below the recommended retail price. Pleased was an understatement then and still is!

When I was asked if I would to take a look at their Autumn collection and choose a shirt to style I didn't have to think twice, and opted for the slim fit Dark Blue Dobby Shirt at £60.

With free delivery on orders over £45 then you really can't argue, and I have to ask, why aren't you currently checking them out for yourself? There are loads of shirts, tees, blazers and malewear over at the Guide London site here.

And this is what it looks like when worn by yours truly! 

This is, if my memory serves me correctly the fourth shirt I've owned from Guide London and each one has lasted for years and years. The colours don't run, the stitching is rock solid and best of all, the cuffs and collars never fray. Years after purchase they look as good as the day I bought them. 

Personally I'm looking forward to many years of wear out of the new addition to my wardrobe.

Now here is the good part, you have the opportunity to win a Guide London shirt worth up to £80 using the competition widget below. Good luck!

Win a free Guide London Shirt Worth £80 with Beauty King UK 

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TK Maxx Haul

After my birthday dinner last month the other half and I went for a wander when I realised I had to attend BBQ of the century for a friends birthday the week after, and with nothing to wear we dashed into TK Maxx to see if they had a garish (it was an Hawaiian theme) shirt I could buy for considerably less than I was prepared to pay (hey, I’m being honest, but I’m not paying £50 for a shirt I’ll never wear again).

What’s that I hear you say?!? “tight wad”, hell yes….

So, with the intention of buying an horrific monstrosity of a shirt I ended up spending £75 and coming away with something of a haul, an entire outfit (sans pants and socks), and a pretty decent looking one if I do say so myself.

And here are the pictures, taken during a trip to feed the ducks at Groveland’s Park in Enfield. 

The shirt is from Guide London. I have a few shirts from these people and usually I can pay up to £70 for one. It cost £25, and I rather quite like the uniformed flower pattern. Now, not Hawaiian, but it looks as though I’ve tried and put in a modicum of effort.

The cargo shorts are by French Connection and again I have other shorts like these from FCUK and they set me back upwards of £50 a pair, so paying £20 for these made me smile.

The shoes, well they are from Diesel. I tend to avoid their stuff rather irrationally because I think all of their aftershaves smell like grandpa (about six weeks after he died). Their stuff is usually massively overpriced and of low quality but I think these little numbers may be swaying my opinion. £30, you can’t argue with that.

Really pleased with my outfit and my TK Maxx haul - I would highly recommend a rummage through their racks of clothes, there are some real bargains to be had. Oh, and no PR samples, no sponsorship, I really do love this place to find hidden gems that don’t cost the Earth.

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SPONSORED: Men's online shopping catalogues

The sheer amount of merchandise you can purchase off the internet is astounding. 

This avenue has spawned shopping cultures and trends that were simply unimaginable at the turn of the century. Much has been made about the insecurities that come with choosing products online, but the truth is that shopping online is now a reality and has been for over a decade now. While a big number of shopping avenues makes it easier for customers to make choices by looking at varieties, it presents a problem; where do consumers look?

Since there are so many avenues, it is imperative that you as a male shopper have an idea of the things they offer and the places to look. To aid you to make the perfect choice in your shopping endeavours, here is a list of top 5 online men's shopping catalogues in the UK.

Joe Browns

This catalogue has attained somewhat of a cult following among male fashion enthusiasts all over the United Kingdom. The amount and types of clothes available span different ages as well as body sizes. At the website, shoppers can easily browse prices and products until they get what they want. Shopping is easy, as all you have to do is add products to a cart. There are options for making returns if products are not satisfactory. You can make payments by use of MasterCard or maestro.

The Hut

The Hut is another famous destination for men wishing to go out for the latest trends. However, it is much more than just a clothes store. It also offers products like electronics and gaming tools. In addition, men can purchase toys for their children at the hut. Making payments is never a hassle, as the store caters to customers who use MasterCard, Visa, Visa electron as well as maestro.

Next

This shopping store caters for all types of clothes as well as home wares. Apart from the UK, Next is available in over 70 other countries around the world. There is no limit to what a man can buy for himself and his family at Next. Extra products include wines, flowers and gifts. From time to time, the shop offers gifts and bonuses to its clients.

Littlewoods

At Littlewoods, shoppers have the luxury of knowing that they can always make returns if products are defective. However, there are rules for returns. They should occur within the first two weeks of purchase. If there were gift items, they should come back as part of the package. Customers can make credit payments using Visa and Maestro.

Dial a TV

There is a wide range of home wares and electronics that a man could take a pick of on this site. While the electronics are more than the rest of the items on sale, the diversity is simply amazing. At Dial a TV, there are bonuses for shoppers, even though these do not have a regular timing. If clients need clarification, they can always contact support and customer care services, as they are available around the clock.

One of the main benefits of shopping through an online catalogue is the ability to spread the cost of your purchases. Spread the cost usually allows you to pay what you owe in monthly or weekly installments. You can check out a full list of pay monthly catalogues here.

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