men’s SS14

Cologne-in-a-tin: small is good

Alfred Lane Brio Solid Cologne

Alfred Lane Brio Solid Cologne

And someone finally made this for men. Smaller than a box of tic-tac’s yet definitely packing a punch.

Like all things that come in a tin, the packaging channels some old school charm like a good ol’ tin of strong chalky mints. According to information on afredlane.com, the founders Archie Jeter and Rafael Hernandez started Alfred Lane in 2009 and sought to recreate a product that elevated the essence of the true modern man. The products are handcrafted in Chicago, Illinois and with suppliers sourced from the USA.

The cologne-in-a-tin “test-driven” here is named Brio. Stated on the packaging itself were the terms: Vigor and vivacity. I’m not quite sure I felt that but I definitely appreciated the scent. Woody. Musky, Spicy. Just the way it was described and just the way I feel a modern gentleman’s cologne should be.

Solid perfumes are typically produced in very small quantities and hence often, they end up being collectors’ items. They are also known for the longevity of the scent – just think of it as a bottle of fragrance shrunken down into a bite size morsel. In this case, the Brio does not really last that long as initially expected. Re-application is necessary after about 3 to 4 hours. However, this proved to be no hassle at all due to its handy pocket size. It’d fit right into the pocket of your jacket and a weight that’s negligible.

To apply, dip or swirl your finger in the cologne and apply it to pulse points. This simply means literally points on your body where there is a pulse, such as the inner side of your wrist, and behind the ears and neck. The reason is simply because pulse points generate body heat and that helps intensify the fragrance and diffuse/amplify the scent.

He Grooms’ recommendation is to source for a bottled fragrance that’s similar to your final choice of Alfred Lane’s solid cologne, and to then use the solid cologne as a handy touch up on occasions where it may not be practical to bring along the entire bottle of fragrance.

He Grooms spring must-have’s #2

SS14 Men's sweatpants from Zara [Photo source: zara.com]

SS14 Men’s sweatpants from Zara
[Photo source: zara.com]

Never has there been a time like now when the sweatpant is celebrated, and is an approved sartorial choice outside of your house (or the gym).

This spring, sportswear moves out of a functional clothing category to that of mainstream fashion. While you may not be able to tell rugby from football, that’s not going to be a deciding factor in whether you can pull off the sportswear trend this season.

To pull through this season in style, every guy should have a pair of basic black (or grey) sweatpants, such as the black one from Zara that’s featured here. And to pull off the sweatpants look, the easiest way is to aim for a monochromatic ensemble. Pair your sweatpants with a simple solid white/grey/black shirt or t-shirt. Finish off the look with a pair of sneakers. This is where you monochrome-phobes can inject some colour to your overall outfit. If you need some suggestions for sneakers, here is one great choice this spring.

Remember the “less is more” rule so if you have colourful kicks, then stay away from too many accessories. Limit it to a nice watch with a metal bracelet or a simple bracelet.

Finally, while the sportswear trend is all the rage now, the trick is not to look like you just stepped out from the gym or finished a game of basketball. Juxtapose your look with something totally the opposite of sportswear, such as a nice black jacket over a t-shirt, sweatpants and sneaker look. This not only adds some interesting dimension to your look, it will also elevate the trend level of your overall look.

How to get your hands on that Nike RT collab collection

Cool kicks from Nike x Ricardo Tisci

Cool kicks from Nike x Ricardo Tisci

In a perfect world, we would see a Givenchy x Nike collab. Rejoice, for the perfect world has arrived as of 21 March 2014.

Many thronged the Nike stores to get their hands on this soon-to-be elusive collaborative design effort between sneaker giant, Nike, and the too-cool-for-school Ricardo Tisci from Givenchy with the Midas touch. Shoes were flying off the shelves, and many who landed the loot proudly showed them off online (check out #nikert on Instagram). Who could blame them? A look at this collection makes one want to get one of everything.

The creative canvas for Ricardo, or R.T. – the moniker accorded to him for this collab, came in the form of the iconic sneaker style from Nike, the Air Force 1. They couldn’t have picked a better shoe as the AF1 has such a classic shape, and is so well-loved it probably has its own Facebook fan page. This style is also spot on for the street style meets sportswear trend that is reigning in Spring Summer 2014.

There are four styles designed by R.T., and they come in two colourways. The Nike + R.T. Air Force 1 Collection in white was released on 21 March 2014, and was made available at select Nike concept locations such as 151 Wooster, 21 Mercer, Dover Street Market New York, London, and Tokyo, 1948 Longon, Nike Stadium Milan, X158 Shanghai and with select retail partner locations globally. If you missed out on the initial white collection priced between 230 USD to 340 USD, your other probable avenue of acquiring them is probably on eBay. This is provided you’re willing to shell out way more than what the original buyers paid for them. Sitting in this price range probably suggests these shoes are made for walking, and attending that fancy hip-hop style party this Saturday, and not for the gym.

The Nike + R.T. Air Force 1 Collection in black will release globally in May and be prepared for an even bigger surge to buy from the crowds than the initial collection in white.

So how to get your hands on the initial collection in white, you ask? Unconfirmed sources stated that it will be available on the Nike online store on 11 April 2014. Fact or fiction? We don’t know but you bet we will be logging in then!

For now, check out a short clip on the collection here.