Festivities, family and perhaps a little romance? Here are five ways to make sure your Christmas proposal is a memorable one.

Written by Keelie Briggs, The Clued-Up Bride.

Ahh Christmas. The twinkling tree in the corner, the smell of mulled wine filling the house and the stockings lying in wait on the fireplace. You’re probably enjoying cosy nights in watching Christmas films (or if you’re like me, the Royle Family Christmas specials). It’s the perfect time to show your partner how much you care and give them a gift that will change their life forever!

Now, the big question – how will you do it? And how do you propose at Christmas? Here are a few ideas that will guarantee a wonderfully romantic Christmas proposal.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Turn a good old-fashioned mistletoe kiss into a moment that will transform your relationship. Sometimes keeping it simple and all about the love is the best way to commit your lives to one another. How you celebrate your news afterwards, can be a totally different story!

PASS THE PARCEL

Some women can sniff out a ring box within seconds of entering the same room as one. Don’t give the game away too soon! Wrap your ring up, then put it in a larger box and wrap that up too. Do this several times with a fun note after each layer like ‘fooled you’ after the first layer, then maybe a ‘try again’. You can let your partner open the last box and drop to one knee as they do, or you can make the last note ‘now pass the parcel’. You then open and present the sparkly ring to your eagerly anticipating other half.

AT CHRISTMAS DINNER

Don’t go sticking a ring around a brussel sprout! And no dropping it into the bottom of a glass of wine – major choking hazard! Instead, once the dinner is served and before anyone starts tucking in, ask if you can say a few words. Make sure you let your partner know how important they are to you and tell them why you want to spend the rest of your life with them, then pull the ring from your pocket and drop the major question. This one works well whether you have a lot of guests over for Christmas dinner, or if it’s just the two of you.

ESCAPE THE CHAOS

If your house turns into a bit of a free-for-all Christmas day and you’d pictured an intimate proposal with just the two of you, tell your future fiancé that you need five minutes out and ask if they will join you on a little walk. Get wrapped up warm and go and have your special moment away from all the noise. Then, you can come home and add to the celebrations with your exciting news.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

If you don’t want to imagine a year where you don’t have your partner by your side, tell them so. From when the new year countdown starts, you have eight seconds to tell them how much you love them and how next year will be a new chapter in your love story. When everyone else reaches two, ask “will you marry me?”. Your new wife/husband to-be will love telling work mates how the whole world celebrated your engagement with rapturous applause and explosive fireworks.

BONUS TIP

Share your secret plans with someone who will be there on the day. They can have a camera at the ready and you can look back on that precious moment for years to come. This is one of the reasons it’s important to plan ahead and look your best when you pop the question – those photos and videos will be around for a while! We’re not saying you have to be in a suit (especially if you’re planning to propose somewhere a little more casual), but something you feel comfortable in that works with what your other half is wearing.

Merry Christmas and happy proposing!

Keelie is passionate about helping brides and grooms have fun with their wedding planning and make great decisions with their budgets.  For more big day advice, money saving tips and DIY ideas visit TheCluedUpBride.co.uk or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

If you’re planning to bust out some serious moves this party season, you’re going to need a tux that can go the distance.

Step forward: our Performance dress suit.

Cut in a tailored fit with sharp peak lapels, it’s made in breathable fabric with added stretch and Bond-worthy 37.5 technology that’s designed to regulate your body’s core temperature. In other words, it’ll keep you cool even when you’re setting the dance floor alight.

So, go on – bust your best moves out. Your tux can take it.

THE GOOD-TIMES GROOVE

Active particles embedded at fibre level respond to your body heat. As you work up a sweat they’ll spring into action to capture and release moisture vapour, regulating your ideal core temperature of 37.5 degrees so you can groove better, for longer. Let the good times roll.

THE TUXEDO TWIST

Technology derived from powerful natural sources, like volcanic minerals, absorbs the infrared energy your body naturally emits and speeds up moisture evaporation. The hotter you get, the harder it works to keep you cool. Lucky that, ’cause you’re on fire.

THE CHAMPAGNE SHIMMY

Breathable fabric actively stops humidity building up next to your skin, meaning you won’t overheat even as things hot up on the dance floor. So when everyone else is shedding their jackets, you’ll still look your sparkling best with your full look intact.

THE MIDNIGHT WHIP

When those around you are fading in the small hours of the night, odour-absorbing molecules and moisture-evaporating technology mean that you’ll still be as fresh as your moves. The party doesn’t stop until you do.

GET DANCE FLOOR READY

The end of the year is here, which can only mean one thing: it’s party season.
If any occasion calls for making a statement, it’s a party, so this is your ultimate call to suit up!

This party season, we were inspired by the spirit of night-time revelry. The kind of night that can take you anywhere and where everyone takes the opportunity to dress to the nines.

Shake up your look. Break out the tux. Rebel against the black tie norm in rich colours, textured jacquards and shimmering metallics.

Get ready.

It’s time to step out of the shadows.

BLUE MERMAN SHAWL SUIT

Woven from Italian fabric, this shimmering merman suit is about as bold as it gets. Its inky tones are a watery take on a camouflage print – but be warned, there’s no hiding in this statement suit.

VINTAGE BRONZE DRESS SUIT

Appearing on-trend burgundy from afar, this wool-blend suit is woven with a luxurious bronze undertone that’ll come to life in a moodily lit bar. For the man who’s got hidden depths.

SKINNY FIT BLACK TUX JACKET

Our no.1 bestseller year after year, proving that sometimes simple really is best. A slick, skinny fit and fashionable peak lapels update the classic tux jacket for the modern man.

BLACK AND WHITE GEO JACQUARD JACKET

Sometimes it really is as simple as black and white. In optic geometric jacquard fabric, this monochrome jacket will throw you in sharp contrast to the rest of the crowd.

WHITE DRESS JACKET

Because every party needs to play a classic. The traditional white tux is reworked in modern off-white and a sharp, slim fit that any Bond would give the nod.

NAVY JACQUARD DINNER SUIT

The eternally stylish dinner suit made party-ready in midnight blue and a diamond-textured jacquard cloth that’s designed to be seen up close. Lucky you.

When the nights draw in and the lights go down, embrace the spirit of night-time revelry.

Party season is here and with it, your chance to shake off the 9-5 and revel in the promise of a great night out.

Who better to show off this season’s partywear than the men who get the party started? We tasked mixologists from top London bars to create a cocktail inspired by this season’s sharpest night-time looks.

The party starts here.

Mixologist: Adrien Russotto
Location: Henson’s Bar at Mimi’s Hotel Soho

“This white dress jacket is very elegant, very refined, and has lots of character. It said one thing to me: the Savoy American bar! I wanted to recreate one of the iconic bar’s most popular cocktails from its heyday in the 1930s – the ‘Atty’ – in a modern way. I reduced the absinth flavour to a gentle rinse and added some floral and nutty notes with a blend of Amontillado sherry and dry vermouth. Everything’s given a sharp finish with frozen FAIR. Quinoa Vodka. The result is a very elegant, gentlemanly drink – boozy and full of flavour.”

Mixologist: Phil Docherty
Location: Kurobuta Chelsea

“Once shaken, the Espresso Martini shares the jacket’s subtle, elegant aesthetic. Both are a stunning mix of light and dark with the Martini’s thick crema sitting upon a dark layer of fair trade coffee, while the jacket’s striking and bold with its unique dark pattern. Both are are a standout, both compliment each other perfectly.”

Mixologist: Adrien Russotto
Location: Henson’s Bar at Mimi’s Hotel Soho

“A twist on the classic Old Fashioned, this cocktail uses modern techniques and ingredients such as a butter fatwash in FAIR. Rum from Belize and young coconut water syrup. Its coppery tones reflect the jacket’s fabric – a rich, warming shade with unexpected depth and texture.”

Mixologist: Phil Docherty
Location: Kurobuta Chelsea

“The the Merman cocktail was inspired by the ocean-like blues and dark currents of this jacket. Both a new kind of masculine, the cocktail’s bold pink peppercorn and shiso garnish is a delightfully odd but modern mix for a gentleman – much like the jacket.”

START THE PARTY

Moss Bros. supports Drinkaware. Find out more at drinkaware.co.uk

November is here, which, of course, welcomes the arrival of moustache season. Whether you’re growing one for charity, or just fancy unleashing your inner Ron Burgundy, growing a killer ’tasche takes time, patience, and a bit of TLC. We’ve caught up with the moustache-masters over at grüum, to share their mo-taming tips.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT STYLE

One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to moustache growing is trying to create a style that isn’t suited to your hair, or that you don’t have the commitment to see through.

You need to be realistic; if your facial fuzz tends to be a bit thin on the ground, trying to grow anything other than a pencil ‘stache will likely leave you looking like an awkward teenager (as Michael Cera kindly demonstrates here). Even for the hairiest of chaps, longer styles like the handlebar can take around 6-12 weeks to look half decent, so make sure you’re ready to ride it out.

KEEP IT TRIM

In the early stages, the easiest way to keep your ‘tasche in check is to trim it with a set of beard clippers. This will keep everything at a neat uniform length. Once you hit the 3-4 week mark, you can switch the clippers for scissors, focusing on the longer hairs around the mouth.

If you’re trying to grow a handlebar, avoid trimming anything towards the corners of your mouth, as you’ll need length here to create that signature curl.

DITCH THE ITCH

More often than not, with fresh facial hair also comes the dreaded itch. If you’ve ever experienced this yourself, you’ll be all too aware of how mind-numbing it can be. But don’t be too hasty to reach for the razor, there are a few things you can do to keep it at bay.

The main cause of early-stage ‘stache itch is the new hair follicles cutting into and irritating the skin, so your best line of defence is to soften everything up.

Give your face a daily scrub with a gentle exfoliating face wash, paying close attention to the moustache area. Once dry, apply a generous amount of moisturiser. Once your mo has grown past a short stubble, you should switch the moisturiser for beard oil. Work a couple of drops through the hair, making sure you get right down to the skin underneath.

KEEP IT CLEAN

We’d hope this one’s pretty obvious… The last thing you want is remnants of your lunchtime meal-deal festering in your mo, so keep things clean by giving it a daily rinse with water, and a beard wash a couple of times a week.

MOULD AND SHAPE

A comb and a tin of beard wax go a long way in giving your mo some extra oomph. Facial hair doesn’t tend to grow in a uniform direction, but it can be trained. A daily comb through with some wax will help the hairs to grow in the direction you’d like them to. Wax can also be used to create a more extravagant style, like the handlebar. Just apply a small amount of wax to the ends, and twirl between your finger and thumb.

Skincare a new ball game for you? Not a seasoned wet-shaver? Desperately trying to tame your whiskers to no avail? The guys at grüum have got loads more tips and advice available on their blog. Or give them a shout on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Their tailored grooming kits contain everything you need to take care of your face and if you take their 3-step survey, they’ll let you know which products are best for you and give you 50% off your first order.