Post-war Britain was a happy place to be. And it was a very fashionable place to be too.

With celebrations in full swing, men’s style stepped up a gear. Rules relaxed and purse strings loosened, simply because people once again had money in their pockets. That meant people had the time, the cash and the flexibility to think about what they wanted to wear (for a little while, anyway). Men’s trendsetters were born, from the Duke of Windsor to Jay Gatsby.

But what about the working classes of the 1920s? These men didn’t have the cash to spend on a wardrobe of suits – they needed one or two that would work for all occasions. Practicality was key, and they needed to last.

1920S MEN’S FASHION: WORKING CLASS

1920S MEN’S FASHION: GANGSTERS

1920S MEN’S FASHION: EVENINGWEAR

Think of German design and you’re likely to think of understated quality, clever engineering and a serious eye for the details. And while you’ve probably got one of Germany’s prestigious car makers in mind, the description also fits one of its most famous clothing brands: Hugo Boss.

With a rich history in menswear dating back to 1924, Hugo Boss has tailoring at its core. Today its HUGO label delivers simple, sharp suiting that’ll upgrade your work wardrobe.

So what can you expect from a HUGO suit? Jackets and trousers are precision-cut in a modern, slim fit. The brand is also celebrated for its premium fabrics, sourcing quality virgin wool from the best Italian mills. Many of its cloths are fil-à-fil or end-on-end – a type of closely woven cloth that alternates light and dark warp and weft threads to create a tactile, heathered effect.

You’ll find these cloths in mostly refined colours but also in bright, saturated hues and micro patterns all designed to make you stand out without ever looking like you’ve tried. Some might call it ‘relaxed elegance’, but we’d go as far as to say ‘promotion material’.

Subtle signature touches like red stitch detailing under the collar, mother of pearl buttons and built-in pocket squares all add up to suits that’ll show your boss you mean business. Also worth noting: HUGO tailoring comes as separates, so you can get the most out of individual pieces by mixing them with what’s already in your wardrobe.

And finally, for those who subscribe to the HUGO commitment to the details, the range also includes a tight edit of outerwear, shirts and accessories all realised in the same quality of materials and considered aesthetic. Ideal to round off your outfit in well-formed style, or a great gift for someone who appreciates the finer things in life.

Preparing to indulge yourself a little this party season? Aren’t we all? Tired skin is inevitable after any heavy weekend, but the several parties that Christmas brings make it even more important to keep your skin feeling its best after all those late nights out.

As the old saying goes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And when it comes to healthy skin, this couldn’t be truer. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll look fresh as a daisy through December and beyond.

We know how easy it is to click on that takeaway app when you’re feeling worse for wear. That’s fine, on the odd occasion, but if you have several Christmas dos and find yourself reaching for a greasy burger after each one, the effect on your skin is going to be really detrimental.

Studies have shown that we’re much more likely to crave fatty carb-rich foods when we’re tired, so making sure you grab a decent night’s shut-eye on your nights off will help keep those cravings at bay and your skin feeling fresh.

Your body uses nutrients to process alcohol, which means a top-up is usually in order after a period of heavy drinking. When it comes to tired skin, a lack of vitamin A is often to blame. It plays a big part in cell renewal, so without it, skin can lose its glow.

The good news is Vitamin A is prevalent in lots of everyday foods, with veg like carrots, sweet potato, kale and broccoli all being great sources. Now, you could go for a green super-smoothie, but if that’s not your thing, then a roast dinner is a perfectly reasonable (and arguably much more satisfying) option. And also much more appropriate to Christmas. Not only have you got the goodness of the veggies, but you’ve also got those carb cravings covered with potatoes and Yorkshire puds. Sounds like a win to us.

We’re all familiar with that feeling when you wake up after a night on the sauce, mouth dryer than the Sahara. Just like the rest of your body, your skin will also be in serious need of water.

It’s important to bear in mind that there’s a difference between dehydrated skin and dry skin (confusing, we know). Dehydrated skin comes from a general lack of water in the body, whereas dry skin is a lack of oil being produced. The symptoms of both are pretty similar (tightness, dullness, rough texture) but dehydrated skin needs to be treated from the inside by drinking more water. It’s also worth noting that dehydrated skin can still be oily, so even if you don’t have those classic ‘dry skin’ symptoms, it doesn’t mean you’ve dodged the bullet.

It’s age-old advice for party season, but sticking a pint of water by your bed before you head out and making sure you drink it all before your head hits the pillow will have a huge benefit for your skin as well as your hangover the next day.

Even if you’re not been drinking, we’d always recommend trying to drink at least two litres of water a day. It can sound pretty daunting at first, but the difference it can make to the appearance of your skin is amazing.

So that’s the inside sorted. But for an instant fix for tired skin, there’s nothing better than treating yourself to a mini home facial. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

You will need:

kóri exfoliating face wash
1x banana
1x tsp honey
Tea bags or cucumber slices
gösta facial tonic
kåre daily moisturiser

You’ll want to start by making sure your face is clean and free of any dead skin cells. Our kóri exfoliating face wash has a formulation that’s ideal for treating tired skin. Soothing witch hazel and aloe vera will ease any puffiness; a common side effect of too much alcohol and salty foods. It also contains orange oil to brighten the skin and provide a much-needed hit of vitamin C.

This step is optional, but if you’re serious about reviving your tired skin, then a moisturising face mask can work wonders – especially if a packed party scheduled means you’re struggling to fit in enough shut-eye.

Just mash up a medium-sized banana into a paste, mix in a teaspoon of honey, and you’ve got a simple homemade face mask made from stuff you probably had knocking around in the kitchen. Leave on for around 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water and a clean flannel.

Tip: To help banish dark circles, pop some cold tea bags or cucumber slices over your eyes while the mask is doing its business.

A toner is brilliant for soothing tired skin and rebalancing your complexion. Our gösta facial tonic will provide your skin with another soothing hit of witch hazel and aloe vera, so you can seriously say goodbye to any of that puffiness. Chamomile is another star ingredient, promoting a healthy glow and working to heal and restore skin’s natural moisture content.

We’d hope that moisturiser is already a staple part of your daily routine, but it’s extra important after during a period of heavy partying. Hopefully, you’ve already replenished those internal water levels, but the surface of your skin will be in need too. Again, we’re all about those natural ingredients. A good layer of kåre will provide your tired skin with a hit of revitalising nutrients.

grüum are here to shave the world: one chin, one shin, one armpit (and naughty bit) at a time. They create seriously good razors and skincare solutions for men and women. You’ll find loads more tips and advice on their blog. Or give them a shout on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Plus, if you fancy treating yourself or someone else this party season, you can get 50% off gift sets with code: XMAS50.

A great party playlist is all about surprising people! Of course, you’ve got to have your current hits playing – you don’t want anyone to think you’re out of touch, do you? But what’s going to keep the vibe alive and everyone’s moods up is to throw in some classics from throughout the years. I’m not saying chuck a bit of Oasis in there so people can have a sing-along. What you want to do here is trigger people’s memories and take them back to moments they will have fond memories of.

Think about who is coming to your party and ask yourself these questions: How old are they? What industry do they work in? Are they introverts or extroverts? Once you know these details you can start building a playlist they’ll love.

If you get stuck, an unbreakable way to put your music together is to look to the number ones. Chart music is a great indicator of what most people will enjoy, so take a single number one hit from each month of the current year, then work your way backwards taking around four number ones from each previous year. Put all those tracks together and hit shuffle and you’ll be onto a winner. Just avoid the dreary, sad tracks… it is party season after all!

For more inspiration and a guaranteed good time, have a listen to the playlist I’ve created in collaboration with Moss Bros. for party season. Play this to bring the party when you’ve got people over or while you’re getting dressed to go out!

Tom Fox spends his days sharing his style, grooming tips and other passions on Instagram and his nights djing at events for brands including Puma, L’Oréal, The Sims and Made in Chelsea. He has played all across the UK for over 10 years and is now expanding his career into radio and TV.

Christmas is officially here, which means party season is in full swing. And what better way to celebrate than with some festive-themed cocktails? Our Colonel Fox London Dry Gin bottle stands out on any shelf with its fox character sporting a very striking red blazer. Not only does the Colonel dress particularly dapper but the liquid is pretty tasty too with botanicals such as lemon, liquorice and orris root that make it a perfect partner to cocktails. We’ve created three easy-to-make festive serves that’ll impress your guests over Christmas.

First up is ‘We Bijou a Merry Christmas’. A blend of gin, sweet vermouth and green chartreuse, it’s a twist on the classic martini. It gets its name ‘bijou’ because it combines the colours of three jewels: gin for diamond, vermouth for ruby, and chartreuse for emerald. This serve will add elegance and sophistication to any festive soirée.

The second serve is easy to make and will keep guests refreshed all night long. Not only will it have you rocking around the Christmas tree, but the addition of pine tree syrup will recreate those memorable scents you associate with the Christmas tree too.

The third serve will bring a taste of Italy to your Christmas celebrations. A mix of London Dry Gin, limoncello and Campari topped with champagne, it’s a guaranteed to be a show stopper.

And last but not least we’ve got a festive G&T – because no evening is complete without one.

Colonel Fox’s dry gin was designed with cocktail creation in mind and works beautifully with fresh citrus or in stirred down gin-forward recipes. Follow Colonel Fox on Instagram for more cocktail inspiration and news of its collaborations and pop-up events.

If there’s ever a time to get dressed up, this is it. From getting in a festive round with friends to the all-out black tie bash and, of course, dialling it up for the office party.

We’ll bring the looks. You bring the party.

Hear ‘made in Italy’ and you’ll likely think of quality, craftsmanship and style. And you’d be right. Think of the Italian style, however, and it all becomes harder to pin down. There’s a distinct look to the way Italian men dress, but it’s less about concrete style rules and more about how they approach putting it all together.

English speakers don’t have a word that quite captures it, but the Italians do sprezzatura. It’s all about being artfully undone. About being perfectly imperfect. About looking immaculate, but also looking like it was no effort at all.

Sounds tricky to pull off, but there are a few ways we non-natives can add a little Italian flair to our wardrobes.

Italians are known for their love of the finer things in life. Opera. Coffee. Shoes. All are revered and given due time to perfect and savour. The same can be said of their cloth. Fabric mill Vitale Barberis Canonico has spent over 350 years of honing its craft and, as a result, is held in the highest regard by the world’s leading tailors.

As with anything else that’s stuck around for centuries, it’s less about trends and more about timeless style. Take the Barberis suit shown above. Yes, this is a checked cloth, and yes, that is very much a thing at the moment. But the grid pattern is modest in scale – not too big, not too small – and the colours are muted. It’s really all about the fabric – this one’s made from super 120s wool in a brushed flannel finish.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Italian style without a little flourish. Something that’s just a little ‘off’. Perhaps a denim-look shirt against an elegant wool suit. Or an unexpected flash of bright red braces underneath? Bravissimo.

Where traditional British tailoring is perhaps more buttoned-up, Italian style is all about artful undone-ness. One way to do this is to take something typically very formal and loosen it up a little.

Pinstripe is a very traditional pattern – straight out of Saville Row, in fact – but in the Italian’s hands, it’s brought down a peg or two with natural shoulders, a slightly more relaxed construction and a simple notch lapel.

Of course, it still needs to be made from exceptional cloth. From one of Italy’s most prestigious mills, Ermenegildo Zegna cloth is up there with the best cloth in the world. This suit’s cloth has been tightly spun from the finest Australian wool for a smooth handle, expensive-looking lustre and enhanced elasticity that helps it resist creasing.

Because even if Italian style is about looking like no effort, it also never looks anything less than faultless.

Any Italian man worth his styling salt knows a great wardrobe is built around good foundations. In other words? Put as much thought into your layering pieces as you do the big guns like suits and coats.

A smart knitted jumper is a very useful piece in the well-dressed Italian wardrobe – after all, cold weather isn’t going to get in the way of great style. But it can’t just be any old knit. Firstly, it needs to fit like a glove – not too tight, but absolutely not loose either.  A fine-gauge knit will achieve a relaxed drape, rather than a try-hard cling. Secondly, it needs to be made from the finest wool. For our knitwear this season, we’ve gone to Italy and sourced Merino wool for its natural ability to regulate temperature and its luxuriously smooth handle.

It doesn’t matter if you wear it alone, under a suit or over a shirt; the beauty of an Italian wool knit is it’ll look good, feel soft and take a relaxed look up a notch with very little effort at all.