Shoe of the Day - Kurt Geiger's Graham

Kurt Geiger's London range features some top, razor-sharp footwear which is no less than you might expect from a firm renowned for sharp style. The finely named Graham does not disappoint and holds it's own with ease against some much more costly rivals. This superb pair of Wingtip Derby Brogues has some creative and well defined curved stitching and I love the blended tan colour, a true contemporary design. I'd be inclined to pair these with some good, dark denim. Available at kurtgeiger.com and priced at £160.

kurtgeiger.com

British Fashion Fundamentals - The Belt

The belt is a subtle expression of class and taste and is worthy of our first pick in a series of British fundamental fashion items every well dressed man should own. I for one feel rather odd stepping out without a good belt; it should inspire confidence as much as good shoes.

It is no surprise that there are an abundance of Brit belts to choose from, Let us provide a few options, each picked for their style, quality and substance.

South Molton Leather Belt - Heistercamp - heistercamp.co.uk - £39

We've featured Devon firm Heistercamp before for their excellent bags and the same quality and style is evident also in their belts. Hand-made to order in Devon, Heistercamp allow the purchaser to choose from a variety of colours and buckles, inviting the consumer enthusiastically to stamp their individuality. The combination pictured pictured below would be my choice, black with antique brass. It's an understated piece, yet oozes British class and quality. The great brass compliments the leather exquisitely; a belt to be applauded for it's attention to detail. As will you be for wearing it. Trust me. 

heistercamp.co.uk

Worcester Bridle Leather Belt - The Worcestershire Leather Company - worcestershireleathercompany.com - £60


The Worcester Leather Company offer an excellent range of leather goods and their belts are first class. The Bridle Belt is no exception. Available in a selection of colours the Bridle Belt is a splendid choice for that deep brown (Australian Nut) belt that should be in the drawers of any gentlemen. The belt is simple and made with precision, a wonderful brown shade that provides genuine versatility. Pair the Bridle Leather Belt with almost anything.

theworcestershireleathercompany.com

Bradgate Leather Belt, Oxblood - The British Belt Company - thebritishbeltcompany.co.uk - £55

The British Shoe Company pride themselves on British fashion, making fine leather since 1946. The finely named Oxblood is a prime example of attention to detail, a deep red belt that makes a statement whatever you wear it with. Simplicity and quality are what's important. I would be tempted to wear this great blended red with dark blue although black would also work a treat. An outstanding belt from a British leather institution.

thebritishbeltcompany.co.uk

Three Top British Polo Shirts

The polo shirt is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing any chap can own and with most fashion, British designers have long nailed the understated yet smart look. Here are three top picks for a British polo shirt.

Wilson Knitted Polo - davidwattsclothing.com - £60

Brit designer David Watts bring us a superb collection of polos inspired with classic British style. The polo is timeless, a great knitted shirt in a great blue colour. I love the relaxed feel of the Wilson, comfortable and effortless British fashion. Jeans, chinos, trousers, shorts, take your pick. Well worth a £60 investment.

Jersey Polo Shirt - sunspel.com - £75

British style institution Sunspel has long been a favourite of ours with their quality fashion. The Jersey Polo in Grey Melange is an ideal example of simple, great colour done well. The Jersey would be a fine addition to your spring shopping and would look superb with both dark and light blues and black.

Golden Pipe Polo - trickett-england.co.uk - £48

Having recently discovered Trickett we are loving the range and this polo is no exception. Really nice colour from the Pipe and made with quality and a genuine passion for sporting clothing. Celebrating a great year for British sport also makes us extremely happy and the cheeky embroidery will let you demonstrate some patriotic sporting pride which let's face it, is rare. Let's take advantage.

Shoe Of The Day - Hotter's Extreme Shoes, Blue Multi

A good relaxed shoe from Hotter today, the Extreme Shoes in Blue Multi will undoubtedly give you superb support and comfort whilst looking great. These leather slip-ons have a great blend of understated blue, deep brown and white, blended expertly to give a splendid combination. Stay super chilled this Spring and pair these with any colour chinos you like to complete the ultimate smart-casual look. Available at hotter.com and priced at just £75.

50 Words On... Thief

A reboot of a classic series, Thief landed on the latest gen to much excitement, sadly it was mostly misplaced. Clunky mechanics and an uninspiring story combine with the dreadful map and repetitive scenery to create a game worth skipping. With new games landing at the end of Q1, FWO says save your pennies for something special 4/10

British Essentials For A Mid-Week Break

Any gentleman should from time to time take it upon themselves to have a crafty break, mid-week. Take a days holiday and go away for the night, either treat your partner or go with the lads. You deserve it. With you now thoroughly convinced let's get you kitted out with some superb British essentials for your trip.


The Charlie Noble - Charlie Noble - charlienoble.co.uk - £300

There comes a point in a man's life when he should own a genuinely stylish overnight bag. This is one of the finest. A perfect shape and size for a mid-week jaunt, the bag comes in three great colours. My choice would be the saddle brown and blue piping, effortless class. It's sturdy, well designed, made from Scottish leather and stitched in London, a very British bag indeed. Tough enough to withstand a heavy overnighter with the boys and good looking enough for the finest hotels with your partner.

Milton Passport Holder - Tanner and Oak - tannerandoak.com - £35

Should your mid week adventure take you abroad then a superb Tanner and Oak passport holder in red is a perfect accompaniment to your passport. Again we've picked some top British made leather here and for the quality that entails, with a great deep red colour, £35 is a remarkably cheap price. Tanner and Oak pride themselves on British design and the Milton oozes understated and confident style. For gentlemen with attention to detail and a subtle determination to fly the British fashion flag wherever their passport may take them.

Ruskin Grandad Navy - Oliver Spencer - oliverspencer.co.uk - £85

A short break requires some forward planning and versatility in your packing. This great Grandad shirt from exceptional British designer Oliver Spencer fits the bill and you'd look right at home wearing this either at breakfast or in the bars in the evening. Smart, great colour and lightweight makes this a must pick for a short break. The Ruskin would look great both under a jacket but can easily hold it's own with jeans.

Shoe of the Day - John White's Westbury Berry Suede

The Westbury Berry Suede from John White would be a Spring / Summer essential for any well dressed chap about town. The top British design and colour are what makes these such a top pick, the deep red suede goes perfectly with the well cut chukka shaped boot. Hand stitching finishes the shoe off and things are kept simple and defined. I's be tempted to pair with dark chinos, corduroys or perhaps jeans to show off that deep berry colour. Available at johnwhiteshoes.com and priced at a very reasonable £140.

johnwhiteshoes.com

Shoe Of The Day - Oliver Sweeney - Moita Grey Chukka Trainer

Oliver Sweeney is easily one of our favourite brands; their ability to absolutely nail both casual and formal design is an important part of this favour. The Moita Chukka Trainer is a perfect example of this, a comfortable, hi-top trainer with great complementary dark and light grey and with the bang on trend contemporary design synonymous with Oliver Sweeney. A must buy for Spring and Summer. Laid back, effortless style. with Available at oliversweeney.com and priced at £229.

oliversweeney.com

Shoe of the Day - Walsh Ensign Blue Blue White

Sports and casual trainers made in the UK are a rarity to say the least English firm Walsh are clearly proud of their British manufacturing. With some superb designs, inspired by classic sportswear, Walsh are producing some fine footwear. The Ensign Blue Blue White has great, retro - sporty design and a superb colour. I love the shades of blue, clear crisp white and of course proudly displayed Union Flags. Support British production and look good doing it. Available at normanwalshuk.com and priced at £90.

Shoe of the Day - Clarks Grimsby Limit, Black Leather

The Grimsby Limit is an excellent pick for Spring. It quite masterfully blends quite a formal, punched leather design with a relaxed and colourful sole. The Grimsby Limit has a rejuvenating and refreshing style, yet easily smart enough for evening drinks in the pub garden. Clarks of course brings affordability and superb composition together. We have been extremely impressed of late with Clarks, long may it continue. Available exclusively at clarks.co.uk and priced at £79.99

50 Words On....England v Denmark

With only a few opportunities left to impress before Roy has to name his squad for the World Cup, expect to see Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rodriguez, Henderson and Oxlade-Chamberlain given a decent run out in tonight's game. Normally dull affairs, this friendly could actually turn out to be entertaining. Denmark are tough opposition and should provide a decent test. Let's just hope the right players are given a chance and James Milner isn't in the starting line up...

Shoe of the Day - Jeffery West @ Schuh Brown Brogue

We've featured the superb Jeffery West before and they are easily some of the finest British shoe makers about. This time they join up with high street outfit Schuh to offer the superb Jeffery West design at an exceptional price.  These great brogues have some fine detailed design, clear contemporary lines and a smooth, polished deep brown that would be easily paired either with smart trousers or jeans. Available at schuh.co.uk and priced at just £110.

http://www.schuh.co.uk/mens-brown-jeffery-west-black-brogue/3105906020/

Aftershave of the Week - Bvlgari Aqva Amara

The Italian's are taking over the fragrance world this Spring, Rome based Bvlgari have teamed up with perfumer Jacques Cavallier to bring to you 'Aqva Amara' or 'Bitter Water'. It has a distinct Mediterranean flavour to it, as you would expect, containing accords of Sicilian mandarin and neroli flower. It's what we would consider a day time fragrance, it's aquatic base tones meet the citrus accords for a refreshing twist on the original 'Aqva'  release.

 

 

Shoe of the Day - Ask The Missus @ Office, Chatterbox Brogue

Ask the Missus is a collection of shoes exclusively at Office and they are certainly worth a gander. The Chatterbox Brogue is a smart shoe combining navy suede and two tone tan leather. The colours work well together and there's some great punched leather design, upping the contemporary feel of the shoe. I'd be inclined to wear these with some good navy jeans. Of course, being from a large high street brand, the shoes offer affordability which with the Chatterbox does not diminish the style. Available at office.co.uk and priced at just £69.

Shoe of the Day - Dune Truant

So chaps, when it finally stops raining and the sun comes out it will, eventually, be safe again to wear suede. When that time comes, Dune are offering up a real style classic, the fantastically named Truant. The lace up plimsoll has great colour and I love the single red stripe. A must have casual shoe for spring. Pair with slate grey or red chinos and pretty much any jeans. Available at dunelondon.com and priced at £69. 

Essentials To Make Your Working Wardrobe Work

Burgandy Braces - Swagger and Swoon

Adding a flash of colour and style to your favourite suit, these narrow braces in burgundy have really taken our eye. This kind of quality for a very reasonable £19.99 delivered AND doubling as part of your Dr Who fancy dress costume, there's no reason why you shouldn't order now at
www.swaggerandswoon.com/plain-burgundy-narrow-silver-clip-braces

Egyptian Cotton Trunk - Sunspel

We Love these low waist trunks, constructed from superfine Egyptian cotton, these are some seriously comfortable undercrackers. We're particularly fond of the understated nature, you don't need 2in neon lettering telling all and sundry you've spent a few quid on your pants.
Available now for £30 from www.sunspel.com/egyptian-cotton-trunk

Garda 3-Piece Suit in Grey - Reiss

A big investment, but my god would it be worth every penny. This dapper grey 3 piece really is something special, a slim fit and a clean cut, this suit will look the part whatever the occasion. Stick a MrPocketSquare  in it and you're ready to tackle the corporate corral. 495 of the wisest Pounds you will ever spend will send one winging its way to you from www.reiss.com/garda/grey/

Shoe of the Day - Hudson Arden Chukka Boot, Navy

Looking firmly ahead to slightly warmer weather, a lightweight, lace up Chukka boot is a spring essential. Really stylish, the Arden in Navy is also comfortable with linen and and a smart designed rubber sole. There are other colours but I really like the way in which the navy compliments the texture of the linen. Perfect for a few evening drinks in a pub garden. Available at hudsonshoes.com and priced at just £75.

Three Top London Hotels for a Weekend Away

Little needs to be said about what London offers for a weekend. Trying to see everything London has to offer in a weekend is of course impossible and shouldn't be attempted. What you can do however is pick a hotel which offers something a little more interesting than just a place to sleep when you aren't pursuing your interests. As a true world city, London is full of superb hotels.

Let us offer three suggestions which will provide a great stay for different reasons. 

London Hilton, Park Lane - hilton.com/london

A building synonymous with luxury and excess, the Hilton at Park Lane would be a sublime choice for base camp during a weekend trip to the Capital. Set in West London and within an easy walk of Hyde Park, the Hilton's London flagship provides so much more than room and board. Staying here demands a trip to the top and a visit to the Windows bar providing astonishing views with a cocktail or three. For those returning to the hotel after an evening with energy to spare might try their hand at entry to Whiskey Mist, the achingly cool club on the ground floor. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. A classic hotel experience.

W Hotel, Leicester Square - wlondon.co.uk

Bang in the middle of the West End, the W Hotel is the choice for those wanting to stay in the heart of the action. Its incredibly cool rooms are full of glass and contemporary furniture. The W has two great bars in which to relax or party. As with any W hotel, the emphasis is on service and customer care. W 'insiders' at the hotel can give you great tips on food, music and activities around town. The Spice Market restaurant at the hotel is one of the finest hotel dining experiences I've ever had and is a hot pick for both dinner and breakfast with an eastern twist. 

The Soho Hotel, Richmond Mews, Soho - firmdalehotels.com

Set in a quiet street in Soho, the Soho Hotel offers a chic and relaxing bastion from which to venture in to the middle of London's best nightlife. Designed with classic comfort well up the list of priorities, The Soho would be an attractive destination for couples taking a break as it offers a fashionable respite from the pace of Soho. Featuring the aptly named Refuel Bar, a well thought out and comfortable room which offers an impressive champagne list, The Soho is a stunning choice for a celebration.  

Three British Made Essentials for a Weekend Away

Ok so it's Thursday but we know your mind is already wandering to the weekend. If you're having a cheeky weekend away with the lads or your partner, it's time to stock up on some new British gear to look the part and fly the flag for your hometown whilst you're away.

Sinfield Shirt - trickett-england.co.uk - £65

An excellent British made rugby jersey from very promising Lancashire firm Trickett who have taken a fresh look at some classic sporting clobber to produce some impressive attire. The Sinfield is a perfect, understated shirt for the bars on Saturday afternoon giving you comfort and style in equal measure.

Boston Weekender, Navy - weldonbags.com - £155

You are going need something to put all your stuff in chaps. I have fallen foul of this simple detail and have scrambled around with the taxi waiting on more than one occasion cursing my lack of organisation. Well no more. This Cornish made weekender bag superbly mixes functionality and a design any man would be proud to walk across the lobby with. Leather made, this bag will be an essential companion on many a weekend away.

Organic Plum Short John Boxer Briefs - cockandbullmenswear.co.uk - £22

Launched in 2012 and based in East London, Cock and Bull Menswear take pride in both good design and organic, sustainable materials in their great range. What better opportunity to treat yourself to some new underwear than a weekend away? These briefs fit the bill. I love the plum colour and they are sure to be comfortable as they are made from organic cotton. A going away essential.

Shoe of the Day - Oliver Sweeney Noceto Black Wholecut Boot, Black

The Noceto Wholecut boot from superb designer Oliver Sweeney may be the most achingly impressive boot we've seen. It may in fact be perfect which is slightly depressing as we had hoped to write about more boots in the future. Oh well. The lines are perfectly cut, the shape is effortlessly formal whilst the detail on the toe cements a contemporary look. A design to be applauded. Available at oliversweeney.com available also in tan and super cool navy, priced at £349. 

Aftershave of the Week - Valentino 'Uomo'

With this week's instalment, we bring to you a scent that could well be truly special. Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has teamed up with perfumer Olivier Polge, to bring you 'Uomo' and they are hoping it will be considered an instant classic. The bottle itself looks the part, immediately grabbing your attention, but what about the fragrance? Is it all style and no substance? Quite simply...no. It's a woody fragrance, almost spicy, with hints of chocolate and coffee intertwined. It's not overpoweringly sweet like many fragrances on the market at the moment, leaving you standing out from the crowd. We here at 50 Words On, absolutely love it.

 

How To Score From Corners in Football Manager 2014

Corners can be a superb source of goals for your FM14 team and taking the time to set them up right can be a huge advantage over your opponent. Corners are so easily wasted and with the wrong set up, you risk being caught on the break and conceding from your own corner; surely a source of deep shame for any committed FM connoisseur.

Let's take a look at some basic organisation using my Sheffield Wednesday team as an example. I have made some signings so this purely my starting line up but the principles are the same for any team and we will explain why each player is where he is.

Sheffield Wednesday are in fact an ideal example as they have some an impressively physical team with some players very capable of producing good headers.

1)  Initial set-up

Here we have the basic takers of my set pieces. The abilities aren't amazing for these guys so being smart with the organisation is all the more important. We've got Rhys Macabe and Miguel Llera on corner duty. Now we love in-swinging corners, they cause chaos in defenses and put the pressure on the Goalkeeper to come and claim the ball. With a decent corner taker it is usually effective. Both left and right corners are set to 'Aim at Near Post'.

2) The right players in the right places.

This is my standard corner taking set up and is demonstrated above. This corner is being taken from the left side of the pitch by Rhys Macabe. The two best headers of the ball, Miguel Llera and Atdhe Nuhiu are at the near post where the ball will be played. Nuhiu is set to 'Attack Near Post' whilst Llera is set to 'Near Post Flick On'. Reda Johnson is set to 'Stand on Far Post' Whilst Kamil Zayatte is set to 'Attack Far Post'. These are the four guys you hope will be involved in the initial phase of the corner.

The ideal corner would see Nuhiu rising above his marker and heading the ball in. If the ball is less accurate, Llera is told to flick the ball on towards Zayatte who is attacking the far post. Johnson is standing on the far post and provides further physical presence, hopefully drawing another tall marker to him, allowing Zayatte to head the ball towards goal.

I will usually and have here, left two quick players back in defence. Opponents will often tell quick, smaller players to stay forward whilst they are defending a corner, you must be aware to this and make sure you have adequate cover should the corner not be successful.

In addition, Nahki Wells is set to 'Lurk Outside the Area'. You want a quick player in this position, capable of picking the ball up and creating something. Wells is a good choice. Liam Palmer is set to the standard, 'Go Forward' Whilst Jose Semedo is set to 'Attack Ball From Deep'. Semedo would seek to attack either a clearance, or a flick on from Llera which loops in the air or fails to reach Zayette.

We've found this to be a very useful set up for corners. Training will also be crucial and make sure the team is getting adequate coaching in this area and focusing on attacking set pieces at least once a week.







 

Shoe of the Day - Hotter Prefect, Tan

Hotter pride themselves on complete comfort in their footwear and there is certainly a place for a smart, comfortable tan loafer in any man's rotation. The Prefect is also easily smart enough to warrant a purchase on design alone; a worthy purchase. I like the simple, classic polished tan colour here and the unobtrusive stitching. Available from hotter.com and priced at a superb £79. A must buy for long days.

Shoe of the Day - The Barker Norton

A fetching brogue cut in the classic Oxford style, this number will look good around the office doubled with a dark 2 piece. Available for £185 from the fantastic Edwards of Machester website. Equipped with the handy feature of 360° photos, you can see every detail of your striking new steppers.

http://www.edwardsofmanchester.co.uk/barker-norton-cedar.html

Three Great British Ties

The tie is often something I notice first, it's a advert for the rest of the outfit. A good tie is a statement of intent, a demonstration of style and sophistication and is as important as good shoes; get the tie right. Luckily in the UK we are spoiled with excellent designers, here are three of the best.

1) The Naughty Cooper - montybrown.co.uk - £75

Handmade in the UK the entire selection on montybrown.co.uk is well worth a look. A corduroy tie, this is an excellent example of how texture can be as important as shape and colour. I love the contrast in the solid colour and the print. Would do very nicely with a crisp white shirt.

                                       

2) Textured Weave Plain Design Blue Silk - franktheakroskilly.co.uk - £45

Frank Theak & Roskilly Ltd. give us a superb textured silk tie in an intriguing dark blue. Again texture is important to this must own classic but the colour and material are what makes this a pick. The colour would do well with a lighter blue shirt plain shirt, giving the texture of the tie the opportunity to stand out. 

3) Davenport Flower Woven Tie - thomaspink.co.uk - £69

My first smart shirt and tie combination was bought at Thomas Pink in Jermyn Street, London and the quality and design have only improved since then. The Davenport Floral Tie is a superb choice for a contemporary statement piece whilst retaining the timeless shape and quality you would expect from Thomas Pink. 

Shoe of the Day - Jeffery - West's Marriot Cricket Chelsea Boot, Black

Championed by musicians, artists and extremely cool chaps, British firm Jeffery - West is renowned for its intricate style, superb craftsmanship and edgy shake ups of classic British designs. In addition they list Harry Flashman in their 'Heroes' section of their website which is reason enough for me to love this firm. These excellent Chelsea boots are shaped and cut as good as I've seen. I like the design, it could have been plain black and would have been good; Jefferey - West's punched design though makes these great. Available at jefferey-west.co.uk and currently on sale at £199.

50 Words On.... Why Ghosts Don't Exist

As humans we base our lives on evidence. Every day. There is no credible evidence for ghosts. Fuzzy photographs, chills, cold spots, photographic orbs, voices, electromagnetic fields (possibly the most bizarre and widely used form of 'evidence'; there are electromagnetic fields everywhere) doors banging etc. are not caused by the spirits of dead people. Individual experience is by far the weakest form of evidence, if you believe in ghosts you are clearly more likely to attribute odd occurrences to something spooky rather than something mundane.

The method of thinking for 'believers' seems to be; a human dies....?..... a spirit roams the Earth. This needs to be addressed. How and why? If this crucial element can't be reasonably answered then there is no point in trying to 'detect' them.

The 'Brown Lady of Reynham Hall' Taken in 1936. Trick of the light? Fabricated? Either. Just not a ghost.

Ultimately, our brains, our physical brains contain all of us. If we are anything at all, it is our memories, personality, intelligence, our evil, our good. There is nothing at all to suggest that these properties continue to affect our surroundings when we die and our brains cease to operate. That alone is evident enough to me to disregard all the grainy images, moving curtains and bangs in the night.

Disagree? Let us know and we'll carefully explain why you're utterly mistaken.

Shoe of the Day - Clarks Farli Walk, Red

Clarks makes the Shoe of the Day twice in four days with these relaxed red leather lace ups. Red shoes are a tricky business; however, looking forward to Spring I think these would be a solid choice for some casual style. There's some good colour combinations here, I like the white laces, I like the shade of red. I would wear these with some good dark blue chinos although denim and tweed would work too. A worthwhile addition to your rotation of shoes and makes a great alternative to black, brown or dark grey. Available at clarks.co.uk and priced at £59.99

50 Words On....Travel Nation

Had enough of the wet and windy weather here in Britain? Well why not book yourself a trip of a lifetime and give yourself something to look forward to. Travel Nation are here to help you, they specialise in putting together affordable, bespoke itineraries and easily deal with the most complex of requests. Just tell them when and where you want to go and they will provide you a quote for flights, accommodation and transfers. Having used them myself, I can confirm that their prices are very competitive and their customer service is second to none. So why not put together a tailor made holiday yourself and get that holiday buzz!

 

You can call them on 01273 320580 or check out their website at www.travelnation.co.uk

 

And just to get you all jealous, here's a clue as to one of the stops on my recently booked holiday:

 

Shoe of the Day - M&S Best of British Modern Lace Up Shoes

Marks and Spencer's Best of British gives a superb demonstration of the high street retailer's ability to pick great, relevant design. It would be fairly easy for a company of Marks and Spencer's size to produce cheap, soulless copies of  Britain's best; not so with these. These shoes have genuine style. The entire range is full of Savile Row class and with an affordability that makes them extremely attractive. The prominent design on these lace ups make them stand out against the smooth, rich colour and would be well suited with denim or a nicely cut black suit. Available at marksandspencer.com
priced at £235.

50 Words On....Matt Corby

Musical talent is flowing out of Australia at the moment, there must be something in the water. Whatever it is, it would appear that Matt Corby has been downing pints of the stuff. At aged 16, Corby finished runner up on Australian idol, but he is far, far from a manufactured pop star. His voice and range are quite simply, astonishing, with many making the comparison to Jeff Buckley. Whilst he has a way to go before he can be put in that same league musically, he is certainly heading in the right direction. Covering many genres from folk, rock, blues and funk, there's something there for everyone. Expect big things to come from Matt Corby.

Check him out today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B196K_YprLw

This is a live performance of 'Runaway' from The Resolution Tour EP, if that doesn't send a shiver down your spine, I don't know what will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbsqHiaJjyc

Souls A'fire from his EP 'Into the Flame'. A more bluesy number from the Australian this time, but you will be hitting that repeat button all day.

Shoe of the Day - Chatham Marine Kensington Chelsea Boot, Red Brown

British firm Chatham Marine pride themselves on durability in the outdoors and what is achieved quite beautifully in this shoe is that combination of toughness and style. I would be happy to pair these with smart jeans and would be just as comfortable pulling them on for a walk on a Sunday afternoon. The boot is also available up to size 15 for a small surcharge. In addition to these qualities is excellent value for money, priced at just £69.00. Available at chatham-marine.co.uk and also available in black.

Three Great British Socks

The humble sock is as important to an outfit as good underwear; good socks give assurance. Comfort is crucial of course, as is the design, colour and length. There are some great British companies producing great socks out there, these are our top three picks.

1) The Wye - The Eagle Sock Company. I really like this Derbyshire - based company and their terrific brand of good socks. This fairly simple,classic polka dot sock comes in a variety of colours. I chose this one as I like the brightness and contrast of colour. Available at eaglesock.co.uk and priced at an amazing £9.00 .

2) HJ48 Colour Fashion Sock - HJ Hall. 'Sock makers since 1882' proudly adorns HJ Hall's website and they are clearly still bang on the money when it comes to producing British socks. This block colour statement sock would be a great addition to any wardrobe. HJ Hall also gives you the choice of a load of different colours, I like the sky blue. Available at HJ.co.uk and priced at just £3.99. Get a different colour for each day of the week.

3) 80- 4002 Pure Cotton Socks - Corgi Hosiery. Another staple of the British sock industry, Corgi has been producing fine socks and knitwear since 1892. These socks are made with 100% Egyptian cotton guaranteeing comfort. The design is superb, the choice of colour excellent. A lightweight and stylish sock. Available at corgihosiery.co.uk and priced at a very reasonable £16.00

Shoe of the Day - Clarks Desert Boot

Desert boots are a staple casual shoe in men's fashion these days, but today we bring you the originators of this wonderful boot. Clarks originally launched this line way back in 1949, becoming a hit with off duty officers of the time. Priced at a reasonable £79.00, with a rich brown tone and Clarks signature crepe sole, it's time to throw away those imitators and buy the real deal.

 

Order yours today. As it is a narrow fitting shoe, Clarks advise to order half a size up for comfort.

 

http://www.clarks.co.uk/p/00111442