YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR™!

BAG ABOUT TOWN

2012-02-18T12:16:00.000Z

The briefcase used to be the normes et standard regards to men owning a bag, but there is nothing to be ashamed of regards using a "man bag". It is unsavoury for a gentleman to have personal effects stashed and bulging in the pocket of his pants or jacket, so unless you have one of those quite silly ipad suits with inside pockets to fit your smartphone, tablet, notebook, camera and co, then its about time you invested in a decent bag.
Almost every major fashion house has a variety to choose from and not only are man bags practical, they are stylish too.

As we become more sophisticated, our personal effects on-the-go increases

considerably, and its fashion suicide to try to cram everything into your pockets.

The briefcases is the most classic men's bag and was largely considered as the "acceptable" gents bag usually carried with business attire.
Messenger bags typically feature a shoulder strap are usually worm across the body with a laid back style.
The holdall bag is ideal for weekend getaways and those shorts trips, with enough room to fit a few clothing, your toiletries and gadgets.
Tote bags are a reinvention of the classic briefcase and can be carried with both business and casual attire.

Whether you carry one as a style statement or for functional purposes, there is nothing effeminate about them.

THE YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN....tassel mania

2012-02-01T23:25:00.005Z

Characterised by the tassel details on the front, tassel loafers are probably the most versatile of all footwear and can be worn with suits, trousers, chinos, jeans and even shorts...cant say that for most shoes. The decorative tassels add an interesting attractive feature to an otherwise plain and classic style.

Tasseled loafers looks smarter compared to the classic penny loafer, they will complete a stylish formal look and also add instant style to a relaxed attire, more reason why every gentleman needs at least one in their wardrope.

Put your best foot forward..."Style does not come to you unless you pay attention to it"

THE YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN....mouchoir de poche

2012-01-27T16:15:00.005Z

According to duchamp™ the only reason we have a breast pocket on a tailored jacket is to put something in it...and that something is the pocket handkerchief! Tucking a handkerchief into your jacket or blazer is a conscious act of dressing up and thats ultimately what a breast handkerchief also referred to as the pocket square invariably does.

The handkerchief adds a dash of colour and style to your wardrobe and compliments any casual or black tie event. Its a small but powerful detail which can give a lot of mileage to your blazer or suit and improve the overall appearance of your suit. Yes that same navy suit from three years ago, is rejuvenated with that red polka dot handkerchief for that night out, and looks almost different to the one you wore to work.

We subscribe to the school of thought your pocket handkerchief should never match your

tie... its a bit tacky. .There are innumerable ways of folding a pocket square as there are colours, the fold and choice can depend on your mood, the occasion or your style, so dont leave your breast pocket empty!

Nothing quite says "FINER THING" like a silk handkerchief tucked neatly inside one's bosom pocket. Fortune favours the stylish...c'est la vie

its about TIME

2012-01-10T18:41:00.006Z

It is true that the watch a man wears reflects his status and achievements in life. In 1868, Patek Philippe invented the first wristwatch and it has quickly became "THE FASHION ACCESSORY". what you wear on your wrist is more of a status symbol than just telling time.

The modern day wristwatch was invented by the meticulous swiss, with brands like patek phillipe, rolex and audemars at the forefront, but the french through cartier made watches popular and the Japanesse and American through the emergence of quartz made watches affordable and relatively low in comparison with those churned out from Geneva.

A good timepiece is the gift item of choice for most occasions, and in making that choice, brand, material, movement may determine the choices we make. The movement of a watch is simply how the watch is powered to keep time. The main types of movement are manual, quartz, automatic and mechanical.

Manual movement timepieces are powered by manual winds so may need to be wind most days to keep time.

Quartz movement timepieces are battery powered and make the bulk of all watches.

Automatic movement timepieces "self winds" through the movement of the wrist and body.

Mechanical movement timepieces have small gears and springs which are constantly moving and needs to be wind up every week or so to keep time. A chronograph does not describe the movement of a watch, but refers simply to a watch with dials that display hours, minutes and seconds together with a mechanism for measuring elapsed time.

Its a no brainer super luxury brands like audemars piguet, rolex, breitling, hubolt and patek phillipe are constantly faked, If you have a spare 5000 cedis for a genuine why not, but there are good alternatives which wont leave a massive dent on your bank balance.

There is always that favourite watch that you never seem to get over, whether its the vintage handed down from your gran or an "investment" its always nice to keep your watch clean and tidy. We all hate it when our watch gets dirty and dirty they will, unless they are tucked away in a vault.
To clean your watch, gently wipe with a wet cloth or if dirt is substantial remove bands and soak for a few minutes. Dry thoroughly with a lint free cloth to prevent mildew. To remove scratches from your watch apply a non gel toothpaste and with a soft cloth and your watch should burst to life :)

SIGNATURE SCENTS

2011-11-15T19:35:00.003Z

Choosing a fragrance can be a daunting and tricky task from the many available on the market today, often we choose based on recommendations from friends and colleagues or after our getting swayed by our nasal passage .

Same brand fragrances may even smell different in each one of us because our individual body chemistry affects how base notes reacts on our skin...our diet, stress and medications can all affect how a perfume smells on us.

Generally people with oily skin will have a longer lasting smell than people with dry skin solely because, perfumes evaporate rapidly from dry skin than oily skin. To get a longer lasting smell, it is recommended to apply after shower or application if body lotion since your skin absorbs more after it is wet.

The main categories of perfumes available on the shelf are Eau de Parfum(EDP) and Eau de Toilette(EDT) ,which simply refers to the concentration of fragrance oils. Eau de Parfum has a higher concentration of fragrace oils than Eau de Toilette, so while it's more expensive, Eau de Parfum proves better value since it lasts longer and you need to use less of it. Not all fragrances are available in both EDT and EDP and most importantly the brand of the fragrance determines the longevity of the smell.

Applying your perfume right is about as important as choosing one, the best places to apply to get the most out of your perfume is at your pulse points; wrists, base of the throat, behind the ear lobes and the bend in your elbows. Don't dab your wrists together after application as this breaks the scent and dont apply too much....NO ONE LIKES SOMEONE WEARING TOO MUCH PERFUME.

Our top ten gents perfume;

1. acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza

2. hermes d'terre

3. ralph lauren polo black

4 . chanel bleu de chanel

5. bvlgari man

6. prada infusion d'iris

7. tom ford extreme

8. juicy couture dirty english

9. carolina herrera 212 vip

10. marc jacobs bang

SUITED AND BOOTED

2011-11-10T19:44:00.013Z

Originating from french aristocracy with the british and italians adding sophistication in time, suits have always been an integral part of every well groomed mans wardrobe in the quest for sartorial elegance. You can opt for a bespoke suit or get an off the rack suit which may possibly need a few alterations. A good bespoke suit doesnt come cheap and a walk through jermyn street or savile row wont take long to confirm, but there are good off the rack suits which costs only fraction of a tailor made suit. The material and the cut of a suit are key in what makes a good suit.

The main types of suits are are double breasted and single breasted. Double breasted suits have two rows of buttons with overlapping front flaps and are a timeless classic, and they are a finer way of going formal. Single breasted suits have a single row of buttons down the front, with the jacket flaps overlapping enough to permit buttoning.

Also notable are the lapels of most suits, but the most common are the notch lapel, peak lapel and the shawl lapel. Most suits dawn the notch lapel, while the peak lapel is a little more formal, more high-fashion, with the shawl lapel usually less formal.

double breasted peak

double breasted shawl

single breasted peak

double breasted notch

"there is nothing more appealing than a well dressed man"...Lolu Arokodare ceo Lólú

nineteen sixty

THE COUNTERFEITS OF MONTE CRISTO

2011-07-29T12:33:00.002Z

Once there is a market for a product, counterfeiters will be on it like a rash, not surprising an estimated 11% per cent of all clothing and footwear in circulation is beleived to be fakes. In the developing world, it is reckoned, there are more fakes than genuines. Brands like Burburry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Hermes and Armani are among the most copied in the world.

There are are a couple of steps you can follow to ensure you are getting the real deal not a knockoff from Shenzhen or Yimu; the conterfeit capitals of the world.

We all love a bargain, but if you are offered a gucci or hermes duffel for GHC 200 or a pair of tom ford slippers for GHC 500, you sure are getting a fake. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

Most fakes, unlike the real deals are not meticulously made, because fakers dont care about quality, they are just selling the brand name. Poor stitching, wrong spellings yes....look out for the lewis vuittons and the jockey on a unicorn :) poor monograms, sub standard materials to name but a few.

Make sure you get items from trusted sources, there are alot more fake christian louboutin shoes and hubolt timepieces online than real ones.

Hermes perfumes that last for half an hour, Rolex timepieces that work only on wednesdays and Ralph Lauren duffels with two jockeys....In a multi billion dollar industry, fakers dont have plans of quitting any time soon, so dont be caught up in their web and end up with a potentially dangerous item. Dont just buy brand names, buy quality!

SOCKS IN THE CITY

2011-07-13T13:11:00.000Z

An often underrated and neglected piece of fashion accessory is the socks. We use them almost everyday but their only worth seem to be protecting our feet, keeping them warm or comfy...there is sure more to them than just that! let them spice your look.

There is no reason why you should not get some daring socks in your wardrobe and do away with the boring black and grey socks. Your socks like any fashion accessory like your tie or silk handkerchief should complement your look.

Coloured socks are very much in vogue, far from the eccentric bloke tag. You can co-ordinate your socks with your silk handkerchief , shirt or tie............voilà

A little colour never hurt nobody :)

FASTEN UP

2011-06-08T12:27:00.000Z

Welcome to prekese mall's blog which seeks to share nouveau and vintage fashion for both sexes. There is a lot we want to share with customers and we want to kick-start by talking about an often neglected piece of fashion accessory.....the belt. Belts have been an integral fashion accessory for centuries and still are, albeit often given less attention.

Apart from holding pants or shorts in place, they also most importantly add sophistication. Fabric belts and woven (plaited) belts look great with chinos and will sure make you stand out from the crowd.

Look after your belts and they wont just hold your pants in check, but complete your look!