Get Preppy

Craig of That Dapper Chap shows us how to achieve the preppy style and stay on trend this summer.

One trend that I've spotted coming through stronger and stronger in the spring summer collections is the preppy style. While big brands like J Crew, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren have been champions of this style for years, it's becoming more mainstream, so I wanted to give you a little insight in to how you can achieve one of this summers key looks.

Spring Summer 2017 with Burton Menswear

Craig of That Dapper Chap shares his top 5 looks for SS17 from Burton Menswear

Okay, I get it! You're freezing cold,wearing a bobble hat and woolly socks indoors and you're surrounded by twinkling lights and listening to Cliff Richards Mistletoe and Wine on the radio while you wrap up your Mothers chocolates. Spring seems a long way off right? Take heart, it's just around the corner, and you'll soon be booking that trip to the land of sun, Sangria and sun loungers in no time. 

To help with those winter blues I've picks out five of my top looks from Burton Menswear for Spring Summer 2017. I'm loving the white suit, what's your favourite?

My Top Five Looks

A white suit I hear you gasp! Yeah why not comes my reply. Think summer wedding, think beach party on the Italian Riviera. White will be big for 2017, so get some in your collection.

Styling this seasons knitwear from House of Fraser

Craig of That Dapper Chap styles knitwear from House of Fraser, creating three looks with one sweater.

We all know House of Fraser for it's wide selection of items for home and fashion and the huge number of designer brands that they offer under one roof. In this post I'm taking one sweater and showing you three different looks that can be achieved. 

While this is a sponsored post I'll be open and honest as always. This season House of Fraser are offering a huge selection of knitwear and there truly is something to suit most tastes. With chunky cable knits, zip necks, cardigans and polo necks in merino, cashmere and cotton I opted for a light grey marl V neck merino sweater by Linea. Available in 24 colours in sizes small through to XXL it's a hugely versatile jumper. That's where I come in!

Autumn Trends with Hammond & Co

Craig of That Dapper Chap shares three looks available from the Hammond & Co range at Debenhams

If you're not familiar with Patrick Grant and the Hammond & Co range of menswear at Debenhams, you must have been living under a rock.

Mr Grant always offers a wide range of clothing for us gents, classic in style, but with a modern twist. Each season the range is stylish and elegant and has a selection of 'must have' pieces, this season is no different.

In this post I'll show you three distinct looks using items from the latest range.

Look 1 - Sartorial

For the first look I've gone all out dapper. This single breasted wool rich jacket with its bold check is teamed with a crisp white shirt and mustard bow tie for total sartorial elegance.

The slim fit jeans and Chelsea boots add that modern touch without detracting from the gentlemanly look of the outfit.

Great denim from White Stuff Part 1 - The 'Whiskey' Jeans

Craig of That Dapper Chap styles the 'Whiskey' jeans from White Stuff with items from their current range and tells us about a competition to win a weekend away, plus £300 to spend at White Stuff

The White Stuff 'Whiskey' jeans

Fed up of super skinny jeans? Want a more relaxed style? Look no further than the White Stuff 'Whiskey' jeans. Available in grey wash, mid wash or rinse wash they are 100% cotton traditional denim jeans, and come with a contrast paisley lining inside the back waist and red stitch detail on the back pockets. They're finished with a button fly and a branded leather patch.

Cooling off at the seaside with a well deserved paddle

Next Menswear in Marrakech

Craig of That Dapper Chap wears Next menswear in Marrakesh and gives us his top five things to do when you visit

In the last post featuring my trip to Marrakech I wore clothing by Burton Menswear, this time around the look is by Next and offers a more traditional British approach. Think 'An Englishman abroad' 

The flat lay of my Moroccan outfit, all from Next

This look is all about the 100% cotton light stone suit. Slim fit and breathable it works well in the Moroccan heat. What's more you don't need to just stop at the jacket and trousers as the suit is a mix and match suit and also comes with matching waistcoat and shorts!

A city break in Marrakech

Craig of That Dapper Chap takes us on a city break to Marrakech wearing Burton Menswear

Bored of the standard two weeks in the sun, we decided last year to take more city breaks, indulge ourselves in cultural differences, and sample traditional living in some very different places. With Budapest and Prague under our belts we went further afield and landed in Marrakesh in 100 degree heat.

Summer Downtime with White Stuff

Craig of That Dapper Chap shows us his top five picks for chilling out in this summer, from the current range from White Stuff

What is summer for if we can't take time out to relax? This season the folk at White Stuff are offering us a great collection of clothing in which we can do just that. With linen and cotton shirts, and great jeans and shorts, kick off those flip flops, leap in that hammock and enjoy the shade of that canopy while I take you through my top five picks.

One Blazer, Three Looks - Look 3

CRAIG OF THAT DAPPER CHAP SHOWS US THE LAST IN THIS THREE PART SERIES WHERE HE CREATES THREE VERY DIFFERENT LOOKS WITH ONE BLAZER.

This final look falls somewhere between the smart look and that casual looks that I created for you previously. This look will suit a lot of less formal offices, and will also be great for the pub or a casual meal where you want to look good but don't need to be over dressed.

One Blazer, Three Looks with Next - Look 2

Craig of That Dapper Chap shows us the second in this three part series where he creates three very different looks with one blazer.

Welcome back to the 'One Blazer, Three Looks' series where I'm showing you three completely different looks with just one blazer. For guys who travel a lot or those of us that only want to take a cabin bag on that city break, being able to create different looks with just a few select items is a necessity.

Using the grey Italian linen slim fit blazer from Next this is the second look in the series. Part one which gives you a smart office or formal look can be found HERE. So, going to the opposite end of the sartorial scale I've created a very relaxed look again using items from Next.co.uk  

One Blazer, Three looks with Next - Look 1

Craig of That Dapper Chap teams up with Next to give us three different looks with one blazer

Nearly every guy I know now has a blazer in their wardrobe, but from what I've seen most guys tend to wear it with the same thing every time they wear it. Maybe it's because it's a similar look to what they saw on the model on the website when they bought it, so they can trust that it's a look that works.

My Day Filming With Base London Shoes

Craig of That Dapper Chap shares his experience filming a series of six viral ads for Base London Shoes and shows us the outtakes and bloopers

#WHATWORKS

Arriving at Liverpool Street station with two suitcases full of clothing I had no idea what I was letting myself in for! After buying a great pair of oxblood lace ups from Base London Shoes, I posted a picture to Instagram, the next thing I know I'm standing in my underwear on a london rooftop ready to film a series of 6 viral ads.

Standing in my underwear on a London rooftop, What has my life come to?

Summer Smarts With White Stuff

Craig of That Dapper Chap looks at smart summer wear from White Stuff and shares his top five items.

With summer within reach why not take the opportunity to reassess your wardrobe and bag yourself some smart new clobber. Think of those parties where jeans just won't cut the mustard! White Stuff have some great smart wear online and in stores for just that situation and I'll take you through my top five items.

The patterned shirt

We all need a well fitted patterned shirt in our armoury and the blue micro floral Lilo shirt is just the ticket. Wear it with some navy chinos and a great pair of brogues for a smarter look and even add a knitted tie for some extra formality. Yours for £49.95

Real Men Wear Pink, With House Of Fraser

Craig of That Dapper Chap shares menswear from House Of Fraser to keep us in the pink this summer.

Pink is for girls right? Wrong. Real men wear pink, it's official. If you're going to do it, do it properly. I'd avoid an entirely pink look, you'll just look like you've fallen into the candy floss machine at the local fairground. Instead keep it classy and team it with something more masculine like a great blazer or smart trousers and brogues.

So, if you want to embrace your inner pink grab something from the range available from House Of Fraser. 

The Pink Edit

The Burton Long sleeve linen blend shirt £28 at House of Fraser. Wear with navy chinos, brown brogues and belt for a summer smart look. Think an evening in the beer garden.

Burton Long sleeve linen blend shirt £28

Summer Essentials With White Stuff

Craig of That Dapper Chap talks summer essentials, taking inspiration from the summer range from White Stuff

Great news guys, Summer is just around the corner! So, with that in mind what are you planning to be wearing when the warmer months are here? Don't fret, I'm here to help guide you along the way, and want to share a few summer essentials with you from White Stuff.

Some Cool Coloured Shorts

First up you'll need shorts! if you can't get your legs out during the summer when can you? Chino shorts are big news and are available in some great colours, so grab yourself a pair (or two)

These are the 'Warren' chino shorts. finishing just above the knee. They are versatile and can be dressed up with a shirt and a blazer. Alternatively  throw on a T-shirt for a more relaxed look.

Don't be afraid to play with the length either by rolling up the legs one or two turns. This can help change the look of the shorts dramatically, particularly if you're packing light but need switch things around.

The Warren shorts in navy blue

The Dapper England Slipper Loafer & How To Wear It

Craig of That Dapper Chap introduces us to Slipper loafers from Dapper England and shows us how he styles them

Meet Dapper England

Using original artwork in their designs, Dapper England are out to make a statement in men's footwear and are doing a solid job of it. A very British brand, they are a small team of creatives offering us inspired footwear, many of which are limited edition lines.

Whether you're looking for a simple and elegant slipper for the Opera, like the classic black 'Ascot' or more of a statement shoe like the 'Dalmatian' or 'Gods' for an important party. Maybe you're simply a gentleman of good taste who enjoys less obvious footwear. Whoever you are and whatever the event there will be a pair of slippers for you.

Dapper England, supplying gentlemen with stylish and elegant footwear

Vacation Styles

That Dapper Chap takes us through the styles that he wore of this summers vacation

Standing in the Coliseum in El Djem, Tunisia

At the beginning of 2014 with snow on the ground, we set off to the travel agent to book our summer vacation. Looking through brochures and reviewing locations and hotels we started to get confused. Is it just me or after a while do they all start to look the same?

We ended up booking to go to Tunisia in North Africa. We'd been there twice before and knew the deal. Guaranteed heat, great hotels and culture and difficult to beat on price.

The coliseum at El Djem, Tunisia

A couple of weeks ago I posted an article about what to take on vacation so to follow that up I'll now take you through what I did wear to show the proof in my pudding.

Arriving tired and sweaty we checked in, showered and changed for dinner. I chose a dusty pink pair of shorts and a white long sleeved shirt. The shorts are from H&M at £25 ($43), the shirt is also H&M at £10 ($17). The bow tie is vintage from Etsy at £10 ($17), the belt is Primark at just £3 ($5) and the tassel leather loafers are from Ebay seller Withamyshop at £23 ($40)

A dapper vacation look

The pool side at the hotel in Port El Kantaoui 

The next evening after a day by the pool working on the tan I again opted for a look with shorts. These pale blue cotton shorts are from Burton Menswear at £27 ($46) and a light cotton bird print shirt from Zara. The shoes are from Primark at £12 ($20)and the bow tie is again from Etsy.

Dapper in a Zara short and vintage bow tie

The beautiful Zara bird print shirt

The next look was a slightly more preppy affair with a red, white & blue check shirt from GAP at £40 ($68). The pale coloured shorts are by Primark at £12 ($20). The vintage clip on bow tie is again from Etsy. The belt and hat are both from Primark at £3 and £5 respectively. The shoes are by Converse and the sunglasses from Burton Menswear.

The next look is a floral shirt by Boden which I bought on the sale for £25 ($43)and I teamed them with a pair of charcoal coloured cotton and linen mix shorts from Primark at £10 ($17. The shoes are again by Converse. 

A relaxed holiday look

A close up of the floral print

I followed the floral look with this one which seems to be a favorite with the Instagram crowd. The white cropped trousers are from Ebay seller Withamyshop and cost just £16 ($27) to keep it very fresh I chose a bright blue light cotton shirt from H&M at £20 ($35). The belt is again from Primark at £3 and the shoes are also from Primark at £12.

White for the sand and blue for the sea

A closer look

The colour of the pool matches the shirt perfectly

The next day we spend at the Medina, haggling for bargains. The amount of fake items that you can buy in Tunisia is astounding and this will be the focus of a forthcoming blog piece. That evening I opted for a white shirt from H&M at £10 and beige shorts from Primark at £10. The brogues are by Red Tape at £25.  The bow tie is vintage and again from Etsy.

The entrance to the Medina in Sousse

Around the Medinas narrow walkways

Colourful plates at the Medina

The next look is all about this Topman printed shirt. I bought it a couple of years ago but it still looks great. I cannot remember how much it cost me but it was probably around the £25 mark. I teamed it with the same white cropped trousers as before and the tassel loafers

 

I went for a green theme the following day also with this green and turquoise checked shirt from H&M at £20 and added a bright green pair of shorts. the shorts started out as a pair of chinos but because they looked a lot like a Doctors scrubs I decided to make them in to shorts!

We visited the Coliseum at El Djem the next day and I chose to wear the light coloured shorts from Primark along with a floral short sleeved shirt, also from Primark and a straw hat by John Rocha which I found in a charity shop. For comfort I opted for a pair of red converse.

The view of El Djem from the Coliseum 

A close up of the floral shirt pattern

Waiting in the hotel for the coach

For the final look I again chose a classic white long sleeved shirt and put it with a pair of paisley patterned tailored shorts by Topman. The shorts are part of a suit. I don't know how I feel about a short suit but the jacket and the shorts are great pieces in the own right (I didn't buy the jacket though)

The belt is plain black leather and the shoes are again Converse. I wish I'd taken a pair of black tassel loafers with me but for some reason I didn't. 

A close up of the shorts

The shorts have received a lot of attention. Firstly a shop owner in Tunisia asked if he could have them when I left. When I refused to let him have them, he offered to buy them from me or swap them with goods from his shop. Again I declined as I like them so much.  In addition to this an Instagrammer commented that they are too long and suggested that I go for a shorter length for a cleaner look. I disagree with this and I'm pretty sure that the designers at Topman know what they are doing. It was made as a suit so clearly the longer length was intentionally made to creat a smater tailored look. Buy hey, each to their own!

 

Of course I did a lot of swimming and I was pleased that they had a smaller, quieter pool in which I could swim lengths. With an all inclusive holiday I needed to make sure that I was doing enough exercise to off set all the food I was consuming (not that I over indulged). Of course I needed swim shorts and I took two floral pairs by H&M and Boden along with a short short pair in navy by H&M and a pale blue pair by Next.

Shorts by H&M

Shorts by Next

So, now back in the UK, slightly darker skinned that before I left and planning what I'm going to wear to work this week. No maid service, no waiter offering my an ice cold Gin and Tonic by the pool and nobody clearing my plate after my evening meal. Sad times, but I'll just look forward to next year. Maybe it'll be Tunisia again? Who knows! The bigger question is what will I wear!

Thanks for reading!