What I Wore Today #38 - The H&M Camel Suit

Craig Shows us what he wore today, sporting his latest suit and a dapper bow tie from General Knot

So, Date Night has come around again, do you just go with jeans and a T-Shirt? After all it's been years and s/he doesn't really care what you wear right? Wrong! They care, and they care a lot, even if they say they don't, they do, trust me!

If you're going to make an effort to keep date night a 'thing' you also need to make an effort to make him/her feel special and that means taking the time to dress appropriately to show her that she's still worth making an effort for. It matters, don't ever think that it doesn't!

So, that said I chose a new 100% cotton suit from H&M. The material is a heavier weight and feels substantial and of a higher quality that you may think. It also doesn't crease like you think a cotton suit may.

Letting the suit be the center of attention, I kept things simple with a plain white slim fit shirt. To elevate the look so something a bit more special I added a new bow tie from General Knot & Co who are a US based brand specialising in unique ties and accessories made from vintage fabrics. This tie is the 'Pendleton' Tobacco Shadow Plaid & 1950s Wheat Grass Reversible tie, priced at $78.00. I have checked online to see if it is still available for you but it looks to have sold out. So, if you do see anything online that you like, I recommend that you snap it up before it's gone for good as they are all limited edition!

The pocket square and beaded trouser chain maintained the colour scheme and told an Autumnal story, which is compounded by the richly coloured leather gloves, briefcase socks and shoes.

Overall this is a classic and very vintage style look which is obviously enhanced by the bow tie and the other accessories, such as the pedal bike lapel pin. The over sized glasses also help to keep this look cohesive. 

Our date night was a success. We ate as ASK Italian and shared an Antipasto starter before digging in to meatballs and a seafood risotto. After a chocolate Lava Mountain we made our way to the cinema to see Solace, a thriller staring the talented Anthony Hopkins. We had a great night, I'm not saying that this suit made that happen but it most definitely contributed.

WHERE IT'S ALL FROM

Brown Cotton Suit: H&M £85.00

Slim Fit White Shirt: H&M £9.99

Vintage fabric Bow Tie: General Knot & Co $39.00

Leather Gloves: Zara £25.99

Pocket Square: Ebay

Watch: AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane £280

Glasses: London Retro 'Goldsmiths' from Glasses Direct £90.00

Shoes: Bordo 'Brooksby Grain' Leather Apron Toe Shoe £69.99

Briefcase: RJR By John Rocha at Debenhams £55.00

Dark Red Ribbed Socks: Uniqlo £2.60

Bicycle Lapel Pin: River Island £5.00

Beaded Trouser Chain: Home Made

Belt: Primark £3.00

THANKS FOR READING!

The Denim Jeans Style Challenge - Look Four

That Dapper Chap shares the fourth look in the denim style challenge, creating five very different looks from just two pairs of jeans.

This is a sponsored post of honest and unbiased opinion

Welcome to the fourth edition in this denim jean style challenge, where I am creating five distinct styles with just two pairs of jeans from next.co.uk. If you haven't already read the details of the challenge or the very interesting denim survey results by Burton Menswear, find it HERE

All photography by the very talented Ian Clark of PhotoByIan, check out his other work HERE

The two pairs of jeans from Next.co.uk that I used for the challenge

Look Four - Date Night

So, you've plucked up the courage to ask that special person out on a date and s/he has said yes! The table is booked and the flowers have been ordered but what are you going to wear!?

For the fourth in this series of looks I'm going to show you how to wear jeans for date night. Jeans keep things more informal than it would if you were to wear a suit. Of course this very much depends on the location of the date, but if it's the cinema and a meal at a local restaurant then jeans are a very good option.

The perfect look for date night, smart but informal

My oxblood leather brogues, classic and comfortable

So, of course I chose the smart jeans from Next.co.uk and available HERE for £35.00. Keeping it classy and classic I chose a pair of oxblood leather brogues. Promise me never to wear training shoes for a date please. Shoes tell a person a lot about a man. Whatever you may want to think, first impressions do matter!

On top I opted for a statement shirt, something that says, 'I am confident and have a personality' but isn't too crazy to scare people off. This shirt is a red and blue micro floral and comes with a matching navy tie.  Keeping with that red and blue theme I added a silk pocket square. This adds detail and interest to the navy velvet blazer.

polka dot socks add a bit more personality than a plain black pair would

Alexander Olch:pocket Dress Shirt Short Sleeve 

A closer look at the pattern of the shirt and the pocket sqaure

The entire look, just add flowers and maybe a ring?

Add a beaded trouser chain for some additional individuality

I also added a beaded trouser chain, for no other reason than to add some individuality. I could have made it a functional addition by attaching my wallet or keys to it, but wanted it simply as a statement piece. This one was hand made for me by a fellow Instagrammer and I love it.

More details of this Date Night outfit

Photography

All photography by Ian Clark. Check out his work at HERE

Find him on Twitter HERE

Find him on Instagram HERE

The Outfit

Oxblood Leather Brogues - Racing Green Now £69.00

Blue Polka Dot Socks - Rock My Socks £8.00

Smart Jeans - Next £35.00

Floral Shirt & Tie Set - Next £28.00

Navy Velvet Blazer - Burton Menswear £90.00

Watch - James McCabe Heritage £179.00

Trouser Chain - Enquiries to The Modern Gentleman

Pocket Square - Ebay

Look out for the final post in this five part series very soon.

THANKS FOR READING!