Great denim from White Stuff, Part 2 - Gin

Craig of That Dapper Chap shows us how he styled the 'Gin' jeans from White Stuff, and tells us how we can win a weekend away courtesy of the White Stuff #SLICEOFSUMMER competition

In part 1 of the White Stuff denim series I wore the Whisky jeans. Staying with the boozy theme White Stuff also offer us the 'Gin' jeans. Just like the Whiskey jeans they come in mid wash, rinse wash, but also in antique wash. The jeans I'm wearing today are the rinse wash. 

As it was such a beautiful day that we decided to shoot this post at our beach hut on the British coast.

A close up of the finishing of the 'Gin' jeans

The Denim Jeans Style Challenge - Look Five

That Dapper Chap shares the last of five looks 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 final 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 Five - Weekend Style

So, here we are with the last installment in the Next jeans style challenge. This last look is another very casual styling using the rip repair denim jeans which you can find HERE for £45.00.

This look will take you from that Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, to that pub lunch with your mates. The boots keep the look masculine and are a classic brogue style in a rich brown leather. Great for this time of year with rain always on the horizon!

To keep out the spring chills I chose a textured knit cardigan with a shawl collar in a mustard colour, all three of these elements are very on trend right now.

The classic brown leather brogue boots

Chilling out on the sofa reading the Sunday papers

To keep track of the time I chose a beautiful watch with brown leather strap. The brown herringbone wool blazer stops the look from becoming too casual and also adds warmth. Don't be afraid of wearing a blazer of a chunkier cardigan, just be sure that you can move freely!

The shirt is a red and white striped cotton shirt and it has umbrellas printed on it which I thought was appropriate for this time of year here in the UK.

Keep track of the time with a great timepiece

The full look with textured shawl collar cardigan and ripped jeans

The umbrella print shirt

A closer look at the mustard cardigan

Some comfortable merino wool socks adds to the comfort of this look

This look work work well with a V-neck sweater too

Wearing a shirt makes the look smarter

A closer look at the blazer

Wearing boots and a blazer smartens this look

Photography

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

Find him on Twitter HERE

Find him on Instagram HERE

The Details

Rip Repair Denim Jeans - Next £45.00

Brown Brogue Boots - Next £65.00

Umbrella Print Cotton Shirt - Ben Sherman £85.00

Textured Knit Mustard Shawl Collar Cardigan - Burton Menswear £35.00

Ochre & Green Merino Wool Socks - CNYTTAN £15.00

Herringbone Brown Wool Blazer - Primark £30.00

Brown Leather Watch - AVi-8 £295.00

Thanks for checking back. I hope that you've enjoyed this series and that I've gone some way to help you pull together some different looks to wear with your jeans.

THANKS FOR READING!

What I Wore Today - A Sunny Wednesday

That Dapper Chap takes us through his look for Wednesday.

Enjoying the spring sunshine

The outfit laid out and ready to wear

Wednesday started like any other average Wednesday but I was pleased to see that the sun was shining. I wast pleased however with how my hair decided to collapse in the light spring breeze the second that I left the house! 

The stroll to work, bags packed with goodies

I was styling a photo shoot on Wednesday afternoon so I had a couple of bags with me, filled with various shirts, blazers, ties and accessories. It's a project that I've been working on with a local hair stylish and a local award winning photographer so I was excited that we were finally getting around to the shoot, after a few delays. You can expect the first blog story on that very soon.

A closer look at the handmade lapel pins

So, to the outfit. As you know chinos are a staple items for me and I haven't worn theses camel coloured ones for a while. I like blue and brown as a colour combination so chose a denim shirt and blazer. I've hopefully avoided that 'double denim' look here!

To give the look a bit of a vintage twist I opted for some button on braces and some two tone brogues. The vintage paisley scarf also goes to maintain this look and also keeps in with the colour theme.

Floppy hair, not the look I was going for

Shop Richard James:classic swim shorts dress Long Sleeve 

Time to get to the office!

As for accessories, I went for a striped knitted tie and added some home made lapel pins to the denim blazer, throw in a pocket square and you've added enough personality to ensure the look come across as considered. 

The full look, complete with scarf to keep out the chill

A close up of the tie and tie clip

Yes, those bags were as heavy as they look

The red and blue paisley pocket square

The two tone brogues give a vintage look

Where it's all from

Two Tone Brogues: London Brogues

Navy Ribbed Socks - CNYTTAN

Beige Chinos: Next

Button On Braces: Next

Denim Shirt: Topman

Denim Blazer: Ebay

Knitted Tie: Ebay

Vintage Tie Clip: Ebay

Vintage Scarf: Thrifted

Lapel Pins: Home Made

Pocket Square: Primark

Vintage Suit Carrier: Thrifted

Brown Holdall: River Island

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!

Denim Do's and Denim Don'ts

That Dapper Chap takes a look at denim jeans, shares some interesting survey results and tells us about his denim style challenge.

With jeans being the one item worn by every man across the world on a regular basis the industry is huge. But, do you want a boot cut, a slim leg or a super skinny? And once you've chosen your shape, what about having them in stone wash, raw denim or ink, maybe even overdyed in red, oh, and do you want then ripped, faded or block colour?. The choice is endless.

Smart or ripped? So many styles to choose from. Both pairs by Next

The Jeans Survey

Menswear brand Burton have revealed that 66% of men feel that wearing denim to work is more acceptable now than it was 5 years ago. Once seen as unprofessional and sloppy, office denim has been given a big thumbs up by the men of the nation. London leads the way in office denim style with 78% of men regularly wearing denim to work. The lads up north aren't far behind with 54% being frequent office denim wearers. 

If you want to be part of the growing trend then you'll need to keep it smart. A dark colour wash in a slim leg was voted by 73% of men as the most office appropriate denim trend, and what I would personally recommend. Black jeans would be great too and 41% of men voted black denim as the trend that can be worn at any age. But again, keep it slim leg and block colour.

“A style savvy man can definitely look smart and professional in denim, it’s about getting the fit and the colour right. Go for slim cuts in darker colours and avoid anything too skinny, wide legged or faded” says Jonathan Lovett, Head of Design at Burton. The number one denim nightmare was double denim, voted by 41% of men as a trend that never should be worn. Super skinny came in at number two with 38% listing it as their top ‘denim don’t’.

The Burton Menswear Survey Results are very interesting

Top Denim Don'ts: 

1. Double denim
2. Super skinny
3. High waisted
4. Ripped denim
5. Denim brights

Finally, Burton asked their 1,000 British guys who their best and worst celebrity denim wearers were. Here’s what they said: 

Top three celebrity denim wearers: 

1. David Beckham
2. Justin Timberlake
3. Ryan Gosling

Messers Beckham, Timberlake and Gosling, top denim wearers

Top three worst celebrity denim wearers:

1. Joey Essex
2. Kanye West
3. Christiano Ronaldo

Messers Essex, West and Ronaldo show how not to do denim

Coated Looks:workwear Mens Denim Mens Denim 

Denim at Burton Menswear

The Burton SS15 denim range is available now at stores nationwide and from www.burton.co.uk. Prices start from £20 and go up to £40 for premium selvedge denim 

Special offers currently available from Burton menswear

The Styling Challenge

So, you've seen the survey results and chosen a pair of jeans in the fit and colour you want. Now what? what do you team with your jeans to stop you looking like a Kardashian Husband or a half-wit from the most terrible program on British television?

Fear not! That Dapper Chap is on hand to give you some guidance. Over the next few days I shall show you five different looks with just two pairs of jeans from Next.co.uk. The looks will take you from an afternoon chilling with your music, to the pub, through the preppy look to date night.

The two pairs of jeans that I used for this challenge, both by Next

The style challenge Jeans 

The first pair of jeans are a 'rip repair' style which we're seeing much more of creeping back onto our high streets. This idea is that they look like your favorite, well-loved jeans that you have almost work to death. These are from Next and cost £45. They are 100% cotton and available in straight or slim fit and they have a zip fly. Find them HERE

The Rip Repair denim jeans. £45.00 from Next

The second pair are a 'smart' denim, block colour and without rips or fading. These are priced at £35.00 and are made from 99% cotton and 1% Lycra. The description online says they have a zip fly, they don't, it's a button fly. They are available in straight, slim and skinny fits. Find them HERE

The Smart Dark Raw Jeans, £35.00 from Next

So, please pop back tomorrow for the first installment of the denim jeans style challenge where I'll show you first of five very different looks that you can easily mirror with a few simply additions or changes to your wardrobe.

*Survey conducted by Gorkana Surveys. 1,000 men aged 18-39 were interviewed online on 29th January and 9th February 2015.

THANKS FOR READING!