That Dapper Chap: press day

Sunday, 23 October 2016

The Montague Burton Menswear Dinner

Craig of That Dapper Chap attends the Burton Menswear Dinner to celebrate the launch of the new Montague Burton range

If you're here at ThatDapperChap.com you're no doubt a fan of menswear. If that's the case you're no doubt familiar with Burton menswear, but are you familiar with their Montague Burton range?

Montague Burton was the founder of the brand way back in 1904 and the guys at Burton have put his name to their collection of higher end products. With beautiful tailoring, crisp cotton shirting and great footwear, the range is a stylish addition to your wardrobes.

Some of the tailoring available in the new AW16 range from Montague Burton

The Primark SS16 Press Day

Craig of That Dapper Chap attends the Primark SS16 press day and gets a sneak peek of what's coming our way in the new season

The menswear area at the Primark SS16 press day

This time around the Primark SS16 Press Day was held at the Swiss Church in Londons Endell Street. An architecturally beautiful building, it made a perfect location from the next seasons collections from primark.

The White Stuff SS16 Press Event

Craig of That Dapper Chap attends the White Stuff SS16 Press event and enjoys a great meal and gets a peek at some of the new collection.

I'm relatively new to White Stuff, I've been into their shop in my local town a few times and have fallen in love with their style! I am converted and I'm a huge fan. So much so that I recently did a shoot for their Hidden Havens campaign dressed head to toe in White Stuff menswear.

I was therefore really excited to be invited to their SS16 press event, a three course meal at the swish Carousel restaurant in London.

Mannequins proudly wear the new spring range

the beautifully decorated table

As I often do I arrived early and the guys were still setting up, as I made my apologies I realised that it was a great opportunity to take a few pictures before everyone else arrived. And before you ask, yes I was dressed in White Stuff!

The table was beautifully dressed in a rustic botanical theme and each guest had their own animal egg cup delightfully inhabited by a little succulent which I thought was a great touch. There was a bit of swapping going on very early which cats being swapped for bears and polar bears being swapped for foxes (that was me)

Various animal egg cups. These were the rejects!

Yours truly, browsing the SS16 White Stuff range

Scrumptious canapes. I could easily have eaten every one

wine poured and ready for guests

As guests arrived, the wine and conversation flowed. There were various magazine fashion editors and freelance writers, all enjoying the collection and taking notes. The photographer snapped away and we enjoyed a few delicious canapes before we were ushered to our seats for our meal.

the quirky decorations and mis matched chairs are perfectly on brand

My personalised place setting, complete with swapped out fox!

deep in conversation with a member of the White Stuff team

I have to say the meal was amazing! We started with prawn and chorizo risotto with crusty bread. This was followed by slow cooked pork belly on a bed of dressed lentils and for desert there was chocolate meringue. Every course was delicious and all helped down by one or two glasses of wine.

After the meal we talked some more and I chose my favorite pieces from the new range. Anyone out here who knows me knows that I'm a sucker for a quirky printed shirt and the SS16 range doesn't disappoint. My particular favorites (and I couldn't choose between the two) are the bicycle print shirt which has small colourful images of people riding their bikes dotted on a cream background, and the and the drinks shirt which is a busier print covered with bottles and glasses. A perfect party shirt (for me anyway, judging by the amount of wine I consumed that evening!)

The bike and drink print shirts ready for SS16

Always great for shirting the SS16 range from White Stuff is a winner

Guests mingle and discuss the new collection

Picking out a great blazer to wear with the bike print shirt

A closer look at the drink print shirt pattern

A closer look at my favorite blazer

The room was decorated perfectly for spring

A close up of the bike print shirt

vintage doors adorned with planting decorated the room

A nautical look for SS16 from White Stuff

Relaxed but more formal with a dash of personality

A pale blue raincoat perfect for those April showers

White Stuff also do casual well and offer some classics for Spring

Perfect weekend attire for SS16

Yours truly showing off my top picks

What I'm Wearing

Shoes: Arthur Leather Brogues £85.00

Trousers: Weaver Trousers £55.00

Shirt: Knowledge printed shirt £47.50

Waistcoat: Regent Waistcoat £65.00

Jacket: Regent Blazer £145.00

Find White Stuff

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The Next Spring Summer 2016 Press Day

Craig of That Dapper Chap attends the Next Spring Summer 2016 Press Day and previews menswear coming our way soon.

Mannequins dressed in SS16 attire

The latest Next press day was held at the beautiful Victoria House in London's Bloomsbury. A grade II listed building built in the 1920's, Victoria House has played host to a huge number of events, and I have been here on a few previous occasions attending events as part of London Collections: Men

Yours truly in full selfie mode

Spring 16 menswear sees a real shift in trends. The smart casual look that has reigned for many a season is now a thing of the past. Formal and casual have returned to heir rue forms with much more individual identities to differentiate that work to weekend wardrobe.

A classic black briefcase

White soled brogues with contrast inserts

Formalwear takes a new direction for spring with key changes in colour, texture and silhouette. 'Past Modern' is Nexts sharp, hard edged tailoring story inspired by the rebellious attitude of the Teddy Boy and the rock and roll music. What would otherwise be a dark colour palette of charcoal greys and inky blues is given a fresh new slant with stones and neutrals.

Beautiful food was served throughout the day

When it comes to pattern, checks remain strongest; with prince of wales and windowpane still prominent, a micro gingham is introduced this season to add a new dimension. Neps and slubs are key yarns and can be seen in suiting and separates so attention to detail is a must with tailoring.

THIS jacket! Say goodbye to the bomber jacket!

Spring greens. A big colour for SS16

'The Revivalist' is the second formal story, think quintessentially British dapper gentleman. With a colour palate of fresh but earthy tomes, browns and taupes are grounded with pale blues and shades of grey.

The new menswear display at Victoria House

Hues of blues in plain and stripes

The formal trouser continues to be a key item and the pleat makes a welcome return but now as much more of a styling feature on a slim, ankle grazer cut. Team these with the reinvented blazer in a new textured fabric to give a timeless yet modern look.

Suede moccasins are big for SS16

Now down to the footnote, loafers are the must have shoes for spring. Whether its high shine leather or a soft suede, tassels or saddle detail - Be sure to complete your outfit with a pair of these.

Bacon ice cream anyone?

Casually styled mannequins at the Next SS16 press day

This season we have a return to a true casualwear with laundering and washing across all product areas. 'Neutrality' sees a utilitarian based story given an urban feeling. With a predominantly navy, black and grey colour palette this makes a great transitional story, adding highlights of oatmeal and tobacco to give it that fresh update for spring.

Suiting for spring is a staple from Next

Neutral and natural shades make a smart look

Print is a key focus, from geometric jacquards and stripes to clean texture and blurred polkadots on everything from knitwear and tees to casual shirts.

On legs the five pocket jeans are the go to style but with greyed off tones and ecru added to the mix. It's all about layering for 'Neutrality', the bomber silhouette in outerwear, knitwear and jersey is paired with longline knits and tees to create this look.

Next were showing off their floral displays at the event

A suede bomber jacket over a grey shirt

New style shoes and accessories for SS16

'Shoreline' demonstrates the emphasis on blue tones for spring. Ranging from deep dark navy, to indigo and bleached out pale shades it's the colour of the season. This story has a real coastal influence, with the Breton stripe being of huge importance, seen in all variations of width and paired down with an ankle grazing turned up chino.

Next continue to make a huge dent in the market with their suiting

Just a look I threw together

Harrington jackets are thrown over the shoulders for those windy beach days and the boat shoe is no more. It's all about a driver on the casual footwear front this season.