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!

The Denim Jeans Style Challenge - Look Three

That Dapper Chap shares the third 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 back again to this denim jean style challenge, and part three in the series 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 Three - Total Chill

I tend to wear jeans at the weekend. Yes, I will sometimes wear a smart pair for work with a shirt and tie but if I want to just chill out and listen to some music, it's a sloppy pair of jeans and my favorite T-Shirt. I just stick on my headphones, crank up the volume and it's the sofa for me, feet up, eyes closed and nodding to the beat.

The full look. Ripped jeans are a style departure for That Dapper Chap!

Rocking to the beats in my favorite T-Shirt

For the chilled rocky look, I chose the rip repair jeans, available HERE from Next.co.uk for £45.00 and pulled on some navy and white striped socks and some white pumps, keeping the look very relaxed. 

On top I chose my favorite T-Shirt, designed by a good friend of mine in the US. It's an original design, printed on to triblend fabric, combining cotton, rayon and polyester making it incredibly soft. Enquiries about this T-Shirt and forthcoming designs to brian@greycardigan.com

Mirror aviators add to the rocky look

In addition to the T-Shirt I chose a grey bomber jacket and some mirror aviators. This look will see you at the pub, a lunch with friends or just running around doing chores. It's comfortable and relaxed, just like the jeans themselves.

A closer look at the bomber jacket

Keeping things chilled in my favorite T-Shirt

The white pumps and striped socks

The navy and white striped socks

A closer look at the rips and repairs

The incredibly comfortable East Side, West Side T-Shirt

Ready for running around or simply chilling out

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

White Pumps - Next £25.00

East Side, West Side T-Shirt - Grey Cardigan £17.00

Charcoal Bomber Jacket - Next £65.00
Navy & White striped Socks - Rock My Socks £8.00

Mirror Aviators - Next £13.00

Headphones - Itek £15.00

Thanks for checking back. Look out for part four in this denim jean style challenge series where I'll show you a look that's perfect for date night.

THANKS FOR READING!

Product Review - Rock My Socks

That Dapper Chap takes us through a full review of some of the colourful and wondrous socks from the new range available from Rock My Socks

Product

While Rock My Socks was launched in 2013, it was just last year (2014) that I became aware of the brand. I'd seen their cool and funky styles on Instagram and after some mutual appreciation we chatted and soon after I was wearing their socks and posting my own Instagram pictures!

Me wearing my blue houndstooth socks £8.00

Based in Victoria, Australia, the guys at Rock My Socks say "Rocks My Socks is about great designs and quirky patterns, created to add a touch of colour to your life and brighten up the world...one foot at a time."

Airing my new Rock My Socks designs

They go on to say "Rock My Socks lets you express a shade of your individuality with a hint of colour peaking out from that subtle space between shoe and trouser. Or for the bolder and braver among us roll up your slacks, turn up your jeans, or pair off with your shorts and blast electric hues to the universe.
"

But what inspires them to create such funky footwear? "We’re inspired by new ideas and new challenges, let us inspire your style. Join the fight against boring and add a little creativity to your wardrobe today with mens socks from Rock My Socks."

Make a statement in these purple and red stripe socks £8.00

While based in Australia, Rock My Socks opened a UK website in February 2015 and will no doubt look to expand on this later in the year. They tell me "This is the first step in our expansion into overseas markets, after a great response both locally and overseas to our Australian website over the first 12 months of the Rock My Socks brand’s launch. We have launched the UK and US sites so that we can tailor content, seasonal offerings and promotions (such as father’s day) to different countries at the relevant times of the year, and sell our product in the local currency and ship to these destinations faster." 

You can buy your socks online now at uk.rockmysocks.com. They are currently still shipping from Australia but that will change in March/April 2015, as they will have local distributors in the US and UK so that customers receive their orders as quickly as possible.

Made in Korea, the socks have a high cotton content of up to 80% with the majority of pairs being 80% cotton and 20% nylon. Others have 70% cotton, 25% polyester and 5% elastane.

As for sizes, its a 'one size fits all' approach with all socks available in EUR 41 - 46, UK 7.5 - 11.5 and US 8 - 12.

Green and white spot £8.00

Price

The price is very reasonable and on a par with other brands offering funky designs like those offered by Rock My Socks. Each pair is £8.00 or $15.00 AUD

Aqua and white spot £8.00

Packaging & Presentation

My socks arrive quickly considering they are came from Australia and each pair were sealed in their own cellophane bag to protect them on their journey. 

Each pair, neatly sealed in an individual bag

Each pair of socks is held together with a card tag which is held in place with a single stitch. On the tag, along with the brand name are the washing instructions and materials used along with details of where the product is made. You'll also find the website here too. Pretty much everything you need. 

The packaging isn't flashy, it's functional. This isn't a high end product so the packaging doesn't need to be any more elaborate than it is.

The card tag with information on both sides

Paul Smith:cufflinks pocket square spring collection 

Performance

Just as I expected they would, they socks fitted well and were very comfortable. With the brushed cotton for comfort and warmth, and the elastane for stretch and fit.

They washed well and didn't shrink at all.

Wearing my navy and pink spot socks

Pertinency

Every gentleman should have a couple of patterned socks in their collection. Rock My Socks offer a really good range of colours and styles. There will most definitely be a style that you like and can wear.

Pink Chevron Socks £8.00

The classic navy and white spot socks £8.00

Pro’s & Con’s

What do you need from a pair of socks? You want them to fit well. Check! You want them to look good. Check! And you want them to wash well and last for a decent amount of time. Check!

I've struggled to find an improvement that I might suggest to make the product better. I can honestly say that I have nothing to offer! They're a great product, at a good price, and they do exactly what you want from a pair of socks!

Another good thing is the free shipping to US and UK customers who buy three or more pairs! What are you waiting for?

People

The team liked the socks. I received three blue pairs, two of which were polka dot and one striped pair which do not show off the super designs that they also offer. So, when I showed them other designed available on line, they were really excited.

The three pairs of sock I received from Rock My Socks

They thought the quality was very good and that the packaging did what it was intended for. They would happily buy these socks. There were somewhat perturbed by the fact that they had to come all the way from Australia but when I explained that they will shortly be shipping directly within the UK, they were impressed.

Précis

Overall, I think that Rock My Socks do what they do very well. They offer a great range of styles and colours. You'll find something more sedate if that's what you're looking for, or something more eye catching if that's your thing.

Either way, there will be a pair that takes your fancy. Made well from good materials and well packaged. What more could you want?

Just remember that when you get your's make sure that you post a picture to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #RockMySocks.

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THANKS FOR READING!