Knitmas with White Stuff

Craig of That Dapper Chap shares the details of the latest Charity campaign from our friends at White Stuff

It's beginning to look a lot like 'Knitmas' at White Stuff! and I was totally surprised and delighted to receive a beautiful navy scarf, complete with embroidered monogram. It was entirely out of the blue and was sent to me in support of their latest charity campaign.

All I need now is for the weather to get a little cooler so that I can wear it!

White Stuff have always supported local charities and this season is no different. Having already donated £2.1m to over 100 worthy causes they want to add to that figure, and this time around they are selling two scarves to raise funds. 

The first is the 'Charlie' chunky stripe scarf (which is the scarf that they sent to me) and the second is the 'Sarah' check scarf.

The scarves will be available online and in stores in October and for every scarf bought White Stuff will donate £7 to charitable causes 

#WhatCharityMeansToMe

Charity is all about giving back, engaging in that basic human instinct to care, and doing good for others. It's very important to me, and I have supported many charities over the years, be it via sponsorship, taking part in mud races and weird events, or my monthly payment to the NSPCC.

I'm lucky in that I don't need to take advantage of a charity, but nobody knows when life will take a turn and result in the need to seek help. It can happen to any of us at any time.

Give a little, give a lot, but please give! Why not get a great new scarf into the bargain and buy yourself, or a loved one, a lovely new scarf from White Stuff.

When you buy you please take a picture of yourself wearing it and post it to social media, use the hashtag #WhatCharityMeansToMe

FIND WHITE STUFF

      

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!

What I Wore - The Next Skinny Fit Suit

That Dapper Chap shares his daily look and shows off his new skinny fit suit from Next

Next have been making great affordable suits for years, dressing the likes of you and me in the latest cuts and fabrics and making sure that we look the part at that meeting, wedding or on that date.

This is my latest purchase, advertised as a 'rust' skinny fit suit which for me conjures images of rich deep oranges I'd say this is more berry coloured or deep burgundy.

Due to the weather conditions and the need for some additional warmth I also wore my checked coat, a patterned scarf and some leather gloves. I would have frozen for sure without them.

 

Under the suit I wore a burgundy and white striped shirt and a knitted burgundy and white polka dot tie which I held in place with a quirky little tie clip in the shape of a coat hanger, alluding to my love of fashion and my blogging career.

Jack Spade:Double Breasted Weller Suit Jacket Fall Jacket 

I accessorised with a matching watch strap with was made specifically for my watch by an Instagram friend. The leather loafers continue the colour palette and the lapel pin maintains the gold highlights.

I am really please with this suit, the fabric is great as it the fit. I first wore it while at London Collections: Men a could of weeks and and received some very nice comments about it. 

So with lunch packed in my leather briefcase and hand made pocket square in place I was ready for whatever the day had in store.

Where it's all from

Burgundy Leather Loafers: Vintage, from Beyond retro, London

Burgundy Socks: Uniqlo

Skinny Fit Suit: Next

Stripped, Button Down Shirt: Next

Patterned Scarf: Next

Watch: Daniel Wellington

Watch Strat: Bespoke, BWeiss Leather

Leather Briefcase: John Rocha at Debenhams

Knitted Polka Dot Tie: Ebay

Wool Check Coat: Zara

Gloves: Next

Pocket Square: Gavin Pierre-Medford

Tie Bar: Stitches Of Style

Stag Head Lapel Pin: Ebay

THANKS FOR READING!

Autumn leaves

At last! The summer has finally said it's fair well and allowed those chilly mornings and cold evenings to grace us with their prescience. I know! I shouldn't wish for cold weather but it gives me such a great opportunity to layer up and pull out those wool blazers that I've been wanting to wear, not to mention, hats, scarves and gloves!

Just because it's the weekend it doesn't automatically mean you need to dress down! Why wouldn't you wear a tweed blazer and a bow tie on a Saturday to pop into town to buy a new SIM card? That's what I did, yes some people looked at me as if I was off to a winter wedding while others gave admiring glances.

With the leather side zipped boots I added a pair of dark plum cordoury trousers and a blue chambray shirt. As the trousers are a little on the big side I opted for braces rather than a belt to continue that vintage heritage feel.

The brown herringbone blazer and bow tie are a good match and give a very autumn feel with the robust wool fabrics in brown tones. It was somewhat chilly when I left the comfort and warmth of my home so as I left I reached for my new burgundy scarf.

I accessories with one of my own range of lapel pins and a spotted pocket square. Nothing too much as I felt the outfit had enough going on without unwanted adornments that could make it look cluttered and more like I'd had fun in the dressing up box! 

Where is it all from?

Brown leather boots: River Island

Fairisle socks: ASOS

Cordoury trousers: Next

Chambray shirt: Primark

Brown herringbone blazer: Primark

Brown herringbone bow tie: Primark

Pocket square: EBay

Lapel pin: home made

Glasses: Specsavers

Scarf: Next

Braces: Next

THANKS FOR READING!