Friday, 27 November 2015

That Dapper Chap Wins Fashion Blog Of The Year

Craig of That Dapper Chap attends the Next Blogger Network awards and collects the first prize for fashion blog of the year.





When I received the invitation to the Next blogger network event and award ceremony, I never thought for one second that I'd win an award. I know that's probably what you'd expect me to say, but it's the honest truth!

When people suggested that I might win something I replied "Maybe I'll get nominated or at a push I may get a runner up prize, but I won't win" little did I know!



As always there were great nibble available at the event

This years event was an all day affair and was held in the very swish Soho Hotel in London. Arriving just before 10am (it was a whole day affair) I was looking forward to a coffee and finding out what the day held in store for us. Soon after I arrived other bloggers from across the UK arrived, the level of chatter increased and coffee and tea was poured as we all caught up with each other and also made a few new friends who we hadn't had the pleasure of meeting before. 


Sent a tweet and get a treat at the Next NBN event


New friends were made and selfies were taken


More great food on offer at the Next NBN event




Yours truly engaged in conversation 


Bloggers mingles and swapped stories at the event

Soon after we were all informed of what the day would hold and we were then ushered into the auditorium where guest speakers waited for us before they shared their own stories and valuable insights in to the world of professional blogging. On the panel was Danielle from Idle Lane, Sammy from Beauty Crush, Jen Stanbrook from LoveChicLiving and lastly Rosie Fortescue from Made In Chelsea and At Fashion Forte


Guests took their seats for the talks from established bloggers


The panel shared knowledge and answered questions
After the talks we once again found ourselves back in the main room eating mini burgers & chips, bowls of delicious pasta and finger foods to tempt every palate. The anticipation built as the time came for the awards and people speculated about who they thought would win.

Guests in the main room, enjoying the lunch

So once again we poured into the auditorium and took our seats. As each runner up and winner was announced for the various categories their face appeared on the big screen alongside a picture of their website.

Then came 'Best Fashion Blog' knowing that the attendance was predominantly female I was sure that the winner wouldn't be a guy. How wrong was I! After the runner up was announced Gemma, our host, began describing the winner "We've known this guy for 2 or three years now". "Oh" I thought, "It's a bloke!" and I started to work through in my head how many other guys they had worked with for that period of time. Gemma continued "He loves a suit and he's recently been on holiday".

"I've recently been on holiday" I thought "And I do love a suit!" 

Then it happened "The winner of Best Fashion Blog of 2015 is Craig, of That Dapper Chap" It took a split second to realise it was me and I'm pretty confident that I emitted an expletive at that moment! 

Then it was my face on the screen and a shot of my web site. The music started and the spot light found me as I made my way to the stage to collect my award from Made in Chelsea Star and blogger Rosie Fortescue.

Me, collecting my award and goodie bag from Rosie Fortescue

Also representing menswear at the event were British footballer and blogger Richard Offiong and Akash, one half of A Savvy Gent. Both of whom won an award. Akash accepted one of the runner up prizes while Richard won Best Photography. It was great to see the guys represented so well in such a female dominated arena.


Of the four guys there, three won an award. Akash, Richard and myself


Following the awards it was time for cocktails. Blinis, and passion fruit and vodka cocktails were most welcome and I can safely say that I enjoyed one or two!

The official photographs were taken and following consumption of cocktails I had my picture taken. I then immediately proceeded to drop my glass award on the floor. As the room gasped in the anticipation of shattered glass and embarrassment, it luckily bounced and remained in one piece. Phew!


I blame the Blinis for my loose fingers

My official winners photograph


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Thursday, 26 November 2015

What I Wore Today #41 - Monochrome in Primark

Craig of That Dapper Chap shows us what he wore today wearing a monochrome look from Primark




This look was entirely built around this simply styled coat from Primark. With it's micro check and slim fit design its a coat that's going to look great through autumn and winter but will also take you into spring.



The coat is 31% wool and is fully lined. With a simple collar, two flap pockets at the hip and a breast pocket it has a very classic design and could have been purchased from any high end men's store. 

I kept the styling simple to reflect he uncomplicated design of the coat and went for skinny fit jeans, boots and a slim fit white cotton shirt with black buttons.












WHERE IT'S ALL FROM


Boots: Primark £15.00
Skinny Black Jeans: Primark £10.00
White Cotton Shirt: Primark £10:00
Coat: Primark £35.00
Grey knitted gloves: Primark £1.00
Sunglasses: Primark £2.00
Belt: Primark £3.00

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Wednesday, 18 November 2015

What I Wore Today #40 - Autumnal Shades

Craig of That Dapper Chap shows us what he wore today, taking inspiration from the changing autumnal landscape and showing off his new boots from Chatham Footwear



Autumn is well and truly here, the leaves have turned a mixture of stunning ochres and deep reds, the nights have got darker and colder and it's time to pull out your winter coat.


I bought this coat last autumn from Zara while on a trip to London. It's still great for this year with its slim fit and classic military shape. As often with Zara they added a twist to this classic, and used a very contemporary fabric, making it stand out from other coats on the high street. Unfortunately it isn't available this year but there is an equivalent in a large black and grey check. It's also available in a blazer too, and it's something I've added to my Christmas list.



Think of layering I chose a floral shirt with a very autumnal colour scheme and wore this under a cardigan with hues of burnt umber. The tie is vintage and helps to bring the colour scheme together while making a bit of a statement against the floral shirt.





Footwear has to be substantial at this time of year so I opted for these beauties. These are the 'Stornoway' tan leather and tweed boots from Chatham. I recently listed my top five pairs of shoes and boots from Chatham and these were number one in my list. See the article HERE







Where It's All From

Stornoway Leather and tweed boots - Chatham
Wool check trousers - Topman
Floral print shirt - Burton
Brown cardigan - H&M
Vintage diamond check tie - Ebay
Coat hanger tie clip - Stitches of Style
Wool check coat - Zara
Leather gloves - Zara
Sunglasses - Primark
Leather suitcase - Vintage

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Tuesday, 17 November 2015

The Dashing Tweeds Catwalk Show

The Dashing Tweeds team take on China and show off their latest collection in a stunning catwalk show.





To say that the folk at Dashing Tweeds conquered China in a single week may be a huge exaggeration but they certainly met with a great deal of success and delighted everyone they met with all things Dashing.
 
The government of garment manufacturing city Ningbo very kindly invited them, and the newly formed tailoring firm George Brummell to show at their 19th international fashion week. An action packed event at venues around the city supported by TV coverage, newspaper articles and numerous influential blog posts and social media chats.


The guys said "We were honoured to be opening the week with our Catwalk show in their beautifully designed shell shaped show space"
 


Whilst in London the red carpet was being rolled out for chairman Xi Jinping, their venue in Ningbo was similarly bedecked as the social elite, designer glitterati and manufacturing leaders headed towards the show of British Style.
 
The Chinese have become increasingly fascinated by English tailoring and the nuances and history of our style, so to feed their appetite and simultaneously educate the Dashing Tweeds team decided to put on a history show starting with relevant garments from the last two centuries and ending with the modern fusion of technology and styles of their Lumatwill cloth.







"Over the last 3 months we worked exhaustively with Savile Row cutter Frank Byars of George Brummell to design and tailor the entire catwalk show for this event, so it was with some in trepidation that we started the initial fitting of our 20 Chinese models the night before the show"

They went on to say "Thankfully due to Franks many years of experience the fits were nigh on perfect requiring only a few minor turn ups from the team of tailors we had in the wings. Having finished the fittings at past midnight Holly and I then had to design the choreography and communicate our novel English poses to the Chinese models to prepare for dress rehearsal the following day. Thankfully the technical staff could not have been more helpful and by 1.30 am in the morning we were feeling more confident about putting on this huge event"
 


The day of the show the team expanded to well over 40 people as the makeup team and fitters arrived to practice the rather tricky task of fitting a perfect looking white tie tails, shooting suits and plus 4s in a matter of minutes as would be required to show all 40 looks on 20 models. 


Whilst that took place Holly ran though the visuals and music she had selected to illustrate their story and tweaked the lighting design accordingly. The humid afternoon flew by and in no time with a faint trickle of perspiration and the tickle of anticipation they were making final adjustments to their lineup of ice cool models swaggering in their new found delight in Norfolk Jackets, top hats, double breasted blazers, Inverness capes and reflective tweed.




The lights dimmed and to the opening strains of an orchestral version of greensleeves an immaculately dressed tweed coated top hat wearing Chinese gentleman stunned the audience in a contemporary look that would not have been out of place 200 years ago. 

Closely followed by a couple of sportsman in plus fours, leather padded jackets and a country suit in our new British wool collection as the audience gasped in delight. As hunting horns cutting through the auditorium they delighted the assembled congregation to a full hunting pinks complete with horsewhip and riding hat. 

The show progressed with the traditionally dressed country folk journeying in time and distance to London clad in Inverness capes and car coats in a preview of the Dashing Tweeds AW16 cloth collection. The scenes of London where accompanied by the models pacing in perfectly cut business suits in sharp pinstripes and grey flannel, showing the eager Chinese audience the correct attire for international business meetings.




A taste of the English summer then delighted, as short suits in the new SS16 fabrics frolicked down the catwalk, and their best selling cotton jacquard was shown in a fabulous one show one double breasted jacket of Dashing Tweeds original design. 


Party clothes in stripes and elegant checks then proceeded to pace down the catwalk, as Frank & Holly were busy readying models for the change needed to attend a British wedding. Seven immaculately clad models then stepped out simultaneously as the pomp and circumstance of the penultimate scene unfolded. 

Finally 3 Lumatwill three piece suits in navy, yellow and red sharply cut with a fabulous rope shoulder construction and strode down the catwalk to bring what was later voted a by far the most popular show of the whole festival to a close.


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