25% Off Burton

Whether you like Burton as a company or not is irrelevant, why you ask? Well if you use the code “STYLE25” at checkout you get 25% off. Now I don’t know about you but 25% off anything in store regardless whether its on sale or not, is an absolute bargain to me. I just bought a new purple polka dot tie and a new suit last night, all three adding up to £42. I’m excited!

Burton is not the greatest company in the world for clothes but considering they are definitely one of the cheapest, chuck in an extra £25 off a £100 suit, you are definitely winning.

So as mentioned above, enter “STYLE25” at checkout to get 25% off your entire basket.

Also if your basket total reaches above £30, enter “FREEDEL” at checkout to recieve free standard delivery as well.

Here’s the tie I bought;

Red Geo Print Tailored Tie

Red Geo Print Tailored Tie

The Science Of Shoe Trees

shoe trees set abovetheankles

I say this all the time and I will continue to mention it constantly, look after yourself, your clothes and your shoes. If you don’t care about how you look, how your clothes look and how your shoes look then you should go play on miniclip.com. The shoes you wear are so imperative towards looking dapper that they can actually ruin your whole outfit. Seeing a guy in nice fresh shoes brings a smile to everyones face. You love nice clean shoes and so does everyone else in the world. Look after your shoes and people will notice.

To be fair to some of you, I know you don’t really care what others think which is fair enough. So I’ve got another reason why you need to take care of your shoes…

Looking after your shoes means that they will last longer. Longer lasting shoes means you will buy less shoes over a period of time. Less buying of shoes means more money for you. Sounds good? Definitely.

Quality shoes are no doubt, expensive and as with everything expensive we own, we want to look after them properly. A good pair of quality shoes should ideally last you 5 years or so, some even last and look good for 10-15 years.

This is where shoe trees come into the picture nicely. If you want to look after your shoes and keep them looking fresh, there are a few different tips to do so. The most important tip that outweighs all other tips is the use of shoe trees.

shoe trees set abovetheankles 2

What’s The Logistics Behind It

Most shoes are made from leather and as with leather or leather lining they absorb moisture from the sweat from our feet throughout the day. They also absorb the moisture from the rain and other bad weather. Over a period of months or years you will see the quality and look of your shoe begin to fade rapidly. Generally the lining of the shoe will start to rot, your shoes might start to smell and the leather will crack over time.

The shoe trees aid in drying out the shoe correctly by forcing the shoe into its proper shape and holding it there. It keeps the leather from cracking and get rid of the moisture. 90% of shoe trees are made from wood so that they absorb the moisture from within the inside of the lining to stop them from rotting from inside the shoe.

Price

Are shoe trees expensive? Some are, some aren’t but at the end of the day a pair of shoe trees are always going to a lot cheaper than a new pair of shoes. Not to mention your shoes will just look better for much longer.

You can choose to buy cheap shoe trees or expensive shoe trees, it’s up to you really. You just need to avoid plastic shoe trees at all costs and get yourself some good cedar wood that have not been varnished. If your shoe tree looks ugly and isn’t shiny – perfect!

The better of the shoe trees will have ventilation slots at the toe and they should also have a longer heel and have more wood. Remember, the more wood the better the drying will be. If it has a knob or a handle, great, you can easily polish your shoes as well.

How Many?

You won’t need more than one pair of shoe trees realistically because you only need to put a shoe trees into shoes you just finished wearing. You should leave your pair of shoes for 24 hours after wearing them but if you only have one or two pairs of shoes then try to rotate as much as you can.

Buy These

Grab yourself a bargain by buying one of these.

1. John Lewis Sprung Shoe Tree, Amber2. John lewis Men's Medium Shoe Strether3. House Of Fraser Ecco Cedar Shoe Tree

ASOS Oxford Shoes in Leather

ASOS Oxford Shoes in Leather - Above The Ankles

We all, without exception own a pair of plain black shoes that are absolutely essential to our wardrobes. One thing more important than owning a plain pair of black shoes is keeping them looking fresh and clean. There’s probably nothing worse than having muddy shoes or scuffed tips of your shoes. Keeping them looking brand new and shiny isn’t always as easy as people make out and if you are anything like me then you will probably need to buy a new pair of shoes every 2-3 months. Looking for the right pair can be a little annoying.

Here’s where I come in;

Shoes are just as important for men as they are for women. You want something classy and simple. With black shoes you want them to have that solid black look with a slight shine. The ASOS Oxford Shoes in Leather have that shine and much more. Oxford shoes are a timeless classic with great shape and great colour.

You want a 100% leather shoe and once again the ASOS Oxford Shoes fits the shoe perfectly. Complete with an almond toe finish you are probably thinking this shoe will cost in the region of £60-70. Well you would be wrong on that account. Designed by the ASOS team these bad boys are being sold for £36.00. Bargain? I think so.

ASOS Oxford Shoes in Leather

My Top Picks From Ben Sherman

I’m a shopaholic, I really am, I love it, it gives me an amazing feeling. Thankfully I’m in a position in my life where I can afford to shop where I like, however I don’t have a thing for suits that cost £400 – I’m more into the typical retail stores. Would you call Ben Sherman a typical retail store? Well probably not, but I will show you in this post a few products that will probably open you eyes to Ben Sherman and show you how you can actually shop here for a decent price.

I just picked out some random things like/recommend from Ben Sherman, there are many more things that I could have picked but that’s for you to do some digging through their website.

Black Enox Derby Shoes

These impeccable lace-ups are the ideal accompaniment to formalwear. Constructed from rich calf leather with durable neolite sole and scotch grain details their sleek appearance adds refinement to your tailoring.

• Leather derby formal shoe
• Scotch grain detailing
• Neolite sole with UK map detail
• Leather lining
• Subtle contrast laces
• Bronze foil branded insole
• Low heel with rubber top

Have you seen the sole of the shoe? Amazing.

Black Enox Derby Shoes – Was £75 Now £30

BLACK ENOX DERBY SHOE 2
BLACK ENOX DERBY SHOE 3
BLACK ENOX DERBY SHOE 4
BLACK ENOX DERBY SHOE

Check Tie

I don’t know anything about this tie, I have no idea what it’s made out of or its dimensions but I love it. I like checked ties already and this one just looks perfect. Considering its a checked tie made by Ben Sherman, it must be pretty good, right?

Check Tie – Was £30 Now £15

check tie blue ben sherman 2
check tie blue ben sherman 3
check tie blue ben sherman

Black Denim Belt

A casual plain belt with a crisp Ben Sherman twist, crafted from premium leather. Features a contrast leather keeper with centred emboss branding and a metal centre bar buckle.

• Plain leather denim belt
• Contrast leather keeper
• Embossed branding
• Metal centre-bar buckle

Black Denim Belt – Was £25 Now £15

black denim belt 2
black denim belt 3
black denim belt

Blue Canvas Herringbone Watch

With an understated on-trend look our Canvas herringbone watch reflects a clean, modern approach. With a streamlined profile this fashionable timepiece features minimalist dial details, a herringbone canvas strap with leather backing and a classic three hand function.

• Blue canvas herringbone watch
• Round dial
• Fully polished stainless steel case
• Canvas strap with leather backing
• Contrast colour dial details
• Three hand function
• Pin and buckle clasp
• Case width 41mm
• 2 year warranty

Blue Canvas Herringbone Watch – £60

Blue Canvas Herringbone Watch 2
Blue Canvas Herringbone Watch 3
Blue Canvas Herringbone Watch

Black Iconic Flight Bag

A modern classic, our Iconic flight bag is as stylish as it is functional. Features an exterior pocket, adjustable shoulder strap and a zip closure to the main compartment. Our signature brand stripe webbing and a subtle foil pressed logo finish off this year-round carrier.

• Flight bag
• Adjustable shoulder strap
• Foil pressed logo branding
• Iconic stripe webbed trim
• Exterior pocket
• Zip closure

Black Iconic Flight Bag – Was £40 Now £24

ben sherman flight bag
ben sherman flight bag 2
ben sherman flight bag 3
ben sherman flight bag 4

Three-Pack Polka Dot Socks

Make a striking style statement this season with our Mini polka dot socks available in a variety of colours. The three-pack includes one plain pair. The cotton-blend with elastane component makes for a more comfortable fit.

• Polka dot socks
• Three-pack including single plain pair
• Coloured toe, heel and hem
• Ben Sherman printed branding
• Elastane component for added stretch

Three-Pack Polka Dot Socks – £12

THREE-PACK POLKA DOT SOCKS

Pine Green Leather Gloves

Our smart Leather gloves are a dapper cold weather investment. Crafted from 100% leather featuring a knitted wool lining and embossed branding.

• Plain leather gloves
• Knitted wool lining
• Embossed front branding
• Stitch detailing

Pine Green Leather Gloves – Was £45 Now £18

PINE GREEN LEATHER GLOVES

The Gekko Shirt

wolf of wall street above the ankles

Every man loves wolf of wall street, why? I suppose for various different reasons. Maybe we all want to be in the movie because of the money, the cars, the girls or the fame. Whatever the reason, none of us can deny the outfits in the movies or on the actual wall street. These guys dress pretty well, my favourite look is definitely without a doubt the ‘Gekko’ shirt. For those who don’t know what the gekko shirt is, it’s basically a shirt that has a collar and cuff colour that contrasts the colour of the shirt. [See Below]

Wall-Street_Michael-Douglas_Gekko-shirt_mid-phone.bmp-1
The-Wolf-Of-Wall-Street-screencaps-10
Wall-Street_Michael-Douglas_Gekko-shirt_cigerette.bmp-1

Statement

Wearing the Gekko Shirt is a statement, the moment you put it on you get that banker feel. Makes me feel like I need to make more money. So the question is; should you buy one?

Well it depends on your job and where you plan on wearing it. Contract shirts are great with navy suits, especially pin stripes so if where you work its acceptable to look that dapper, then go for the contrast shirt. Unfortunately my Gekko shirts don’t have a place in my workplace so I’m only able to wear them on a weekend.

Grab A Bargain

So to actually buy a quality contrast shirt like Gekko then you’re going to get set back £40 or £50. Luckily for us we don’t have to pay that kind of money. Thanks to Moss Bros I have found three variations of the Gekko shirt that are absolutely stunning.

Two of these shirts are £12 each and the other £15 so you know you’re getting a great bargain.

Blue & White Double Cuff Contrast Collar & Cuff Shirt

This regular fit Moss Esq. shirt has a special non iron treatment and taped arm seams means that only a minimal run over with the iron is needed to ensure a crisp, smart look.

60% Cotton 40% Polyester
Double Cuff
Non Iron
Regular Fit

Blue & White Double Cuff Contrast Collar & Cuff Shirt

gekko moss 1

Single Cuff Stripe Contrast Collar Shirt

This Moss London slim fit shirt with single cuffs is ideal for everyday work wear. Team with a skinny ties and a tie pin for an on trend, stylish look.

100% Cotton
Single Cuff
Slim Fit
White Contrast Collar

Single Cuff Stripe Contrast Collar Shirt

gekko moss 2

Tailored Fit Navy Double Cuff Striped Shirt

This Moss 1851 tailored fit shirt is made from 100% cotton. This shirt is great for either work wear or for special occasions.

100% Cotton
Double Cuff
Tailored Fit

Tailored Fit Navy Double Cuff Striped Shirt

gekko moss 3

Delta Two Tone Brogue Shoes

Delta Two Tone Brogue Shoes - Above The Ankles

Brogues have always been such an amazing choice of shoes, the problem is choosing which brogues to get. I keep it simple with my brown brogues although I know a lot of you like to really stand out. I remember when I went out shopping a few days ago I saw some amazing two tone brogues. I have no idea where I actually saw them but I wanted to show you guys what they looked like. So thankfully after some time on Google, it turns out Topman actually sell them.

These high shine Delta brogues have been styled with a navy and burnished grey two tone finish. They are ideal to drop with your suit or to bring them out with a pair of dark jeans for that perfect casual looks.

Upper: leather
Inner: textile / leather
Sole: synthetic

Priced at only £50 for these quality shoes, the Delta Two Tone Brogue Shoes are definitely a bargain!

Delta Two Tone Brogue Shoes

How To Dress Well On A Budget

abovetheankles instagram

We would all love to wear nothing but designer clothes and have the slickest suits with the highest quality leather shoes. Some people actually have the opportunity to dress like that constantly, and boy do they look great. Others (including me) have no chance. Now I wouldn’t say I’m on a budget because I don’t consider myself to be tight with money anymore but I don’t exactly walk into Hugo Boss on a regular basis.

I remember when I initially started out my sales career I didn’t even own a suit, my first stop was Primark, then as I got payed I started filling my wardrobe with Primark suits, shirts, ties and shoes. Being an 18 year old kid I felt like a millionaire, I still remember taking over 100 selfies in one night.

Trends

Avoid trends, as you know – they come and go. We all fall for trends but right now you need to concentrate on the things that will last in your wardrobe. Also be wary of buying summer suits, like sky blue suits that are really thin, in UK you will be absolutely freezing.

Shoes, Bags & Coats

People notice these three first. They can be quite expensive to get good quality ones but these three things people know whether they are good quality. Look at it as an investment – your trench coat and your bag will last you two or three years. It’s well worth the money. Paying more for a good coat, a quality bag and sophisticated shoes will elevate your outfit and help you avoid a scruffy look.

Know Your Brands

Do some research on different companies and go into many different stores, try things on, touch as many things as possible. The only times I will buy something online without having tried it on is if; a) someone who’s opinion I trust, recommends the brand or product or b) I know the brand and I know what kind of quality they produce. Having a list of companies you know you can rely on will stop you from spending money on something that looks good on you but is known to fall apart easily.

Sales

I’ve told a few people this tactic I use, hit every single sale possible. You will definitely be surprised what you can find in sale items. I know it’s a bit long and I too usually just brush past them but when you find those gems, its so worth it. When it hits any of the sales period you basically need to be the first one checking the sale, the best way to do that is online. Most of the best sale items are sold out before the stores even open, people can buy the items online and then by the time you get in store you size is sold out and they only have the really ugly shirts or ridiculously big sizes left. Best way to know about sales is make a list of all your favourite brands and sign up to their emailing lists. They’ll email you at midnight letting you know there’s a sale tomorrow.

Avoid The Cheap

I know many bloggers and other “fashion people” talk about buying from high street retailers and say that you shouldn’t do it because they are too cheap and they use bad materials, etc etc etc. Which to be fair there is some truth to it all. Some retailers do use incredibly cheap material, however most are actually quite decent. I would say have a look around, avoid anywhere that sells suits for under £50, i.e Primark. If you look at the suit and you can see bits of fluff on it or loose threading then you know that suit will look good for one or two weeks and after that it will crumble. Don’t buy £15 shoes, they will last you two months and look crap after two weeks. Buy £40-60 shoes that will look good for six months. Try to get real leather shoes, I bought some great real leather brogues from ASOS for £40 last week.

Simple & Neutral Colours

Neutral colours like; black, grey, white and navy are the absolute best for looking great, especially on a budget. Chances are if you’re on a budget you don’t have a huge selection of good ties to wear and different belts, keeping your wardrobe simple with basic colours will enable you to wear the same suit with different ties since your suit matches many different ties. If you buy a green or burgundy suit you are limiting yourself to what shirts and ties you can wear with them. I’d stick to black and navy suits, white shirts and black shoes until you start earning more money and have more cash to play around with.

Accessories

Use smart accessories – Keep your main wardrobe as basic as possible, but make your outfit stand out with interesting jewellery, slim ties, hats, bow ties, cufflinks and scarves.

Essentials

There are some items of clothing that you need to make sure are at a high standard. Falling short in these areas can really damage your outfit and people will definitely notice them. Make sure you have a few white shirts that fit you well but aren’t too expensive; I recommend TM Lewin & Next. You also need some quality trousers (Next, M&S or Moss) and a decent pair of chinos/jeans that are simple; I stick with Levi’s & Zara. Lastly you need some good shoes and a smart but warm jacket, I’d go OFFICE or Schuh for shoes and Next or Zara for jackets/coats.

The companies mentioned above are only the ones I’d recommend because I know the things I’ve bought from there have lasted me a long time, have looked great every time I wore them and didn’t get ruined after a couple washes/dry cleaning. They are also relatively cheap with everything costing less than £100.

Next Burgundy Suit

next burgundy suit

I know a few of you bought the burgundy loafers and brogues that I posted last week so I wanted to give you something that will really complete the outfit. Burgundy is a very special colour because it used to be very unique and rare to find someone in a burgundy suit, nowadays it’s pretty normal, although they still has that kind of wow factor about them. This Next suit is a standard slim fit suit with two buttons and twin back vents its pretty much what you would expect from Next.

Quality

This is not a suit of high quality so if you do buy it then expect “floating pieces of fluff” to get stuck to your suit jacket. Be sure to carry a lint roller in your bag or keep it at your desk. Made out of mostly polyester, Next states that this suit is machine washable but I personally would stay away from sticking your blazer or trousers in the washing machine.

Price

This suit is really cheap at a retail price of £79 for the jacket and blazer and an extra £29 for the waistcoat its like the perfect back up suit. This burgundy suit perfectly matches the brogues and loafers I wrote about earlier, which if you bought one, you could have a full burgundy outfit for £100 – bargain!

Here’s the link – Next Burgundy Suit

Burgundy Brogues & Loafers

office burgundy loafers 7

So I’ve been out quite a bit lately doing some shopping, as I’m sure you’re aware from all my different posts recently. So while in the shopping centre as always I checked OFFICE for shoes, I get probably 75% of my shoes from there so as per usual I figured I would try and buy some brogues from there. I couldn’t find the right pair for me so I decided to leave. Just before leaving I noticed these two beautiful pair of burgundy shoes. I have never owned burgundy shoes although it is probably one of my favourite colours when it comes to clothing, both formal and casual, but I have never really had an outfit that would look great with burgundy shoes.

Unfortunately that is still the case today, I don’t have an outfit to go with these shoes, although I’m very tempted to buy them and store them somewhere. The two shoes are; Arabella Tassel Burgundy Hi Shine Leather Loafers & the Frankie Brogue Burgundy Hi Shine Leather.

Loafers

Arabella Tassel Burgundy Hi Shine Leather Loafers

The Arabella loafer is a smart slip on shoe made with hi shine dark burgundy leather. With wig tip detailing, this style also features two tassels on the front along with a contrasting black sole with a slim block heel.

– Leather Upper
– Leather sock
– Leather lining
– Synthetic sole

was £ 69.99
NOW £ 35.00

Brogues

Frankie Brogue Burgundy Hi Shine Leather

Round toe lace up brogue in high shine dark burgundy leather with punch hole detail and a contrasting natural leather look sole.

– Leather upper
– Leather sock
– Leather lining
– Synthetic sole

was £ 69.99
NOW £ 32.00

Which One?

Well to be honest, my advice is get both if you can afford too, if not then go with what suits your style best. If you don’t own loafers or brogues yet, I’d go and get some black versions first before starting off with burgundy.

ASOS Brogue Shoes in Leather

ASOS Brogue Shoes in Leather

Since I bought my new The Grey Donegal Slim Fit Suit (Read my post here) I decided I needed new shoes that perfectly match my new suit. I’m ashamed to say I am actually yet to own a pair of brogues (I know right.)

So as you probably guessed, I jumped online and started looking at some shoes. Now the last 2-3 weeks I have bought some shirts, a new suit, a new watch and countless other little things so I suppose the idea of spending more money on new shoes I don’t actually need was a bit daunting. So considering I’m slightly addicted towards looking my best I knew I had to get some shoes so after scrawling through ASOS, I eventually picked out 10 different brogues I would buy.

These brogues are 100% real leather so you know you’re getting real quality. Priced at £40 I definitely grabbed myself a bargain on these brogues. These are great for men who wear slim fitted suits as they aren’t very wide shoes which is pretty much the main reason I didn’t get brogues in the first place. When buying brown shoes it’s a lot more risky in comparison to black shoes. Black shoes are just one set colour, but when it comes to brown, there’s so many different shades of brown and you need to make sure you have the right shade along with the right belt. I decided to get these as they are a dark and light shade of brown at the same time – It’s like the perfect middle colour.

If you want them as well – here’s the link.