Stacked Wrists

One of my favourite trends from the last few years (but more recently for men) is the stacked wrist - basically just combining your watch with your bracelets (or just bracelets alone) to create a bold, 'stacked' look.

Although this look is more often seen on women, more and more style-conscious men are embracing it. It may not be a ground-breaking fashion trend, but it is still fun and fresh.

A fun spin-off of the cuff bracelet - the idea is too keep your wrist(s) occupied.

Crop it, Cuff it, Roll it or even Peg It!!

A trend that I am ABSOLUTELY loving at the moment... capri pants for men!

Source: usatoday30

Source: sexyfab

Wearing socks can be a hit or miss depending on whether they are visible or not. Either way, it's all in the attitude and the confidence.

Source: thelocals.dk

What I love about this look is that its really inexpensive. You just need a little creativity and loads of confidence to rock it!!

Source: thelocals.dk

Source: thelocals.dk

Source: Luthfimentary 

Source: Thesmartstylist

As you can see it's an effortless look that you can rock everyday. Don't forget to accessorize!

Happy cropping!

7 Fashion Faux Pas That People are STILL committing (Part II)

This list is secondary to 9 Fashion Faux Pas That People Are Still Committing.

1. Over Branding

There's nothing wrong with labels and 'name brands' but the key is to keep it subtle and simple. Askmen.com says that you want to look like an incredibly handsome version of yourself, NOT a walking advertisement. I couldn't agree more.

Nothing subtle about this. And it's busy. 

2. Gym shoes outside the gym

I'm not sure when this became a trend. I think people started doing this because of the comfort of gym shoes. Generally speaking, gym wear should not be day wear. A comfy alternative would be some great, versatile sneakers or loafers to go with your casual look.



3. Backpacks on professionals

Theoretically this should never work, but in some nerdy cute way it actually does BUT you have to be able to pull the look off. It really depends.  My best advice would be to shy away from backpacks if you're a professional. Generally backpacks undermine your professionalism. They also damage your clothes (yes, they do!) But if you want to walk around with a stuffed backpack and look like you're about to go hug your mother then of course, go right ahead.

Check out this guide to man-bags and find a great leather somethin' somethin'.

4. Oversized Clothing

Many men and women think that by wearing over-sized clothing they can hide the bumps and lumps of their bodies and just blend in. The truth is that wearing 2 sizes too big attracts even more attention and makes you look 2 sizes larger than you really are. There are plenty of form-fitting clothes out there even for the fuller figure. Form-fitting does not mean skinny-ass-tight-fitting-jeans-that-suck-the-life-out-of-you.


5. Stuffed Pockets

This was my point of reference when I discussed why you should invest in a great man bag.  ("It's Not A Man Purse, It's Called A Satchel".)

source: shutupandwearit.com 

Stuffed pockets are sooo 1997. A pocket is a place for some small change, a slim wallet and a cellphone, NOT a bulky wallet filled with receipts from 2002 and bursting with cards - half of which you don't use.

6. White Socks With Dress Shoes

I'm trying to think of when and how this look would actually work  but I fail to think of anything probably because it's been done already- 20 years ago by Michael Jackson. I'm not sure if this is making a comeback but let's agree to play it safe.

This fails for two reasons: the white socks and the rolled up pants. Can we add the shoes too? This has got to go! 

7. Baggy Pants 

My personal favourite. The height of ridiculousness. Maybe it's because men want to appear bigger? Or maybe it's just a social thing - that 'cool' element.

Yep, that's about right! 

Maybe it's to show off their underwear?

Work that ass!! 

Whatever the reason, this 'trend' makes no sense and has got to go!!!

Pink Happiness (For Men)

A very understated colour for men: PINK!!

Although typically seen as feminine, pink is an amazing colour for men. Pink Ralph Lauren and Lacoste polo shirts were probably the biggest sellers a few years ago although they catered to a very specific audience (the preppy, well-behaved kind). Pink stuck around for a few years and is starting to feature more and more in summer fashion.

Why limit pink to just t-shirts and dress shirts? Push the boundaries with pink shorts and pink dress pants.

Pink doesn't always have to be out there and bold. Soft pastels also work amazingly well.

Lighter shades of pink versus darker shades of pink. 

Some pink shoes and accessories work well too.

Splashes of pink takes a simple t-shirt to another level.

A little over the top but he definitely represents guys who are willing to take some fashion risks...

Pink should definitely be included in your wardrobe this summer.

My (Tried & Tested) Tips For Dealing With Psoriasis

I never thought the day would come where I would be writing a post on how to deal with psoriasis. I've had the disease for about a year now but it's been dormant for the last 6 months or so. I know I'm not a serious case but I know how uncomfortable and irritable the disease can be. When I first got diagnosed with psoriasis I was living in South Korea, so doctors couldn't give me an exact cause nor could they give me an exact remedy. At first I thought it was because of the language barrier, but then after thorough research I realized that it was just one of those diseases that doctors couldn't quite put their fingers on. 

Some of the major symptoms that I experienced:

- Dry and flaky skin. 

- Large ringworm-like lesions on my skin. 

- Excessive itch. 

The itch was the biggest thing for me. With the lesions and the bad skin I could always just cover up or try to conceal them, but with the itch there was hardly anything I could do. I did a lot of research on the disease but more specifically on how to combat the itch. Summer was fast approaching so I also wanted to know how to get rid of the horrid red patches all over my skin. 

After a lot of trial and error I found a few products which worked great for me and I still use them everyday religiously. That's what happens when you have a disease like this, it affects your life so much that you are desperately seeking a solution no matter what it takes. 

Here's what helped me:

1. UV Light Treatment 

I went for UV light treatment for a few months while living in Korea. I made a weekly trip to my dermatologist who assisted me with the treatment. My medical insurance covered half of my bills so all I had to pay was the balance of about W8,000 ($8 or R70) for every weekly visit. This is recommended as the number 1 treatment for psoriasis. However, when I returned to South Africa it wasn't very easy for me to find a dermatologist  who could provide me with such treatment. Also, I heard that it was quite expensive, so I had to find alternate solutions/ treatments. However, the few months of UV treatment really helped. 

2. Good Moisturizer 

This is another product which helped me a lot. Ideally, you want to go for a moisturizer that targets dry or very dry skin. That should be your number 1 focus. I don't have 'normal' skin so I ignored products for normal skin. I have dry skin and I needed to get my dry skin nourished. 

I used a few moisturizers in Korea, some containing essential oils and all that. At one point I was actually moisturizing twice with two different body lotions. The key is to keep your skin moisturized so that it is less likely to itch. Skin itches when it's dry so you want to keep it as nourished as possible. Of course the vitamins contained in some moisturizers assist in the general well-being of your skin. 

On my return to South Africa I tried creams and lotions containing cocoa butter and rich in vitamin E but none of them really helped. Eventually I found a great moisturizer by Dove which I've been using for the past couple of months. Again, you just want your skin to have life and to be alive. Moisture is key!!! 

3. A Good Petroleum Jelly (like Vaseline)

This has also been an amazing product which was initially prescribed to be my dermatologist. I don't use it as much because my skin has cleared up. I would apply this to the affected area and the petroleum jelly would absorb nicely into my skin- nourishing and moisturizing. 

4. Glycerine (Yep, that's right!) 

First impressions of glycerine? "Yuck!"  "I'm going to be sticky!" Well contrary to that, glycerine is sweet but not necessarily sticky. In fact, it's not sticky at all. I had a few itchy spots all over my body, mainly my joints which makes sense because psoriasis usually occurs around the joints. I would apply glycerine twice a day after my shower and it would keep the itch away. The key here again is moisturizing. Glycerine is obviously rich in moisture and so when you apply it to your skin it keeps your skin nourished for longer. 

5. Bee Natural Beeswax And Honey

This product is part of a range. It's all natural, consisting of honey, pollen, beeswax and some other things. The variation that I bought was specifically for eczema and skin ailments so try to find that one if you can. Alternatively, you can also just buy the general balm I'm sure it will also help. If you don't find this brand I'm sure you can find other brands which do the same thing. Beeswax and honey in general are great for psoriasis. 

Bee Natural  Body & Healing Balm. This is the 'general' balm but try to find the
specific balm for psoriasis and eczema. 

6. Avoid Heat (Like Hot Showers)

When your skin comes into contact with hot water it gets aggravated and can cause the psoriasis to get worse. So ideally, you want to keep as cool as possible. You want to prevent inflaming the lesions which will cause them to spread and to become itchy. Of course hot water will also cause your skin to become sensitive and when it's sensitive the psoriasis gets worse.

So these are my top 6 things. As I said before, this is what helped me. The disease may not be cured completely but for now it's amazing having clear non-itchy skin.

Feel free to comment or ask anything!! 

"It's not a Man Purse, It's called a satchel. Indiana Jones has one."

I love this quote from the Hangover. 

I'd like to start with Urban Dictionary's multi definition of 'man-bag.' It's rather funny.

* A bag with one strap worn by metrosexual or homosexual males, especially prevalent in cities and on college campuses. 

* A purse or large duffel bag or any type of bag carried by a man. NOT ALWAYS gay. 

* A stylish small pouch with one strap or a large messenger bag, simply carried by men.The men who wear these aren't all necessarily gay. They are just metrosexual or have a really good sense of style. Just because a man dresses decently doesn't mean he's homesexual. 

I love Urban Dictionary. I find it both strange and funny that reference is made to 'gay' or 'homosexual' in every one of those definitions. I mean, nobody finds men with pierced ears gay or men who spend hours in front of a mirror doing their hair.

Man bag jokes are as old as the hills. Wearing a man bag does not make you gay. Traditionally men would stuff their wallet, cellphone, car keys, condoms, pictures of kids, pens and notebooks all into their front and back pockets of their jeans causing an unsightly bulge. Stuffing your back pocket with your wallet also drew unwanted attention to your ass. Not classy.


I've always used man bags at varsity just out of necessity but when I moved to South Korea 2 years ago I was amazed at how popular man bags are. In fact, they are so popular it may be a fashion crime to be seen without one. Man bags are popular enough to rival females' purses. And with good reason- man bags are extremely convenient and practical.

It's also very common for a man to rock a man bag even when his girlfriend doesn't although in the picture below it's probable that the guy is carrying his girlfriend's purse. We'd hope that that's not his Chanel purse he's sporting.

This brings me to my next point. There's nothing wrong with wearing a Chanel purse IF it was made and designed for men. I'm all for liberation and freedom of expression but there are limits as to what is allowed and what isn't. Usually man bags are quite simple yet very stylish without the feminine frills and trims. But this doesn't stop some men from carrying their girlfriends'.

I can't emphasis enough how practical these bags are.

Here are some types of man bags, hopefully this will help you make a better, more informed decision when buying your bag, especially if you're a first time man bag buyer:

1. Study 

Usually something trendy and fun to carry books, stationery and other study material.

2. Work 

Likely to be sophisticated and in dark 'business' colours like black, brown, grey etc. Work man bags are also more 'box-ey'  Leather is a popular choice. These days, most bags are designed to fit a laptop which makes it even more practical. This is kind of a modern version of the briefcase.

3. Play 

A 'going 'out' bag.  Day trips, night trips, just a really convenient bag for keeping your wallet, phone, keys and other necessities. The modern man may also want to store his iPad and some other personal items. The reporter bag or messenger bag best fits this profile as it's small, sexy and can contain everything you want it to. Reporter bags usually have the same characteristics - rectangular in shape with one big fold over flap in the front and a zip at the back. And of course the signature single strap.

A sexy little Polo reporter bag. 

4. Sport / Sleepovers 

Gym bags, which essentially are duffel bags, are getting more and more stylish.

While a traditional gym bag looks like this...

...your more modern gym bag looks like this.

There isn't much of a major difference between duffel and gym bags. It's a really versatile bag especially for weekend and overnight trips. Obviously you wouldn't use this to the office.

***

It's a fashion, it's a style, it's a trend. And it's convenient. But if you still prefer to carry your phone, wallet and car keys in your hand everywhere you go or if you prefer to stuff everything into your pockets then go right ahead.

"Beauty is about symmetry", says Robert Verdi, host of E! and the Style Networks's Fashion Police. "Unless you're carrying two wallets, you're going to look lopsided (with only one stuffed pocket). Even when you have a vented jacket on, you've still got a bump on your ass. Why would you want a bump on your ass?"

Wearing a man bag takes confidence and of course security. A man needs to be secure enough to know that he is wearing a great bag, highly practical and wearing it does not make him gay.


Here are some celebs proudly rocking their man bags

David Beckham. I'm not sure if the bag works with his look
but great bag nevertheless. 

Jay-Z, Usher and Kanye West rocking their man bags. 

Man bag or Murse? 

Ronaldo - man bag or murse? 

I have nothing against a murse (male purse) but you really have to have the swag to pull it off otherwise it will just look like you're using your girlfriends purse.


There are many benefits and advantages of wearing such an accessory. And it's cool. Use it, don't use it.

Until next time...

9 Fashion Faux Pas That People Are STILL Committing

1. Crocs 

Crocs have no self-respect so therefore they fly right to the top of the list. The company was formed in 2002 and more than 10 years later they have passed their sell-by date. And they are ugly. However, they are perfectly 'usable' for doing work around the house (or yard) or for fetching the paper. Or washing the car.

2. Sandals And Socks

This apparently  is the 'gangster way' of wearing sandals (Urban Dictionary). Not really sure what the logic is behind this (I personally don't think there is any) but the socks have gotta go. Enjoy summer with some great sandals and let your feet get some fresh air. Otherwise, trek back to Iceland where socks and sandals are cool.

3. Camouflouge CLOTHING  

This was huge at some point in the previous decade. Let's leave this to the army guys.

4. Cargo Pants/ Shorts 

We live in the 21st century. A century thriving with new and innovative fashion. Lets leave the 8 pocket shorts in the past where they belong, specifically the over-sized shorts that hang below your knees. Instead, opt for something a little form fitting... it doesn't have to be skinny just form fitting. There are many options available for the modern man ranging from regular and bootleg to skinny and slim (I don't condone bootleg pants but I guess they work for some people). It's time to find your silhouette this century (thanks askmen.com).

Camouflouge, cargo and with draw strings!?? Definite no-no. 

5. Trotting Barefoot At The Mall

Unless you're a one with nature/ tree-hugging/ deadlocked hippy from Kathmandu, I suggest NOT walking around public places barefoot. It's not only bad for your feet, but it's also bad for the public and for the environment.

6. White Pants 

White Pants should be limited to:-
* Beach weddings or beach parties.
* Baptisms
* Doctors or other medical staff
* People who are none of the above but can pull off white pants beautifully.

Doin' it right. 

7. Floral Shirts (For Men)

These are still lurking somewhere out there. Big in 1997, it's time to move on. Let's leave these over-size 'happy' shirts to the those residing or visiting Hawaii or Luau. 

8. Over-Accessorising (For Women)

More and more women are still wearing every single piece of bling they own. WOMEN - you are NOT a Christmas tree. Less is definitely more. Keep it simple and classy with just one piece (maybe two) complimenting your look. 

9. Men With Diamonds In Their Ears

As society deems man-bags (satchels) more gay, men with pierced ears escalate in popularity as more and more people think that this is a cool trend. Of course, the practicality of a man-bag totally outweighs the 'coolness' of a piercing. It also turns out that a right-ear piercing denotes you're gay and a left-ear piercing denotes you're straight. If you have both pierced then you're normal. Like, WHAT??? That doesn't even make sense. Having two pierced ears is as good as having no pierced ears. Oh well, pierced ears for me have gots to go. 

Those are my top 9 for now. I will definitely update when I think of others!!!