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Our site has moved to a new, full website. It allowed much greater scope to personalise the pages and improve the presentation, so it was a no-brainer.

The new URL is http://www.sharperliving.co.uk/, so please visit us there and let us know if you like the new site!

Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

New Years resolution: Do it the right...

2012 is incoming and it's that time of year people start thinking of new years resolutions; a series of empty, delusional promises people make to themselves in an attempt to better themselves. Before I provide you some advice on how to really set yourself some targets, let's get the following out of the way.

Resolutions are there to alter our flaws, but why do we need to wait until the forthcoming January to do this? We should hope to better ourselves as soon as we have found flaws. Why wait until new year?

Upon setting ourselves these targets, we waste too much time on making targets we won't - or shouldn't have to - keep. Want to quite smoking? Why do you need to wait to do so, rather than taking the initiative and sorting it out? Willpower isn't greater in the early months than any other - the year is cyclical

I don't have new year resolutions, but merely make resolutions over the course of the year. Regular introspection is a beautiful - though sometimes painful - thing. 

What I'm looking to do:

• Learn at least one new skill. I'm still deciding between sewing and cooking. 
• Ensure I play sports at least once a week; I will take up Squash if necessary.
• Try to refrain from buying a watch.

What I'm looking forward to:

• Hopefully a more positive economic outlook towards the year's end.
• The London Olympics: I truly believe a new era of sustainable event will be ushered in.
• Graduating from university and never having to return.
• A new step on the ladder of life. The first steps of my career (although I'm still undecided on paths)

I hope your year is as brilliant as it possibly could be and you manage to change everything you can; as clichéd as it is, there truly is no time like the present. Unless the future involves a new watch. That's always better.

Best of British: Something New...

For the second instalment of the Best of British series of posts, I'm choosing to focus on a company whose first collection was released only two years ago: S.E.H. Kelly.

Great pride is taken in the items, only using materials and labour from within the British isles; the garments are produced in very limited quantities to an exacting standard. 

So proud is the firm, in fact, that the production process is documented on their website. No trace of a sweatshop, which is nice to see. I'd love to see their workshop in person, just to take it all in, as well. Maybe I'll put in a cheeky request when a bit of time frees up.

What of the clothes? If high fashion is what you're looking for, go somewhere else. S.E.H. Kelly is about timeless elegance, designing their clothes in the classic workwear mould.

The foundations of the firm are in Savile Row, with the mentality clear to see in the firm's obsession with quality. The garments are quite obviously designed to be worn year-after-year, which is one of the many beautiful things about the company.

 

I could recommend every single garment in the collection, but I'll be time appropriate and pick the quilted vest. The vest is effectively a gilet but because its made from cashmere-wool, it looks immeasurably more classy and unique.

S.E.H Kelly are slowly building a cult following and I can only see their progress continuing. I'd wish them the best of luck, but they seem to have it all down; the excellent designs, the exacting quality, the marketable uniqueness. I look forward to watching their growth.

Hackett: Anyone for some Snow Polo?

My love for Hackett is well documented and if there's one menswear company which constantly forces me to re-evaluate my self-restraint, it's Jeremy Hackett's eponymous label.

The Snow Polo range is, by far, the most consistently brilliant sponsorship range they sell and this winter's is even more incredible than last.

This rugby top is my favourite of the current collection. Beautiful, simple, nicely cut and fantastically well made if past experience is anything to go by.

Scarves: What would Sir Paul do?

I made the mistake of walking out of my house this morning without wrapping up properly. By "properly", I obviously mean "like I'd stepped into a meat freezer". 

Scarves are perfect for the winter because as well as being a great accessory, they add welcome protection from the elements. As an accessory, a scarf can be interesting, so avoid the dreary block colours; they don't need to be bright or colourful, but try to add something slightly more exciting to an outfit.

I believe Sir Paul Smith to be the very best at providing such accessories; by far my favourite menswear designer, alive or otherwise, the firm carrying his name produce effortlessly stylish garments which are, in my experiences, always of excellent quality.

While I'm talking about Sir Paul, it would be rude to start with anything other than his instantly recognisable signature stripe scarf; this scarf is perfect for every outfit I can think of, whether you're wearing a well-cut suit or jeans and a t-shirt. It's colourful nature also means it matches practically anything, although it really adds life to a darker outfit.

If that's a little too colourful, Selfridges also have the slightly more subdued college stripe scarf, which itself is certainly no compromise - and more student-budget friendly.

Remember to stay wrapped up. Just like you don't want to be sunburnt in summer, it's best to stay wrapped up in winter, so why not look good while you do so?

Prince: Musical genius...

"Musical  genius" is a term so bandied about and overused it has seemingly lost all meaning in modern times, but Prince truly was and is.

The BBC are currently running a show about one of the most incredible musical performers ever to have walked this earth. I'm a huge fan of Prince and watching this show has shone a spotlight on his true brilliance.

British viewers can watch it on iPlayer; for the international viewers, I can only apologise and post one of my favourite Prince videos to try and make up for it:

Few artists have had so many songs covered (especially without consent), nor can many claim to have the vocal range, the history of breaking ground or the ability to play so many instruments. After all, for Prince's debut album, he not only produced his own music but played all 27 instruments used in the recording process. Twenty seven.

Prince: Musical genius? If he's not, nobody is.

Cable Cardigans...

Every man needs a really nice, warm cardigan in his wardrobe; for colder summer days (I write this from England, after all) to the entire winter, they really do pay back their worth in terms of looking great and feeling even better.

More than for jumpers, I think cables really add another dimension to cardigans, providing a more expensive and attractive aesthetic to non-cashmere cardigans.

D.S. Dundee are selling what is probably my favourite cable cardigan at the moment; I wanted to buy one, but they've sold out of smalls, unfortunately, so I'll have to leave it to the readers to enjoy what I can't.

I always like pockets on cardigans as well; in the winter, one needs to keep his fingers toasty and what better way? But I digress:

Self also sell a fabulous shawl-collar cable knit cardigan, making a great alternative to D.S. Dundee's, albeit without the fisherman credentials of the former.

Not a cardigan man? Both companies also do crew-neck jumper versions of the cardigans posted above, so there's something for everybody.

Secret Santa: The Guidelines - For him...

There's not very long until Christmas and that, unfortunately, means there's not very long until the now-standard 'Secret Santa' game takes over the office.

Such affairs can be riddled with tension; what gift do you buy someone you don't care enough about to waste your hard-earned money on without looking like you went to the nearest petrol station on your way into work that morning?

I'll be steering clear of too many recommendations because every firm and individual is individual, although I have included a couple examples.

Part 1 - The Male

Buying for a man is less of a sensitive issue than buying for a woman; firstly, it's never the wrong time of the month. Secondly, and more importantly, poking fun at a man is always more fun than with a woman - although that may have something to do with the first reason for men being easier customers. I've split this into categories after the jump:

Tweed: the first steps...

The British winter calls for that most British of things: Tweed.

While I personally am a fan, much of the younger generation (of which I reluctantly admit to being a member) equate tweed blazers to flat caps, slippers and incontinence. Codswallop, I say, not that it helps add distance to the "old man" tag.

Ties are being experimented with in all manner of fabrics and this one by Gant is among the nicest to wear casually (or even the office for those with slightly looser rules).

You can find it at  Mr Porter.

The "Tipping Chair"...

British designers BarberOsgerby have designed a 'tipping chair' for Vitra, a renowned furniture company founded in Germany and based in Switzerland.

There are two great things about this chair:

1. It somehow manages to be hugely intriguing despite its simple aesthetic.
2. The science behind it: Edward (who constitutes the Barber section of the firm's name) says "the movement increases blood flow, meaning you get more blood to the brain and increased concentration".

It's a little pricey - coming in around £200 from most outlets - but it's a great idea and being made from one mould, it should pay back the initial investment over time.