CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Words by Oliver Campbell, Brook Taverner – Retail Director

Most men overpack because they think every part of a holiday needs a separate outfit. It does not. The answer is to build a small capsule of clothes that work together, so a shirt, pair of shorts or lightweight trouser can be worn in more than one way.

For summer, linen is the natural place to start. A linen shirt with matching linen shorts is an easy daytime look for warm weather: it feels put together, but never too formal. The same shirt can then be worn with lightweight trousers for dinner, while the shorts work again the next day with a polo or simple T-shirt. That is how you make a smaller wardrobe go further.

The key is to keep colours simple and complementary. Stone, navy, white, pale blue and olive are easy to mix, so you are not packing complete outfits that only work one way. Instead, you are packing individual pieces that all earn their place.

A couple of well-cut linen shirts, smart polos, tailored shorts and one lightweight pair of trousers will cover most holiday plans. Add a relaxed overshirt for the journey or cooler evenings, and one versatile pair of shoes that can handle both a day of walking and dinner afterwards.

Fit is still what makes the difference. Holiday dressing should feel relaxed, but it should not look careless. A shirt that sits properly on the shoulders, shorts with a clean length above the knee and trousers that fit well will always look sharper than chasing the latest trend.

You do not need a different outfit for every occasion. You need a few breathable, well-fitting pieces that can be mixed and matched with ease. The best holiday wardrobe is not about bringing more. It is about making every piece work twice as hard.”

Brook Taverner’s holiday packing tips

1. Build a capsule, not a set of one-off outfits
   Start with a tight colour palette. Navy, stone, white, pale blue and olive work well together, making it easy to mix every top with every bottom.
2. Make an all-linen look your daytime default
   A linen shirt with matching linen shorts is one of the easiest ways to look considered in hot weather. Keep the fit relaxed but neat and choose a neutral shade that works separately with the rest of the case.
3. Make sure matching pieces work apart too
   The linen set is useful, but its real value is versatility. Wear the shirt with lightweight trousers for dinner, then pair the shorts with a polo or T-shirt for the beach, lunch or sightseeing.
4. Pack for day and evening, not every possible occasion
   Tailored shorts cover hot daytime plans, while one lightweight pair of linen-blend trousers or chinos takes care of travel, dinner and cooler evenings.
5. Use linen shirts and polos to change the mood
   A polo keeps things easy and practical, while a linen shirt gives the outfit a smarter edge. Take two of each in complementary colours and rotate them across the same shorts and trousers.
6. Bring one useful layer
   A lightweight overshirt is enough for the plane, an air-conditioned restaurant or a cooler evening. It adds structure without the need for a jacket that may never leave the suitcase.
7. Keep footwear and accessories uncomplicated
   One pair of clean leather trainers or easy loafers, plus sandals for the pool or beach, is usually enough. A woven belt is a useful finishing touch with linen trousers and tailored shorts: it adds texture without looking too formal.

For many, summer is synonymous with longer days, holidays and time spent outdoors. Yet as temperatures climb, feeling constantly tired, sluggish or lightheaded has become an increasingly common complaint.

New data from Healthwords.ai suggests that more people are looking online for answers, with heat-related health queries rising by an astonishing 621% between April and June as warmer weather took hold across the UK.

The analysis of anonymous user searches paints a clear picture of the hidden impact prolonged periods of hot weather can have on our wellbeing. While feeling uncomfortable in the heat is hardly surprising, the data suggests many people are experiencing symptoms that go well beyond simply feeling warm.

Among the most frequently searched concerns were dizziness and fainting, coping with heatwaves, excessive sweating and night sweats, dehydration and electrolyte loss, alongside persistent lethargy and fatigue.

According to Dr Thomas Maggs, the reason many of us feel unusually exhausted during hot weather is rooted in how hard the body has to work to stay cool.

“When temperatures rise, your body works much harder to regulate its core temperature,” he explains. “Blood vessels widen to release heat, your heart has to circulate blood more efficiently and you lose both water and essential electrolytes through sweating.”

That extra effort can quickly take its toll.

“Even mild dehydration can leave you feeling unusually tired, sluggish or lightheaded,” says Dr Maggs. “If you’ve also experienced several nights of poor sleep because of warmer temperatures, that fatigue can accumulate over several days.”

Perhaps most surprising is how easily dehydration can develop without people recognising the warning signs.

“Thirst is actually a relatively late indicator,” Dr Maggs explains. “By the time you’re feeling thirsty, developing a headache or noticing fatigue, you may already be mildly dehydrated.”

The findings are particularly relevant for anyone exercising outdoors, commuting in warmer conditions or spending prolonged periods in direct sunlight. Older adults and young children remain especially vulnerable, but even healthy adults can underestimate the cumulative effects of heat.

Fortunately, avoiding heat-related fatigue often comes down to a handful of simple habits. Drinking water consistently throughout the day rather than waiting until thirst develops remains one of the most effective preventative measures. Replacing lost electrolytes after heavy sweating, prioritising quality sleep by keeping bedrooms cool, taking regular breaks in shaded areas and avoiding prolonged exposure during the hottest part of the day can all make a noticeable difference.

Dr Maggs also advises seeking medical attention if symptoms progress beyond tiredness and mild dehydration. Persistent dizziness, fainting, confusion or vomiting could indicate heat exhaustion or, in more serious cases, heatstroke.

As the UK continues to experience warmer summers, the Healthwords.ai data highlights an important reminder: fatigue isn’t always simply a consequence of a busy lifestyle. Sometimes, it’s your body’s way of telling you it’s working overtime to cope with the heat.

Staying properly hydrated, recognising the early signs of dehydration and making a few simple adjustments to your daily routine can help ensure you enjoy the best of the season without feeling completely drained by it.

For years, fragrance has been viewed as the finishing touch reserved for special occasions. Today, however, men’s grooming habits are evolving, with more consumers treating scent as an everyday essential rather than a luxury.

As body mists continue to grow in popularity, they offer a lighter, more versatile alternative to traditional fragrances, making them ideal for everything from post-workout refreshes to commuting, travelling or simply staying fresh throughout the day.

One brand embracing this shift is Bespoke London Men, whose latest collection of body mists delivers premium-inspired fragrance profiles at an accessible price point.

Available exclusively through Superdrug, the collection has been created for men looking to build fragrance into their daily routine without the commitment or cost often associated with traditional eau de parfums.

Rather than relying on one signature scent, the range encourages wearers to choose a fragrance that suits both the occasion and their mood. Fresh citrus blends provide an energising start to the day, while aromatic herbs and warm tonka bean create an easy everyday option. Elsewhere, suede-inspired accords, rich woods, warming spices and creamy sandalwood offer deeper, more sophisticated scent profiles that transition effortlessly into the evening.

It’s part of a wider movement within men’s grooming, where accessibility and versatility have become just as important as luxury credentials. Consumers are increasingly looking for products that fit seamlessly into busy lifestyles, whether that’s a quick refresh after the gym, a fragrance kept in a work bag or a lightweight scent for weekends away.

The appeal lies in their simplicity. Easy to wear, easy to reapply and designed to complement rather than overpower, body mists are becoming an increasingly popular addition to the modern grooming routine.

With its latest collection, Bespoke London Men demonstrates that everyday fragrance doesn’t need to come with a premium price tag. Instead, it offers a range of contemporary scent profiles that make smelling good an effortless part of everyday life.

Some watches are inspired by adventure. Others by aviation, diving or motorsport. Very few are inspired by the moment humanity changed the way it communicated forever. That’s precisely the story behind the Ollech & Wajs Early Bird, one of the Swiss watchmaker’s rarest and most intriguing timepieces, now returning to mark the brand’s 70th anniversary.

For most watch enthusiasts, the appeal of a vintage reissue lies in nostalgia. But the Early Bird isn’t simply revisiting a design from the past. It’s celebrating a technological breakthrough that transformed everyday life long before smartphones, Wi-Fi or video calls became part of our vocabulary.

To understand the watch, you first need to understand the satellite.

In 1965, Intelsat I, better known as Early Bird, became the world’s first commercial geosynchronous communications satellite. Suspended high above the Earth, it dramatically altered the relationship between Europe and North America, allowing near-instantaneous communication across the Atlantic.

For the first time, continents felt genuinely connected.

The satellite carried live television broadcasts that would become part of history, from the splashdown of Gemini 6 and the Apollo 11 Moon landing to The Beatles performing All You Need Is Love for an estimated global audience of 700 million people.

Before Early Bird, the world relied on cables stretching beneath the ocean.

After Early Bird, it communicated through space.

It’s difficult to overstate how revolutionary that was.

Albert Wajs recognised the significance immediately.

Rather than simply admire the achievement, he chose to commemorate it with a watch.

Released in the same year as the satellite’s launch, the original Early Bird was unlike almost anything else on the market. Its distinctive 24-hour dial mirrored the satellite’s orbit around the Earth, while its striking blue and red bezel echoed the colours of the spacecraft itself.

Despite the space-age inspiration, the watch wasn’t designed for astronauts.

It was built for professionals much closer to home.

Military pilots, radio operators and those working across multiple time zones found the unusual 24-hour display invaluable, allowing them to read military time instantly while keeping track of operations around the clock.

Most buyers ordered theirs directly from Zurich after spotting small black-and-white advertisements in military publications such as Army Times. When the watches arrived, owners were pleasantly surprised to discover the colourful bezel that the monochrome adverts had completely failed to capture.

Today, that original Early Bird has become one of the rarest pieces ever to carry the Ollech & Wajs name, with fewer than 500 examples believed to have been produced.

Perhaps fittingly, it also remained Albert Wajs’s personal favourite.

Now, to celebrate the company’s platinum anniversary, the watch returns as the EB-24, faithfully preserving the spirit of the original while benefiting from modern mechanical engineering.

Unlike a conventional watch, its automatic 24-hour movement completes just one full rotation each day, allowing wearers to see the entire day’s cycle at a glance while simultaneously tracking a second time zone.

It’s a complication that feels surprisingly relevant in today’s globally connected world. Whether you’re crossing continents, managing international business or simply fascinated by traditional watchmaking, the concept remains every bit as practical as it was six decades ago.

What’s perhaps most impressive, however, isn’t the movement.

It’s the restraint.

At a time when many anniversary editions arrive weighed down with oversized cases, elaborate complications and marketing fanfare, Ollech & Wajs has instead chosen to honour one of its most significant creations by respecting exactly what made it special in the first place.

In doing so, the Early Bird becomes more than another heritage reissue.

It’s a reminder of a remarkable moment in history—when a satellite no larger than a family car quietly changed the way the world communicated, and a small Swiss watchmaker decided that achievement deserved to be worn on the wrist.

Seventy years on, that’s a story well worth telling.