CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

There are two types of menswear brands.

The first wants to reinvent your wardrobe every season. The second simply wants to make your life easier.

MR MARVIS firmly belongs in the latter camp.

Founded in Amsterdam in 2016, the Dutch label has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in menswear by focusing on something remarkably simple: creating exceptionally well-made essentials that look good, feel good and require very little thought at 7am on a Monday morning.

It’s a deceptively difficult formula to get right.

Most brands talk endlessly about versatility. MR MARVIS actually delivers it.

The Power of Not Overcomplicating Things

Fashion has a habit of convincing us that we need more. More trends. More colours. More pieces. More decisions.

MR MARVIS takes a refreshingly different approach.

Its collections are built around wardrobe foundations: shorts, trousers, knitwear, shirts, outerwear and the kind of elevated basics that form the backbone of modern dressing. The sort of pieces that don’t scream for attention but somehow always receive compliments.

The brand’s original claim to fame was its perfectly tailored shorts. What began as a single product category quickly evolved into a complete wardrobe offering, all designed around the same philosophy: effortless style without unnecessary fuss.

In other words, clothing that works as hard as you do.

Amsterdam Cool

There is something distinctly Dutch about MR MARVIS.

Not in an obvious windmill-and-clogs sort of way, but in its commitment to practical design, quality craftsmanship and understated confidence.

The brand occupies that sweet spot between smart and relaxed. Tailored enough for city life, comfortable enough for weekends away and versatile enough to handle both without looking out of place.

The colour palette deserves particular mention. While many menswear brands play it safe with endless shades of navy and grey, MR MARVIS has built a reputation for introducing colours that feel adventurous without becoming intimidating.

They’re experts in making men feel slightly more stylish than they actually are.

And that’s a compliment.

Quality That Justifies the Hype

Of course, none of this would matter if the clothes didn’t hold up.

Fortunately, they do.

MR MARVIS places a strong emphasis on European craftsmanship, with many of its products manufactured in Portugal using carefully selected fabrics and materials. The attention to detail is evident throughout, from the fit and finish to the small design touches that elevate each piece beyond basic wardrobe staples.

The result is clothing that feels considered rather than complicated.

A rare thing in today’s menswear landscape.

More Than Just Clothes

Perhaps the most interesting thing about MR MARVIS isn’t the clothing itself, but the feeling surrounding the brand.

Its stores feel less like traditional retail spaces and more like invitations to a certain way of living. Bright, optimistic and refreshingly unpretentious, they reflect the same positive outlook that runs through every aspect of the company.

That philosophy has recently expanded beyond apparel with the launch of Club Marevista, the brand’s fragrance and personal care venture inspired by Mediterranean summers and feel-good living.

It’s a natural extension rather than a cynical brand exercise. If MR MARVIS has always been about helping people feel good in what they wear, Club Marevista explores how they feel beyond the wardrobe.

The Verdict

In an industry often obsessed with novelty, MR MARVIS succeeds by focusing on consistency.

It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t rely on celebrity endorsements. It doesn’t attempt to reinvent menswear every six months.

Instead, it concentrates on creating clothes that people genuinely want to wear again and again.

And perhaps that’s the smartest strategy of all.

After all, the best items in any wardrobe aren’t necessarily the most fashionable.

They’re the ones you reach for first.

MR MARVIS understands that better than most.

Long before Ibiza became synonymous with VIP tables, influencer culture and curated beach clubs, the White Isle was home to something far more anarchic. Throughout the 1990s, Manumission wasn’t simply the island’s biggest club night – it was a cultural phenomenon that blurred the boundaries between music, fashion, art and outright hedonism.

It was a place where the world’s biggest DJs shared dancefloors with supermodels, Hollywood directors, rock stars and football icons. Rules were few, cameras were banned and, for one unforgettable night in the summer of 1998, one of football’s greatest ever players walked through its doors.

That player was Diego Maradona.

Claire Manumission’s new memoir, The Motel: High Times in 90s Ibiza, published by Velocity on 31 July, offers an insider’s account of the parties that defined an era, revealing stories that have largely existed as whispered legend for almost three decades. Among its most extraordinary chapters is Maradona’s impromptu escape to Ibiza following Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.

While television executives expected him to fly to Paris for a scheduled appearance, Maradona had other ideas.

His pilot reportedly insisted their aircraft wasn’t authorised to land in the Balearic Islands. Maradona’s response was simple: change course.

Within days, football’s most controversial genius was photographed at Manumission, grinning from the balcony with a rose clenched between his teeth as Alison Limerick performed Where Love Lives beneath him. Elsewhere, future superstar producer Stuart Price—then performing as Jacques Lu Cont—was behind the decks, Tall Paul was preparing to headline the main room, members of Primal Scream were playing records in the basement and author Irvine Welsh was reportedly somewhere amongst the chaos.

It reads less like a nightclub guest list and more like the cast of a cult British film.

The stories only become more surreal.

One memorable account recalls Maradona sitting inside the infamous Pink Pussy room when a group of English football fans challenged him to keep an orange in the air after jokingly forgiving the infamous “Hand of God” goal. Despite being heavily intoxicated, the Argentine legend effortlessly demonstrated the extraordinary control that made him one of football’s greatest talents before volleying the orange across the dancefloor, accidentally hitting an unsuspecting club-goer.

Later that evening, the party moved upstairs where Maradona reportedly bonded with resident Derek Dahlarge over revolutionary politics, Che Guevara and the Falklands. Neither spoke the other’s language, yet, as Dahlarge later reflected, they communicated through what he called “the international language of debauchery.”

These are exactly the kinds of stories that define The Motel.

Founded by Claire and Mike Manumission, the infamous parties became the epicentre of Ibiza’s cultural revolution during the 1990s. Translating loosely as “freedom from slavery”, Manumission rejected convention in favour of artistic expression, outrageous performance, theatrical production and complete creative freedom. With journalists banned from attending, the nights quickly developed an almost mythical status.

As demand grew, the founders transformed a former 13-room brothel on the outskirts of Ibiza into the now-legendary Manumission Motel, creating a 24-hour creative playground where club culture collided with fashion, music and celebrity.

Its guest list became the stuff of legend. Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Jean Paul Gaultier, Howard Marks, Shaun Ryder, Roman Polanski, Denise van Outen, Irvine Welsh and Primal Scream all passed through its doors, alongside dance music pioneers including Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Fatboy Slim, Norman Jay, Alfredo and Armand Van Helden.

Yet The Motel is more than simply a collection of outrageous anecdotes.

It captures a unique moment in cultural history before social media, smartphones and celebrity branding transformed nightlife forever. It was an era when experiences couldn’t be livestreamed, where memories lived through word of mouth, and where the most extraordinary nights often disappeared with the sunrise.

For football fans, Maradona’s Ibiza escapade provides one of the book’s most unforgettable moments. For everyone else, Claire Manumission’s memoir offers a front-row seat to one of the most influential periods in modern club culture—a time when Ibiza wasn’t just a destination, but a state of mind.

The Motel: High Times in 90s Ibiza is published by Velocity Books on 31 July.

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.