CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Ironing, once a non-negotiable ritual in British households, is quietly slipping into obscurity. According to recent YouGov data, it’s now three times more likely to be skipped than everyday tasks like tidying— a telling sign of how modern life has reshaped our priorities.

But while the chore itself may be falling out of favour, the implications of abandoning it entirely are less effortless than they appear. Because what’s being lost isn’t just crisp shirts — it’s the longevity of the wardrobe itself.

There’s a misconception that ironing is purely cosmetic — a surface-level fix for creases. In reality, it’s far more structural.

As garment care expert Basak Camangaoglu of Philips explains, steam ironing works within the fabric, not just on it. Heat and steam penetrate deep into fibres, realigning and restoring them after the stress of washing and wear.

The result? Clothes that don’t just look better — they last longer.

Without this process, fibres remain twisted and weakened. Over time, that leads to misshaping, thinning, and garments that prematurely feel past their prime. In other words, skipping the iron today quietly shortens the lifespan of what you wear tomorrow.

In an era where wardrobes are becoming more curated — fewer pieces, better quality — maintenance matters more than ever.

Neglecting proper garment care doesn’t just impact appearance; it drives unnecessary consumption. Clothes wear out faster, replacements are bought sooner, and the cycle continues — quietly costing households hundreds each year.

Steam ironing, then, becomes less about routine and more about preservation. A small, consistent act that protects both investment pieces and everyday essentials.

Perhaps the issue isn’t ironing itself — it’s how we perceive it.

Tools like the Philips PerfectCare 7000 Series are designed to shift that narrative. With a generous 1.8L tank delivering up to two hours of continuous steam, it transforms the task from fragmented chore to streamlined ritual — one session, done properly.

And beyond crease removal, steam introduces an often-overlooked benefit: hygiene. By eliminating bacteria, mould spores and dust mites, garments stay fresher for longer — reducing both wear and the need for frequent washing.

In the same way menswear has evolved towards ease, versatility and intention, so too should the way we care for it.

Ironing isn’t dying — it’s being redefined.

Less about obligation, more about ownership. Less chore, more craft.

Because in a world where style is increasingly about quiet confidence and longevity, the sharpest move you can make might just be plugging the iron back.

There’s a quiet shift happening in menswear — one that trades rigid formality for something far more intelligent. Less about dressing for the boardroom, more about dressing for everything around it. Enter Émigré’s latest release: The Boardroom Collection.

This isn’t simply a collection; it’s a system. Designed for the modern professional who moves between meetings, airports and city streets without pause, Émigré leans into modular dressing with purpose.

At its core, The Boardroom Collection is built around fluidity — pieces that transition seamlessly from desk to departure gate. Think clean silhouettes, neutral palettes and a quiet confidence that doesn’t need to shout. It’s menswear distilled to its essentials: less noise, more presence.

Crafted entirely in Italy, the collection is the result of collaborations with leading artisans and fabric houses. But don’t mistake heritage for nostalgia — this is tradition reworked for today.

Performance-led cottons and wools bring a technical edge to classic tailoring, allowing garments to move, breathe and adapt. Structure remains, but it’s softened. Formality is still present, but it’s no longer restrictive. This is tailoring that understands modern life.

Émigré’s philosophy is clear: simplify the wardrobe, elevate the experience. The Boardroom Collection introduces a modular uniform — interchangeable pieces that work together effortlessly, removing the friction from getting dressed.

It’s a subtle but powerful shift. Instead of overthinking outfits, the wearer is free to focus on what matters — the meeting, the journey, the moment.

Perhaps the most telling piece in the collection isn’t a jacket or a trouser, but the Garment Organiser.

Engineered with structured compartments and a removable compression plate, it’s designed to keep clothing sharp mid-transit — a small but significant detail for those constantly in motion. It reinforces the idea that this isn’t just about clothing, but about how clothing lives and travels.

The boardroom today isn’t confined to four walls. It exists across cities, studios and terminals — wherever work happens. Émigré recognises this evolution and responds with a collection that mirrors it.

The Boardroom Collection doesn’t try to reinvent menswear loudly. Instead, it refines it quietly. Thoughtfully. Precisely. Because in 2026, true luxury isn’t excess — it’s clarity, intention and ease.

The next time you are at a loose end on a Saturday, have friends down for the weekend or are thinking of a different idea for a date. Here you go ! London has no shortage of bottomless brunches, but few manage to deliver quite the same mix of food, laughs and fabulousness as the Bottomless Drag Brunch at The Angel of Bow in the heart of the East End. Bringing a healthy dose of scandal, sass and side-splitting humour to the East End’s Devons Road every Saturday afternoon, this is an experience that proves brunch can be far more entertaining than simply eggs and prosecco.

The Angel of Bow itself is far from your average London pub. Built in 1938 and miraculously left standing after the devastation of World War II, the building still retains much of its original character. Today, however, it has been transformed into something altogether more distinctive. Following an extensive eight-month refurbishment, the pub reopened in 2017 as an independent, family-run venue, where an eclectic mix of furnishings and quirky one-off pieces combine to create a space that feels both relaxed and unmistakably individual.

Step inside and you are greeted by a colourful interior that feels more like a curated living room than a traditional East London boozer, certainly not a Wray in sight.

Every Saturday from 1pm to 3pm, the pub pumps up the volume with its Bottomless Drag Brunch, offering two hours of genuinely unlimited Prosecco, mimosa or their own craft Bow of Bow craft Lager, I think we know which one I went for, alongside a hearty brunch dish. It is a formula that clearly works, with tickets regularly selling out as word spreads about one of the most entertaining brunches in town.

Food is a seriously matter here, with much of the menu prepared on site using locally sourced ingredients. The Angel proudly sources its meat, fish and fresh produce from within a three-mile radius wherever possible, including fish delivered fresh from nearby Billingsgate Fish Market. Brunch options include crowd-pleasing favourites such as a smash burger, steak sandwich, traditional fish and chips or lighter meze — the perfect fuel for a long afternoon of laughter. We opted for the Fish and Chips with didn’t disappoint, an enormous solid piece of Haddock, wrapped in a crisp beer infused batter, clearly freshly cooked, supported by tripled cooked old school chips, peas and light tarter sauce. But equally I did have my head turned, no not by our host with the most Ms Candy Heals, but by the Smash burger, but I stand by my selection, as being a cracking portion of Fish & Chips that certainly didn’t leave you hungry.

Of course, the real stars of the show are the drag queens. Hosting duties regularly fall to some of London’s most entertaining performers including Just May, Topsie Redfern, Thalia, Aunty Ginger and Ruby Violet. As mentioned, we had the pleasure of Candy Heals, who put us at ease in a cheeky, naughty and non stop laughs way, we enjoyed the bingo, including winning a line or two on the day and the prizes were flowing along as the drinks. Expect fierce looks, live performances, audience games, quick-fire banter and more than a few outrageous moments as the queens keep the room entertained from start to finish.

The atmosphere is high camp, and embrace the spirit of the afternoon to get the most out of it. Between the glasses of Prosecco, mimosa or lager, bursts of music and the queens working the room, the brunch quickly becomes less of a meal and more of a full-blown cabaret.

The pub’s own Angel of Bow session lager is also worth sampling. Brewed especially for the house, it offers an alternative to prosecco and — somewhat impressively — seems to deliver on its promise of leaving drinkers surprisingly fresh as a daisy the following morning.

Beyond the brunch itself, the pub offers plenty more reasons to linger. Upstairs, The Angel now boasts five boutique B&B rooms, while outside a secluded garden provides a welcome escape from the bustle of East London. The space is made even more distinctive thanks to striking murals by renowned street artist Paul Don Smith.

Legend has it that the pub’s name has divine origins. According to local folklore, the previous incarnation of the building had fallen into such disrepair that a local vicar once prayed for angels to descend upon Devons Road. Not long after, he happened to pass the building during its renovation and watched as a new sign was hoisted outside reading “The Angel of Bow”.

Whether heavenly intervention was involved or not, one thing is certain — this lively East London pub has created one of the capital’s most memorable brunch experiences. Equal parts delicious, chaotic and joyful, the Angel’s Bottomless Drag Brunch is proof that sometimes the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon is with good food, great company and a room full of drag queens.

There’s something reassuring about a brand that knows exactly what it is. Since 1966, Sergio Tacchinihas occupied that sweet spot between sport and style—clean lines, considered detailing, and just enough attitude to make it matter. Fast forward to now, and that legacy finds fresh expression through a continued collaboration with Richard Ashcroft—a man whose wardrobe has long spoken fluent modernism.

Following the sell-out success of last summer’s capsule (and yes, the one that disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared), the second drop lands with quiet confidence. This isn’t about reinvention—it’s about refinement. A continuation of a conversation between music, memory, and menswear.

If you understand mod culture, you understand the parka. It was never just about practicality—it was preservation. Protecting tailoring while tearing through city streets on a Vespa, those original silhouettes became symbols. This latest collection taps directly into that lineage.

The Dario jacket leads the charge. Military in origin, modern in execution. Cut from premium cotton canvas, it carries the hallmarks you’d expect: functional pockets, a concealed zip, a hood that actually means business. But it’s the details that elevate it—subtle gold hardware, refined camouflage, and that knowing nod to authenticity with the optional ‘RA’ name tape. It’s less costume, more continuation.

Some pieces arrive. Others arrive again—because demand insists. The Ashcroft Track Jacket is firmly the latter.

After Oasis Heaton Park concert 2025—where Ashcroft stepped out in the now-iconic white version—the piece took on a life of its own. Clean, athletic, unmistakably retro. It sold out in days.

Now it returns, just as Ashcroft gears up for another UK tour. The formula remains intact: that signature gold monogram, contrast panel detailing, and a silhouette that sits perfectly between terrace and stage. New colourways—sky blue and olive—add depth, but never distraction.

It’s worth noting the restraint here. No over-branding. No gimmicks. Just a quiet confidence that comes from getting it right the first time.

This collection understands something many don’t: modernism is about discipline. The internal “Music is Power” detailing, the anniversary label marking six decades of Tacchini, the retro zip pulls—these are not afterthoughts. They’re the point.

Accessories follow suit. Bucket hats and side bags round things off without tipping into excess, reinforcing the collection’s core message rather than diluting it.

This collaboration—facilitated through Bravado—doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need to. It leans into heritage, music, and subculture with a clarity that feels increasingly rare.

Because at its heart, this is not just about clothing. It’s about identity. About recognising that style—real style—isn’t seasonal. It evolves, yes. But it never forgets where it came from.

Minimalist. Modernist. Timeless.

Just as it should be.

There’s a quiet confidence about brands that know exactly what they stand for, and Danner has long mastered the art of building footwear that performs in the wild while looking perfectly at home in the city. With the arrival of the new Danner MTN45, the American bootmaker delivers a modern trail shoe that comfortably bridges the gap between outdoor performance and everyday lifestyle wear.

Designed as a lightweight hiking companion with unmistakable style credentials, the MTN45 captures the current appetite for gear that moves seamlessly between terrain and town. The shoe features a premium nubuck leather upper that offers both durability and understated refinement, making it just as suited to a weekend trail as it is to casual urban wear. Particularly striking is the Desert Moss colourway, a natural, earthy tone that reinforces the shoe’s outdoor DNA while remaining effortlessly wearable.

Underfoot, Danner equips the MTN45 with its cushioned EnduroFoam Plus midsole, engineered to deliver responsive comfort over long distances. Whether navigating uneven trails or simply clocking miles across the city, the cushioning provides the kind of support that makes the shoe an easy daily choice.

Grip, naturally, is non-negotiable in the outdoors. Here the MTN45 features a Vibram Megagrip outsole, widely respected for its exceptional traction across both wet and dry surfaces. The result is a shoe that feels secure across unpredictable terrain while maintaining a low-profile hiking silhouette that avoids the bulk often associated with traditional trail footwear.

Importantly, the shoe has been constructed with breathability in mind, offering a non-waterproof build that keeps things light and comfortable in warmer conditions. It’s an intentional design decision that positions the MTN45 squarely within the modern hybrid category: technical enough for the trail, relaxed enough for everyday wear.

In keeping with Danner’s heritage of craftsmanship, the MTN45 is also recraftable, reinforcing the brand’s long-standing commitment to longevity and responsible design. In a market increasingly focused on disposable footwear, it’s a reminder that well-made shoes should be built to last.

The result is a shoe that feels entirely in step with the moment — practical, considered, and quietly stylish. For those who appreciate gear that works as hard on a hillside as it does on a Saturday afternoon in town, the MTN45 may well be the trail shoe of the season.