CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Bridging the Travel Gap – The Bridge

imageThinking about booking a little getaway,  a cheeky weekend away or you may have more of a HOLIDAY approaching on the horizon ?  Whatever you choice of getaway, urban, restful, hedonistic or all action, one thing you definitely need to consider is the vessel you will be using to carry your carefully selected choice of apparel during this aforementioned jaunt.

The luggage you carry whilst awaiting its arrival at the carousel says a lot about you. So ensure you look the biz at this all important time with carefully selected bag/case/hold up/trunk.

One such brand in question that will always have you standing out from the crowd is the Italian Luggage brand, The Bridge, who offer luxury products at a far more sensible price point. Founded in

image1969, in Scandicci on the outskirts of Florence, originating from an idea of 5 artisans that got together and started the company. In 1975 “The Bridge” brand was born, originally the headquarters was located near a bridge called “Ponte a Greve”, and this is why the brand took this name.

The Bridge was selected among others because it represents the strong link of the company to the local community and to its geographical origins.

The Brand Identity’s revolves around three main values: style, multi-function usage and durability. The Bridge is a brand that follows its clients during the most important moments in an individual life, becoming part of his/her history. A history made of meetings, work, travels and free time. The Bridge’s very own artisans are extremely skilful in their work, they place great care in crafting these products, making them unique pieces. Time, usage and baggage handlers do the rest, increasing the appearance of the product over time. The Bridge products are designed with the same care and the same love for simple things that are well made and last a very long time.

imageThe offering from the brand is split into two very distinct categories, Running Products and Seasonal Products. Running Products, are the hardy perennial items, design classics that represent the true DNA and design principles of the Bridge. Whereas Seasonal Products, are as the name suggests, closer to fashion trends and seasonal market requests.

The Bridge products are present all over the world, placed in some of the most important cities such as Milan, London, Zurich, Shanghai, Beijing and New York.

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Textual Conversations with Ian Bergin of Barbour

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Before becoming Director of Menswear for one of the the most respected and iconic of British brands, Ian Bergin, was Managing Director of men’s fashion brand One True Saxon, a brand he founded at the turn of the millennium. Prior to that Ian spent over 10 years with Paul Smith in various roles including Brand Director R. Newbold (Paul Smith Japan), Brand Director Paul Smith Jeans and culminating with Divisional Director Paul Smith Casualwear.  But it’s with Barbour Bergin has made the most impact. He is responsible for the overall design direction and strategy for all of the menswear collections for Barbour and Barbour International, developing ranges with his team for each brand for Season from outerwear through to shirts, knits, trousers, footwear and accessories.

However, the Barbour story dates back well before Ian joined the company in 2010. It began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. These first weatherproof items quickly established Barbour’s reputation for innovation and quality.

Today, Barbour remains a fifth generation family business and has grown into a lifestyle brand offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing for men, women and children inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. This includes shirts, trousers, knitwear, accessories and footwear alongside Barbour’s legendary outerwear. The iconic wax jackets continue to be made by hand in Barbour’s factory in South Shields.

Sander

Barbour’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear doesn’t simply repeat familiar tropes — it recalibrates them for the modern man. The backbone remains the same sturdy British DNA: rugged outerwear built for real weather, logical design, and a flavour of country style reinterpreted for everyday life. But for SS26, there’s a clear step forward: technical fabrics meet nuanced silhouettes that feel equally at home on the high street, a coastal weekend or a city commute.

Beaufort

At the heart of Barbour’s SS26 range are jackets that underscore the brand’s directional shift towards performance and versatility without sacrificing heritage cues.

Take the Sander Waterproof Jacket — a standout for the season. Designed in lightweight micro-ripstop polyester with a waterproof membrane and a stowaway hood, this isn’t your grandfather’s waxed cotton. It’s a jacket built for variable weather and urban life, shedding weight in favour of practicality while keeping subtle leather badge detailing that nods to Barbour’s lineage. 

Spey

Meanwhile, classic waxed icons like the Beaufort and Spey are expected back in updated colourways (think sage and light moss) with ripstop variations that lend an edge over their traditional counterparts — a refresh that keeps these stalwarts relevant in SS26 menswear wardrobes.  

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?

Barbour ANTIQUE A7. Lightweight Wax international from 1978. Beautiful worn hickory/ black 6 oz black motorcycle jacket. Grey cord collar and plain black capped snaps.

If you could only wear one brand for the rest of your life who would it be?

Well I’d have to say Barbour quite genuinely as it’s just so timeless and offers such a great wearable range for so many ages. It’s that great understated style and reserve and rugged construction that’s so appealing.

For Formal I still like Paul Smith. His mainline is great and he uses lots of really interesting influences. Properly cut suits in my opinion. If his brand was a dog it would be an Irish Wolfhound. Effortlessly stylish.

Who is your style icon?

Michael Caine. Sharp and smart but masculine. In his heyday he looked properly cool but not as if he’d spent half an hour thinking about it.

Clint Eastwood in the 1970’s especially the Dirty Harry films. Outrageously cool haircut and sharp style.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

About business- Sales are Vanity, profit is sanity, cash is king. And make sure you choose your business partners with care.

I do like Groucho Marx’s view. –something like- “Life is about Honesty and Fair dealing and if you can fake that you’ve got it made”

What are you most excited about at the moment?

I’m excited about buying a new car- Audi RS6- the Mike Tyson of the Motoring World or a classic 911 which is all about the drive. I do a lot of research and stretch it out. Been saving for these so looking forward to finally making a decision.

If you could collaborate with one brand, who would it be?

I’d like to collaborate with one of the original Massimo Osti Brands such as CP or Stone Island. They were icons when I was growing up and his design ethos was extremely impressive. I’d also like to work with an industrial designer like Tom Dixon or Marc Newman as they would bring a totally different mind-set to the product.

If you could live anywhere where would it be and why?

San Francisco. Love it there. It’s where I got married. The climate. The food. The fact you can drive up or down the western Seaboard up to Seattle or Down to San Diego and its all so evocative and exciting.

Closer- actually North west Majorca. Stunning, great food, great hikes, great weather really easy to get anywhere in Europe in a few hours.

imageFavourite hotel in the world?

Hotel Tresaunton. St Mawes. A lesson in how a small hotel should be run. Its owned by Alex Polizzi so it should be good and it is. Great location, laidback but totally professional staff, lovely food.

If you could give your teenage self some advice, what would it be?

Don’t sweat the small stuff and buy your own Wahl hair clippers and give yourself a number 4. You never look back.

How did you get into the industry, what was your big break?

When I left University ( I studied Politics) I worked as an electricians mate during the housing boom in Buckinghamshire. Eventually I moved back to London after earning some money and thought I should find a “ Proper,” job. I eventually got a job at Arthur Andersen in London as a Management Consultant. On my first day I was given a plastic briefcase and calculator. I thought this isn’t me and promptly left immediately. I walked back across the Strand and up through Covent Garden and happened to pass the Paul Smith Shop on Floral St where there was a small hand written sign in the window saying “ Help wanted”

I went in and met Paul and worked for him for 14 years. I loved it.

Who would be your ideal diner guests?

Icon- Ernest Shackleton. His book “South” and the story of the doomed Endurance expedition is totally inspiring. Vanessa Paradis. You’d just have to wouldn’t you?

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101?

I have a pair of old “Ball “ jeans from Italy bought years ago in the “ Underground Market “ in Manchester. The’re really baggy. It’s really not a good look either then or now.

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Inbetween days – MOSS Pre-Spring 2026: Dressing for Life Beyond Between

There’s a particular challenge in dressing for the months that sit between seasons. Cold starts, mild finishes. A day that demands layers in the morning and restraint by the afternoon. MOSS understands this moment perfectly, and its Beyond Between Pre-Spring 2026 collection is built precisely for it.

This is menswear designed for real life — adaptable, refined and quietly confident. Think lightweight tailoring, breathable knits and versatile outerwear that works just as well on a city commute as it does on a weekend escape. It’s not about reinvention; it’s about evolution.

Fronting the campaign is curator, model and designer Robbie Jr. Kwapong, whose natural sense of style makes him an ideal fit for the brand’s modern direction. The way he wears the collection says everything: a knit casually draped over the shoulders, a handkerchief slipped into a chest pocket. Small gestures, big impact. As Robbi Hicks, Head of Creative at MOSS, puts it, these details allow the wearer to feel expressive without ever feeling overdone.

At the heart of the collection is versatility. A standout is the new 5-pocket trouser — a sharper, more considered alternative to denim that bridges smart and casual with ease. Lightweight jackets and overshirts provide layering options that don’t feel bulky, while merino-blend knitwear offers comfort and temperature control as the day unfolds.

One of the most notable additions this season is CITY — MOSS’ first-ever leather jacket. Cut from exceptionally soft nappa leather in jet black and espresso brown, it introduces a more directional edge to the collection. Subtle suede accents nod to Western-inspired influences, while linen suiting brings an easy, breathable elegance to warmer days ahead.

What MOSS does particularly well here is balance. Structured tailoring is softened for movement, relaxed silhouettes still feel purposeful, and modular pieces can be worn together or independently. It’s a wardrobe that transitions seamlessly between work and off-duty, city and country, everyday wear and the return of occasion dressing as the months grow lighter.

Fabric, as always with MOSS, plays a central role. Wool, linen, cotton, merino and silk are sourced from some of the world’s most respected Italian mills, including Vitale Barberis Canonico, Solbiati and E. Thomas. The result is clothing that doesn’t just look good, but performs — investment pieces designed to last beyond the season they’re bought for.

Supporting the launch are three short films — Explore, Move and Journey — which capture the spirit of transition that defines both Kwapong and the collection itself. They’re thoughtful, understated and quietly powerful, much like the clothes they showcase.

In a world where menswear often chases extremes, MOSS’ Pre-Spring 2026 offering sits confidently in the middle. Beyond trend. Beyond season. Beyond between.

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Why Walking Might Be the Smartest Fitness Habit You’ll Keep This Year

By the end of January, the nation’s collective enthusiasm for burpees and 5am gym alarms usually starts to wobble. The trainers drift back under the bed, the fitness apps send passive-aggressive reminders, and many people quietly decide they’ve already “failed” their New Year’s resolution.

But here’s the good news: according to new UK data, you were probably doing better than you thought all along.

Analysis from Sekonda smartwatches — based on activity from nearly 250,000 users — reveals that Brits average around 6,000 steps a day, and that walking is now the UK’s most popular form of exercise, almost twice as common as running. No extremes. No viral workouts. Just movement that fits real life.

And perhaps that’s the point.

Consistency Over Intensity

For years, we’ve been sold the idea that fitness only counts if it’s intense, sweaty and Instagram-worthy. Yet the reality looks very different. Sekonda’s 2025 Smart Movement Report, which analysed over 240,000 daily activity entries across 10 months, shows that most people stay active by weaving movement into their everyday routines — commuting, dog walking, lunch-time strolls, weekend walks.

Between July and October 2025 alone, walking accounted for 42% of all tracked exercise sessions (23,944 walks versus 11,662 runs). Step counts peaked during the spring and early summer months, but activity remained steady throughout the year — proof that people aren’t “giving up”, they’re simply choosing sustainable habits.

You Don’t Need 10,000 Steps

Crucially, the science backs this up.

Dr Tom Maggs, Chief Medical Officer at Healthwords.ai, explains that the long-held 10,000-step target isn’t a magic number.

“Research shows that around 5,000 to 6,000 steps daily, especially at a brisk pace, can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and premature mortality. The most important thing is consistency, not intensity.”

In other words, that 20-minute walk you squeeze in at lunch absolutely counts. So does the school run. So does choosing to walk rather than scroll.

The Rise of Realistic Fitness

While walking dominates, it’s not the only story. Indoor running saw a 184% year-on-year increase, likely fuelled by community-led programmes like Parkrun and Couch to 5K. Beyond that, the most popular activities included tennis, football, dance, yoga, cycling and pilates — a refreshingly varied mix.

The takeaway? People aren’t chasing rigid fitness trends anymore. They’re choosing activities that suit their lifestyle, budget and enjoyment levels — which is exactly why they’re more likely to stick.

As Pete Ogley, CEO of Time Products, puts it:

“Real fitness doesn’t look like social media. Our customers are everyday people fitting movement into real lives, and walking is what works.”

A Smarter Kind of Motivation

This shift towards realism also explains the growing appeal of affordable, design-led smartwatches — tools that encourage awareness rather than pressure. Sekonda’s smart range focuses on gentle accountability: step tracking, sleep insights, hydration reminders and movement prompts, without demanding you reinvent your life.

From the Track Smartwatch (£39.99) for habit-builders, to the stainless-steel Flex Plus (£74.99) that wouldn’t look out of place with a roll-neck and overcoat, through to the GPS-enabled Active Pro (£119.99) for those driven by data — the message is the same. Progress, not punishment.

The January Reset We Actually Need

So if January has left you feeling behind, consider this permission to reset the narrative. Fitness doesn’t have to mean joining a gym, chasing extremes or keeping up with strangers online.

Sometimes, it just means putting one foot in front of the other — and doing it again tomorrow.

And that, quietly, might be the most stylish approach of all.

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6 of The Best Men’s Winter Boots to See You Through the Cold in Style

Winter footwear is one of those wardrobe decisions that separates the prepared from the perpetually cold. The right pair of boots should do more than simply keep your feet dry — they should work hard, age well, and look good whether you’re navigating icy pavements, muddy country walks or the daily commute.

At Clothes Make The Man, we believe winter boots should balance function, craftsmanship and understated style. Think quality materials, dependable construction and silhouettes that won’t date by next season. From heritage classics to modern technical designs, these are six of the best men’s winter boots worth investing in right now — all tried, trusted and built to handle British winter weather.

Columbia Fairbanks Mid Boot

Best for: Lightweight everyday wear

If you’re after something practical without looking overly technical, Columbia’s Fairbanks Mid is a strong contender. Lightweight, waterproof and insulated, it offers excellent grip underfoot while keeping a clean, contemporary silhouette.

This is the kind of boot that works effortlessly with jeans, chinos or utility trousers — ideal for daily wear when winter weather is unpredictable but style still matters.

Dr. Martens 1460 Winterised Boot

Best for: Urban winter style

Few boots are as recognisable as the Dr. Martens 1460, and the winterised versions are perfectly suited to colder months. Featuring insulated linings, tougher leather and slip-resistant soles, these boots retain their iconic DNA while offering added protection.

They’re a natural choice for city wear — tough enough for winter streets, stylish enough to anchor a casual or smart-casual look.

Helly Hansen Kelvin LX Winter Boot

Best for: Smart-casual versatility

Helly Hansen is known for its technical outerwear, and the Kelvin LX brings that expertise into a refined winter boot. Waterproof leather, warm lining and a streamlined shape make this a great option for men who want practicality without sacrificing polish.

Ideal for commuting, weekend wear or winter travel, these boots sit comfortably between outdoor performance and everyday style.

Timberland Chillberg Waterproof Winter Boot for Men

Best for: Everyday comfort in wet conditions

If you want something a little lighter but still robust against winter weather, Timberland’s Chillberg waterproof boots deliver. With a waterproof build and cushioned sole, they’re ideal for daily wear — from wet pavements to muddy parks. A great pick for guys who want performance without overpowering looks

Red Wing 875 Heritage Work 6-Inch Moc Toe Boot

Best for: Heritage style meets rugged usability

Red Wing boots have a reputation for durable leather and timeless design, and the 875 Heritage Work boot is one of the most celebrated models in their lineup. Originally crafted as a work boot, it’s now embraced in menswear for its classic moc toe silhouette and long-lasting build — wear them for years and they age beautifully.

Sorel Caribou Boots

Best for: Extreme winter weather

A go-to pick when the temperature really plummets. With a waterproof shell, thick insulation and rugged sole, Sorel’s Caribou boots are built to tackle snow, sleet and slush with confidence — perfect for anyone whose winter involves more than just pavements.