Grooming: Face it and Moisturize - Skincare for Men

Seasons change and it takes certain strains on a man’s skin. You are always safe when drinking plenty of water, however, making sure you’re hydrated all day requires a little extra help from products designed to work just as hard as you do. We select the top products to ensure autumn doesn’t take its toll on your face.

Zone Day Cream – RRP ZAR280 – 50ml

Non-greasy with a high concentration of Co-Q10 and rejuvenating anti-oxidants, this moisturizer has anti-wrinkle and smoothing actions on the skin. Assisting to repair visible signs of photo ageing and protection from broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 20), Zone Day Cream works to ensure your skin is kept at its best, in peak form and hydrated throughout any lengthy day in or out of the sun.

AHAVA Age Control All Day Moisturizer – RRP ZAR380 – 50ml

AHAVA’s Age Control All Day Moisturizer is a uniquely formulated blend of antibacterial ingredients designed to promote quick healing. The fast absorbing light texture daily moisturizer has an SPF 15 factor to protect against the sun and it’s Dead Sea mineral and plant base grant skin a fresh invigorating feeling and hydration that lasts all day.

Nimue Man Hydrate – RRP ZAR450 – 100ml

With product benefits that include improved hydration and moisture retention for up to 24 hours after application and protection against effects of shaving, Nimue Man’s Hydrat is a balanced daily moisturizer that instantly improves the feel and appearance of your skin. Vital ingredients retain moisture that is lost from the skin surface during shaving, preventing discomfort and skin irritation. The result is reduced skin redness, improved skin texture and maximum skin health.

ClarinsMen Super Moisture Balm – RRP ZAR325 – 50ml

Easy to apply and difficult to run dry, ClarinsMen’s Super Moisture Balm packs a punch of ingredients to help control your skin’s balance, firmness and levels of moisture. Light and protective, it’s active ingredients; Sunflower firms the skin, Papaya with Lemon and Olive leaf soften stubble, slow re-growth and tighten pores, while its patent complex of Bison Grass plus Chinese Ginger energise the skin. This balm geared at ensuring you stay on top of things without thinking about what’s happening on your face.

The above products can be purchased from your favourite men’s grooming counter at all major department stores in the country and you can also find them at stores such as Clicks, Dischem and Pick ‘n’ Pay.

Event: G-Star RAW Opens at Canal Walk

I recently attended an event hosted by the team from G-Star RAW. It was their Canal Walk store’s official opening. I’d promptly arrived directly from a session at Woolworths with Noeleen, so was more dressed for something else other than a denim moment. Which was obvious, as the more people piled in the more denim there was on the human bodies than in the store itself.

Perched directly across from GUESS in Canal Walk, getting to G-Star RAW is not that big a deal once you make it into Century City, of course. The store is located close to one of the main entrances, something I always look out for when it comes to visiting Canal Walk. Not sure if you’ve ever had that situation where you seemed lost and it appeared as though the shopping mall was growing longer and wider the further you walked into it… I have. Countless times.

There’s really not much I can say about the launch that I haven’t mentioned in a past post on G-Star RAW, specifically the V&A Waterfront store. It’s all about denim and variety and complementary pieces that fit into the denim lifestyle.

I would like to thank Jameson for their ever-indulgent presence. I was extremely grateful to have sushi on the menu, especially considering I had been starved of it for months. Also like the soft play on food choice against the brand’s RAW personality. I’m always surprised when I attend an event and Goldfish is the main act. Considering how much they cost to hire for any LIVE event, I am always in awe when they are present and tuning up the fun levels with superb music and great stage presence.

Two highlights for me were seeing Michelle from Cinder and Skylark wearing a traditional print turban and bumping into a varsity friend of mine, Pumeza, who was about to jet off to Denmark and the UK a few days later to go and do her buying thing. The crows was a standard mixture of the brand’s client/customers plus members of The Foschini Group plus a couple of us media (blogger) people. I had a great chat with A Fashion Friend’s Raya outside while we had a moment of silence from the excitement of the launch.

This can’t be said enough times, if you’re a lover of denim and now have access to The Foschini Group, go to G-Star RAW and get yourself a pair or two of denims. Don’t forget to buy a matching shirt and possibly one of two great bags I saw. Denim is a fashion item that will remain forever trendy, so you can’t possibly go wrong.

Collections: A. Sauvage Autumn Winter 2013 - Menswear

I can’t recall the first time I discovered A. Sauvage. I do recall I was looking at a photo of Mos Def in one of the brand’s suits. A cream two-button ensemble with a distinctively Art Deco graphic pattern. I remember looking at it and thinking ‘that’s a great looking suit’. Some time passed and I did other things and then I came across some images again. I put together a rather lazy post on the brand and then I went about my way again. Fashion weeks came and went and then, there was A. Sauvage AW2013.

And thank you.

Adrien Victor Sauvage is the man behind the sublimely tailored brand A. Sauvage. The man is of Ghanaian descent… So hopefully I’ll bump into him at Ghana Fashion and Design Week later this year (hint hint). His Autumn Winter 2013 collection is one that politely takes its cues from the insanely energetic and spontaneous style of works by artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

It’s difficult to pin down what it is you’re looking at when you see the collection through its look book. It all seems so every day wear yet you can sense its luxury and opulence. So is casual wear the new couture? Maybe, for guys at least. The ease of the garments illustrates man’s necessity for clothing that he can slip into without feeling like he’s part of fashion but also not sticking out as a past trend.

It’s simplicity is almost primitive, in that it takes everything away of modern concepts of men’s fashion and styling and leaves you with only the bear essentials to make a look work and the entire collection fits into any time period. His day wear pieces incorporate raglan sleeves, which are by far the most comfortable and ‘active’ type of sleeves any one could use on a garment. Raglan sleeves are usually found on more sportswear/activewear type of garments, including the more luxury leisurewear items. Panelling and slim collars also make an entrance to add to the details of tailoring.

The consideration made for the garments further begs appreciation to extend its presence. With a frill of fabrics used in the collection you understand that its simplicity may be viewed but its splendor will be felt. From sports jersey and cashmere wool, clean neoprene and bias cut silk twill panels; A. Sauvage also introduces a highly textured casentino wool and water-shrunk nubuck leather. Keeping with Basquiat’s spontaneity Adrien flips the seam on eveningwear with the dropping of external pockets and switching of traditional fasteners to use a more ‘casual’ hook-and-eye closure. This collection also features signature pieces including the wide-leg trouser, deconstructed jackets and printed outerwear in soft colours of white and light grey to a much warmer orange.

After all is said and done, the wide-rimmed Homburg hats designed in collaboration with Christy’s are my lover. They add a sort of gentleman stamp of approval to the entire collection.

A. Sauvage is available online and I recommend you get yourself one or two items to complete your wardrobe this AW2013.