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Now you have the chance to play James Bond for real, all while cultivating your startup in a trendy office space. A former World War 2 MI6 headquarters has been turned into a fantastic co-working space. It is the result of a partnership between venture firm PUBLIC and workspace accelerator Huckletree.
Situated in London’s famous Horse Guards Avenue, the imposing building stands at 600 feet long and was built in 1884. It is very much a French Renaissance-inspired building, and along with its Grade-2 listing, it proved challenging for the design studio, Sella Concept to put their mark on. But, with ornate ceilings, grandiose features sitting alongside contemporary colours and furniture, it blends heritage and modern nicely.
The main objective was to retain the grandeur of the space while injecting the Huckletree brand’s playful nature, a piece of the past and a step into the future
Sella Concept
Overall the aesthetic feel is more grown-up than you would find in other co-working spaces in the capital, and this was key for Sella Concepts. They didn’t want beanbags and ping-pong tables, this is about nurturing future businesses. The idea is to encourage disruptive, modern thinking.
With space for 250 workers, prices start from a very modest £150 per month.
More information huckletree.com
Mixing Danish style with Scottish cloth, Norse Projects have released a range of Harris Tweed products for A/W19. The collection, consisting of two outerwear pieces and two accessories is sure to absorb the harshest of cold.
Harris Tweed, as written in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993, is defined as being handwoven by the islanders of the Outer Hebrides. Constructed from pure virgin wool, it is bound geographically to this area located off the west of Scotland. It is dyed and spun there, then woven by hand in the islander's homes. Harris Tweed is characterised by its warmth, not surprisingly as the island is at the mercy of the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean. But, the fabric allows for breathability, which makes it a sought after material in menswear.
Svalbard Car Coat
This coat is a Harris Tweed constructed outer whilst being lined a Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper. A combination that will block the wind but still allow water vapour to escape. Available in both black and navy colour.
£1,225 from Norse Projects
Nunk Jacket
A mid-length jacket insulated with a 100% recycled sustainable alternative to down, called Thermore Ecodown. The jacket features a two-way zip, and storm flap with Cobrax snap button closure.
£815 from Norse Projects
Kaj Gloves
Every man needs a great pair of gloves during winter. These premium leather and Harris Tweed gloves will not let you down. They are warm, durable, breathable and water repellent.
£130 from Norse Projects
Sports Cap
Finish of the look with this six-panel sports cap. As it is made from Harris Tweed, the material is natural and biodegradable as well as being water repellent.
£110 from Norse Projects
This collection is a celebration of artisanal craftsmanship. A connection with past traditions of manufacturing that can easily be lost in the modern world of menswear.
Shop the range at Norse Projects
The traditional Clarks Original Wallabee shoe gets a facelift from the American brand, Stüssy, and is a continuation of recent collaborations between the two. Just in time for Autumn, this update will feature in two colourways, Sage and Rust. The typical Autumnal colours are adorned with a distinctive paisley pattern along the collar of the shoe.
The Wallabee design has a signature crepe sole, with the uppers constructed from a Bovine leather. Applied to the leather is a Scotchgard treatment making it water and stain-resistant.
This release follows on from Clarks' recent collaborations with Patta and Carhartt and is available from select stockists.
£119 from goodhoodstore.com
Since its release in 2018, French brand Devialet has only offered the Phantom Reactor speaker in white. All that has changed as they have dropped a matte black version of the incredible wireless speaker. Which, I imagine is the preferred choice for most men looking to invest in this type of tech.
The Phantom Reactor is the smallest and most affordable in the Phantom range. But, don't let that distract you from its engineering quality. With two opposing woofers that pulsate in perfect symmetry, this speaker has the sound quality to back-up its aesthetics.
Like with the Reactor in white, Devialet will have both a 600-watt and 900-watt version. There will be no extra charge for the matte black finish; both white and black will be at the same price. For reference, the 900-watt speaker is coming in at around £300 more than the 600-watt option.
The Phantom range enables you to connect to Spotify and Bluetooth as you would expect. You can also sync with other Devialet devices to create a cathedral of sound in your home.
From £990 at devialet.com
Despite coming on leaps and bounds in the past decade or so, I still feel like women's skincare is so much more advanced than men's. The wealth of brands and products on offer to women is far superior. Maybe it is the caveman approach a lot of men still have, seeing skincare as an afterthought, or, even worse, not important at all. Therefore less focus is giving to men over women, which I'm sure is driven by revenue generated by both sexes.
A Glamour survey declared that women on average have 12 beauty products, and spend on average £482.51 a year on products. According to Statista, around 70% of men spend £20 or less on grooming products each month. As a guide, only 15% of women spend under £25 a month on facial make-up alone. There are always nuances to this. For example, the majority of men do not wear make-up (although attitudes to this are changing). But, I still feel there is overall a discrepancy in product quality. As a result, I would not hesitate to dabble with my partners' skincare products.
Thankfully there are premium products on the market that can cater to both men and women. French skincare experts, Institut Estherderm, have recently unveiled their new 'Intensive Spiruline' range.
For those that don't know, Spirulina is a blue microalgae that contains 220 nutritious ingredients. The key benefit of Spirulina is to nourish the skin. It will help to improve the overall skin tone and enhance radiance, getting rid of dull and tired skin. The results could be crucial as we approach a busy festive period. This time of year always swells the social and work calendar.
INTENSIVE SPIRULINE CREAM - Use morning and evening on your face and neck to reduce signs of fatigue, regenerate and nourish the skin.
INTENSIVE SPIRULINE SÉRUM - Use on its own or before the cream to improve skin tone and enhance its brightness.
Both products are suitable for all age groups and can be used from your early 20's.
Shop Institut Esthederm at Lookfantastic, Feel Unique or Space NK
A flexible piece of footwear that can as easily be worn with a suit as it could with chinos. We like to take a nod from the Riviera style book and pair driving shoes with a flattering pair of shorts and a shirt.
1/10
Made from fine merino wool, this knitwear is a slight change from the normal crew or v-neck. Wear like the model with a simple tee and smart trousers. Equally, it works well over a shirt and tie, worn beneath a suit.
£95 from Reiss
2/10
Using fine cotton knit, this might not insulate as well as merino wool, but it is a great layering piece. As you expect from H&M the price is fantastic, and you can choose from a range of colours.
£17.99 from H&M
3/10
This 100% merino wool long-sleeved knit polo from Uniqlo is one of our essentials. Choose from a range of colours and wear it beneath a suit for a more smart casual look. Or, partner with chinos or selvedge jeans for a pared-back outfit.
£34.90 from Uniqlo
4/10
The varsity or college style inspired by American Ivy League schools is still as relevant today as it was in the past. Drake's jump on this with a beautiful cashmere jumper emblazoned with the Drakes 'D'. Not sure my student loan would have stretched to this back in the day.
£395 from Drakes
5/10
This cotton blend turtleneck has the signature Mango look all over it. Simple, but with a twist, this jumper would be a welcome change to a traditional roll neck. Best worn on its own or under a mac with some selvedge jeans and chunky boots.
£59.99 from Mango
6/10
From Arket's 'Responsible Wool' collection is this colour-blocked jumper. This 100% wool knitwear is dark beige on the front and dark blue on the back. A clean, but effective aesthetic that we are loving.
£79 from Arket
7/10
Another colour block crew, this time from Burton's 1904 range. Small touches include geometric internal trim. The main colourways are grey, navy and an autumnal burnt orange
£38 from Burton
8/10
Why should a Breton stripe be restricted to just summer? This super-soft cashmere jumper from J Crew offers warmth in a lightweight material. A great combination from one of their best-selling items.
£156 from J Crew
9/10
This cable knit cardigan harks back to the '70s style but without the garish patterns. With a muted colour tone, this is more Steve McQueen than Starsky and Hutch. Partner with a nice Oxford shirt and chinos.
£49.99 from Mango
10/10
Last but not least, is this lambswool crew neck from Freight Store. Designed and manufactured in the UK, they are crafted from 100% British lambswool. Ideal for when the real cold hits us hard.
£100 from Freight Store