Beautifully opulent in appearance and enriched with sophistication that has become the hallmark of the Texan designer, the classy store is inspired by his vision of the ‘House of Tom Ford’, giving off a look more akin to a suite at a five-star establishment rather than your typical high-end menswear boutique. Featuring grey tinted mirrors and brass hardware decorated throughout the space and a prominent macassar wood table, the store is reflective of the brand’s trademark of masculine luxury at its simplest, and is another landmark in the storied career of Tom Ford, who made his name by revitalising Gucci as a force during the late Nineties before creating his own label in 2005 and receiving critical acclaim four years later for his cinematic directorial debut, A Single Man.

Kammerling’s Ginseng Spirit brings a whole new twist to the market in that it reads as a ‘healthy’ alcohol. It contains four types of ginseng alone whilst counting juniper, echinacea, ginkgo biloba and goji berries among its 45 natural botanicals. In addition to this, Kammerling has distilled these ingredients with manuka honey and annatto to blend the spirit down to a 33% alcohol base (as opposed to the more common 40%).

Indeed, Kammerling says that the stimulus for this approach was taken from medicinal history where, even as far back as Hippocrates, alcoholic-based herbal infusions were seen as highly efficacious.

From 1971 through to the 90′s Reiss rapidly expanded in the UK, serving the style inclinations of consumers in prestigious London locations. The brand also extended its reach to fashion hubs such as Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham. But it was the introduction of its eponymous womenswear collection in 2000 – which coincided with the opening of the London flagship store Kent House – that elevated Reiss in the eyes of the fashion conscious consumer.

Realising the potential to globally translate the focus on affordable luxury, Reiss headed for international fame by opening its first US store in NY’s West Broadway in 2000.

With this in mind, and in a symbolic nod to the passing of summer’s balmy nights, fragrance has moved from the dewy citrus sheens of summer, with depth added to hero scents. Fragrances are pleasingly dark and obviously masculine, radiating a certain je ne c’est quoi that leaves plenty to the imagination.

Gentlemen, place your bets: which scent will you be?

The Brooding Gent
Chanel Bleu is a hypnotic blend of intriguingly juxtaposed notes. Visually based upon Mademoiselle Chanel’s “other colour of chic” (navy), it is captivating and yet distracting, mixing a warm, elegant cedar accord with a fresh veil of citrus fruits and fragrant vetiver.

The store is housed within a Neo-Georgian former bank. The original entrance Portico and high ceilings have been retained, nodding toward the brand’s more traditional aspects. Perhaps most enticing is the transformation of the bank’s vault into the store’s best kept secret – a VIP area so exclusive no images are available for release.

Many felt that these new clubs were of a much gaudier, sleazier bent than the more sophisticated, showbiz style of the original Playboy clubs and have welcomed the return of Hugh Hefner’s seemingly deathless brand. The new club is a two level, 17 000 square foot property designed by London architects Jestico + Whiles and is built on the site of the old Rendezvous Mayfair Casino in Old Park Lane. The building houses a Salvatore Calabrese cocktail lounge, a casino, a restaurant headed by Judy Joo, a sports bar, smoking terrace, gentlemen’s salon and, of course, the cottontail lounge- home of the bunny girls.

Work

Bvlgari Man by Bvlgari

The work dress code is not complete without the correct scent to go with it. The charisma held by Bvlgari Man in an elegant, transparent yet masculine bottle is powerful enough to see you through the working day without taking away any sensuality that a Gentlemen needs. The fragrance created is that of wood and musky notes keeping it contemporary for a professional environment.

Jeans by Dior Homme at Browns

Fashion by Tolu Adeko

Photography by Ben Lee

Hair & Makeup by Keti Nikolova using Mac Cosmetics and Bumble & Bumble

Model Patrick Rukai at Premier Model Management

Courtesy of Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1JZ , +44 020 8870 9977

Jeans by Dior Homme at Browns, Shoes by Russell & Bromley

Fashion by Tolu Adeko

Photography by Ben Lee

Hair & Makeup by Keti Nikolova using Mac Cosmetics and Bumble & Bumble

Model Patrick Rukai at Premier Model Management

Courtesy of Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1JZ , +44 020 8870 9977

Jeans by Dior at Browns, Sunglasses by Oliver Peoples

Fashion by Tolu Adeko

Photography by Ben Lee

Hair & Makeup by Keti Nikolova using Mac Cosmetics and Bumble & Bumble

Model Patrick Rukai at Premier Model Management

Courtesy of Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1JZ , +44 020 8870 9977

Shoes by Agnes B

Fashion by Tolu Adeko

Photography by Ben Lee

Hair & Makeup by Keti Nikolova using Mac Cosmetics and Bumble & Bumble

Model Patrick Rukai at Premier Model Management

Courtesy of Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1JZ , +44 020 8870 9977

Fashion by Tolu Adeko

Photography Ben Lee

Hair & Makeup by Keti Nikolova using Mac Cosmetics and Bumble & Bumble

Model Patrick Rukai at Premier Model Management

Courtesy of Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1JZ , +44 020 8870 9977

Fashion by Tolu Adeko

Photography by Ben Lee

Hair & Makeup by Keti Nikolova using Mac Cosmetics and Bumble & Bumble

Model Patrick Rukai at Premier Model Management

Courtesy of Chelsea Cars, 59-61 Armoury Way, Wandsworth, London, SW18 1JZ , +44 020 8870 9977

Take the time out to revaluate what essentials actually make it on to your surfaces, and which ones find themselves in the darkest corners of your desk drawers. These items should be carefully chosen and always remain classic and to a minimum – the clearer the workspace, the clearer the mind. The continuous ringing sound of your phone can be tamed with a sophisticated phone case, allowing you to refrain from throwing the device in heated times.