MOST WANTED - Hampstead Weekend Travel Bag

Hampstead Weekend Travel Bag - £390

I don't need any excuse to get away for the weekend. In fact, I generally make sure I have a weekend away every month. It gives you a little something to look forward to, which with the stresses of working long hours is much welcomed.

If you've got one planned and have got a few pennies to spare, then you might fall in love with these bright weekender bags by Archer Adams just like I did. It's made with an exclusive Harris Tweed and comes in 3 fantastic shades - Burnt Orange, Bitter Cherry and Storm Purple. If the price tag seems steep be reassured by the fact the luggage comes with a 10 year guarantee. Hurrah!

Which colour would you choose?

STYLE - What to wear in July

1. Contrast sole shoes

Louboutin may have been the contrast sole master with their iconic red soles but the trend has taken off and we're seeing lots of designers throwing a striking sole into their footwear designs, especially in menswear. It's a way to add that fashion edge, while still being totally wearable. The ones above are both from Kurt Geiger. Go blue with the KG Lowe (top) and yellow with the KG Rio.

2. A softer colour palette

When it comes to trousers, why not try a beige pair - you won't look like your dad if you style it right. Rolled up hemlines are still key while a preppy white shirt in a close fitting style will finish the look. Going more casual? Tailored shorts are perfect and look cool with tees or polos. The inspiration above is from the Maison Kitsuné  collection for next summer. Inspired by 'The Great Gatsby' the look is timeless with an emphasis on quality of fabrics.

3. A cool rain mac

So what if it's July! Anyone who has made plans requiring fair weather this summer knows that the chance of rain is greater than shine so you may as well try and look stylish in the downpour. The pictured trench coat is by Burberry and is a packaway style so it won't take up too much room if the weather changes for the better. Perfect for festivals... but at a price - £450.

4. A pair of vinatge inspired sunglasses

London Retro have a selection of frames inspired by vintage London styles. Each has a name or a particular area and while I await my specs (I've got 2 pairs on order) I draw your attention to the prescription sunglasses. Each of the styles is available with a choice of shaded lenses - I reckon the style that's best for guys is the 'Shoreditch' or perhaps the Camden too. The uber-cool frames are available at Glasses Direct.

5. Get protected

OK, so it isn't exactly something to 'wear' but it's important none the less. Most guys I know have an i-Phone but lots of them have broken screens, cracks or scuffs from general use and accidents that seems unavoidable. I recently tried out some CaseMate phone covers and cannot recommend them enough. My boyfried is currently trialling the Tough case for the iPhone 3G but CaseMate also do covers for Blackberry, HTC, Tablets and more. It's definitely worth checking them out. The Tough cases are textured and rubberised - they feel really nice in your hand.

INSPIRATION - Talay Riley's got Style

Talay Riley may be just 20 but he's already carving a niche for himself in the urban music scene and I reckon he's one to watch in the style stakes too. His style is, in my words, 'Urban Gentleman' mixing hoodies and sneakers with chinos, smart shirts and caps. This forging of cool and traditional just works for him and it's an easy look to copy too.

• Layer up hooded tops with smarter style blazers
• Wear a smart shirt buttoned up rather than open for a preppier look
• Stock up on chinos, they make a real change from denim
• Nab yourself some funky sneakers - go for bright colours or fashion detailing

And as well as being a fashionable fella, he's got lyrical style too. Check out Talay's cover of Jessie J's 'Who's Laughing Now' below which he co-wrote...  He also wrote the UK #1 single ‘Oopsy Daisy’ for Chipmunk plus he's been busy writing songs for with or for the likes of JLS, The Wanted and Tinie Tempah.

Talay’s own upcoming single ‘Make You Mine’ is out in August.

SHOES – Which Formal Footwear to Choose

When it comes to men’s footwear for a special occasion, most guys I know have a fail-safe pair. They also tend to stick to a style that they’ve always had before. E.g. a brogue man remains a brogue man; a loafer guy veers always towards loafers and so on. It must be said that a lot of the men I know aren’t really into fashion as such so that may play some part in choosing what they know they like rather than experimenting more with their choices as I would do. Personally, I think it’s great to try things out and it’s also worth having more shoes than you think you need… you’ll be surprised by how different outfits can look so much better with a well-suited pair of shoes to complement.

Brogues – in the last couple of years, brogues have become a lot more popular. It’s those little holes that make a brogue what it is and often the holes are laid out in quite intricate designs. For this style of shoe I prefer brown and they look great with a smart grey suit. Wear them to work, dress them down slightly at the weekend or even throw them on for a more casual wedding.

Loafers – Personally I’m not the biggest fan of loafers but they’re making plenty of appearances of late especially in some of the bigger design houses. If choosing this style, go for a good quality pair with a modern twist or else they can look quite dated.

Lace-ups – When I think of lace-up shoes I think of a pair of slick, well-polished black formal shoes. For black tie occasions or funerals I would say this is the shoe style to go for. Keep them in good condition and make sure you have polish to hand. This style of shoe tends to be quite streamlined and can look great with a suit that has a slimmer fit.

Suede – Although suede is a luxury fabric, when it comes to footwear I find it to be quite casual. Save suede shoes for wearing with denim rather than smart tailoring. Just avoid pastel colours!

Pointed shoes – If you dress fashionably or have a good sense of your own style then you’ll probably get away with a pointed shoe. However, I find that they really stand out so if you’re the shy and retiring type I’d say choose something simpler instead.

Geox brogues - £111

Clarks lace-ups - £89

Sebago loafers - £133

All shoes featured are available at Spartoo.

FRAGRANCE - Lacoste 'Make a Racket' Event

The latest fragrances from Lacoste have gone down well with everyone I've asked. Both my dad and my boyfriend are now wearing one of the 3 scents and getting compliments on them too. Last weekend I was invited along to witness the Tennis themed fun at Westfield London put on to promote the product. Lacoste asked members of the public to pick up a tennis racquet and demonstrate their best air guitar to a rock track of their choosing. Everyone who took part went away with one of the fragrances and the overall winner each hour got a jam-packed goodie bag worth £300. Hurrah.

If you haven't had a chance to check out the L.12.12 fragrances yet then give it a go, each of the 3 has its own personality and I'm pretty sure there will be one you'll love. I love the blue for him and quite often steal the white from my boyfriend's bathroom cabinet when I forget my own perfume. I also took time to take a good look around the Lacoste store and although I always thought it quite expensive for what it was, when there's a sale on you can pick up some amazing bargains.

Here are a few pics from the event...

FRAGRANCE - Hugo Just Different

Did you know that Hugo Man, the classic men's fragrance, is now 16 years old? Its sold so well across the world that the brand thought it about time to bring out something to complement this iconic scent but also give it a more modern twist.

New this year, Hugo Just Different reinvents the original but is quite different too, with a heavier fragrance that works well for evening. First you get a refreshing minty top note, followed by spicier heart notes like basil and coriander, then  finally patchouli and woody base notes. The warm spice and fresh mint give a satisfying contrast that I can't get enough of.

By boyfriend tried both fragrances recently and we both veered towards the Just Different fragrance out of the two - it feels newer but definitely reminds me of Hugo Man so has that element of heritage to it. The face of the campaign is Jared Leto, a perfect match to the fragrance, if you ask, me as he's a little bit dark with some mystery to him. This is reflected in the scent and the bottle - an almost rubberised, matte black effect.

Prices start at £20 for a shower gel or deodorant spray up to £48 for the 150ml eau de toilette.

I was able to go along to a press launch of the fragrance which involved a 'different' dining experience. Simply check out Dinner in the Sky and you'll see what I mean. We were treated to a 3 course menu which reflected some of the notes within the fragrance - mint in the starter, basil in the main and patchouli in the dessert. It was hard to concentrate with my feet dangling at 50ft up but it was definitely an experience to remember. It all took place in London with a view of Tower Bridge.

 

VIDEO - Robbie Williams Previews New Fashion Label, Farrell

When the news that Robbie Williams was launching his own clothing line hit I was a littl bit confused. Where had it all come from? I didn't have Robbie down as much of a fashion fan, I can't say as he's often spotted on the front row at Fashion Week. However, this new video that's been released goes some way to explaining how it came about. The inspiration and angle that he's taken for the range stems from his upbringing and his grandfather Jack. The clothes are really wearable too. It's everyday menswear with a working class twist - something for a 'real man'. This video is part 1 of 3 and is narrated by Robbie.

I feel like many men avoid getting too 'into fashion' as it isn't deemed very masculine but I think that's a real shame. Clothing and fashion should be fun whether you're a girl or a guy. Do you think Robbie's new label named Farrell will encourage you to go shopping?

Farrell will be available to buy from this September.