Revamp Your Man’s Winter Wardrobe

Following the success of my first ever guest blog post from Theo last week, I am excited to introduce you to my next guest blogger – Matt Healy.

Healy is one of my best friends and always dresses really well. Although his normal area of expertise is music, he begrudgingly agreed to pen me a male fashion post (a little flattery goes a long way) and has created a list of essential winter garments for your fella. You won’t need to worry about him wearing that awful cardigan or those trainers you can’t stand… just treat him to a few of these pieces at Christmas and he will be looking suave for all of your romantic plans.

Move over Gok Wan, Healy is here to help!

Revamp Your Man’s Winter Wardrobe

Stone Stag Valley Sweatshirt

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a novelty jumper now, would it? I mean what else do you wear to Christmas parties, to the dinner table, to bed? He could get away with wearing this one from high-street favourite, Topman, for the whole of the winter season. Priced at £28, it’s a steady investment for all.

£28.00, Topman

Fred Perry Byron Mid Trainer

These mahogany suede shoes might not be so practical for the wet days but they are perfect for nights out or for looking smart on a day-to-day basis. They are available in store or online at Fred Perry.

£64.99, Fred Perry

Criminal Damage Warley Jacket

The biggest and best investment this winter is without doubt the good old coat. Prepare him to brave the elements in this Warley Jacket from Criminal Damage. This navy and brown-buttoned coat is both stylish and practical and will go great with a pair of chinos.

£94.99, Drome

Red Twill Cotton Shirt

It’s not only Santa that can pull off the colour red this season; check out this smart/casual shirt from Topman. It’s not as offensively red as a santa-suit so it means you can pull it off at many a Christmas party. (Matthew gave another reference to ‘pulling’ following this statement. I swiftly removed it! – Rose)

£28.00, Topman

Black Swedish Fairisle Hat

The bobble hat is as integral to Christmas as Rudolph. Even if he’s not a hat fan, he may be glad of this purchase if the weather continues to stay the way it has been lately!

£12.00, Topman

Blue Snowman Motif Socks

An absolute Christmas essential is a pair of festive socks. If these don’t feature in his Christmas stocking, be sure to grab a pair from Topman at the bargain price of £3.

£3.00, Topman

For more information about Healy, be sure to follow him on Twitter. Happy Shopping!

Stocking Fillers for Your… Boyfriend

Mixed Gems Guide to Christmas

Today is a very special day at Mixed Gems. For the first time ever, I will be featuring a guest blogger!

With Christmas around the corner, I decided that it would be lovely to focus on some festive pieces for the next few weeks. As I brainstormed many topics, I found myself wondering whether I would, in fact, be the best person to cover them? When it came this particular piece I admitted that the answer to this was most definitely ‘no’, and so, instead, I enlisted the help of a charming friend. Meet Theo, and enjoy his piece.

Primarily a writer, and disciple, of all things sport, I occasionally dabble in other subject matter: an insider’s guide to running marathons, various travel pieces, homosexuality in sport, a fool’s guide to student politics. That kinda thing. Having recently graduated with a degree in French and English, a lot of my views were refined whilst a resident of French-speaking Canada (a far cry from my native West Midlands, not to mention colder). When not writing, I tend to drink whisky or run marathons. One or the other. Follow me on Twitter, @LeRowley.

Stocking Fillers for Your… Boyfriend

So, Christmas is approaching. At an unfathomable speed. To us men, that normally means one thing: we have to reacquaint ourselves with the dreaded ‘s’-word. Yes, the shops. Or at least (/best), an online equivalent. However, our personal toils and travails are all worth it when we deliver presents that astound the recipient by actually being impressive, heartfelt, generous gestures. And, the flip-side of the coin, we are equally smug as we devour the giftwrap off our hotly-received loot. But what, in the festive ephemera, is there which will elicit such an ecstatic response? Which goods, products and booty – nailed-on dead-certs – will astonish the man in your life? Read on as I glean both the virtual high street and the actual (albeit, less-preferred) one to deliver a list of ten things which would all be as well-received as the cancellation of X-Factor.

USB Fridge
Picture the scene: you’re sat at a computer, throat like a sawdust factory’s floor, and the nearest beverage dispensary requires you to leave your seat. Could this possibly be… the end of the world…? No, it most definitely is not! Because, sauntering to your rescue is this Bobby Dazzler of a present: a fridge, big enough to hold one 330ml can, that can be plugged into your computer! Wow. Fear not, my thirsty friend, help is here.
- Price? £20.99

The Ultimate Gadget Charger
In today’s technological day-and-age, where there is a gadget available to complete even the most mundane of tasks, comes this life-saver: the ULTIMATE gadget charger. Forget all those horrible wires, dangling everywhere, and all those plugs hogging the sockets; from now on you need only this beast to charge all those treasured bits of awe-inspiring machinery.
- Price? £59.99

Onitsuka Tiger trainers
Yes, trainers are a conventional present. But these are no ordinary trainer; these are the critically-acclaimed, universally-popular, celebrity-endorsed Onitsuka Tiger trainers. Durable and stylish, they are a real bargain at a penny under £50. They look good, they feel good, they smell good… they are good. Solid multi-purpose foot attire.
- Price? £49.99

Personalised Sports Mugs

Everybody drinks copious amounts of tea or coffee of some form (green tea is my preferred tipple). We’re a hot beverage-loving nation. So why not capitalise on this by splicing the name of your chosen one on to a mug, as he gets in on the action of a famous sporting victory! He could be beating Roger Federer at Wimbo, vanquishing the F1 championship or collecting the famous urn as he leads England to Ashes victory.

- Price? £9.95

Sterling Silver Personalised Silver Lid
A bit more obscure, this one. And, bizarrely, quite expensive. But those are both good – nay – great things! Quirky and lavish are always two endearing characteristics. And this is no different. Does he like Branston pickle? He does? Terrific! He may need never fear for confronting the pickle of someone else dipping their fingers in his pickle again.
- Price? £169.99

Terre D’Hermes aftershave 

Everyone enjoys smelling like a deliciously freshly-plucked flower. And everyone enjoys being complimented on how good they smell (although the above metaphor may attract replies of bemusement, rather than gratitude). This scent is sure to have – in the best possible way – other peoples’ nostrils going into overdrive. I’ve been a keen fan of Terre d’Hermes for a couple of years now and I can vehemently declare that it really is a classy, timeless, arousing scent, astounding noses everywhere.
- Price? £47.90

‘The Hangover 2’
Yes, a DVD is an unoriginal, unimaginative, characterless present. And usually my immediate thought, when receiving a DVD, is that the donor was all out of ideas. BUT… The Hangover 2 is, without doubt, the funniest film of the year. Hilarious and ridiculous in equal, unequivocal proportions. And it’s something you can indulge in together, as to share views on the disgustingly good-looking Bradley Cooper.
- Price? £9.97

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturiser
Those skincare aficionados over at Kiehl’s have done it once again: a moisturiser which not only reinvigorates skin, but is also a doozy for providing a soothing relief, post-shave. And it makes skin kissably smooth!
- Price? £36.00

A bottle of Grey Goose vodka
We all like a drink. No more so than at Christmas: family around, another year to look forward to (in your company, of course), sorrows to drown with endless hours of soaps dominating the television. Time to go wild. But, put down that can of lukewarm Carlsberg! This, THIS, is a drink to cherish, a drink to enjoy, a drink crafted by the gods themselves. Grey Goose is the daddy of vodkas; if the good Lord himself was to frequent the local tavern, this would be his drink of choice. Whether mixed with lemonade or enjoyed straight – over ice, of course – this is a classy, exquisite, tasty tipple.

- Price? £45.00

Golfers Tee Mug
Reverberating back to the mug theme, this is an ideal accessory for any man’s work place. A mug, yes … but the best bit is that it has an in-built archway, at the bottom of the mug, so that, along with the miniature golf club and ball, you can practise your swing when sat at a desk. Genius.
- Price? £8.99

A guest post by Theo Rowley

Rest assured girls, your Christmas shopping just got a whole lot easier! What did you think of Theo’s first post? Leave me a comment and let me know what your favourite recommended items were.