Look of the Week

Lina Chaparro is a super talented illustrator, and I am really pleased to be able to feature her work on The Rakish Gent this week. Influenced by an ongoing love of fashion, art & design she has studied as an industrial designer, whilst also taking courses in illustration and painting techniques. Her work is recognisable for the use of black lines and shapes mixed with bright colours. Her edgy creations are mostly made from adding ink and acrylic and through digital media. 

I am really blown away by the skill and detail in all of Lina's work, which you can see better in this close up on the details of the bag and shoes. 

The look that Lina has illustrated, styled by me shows my fondness for all things black. The amazing black leather jacket is from Acne Studios at Mr Porter and looks great when paired with black super skinny spray on jeans from Topman. The lace print detail on the Alexander McQueen bag adds an interesting contrast, especially with the Grenson brogue boots, also in black. 

Many thanks to Lina for her amazing work. You can find out more about her on her website, as well as follow her on Instagram and Facebook. 

Best Dressed of the Week - Mr Tom Hardy

The trench coat is an essential item for the English gent, and Burberry are masters of this iconic design. This week actor Tom Hardy attended the London premiere of movie The Edge of Tomorrow, in a beautiful double breasted trench coat from Burberry London in classic sand. It looks simple and sharp against a white shirt and navy suit and tie, and is a great alternative red carpet, and one that is perfect for rainy English weather. 

You can shop the iconic Burberry London trench now, at Mr Porter. 

Images courtesy of Celebitchy/ Mail Online 

New article for Topman Generation

My latest article for the great Topman Generation is now online. 

In this piece, I look forward to a highlight of the menswear calender - London Collections Men in June. Providing some guidance to the fashion challenged, I styled three looks that are front row appropriate - smart, street and so dam stylish. Of course, all of the items featured are available at Topman. I love this smart blue checked suit which is a great all day fashion look:

Head to the below link to read the article in full:

What to wear - London Collections Men

Lookbook - River Island Autumn/ Winter 2014

It feels as if Summer has not even arrived, and we are looking forward to Autumn. If the new collection from River Island is what we will be wearing come September, then it cannot come fast enough as far as I am concerned. 

The upcoming collection features a range of styles and inspiration - from sporty, tailored monochrome pieces, to on trend grunge influences. A fresh and modern silhouette is delivered in high quality fabric and design. Here is a closer look at the key trends for AW14 at River Island:

Generation X - skinny denim in light washes are mixed with tartan & leather for a youthful, clean, grunge influenced look. 

Frequency - think monochrome, in clean lines and a sharp silhouette that looks super sharp and modern. 

Vinyl - clean tailoring with punchy 1960s prints which create a crisp and modern mod look. 

Blinders - A smart and elegant collection with geometric prints, leather and woolen fabrics. Outerwear is incredibly strong, and the camel overcoat is a highlight of the range. 

Techno Folk - a directional and innovative range, featuring metallics, graphic and pop art inspirations. 

Shop the collection soon at River Island. 

New articles for Chasseur Magazine

My latest articles for the brilliant Chasseur Magazine are now online. 

For these pieces, I reviewed the new collections from Damir Doma Silent for AW14 which is refined and elegant sportswear, and the SS14 accessories range from Niels Peeraer. You can read both articles in full by clicking on the below links:

Damir Doma Silent 

Niels Peeraer 

Today I'm Wearing

The last Bank Holiday of the Spring is over, and so I have return to work, post Bank Holiday blues. Today I'm wearing a navy suit from Burton Menswear, with a white shirt and navy tie and pocket square, which are both from Reiss. 

Look of the Week

The list of talented illustrators to The Rakish Gent is ever growing, and this week that list grows even with the addition of the very talented Sapphire Shiohwan. Sapphire is a Los Angeles based illustrator, with an academic background in fashion design. She mostly works on small illustration projects as well as taking personal requests from newly married brides, to create wedding dress illustrations as keepsakes of their special days. 

Sapphire has shared her process with us, and it is great to see the efforts that she has gone to create this weeks, look of the week. 

The whimsical illustration that Sapphire has created has been styled by me and the focus of it is the incredible floral jackquard double breasted suit from Alexander McQueen which is a great alternative red carpet option to the traditional black tie. The crisp white Richard James shirt is available at Mr Porter. The accessories in this look are really versatile and work really well with the white/ pink tones of the suit. The Icarus pocket square from Reiss is in a beautiful blush shade, and the frankly amazing white Lulu Richelieu lace ups are available at Saint Laurent at Matches Fashion. 

A huge thanks to Sapphire for her great illustration. You can find out more about her and her work on her website, as well as following on Facebook and on Instagram. 

Best Dressed of the Week - Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival is not only a celebration of some of the best upcoming movies, it is also a display of some great Summer style. Here is a selection of some of the best Cannes looks, on and off the red carpet. 

Mr Ryan Gosling can do no wrong - his black Gucci tux, worn without a tie is the best red carpet look of the festival and he looks just as good in smart trousers and a rolled up shirt. 

Mr Adrien Brody stands apart in a three piece cream suit worn with white shirt. Pretty rakish. 

Mr Robert Pattinson does off duty cool in shades, black polo, denim and a great green Marni blazer, a great choice for Summer and currently at Mr Porter. 

French actor, Mr Gaspard Ulliel rocks a midnight blue tuxedo with white black lapels. 

Newcomer to the red carpet and star of the new Saint Laurent movie, Mr Pierre Niney looks perfect in Dior Homme. 

Mr Ryan Reynolds follows on from his recent Met Ball best dressed appearance, wearing Gucci again, this time swapping a red bow tie for a super smart white one. 

I am a big fan of Mr Sam Claflin's take on Summer red carpet dressing - add a silk scarf and pocket square and you have a great alternative to black tie. 

Mr Oliver Cheshire rarely puts a stylish foot wrong and his Cannes appearance is no exception in a perfect Summer look - smart trousers, loafers and a printed shirt worn with shades and a killer smile. 

Images courtesy of GQ Online/ Mail Online 

New articles for Entouraaj Magazine

Two new articles that I recently contributed to Entouraaj Magazine are now online. 

This week, I take a look at how to dress to get ahead in business and style a simple but stylish work look for those that can spend big and an alternative look for those on a budget. Entouraaj have also started a Men of the Week featured, headed up by me, which dissects the style of its stylish readers. You can read both articles by clicking on the links below:

Looking The Business

Men of Entouraaj: Week One 

Men of Entouraaj: Week Two 

New articles for Chasseur Magazine

Two new articles to Chasseur Magazine are now online. 

The two new articles are a look at the Spring collection of Joyrich, inspired by French culture and street style, and the AW14 range of Sandro Marzo who is trying to reinvent classical menswear. Head to the below links to read the articles in full:

Joyrich SS14

Sandro Marzo AW14

New article for Gent and Beauty

A new article for online wedding magazine Gent and Beauty is now online. For those that have not yet checked it out, Gent and Beauty is a great, inspirational wedding magazine with guidance on every element of the special day. 

For my latest article, I chose to focus on US based brand Bonobos who have just launched a range of cotton and seersucker suits (perfect for Summer weddings) and offer a unique Groom Service. Head to the below link to read the article in full:

Perfect Summer wedding suits from Bonobos 

Look of the Week

I am really excited to be able to showcase the talents of Mr Achraf Amiri on The Rakish Gent this week. Born in Brussels and now living in London, Achraf is an incredibly creative independent Art Director and illustrator. Inspired by fashion and art, his creations are self reflective with a touch of dark humour. His illustrations in particular, are much more than drawings as they procure real emotion and depth. 

Achraf's conceptual illustration is based on a look styled by me which is perfect for Spring. The key piece in the look is the beautiful blossom print Dolce & Gabbana shirt which works really well when worn with these belted, sharp grey trousers from Bottega Veneta (both available at Mr Porter). The trousers create an amazingly slim silhouette. Keeping with the wearing grey in spring tone, is the Lanvin leather pochette is large enough to carry a notepad or small electronic device. The Mr. Hare penet suede and leather loafers complement the rest of the look perfectly, and along with the Lanvin bag, is available at Matches Fashion. 

A big thank you to Achraf for creating the amazing illustration for this post. You can find out more about him on his website and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Best Dressed of the Week - Mr Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender is pure class. Not only is he one of the best actors of his generation, he is a red carpet star that always gets it right, whether in leathers and denim or in a suit at a premiere, as he is here. This week Michael Fassbender attended the premiere of the new X:Men movie, Days of Future Past in a beautiful three piece window pane check suit from Thom Sweeney. The brand are renowned for their superb tailoring and this look shows those skills off to perfection. The blue shirt and tie, which have a light contrast check in them are also from the label. The dark red shoes which complement the checked blue of the suit perfectly are from John Lobb. 

I love this look. It is ultra smart whilst still in keeping with the wearers character and personality. You can shop the Thom Sweeney three piece suit John Lobb shoes, both at Mr Porter. 

Images courtesy of Just Jared