Hair Cuts

Generally speaking men should have their hair cut about once a month. When at University many men fail to maintain this routine. The simple solution is to put it on your calendar so that you don’t forget and get a shock when you catch sight of your reflection in the mirror one morning.

When it comes to selecting a barber the simplest way to find a good one is ask a well groomed second year who they go to for a haircut. If you are a member of a club or society then it should be easy to find someone to ask.

If you prefer to find a barber for yourself then look for a pace that is busy even during the week and where you like how the barber has done their own hair. A barbers own hair is their calling card and if you don’t like their hair odds are you won’t like yours either once they are finished with it. In university towns you will often find barbers who offer a student discount and there may even be one on campus so keep your eyes open.

On a historical note the the red and white stripes on a barbers poll would have originally stood for blood and bandages. As the barber would also have been the town sergeant.

Character vs Shabbiness

I concluded my last post with the assertion that caring for your clothes properly will allow them to ‘develop the kind of character that something fresh off the rack just can’t match’. If like me you have been fortunate enough to have quality clothes for most of your life going to university will be a bit of a shock. Suddenly all that extra capital you used to have will be swallowed up by a never ending stream of bills. There are of course those who are fortunate enough to have ample reserves of cash that allow them to keep on carrying on, but the truth is most of us are not so lucky. Fortunately, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, we are in the middle of an economic crisis.

Allow me to explain that remark. We are faced with the same problem our great grandparents faced in the 20s and 30s; money is tight and our wardrobe is suffering accordingly. So let’s take our cue from them. Economics is the name of the game. If our great grandrelations owned a suit at all, you can bet it was made to last for life, and not for the season. This meant they invested in something versatile and timeless. Also, they did not discard clothes when they fell out of fashion or became worn.

So how do we take that into the modern age? Simple accept that things do wear out no matter their quality, and just keep wearing them. One of my favourite pairs of trousers are becoming noticeably worn on the hem. Will I stop wearing them? No way.

Now let’s be clear here, I am not condoning shabbiness. The wear on a pair of chinos or a cotton button down is fine. It should convey that kind of decaying elegance one associates with a country house or institutions of a bygone era. Wear on a white dress shirt or a suit, that’s not elegant it’s just shabby. You should be trying to invoke the ethos of the Roaring Twenties when you dress up you go all out. If you want to see what I mean look at the amazing HBO series Boardwalk Empire, the first series of which is now finally available on DVD.

A scene from the first episode of Boardwalk Empire.

A little wear on your daily clothes gives them character, but on your dress clothes it just looks shabby. In addition it can only be a little wear; you should not be going out the door with holes in your clothes. Also use your own good judgment. If all the clothes you are wearing have some wear on them then your invoking decay, not fading elegance.

A word on Storage

If you are investing in your wardrobe you need to invest in its safety. It’s that simple. Student houses are notorious for mould and a whole host of other problems that could cause to all manner of woe. So don’t take any chances with your clothes.

1. Keep suits and coats in suit covers and on unvarnished wooden hangers if you have them.
2. Keep knitwear in airtight containers or in old shoe boxes with moth cedar wood block (tape these to the top of the box raped in tissue paper to prevent them discolouring your prize sweater!)
3.   Keep shoes in shoe boxes and in shoe bags if you have them. Also put unvarnished shoetrees in your leather shoes when you finish with them for the day (you only need one pair of these, just put them in the last pair of shoes you were wearing). Try to rest your shoes for at least a day, it will prolong their life. 
4.  If you can, move your wardrobe away from the wall. If there is damp this will reduce the risk of it seeping in through the back of the wardrobe. I also highly recommend that you invest in some absorbent salts to mop up any excess moisture in the wardrobe.
5. Finally don’t take anything to university that you don’t intend to wear regularly. Not only is it a waist of space it is these items that will be at most risk of damage.

I would just like to clarify that I am describing the most extreme circumstance. For the most part student halls are fine and student houses are usually fairly good too, but it is better to be safe than sorry. I personally do not do absolutely everything I recommended but it is defiantly the standard I work towards. Remember properly caring for the clothes you have should always take precedent over buying new ones. Not only will it save you money in the long run but it will also allow your clothes to develop the kind of character that something fresh off the rack just can’t match.

The Book Shelf

I have added this list because there are some books that you just need to read to round off your education. I am not claiming this is the definitive list of those titles or even the best one available, but it is my list and I will add to it from time to time. Being well read is a great attribute to have and one that is frequently over looked. So dust of your old books and start reading.


'You cannot open a book without learning something' - Confucius.

My New Years resolution.

No points for guessing this one really its to actually write on this blog. I'm not going to give any excuses. I will simply be aiming to unload much more regularly from now on. Anyway Happy New Year. 

A long over due correction

Scarfs

So the start of a new term is right around the corner. I thought I would take this opportunity to put right a mistake I made when compiling the list of 10 items for the Autumn Term. I forgot one of my favourite seasonal accessories. The scarf.

I have loved scarf for as long as I can remember. I love the feel of them, the vast aria of patterns and textures. Scarfs are defiantly one area of my wardrobe where I have collected to excess.    

10 Items to Take to University in the Autumn Term

Here is a list of 10 items that you are going to need at University and probably for the rest of your life.

1. A good winter coat. This is an absolute essential. You need it when you walk around campus and for those horrible 9 AM lectures. You'd be amazed how many lecture theatres are freezing cold, even in the middle of the day during the Autumn term.

2. A V-neck jumper. You may want a couple of these to wear any time your room starts to get a little bit chilly or whenever you feel the need for a little bit of layering.

3. Socks and underwear. You really do want to stock up on these. It's amazing how many people bring enough clothes to university for two weeks but forget to pack enough socks. You're going to be on a tight budget so it makes no sense to be doing a wash just for these when you have enough clean clothes left upstairs for the next week.

4. A suit. One good all-purpose suit in grey or navy blue is a great investment, because there is going to be an occasion where you will need it. A suit is great for formals, socials and job interviews. Having one of these stashed away at the back of a wardrobe will help you stand out from the crowd and give you an air of sophistication.

5. A pair of boots. These are great for when it's raining and cold outside or when you have to face long walks to the shops to stock up on baked beans.

6. A satchel. This is an obvious one. A good satchel to will help you carry your books, writing pads, laptop and whatever else you choose to take to lectures. Make sure you get a sturdy one as the carry strap has a tendency to go on them. A good source of affordable, but resilient bags is the army surplus store and if you are lucky you might find an old Eastern Bloc leather carry satchel. Whatever type of bag you go for remember it should be hard wearing and waterproof.

7. The smart shirt and tie. You're going to need these to wear with your suit or you can wear them with your V-neck jumper when you want to stand out a little, but not a lot. The shirt should also be good for wearing on nights out you want to dress up a little. Just be careful that someone doesn't spill beer on it.

8. The good wallet. Preferably one with plenty of room for cards. You will be producing a wallet with frightening regularity over your first few weeks at University; you might as well invest in a good one. You will also be given a whole host of cards to carry, so make space for them to. That said, try to get a slim one as you're going to be carrying this all the time so there's no sense in making it any heavier than it needs to be. Also beware of putting it in the same pocket as your keys, as it will get scratched.

9. Jeans. You are going to want at least two pairs. Jeans are great because you can wear them with just about anything, they are hard wearing, and you can get away with washing them less frequently than other trousers.

10. A Sports jacket. Jackets like this can be dressed up or down depending upon the occasion. It's a nice change from the winter jacket when the weather is good, and you can invoke some good old-fashioned chivalry by offering it to the girl you're escorting home from the pub on a cold night (trust me they will remember).

With these 10 items you should be able to dress for any University situation. In the Autumn term it is key to layer your clothes to keep you warm and with this wardrobe there are plenty of options for practical but stylish outfits.