It has always been deemed as a fashion-conscious world for females, but the same is also increasingly becoming the case for men. There is now a genuine interest from a male perspective in fashion, and equally there is no shame in admitting this, particularly as men also have an interest in looking their best. The world of men’s fashion is changing, and is now adding more diversity to men’s appearance through the use of jewellery.

For many years it was deemed ‘cool’ to wear a slap bracelet, particularly if you were a male during those school days. However, as time has progressed, the type of jewellery men have added to their appearance has also changed. There are now a growing number of men wearing earrings of all types, for example.

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The personification of suave and sophisticated, James Bond is perhaps as well known for his love of cars as he is for his love of women. In fact, many of his cars live on in the memory of fans long after those of the Bond girls have faded away.

The cars most associated with James Bond have never been your average family run around; after all it would be hard to imagine the super-spy driving a Ford Escort equipped with machine guns and rocket launchers! However, while James Bond did make use of more mundane vehicles when the need arose throughout his adventures, he is perhaps better known though for his use of those gadget-laden cars which featured heavily in the movies.

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So you’ve had the same jeans on for, well you can’t quite remember, and yet you may still have plans on going to the pub or club with them on. While it’s not a question on most people’s minds on an average day it’s still an important one: just how often should you wash your jeans? The answer lies in your personality traits; have a look below and see where you (or someone you know) fit in.

The ‘devil may care’ type – This type of person really couldn’t care less when he last washed his jeans. There may be splashes of chilli sauce from last week’s late-night kebab, but that just makes him more interesting, doesn’t it? He doesn’t care what other people think of him and he’ll get round to washing his jeans when he next goes round to his mum’s for Sunday lunch and she complains about the smell.

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Summer is here and the sun is out! Well, with a bit of luck it soon will be and with it a hot summer offering many opportunities to get to the beach and have some fun. But, before you head for the coast make sure that you are fully equipped to turn heads and enjoy your day.

Believe it or not, you can buy pink thong swimwear for men this season. It’s a brave man who steps out in those, especially if he’s with his mates, but for more sensible and stylish attire, buy patterned long swim shorts for the beach instead. Whether the pattern is on-trend stars or floral or block colours the rule is go bright! You may even want to go the extra mile and get a pair of authentic Hawaiian shorts, complete with palm tree design; they will make a statement!

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A salary is just one aspect of a father’s contribution to the household – they also save the household a considerable amount of money by doubling up as plumber, builder, painter, decorator, odd-job man, chauffeur to the kids, and homework aid, which would all add up if other people had to be paid to do the jobs they do as part of their role.

A helpful dad who does more than just bring home the money would earn an additional £16,484 a year on top of his salary, according to ASDA Financial Services, accounting for 156 hours of DIY a year and a whole host of other activities such as washing the car, gardening, and giving the kids driving lessons.

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Looking back and reminiscing about the past is all part of growing up. Remembering times when you had a funky car, listened to ground breaking music or when your favourite team had a memorable season can be really enjoyable. The term “retro”, which is derived from Latin, taps into all of that and has created an interesting and dynamic area of growth in fashion.

The world of fashion can be a fickle thing. Often items that just weren’t cool first time round and had long been forgotten can come back from the brink and enjoy a second wind. Retro is hot stuff with clothes from the 1950’s through to the 80’s becoming really popular again. From classic dresses to replica sport shirts;, the retro market remains diverse and consequently has mass appeal to people of all ages.

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There was a time when suits were merely a boring but necessary item people had to wear in the office. The suit originated in England around the early 19th century but took its name from the French word ‘suivre’ which means ‘to follow’. The idea being that the trousers and waistcoat would follow the colour and cloth of the suit jacket. Originally suits would be measured and tailored to an individual’s size and style, but over the years ‘off the peg’ suits have become much more widely available and popular.

The popularity of suits as a fashion item has run very much in tandem in with the James Bond film franchise. Starting with Dr. No in 1962, a succession of super cool 007’s have inspired and wowed men all over the world with their sleek looks and suits that were the epitome of cool. From Connery to Craig, style has oozed from the big screen and had a definite impact on the fashion trends throughout the last four decades. Who wouldn’t want to recreate the look of a perfectly groomed, charming and handsome spy who had a way with the ladies? Diamonds may be forever but the secret to staying cool is to change your suit when James Bond does.

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Not everyone is blessed with a great fashion sense. Whether it’s wearing socks with sandals skater shoes with a skirt or mixing black and brown, most people probably know someone who would benefit greatly from an extreme makeover. But the bottom line is that many people simply don’t care about how they look in every day life; after all, it’s the 21st century now, so anything goes, right?

Well, to a degree this is true. ‘Casual’ certainly seems to be the most dominant mode of dress in day-to-day life, and even seems to have crept quietly in to the workplace, where ties are no longer the norm and many offices even encourage ‘casual Fridays’ where employees can show up in jeans and a t-shirt.

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Online dating has come a long way since its inception; no longer do people hang their heads in shame at the ignominy of having to reply to the question ‘So where did you two meet?’ with a shamefully whispered ‘We found each other online’. Approval and nonchalance have replaced the previously felt embarrassment, as people recognise the value – both in time and quality – of either meeting their prospective partners online or dating virtually.

Time has become a commodity, with many choosing to focus on their careers and leaving settling down until their later years. However, with the rise in chasing personal aspirations, there has been a downturn in people having the time to date, much less the opportunity to go out and find ‘the right’ person.

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If, like most people, you can’t wait for summer to be upon us, you’ll be preparing to update your wardrobe for those hot days ahead. Perhaps you’ll be heading off to a music festival or two, or going on a great holiday abroad and are already counting the days. Or you might just decide to enjoy summer at home; but whatever you decide you’ll want to do it in style.

So, besides the weather, what else is going to be hot this summer? One of the most popular trends will be retro print t-shirts. TV shows re-aired from the seventies and eighties on satellite stations, combined with brand new series based in the era, such as ‘Life on Mars’ and ‘Ashes to Ashes’ have been responsible for creating a wave of warm nostalgia. In turn that has stirred the creative juices of today’s designers who have collectively decided to innovatively repackage and improve classic printed tees, and of course throw in some ideas of their own.

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