Brand Spotlight | KIR ROYAL

When one thinks of Kir Royal, what comes to mind is a simple cocktail with the refined taste of champagne. For me, the name has now taken another meaning - when I think of Kir Royal, what comes to mind is an exclusive men's clothes shop in the very heart of Valletta, right on St. Paul's Street.

I gladly made my way to KIR ROYAL last Thursday morning where I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Ludwig and we spent a couple of hours chatting away about fashion of course! I asked Ludwig what drove him to open a men's shop and without hesitating he answered that fashion is his main interest apart from his EU-related work, so while he is back in Malta on sabbatical, he decided that opening this shop was the way to go forward. He also stated that he wanted something exclusive; something that would give shoppers an experience rather than just rushing in the shop get what they need and rush back out again.

As for choice of place, Ludwig states that each time he walked down St. Paul Street, he always saw this abandoned place and it was only natural that once he made plans to open the shop he would choose that particular place. I must say he did a very good job at renovating it and now it houses an exquisite collection of formal and some more casual male attire.

What struck me the most in KIR ROYAL's little setting, is the way Ludwig manages to exude exclusivity even in the way he displays his stock - the feel of antique with a modern, fresh touch from the décor of the shop to the garments themselves really makes you want to return over and over again.

At KIR ROYAL one finds everything a refined man could ever need - from suit jackets to shirts, pocket squares, collar stays, shoes and even skin care. It is important to note that stock is limited to maintain exclusivity and one can also find that perfect little something for the dapper man in their lives. Ludwig personally curates the stock at KIR ROYAL and imports garments mainly from Italy as well as USA and Ukraine. In stock are also some high end skin care products for men.

I urge you to pay KIR ROYAL a visit the next time you are in Valletta and who knows, maybe you can start your Christmas shopping there! It may not be on the busiest street but to me, that further contributes to making your experience there worth while!

KIR ROYAL is also on Facebook. Alternatively, you can have a look at their website for more information about their Image Consultancy Service.

Spring Outfit Inspiration for Men with Paul Fredrick

Spring is in full bloom and this time of year is synonymous with weddings and similar formal events that require a specific dress code. While it is easier for men to get ready to such events (let's face it, all they do is just change up their shirt and tie and they are good to go with any suit; at least most of the guys I know do this), it is still nice to change everything head to toe every once in a while.

Here are some outfit inspirations featuring pieces from the new Spring collection by Paul Fredrick, an online US fashion retailer for men.

What better way to welcome Spring than wearing pastels? Try a light yellow shirt with interesting light blue accents such as cufflinks and a tie then complete the look with say a linen navy suit. Opt for tan shoes and belt as they look way less contrasting than black and complement the chosen colour palette effortlessly.

For Sunday lunch in a nice restaurant, pair a v-neck sweater vest with a checked shirt in complementing colours with a pair of linen trousers and classic boat shoes. A hat is optional but will definitely earn you some style points!

 

Do experiment with your style and change up your looks - it's not a thing only women can do ;)

Style Post | How To Achieve the 'Sharp Dressed Man' Look

Although the majority of them won't admit it, men are nowadays becoming more self-conscious as to their general appearance and they are putting in more effort to groom themselves and dress appropriately for whatever occasion.

Granted that nothing feels more comfortable than jeans, trainers and a t-shirt, sometimes you have to up their game; and well, here's a little helping hand at doing that the sharp, stylish way :)

First off, what does it mean to be 'sharply dressed'? Dressing sharp simply means that one is aware of their personal style and goes on to wear clean, fashionable clothes that actually fit. Everyone gets just one opportunity to make a good first impression and clothes are a good place to start. It is known that dressing sharp boosts self-confidence, draws positive attention and shows maturity and self-respect.

Probably the first images of sharply dressed men being conjured in your minds right now most likely feature exquisitely tailored dress shirts, suits and accessories to match. However, one can also dress down in a sharp manner accordingly.

Men who work in offices and such are more often than not required to wear suits and tailored shirts. For such conservative environments, it is best to stick to blacks, navy blues and greys. Shirts are best kept plain or if you really fancy patterns you can go for something pinstriped and instead of a tie, one can opt to wear braces for a more casual and relaxed look.

If your work place allows for an even more casual vibe, you can always pair a nice, fitted cashmere crew neck or v-neck jumper with a crisp shirt and tie combination over a pair of tailored trousers. Alternatively, a tailored cable-knit zip-up will look just as good. The elbow patches will up your style credentials too!

For weddings, a tailored suit, shirt and tie is the most obvious choice however, you can always add in a matching waistcoat especially if you're close to the couple. A complementing handkerchief in your outer breast pocket will give you a more elegant and sophisticated look. If you really want to further up your style game, cuff-links add a nice touch effortlessly.

Weekends are generally more relaxed but doesn't mean you cannot still dress sharp. For example if you're out about town or grabbing a drink with friends, you can always go for a nice casual blazer, pullover and chinos and loafers or boat shoes for a relaxed yet fashionable vibe. Alternatively you can opt for more colourful shirts and when the weather gets cooler, you can always drape a scarf round your neck or wear a baker boy cap!

Those are my style tips for dressing sharply, and I really enjoyed working on this collaboration post with Paul Fredrick. I encourage you to go have a look at their website for some serious style inspiration and exquisitely tailored clothing items for men like the ones shown in the pictures.