IYAAJAY // MENS STYLE BLOG: mblogger

BIRTHDAY / XMAS HAUL ft ELEMIS, POLAROID, COS & CAROLINA HERRERA // IYAAJAY

December 28, 2015

Hey guys, so sorry I haven't been able to blog in a couple of weeks (what with Christmas and the joy of working in retail over this time, if you do, you'll know how horrific it can be at times) but during this period I turned 23 and also Christmas came and went quicker then a box of shortbread that family always seem to give you when it comes to the 'what do we get everyone? gift'

But alas, I made it through and thought Id share a little snippet of what I got from both of these occasions and my thoughts on them too.

COS SWEATSHIRT

I picked up this COS sweatshirt for my nan to give me for my birthday and Im obsessed with it already. Its the softest fleece I've ever felt in a sweatshirt and gives that perfect mix of comfort and flexibility within my wardrobe. If you think this looks a little bit of a shapeless jumper, make sure to check out my Instagram post here to see how I styled it when I wore it on Boxing Day. COS's quality is second to none and I really think this is worth the slightly higher price then say other brands.

ELEMIS GIFTSET

After falling in love with the Elemis Marine Cream (make sure to check out my review for it here) I was itching to try some more from them so I was super happy to be gifted their giftset which features their Revitalise Me Shower Gel and the Deep Cleanse Facial Wash which are both high on my to try list. I can't wait to use these as I've heard some great things about their products from other people, especially Bart from In Haute Pursuit who is literally the go to guy for everything skincare related!

212 VIP by CAROLINA HERERRA

Im super happy to finally have this in my possession after lusting after it for months! I first smelt this before I went on holiday and couldn't pick it up at Duty Free and I've found myself, everytime I passed a counter, I HAD to spray some of this as its just too good to say no to. This 100ml bottle is sure to last me some time too!

POLAROID SNAP CAMERA

Ive been the biggest fan of Polaroids for as long as I can remember and was super happy to finally get one in the form of their latest release, the SNAP. This camera uses the ZINC technology, giving it the ability to photo and print without any mess or worry of smudged images which is perfect for the festive period which I used constantly. I can't wait to get a hanging frame to peg all the photos on! This will also come in handy during the summer, especially on trips and the festival season.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and an amazing New Years too! See you in 2016!

Until next time guys,

Jay

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Also don't forget to use the code 'jaylovesFRENDS' for 15% off ANY FRENDS headphones at their official site, with the offer being valid until the 31st December, perfect to treat someone special this Christmas or to just spoil yourself!

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Brace yourself for a very honest 'Whats in my bag'

Since being at my new job, Ive found myself carrying more and more stuff with me and finally decided to get a bag that'll be adaptable as well as looking stylish to boot.

Whilst on the hunt for the perfect tote, I came across this little beauty which would solve all my ever-growing amount of stuff or so I thought. Topmans Premium Black Canvas Tote Bag is unfortunately a little disappointing to me as I thought this would really solve my problems but has actually added to them. The top straps aren't long enough to put the bag under your arm unless you've got super tiny arms which for a tote defeats the object, and are just big enough if your going to hold it, which is near on impossible due to the flimsy nature of the canvas, which is ideal if your bags going in a locker all day, but is a little bit of a pain when carrying. I thought the saving grace would be the long strap, but was I wrong. The long strap cannot be adjusted in any way so its either full length or nothing, which is brilliant if your tall, but being 5ft9, hits mid thigh to below knee, making it awkward to walk as your constantly walking into your bag, smacking it with your leg, or if your realllllly lucky, you end up with scratches from the stitching on your leg if your wearing shorts.

Unfortunatly because this bag is a premium item, it can only be returned to a flagship or online but because I received this through my colleague discount, I can't return it so Im now stuck with a bag that doesn't really work for me at all.

So far, so bad.

I always make sure I have a pair of sunglasses with me at all time due to suffering from really bad reaction to bright light so I usually chuck my Rayban Original Wayfarers in my bag as they go with everything and also have G-15 lenses which are perfect to combat bright light.

Now, I know your probably think this is quite girly, but I usually have a pouch of plasters, hairbands and a tiny container as you never know when your going to need them. I have an entire pack of hairbands in there just incase someone needs one or mine snaps, and a ton of plasters as I'm prone to blisters and being on my feet the entire shift each time does urge on the issue of blisters. I bizarrely always also have a small plastic container in there too just incase, for any reason, if I have to take my earring out and don't want it getting lost in the depth of my bag. It also comes in handy if you have a button thats come off etc.

If I'm carrying a large bag, I always make sure that I have my bigger wallet then my tiny card holder because I'm more likely to need more then just my card. In here I usually have change for parking or food, my colleague card, and other usual wallet items. This wallet has actually held up really well as I must of had it for around 4 years and theres been no damage or fraying which is surprising, especially seeing the amount of abuse its received from all my spending. Now I also wouldn't get anywhere without my work lanyard, so I ALWAYS make sure its in there too because I'm prone to losing items like this (I must of lost about 6 name badges where I used to be)

As I park outside of town and walk in, I always make sure I have a can of deodorant with me just incase I do get too hot during my walk in and nobody wants to see a hot mess at work do they? My current favourite is the Sanex for Men Invisible antiperspirant deodorant as I tend to wear a lot of black or white to work and don't want any signs of either staining or white marks that deo's can usually cause. I also make sure I have a travel dry shampoo in my bag to combat greasy hair, especially if Im going to wear a hat at work and don't want greasy roots. I bought this Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo Mega Instant for holiday and have continued to use it for work as its a clear spray so theres none of that chalky residue, and it really works quickly to remove excess oil, perfect for work! This may sound weird, but I can't have normal tissues. I find them quite course and rough so always opt for Kleenex Balsam pocket packs as they're perfect for flinging into your bag on the go but you don't have that risk of causing red eyes or nose which is never a good look. And I honestly wouldn't be human if I didnt have crappy old receipts in the bottom of my bag, I mean who doesnt!? (If you answered no, then I will check!) Luckily going through my bag made me throw them away as they're usually just food ones and I never really need them.

What do you have in your bags? Anything you can't leave without? Let me know below!

Until next time guys,

Jay

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Now, heres a little question I got asked on MBloggers, a great platform for male bloggers and also a major influence for the posts I create, which is

'what's the one piece of clothing (shirt, shoes etc) that you think is worth spending the most money on?' and it really made me think 'What do I get the most use out of and would spend money on?'

My answer: Man bags

I know this is a weird answer, especially with such classics in my wardrobe like the classic biker, or the best pair of jeans, but once you own them, you don't really tend to repurchase them. However, with bags, I feel they're almost like an investment as I only buy ones that'll last me years (Think back to one of my first posts on my Cambridge Satchel Company Satchel which I still adore and use to this day) and they're probably the most functional thing you can spend money on too. My latest addition to my collection was a joint birthday and christmas present from my nan and grandad which was my Michael Kors Jet Set carryon that I found, surprisingly, at TK Maxx for £100 reduced from £475 originally. Now I know people still cringe at spending £100 on a bag, but to be honest, if your going to use it and take care of it, I would think nothing of spending up to £500-£700 on a bag (I know its mad but bare with me on this) as you can use them for a multitude of occasions plus they're incredibly functional and add that finishing touch to your look, whether your going out to work, or a long weekend away.

I adore the finish of this bag as the Saffiano leather is incredibly durable and hardwearing without being too over the top. However, the one thing I wish I could change about this bag is the fact that its the Camo print as I don't feel it goes with everything unlike a black or grey version would, but I still love this bag for its functionality and design aswell as the options it gives me. The large top zip opens to show a slot which is perfect for your iPad or Macbook Air, as well as a key loop and smaller inner zipped pocket, leaving you plenty of room for your other things. I've taken this bag out when I needed to take my Macbook Pro and camera with other items and found there was more then enough room. The outer two open top pockets expand which is perfect if your trying to find important documents or cards (This bag is meant for travelling) without damaging the leather which is also an incredibly handy function. Another little issue is the fact that even with nothing in this bag, it weighs around 4lbs which, when you look at flight restrictions, only leaves 2lbs for carry on luggage plus also limits you to how much you carry during the day if you use this as a day to day bag.

I think this bag is a really good one if your looking for a versatile bag which can adapt as quickly as your life does, but I would definitely do some more checks if this is the right one as if you buy one full price, they are not cheap by any means, especially when Marc by Marc Jacobs, Saint Laurent and Mulberry offer similar bags in the similar price range too.

Whats the one item you would spend the most money on? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter.

Until next time guys,

Jay

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IYAAJAY // MENS STYLE BLOG

BIRTHDAY / XMAS HAUL ft ELEMIS, POLAROID, COS & CAROLINA HERRERA // IYAAJAY

WEEKLY WANT : THE CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL COMPANY MAGNETIC BATCHEL // IYAAJAY

NEW IN ft MARKS AND SPENCERS & TOPMAN // IYAAJAY

WHATS IN MY BAG : WORK EDITION // IYAAJAY

UNIQLO METROPOLITAN MAN COMPETITION PRIZES // IYAAJAY

MINI TOPMAN HAUL SS15+SALE EDITION // IYAAJAY

KORS FOR CELEBRATION - BAG REVIEW // IYAAJAY

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