Latest in the “you can sometimes get nice surprises from big brands” series, I went to have a look in Devred for the first time in…ages! And I found this little leather jacket:

-Hey, this jacket’s nice! Let’s take a closer look. Yeah, it’s really nice: I like the pocket design and the aviator style zip. Ok, I’ll try it on!

Here we go: one arm, the other…And the verdict in the mirror: perfect cut, it fits perfectly! And only costs €80!!! But what’s it made of?

Polyurethane. Of course, at that price, it’s no surprise that it’s synthetic, and not leather. However: it won’t wrinkle and doesn’t need looking after. And my last real leather jacket cost virtually 7 times the price!

So I bought it Ideal for mid-season wear. If you want to get your hands on one, hurry (a trusted source says there aren’t many left) and take care of it, because although it doesn’t need much looking after, it’s not the toughest of materials (hey, that’s the deal!) See Devred stores.

This is the latest installment in my adventure “on the trail of Men’s beauty parlours”, with a trip to “Il fait beau” at 51 rue des Archives, in the Marais (they have another salon at 57 rue des Peupliers à Boulogne). It opened two years ago, and offers a modern, stylish setting for beauty treatments using [comfort zone] products. [comfort zone] is an Italian brand that specialises in spa treatments.

On the menu: facial and body treatments, relaxation, hand and foot care and hair removal! For the latter, “il fait beau” also offer light pulse hair removal. My first test (undertaken in a beauty parlour 2 years ago) left me unconvinced, but according to the beautician, who was also sceptical at first, it works! I might try it out again sometime…

In the mean time, I tried another facial (the last one was a month ago, and once a month is a good frequency). This facial was carried out using [comfort zone] products. There is a wide range with around a hundred products to suit all skin types (dry, sensitive, mixed, oily etc). If you’re not sure about your skin type: a facial will always start with a test to determine which type it is! This allows the beautician to choose the right products, which will also help you choose your own.

At “il fait beau” there are several treatment rooms, which are all quite small (yes, like in most salons, they make the most of the space!). But that doesn’t really make a difference: you spend most of the hour with your eyes shut. And we’re off: cleanse, tone, and moisturise… And you leave feeling fresh as a daisy, with a new face! Once again: I feel good!

Bonus: the salon boasts a beauty parlour and a Power Plate® area on the same premises (for those you want to try it out at the same time). It costs €40 for an eye treatment (30 min) and €65 for a facial treatment (60min) including cleansing, oxygenating luminosity treatment, calming treatment or deep moisturising treatment.

As spring has been slow to arrive, how do you fancy a hoodie? I will show you a selection of a few good brands so you don’t catch a cold during this rather temperamental end-of-season weather. The first in the series is from American Apparel.

They’re well known for their basics and their premium quality, and American Apparel offer a wide range of products, from t-shirts to jeans, ladies’ tights and mens’ underwear. They offer a wide choice of quality stuff. Another unique point, not to be scoffed at either, is that all their products are made and produced in Los Angeles. A little slice of American class! As recognition of this, each garment is labelled “Made in downtown Los Angeles”!

As for their hoodies, there’s nothing too unusual, they’re a little thin, they’re neither too bling or too cheap looking, with a good balance of the subtle and the simple, using block colours and well-finished styles. Now all you need to do is to choose the right colour…from €45! Available from their stores or online.

More coming in the next few days… Stay tuned!

Let’s start with a non-trendy style, as it never goes out of fashion: the aviator, which has been present in every new collection since it was created by Ray Ban in 1936. This basic has once again formed the inspiration for many fashion houses (Dior, Cavalli, Tom Ford…) and designers (Berryl, Porsche Design…).

The main trend at the moment is without a doubt vintage. Ray Ban’s other bestseller, the Wayfarer, a 50’s model, was very popular last year, and this success continues this season.

This vintage trend also includes styles from the 60s, 70s and 80s. My favourites: The seventies revival with streamlined and chunky shapes. I love it! This year, there are more square, geometric styles.

But the most noticeable thing this season is the return of colour! If you like the 80s, you’ll be in your element: Bright colours and large frames are back with a vengeance! White, yellow, red or green, the emphasis is on fun!

Over the next few weeks, I’ll invite you to discover a selection of sunglasses from these different styles. A range that, I hope, will turn you into shades experts, if you aren’t already

Vichy was one of the pioneers for mens’ cosmetics with the launch of its basic range in 1988. It was rebranded Vichy Homme in 2001 with the white, grey and red packaging that you may be familiar with. We have talked about it before with a test of the Silicium-R treatment (article in French).

As we mentioned in the previous test, the main problem with Vichy Homme was the image we had of the brand! Which they must have realised, as they completely changed the range’s packaging last year (I’m a little late writing this article but I can assure you that I’ve had more than enough time to try out the range!)

The rebranding works well, as you can see below. Nice packaging is important to keep you bathroom looking good! The range is made up of 9 products split into 3 families (anti-ageing moisturisers, moisturisers for different skin types, and cleansing and shaving products).

• For sensitive skin, Vichy Homme offers an anti-irritation comfort balm(Sensi Baume Ca), a shaving foam and a shaving gel.
• For tired and dull skin, a 24h invigorating moisuriser (Hydra Mag C) and an eye firming stick (Hydra Mag stick yeux)
• For greasy and imperfection-prone skin: a moisturising liquid (Normactiv CG), a cleansing gel and a shaving foam.

The textures are really great, the range offers reknowned active ingredients such as vitamin A (Retinol), vitamine C, calcium and magnesium, and of course the famous Vichy thermal water (for its calming and boosting properties). A great range at a fair price: think €17 for the moisturiser (available in chemists and health and beauty stores since October 2007).

More info on Vichyhomme.fr

The first l’Eclaireur boutique opened in 1980 in the 28m² basement of the Galerie Marchande at number 84 on the Champs-Elysées. Upon its launch, Martine and Armand Hadida, showed a taste for discovery and decoration. They showcased young designers and, in particular, introduced Marithé and François Girbaud to their clients. They sold the first Timberlands (favoured by Canadian trappers), along with Hogans and Tod’s (Italian driving shoes).

1990 is an important step in their story: they open a second store, which was much larger (300m²), at the Rue des Rosiers (at the heart of the Marais which had barely become fashionable at the time). It was the first time a store married fashion, furniture, decoration and design. It was a great success. L’Eclaireur became an Internationally-known name, and a real stepping stone for stylists and designers.

In 2000, they opened another boutique right on its doorstep, totally dedicated to men. This was followed a year later by the opening of a 4^th store at 10 rue Hérold (Paris 1st district), and a 5^th in 2006 at 10 Rue Boissy d’Anglas (8^th district), for women’s fashion, decoration and a bar restaurant.

L’Eclaireur offers a range of designers such as Ann Demeulemeester, Comme des Garçons, Giorgio Brato, Martin Margiela, Dries van Noten, CP Company/Stone Island etc… You can find incredible pieces there such as Laura B. silver, copper and crocodile belts, or Tobias Wistingen crocodile-skin wallet chains. In the range of waxed jeans, you can find the Kohzo brand, that will not be part of our selection, because of the exceptional price.

As you may have realised, L’Eclaireur is an exclusive, top-of-the-range store, which won’t suit all budgets, but it’s definitely worth going to have a look, a treat for your senses and your sense of adventure. And who knows, you may just go there and splash out! (see our Fashion Guide in Paris)

The opening of the April 77 did happen, as we said it would, and I decided to go and have a look. It’s at 49 rue de Saintonge, at the top of the Rue de Turenne, on the corner of a fairly quiet crossroads (Nearest métro station: filles du calvaires)

From the outside: The slim angle of the seven-storey red-brick building draws the eye, as do the white and green marble slabs above the windows.

Inside: Steven Thomas’s design works really well.

A few neon lights, furniture with beautful curves, a few old magazines, some vintage vinyl, a turntable…You wind your way through the world of April 77 like through a museum. Or maybe, you might say, like through a dressing room! This is perhaps because of the confined feel to the place, the shelves and the open wardrobes.

However, the design, impressive as it may be, is not all. This summer’s collection gives a real feeling of depth. On one hand, the influence of rock from, say, the 50s to the 80s is more noticeable than ever. It’s far from basic polo shirts with plectrum pockets on the chest and skinny jeans, which are undeniably popular, but are not really different from other brands. On the other hand the materials and details have been worked on, and some of it is really beautiful.

• Great looking, light, very soft, black-and-off-white cardigans with gold edging.
• Short-sleeved shirts and polo shirts with breast plates and/or black-and-white tuxedo shirts with unusual buttons.
• Some blazers, a silver Perfecto motorcycle jacket, and some very straight-cut trousers, that you might call well-cut, according to taste.
• Very retro “Supra” sunglasses in all colours.

All this work and investment comes at a price and the beautiful styles are as expensive as they are numerous, unfortunately. Even so, not all April 77 garb is to be praised, and you’d probably have trouble decking yourself out from head to toe in the store. All the assistants are very friendly except, perhaps, the store’s manager. Dont’ forget April 77 is also available from Printemps de l’Homme and Noir Kennedy. Even so, I recommend you go and visit their store. All the items are there (will be) and the ambiance makes the trip worthwhile!

The latest news from the brand is that a new online store, April 77 Market, will open soon. Along with a music label: April 77 Records! (see our Fashion Guide in Paris)

You probably see it at least once a day, it’s now a familiar shape. Comfortable, solid and stylish when required, the DUNK has become more than just a pair of shoes.

Cult and legendary, it was launched in 1985, transcending eras and styles, loved by basketball players, hip-hop masters or skaters… Whether Hi, Mid or Low, it is worn by the good and the great. Timeless and on-trend, it has become a reference point for all sneaker addicts.

Beside its status as a fashion accessory, the DUNK has become a symbol of a chilled lifestyle.

Once commonplace, but now idolised, the DUNK is back with a vintage edge and a range of colours paying hommage to American university basketball teams. This new range, called “Be true to your school” is available in Paris from Colette and Shinzo from €115. So you can have stylish feet this summer. Get moving!

I have the pleasure and honour of presenting you the new French Truckers team (straight off the back of the lorry). As of this week, we’ve some new truckers:

• “Streetwise” Jay, “street” fashion and culture correspondant
• Junior “the conker”, our youngest friend, “college trend” correspondant
• Vassilli our “Big Brother”, special envoy, who will regularly report on the forum’s hot topics
• “His Lordship” Pierre, our fashion correspondant, our Mr. Trendy
• Harry “the Albatros”, who will offer a global fashion perspective

We hope you will enjoy this new wave of fresh talent, and that we can travel far together! And, just to remind you of our existing colleagues:

• Spike “the seduction coach”, back soon with a set of questions and answers
• Dédé “the fixer”, who’ll keep us up to date with the things he finds
• Tony “the cement truck”, also back this week
• Nina “the hitchhiker”, who’ll be offering us some new spring articles

and, of course, you can always count on me to offer you new subjects! And the door is always open to new contributions… Good luck, welcome on board, let’s kick things off!