Here’s our favourite from the lookbook:

It’s great that the brand is using the owner Bobby Hundreds personal influence on the design. It really does give you a taste of the brands story and this Hawaii themed collection is set to sell out extremely quickly. Check out The Hundreds for more information.

The Knitted Tie

The knitted tie is an acquired taste and for sure is not everyone’s cup of tea but when worn correctly makes a strong formal statement. We covered the knitted tie back in our AW Essential Accessories article and it’s a timeless accessory which can be worn throughout all seasons. For the best results it needs to be kept simple, say a solid colour like navy, green, maroon or my personal favourite red paired with a crisp white shirt. Sharp.

The Holdall

One thing I’m not a fan of is gents using the free rucksack they acquired from their gym membership coming in to work. Now I know it’s a case of practicality but if you have any intentions of making a stylish impression lose the back pack and upgrade. Here are my choices….

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are the prime summer accessory for the modern man. Over the past 3-4 summers hands down the shades of choice have been for most the Ray-Ban aviators and wayfarers. For me these styles look best dressed down, so to push you guys in a sharper direction and considering the trends this season I’ve picked these shades.

Persol Steve McQueen Black Folding Sunglasses – £230.00

These are for me the shades for summer 2012 and the folding practicality of them makes it a handy feature for any working gentleman plus with our unstable weather! Also these were the “sunnie’s” of choice by the original style icon and king of cool Steve McQueen. Enough said.

 Reclaimed Vintage Clubmaster Sunglasses – £18

The key trend for men’s sunglasses this summer is the vintage look and these tortoiseshell clubmaster frames definitely do the trick.

Tom Ford Adrian Sunglasses – £299

Anything you put on from Mr Tom Ford is going to make you look cool. These razor sharp, aviator inspired frames are no exception.

Shoes

As the old saying goes “you can tell a lot by a man’s shoes”. And us guys should really adhere to this by making sure we get our footwear on point. I would definitely recommend investing in your footwear and having a few pairs on rotation to save your fashion investment (my favourite saying at the moment to justify my splurges!) going to waste. Also after care is essential and should be routine. There is no point in spending good money on shoes if you’re not going to look after them, so be prepared to put in some buffing time in to your schedule. Here are my recommendations for the styles you should go for.

The Classic Lace Up

The lace up shoe for work is the item that I see a lot of men struggle with in terms of the shape and style. Please, please try and avoid square toes and pointy styles in favour of a rounded, classic style like these…

The Brogue

There have been so many variations of brogues over the past few seasons with it being the informal shoe of choice. But equally the brogue embodies that classic sartorial look with a suit.

The Double Monk-Strap

I love this style of shoe and though classic, it’s very rare you see many men in a pair of double monk-straps. Definitely for the gentleman who wants to make a bold formal statement with his feet.

The Card Holder

Chunky wallets filled to the brim with anything and everything have got to go in favour of a sleeker more practical cardholder. Believe me when I say a bulging back or side pocket is not a good look. Neither is pulling out what resembles a leather bound bible when at the bar or in a restaurant.

In the next part of “my essentials” piece, I will be recommending formal shirts, watches, handkerchiefs plus giving tips and advice to improve your 9-5 look. Also if you’ve got any questions or queries, feel free to email me at danrhone@hotmail.co.uk or tweet me on twitter @danielrhone.

Infused with sweet Florida orange oil and a squeeze of grapefruit, ‘Gold’ Naran Ji Fine Liquid Hand Wash is Molton Brown’s original blend, brimming with naturally deodorising citrus antioxidants to keep hands clean and fresh.

We got our hands on a few samples from the collection and our favourite has to be the Bronze Re-Charge Black Pepper Bodywash. Blending fiery Madagascan black peppercorn oil with lively bergamot, this body wash is a great wake up call.

This collection of bodywash, handwash and aftershaves is a must have. Molton Brown really are connoisseurs, sourcing rare ingredients all around the world to produce grooming goodness. Based in London since 1973, their products are carefully created using skill and years of experience.

Shop the full collection of products over at Molton Brown

Today at MFM we’ve teamed up with Next, to focus on jackets for men for spring/summer 2012, taking examples from high street and the online retailer themselves. We’ll take you through the top three styles for the season –  with a focus on the sunnier months.

Athletic Jackets

This is one of the key styles coming through strongly in the past few months – think old-style American ‘letterman’ jackets and baseball jackets, with contrast sleeves and emblazoning on the front breast or writ large on the back.

An equivalent with a British slant is the Harrington jacket – which keeps the elasticated cuffs and waistband, but downsizes some of the bells-and-whistles accessorizing and detailing that can make athletic jackets a bit busy. This Selected Homme Harrington (pictured), sold through Next’s brands, is a key example of a ready-to-wear version of the look – quietly sporty, urban but easily matched with chinos, jeans or even, come the sunny days, long shorts.

Selected Navy Cotton Zip Through Harrington Jacket, £70

Hoodies and hooded duffles

Again influenced by the upcoming Olympics – or, more specifically, by the urban street style of the city’s more dynamic, eastern areas hosting the games – the hoodie is back, according torecent rise in trends. Cameron be damned, we’ll wear our hoodies and be proud, Mr Prime Minister.

If you don’t like the idea of wearing a hooded jersey or thicker cotton hoodie as a jacket (top colour: seal grey or a teal if you’re feeling colourful), then a hooded duffle (pictured), that other London favourite, is the smarter option.

Navy cotton hooded duffle, £55

Textured Blazers

Probably the least straightforward trend to summarise, the look for blazers and smarter, more tailored options this summer is well…more of a feel. Linen, cord or a washed cotton are coming through strongly for men, perhaps to give a contrast to the rough-washed chinos that are the trouser trend of the season.

So what’s your thoughts on our top three jacket picks for this coming season?

At first I was a little sceptical. Is this just a trend for the slightly lazy, unproductive and definitely fashion-foe student type that I seem to have been introduced to more often than not lately? Perhaps, I thought. But then they started appearing everywhere. Walking down the street – in the nicer, non student areas of my city, I may add – I’d see well-dressed men who have clearly befriended fashion and who have also very clearly benefited from a ridiculous gene-pool, wearing the checked jacket. They popped up again at a fashion talk I recently attended at Harvey Nichols. At coffee one Sunday morning there it was again, sitting across from me casually sipping on an Americano. It must be catching on however, I still feel a little sceptical. But, as they say, the heart wants what the heart wants so I’ve scouted around to find the best of the checked jackets and put together a guide as to what to wear them with.

The Checked Bomber

Only attempt this look if you can say with a significant amount of certainty that you are really, really cool. It’s tricky, but with the right styling it can actually look amazingly retro. Alexander McQueen’s version is seriously luxurious with its silk blend and will give you instant fashion kudos. Keep in with the nature of this jacket’s style and wear with black skinny jeans and a really sharp pair of shoes. N.B. Natural swagger and attitude is a must.

The Checked Trench

Possibly even more of a statement-maker than the bomber just by the sheer volume of check due to the naturally longer length of the trench coat. I’d say you’ve got to be pretty daring to wear this style and, personally, I’d go all out and wear with a brightly coloured shirt or jumper to show you’re not afraid to make a statement. Zara does a fabulous selection of basic knits in every possible colour you could ever need or want. Buy a variety to create a different look each time.

The Checked Blazer

If you’re looking for something more timeless and classic, possibly with a heritage twist, then the checked blazer is definitely the jacket for you. The check is much subtler on the blazer meaning you can either wear it with a statement piece or with other luxe basics in neutral hues for an elegant and sophisticated look. Perfect when you need a smart casual look for the weekend.

The Checked Country Jacket

If you have a natural aversion to the city and feel your time is much better spent in the countryside then fear not as there’s a style for you, too. This Sacai jacket is perfect for rolling around in the hay in – apologies if this is an inaccurate description of countryside activities, I must confess, it isn’t somewhere I often frequent. Its knitted blend, British colours and large pockets all scream countryside chic and its contrasting collar and cuffs adds a subtle fashion twist. Go the whole hog and team with chino’s and wellies for a truly heritage look.

Will you be wearing the checked jacket this spring/summer? If so, let us know which style you’ll be choosing and how you’ll style it.

For more on the brand and their Purple Label, check out North Face

“Chinos’ strength is versatility. “They can be both casual and semi formal if worn with a linen jacket or light weight wool/flannel blazer”, says a young man about town. Also, “they are available in a wide array of colours, from beige and navy to red or green, which  allows you make the “bottom half” of your wardrobe a little more exciting than just variations of jeans” adds another.”

With a variety of brands including Farah Vintage, Carhartt and Levi, here’s our favourites from the range:

To see the full collection, head over to Urban Outfitters

This subtle gold pendant, dachshund, by Do Do, will add a shot of charm and style to any look – Available from 31 Sloane Square

Keep away from feminine looking jewellery. This bracelet is just the way to show how cool you really are.

Alas, ASOS has just the backpack for you.  Brave the heaviest burdens with this tribal print backpack.

Dressing like a gentleman ought not be a bring task. You’re father would own a black or brown pair of loafers. One for winter one for summer. You, however know spring is reason enough to purchase these Ben Sherman oxblood leather saddle loafers.

There are times when less is more. Nivea for Men Active 3 Sport is one of those times. Whether it’s going to the gym for a quick workout or an overnight stay out of town, an all-in-one shaving and body wash is a cut above the rest. £.6.99 Available at Boots Drugstore

Never underestimate the smooth look of a knitted tie. It is a way of ‘quietly’ letting those around you know yeah I’m a man who likes to look good without being so stiff and uptight about it. Who would’ve known a tie could connote such a luxe leisure look? Perfect investment.

With its simple collar, button up cuffs, slim pockets, beautiful lining, Lacoste logo on the chest, and button up collar this jacket is a style classic, couldn’t be more ideal for spring time!

Add a smart finishing touch to your look with this classic Italian saddle leather belt from Ralph Lauren. Finished with an antiqued metal buckle, it is sure to be a favourite, no doubt.

What’s your key essentials this season? Let us know!