Groomed

ZARA MAN slim-fit white shirt, MALCOLM AUSTRALIA silk blue paisley vest, black dinner jacket with satin peaked lapel and VERSACE black wool pants. Matched with black bow tie, silk paisley pocket square and LORD CHARLES handcrafted black leather shoes.

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DEFINE YOUR OWN WEDDING STYLE THIS SEASON BY MIXING AND MATCHING CONTEMPORARY AND UPCYCLED DESIGNER PIECES WITH RETRO ACCESSORIES. STEPHEN HARRIS OF DAPPA CLOTHING SHOWS US HOW IT’S DONE.

T.M. LEWIN blue shirt, black slim-fit suit jacket with contrast shawl collar and VERSACE black wool pants. Matched with retro braces, LORD CHARLES handcrafted black leather shoes and a freshly picked rose.

ZARA MAN slim-fit white shirt, GERALD AUSTIN ‘Black Watch’ tartan jacket and VERSACE black wool pants. Matched with green bow tie and a white-linen pocket square. T. M. LEWIN blue shirt and ROGER DAVID dove-grey cotton suit. Matched with retro braces and a freshly picked flower.

“A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, “ put them on with care and then forgotten all about them.

HARDY AMIES, BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER

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SHAVE

CLOTHES MAY MAKETH THE MAN BUT WHAT KEEPETH THE LATEST FASHION ACCESSORY, FACIAL HAIR, FROM COMING OVER ALL CAVE-DWELLER?

Of course, it’s nothing new. Men were preening and pimping their pompadours and goatees long before the metro-bushranger look was ever a thing. Styles may come and go but one thing is certain, good grooming never goes out of fashion.

Con Kazantzidis from Lithgow’s Shave the Man, aka The Stray Whisker brand, says there’s a worldwide resurgence in men’s traditional grooming practices, including wet shaving – using a double-edged blade and old-style razor with real shave soap and a brush.

“Many men are spending more time on themselves, and are being rewarded with a better shave and great-looking skin,” he explains. If that’s not enough incentive to go old school, Con says giving up disposable razors and cans of pressurised shave goo is a good move for the environment.

Con’s online store offers local and imported products to aid this trend. “We’re not about getting rid of beards, just about better grooming. Our motto is, ‘Shave it off or keep it nice’. We’ve helped guys get beyond the annoying itches and beard dandruff [yes, it’s a thing!] so they can achieve ultimate-hipster or bushranger status,” he says.

WEDDING SESSIONS The idea of offering men’s wedding sessions came to Con when planning a farmer’s wedding. “Tim Maybury [the farmer] was already into traditional wet shaving and I had been speaking to him about the benefits, both financial and skin health, about 12 months prior to his big day,” he says.

Tim became obsessed, devouring all 70 or so videos on the Shave the Man YouTube channel. “There was no hard sell – he was hooked,” says Con. “So, when he decided to propose to his now lovely wife Annah, he thought it would be great to have all ‘the blokes’ in the wedding party set up with a wet-shaving starter kit and a brief how-to session.”

The sessions include two hours of information, hands-on training and a great swag to get blokes started in the world of traditional wet shaving. “We feel it’s best experienced as a buck’s weekend or groomsmen ‘bonding’ experience. A week or so out is probably best, as they will have their technique honed for the wedding-day shave,” Con adds. BML

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• A brief history of shaving through the ages, plus an explanation of what wet shaving is and why shaving is important. To shave or not to shave for your big day… that is the question. • A step-by-step tutorial on wet shaving. • Aftershave options, colognes, eau de toilettes and scent profiles.

The goody bag includes a DOPP kit bag, EDWIN JAGGER Safety Razor, STRAY WHISKER 452/24 Synthetic Shaving Brush, EDWIN JAGGER or ST JAMES OF LONDON Shaving Cream, STRAY WHISKER After Balm and the option of OLD SCHOOL Aftershave Splash or Cologne.

CUTTING EDGE

ACHIEVING THE ULTIMATE BEARD LINE AND PERFECT SKIN IS ALL ABOUT USING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS. TRY GIVING THESE QUALITY GOODS A TRIAL RUN IN ADVANCE OF THE BIG DAY.

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1. FINE ACCOUTREMENTS ‘Snake Bite’ Classic Shaving Soap $21.95. 2. SCRIPTO ‘Tribute’ Gold-etched pen (comes with matching pencil), $110. 3. EDWIN JAGGER Premium Shaving Cream in Limes & Pomegranates, $22.95. 4. PHOENIX ARTISAN ACCOUTREMENTS ‘Cavendish’ Classic Shaving Soap, $26.95. 5. THE MISTER BRAND Wooden Barber Straight Edge Razor, $65. 6. CORRYNNE’S NATURAL SOAPS Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Cinnamon & Sandalwood Soap, Real Man’s Soap, Rosemary and Orange & Clove Soap, $13.50 for three, from Body & Being. 7. EDWIN JAGGER Shaving Stand in faux Light Horn (part of 3 Piece Shave Set), $129.95. 8. THE STRAY WHISKER 452/24 Synthetic Shaving Brush, $39.95. 9. FINE ACCOUTREMENTS ‘Snake Bite’ After Shave Tonic, $29.95.

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1. THE MISTER BRAND Charcoal Copper Alloy Double Edge Razor, $55. 2. EDWIN JAGGER Long Lined Safety Razor, $49.95. 3. WEIRDY BEARDY Beard Buff, $39. 4. THE MISTER BRAND Natural Beard Oil, $33. 5. THE MISTER BRAND ‘The Earl of Grey’ Natural Shave Soap, $20. 6. THE STRAY WHISKER After Balm 120ml, $21.95. 7. EDWIN JAGGER Pearl-effect Safety Razor in Blue, $45.95. 8. THE MISTER BRAND Shave Butter, $33. 9. WEIRDY BEARDY ‘The Raven’ Beard Oil, $48.