Tapp’d are an Essex producer of the UK’s only “mixologist quality” bottled cocktail range. And they sent us TWO boxes of these delicious cocktails to try.  Suffice to say, we did a lot of “trying”.

Lockdown is lifting and the temperature is soaring. The perfect time for cocktails, right? Pubs open on July 4^th but if you’re not in the mood to venture out, then let the cocktails come to you.

Chelmsford based Tapp’d – Welsh for ‘crazy’ – have been doing roaring trade during lockdown.  I can confirm that their bottled range tastes like it was shaken or stirred right in front of you. And now we can all enjoy these beauties via delivery- from a selection of five classic cocktails. You can order a box of 6 or 12.

Sex On The Beach: Peach schnapps, fresh orange & cranberry, perfectly blended with over proof craft distillery vodka.

Pornstar Martini: Real Passionfruit & Vanilla, perfectly blended with over proof craft distillery vodka.

Mojito: Real lime & fresh garden mint, expertly infused with over proof craft distillery rum.

Strawberry Daquiri: Fresh strawberry puree & real lime, passionately blended with pirate’s grog spiced five-year rum.

Espresso Martini: Fresh Arabica Espresso & Vanilla passionately blended with over proof craft distillery vodka.

Here’s my other half Judge Jules enjoying his favourite – The EXPRESSO MARTINI – before his live stream last week.

Tapp’d offer full UK delivery via our courier. Courier delivery takes 2-4 working days (shorter in certain Essex postcodes). 

Ordering for someone else or as a gift? Their boxes are the perfect present and you can add a note in your order at checkout.

For FREE click+collect – Collection address is – Moulsham Tap, 54 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0JA – orders can be collected from 9am-6pm 7 days a week.

Firstly, welcome to my birthday weekend. And with that out the way, a question. As the first Digital London Fashion Week opens its online doors, how will the fashion industry look, post Covid-19?

The pandemic has left the fashion industry reeling. As a consequence, LFW is digital and gender neutral for the first time. Small businesses have been pushed to the brink of survival, whilst consumers are examining their relationship with their clothes. And whether said relationship should change. Will we – should we – still shop? Will independent brands survive? What about influencers? And will everything that’s happened finally mean that sustainability gets taken seriously? 

WILL WE STILL SHOP?

Absolutely. But how we shop will likely change. The new fashion landscape will be challenging, but as consumers we have the chance to help rebuild it into something carefully contemplated and of more substance.

BUY LESS, BUT BETTER

We’ve been forced to pause, causing many to experience an ‘I’ve got way too much stuff in the wardrobe’ epiphany. A seemingly unstoppable, escalating cycle of newness has been the norm for too long. Could this be the start of a more conscious fashion era?

POSITIVITY

It’s been inspiring to see so many fashion brands unite behind worthy causes during the crisis. Consumers will be more likely than ever to demand that their favourite brands ‘stand for something’ – and shun those that don’t. We need to contemplate where our clothes come from and who made them, contemplated equally to the priority that we give to shapes and styles.

FASHION WITH A POINT OF VIEW

Middle of the road won’t cut it. With so much competition for our money, it will be the brands that offer something different (whether original design or a refreshing brand ethos) that will thrive.

WILL INDEPENDENT BRANDS SURVIVE?

There’s no denying – the current crisis has hit the fashion industry hard. High-street giants and luxury behemoths aren’t immune, but for independent designers – many of whom rely on wholesale orders that have been cancelled – this is a terrifying moment.

IS THIS THE END OF FASHION WEEK?

In normal circumstances, we’d be gearing up for June’s London Fashion Week Men’s shows right now. But this year, we can’t have a physical event. We don’t know when we’ll be out of lockdown and, even once we are, people may not want to rush back to large-scale events. On top of that, many designers can’t get access to samples, mills are closed and design studios are empty.

TIKTOK

The teens’ favourite video app has come into its own, with people passing time perfecting Drake dance routines and recreating their favourite scenes from Friends. Its appeal? TikTok is not about being ‘perfect’, it’s about having fun. Expect to see brands tap into its potential, hoping to woo a younger (or not) audience.

Anyway, onto this week’s issue, and we check out the new PRIDE collection, Fashion Face Masks and why we must all stop being snobby about Primark.

The online retailer Pretty Little Thing has released a brightly coloured collection of clothes and accessories for Pride month, even though the annual Pride events won’t be happening in 2020 due to the pandemic. With prices starting at £6 (and going up to £55), there’s something for everyone, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Yes, it’s just £6 for a flag or £10 for a slogan tee and the most expensive item is a sequined fringe jacket for £55 – the one I’ll be wearing this summer. The collection is available in sizes 4 – 26, i.e. something for everyone.

The entire range is available online now – but get it whilst you can as we can’t see stocks lasting long.

From bold rainbow prints to psychedelic tie dye, there are multiple options to find your perfect loud-and-proud Pride outfit. Keep it simple with a statement pride t-shirt and jeans or go bright and bold in rainbow head-to-toe.

The campaign continues the brand’s ethos with #everyBODYinPLT, with 100% of profit going to various registered Pride charities across the UK. I’ve picked out some bits from the Pride collection that you’re bound to love.

Proud Slogan T-Shirt, £10

This T-shirt is perfect for showing your Pride. The white material tee with a contrasting proud slogan is the ideal t-shirt silhouette. Team this with denim shorts and chunky kicks for a relaxed look.

Pink Tie Dye Love Crop T-Shirt, £10

This t-shirt is at the top of my list this season. Featuring a pink tie-dye fabric with a ‘Love’ slogan and a cropped fit, team this with the matching skirt and fresh trainers or ankle boots for the perfect Pride combo.

Multi Stripe Cycle Shorts, £12

Take your look to a whole new level with these cycling shorts. Featuring a multi stripe material with an elasticated waistband and the fit? Super comfy. Style these with the matching crop top and complete the look with a pair of chunky shoes, boots or trainers.

Multi Tie Dye Crop Top, £10

Make your look colourful and bright with this crop top. Featuring a multi tie dye print material in a length that’s been cropped perfectly. Pair with the matching shorts to complete the look or wear with jeans.

White Love Is Love T-Shirt, £10

This t-shirt is the perfect pride purchase for a relaxed look. Featuring plain white material with a contrasting Love is Love slogan and t-shirt silhouette – we’re obsessed.

Pink Tie Dye Bodycon Skirt, £10

Switch up your weekend look with this must-have skirt. Featuring a pink tie-dye fabric with a bodycon fit, team this with the matching tee.

Head over to the PrettyLittleThing website to shop the full collection and more, now.

New government rules come into effect as of this week, requiring everyone in the UK to wear a mask or face covering on trains, trams, buses and in some taxis.

For some, this may be nothing new, having adopted mask use since the beginning of lockdown. For the rest of us, we now need to buy a mask, or other face covering adhering to the new rules.

On-line searches for masks have already surged by 496%. Fashion lovers are seeking masks that express their personal style, in some cases looking to the world’s most powerful fashion brands for something more stand-out. With demand skyrocketing, the most-wanted styles are now listed for many times their original price on resale platforms.

Predictably, key high street brands have started to sell their own reusable masks, from Mango to ASOS. With so much more choice available, people are seeking out styles that they feel comfortable wearing. Just like the shoes on our feet, practical, protective clothing can also be a signifier of personal style.

These printed masks by Alice & Olivia not only look chic but, with every purchase, the brand will donate one mask to the medical community. Alice & Olivia has also announced it will be donating 5,000 face masks to medical centres.

www.aliceandolivia.com

Collina Strada, Fashion Face Mask with Bows, £80

Alongside giving customers a free face mask with every purchase on its website, NYC-based Collina Strada has launched fashion-forward face coverings with its signature bows – ‘Welcome to our 1:5 ratio, with the purchase of 1 mask you will be providing 5 masks to healthcare workers in New York City.’ Click here to see the brand’s tutorial on DIY face masks.

collinastrada.com

LoveShackFancy, Face Mask, £15.93

Each one-of-a-kind mixed-print mask is made with hand-dyed fabrics and sewn with love by local seamstresses in Palm Beach, Florida. For every mask sold, LoveShackFancy is donating a mask to healthcare workers who are fighting on the front line.

www.loveshackfancy.com

Baukjen, Non Medical Face Masks – 5 pack, £25

Baukjen has partnered with one of its manufacturers in Portugal to make non-medical masks for personal use. The masks are made using 100% soft cotton leftover fabrics and cut-offs with no inner lining, which have been treated with an anti-bacterial coating for extra protection. With every purchase, Baukjen will ensure another 100 masks are distributed directly to The NHS Volunteer Army, other volunteers and the public.

www.baukjen.com

Helmstedt, Safety Mask – Beestract, £30

These tiger-striped masks are made using upcycled deadstock fabrics from Helmstedt’s SS20 collection, with profits going directly to WHO’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

helmstedt-online.com

Brora, Liberty Print Face Mask, £19

Brora has launched Liberty print face masks with the goal of raising £10,000 for NHS Charities Together. Retailing for £19, Brora is donating £10 from each sale to the charity

www.brora.co.uk

Florence Bridge, Picnic Baby Blue Face Mask, £12

Florence Bridge is a London-based fashion designer, renowned for creating classic contemporary womenswear from quirky digital printed silks, patchwork leather and shearling textures. The brand has created a collection of unisex facemasks and 25% of sales will be going to the @fuelourfrontline charity who are delivering essential groceries to hospitals around the UK.

www.florencebridge.com

British High Street shops are open again. And so are social media’s pack of anti-Primark snobs.

Primark re-opened this week, with people camped outside its doors from 6am waiting in anticipation.

It seems like the public aren’t too SHOCKED or ANGRY about queues outside Selfridges, Zara or the Bicester Village. They are, though, ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED and DISGUSTED that people are lining up outside Primark.

I accept that people are worried about a second wave of Covid-19, and some are genuinely dedicated to curbing so-called “fast fashion”. But actually, much of the negativity around Primark is because of snobbery – regarding the brand itself and regarding those who have to live on a tight budget. To give one example of snobbery, there’s been a meme on FB and IG this week stating, ‘Imagine camping outside Primark so you can get your £1 thong.’ 

A lot has been said about the ethics behind their fast-manufacturing process, their sustainability and their social responsibility.  But the company is selective about the factories they work with and labour sources. When possible, they opt for natural and manmade fibres and have worked hard to ensure their supply chain of cotton is as sustainable as possible – decreasing wastewater, investigating chemicals and building local business networks for farming communities. Unlike some luxury brands, like Burberry, which have come under fire for disposing of unsold clothes by burning them, Primark practices a recycling initiative, which donates unsold clothing and samples to the charity Newlife. Meanwhile, all other unwanted materials like used carboards, plastics and hangers are recycled or recovered.

Anyone who has actually shopped for women’s clothes knows that Primark items can’t be bought online. So yes, if you want to shop at Primark, you will have to go into a physical store. Hence this week’s queues.  

So, please drop the Primark snobbery. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that I have enough and appreciate what I have, wherever it’s from.

The days are getting longer, and everyone’s starting to crave those delicious summertime rituals – that Balearic trip, al fresco lunches, and maybe shopping for a cheeky new Zara dress to refresh the summer wardrobe.

But the country is still in relative lockdown. And we have a ridiculous quarantine in place, preventing travel (unless we want to stay cooped-up for 2 weeks upon return). Restaurants are only open for take-aways, and non-essential shops open after this weekend.

As you might imagine (although I’m not necessarily sure I’d agree), Zara falls under the category of ‘non-essential retailer’. 

If you’ve gone out for a food shop lately, you’ll know that we’re not going back to a ‘normal’ high street shopping experience just yet. Social distancing measures are everywhere.

According to a Zara representative, the chain will “have measures in place, fully aligned with the UK requirements.”

The British Retail Consortium has issued suggestions on how non-food retailers should prepare:

• limiting the number of people in-store at once
• encouraging customers to shop alone where possible
• scheduling deliveries to avoid crowding
• regularly cleaning door handles, lift buttons and hand rails
• using floor markings to remind customers to maintain a distance of 2m

Other things you might see in businesses moving forward: hand sanitiser stations, plastic partitions, socially-distanced queues, workers wearing masks and gloves, and far less direct contact with shop staff.

I have to say, I am excited about shopping again, and can handle the relative pain of the measures listed above. Even Primark re-opens on Monday – without any restrictions at all. So, Zara or Primark? It’s a tough one…

In this week’s issue, we bring you a Father’s Day gift guide, reveal the must-have summer staple and realise that pink definitely makes the boys wink – in agreement.

Rosé-coloured menswear is the way forward this summer.

Perhaps you’re more familiar with drinking pink (and thank God, Whispering Angel season is back). However, this summer you might also consider wearing some rosé too. And my suggestion goes out to the boys, not the just the girls.

Pink menswear has experienced a sales increase of 124% since the start of May, which is in line with the hues revealed on the runways. After all, Dior Men, Louis Vuitton and Balmain all incorporated the colour into their spring/summer 2020 collections. From fuschia to flushed, the important message was that pink was going to be big for men this season.

You could also take cues from the red carpet.  This year’s Grammy’s celebration set the tone with Tyler The Creator and Shawn Mendes both sporting various shades of the colour to the ceremony.

Feeling bold? Rock a fluorescent fuschia à la Louis Vuitton. Feeling shy? Weave some pink into your daily ensembles with blush-coloured socks. These are the pink menswear pieces to shop now.

Ralph Lauren Lightweight relaxed-fit linen shirt, £245

Topman Farah Tim Crew Long Sleeve Sweatshirt, £55

Russell Athletic Logo-patch organic-cotton jogging bottoms, £52.50

Billionaire Boys Club Pink Cotton T-shirt, £85

Polo Ralph Lauren Logo-embroidered crew socks, £9.80

Emma Willis Pink Patchwork Boxer Shorts, £50

Balenciaga Triple S Clear Sole leather and mesh trainers, £695

H&M Oversized pink sweater, £9.99

2020’s Grand Slams may be off this summer, but that doesn’t have to spell game set and match for your tennis fashion.

As a lockdown-permitted pursuit, if a tennis match is on the cards, make sure your outfit is as on-point. And a tennis skort is this year’s must-have garment – something that doesn’t have to be limited just to the court either. Yes, if your pins are in shape, you can wear the skort as part of your summer wardrobe. Paired with a crisp white shirt, funky tee or slouchy hoodie, they cover all your bits and keep your modesty intact. They are surprisingly flattering too.

These are the tennis skorts we’re loving here at AZIU.

Ellesse’s Trionfo Skort

The classic one. Part of ellesse’s SS20 collection, the traditional crisp white Trionfo skort features internal shorts, a comfy elasticated waistband and a woven orange ellesse badge just above the hem.

Ellesse Trionfo Skirt, £20

Sweaty Betty’s Crosscourt Tennis Skort​

A skirt that holds your phone for that post-match selfie. Sweaty Betty’s white skort features a handy zip back pocket that fits up to an iPhone 11 or Samsung S9, plus a built-in ball pocket in the inner shorts.

£65 

Lululemon’s Play Off the Pleats skirt

This slim-fit skirt from lululemon features side-slits that let you move freely as you play. Pleated panels under the slits keep you covered. Available in silver lilac or springtime white.

£58

Nike Court Slam Skirt

French Open ready: Nike’s sophisticated Slam skirt is Parisian-inspired for on-court elegance. The pleated blue skort features bold coloured stripes and layers of lightweight fabric that spin and flare as your match heats up.

£59.95

Artengo Tennis Skirt

For players who like tucking the ball into their undershorts: Artengo’s moisture-wicking fabric features two built-in ball pockets and was specially designed to hold the ball in place, even during intense matches.

£17.99

June 21^st is my favourite day of the year. Why? Because it’s my birthday, my son’s birthday, summer solstice, the longest day of the year, Midsummers Day and our future King’s birthday.

And this year, it’s FATHERS DAY too.

It has always been a struggle to buy the men in my life gifts, whether at Christmas, birthdays or father’s day. Usually, I opt for socks or a bottle of Jack Daniels. I’m just so much better with girlie gifts.

But in 2020, there is a massive array of choices for men, from Hipster’s grooming kits to Dad Bod Tshirts.

This has to be the best website with the coolest ideas for your Dad, and you have two weeks to get your order in, with no risk of breaking the bank during lockdown. 

The following can all be delivered to your Father’s address with a personalised message.

Menkind.co.uk

Welcome to June. I simply can’t believe we are half way through the year already. And I’ve spent most of it on the sofa watching Netflix.

BUT – it looks like the lockdown is finally being lifted, in baby steps of course. Best news for my other half is football returning, and he couldn’t be happier.

Although, as a season ticket holder Gooner, he can’t yet physically see his team (Arsenal) play – it’ll initially be behind closed doors. But they’ll be on TV soon, plus next season in their new kit – which I have to say – is awful!

Arsenal’s new 2020-21 away kit has been leaked online, with a blood-splattered pattern that looks like someone’s been mauled by a rabid dog. The usual “Fly Emirates” logo has also been altered, with the company name now accompanied by the slogan ‘Fly Better’ underneath.

But the most shocking part of the kit is a number of elongated red marks slashed across the shirt, which resembles less the marble halls of Highbury and more a Halloween costume. It’s as if Freddy Kruger has been let loose in the changing rooms.

In other news, in the UK we are now allowed out with 6 friends for picnics, which is what I’ll be doing for my birthday later this month. Many of us have gained lockdown weight, and we all know that alcohol is “a second on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”. So, you can imagine my joy when this week I was sent two beautiful bottles of “light” Prosecco and sparkling Rose from the ‘Think Wine Group’.

They have spent almost 2 years creating a light 100% vegan and organic prosecco and sparkling wine with reduced calories and reduced sugar without any compromise on taste, and with personal delivery to your front door. All with pretty bottle shapes and cool logo. Thoroughly recommended – check them out:

www.thinkwinegroup.co.uk

Onto this week’s instalment, and we discover the top twenty most iconic garments from the past 50 years, reveal the protective suits that we could be wearing for future clubbing, and as Ibiza opens its doors to tourism again, there’s a brand-new beach club on offer, from the people behind O Beach and Hotel Wiki-Woo.