Design Matters | Ace & Tate Glasses

We welcome the newest contributor to Buckets & Spades, Graphic Design graduate Lucas Owens.

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If you haven’t heard of Ace & Tate yet, they are an Amsterdam-based eyewear brand with a handful of stores across Europe. I say "if" as they seem to me to be all over Instagram, well, at least on my feed they are.

One reason to this prevalent online presence is due to their clever social media marketing; encouraging people to share their #acessentials for a chance to win a free frame. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts I’m still yet to win!




They have strong links with the creative world, offering funds to up-and-coming artists, such as their new partnership with British design magazine It’s Nice That. This has since led to a collaboration between to two brands on a limited edition pair of sunglasses + lens cloth.

The company offer a variety modern frame styles, without breaking the bank. However, the affordable price does not effect quality; with all frames being made in Italy from high quality acetate – which cleverly forms the brand name.

I was ready for a new pair of specs due to a change in my prescription, so I thought I would give Ace & Tate a shot. The service was exceptional. You can order multiple pairs to try on at home, or alternatively you can pop by one of their stores, where they can squeeze the whole fitting and buying process into your lunch break. I opted to order a pair online, and after entering my prescription the frames were on their way.




The packaging is simple but visually appealing; a minimal white box, made from heavyweight card, with an embossed logo. The & glyph accompanied by two circles represent the brand without being too intrusive. A unique touch I liked was a coloured sheet in the box with a personal hand written message.

I have put the Pierce model to daily use for the past two months now. The frames are pretty light but feel sturdy and durable. If you wear glasses everyday you can find the hinges can become loose, but this hasn’t happened with these. I'd definitely recommend Ace & Tate's service highly to anyone looking for a quality product for a fair price.

Do you know of any brands who are being more subtle with their creativity on Instagram?

You can find Lucas at - Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter

Loake Shoe Fitting Service | Princes Arcade London

After previously visiting Loake's Northamptonshire factory back in May of last year I've become more aware that my shoe collection is way below par. I'm talking smart shoes here...trainers, now those I can do. For anyone that knows me (and probably you guys too?), they'll probably be able to count the times they've seen me in smart shoes on one hand. I'm all about comfort. Trainers hit the button, and have done for most of my twenties. I reckon I've worn shoes on two occasions in this past year, one of those times being in France on the Courvoisier trip. Good memories!

With a summer wedding coming up soon – as well as my own at some point – and my new appreciation for well made shoes, I knew when the time was right there would be only one brand I'd turn to.

I'd arranged an appointment at Loake's Princes Arcade store in London, just off Regent Street, bright and early one Friday morning. The man taking me through Loake's Shoe Fitting Service was Store Manager, Colin Austin. I was in experienced hands. We talked about my footwear history, the occasions I might wear shoes, which styles I'm most drawn to and my issues with wearing shoes on a regular basis. What was the real reason, had I become lazy and just got used to the feel soft, squidgy soles?

One of the main issues with footwear, Colin informed me, was that the a lot of people do indeed wear the incorrect size shoes. One of the reasons for this is because most brands simply don't offer a multitude of widths, alongside the standard shoe sizing structure. Another fact is the quality of materials used and construction techniques. Loake pride themselves on getting it right the first time, never rushing to produce a new style or keeping up with a passing trends.

Trying Out JUST EAT | Review

With keeping fit has becoming an increasingly high priority these days you may think a big ol' takeaway seems a bit of a miss. Well, I tend to keep an eye on things throughout the week and loosen the belt a little at the weekend. I don't know how Nik manages to keep slim actually, being a food blogger but also crazy on fitness? I can only assume he runs in his sleep.

JUST EAT is a food delivery service which collates all the takeaways in your local area into one simple list. Each category has a user-generated rating system, which results in impartial recommendations. You can order via the app or online, and the JUST EAT people deliver it to your door. With increasingly rumbling stomachs we downloaded the JUST EAT app and got to work with the menus.

JUST EAT would probably work perfectly in a multi-cultural city like Birmingham, London or Edinburgh, rather than a small town but we had plenty of options for Indian, Chinese, American + Italian. We were perfectly happy to stick with curry, and decided on Indian Orchard.

The app was easy to use, and within five minutes we'd placed our order. Indian Orchard didn't offer delivery, but as it was just around the corner from ours and we'd heard really good things we didn't mind collecting it. We couldn't fault their service, food or price actually, and scored them top marks on all accounts for our feedback. Overall the app was fast + easy to use. Bob on really.

JUST EAT have been putting together the Top 20 highest rated, and consistent takeaways across the UK for their Tried & Tasted awards.

The award recognises over 1000 restaurants out of the overall 8000 that have won Tried & Tasted for all four years, but out of the winners, 20 of best takeaways were chosen that had the highest ratings + reviews from cities that had accumulated the most T&T winners overall. And our town made the list! Lucky if one of those is in your town hey? Have you used the JUST EAT at all?

We were offered a voucher towards our meal in exchange for an impartial review, all views are 100% our own, as always.

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DITTO Eyewear | Virtual Try-On at Home

As clumsy as it may sound, I'm starting to get through glasses like there's no tomorrow. This year I've had two pairs of specs; the first I managed to loose in Dublin on my trip with ASOS and the second have ended up with skewiff legs due to me carrying them in a "trendy man's" leather glasses slip - Hollie's words not mine.

I've worn glasses since I was around 17 years old, only using them for driving and long distances, but I've always have an affection towards wearing them. I was constantly reminded of the fact that I didn't need a pair when I was a kid–I was only member of my family not needing a pair "full time"–but I always thought they evoked a certain cool but most importantly, adulthood. I'm usually trying to find a good excuse to wear my RayBan frames but I know the consequence is that I'll end up relying on them, then be stuck with lids for life! I do think round frames suit my face though, but it was trial and error finding the perfect style.

When it comes to looking for a new pair of specs there's many routes to take. It's pretty hard to decide whether to check out your local opticians, seek recommendation or stick to what you already know. DITTO are offering something a little different from the rest - the online eyewear specialist has developed some crazy futuristic technology that not only lets you virtually try on glasses from their full collection, but they've also designed the programme so you can twist your head around to see the glasses frame at every angle.

I asked the ever-willing Hollie to try on a few a few pairs of glasses using DITTO's try-on service, to give you a better idea of how it all works. We picked several styles to try from their designer glasses range; Wayfarer, Oval, Round + Oversized.

Currently DITTO's brand list includes Ray-Ban, Persol, Linda Farrow, Illesteva, Chloe, Super, so there was plenty for us to choose from for both male and female. The experience of "virtually" trying on a pair of glasses online before you order can only be a positive thing. We could clearly see which styles suited Hollie, and with a slight tilt of the head, which styles didn't! It was kinda spooky how real they looked on her. I did have a go trying on a few pairs too but Hollie is much more photogenic that I am!
 

Overall it's not only a fun service but also a helpful exercise to see if we are making the right choice, to avoid disappointment at home. The next time you're shopping around for a new pair of glasses–be that prescription or UV–it's definitely worth checking out DITTO's services. Plus they're Currently they're offering a $50-off incentive, easy international shipping + no hassle returns.

In Collaboration with DITTO

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Beer52 | Craft Beer Delivered To Your Door

Beer delivered straight to your door, sounds like the perfect package right? Well heck, it kind of is; the postman delivered my first shipment from Beer52 last week. Some folks get excited by their weekly Graze boxes, or bagging the latest trainers (guilty) but receiving beer through the door was a brand new one to me.

Beer52 is an online Craft Beer delivery service - the UK's most popular Craft Beer club. Each month you receive a selection of 8 beers, from all around the world; as chosen by their expert beer fellows. It's a monthly subscriptions, which can be cancelled at any time. You never know which beers you're going to get, so it's a surprise each time. Obviously it's mostly about the beer but I'm also attracted to the label + bottle design, as well as being able to recording what each beer on Untapped, which I discovered thanks to Nik. 
 
Above are a few of my first month's beers - I can't comment too much on each beer as I've only tried one, Froach Heather Ale; a malty Scottish ale with a punchy floral aftertaste. I'd like to have seen more beers from countries I know little about, but that's something to request for the future I think?

Use code "BUCKETS10" at the checkout to receive £10 off your first box, plus free delivery

 as standard!

What do you think of Beer52 as a service, would you consider using something like this? Be great to get some of your thoughts?

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The Chapar - Personal Stylist Review

Being busy is a done deal and all the hard work is bound to pay off some day soon. I hear these words quite a lot these days and it's that kind of thinking that spurred me on to finally take the plunge and go freelance full time. All is going well so far but if you don't put the hours in and stick to a schedule then you're screwed. 

Dedicating nearly every day of the week to writing/blogging leaves minimal time for leisurely days out shopping, so I was curious to find out how the world of personal home stylists worked. Being   dedicated to menswear and those with a busy lifestyle, The Chapar were my only port of call. With 90% of my own clothes shopping done online and having always taken a keen interest in personal style, I was interested in seeing how I'd get on with a stylist making all the choices for me.

A note from my personal stylist, Alison. She suggested trying out certain pieces together and experimenting with colours and fabrics. She's got me spot on! Really sweet touch.

How it works

The Chapar (who in history was the original courier) is a personal stylist service for men, created by father and son team. They came up with the idea of creating the perfect "Trunk", filled with individually selected pieces which reflect your own tastes and needs. The service is aimed at fellas who either don't really like to shop or have little time to do so, they'll do all the hard work or you. It takes the hassle out of shopping.

The Process

The actual process of signing up for my first Chapar Trunk couldn't have been easier. To set the wheels in motion all I had to do was fill out a short online questionnaire regarding my tastes, lifestyle and which brands I favoured. Shortly after I received an email from my assigned personal stylist, Alison, who then arranged for a good time to call me for a chat to gain a further insight into my own needs. 

Alison gave me a call at a convenient time and we chatted further about my likes, dislikes and if there was anything my current wardrobe was lacking. Even though I work from home I'm always out and about, so I mentioned I liked to layer up (with being a cyclist), being partial to a bit of colour and that my personal style is a mixture of casual sportswear, denim and tailoring.

My Chapar Trunk

Outfit 1 - Sunspel Vintage Wool Jacket, Hentsch Man Boat T-Shirt, Levi's Ivy Green 501, Nike Roshe Run c/o JD Sports.

Outfit 3 - Hartford Brushed Cotton Shirt, Albam Harrington Jacket, Jack Purcell c/o atoo, Levi's 511.

 Outfit 2 - Sunspel Airplane Sweat & Jersey Polo, Nike Roshe Run, Hackett Military Chino.

Only a matter of days went by until I saw the courier carrying the sizeable Trunk to my door. Inside was an array of garments from brands which I consider myself a follower of and also some other pieces which I wouldn't normally have chosen for myself. Alison had picked pieces which she thought would suit my own tastes and style but also thrown some stuff in there which were a little out my comfort zone. Above I've put together three of my favourite looks from the items in my Chapar Trunk.

Brands and Service

The Chapar carry a ton of brands, covering all the bases but to give you an idea my Trunk included items from; Albam, Ben Sherman, Dockers, Hartford, Hentsch Man, John Smedley, Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger and Sunspel.

The effort The Chapar had gone to was second to none, my Trunk was not only filled with carefully chosen clobber but also included a personalised note from my stylist, profiles on each of the brands and how the next step of the process works. Alison encouraged me to try on as many combinations as I could, which would give me a good idea to how each piece could work along with the rest of my wardrobe.

The Final Step

After a heavy trying on session the next step was to decide which items I wanted to keep and which weren't working for me. All I needed to do was contact my stylist and arrange for the trunk to be picked up, free of charge (same goes for initial delivery) from wherever is convenient. Arranging the collection for you takes away a lot of the faffing around at the post office, so you can sit back and relax. Once your items have been returned you pay for the pieces you have decided to keep and that's it! Easy.

Summary

Overall I was extremely impressed by the whole service that The Chapar are offering. Their attention to detail was excellent, from the presentation and branding to personal consultation and ease of use. It was quite refreshing to use a home service like this, I do enjoy shopping for myself and letting someone else choose for me was quite a daunting thought but it really did make things easy. One massive bonus is that the whole service is free of charge, you only pay for what you keep!

Thank you to The Chapar for inviting me to trial their service and to Alison for being a top notch stylish. I hope this review can be of some use to some of you, the service definitely gets the Buckets thumbs up.

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