Mr. Roe – Health & Medicine

With men’s fashion becoming more and more part of the mainstream, with everything from ranges of guys’ make up sold in high street department stores to salons specialising in waxing men’s most intimate areas, it was only a matter of time before guys caught onto the benefits of fake tan. The tabloids are always full of fake tan victims, those orange looking disciples who have overdone it on the bottled stuff, but thankfully there’s no need to fall foul to the same fate.

Now that summer is right round the corner, there’s no better time to start subtly adding a little colour to your skin. Sure, nothing beats a natural tan, as sunlight in moderation makes you and your skin look and feel great, but we don’t always have the luxury of dashing off on holiday every time we want to get a little bronzed. So, before you look out the summer shorts and T-shirts, first top up your complexion, as there’s nothing worse than being the pastiest bloke on the beach. Read more…

With summer fast approaching, you can hardly contain your excitement over the upcoming beach getaways, leisurely strolls through the city and outdoor parties. With that said, how much should you spend on clothes that will suit all these occasions and the hot temperatures that the season throws your way? The following eight tips will guide you in choosing affordable summer pieces that require minimal maintenance and effort. As a result, you will be able to spend your time enjoying every last second of fun in the sun–instead of agonizing over the state of your closet and wallet.

City shorts (also called Bermuda shorts) that end at or slightly above the knee are the ultimate versatile piece for summer. They can be matched with many different tops, making them a good choice for the office, being out and about during the day or a night out on the town.

More feminine and delicate than gladiator sandals, flat t-strap slides or sandals are a must. They are super comfortable and can be either dressed up or down depending on what you pair them with, for example a cute sundress or denim capris. Whether you choose a neon patent leather pair embellished with rhinestones or a plainer one made of dark leather, you are bound to find one that suits your style.

The summer sun is scorching during the day, but the temperature can still get chilly at nighttime or inside air conditioned places. The solution is a light blazer or capsleeve jacket in bright summery colors such as pink, violet, yellow or white. Throw it on over top of a camisole or a tube top when the temperature drops or when you want to avoid revealing your shoulders.

3/4 leggings are a summer staple. Whether you wear them under a short dress or a long tank or tunic, leggings that end at the calf are great for creating a casual, laid back look that takes only minutes to put together. If you are tired of the black and gray leggings you wore with boots and sweaters during winter, opt for a pair in a neon color or a pattern such as leopard or zebra print. When shopping for leggings, make your first stop American Apparel, which carries them in more colors than you can count.

The next time you are at H&M, Gap or Old Navy, grab a few tanks and tees in different colors. They are great for layering over each other or wearing on their own with skirts, shorts and jeans. The best part is that once summer is over, you will be able to keep wearing these tops in the coming seasons under sweaters, cardigans and long sleeved shirts.

Whether you wear it as a dress, skirt, or cover-up over your bikini, a sarong screams summer fun. To create a loud look that stands on its own, go for a printed or tie dyed sarong. If you are after a more understated look, then solid colors that allow for a lot of accessorizing are the way to go.

Found in the jewelry section of just about every store these days, bangle bracelets come in countless textures, colors and sizes. A stack of as many or few bangles as you like is a perfect way to adorn bare summer arms.

A white tote is the ultimate way to complete your summer look. Whether you are heading to the beach or running errands, it will fit all of your things without forcing you to sacrifice style. If you are looking for an investment bag that will take you through several seasons, opt for a leather or leatherette version, whose surface will maintain its appearance for a longer period of time. If you do not mind your bag getting dirty quickly and plan to toss it at the end of the summer, choose one made of white canvas.

Are you taking a summer vacation this year?  If you are, have you already started preparing for your trip?  Online, there are a large number of preparation tips available for summer travelers.  While preparation advice and tips may be of assistance to you, they are often hard to go by.  This is because not everyone vacations at the same location.  When preparing for your summer vacation, you are encouraged to keep your destination in mind.

No matter what your vacation destination is, you will need to take the climate into consideration.  If you are visiting a tropical location, you will need to bring along the appropriate clothing.  Bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops are common appeal found at beaches and aboard cruise ships.  While you may be expecting warm and sunny weather, it is still advised that you prepare for the worst.  Raincoats and an umbrella may be a great addition to your summer clothing.   Read more…

It is time to store away those warm winter clothes and welcome the summer months.  The first step in getting your summer closet organized is to remove just about everything from the closet.  Use the bed as a staging area to streamline your assessment.  Separate your winter clothes from your summer clothes and get ready to organize.

Big coats and bulky sweaters take up so much space.  Use specialty coat hangers to ensure that your coats are not badly wrinkled or misshapen during summer storage.  You can usually stow them near the back of the closet or in a spare bedroom.  Get boxes, plastic containers or big plastic bags for the rest of your winter wardrobe.  If you put them into a garage or basement, make sure that they are airtight.  If you need to create room for the winter clothes, consider using large shallow containers that will slide under your bed.

Winter boots and shoes are not really usable in the summer, so put them away, too.  Store them with an open box of baking soda, cedar closet accessories or dryer sheets to help keep odors at bay.  Shoes can smell when bacteria build up.  Here’s a trick for you.  A good way to kill the bacteria is to freeze your shoes before you store them.  Put them in large plastic bags that seal and stow them in the freezer overnight.  Store them for the summer and you will find that they are fresh when you take them out again.

Summer clothes do not take up much room, but you may have more items that need to be organized.  Beach bags, swim suits, swim cover-ups and beach towels may be added to your closet this summer.  Use a small dresser or install some small cubby-hole shelving in a corner of your closet to keep these items organized.

We go through a lot of clothing in the summer months.  We sweat, garden, swim and work in our summer clothes, so there can be a lot of laundry.  Get a good system down so that laundry does not sneak up on you and get out of control.  Place a small bin in your closet or near your closet that is just for wet or sweaty clothing.  This can be kept separate from your other laundry and washed often to avoid mildew.  It also keeps items that you wear over and over, like your swim suit, clean and handy when you need them.

Keep a couple of outfits out of storage for unseasonably cool weather.  Most people find that two pairs of jeans and a light sweater are sufficient, depending on the climate where you live.

You can help keep your dressers clutter free by installing a shelf in your closet.  Small shelves are perfect for stacking summer items, like shorts and towels.  In the winter, you can use the shelves for bins that contain scarves and gloves.

Another option is to buy specialty hangers.  Skirt hangers are great for hanging shorts.  They are easy to find when they are hanging and you will not have to fold and refold shorts that have been dug through in the dresser drawer.  The skirt hanger cascades items so that it holds around four pairs of shorts at once without wrinkling them.  They take up very little space this way.

Remember to use coat hangers for your winter coats and suits, specialty skirt hangers for shorts and you can even add cascading hooks to your hangers to save space in your closet.  You will be summer ready in no time.