Its party time! Spring racing is here, heralding the start of the festivities. And although the spring racing carnival is all but over, the party season has only just started to heat up. Like a kid to cake, summer is all about parties. We love parties at Hip Industries and we know you’re just as excited as us at the prospect of the upcoming shenanigans. So how can we survive the party season while looking good, follow our tips for maximum results:

Consider the party invitation

To look good at a party, a man must dress according. Think about it: while dressing to a beach party in shorts and havaianas is expected and appropriate, the same can not be said for a corporate cocktail event. There are no hard and fast rules but these are our general rules of thumb for dressing the part at any event:

-  For formal invitations i.e. corporate cocktails and fancy dress functions, dress it up. Go for the nice tux or that suit and tie in the wardrobe that your been saving up. Think George Clooney and James Franco. Rock a tux to up the style factor for your next cocktail event.

-  Think casual for informal invitations i.e. by phone or email. Informal invites are a chance to show off your true self and your great sense of style.

-  Dress it down if you’re unsure. In summer, it is always better to look underdressed than over. You don’t want to be that over-dress party spectacle- it’s just not cool.

Colour

This summer is all about colour. They’re been drumming on about colour for the ladies since winter. The same rules apply for us men. Checked shirts with colour chinos, such as red or cobalt blue are a great weekend party look. Alternatively go for a shirt in this season’s bright bold colours with neutral or dark denim pants. Whatever you wear this season, it’s about bright colours and lots of contrast!

The sun is out and it is warm again which means only one thing. It’s spring! Gone are the chills of winter. Celebrate spring with colour and bright hues. Let in the sun shine into your life. This season’s spring/summer wardrobe is about colour and lots of it.

1. Bright chinos

Chinos are all the rage this spring/summer. Gradually coming out as the new must have pant, chinos are fast increasing in popularity as a go to staple. Coming in a range of colours from bright oranges to violet blues and the more traditional beige and khaki, there is bound to be one to suit every taste and whim. Just remember to get a pair that fits and your ready to rock and roll all summer. Roll them up for a relaxed summer look teamed with a tee and a fedora hat or dress up them up with a shirt and tie for a formal corporate look with a summer twist.

2. Bright shorts

The quintessential spring/summer must-have, the short is, as always, what spring/summer is all about. This season, the short is no longer baggy but fitted just like our chinos. Fitted shorts teamed with a shirt make for a sophisticated weekend stroll or party shenanigan. While stripy boardies are a great beach fit.

3. The Blazer

A need rather than a want, the blazer is once again a must-have this season. It is a perennial favourite because of its versatility and style savvy. Though on the pricey end of town, the blazer dresses up and dresses down your outfit as appropriate without any thought of your own (now you gotta love that). A blazer is always a true winner no matter the occasion. This season, get your hands on the new season stock of crisp white, navy or bright red blazers for a truly summer look.

4. The Man Bag

As usual, we love man bags at Hip Industries and you should too with the great range of new season bags out now at Hip Industries and beyond. Bags are the ultimate men’s accessory this season. Indulge is bright beach ruckus bags and totes for a summer casual look, while for work, we have you covered with our range of super sleek messengers perfect for your laptop needs and more.

5. The Shirt

The shirt is the perfect go getter. Versatile and trendy, shirts are no longer the domain of the office but perfect casual wear too. This spring/summer is about short sleeved shirts in coloured checks and patterns. For those less keen roll your sleeves to nail the laid back look of spring/summer.

6. Sunnies

What spring/summer list is complete with a mention of the ambiguous sunglasses? So here we have it, the sunglasses. Spring/summer is not spring/summer without a pair of trendy sunglasses. Sunnies serve the dual purpose of making you look stylish while protecting your eyes (now how good is that?). When selecting a pair of sunglasses remember to never buy into trends. Select sunglasses that suit your face. There is nothing worse than trying but not oozing the cool factor when wearing a pair of Ray Bans. A pair of sunglasses that suits your face is a thousand times better than the latest pair that doesn’t.

This week we put the finishing touches on our new website.  Since launching the website earlier this year we have received a lot of feedback and it has provided us with the ideas for our new store.

Online retail is always changing and we have to adapt to the pace of change.  We have designed our new website with a modern and contemporary feel to match our stylish bags.  We feel that it is more attractive and easier to navigate than the old website.

Let us know if you have any comments or feedback.

Photography done by Ross Macinnes.  Image credit.

Winter is almost here bringing with it chilly nights and cool mornings. You want quality clothes to keep warm but there’s no need to invest in a complete wardrobe overhaul. Get these winter classics for a stylishly warm winter year after year.

1. A Woollen Overcoat

A warm woollen overcoat is perfect for any occasion. Great as a formal look over your suit or even with jeans and trainers for a smart casual look, the woollen overcoat is effortlessly chic. A woollen overcoat will smarten up any outfit. Invest in a good wool blend overcoat for warmth and durability. With a great variety of colours and styles this winter from the duffle to tweed, the overcoat is a great way to add colour into your outfit. Choose a navy or charcoal version for a classical and timeless take on this perennial favourite.

2. A Woollen Scarf

A woollen scarf is the must-have winter/autumn accessory. The woollen scarf is versatile and stylish and perfect for layering or even adding texture or colour into a deary winter outfit. Choose a chunky knit to offset light cotton shirts or go for lighter woollies to compliment a heavy woollen overcoat. Just remember to compliment textures and colours by mixing them the whole way through. When selecting a scarf choose wool fibres and remember to steer away from acrylics. Acrylics will leave you cold no matter how thick they may seem.

3. The Leather Jacket

The leather jacket is your winter party essential. Light-weight but durable and warm, the leather jacket is effortlessly cool – think James Dean or Marlon Brando. The leather jacket can take you from the footy to that bar/club down the road. A perennial favourite, the leather jacket has been on the must-have list for the last few years and will stay for many to come. With so many styles of leather jackets available from the aviator to the bomber, there is no excuse to not get into the trend.

4. The V Neck Sweater

V necks are the ultimate undergarment for the style savvy man. Originally associated with the preppy college look, the V neck is now popular worldwide as a versatile garment great for casual or formal wear. Team it with a shirt and tie for work or on its own with chinos and loafers for a casual scroll in the park.

5. The Man Bag

The Man bag has received a lot of flack over the years but in recent times has been growing in popularity due in part to stylish superstars, David Beckham and Kanye West. Though it won’t keep you warm this winter, the man bag will certain carry your stuff in style from that woollen scarf to your iPad. Indulge in a man bag this winter and free your hands and pockets from all that stuff.

Your Winter Essentials Guide brought to your by the Hip Industries Team.

We often hear from customers and visitors that it'd be great to see videos of the bags in action. We have just uploaded videos of each of our bags on YouTube.

These videos give you a perspective of what the bags look like up close and helps you make a more informed decision before purchasing. Enjoy!

You can visit our channel at http://www.youtube.com/hipindustries

Image credit: http://www.trendsspotting.com/blog/?p=315

Over the last couple of weeks we got thinking about our brand.  We asked ourselves what we are about.  We talked to our friends and customers about what you wanted. The answer was clear. We started our brand with a vision in mind - stylish men's bags at affordable prices.

Our mission is to supply stylish men's bags that don't hurt the hip pocket.  This way you can buy the best styles at the best prices. And keep that loose change. As part of the launch of our brand we are taking 20% off all our bags, providing even more value to you.

We'd love to hear what we can do as a new store to deliver what you want.

It was reported this week that men's bags have fought off age-old prejudices to become the accessory of choice amongst style conscious men. However, during this time, men's bags have become heavier causing problems for our backs.

Fortunately for us, we sell bags that look after your back. Our range of men's bags are lightweight and durable, perfect for your back.

The Chiropractic Association also gives us these useful tips:

•     Alternate between both shoulders so the weight and pressure is distributed equally between them and keep the strap as short as possible

•     If you carry a laptop use a rucksack design laptop case, carry it on both shoulders and adjust the straps so that the bag is held close to your back

•     Avoid long periods of being in one position, move around regularly and stretch and exercise your back muscles regularly

•     Take regular breaks so that you don't tire yourself out

•     Only pack what you need.

We are proud to launch our new online store. Featuring a collection of three exclusive messenger bags, our store promises to deliver stylish bags at affordable prices directly to you.

We have designed our bags with the modern man in mind. These days men need a stylish place to carry all the stuff they are carrying - laptops, books, gadgets, you name it. We have come up with bags that look great and feel good.

This News section of our website is a chance for you to get to know us. At Hip Industries, we are passionate about our bags and our people. Here you will find plenty of style and fashion tips and an insight into the day-to-day running of our brand. We will also feature limited time promotions right here.

We invite you to voice your comments and suggestions to us so we can continually improve our products and service for you.