Top Funky Gifts

We’ve all been in the same boat when it comes to the frustrations of finding a gift for a friend or family member. Sometimes you know exactly what to get and other times you want to get something slightly unusual. We’ve done some research on top quirky and random gifts and here is what we’ve found. It suits budgets from £5 up to £120. Enjoy!

1. Brick Yourself £29.99

This gift is for the ultimate Lego fanatic. You simply upload a photo of yourself, add a few facts, outfit suggestions and hobbies and a mini figurine will be made for you. You can also add a few words underneath to finish it off. You’ll receive your gift as it shows in the photo below in a nice thick frame.

To find out more: https://www.firebox.com/Brick-Yourself/p7568

 www.firebox.com

2. Tweexy £14.99

A great gift for someone who loves to polish their nails. No need to be at a table while painting your nails. With this nifty gadget you can paint your nails anywhere and avoid spills, drips and smears. The Tweexy fits all shapes and sizes of nail polish and fits perfectly on your hand.

To find out more: https://www.firebox.com/Tweexy/p7552

 www.firebox.com

3.  Bobino Mobile Phone Holder £4.99

A daily struggle of charging your phone but then where to put it? This gadget answers all your problems. A very random but useful gift!

To get yours: https://www.totally-funky.co.uk/PROD4586/Mobile-Phone-Holder

www.totally-funky.co.uk

4. Polaroid Zip Instant Print Mobile Printer £119.99

Connect to your smartphone and print photos straight away! A perfect gift for that snap happy friend. Connects via Bluetooth of WiFi. There’s also an app available so you can edit and personalise photos before printing.

To buy: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4536257?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59158|cid:200290250|agid:12504931370|tid:pla-266598096149|crid:66128552690|nw:g|rnd:8137965298249593654|dvc:c|adp:1o4&gclid=CNr58N-stdICFRYo0wodQicIAw

www.argos.co.uk

5. Something Edible like a Giant Cookie or Biscuits £6.95 - £20.99

If you’re buying a gift for someone who has a sweet tooth then either a giant cookie or a biscuit selection would be very fitting. Who doesn’t like to receive something that they can eat?

Giant Cookie: https://www.funkyfoodgifts.com/collections/greeting-cards/products/giant-happy-birthday-chocolate-chip-cookie

Cookie Gift Box: https://www.funkyfoodgifts.com/collections/greeting-cards/products/happy-birthday-vintage-cookie-gift-box

 www.funkyfoodgifts.com

6. The Master Pan £49.98

A pan that can cook a whole fry up at once - sold! I can imagine this would make a lot of people happy and a great addition to your kitchen.

To buy: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/71133/Master-Pan-Divided-Frying-Pan-For-Cooked-Breakfast

www.lakeland.co.uk

Wedding Inspiration

Are you getting married soon or know someone that is? We have put together some ideas which we think would be great for a spring wedding.

Colours

Spring is a great time for pastel and neutral colours as it a time when nature is at its best with plants in bloom and new animals being born.

Coral is a very feminine colour which will give your bridesmaids a glow and add a gentle touch to the groomsmen outfits. Either of these bridesmaids dresses would look great with our Plain Coral Bow Tie and Pocket Square Set.

Or you could even combine coral dresses with gold mens accessories such as our Plain Gold Scrunchie Cravat and Cufflinks Set.

Baby Blue is another great colour for spring weddings as it portrays calm and serenity. You could pair baby blue bridesmaids dresses with ivory or baby blue mens accessories. They would look great with our Plain Ivory Tie, Pocket Square and Cufflinks Set or our Plain Baby Blue Bow Tie and Cufflinks Set

Invites

Wedding invites are often too busy with flamboyant designs, so why not keep it simple and elegant. You can have a spring themed invite without it being too over the top. Here are a few examples which we like.

furoshikiforum.com

springweddinginvitations.blogspot.com

kibuck.com

Top Gadgets

No matter how old you are the though of a new gadget will get most people a bit excited. Whether it be a couple hundreds of pounds spent for your enjoyment or just a couple there are always new gadgets coming out or that you simply haven't discovered yet. It could be a 5 minute wonder or you might end up hooked or making your life significantly easier. After all a new gadget can be practical as well as for entertainment.

We have selected just a few things which caught our attention. One of these at least will probably have you itching to have one.

1. Bluetooth Earbud - £12.99

If you love the idea of wireless earphones like Apple Airpods but not the extortionate price then this could be the perfect cheaper alternative. Even if you replace it in a short amount of time its got to better than contending with pesky earphone wires which somehow always manage to tangle or get caught on something and yanked out of your ears.

Get yours here: http://www.red5.co.uk/bluetooth-earbud.aspx?categoryId=937&responseId=ce813b52-34e0-4a71-80f3-78c147568314

www.red5.co.uk

2. Iphone 7 - From £599 direct from Apple

The latest model of iphone is hugely different from those before it and in our opinion greatly improved. It is now waterproof, with a bigger more hard wearing screen which is less likely to smash, a new type of home button, and no headphone socket but it comes with an adaptor in case you would like to stick with normal headphone rather than wireless ones. 

See them on Apple.com here: http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-7#00

johnlewis.com

3. Smartphone Projector - £19.99

Ever get tired of watching TV or a film on your tiny phone screen? With a smartphone projector you do not even need a television so if they are all occupied or there is not one around this will be really handy. It is incredibly simple to use and will improve your viewing experience. 

To buy this: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5438419?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|cid:189934525|agid:18091995445|tid:aud-144400486596:pla-266532769565|crid:77627771845|nw:g|rnd:12354109423467102743|dvc:c|adp:1o3&gclid=Cj0KEQiAot_FBRCqt8jVsoDKoZABEiQAqFL76MKoP66t39ILsYAqMW6pYG59AEfHfdq8UJXpNnZ4HAsaAnff8P8HAQ

www.argos.co.uk

4. PowerVision PowerRay underwater drone - Undetermined

If you are a fishing enthusiast this drone could revolutionise your hobby. It can go up to 30 meters underwater, steams video to your phone so you can navigate, can detect fish up to 40 meters away and it comes will virtual reality goggle and you can move by tilting your head. 

www.robotglobe.org

5. LG W7 featherweight wall-mount TVs - Undetermined 

Also known as the wallpaper TV this television can be hung flush to the wall so that it looks like just a poster. It is attached to the wall with magnets and there is one wire to a sound bar. This is the thinnest and lightest TV yet.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Dapper Man Of the Month for March

Our March dapper man of the month is Ryan Gosling! Gosling has been in some amazing films including the most recent La La Land, The Notebook, Drive, The Big Short and many more.

Gosling was born in Ontario, Canada on November 12^th 1980 and started his career as a child star on the Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Club. He gained a wider audience when he starred in The Notebook in 2004.

www.thefrisky.com

Gosling has received many award nominations such as an Academy Award for his performance in Half Nelson (2006), a Golden Globe Award for Lars and the Real Girl (2007) and a second Golden Globe nomination for Blue Valentine (2010) and many more.

He is also in a rock band called Dead Man’s Bones with his friend Zach Shields.

Gosling has dated stars such as Sandra Bullock and Rachel McAdams, but has been dating the gorgeous Eva Mendes since 2011 and they have two daughters; Esmerelda and Amada.

 www.bustle.com

Interesting Facts

• His childhood nickname was “Trouble”
• Ryan Cabrera has a Ryan Gosling tattoo on his calf
• He’s an accomplished jazz guitarist
• Ryan built the car he used in Drive
• Contrary to his famous meme, he's never said "Hey, girl."

Best Dressed Moments 

Ryan in a Gucci tuxedo 

www.vogue.com

Here he is wearing a burnt orange tie with an added slate blue tie bar. 

www.esquire.com

Gosling looking very dapper in a 3 piece suit and tie bar. 

www.gq.com

Top 5 Marvel Films

Marvel are a series of extremely popular comics and in recent years they have been made into films. Most of the Marvel films are interlinked with each other in some way, and they have the common fact that Stan Lee (writer of the comics and former president and chairman of Marvel comics) appears in every film for a very short amount of time. The tradition started in 1989 when he had a cameo in one of the original TV Hulk spin-off movies.

The films are all based on Marvel comics and are part of a shared universe which means the plots from all the different films cross over.

Top 5 Marvel films

We have picked our top 5 marvel films, if you have some time on your hands why not work your way through our list and have a marvel movie marathon, as far as we are concerned that is definitely a good way to make the most out of your free time.

1. Iron Man

Iron Man was the first film in the Marvel cinematic Universe in 2008. It is the ultimate geeky fantasy involving an ordinary man creating his own superpowers of sorts. Robert Downey Jr.'s sarcastic wit really adds to the film. There is a hint of romance with his assistant Gwenth Paltrow, action packed scenes, fast cars, gadgets galore and a bit of mystery. It really could appeal to all sorts of audiences as there is something for everyone.

more-sky.com

2. Thor 

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston the Thor films are all based on Norse mythology with a modern twist. It is a tale of love, war and betrayal. Although these films are very romance based they are also largely about the betrayal of Loki, Thor's brother.

screenrant.com 

3. Guardians of the Galaxy

This is a very off the wall Marvel film, quite different to all of the others, it is set mainly in space and revolves around the infamous Star-Lord. Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) is kidnapped as a child and raised by space pirates. Decades later he steals a valuable orb. The orb is much sought after by many people including Yondu one of the pirates, who places bounty on Peter so he can have the orb for himself.  Peter tries to sell the orb and ends up in prison where he forms a team to help him break out of, collect money from the orb and kill Ronan the person trying to destroy the planet Xandar. There is more to the orb than they know.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 is out on 28th April 2017

denofgeek.com

4. Deadpool


Deadpool is a darker, more adult and crude part of the marvel universe and is mainly based around comedy. It follows Ryan Reynolds a former special forces operative turned mercenary who finds love. However he cant see a way out when diagnosed with terminal cancer until  offered the option to become an experiment which is promised to cure him. The man behind the project Ajax, performs lots of horrible tests to discover his mutant abilities which leaves him terribly disfigured. He then becomes deadpool, aims to get revenge on Ajax and find the woman he loves after pushing her away because of the way he looked after the treatment.

collider.com

5. Avengers Assemble 

Avengers sees the first time a group of marvel superheroes band together to defeat the ever mischievous Loki from trying to help an alien race invade and destroy earth. Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Captain America are gathered together by Nick Fury the boss of S.H.I.E.LD when the earths security is threatened to form The Avengers.

tvguide.com

St Patrick's Day

Happy St.Patrick's Day to you all from Fab Ties!

St.Patrick's Day is a celebration in memory of the foremost patron saint of Ireland so you will be bound to see a lot of green floating about and we expect the pubs and restaurants to be bursting at the seems with people celebrating. It commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and the culture and heritage of the Irish in general.

It is the tradition to have an alcoholic drink today even if Guinness is not your thing, so why not head to your local pub. If you fancy being a bit more adventurous you could head to an Irish pub in London or maybe celebrate the day in style at a nice restaurant.

Outfit Inspiration

If you are off to the local pub why not be truly patriotic wearing this Irish Flag Tie by The Tie Studio with a pair of jeans and a simple white shirt, pair it with a navy blue cardigan to keep the chill off.

Maybe you have a formal event arranged, if so this Emerald Green Cummerbund and Bow Tie Set by Knightsbridge would look great with a black suit.

This Green Paisley Polka Dot Woven Silk Tie by Knightsbridge would look great if you're at the office this St.Patrick's, pair it with a great suit for a professional look with a nod to the celebration.

Rolex

Rolex is probably the most well known and is the biggest luxury watch brand, the brand name is recognised worldwide and they produce about 2000 watches per day. The company was founded by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London in 1905 and was names WD after them. They registered the trademark Rolex in 1908 and opened an office in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. They registered the company name as Rolex on 15th November 1915.

The name Rolex is said to be from the fact that Wilsdorf thought it was onomatopoeic and sounded like a watch being wound. He also wanted the name to easy to pronounce in every language. The letters are all uppercase and the same size which means it can be written symmetrically and it is short enough to fit on a watch face.

In 1919 Rolex left England because wartime taxes on luxury imports and exports were pushing the price of the gold an silver for the cases too high. They moved the company to Geneva, Switzerland where it was named the Rolex Watch Company. It was later called Montres Rolex, SA and finally Rolex, SA. When Wilsdorf's wife died in 1944 he established the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, a private trust which he left all of his Rolex shares in to make sure some of the company's income would go to charity. Since he died in 1960 the company is owned and run by the trust.

Most popular

Certain designs of Rolex watch are considerably more popular than others. So here are some of the most popular models of Rolex and some outfit inspiration for each one, after all you've got to have a great outfit to go with the perfect watch.

The Rolex Submariner is probably the most popular type of Rolex watch. It was originally designed for diving enthusiasts, they were waterproof up to 330ft and allowed divers to track their time underwater. Todays version is watertight to 1000ft deep and they are popular with all sorts of people from actors and actresses to high profile business men and sportsmen.

www.worthy.com

For a smart casual look wear your Rolex Submariner with a black shirt, a pair f jeans, brown ankle boots and our Van Buck Limited Edition Flower Design Grey Silk Tie. 

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is most popular with athletes because it features accurate tachymeter and chronograph so that racers can measure their speed up to an amazing 400km per hour.  

From sportswear to smart, This versatile time piece will look great with your sportswear but it will also perfectly compliment a suit either for the office or a special event. Pair it with our Navy Blue Stripes Woven Silk Tie by Knightsbridge to really finish off the look. 

A Rolex Yacht-Master has large hands and easy to read numbers, it is a relatively new model from 1992 but its stylish appearance and the fact its easy to use has made it a favourite. It is popular with both men and women and there a variety of styles available so you can be sure there will be one to suit you. 

For a quirky look wear your Yacht-Master with a grey shirt, black chinos, our Mens Paisley Blue Diamond Tip Bow Tie and some Black Clip On Braces by Knightsbridge.