The show notes for Versace spring/summer 2010 described the collection as “a romantic image of the foreign legion”. Consequently we saw militaristic styling with epaulettes, braiding and buttons (but in silver not brass) featuring on crisp linens and light cottons.

The hue remained the same throughout: sandy tones, cream and white delicately merged with tans, oranges and browns. The casting set a grown-up tone with much older models than we’ve seen elsewhere. Paul Sculfor (who used to date Cameron Diaz), Will Chalker and Andreas Velencoso (Kylie Minogue’s beau) gave the clothes a more mature look and spoke to an older clientele.

There was a distinct North African mood, as though the legionnaires had been posted to a deserted and arid territory. Fabrics appeared sun bleached and jackets were often paired over long silk tunics and djellabas. All in all, the message was a clear one: a lazy, hazy and typically sexy Versace summer ahead.

Etro

What’s not to love about Etro? Kean Etro is reliably off-trend and all the better for it. In a season where navy blue dominated, Etro in comparison showed every colour under the sun. This is exactly what you want to look like on holiday. From salmon pinks to cornflower blues to paisley printed summer trench coats, these aren’t clothes for the shy and retiring.

But in a city where fashion can take itself too seriously, Etro is all about pure enjoyment. Africa was a big influence here, with pockets and elbow patches in Mafai-style beading. This is a collection that is incredibly easy to pack, with crushed cottons that will come out of the suitcase looking as good as they did when they went in.

So for the latest trends and fashion always look for Etro and Versace as they both have fantastic clothes.

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In the 1870s Lewis Edson Waterman invented his Three Fissue Feed system which used an intake of air to control the ink flow. This led to the widespread use of a reliable fountain pen, and made the portable pen a reality. In 1894 Parker Pens invented the lucky curve feed system which drained the ink back into the reservoir when not in use.

These early fountain pens were called eyedropper pens because you had to drip in a days supply of ink using the dropper provided. They were prone to leakage, so a new version was introduced by Waterman called the Safety Pen.

The sac filler system soon followed which was much faster and cleaner to fill. In the 1930s the piston filler was introduced by Pelikan and proved immensely popular because it allowed greater ink capacity. All these developments form the basis of the modern day fountain pen.

Now that fountain pens were reliable, people demanded that they were also a fashionable item. In the early days of pen manufacturing, they were made from hard rubber which was available in limited colours and mainly black. In 1924 Sheaffer used celluloid (made from plant fibers) for the first time which meant pens could be made in a large range of exciting colours. Perhaps the last greatest advance in fountain pen technology was by Waterman, who in 1936 invented the disposable cartridge pen.

The first patent on a ballpoint pen was issues in 1888. It wasnt until Laszlo Biros new patent in 1943 though that the ballpoint pen went into commercial production. The ballpen uses a tiny ball that picks up oil based ink as the pen moves along the paper. In the 1960s the felt tip pen was invented by Yukio Horie from Japan. The rollerball pen was finally introduced in the early 1980s, operating like a ballpen but using liquid ink for smoother ink flow.

In terms of quality all the designer brands use high quality fabrics in their mens socks, blended for durability. Falke go that extra mile in manufacturing hard wearing socks, and have developed a reputation throughout Europe. All socks are manufactured in Germany, and have a reinforced heel and toe (and in some cases additional stress zones).

They are also the experts in using new technology such as using silver ions for freshness, anti-bacterial cotton and climate regulating fabrics. Falke have recently developed an ergonomic comfort system which has a patented ergonomically shaped sole area for an optimum fit. A combination of natural and functional fibres provides a breathable climate, and an innovative cushioning applied to the inside of the sole adds extra comfort.

When it comes to fashion socks that are about exciting colour and pattern, the fashion brands come into their own. Whilst Falke manufactures fashion stripes and argyles, it is only a small percentage of their overall range. Having said that, they offer some bold and exciting colours in their plain mens socks, such as; magenta, blueberry, lime green, wine and Swedish Blue.

Pantherella focus more on fashion, and are responsible for the collection of Richard James socks. Duchamp-London, a premium mens accessories brand, produce the most striking mens socks in both pattern and colour. They are particularly well known for their Harlequin pattern (also used in their cufflinks), which is made up of bold stripes that are divided into chequered squares. Ted Baker is famous for its quirky sense of humour, which shows through in their mens socks via playful patterns that experiment with the conventional stripe and spot.

Emporio Armani is a truly refined brand and focuses mainly on muted colours and subtle patterns, all decorated with the highly distinctive eagle logo in a contrasting colour. For an argyle sock, Burlington is the most well known and respected. Now owned and manufactured by Falke, they are high quality socks offering huge choice in vibrant colour combinations.

Often erroneously referred to as the “double Windsor” due to the existence of the half Windsor knot, the Windsor is the most traditional knot, and probably the one you first learned to make. This type of knot is all-purpose, and is appropriate for business meetings, interviews and anywhere else you need to look respectable.

1- Place the tie around your neck with the skinny end hanging on one shoulder and the thicker end on the other shoulder. Of course, make sure the label of your tie is facing your shirt and not the outside world.

2- Adjust the length of the skinny end by making it longer or shorter, depending on the size of your neck. Generally, if you have a large neck, you’ll need the skinny end to initially hang longer on your shoulder than the thicker end on the opposite shoulder. If you have a small neck, the lengths of the thin and fat ends will be about equal around your neck prior to making your knot.

3- Cross the fat portion over the skinny end to make an X fairly close to your neck (around about the second button on your dress shirt).

4- Fold the larger end around the smaller end; loop the fat end through the neck and pull the two ends slightly apart so that the larger end is on one side of your body and the thinner end is on the other. Consider your work so far to be the first “knot.”

5- Take the bigger end of the tie and fold it behind your first “knot,” then loop the larger end toward you through the noose of the neck to form a second “knot,” and pull this one tight. At this point, you should be able to see the label on the larger end of your tie (in other words, it should not be facing your shirt).

The three other knots every fashionable man must master

6- To complete the final knot, fold the larger end around the two other “knots” you created previously (thus covering them both up) and loop it through the noose again.

7- Lastly, stuff the larger end through the now single knot and tighten your tie carefully. Voila!