A Style Blogger’s Essentials

Advice
(Image credit: Unknown)

Mat Buckets, founder of blog Buckets & Spades

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From his home in the seaside town of Blackpool, the 30-year-old style blogger has established one of the coolest and most popular style blogs on the planet. “It started as a way of storing great images,” says Mat, “but it was purely for fun.” Eight years later Buckets & Spades has amassed close to half a million followers on Pinterest and Instagram, who love the brilliantly curated mix of men’s style, grooming products, craft beer, retro cars and everything in between that’s cool.

Advice

(Image credit: Unknown)

Depending where I’m going I’ll use 
a tote, a rucksack or, for longer trips
 like today, a holdall (Filson, £138).

Some pictures I snap on my phone (iPhone 6, £459) but most of the shots you see on my blog are on taken on my DSLR (Panasonic Lumix G7).

My tip for Pinterest? Create super-niche boards – so instead of “food”, start a “best summer meals for runners” board.

I say yes to as much travel as possible. I always pack a note pad (FieldNotes,£7.95) laptop (Apple, £1,049) and obviously passport!

Keeping my skin healthy is important. You’ll always find Clarins Men in my wash bag (Super Moisture Balm, £30) – lots of travel can dry out your skin so you need to moisturise.

If in doubt, wear navy. That’s the one style rule I stick to. And get yourself a pair of Converse, because they go with anything (Converse Chuck Taylor All Star 70, £60).

I love printed magazines and online mags, but I definitely get more enjoyment from
 the inky kind (Printed Pages, Umbrella).

I’m a little obsessed with Tintin. The illustrations first drew me in, but I just
 love Herge’s stories and use of language 
(The Adventures of Tintin, £10.99).

A few of my friends only use their
 phone for the time, but I’ve always 
loved the design and craft that goes into 
a watch (Paulin Commuter E, £180).

Nuts – any type. All of them are good!

Today Mat’s carrying ClarinsMen Super Moisture Balm (RRP £30) – a light, protective balm which hydrates, firms, soothes and energises the skin. Clarins is the number one premium skincare brand in the UK, and in ClarinsMen you’ll find an innovative range of 20 skincare products developed specifically for the needs of men’s skin.

Every ClarinsMen product contains a super-active complex based on three plants: Bison Grass, Chinese Ginger and Purslane. This innovative combination has the energy-boosting, soothing and calming properties required to keep men's skin healthy.

For more information visit clarins.co.uk/men/500

In the video Mat wears Sunspel navy stripe t-shirt, Folk navy sweatshirt bomber, Barbour khaki chinos, ASKET grey Oxford shirt, Atlanta Braves baseball cap, Sunspel grey sweatshirt, Urban Industry white t-shirt, Albam jeans, Form & Thread grey socks, Converse Chuck Taylors, Fair Ends baseball cap, TRiCKETT baseball cap.

Former editor

Joe Barnes was the editor of Men’s Fitness and the Coach website from 2015 to 2016.