Much ado is often made in discussions surrounding men’s fashion about neckwear, blazers, dress shirts, and leather outerwear – often at the expense of understanding the rest of a gentleman’s wardrobe. Not only are well appointed and properly fitted pants and footwear extremely important to the overall look and image of any particular outfit – they are integral to your comfort throughout the day!
Considerations of Colour
Whether they be dress, casual, corduroy, denim, or any other fabric – pants are ultimately the most flexible and important part of any man’s professional wardrobe. Pants anchor the look entirely, setting the tone of the wardrobe conversation and immediately setting in motion the overall feel of any particular outfit. For example, corduroy pants imply comfort, a relaxed feel, maturity, and a sophistication not normally found in denim. Fine wool dress pants, on the other hand, send a signal of refinement, class, and high style.
Socks should, whenever possible, match the pants they will be worn with – the major exception being of course with denim, in which case they should either be navy (as worn with most blue jeans) or tan (as worn with brown shoes). Important to keep in mind when considering matching socks to pants is that they should preferably be within range of the shade of the pant fabric without being too much the same. For example, a nice chocolate coloured argyle print sock with blue accent colours might be an excellent match for a pair of tan or bark coloured casual pants coupled with a french blue sportshirt. Read the rest of this entry »
This Well Established Item of Men’s Clothing has Quite a History
The name is so well known in men’s clothing and the design so iconic that it’s sometimes difficult to believe that Fred Perry was ever a real person. But as Perry who was born just over 100 years ago, said: “I have never worried about admitting that my name is better known worldwide, not from winning Wimbledon three times, but because of Fred Perry shirts and sportswear.”
A working-class boy who fell foul of the tennis establishment but dominated the game at home and abroad during the twenties and thirties, Perry was approached to create his own branded sweat band in the late 1940s.
Father of the Polo Shirt – Fred Perry and His Legacy
This men’s clothing brand’s logo was originally going to be that emblem of sporting prowess, a pipe, before Perry settled on the laurel wreath that he wore on his touring blazer. His light but absorbent sweat band was such a huge success that it was followed by a T-shirt. This slim fit cotton piqué shirt has changed little since it was launched in 1952 although its image and cultural impact, even beyond fashion, have been quite simply enormous.
Today the Fred Perry is more popular than ever. “We’ve seen sales up 40 per cent on last year,” says Adrian Edwards, Head of Buying, Menswear at John Lewis in an interview with this journalist. “The great thing about it is that it’s smart but it can also be casual and it’s very versatile. Most men have at least two or three in their wardrobe at any one time. Men like to hang on to favourite clothes rather than shopping a lot and a Fred Perry is one of those things that actually looks better the more you wear and wash it.” Read the rest of this entry »
In the worlds of business, finance, marketing, sales and any other monied profession dealing with people and profits – sartorial style cues are sure to influence even the most staid and conservative of men who work in these industries. In order to avoid the trap of conservatism when it comes to business fashion choices, one’s selections should be bold, bright, and powerful – imparting a sense of confidence, knowledge, and an assertive presence.
The Power Tie – Designer Neckwear from Brioni, Ermenegildo Zegna, Paul Smith
When it comes to assembling a power outfit, the necktie is surely the most important item in the wardrobe. The tie is literally the showpiece of the entire power suit, it is the most naturally attractive item on the menu and must literally pop – meaning that bold prints and bright, attractive colours are necessary when choosing a piece of neckwear to compliment the power outfit in the business fashion sense.
Brioni is a leader in men’s fashion, and is regarded very well worldwide for their handmade, beautifully inspired ties. Traditionally speaking, a Brioni tie will knot exceptionally well, is made entirely of high quality silk, and is a bit thicker than your average storebought necktie.
Brioni ties are typically very bold in patterning – this season’s offerings being found in such high fashion outlets as Neiman Marcus, Harry Rosen and others seeming to intimate that Brioni is offering a variety of large print paisley’s this season, ranging in colour from beautiful purples and lavenders onward to attention grabbing reds and crimson.
Ermenegildo Zegna is another top name in designer neckwear; Zegna is very well known for producing excellent striped ties that work very well as power ties due to their great versatility and ease of co-ordination with common shirt patterns. Most Zegna neckties offered at the designer level contain a variety of complimentary colours, whether they be offered in polka dots or even a fine cross-hatch.
Finally, Paul Smith is an excellent choice for men who love floral patterns – this season being expecially strong for these organic contenders. Paul Smith offers beautiful patterning in extremely large, oversized prints that will be sure to attract the right kind of attention; this label is certainly not afraid to experiment when it comes to aesthetics and retains a near avant-garde / high fashion flair sometimes lost in translation to commercial fashion. Read the rest of this entry »
New Lighter Fabrics Are Now Becoming Available
Wearing a suit in hot weather is rarely much fun – especially during what promises to be a hot summer. But the good news is that as temperatures rise suit fabric weights are falling with some of the lightest, coolest ever cloths being produced this year.
A lightweight fabric for mens suits is made from fine yarns, which are usually then finely woven. “In terms of wool we consider the fabric light when it weighs no more then 170gsm. Previously a wool fabric of 200gsm was considered light,” says Pier Luigi Loro Piana of the fashion house and fabric producer Loro Piana in an email interview with the author of this article.
Cashmere and Silk Light Fabrics
Loro Piana has a cashmere and silk fabric weighing only 100gsm. Specially processed, it has the strength necessary to withstand weaving and a kilo of this yarn would extend for around 570 km, the company has calculated.
The GSM is the weight of the cloth in grammes per square metre. One of the lightest available find at the moment is, for example, just 190gsm with Ermenegildo Zegna’s Trofeo 600 fabric while the heaviest is around 480 to 500gsm and is used for coats, according to a company spokeswoman in an interview with the author of this article.
There are wool-only fabrics which weigh just 110gsm but few tailors can work with something so light just in wool unless they’re treated or mixed with something else. Read the rest of this entry »