Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Spring and Summer Trends for 2018

Jun 01 2018

Many designers of ready-to-wear are focusing on “street style” rather than the need for professionalism in menswear. While many of their fashion choices will be inappropriate for business attire, there are several spring and summer trends for 2018 that you can enjoy without sacrificing true style: Hawaiian prints: Great for a tie or pocket square. Roomier trousers: Skinny-cut suit trousers are becoming less prolific. Squared-off shoulders: Suit coats are creating a more rectangular frame. Earth tones: Several can be combined for a subtle, calm look. White-based outfits: The starkness can be toned down with a little brown or navy. Solid colors: Prints and patterns are taking a backseat to solids this season. Two-color stripes: Simple and bold stripes are trending over thinner or multi-colored options. Ready to discuss how to incorporate these warm-season trends with accent pieces? Call us today for a private consultation. ...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

ESSENTIALLY SPRING

Mar 15 2018

This spring, you can create a fresh, breezy look without losing your individual style. Here are a few quick seasonal changes that will breathe fresh air into your wardrobe for the spring. Try loafers instead of lace-ups for casual flair. Wear a woven canvas or light brown leather belt instead of the dark leather belts you've depended on all winter. Bring out your brighter fabrics, whether in ties, shirts, or socks. Supplement your oxford shirts with equally well-tailored custom shirts made from any of our beautiful, open-weave fabrics for the comfort of breathability-without looking sloppy. Indulge in shirts built of lightweight cotton, linen, or blends of the two. Enjoy a pair of custom-tailored tan trousers, whether as part of a spring/summer suit or as a stand-alone item. Consider a custom unlined or partially lined suit coat or sport coat, for occasions when you need the sense of presence a coat...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Summer Ensembles

Jun 15 2016

Many men use warmer weather as an excuse to relax their dress standards. Set yourself above the pack by choosing summer-appropriate clothing that’s comfortable in the heat yet maintains your style. Here are a few options to consider as you create your summer ensemble. Summer suit basics: Light-colored fabrics will deflect more of the sun’s heat and light. Lightweight fabrics, including seersucker, high-quality tropical-weight wool, or linen, allow greater air movement than densely woven fabrics. Consider unlined (or partially lined) coats and jackets for summer use. Minimizing the thickness of your coat allows you to keep your cool without losing your style. Summer shoes: Lightweight suedes, slip-ons, boat shoes, or even canvas shoes can be great options for elegance during warmer weather. Avoid wearing athletic shoes unless you’re performing athletic exercises. Summer socks: Your socks protect your feet from chafing and reduce odors, so don’t skip them. If you prefer the sockless look,...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Fall and Winter 2015: Trends to Watch

Oct 01 2015

The changing of the seasons brings several new trends worth watching. Whether you’re ready to update your wardrobe or simply enjoy noting new developments, here are four noteworthy concepts from designers’ Fall/Winter 2015 offerings: Go gray. This season, many designers’ lines are dominated by gray clothing, ranging from ensembles created with just a single gray tone to outfits that involve a range of gray hues and shadings. Heathers and stripes, sleek silks or comfortable cable-knits, are all dominated by gray. Add green. The second most sought-after color for this fall and winter are greens. Several designers focused on the heavier shades, including forest and military greens, which were often paired with neutral browns. Layer in style. Most cool-weather fashions involve some layering, but this season, designers have extended that concept beyond the traditional sweater by using multiple thin layers of clothing to create outfits that not only provide warmth but also style. Consider...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Spring 2015 Fashion Trends

Mar 12 2015

The men’s clothing designers have revealed their concepts for Spring 2015, and we’ve brought you the highlights. Whether you choose to change your look each season or simply note the styles as they come, being aware of current fashion trends ensures you’re well-informed. Color Blocking Many designers are painting with broad strokes this year. Their creations use large blocks of color to create stand-out ensembles. Stripes are thicker and employ higher contrast between the colors. Geometric shapes are being used in some ensembles. Black and White Along with the traditional spring pastels, designers are looking to black-and-white ensembles to make strong visual statements. This dynamic color combination is being used to great effect in blocks, for accent pieces, in trim, and in layers. Urban and Sporty Many lines are taking their cue this spring from sporty, urban traditions. Designs include sleek black leather jackets as well as loose, comfortable sweatshirts. Nautical Themes Nautical looks are employing bold, broad...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Tracking The Trends: Fall and Winter 2014

Sep 06 2014

We keep an eye on designers’ trends for men’s fashion, and a few common elements are emerging for Fall and Winter 2014. While classic clothing of true style form the basis of a strong custom wardrobe, keeping in touch with the current offerings can help you keep your look fresh. Some developments worth noting are: Monochromatic ensembles. The darker colors of winter are tending toward single-toned looks. Some designers have focused on dark greens, while others favor black with white accents. Slim slacks. Crisp trousers, reminiscent of the early to mid 1960’s, are heavily featured this fall. A pleasing visual contrast is being made by pairing trim trousers with a boxier gym or weekend bag. Orange accent. We’re seeing designers couple items in brilliant shades of orange with dark neutrals. Adding orange to an outfit in grays is a particularly appealing combination. Formal in browns. One forecasted trend calls for formal clothing, which has...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Pitti Uomo Spring 2014 Lineup

Mar 24 2014

We took a sneak peek at the reports from the Pitti Uomo trade show’s Spring 2014 lineup in Florence, Italy, and found a few trends that deserve a look. Spring themes are nostalgic this year, with multiple references to turn-of-the-century (19th century, that is) ideas of outdoor adventure, including classic items reminiscent of African safari-wear. Fabric choices are mixing, with linens being paired with more casual fabrics for an air of comfortable elegance. Seasonal colors to watch are those based on natural—but brilliant—hues this season, including lush, verdant greens and deep-water blues with fiery red accents....

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Suiting Fabrics For Fall 2012: Vintage Look, Modern Fabrics

Sep 17 2012

This fall, look for suiting fabrics that call to mind the traditional textiles of yesteryear, with modern twists. The updated offerings combine the durability of time-honored autumn clothing with fresh innovations that work in contemporary urban life. Heritage fabrics, such as twills and tweeds, speak of a refined country past. This year, many textile mills are bringing back those rugged suiting fabrics and updating them for modern gentlemen. Many designers are combining the strength of classic weaves with irregular finishes and varying yarn types and weights to bring a fresh look to fall suits. Varying the yarn types and thicknesses creates irregular surfaces that add visual interest. The update to fall fabrics isn't limited to the yarns. Traditional herringbone and tweed weaves are changing scale, offering a greater variety of print sizes than seen earlier, while remaining true to the classic autumn browns, russets, creams, and tans. Mills are also creating new fabric...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Summer Fabrics for 2012

Jul 16 2012

Reinvigorate your summer wardrobe with an infusion of updated dress shirts. The fresh colors, textures, and patterns for 2012 offer your summer suit a wide array of appealing options and looks. Shades of summer: Let your everyday white or blue dress shirts take a backseat this season to shirts that simmer with summer color. Try a pale violet or lime green to add pizzazz to your image. Just be sure to wear a toned-down tie, to avoid overwhelming your outfit with color. Get texturized: Your shirt’s texture adds not only to its comfort and durability, but also to its eye appeal. Look for summer shirts that create a great feel, or “hand,” through the variations in the weave that add visual depth to the fabric. Fine patterns: Summer patterned shirt fabrics are going subtle this year. Look for mini-checks or fine stripes to add interest to your seasonal dress shirts. You can keep...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire

Seasonal Attire

Blazer in Blue: Fall 2011

Oct 11 2011

Get more mileage out of your wardrobe with a perfectly tailored blazer in blue. As the economy looks up and colors lighten across the fashion industry, traditional navy blazers are joined by brighter shades of blue, giving a modern twist to a timeless classic. Look for tones ranging from inky, saturated blues to more subtle gray-blues in this versatile jacket. The season’s fresh colors still retain the mix-and-match appeal that makes a blue blazer a wardrobe staple for the well-dressed gentleman. Blue will coordinate easily with almost any trouser color, from cream to brown and from khaki to gray. The neutral blazer also allows a myriad of shoe color options. Consider rich browns and deep burgundies for your leather shoes to add warmth to your ensemble. You can take advantage of the blazer’s ability to support almost any colors by pairing it with a variety of stylish combinations of high-quality shirts and...

J Kent Erickson

Seasonal Attire