Event Wear | J. Kent Ltd.

Mastering Cocktail Attire

Aug 15 2016

You’ve been invited to a wedding, and the invitation says “cocktail attire.” Unfortunately for your tan, the wedding isn’t on a beach in Florida or California. It’s an evening event held indoors, and you’ve decided to create a fantastic ensemble that perfectly epitomizes cocktail attire. Where to start? You’re not going to start by wearing a tuxedo. Unless the invitation says “black tie optional,” your tux will be too much—and choosing to wear it means you risk outshining the couple on their special day. Go with a dark, solid-colored suit and crisp white shirt. (A wedding is the perfect opportunity to get your next custom shirt made, so it’ll be sparkling white.) Choose a bowtie if it won’t overshadow the wedding party, or turn to a traditional tie. A solid-colored silk tie will look both festive and elegant. If you prefer, wear a tie with some texture for visual interest. Your pocket square will...

J Kent Erickson

Cocktail Attire

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Accessories & Jewelry

Pocket Squares: Silk or Cotton?

Jun 01 2016

The type of fabric used to create your pocket squares determines the weight, dressiness, and appropriate folding methods. A silk pocket square adds color without weight. The lightweight, flexible fabric is more difficult to fold-but looks fantastic when simply gathered into a “puff” and slipped into the pocket. Silk also has a glossy sheen that is your best choice in formal occasions, as it’s inherently dressier than cotton. A cotton pocket square is matte rather than shiny, making it eminently suitable for everyday businesswear and summer suits. Cotton’s relative stiffness makes it easy to fold and achieve crisp edges if desired. Rather than limiting yourself to pocket squares made of only one of these fabrics, we suggest you collect several cotton and several silk, so that you can be prepared with the perfect square for any occasion....

J Kent Erickson

Accessories & Jewelry

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Fabrics & Textiles

Color and Lighting Conditions

Jul 01 2015

We may think that a color is always the same, but colors can change drastically in different lighting conditions. At dawn and dusk, fabric colors will look warmer and richer. Light from a northern window at noon will give fabrics a cooler appearance. Artificial lighting can change colors even more. Incandescent bulbs give a pinkish cast, while fluorescent lights add green or blue. It’s useful to know how your ensemble will look in its intended setting. Blacks can take on a brown or greenish hue. Midnight blues can appear blacker than actual black fabrics. Planning in advance can allow you to optimize your color choices—especially for formalwear. If true black will turn to dark green, you may prefer to create your next tuxedo in a midnight blue. When selecting fabrics, view the swatches in the lighting types that will dominate during their use: consider indirect and direct natural light, as well as...

How to Iron a Dress Shirt

Apr 15 2015

I received this question from a reader: What's the Best Way to Iron a Dress Shirt? This is what I shared with them: Ironing carefully will ensure your shirts look their absolute best each time you wear them. Use the lowest temperature that is effective. Turn on the steam setting if necessary. Thicker fabric will require more heat and steam than thin fabric. Iron the back of the shirt first, from the center to the sides. Iron the sleeves next, followed by the cuffs. Turn the shirt over and iron each side of the front, taking care to iron between buttons instead of running over them. Iron the collar last. Hang (or wear) immediately to avoid getting new wrinkles in the fabric....

Options In Formal Wear

Oct 20 2014

Options in Formal wear are governed by an established set of style guidelines, and many gentlemen prefer their tuxedo to be traditional in every detail. However, others desire to create their own signature look with formal attire. If you find yourself looking to customize your tuxedo, the following customization options in formal wear can help you make your tuxedo truly your own. LAPELS: While peak lapels are the most common, and a singular option choice for style purists, excellent results in personal style can be obtained with your choice of a well-crafted shawl collar or even elegantly designed notched lapels. COLORS: White or black is always appropriate for formal settings, but you can mix and match: consider creating an ivory dinner jacket styled with a shawl collar. The jacket may be paired with black tuxedo trousers. Your shirt may also be either black or white - as may your tie. Creating an...

Formal Events in Casual Settings

May 06 2014

Formal events usually call for the formal black (or white) of a tuxedo—but deciding what to wear to formal events in casual settings can be a challenge. Whether you’re attending an outdoor wedding, a charity event at a golf course, a dinner cruise, or another dressy occasion held outdoors or before dark, you can be stylishly (and appropriately) dressed by following a few simple guidelines: Lighten the color palette. Black formal attire is usually too stark for an outdoor wedding, so move to a cream or light tan suit. A crisp white shirt with French cuffs works well with a lightweight suit. Simplify the details. Dressy occasions call for clean lines and few accouterments, no matter the hour or location. Choose sophisticated textures. The refined fabrics available for fine suits and shirts use a wide variety of weaving techniques, giving you a multitude of refined options for your custom summer wardrobe....

And the Real 2014 Academy Awards Winners are…

Apr 06 2014

The Academy Awards celebrate the movies—and all the professions that contribute to the industry’s glamour. Award recipients often consider winning an Oscar to be a highlight of their professional life—and yet, many of the world’s most celebrated cinematic professionals dress for the night of their lives in an ensemble that puts them on the “Worst Dressed” lists that proliferate after (and even during) the awards night. Perhaps the real 2014 Academy Awards winners are those who exhibit style and exquisite taste as they create their look for the world’s most-watched sartorial extravaganza. Having the taste and judgment to select an outfit that beautifully highlights one’s best features while minimizing one’s imperfections is clearly a talent, especially when we consider the constant, public demand to create a look that’s bold, fresh, and new. According to Oscar.go.com, the crowd favorite from the 2014 Academy Awards night was Sandra Bullock’s classic sweetheart dress with black satin...

Custom-Tailored Tuxedo: Rich Tradition, Modern Elegance

Oct 16 2012

The tuxedo we all know and love just turned 150 years old. Designed as a short dinner jacket, the tuxedo was born in the era of smoking jackets and top hats-but unlike its contemporaries, the tuxedo's place in modern society remains undiminished. Even in our far more casual, modern world, elegant events still call for the stylish grace of the tuxedo. Wearing your custom-tailored tuxedo allows you to bring your unique sense of style to your formalwear-and helps make sure you look fantastic during formal occasions. Although most men do not wear a tuxedo as frequently as a business suit, even a few formal occasions can warrant investing in a custom tailored tuxedo. When designing your tuxedo, consider: Lapels- Peak lapels are classic on a tuxedo. Notched collars are less dressy than peak lapels. A satin shawl collar brings added shine to the ensemble. Tie-Wear a bow tie with...

J Kent Erickson

Formal Attire

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Event Wear Tag

Mastering Cocktail Attire

Pocket Squares: Silk or Cotton?

Color and Lighting Conditions

How to Iron a Dress Shirt

Options In Formal Wear

Formal Events in Casual Settings

And the Real 2014 Academy Awards Winners are…

Custom-Tailored Tuxedo: Rich Tradition, Modern Elegance

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