Little Details | J. Kent Ltd.

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....

J Kent Erickson

Image & Lifestyle

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Accessories & Jewelry

Folding Silk Pocket Squares: 3 Simple (& Debonair) Methods

Mar 17 2014

Pocket squares offer a quick, inexpensive way to add flair and color to your suit. For the best effect, learn these easy (and non-fussy) folding methods and you’ll get even more mileage out of that small square of color. Flat Fold Lay your pocket square flat. Fold it in half from left to right, then fold it in half from bottom to top, leaving the bottom edge just short of the top. Tuck in your pocket with a slight angle that points to your shoulder. The Puff Lay your pocket square flat. Pick up the center and let the corners hang down. Flatten as many of the creases as possible so it will lay more smoothly in your pocket. Grasp it around the middle with the opposite hand and gently tuck into your pocket. Single Point Lay your square flat with one corner pointing up. Pull the bottom corner up to meet the top corner. Now...

J Kent Erickson

Accessories & Jewelry

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J. Kent Ltd. Experience

Passion For The Craft: Custom Clothiers

Jan 20 2014

Custom clothiers are a world apart from the typical clothing retailers. We’re dedicated to offering the best quality fabrics, the most styling choices, and an unparalleled customer experience. Here’s where J. Kent Ltd. excels: Details. We pay far more attention to the myriad of details that make a garment a unique item than traditional clothing manufacturers do. We believe clothing should not only keep you comfortable, but help you create your unique image and style. And style is found in the details. Craftsmanship. There are places on a suit that demand meticulous workmanship. Careful hand-stitching in key areas, including lapels, armholes, and waistbands gives clothing the ability to move more fluidly, while also improving your comfort level throughout the day. Measurements. Custom clothiers take far more measurements than an alterations shop working on ready-to-wear clothing, giving you an unparalleled personal fit. You. Both the clothing construction and the fitting experience are focused on you—your colors,...

J Kent Erickson

J. Kent Ltd. Experience

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Collars, Cuffs, & Lapels

Choosing Shirt Collars

Jan 06 2014

The best type of collar for you is the collar that creates a flattering, powerful look-and that look depends on many factors, including your physical build, the occasion, and your personality. Here are a few common styles to consider when choosing shirt collars for your custom shirts: Straight collar. Thinner ties are at home with a straight collar. The straight collar is the most prevalent choice in menswear, as its simplicity creates elegance and professionalism without calling attention to itself. Button-down collar. This collar is the most casual choice for your shirts, and can be easily worn with a sweater or sport coat. Avoid wearing a button-down collar with a double-breasted suit. Tab collar. A tab collar not only keeps the points of the collar from moving out of position, it pushes the tie knot out slightly, giving it an appealing shape and prominence. Spread collar. If you prefer thick ties with a substantial...

J Kent Erickson

Collars, Cuffs, & Lapels

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Care & Maintenance

Small Changes, Big Difference

Dec 23 2013

Upgrading your wardrobe and clothing image doesn’t necessarily require starting from scratch. Most gentlemen can increase the value they get out of the existing elements of your wardrobe by making small, meaningful changes to your style choices. Keep your clothing working for you with these easy tips: Check your edges. If your shirt collar and cuffs aren’t extending approximately half an inch past your suit, you’re not getting full visual impact. We can adjust either your shirt sleeve length or your suit sleeve length (or both) to create this essential detail of the well-dressed gentleman. Include classic accouterments in your ensemble, such as a tie bar, pocket square, and a luxurious watch. These embellishments give you an opportunity to showcase your individual sense of style while adding fresh color and visual interest to your outfit. Keep shining. Make sure to shine your shoes frequently. Your efforts at creating a distinctive ensemble can be undermined...

J Kent Erickson

Care & Maintenance

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J. Kent Ltd. Experience

Detailed Choices in Style

Dec 09 2013

If five different gentlemen all wore the same type of suit, you would see five different styles emerge. What makes the difference? Their choices in detailing. Your own detail choices help you develop your own signature style. Whether you prefer a classic or trendy look, flavorful colors or a palette of neutrals, your individual style should be expressed in each outfit. Custom clothing allows you to be in charge of your clothing’s detailing decisions, including a myriad of individualized options for collars, lapels, pockets, buttons, hems, cuffs, and material. As your custom clothier, we can help you design clothing with colors and fabrics that bring out your personality and flatter your frame. Each decision plays its part in crafting your individualized style and image. Neckwear is one of the most important details about your attire. Your choice of tie each day is often the first thing others notice about your outfit. Wearing high-quality,...

J Kent Erickson

J. Kent Ltd. Experience

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Ask Kent

Picture Perfect Tie Dimple

Dec 01 2012

I received this question from a reader: How do I create a perfect dimple in my tie? Here's what I shared with them: It takes only a bit of dexterity and practice to create an elegant tie dimple. Create your knot as usual, but before you tighten it, place one finger into the fabric right below the knot. With your other hand, gently tighten the knot until there's a dimple in the center approximately half an inch deep and an inch long. Practice your technique a few times until the dimple is squarely in the middle of the fabric, and even on both sides. A dimple works best with wider ties, so if you're wearing a skinny tie, leave the dimple out....

J Kent Erickson

Ask Kent

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Pants, Slacks, & Trousers

All About Trousers

Nov 16 2012

Tell people about your slacks, and they'll figure you're fairly casual. Tell them about your pants, and they'll figure you're indifferent. Tell people about your trousers, and they'll know you've got style. Your trousers should rest comfortably on the hips, neither rising so high that they cover the abdomen nor sitting so low that they need to be cinched tight to stay on. Secure them either with the aid of a belt or suspenders (you can call them braces). Braces ensure your trousers stay in place when you switch between sitting and standing. If you opt for braces, choose a set that attaches to the trousers with buttons rather than metal clips. Using a belt offers a clean, crisp look. The belt may need to occasionally be lifted when your trousers have settled too low, but keeps a lower visual profile than braces. Your individual style should determine whether your custom trousers use a...

J Kent Erickson

Pants, Slacks, & Trousers

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Formal Attire

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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J. Kent Ltd. Experience

As You Like It: Custom Clothing

Oct 01 2012

In this day of mass-produced products and lowest-common-denominator thinking, it's good to know that you can still have your personal preferences and needs taken into account. As your custom clothier, we don't force you to fit into any categories of fit, color, or fashion. Instead, your clothing is designed and fitted specifically for you. We take the frustration out of trying to find your "size" amid colors and fabrics meant to appeal to the greatest potential number of buyers. Instead, you can relax knowing that your custom clothing will exactly fit your shape, as well as your needs. With more than 100 tailoring steps in the jacket alone, custom-made clothes are meticulously crafted and detailed. Custom clothing, because it's not dependent on the designers' current seasonal offerings, can reflect your individual sense of style and personality far longer than ready-made clothing. Instead of needing to replace valuable wardrobe pieces annually, you'll find...

J Kent Erickson

J. Kent Ltd. Experience

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