Recommendations | J. Kent Ltd.

Sprezzatura: The Art of Carelessness

May 01 2015

Some of us work hard to create a look of elegance. They study, they learn, they make careful style decisions. Others of us seem to achieve elegance naturally. They have an air of easy grace and carelessness that seems to belie the effort involved in looking fantastic. What’s the difference? It’s sprezzatura: the Italian concept of nonchalance with excellence, which we might call studied carelessness. And it’s a fantastic way to create your own individual style. But how to achieve it? What’s the difference between painstaking perfection and effortless perfection? It’s the imperfections. Good style shouldn’t look like you worked hard to create an ensemble; it should look like it sprang into being spontaneously, joyfully. Avoid being overly careful when placing your pocket square. Let your tie knot be off-center. Wear shoes that do not exactly match your suit. A small imperfection may be the key to creating the perfect air of...

J Kent Erickson

Image & Lifestyle

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Care & Maintenance

90/10 System: Every 90 Days, Replace 10% of Your Wardrobe

Jan 26 2015

Keeping your image polished and up-to-date is an important part of being a professional. You can maintain a fantastic wardrobe without it becoming a hassle with this easy 90/10 system. Every 90 days, go through your business wardrobe. Look at every piece and evaluate it based on fabric quality and coloring, fit, and general appearance. Take the bottom 10 percent, and donate it to a charity. (If there is one in your area, consider a charity which helps provide interview clothes to job seekers.) Next, replace the discarded 10 percent of your wardrobe with a garment which is slightly better quality than your best pieces of clothing. Rather than simply adding more pieces of clothing to your closet, you’re improving your wardrobe with each clothing investment. This 90/10 system doesn’t require huge, expensive shopping trips or a large time commitment. Instead, you gradually build up a wardrobe that is not only professional-looking and...

J Kent Erickson

Care & Maintenance

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Care & Maintenance

New Year’s Resolution: Renew Your Wardrobe

Jan 19 2015

Instead of making the same, old, still-not-accomplished resolutions every year, we suggest that this year, you make a resolution that’s not difficult, will bring you great satisfaction, and will support career success: renew your wardrobe. Here’s how to get it done without getting stressed: Restock the basics. Your go-to shirts will be the first to fray at the collar and cuffs. Replenishing your supply of white and blue shirts will ensure you always have your most dependable options available. Embrace new colors. Expand your color choices in whichever palette works best for you, including light, medium, and dark shades of your favorite colors. Enjoy subtle textures. Weave patterns and a variety of natural fibers can bring a fresh look to your clothing, whether used for a sport coat, a working-week suit, or for shirts designed for a night on the town. Accentuate. The easiest way to improve the visual appeal of your wardrobe is...

Business Casual: When to Wear a Tie

Dec 22 2014

I received this question from a reader: How do I know when to wear a tie with business casual clothes? This is what I shared with them: Perhaps the better question is, what’s best for this ensemble? Your goal is to find the right look for the outfit and occasion. A great tie that works with the fabrics, color scheme, and patterns you’ve chosen can instantly add flair to your look. Your well-chosen tie can add texture and color without changing the essential nature (casual or dressy) of your clothing. If you’re concerned that a tie is needed for an occasion but want something beyond the conventional look of a long tie, consider a bow tie or a knit tie—or secure your tie with a multi-layered tie knot....

J Kent Erickson

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Accessories & Jewelry

How to Tie a Bow Tie

Nov 10 2014

More gentlemen are finding a bow tie to be a perfect accessory in a variety of occasions. They’re not just for college professors anymore—bow ties are a fantastic option for anyone looking to add a distinctive flair to his wardrobe. There’s a practical side to wearing a bow tie. They never find their way into your dinner or twist themselves around—and they’re easier to tie than you may think. Here’s how to tie a bow tie without losing your cool: Place your tie around your neck, with one end slightly longer than the other. Cross the longer end over the shorter one, then bring that same longer end under the shorter and up, next to your neck. Pull the ends until the knot is comfortably snug. Fold the shorter end in half sideways, so that it looks like a bow and is thinnest in the middle. Bring the end with the fold across to...

J Kent Erickson

Accessories & Jewelry

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Formal Attire

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...

Suits: To Press or Steam

Aug 20 2014

I received this question from a reader: Should I press or steam my suit? Or should I just take it to the cleaners? This is what I shared with them: Steaming is far gentler on your suit than too-frequent dry cleanings and the high-temperature commercial press. Steam it lightly just before wearing, instead of immediately after wearing it. This will allow any moisture to dry naturally and remove any wrinkles from storage. Your dress shirts should be pressed instead of steamed to smooth the fabric and give it a crisp look....

Tips for the Hard-to-Fit Gentleman

Jul 06 2014

Part of the appeal of custom clothing is being able to fit a hard-to-fit physique. Whether you’re short or tall, stocky or slim, customized options can create your best possible look. For Shorter Men Keep the break in your trousers minimal to lengthen the front crease line. Place your suit coat buttons a little lower (two-button coats will be more flattering than three-button coats) and consider using peak lapels—the longer lines add the illusion of height. Enjoy the bolder fabrics that your taller colleagues can’t always pull off, such as glen plaid and Prince of Wales. For Taller Men To keep things in proportion, choose wider ties and a spread-collar shirt. Accessories such as a belt, a tie bar, or a pocket square can help break up the impression of height. Rounder toes on your shoes are helpful, along with ties with horizontal or diagonal stripes. For Stocky Men Unless you’re sitting down, keep your suit...

Coordinating Light Colored Blue Jeans

Jun 20 2014

I received this question from a follower: I have a pair of light colored blue jeans that I love. What should I wear with them? This is what I shared with them: Light-blue jeans can bring a great summer feel to your wardrobe, especially when paired with a breezy madras shirt. However, light-blue jeans (and other colors of denim) are very informal. You may choose to wear them with nicer knit shirts, such as a polo shirt, and dress up the outfit by including elements such as a light jacket or sweater. If you’re aiming for business-casual at work or a night on the town, leave the light-colored jeans in the closet for the occasion: crisp, dark-blue jeans are always dressier....

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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