Recommendations | J. Kent Ltd.

Best Color Shirt for Interviews

Jan 13 2014

I received this question from a reader: What color shirt is best for job interviews? This is what I shared with them: Unless you’re applying to work as a graphic designer or other artistic talent, a job interview isn’t the place to show off every facet of your personal sense of style. Instead of wearing your most unique look, the best color shirt for interviews showcase your ability to create a professional appearance by selecting a traditional look for your interview. Your first choice for an interview shirt is standard white, followed by light blue. Save the shirts with stripes, checks, and bold colors for later. Your tie need not be limited to a “power tie,” but should be conservative in tone....

J Kent Erickson

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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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Care & Maintenance

Ironing Basics

Dec 17 2012

More than likely, you send your dress shirts to the dry cleaners to be laundered and pressed, but every now and then, you may need to touch up a shirt at home. Here are a few ironing basics to remember: Care Labels-Your clothing's care label (if it's not at the collar, check the lower left side seam) will give care recommendations that are appropriate for the fabric, such as "cool iron" or "do not steam." Using care techniques contrary to the instructions may damage or discolor the fabric. Steam Settings-Adding hot water to your ironing helps smooth out wrinkles at a lower temperature than using a dry iron. Make sure the iron is hot enough that the water turns to steam rather than coming out as droplets. Starch Options-While you want to avoid the unnatural look of a stiffly starched shirt, a little spray starch can do wonders for thick,...

Light Colored Suits in Winter

Dec 01 2012

I received this question from a reader: Can I wear my light colored suits during the winter? This is what I shared with them: Light-colored suits are sometimes made of lighter weight fabrics, and these will not be as warm as your darker, thicker suits. When choosing between your suits for an occasion, let the weather be your guide—wearing a suit that keeps you at a comfortable temperature is the goal. Your suit should also be comfortable, fit you perfectly, and be appropriate for the event. If you don’t plan on wearing a seasonal suit for part of the year, store your off-season suits in a protective garment bag to limit dust and lint, as well as possible discoloration on the shoulders from light damage....

The Subtleties of Suede Shoes

Nov 01 2012

Back in the day, suede shoes were an Elvis thing, or a fusty-college-professor thing. Suede has come a long way from being blue-or boring. Here are the three C's of selecting and maintaining your suede shoes: Color: For everyday wear, steer clear of novelty shades, and take advantage of the rich, warm tones that suede offers you to create a relaxed, yet elegant, look. Care: Use a waterproof finish and suede eraser to ensure your suede shoes look their best. Brush often. Coordination: Suede works beautifully with fall clothing, including flannel suits, tan trousers, and crisp. ...

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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Collars, Cuffs, & Lapels

Ties For Spread Collars

Aug 30 2012

Many gentlemen prefer to wear spread collars on their dress shirts. The wide angles of a spread collar can create a masterful, mature look. However, because of its width, a spread collar also creates a wide space at your neck, leaving some ties looking insufficient. You can create pleasing proportions through your choice of fabric and knot. Choosing a thicker fabric will help your tie take up more space. A wider tie will also help add bulk to the knot. The knot itself should likewise be substantial, so try a Windsor or half-Windsor knot rather than the more common four-in-hand. The wider, fuller symmetrical knot more perfectly fills the space of a spread collar with well-proportioned harmony. When well balanced with an appropriate tie, a spread collar creates a strong, confident look like no other....

J Kent Erickson

Collars, Cuffs, & Lapels

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Image & Lifestyle

The Silent Language

Aug 16 2012

There's more to your appearance than your clothing. High quality, well-tailored clothing gives your image an immediate boost, but you can maximize that advantage by mastering effective body language. When others see you, they see your clothes first, then they notice body language; the way you walk, how you sit, what you do with your hands while you talk, and the expressions on your face. All these contribute to their opinion of you. Three key points on body language will steer you toward an image of confidence and self-assurance. Handshake- Check that your handshake is firm but not overbearing. No one likes a weak grip, but they also don't want bruised fingers after a quick hello-and-handshake. Eye contact- Many of us look at people when they're talking to us, but let our gaze wander when we're the one speaking. Eye contact, more than anything else, shows that we're...

Shirts: Choosing the Right Color

Aug 26 2011

I received this question from a reader: How do I choose a shirt color? This is what I shared with them: Choosing a shirt is not as simple as picking your favorite color; colors communicate different things to those around you. Let’s start with the basics. Crisp, clean white shirts convey the most power and authority. Blue shirts come next, and work well with almost any suit color. Other solid colors are appropriate for all but the most formal occasions, while stripes and checks work well in most day-to-day situations. “Warm” colors such as red or yellow are more casual than “cool” colors....

J Kent Erickson

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