More New, Same Ole

Here is the balance of the squares that I purchased for Immediate Delivery Winter to Spring.  They are now on the site at $35 a piece and can be purchased here.  I say more new for they are new.  Yet the same ole story works with these, Burgundy tie and Grey suit.  Same ole, same ole...

The Weakness of Something New

For the most part we have been winding down the men's department in the store but I do have a certain weakness for new things when I find them. Here is a new square that I recently received in three colors, crimson, grey and purple.  I was particularly beguiled by the rich colors of the square.

Shown here with a black suit to emphasize contrast (black and crimson are nice) and first with a grey shirt (black, crimson and grey = thumbs up) and then with the white shirt.  The square is $35 and is not yet on the site.

in play with grey:

then with white:

Overworked but Overpaid!

We are used to the expression of overworked and underpaid. Today I present to you the concept of overworked and overpaid as evidenced from this Ralph Lauren Purple Label (or so I recall) ensemble that I pulled off the back (hence the rip) of a Departures magazine last year (just getting around to cleaning out the digital closet, cut me some slack :-) )

The Chalk Stripe is a nice concept but in this case gets overused as the tie and suit almost blend together not allowing the eye to discern between the two.  Regardless, Ralph seems to command and get the premium that he does, hence the Overworked (Chalkstripe) and the Overpaid (Ralph).

Sigh.  :-)

Random Navy Musings

Here are some shots that were taken a while ago from what was then new stock.

All paired with this Hickey Freeman Navy Pin Stripe Suit and assorted Hickey Freeman Shirts.

The General idea was the blending of the Navy with the Lilac which as illustrated before, works.

First up Hickey Freeman Lilac Striped Shirt, Diamond Neats Navy Tie with yellow and Lilac (Go ahead and click on the link, the pic and color matching is better there) and the ever practical and appropriate white linen square with contrast border in lilac.

Same suit, shirt and square with an orange/lilac tie (I say orange/lilac because it has the weft of the silk in a lilac hue).  See this post about the nature of the catena and how it plays a role in the tie colors).  Incidentally Orange/Rose and Lilac work rather nicely together as you can see in this tie.

and this starburst pattern tie with this Awning Stripe Hickey Freeman shirt, shown here with this square, a combination which I rather like:

Moving Back to Blogger!

I am starting blogging up again and are moving back to Blogger in an attempt to get a host of blogs under one roof.

Stay Tuned!

Precious Metals for Precious Occasions

What's with the cobwebs here? (Ahem...)

Anyway, I received an email from a customer requestding a dressy tie for a dressy formal occassion. I am sure I have posted about this before but we did a quick shoot of the metalic colored ties which I felt were the right match of statement yet classic on a black suit white shirt. Althogh Unrequested I stuck in a floral black and white square. They all work but I think that the last one is the most elegant of the group

Dont let them tell you otherwise...

Sizing Matters.

It the single most important factor in men's and children's tailored clothing as well and its so often done incorrectly.  It will take an otherwise perfectly planned ensemble and destroy it.

Granted, for men's people are less reluctant to sacrifice correct size considering that the useful shelf life on a man's suit can be as long as the suit lasts however with kids clothing, people like to try to squeeze a few seasons out of the item and the results are borderline if not completely ridiculous.

Here is an example that I pulled off a "competitors" website.

Note the shoulders coming off the kids frame and the lapels that go down to the kids belly button. Furthermore the torso of the jacket extends halfway between the thigh and the knee.  It doesnt look good opened and pulled back, and when buttons or hanging closed it will look dreadful.



Don't wast your money on an item thats two sizes too big because you will lose the entire effect that you are going for.  Unless of course you are going for that unemployed unkempt "I can get away with wearing my Dad's Jacket" look, but after having spent between 250 to 400 for the jacket alone, we highly doubt you are.