Archive for October, 2009

The Perfect Fit

When it comes your own personal style, make sure you don’t look like you stepped out of the closet in your father’s suit.

A recent Men’s Fitness article talked  about Mad Men’s Jon Hamm. Here are some key points from award-winning designer Janie Bryant that might help your own personal style.

Don’t be a slob. Always opt for shirts and pants with flattering lines that contour the body.  This will make you look leaner.

Pay attention to detail. Accessories are key to pulling off your own style.  Hats, tie bars, pocket squares and watches provide a way for men who wear suits everyday to show originality.  One must-have accessory is a slick pair of cuff links.

Embrace color. Mixing different colors into your wardrobe is always a good idea.

Get your swagger on. Once you got the clothes, you need to get the attitude to portray your confidence in what you are wearing.

Get a custom fit. Find a good tailor.  Most men buy their suits and shirts way too big.  Something that is made especially for you can make all the difference in the world.

So what does it mean for you to have the perfect fit?

Get your swagger on!
Your shoe swagger, that is. A good way to start your swagger is with a nice pair of shoes. To keep your nice pair of shoes looking their best, let’s talk about how to care for them.

Start by purchasing a good shoe tree to keep the shape of your shoes. A shoe tree also aids in keeping your shoes smelling fresh.

Depending on how much you wear your dress shoes or boots, I would consider some leather care as well. Shoe polish and leather cream should be applied regularly, but the freqency depends on how often you wear your shoes or boots. I wear my shoes at least 2-4 times a week, so I need to polish and clean them every couple of weeks. I also place a shoe tree in my shoes or boots every night to help the longevity of my foot wear.

Tell us about your shoe care routine. How do you keep your shoes and boots looking their best?

Here: is a great Web site to consider when buying your shoe trees and other products to help with shoe maintenance.

Also, for more shoe tips check out this article from Men’s Fitness magazine.

A reminder for my fellow suit lovers!

Once the measurements are taken the suit can take up to 8-10 weeks for the suit to be completed. The reason for this waiting process is that your suit is individually hand crafted with precision, and you do not want to rush precision. Even after the suit is completed you might have several fittings to make minor adjustments, so that the suit will fit you perfectly.

The difference between something that is off the rack verses something that is custom tailored to fit you, and only you is “night and day”! So, if you are looking for a fine suit, sport coat, tuxedo, or shirt take a look at the D-Jones site, and give us a call. To look at the D-Jones Tailored Collection website click here..

Oh, and if you are needing some apparel for the holiday season the time to order is NOW!!!

Take it from the top

Soon it will be time to break-out the ol’ topcoat for the upcoming seasons. I don’t know about you, but it’s always fun to layer my clothing. Here are some essential tips on how your topcoat should fit.

It’s very important to notice the shoulders of your topcoat. You don’t want your coat fit too wide, or for there to be an abundance of padding. You could wind up looking like you have football player shoulder pads on. Instead, the overall effect should be crisp and natural.

The fit of the topcoat needs to have a trim, close-to-the body silhouette. It should be the same size as your suit and not a size larger. When purchasing, always try it on over a tailored jacket. The sleeves of your jacket and shirt should never protrude beyond the sleeves of the coat.

Lastly, the length of your topcoat needs to be about knee length or just above. Below the knee is more traditional, especially for heavier coats.

For more men’s fashion tips, check out Esquire’ the Handbook of Style.

Get rolling: Good ways to roll up your shirt sleeves

To be honest, how you roll up your shirt sleeves is up to your own personal preference. But for me, there are two ways I go about doing it. The first way is to roll up the sleeve evenly to where it’s a cuff length past my elbow. I do this for a relaxed look. The second look is where I roll up the sleeve past my elbow. I do this if I am a bit more active, so that my sleeves won’t fall down. This second look also allows you to maneuver around food, so that you don’t graze or dip your sleeve into anything. A quick tip: It’s not hard to keep your roll straight. The best way I’ve found is to unbutton the cuff buttons and the button on the sleeves. Then, when you roll up the sleeve you are able to use the width of your own sleeve each time you roll.

What about you? How have you mastered the sleeve roll?