Shelton Clothiers

What’s with the Pig? – Pink Pig Apparel by Shelton Clothiers

Tom Shelton — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:00:56 +0000

What’s with the Pig? That is a question I hear more than once a day here at Shelton Clothiers. You see, I don’t know anyone who has played polo, or even seen a match for that matter, so we put a little pink pig on a polo shirt 5 years ago and the response was tremendous. Now, Pink Pig Apparel is its own brand in our men’s clothing store store here in Downtown Memphis.

In Memphis, we like to BBQ and we like to BBQ pork so it only made sense to create an icon of a pig and put it on a polo shirt. Today you can find it on button-down sport shirts, caps, visors, outerwear and T-shirts. We offer a wide selection in the store and online at www.pinkpigapparel.com.

So, if you don’t want to be like all the others, tired of playing polo, and you love BBQ then check out Pink Pig Apparel.

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[Infographic] What your clothes’ colors say about you.

Tom Shelton — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:15:33 +0000

What do your favorite colors say about your personality? Each time you wear a color, you’re might be signaling certain personality traits without even realizing it.

For men, a great way to show off a favorite color is through a tie. Tie colors can reflect your mood. Putting the right tie with your suit can set the tone for the day depending on your audience and/or how you want to be perceived that day. If you have an important meeting with clients, try something less aggressive such as green and yellow. For that important meeting with the boss, go bold with red or purple.

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Making a Comeback – Men’s Vests in Memphis

Tom Shelton — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:20:34 +0000

Men’s Vests are a fashion item that has seen a bit of a comeback lately. The trend has been to make it a more hip, casual clothing item rather than a stuffy old man’s suit accessory.

Vests Have Always Been Popular

The vest has a long history in men’s and women’s fashion. These wardrobe stables date back to the early 14th century when neither a respectable man nor woman was seen in public without one. Slowly it began to lose favor in the mid-20th century and was considered a relic by the early 1980’s.

Back in the Limelight

It seems vests have lost their relic status as today you see it on younger men in jeans and even a hat. Another clothing item making a comeback, vests come in a variety of colors and styles.

Of course, It’s very common for vests to be worn with suits. Some suits off the rack offer vest and any custom suit can be ordered with a vest. Next time you’re buying a new suit, see how it pairs with a vest.

Men’s Vests in Memphis

Here at Shelton Clothiers in downtown Memphis we seek out unique, trendy items like that for our customers. We see the vest becoming a fun clothing item for the foreseeable future not only for a casual fun look but moving back into the suit wardrobe. There has been some interest by manufacturers to bring it back into the fold.

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What is Business Casual?

Tom Shelton — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:58:40 +0000

We’re often asked in our men’s clothing store in downtown Memphis: what is business casual? Business casual is a term that popped up almost 30 years ago. It describes a trend in business wear that moves away from the traditional suit and tie and introduces to the work place, casual clothing. At the time, most business men wore suits and ties and women wore dresses, skirts with a jacket or a pant suit.

Business Casual Trends are Always Changing

Like anything, fashion tends to change over time. 100 years ago a dress shirt was considered to be underwear never to be worn without a vest and jacket over it. Today some business people work in a tee shirt. Literally, that is underwear!

What is Business Casual in Your Industry?

Business casual is interpreted differently depending on your industry. In some cases, a tee shirt is just fine. In some cases it is not. I prefer to play it safe because someone once told me “there is nothing casual about business”. Before deciding for yourself, take a close look at what line of work you are in. The more exposure to customers and executives, the better your wardrobe should be. Golf shirts and beat up khakis are not going to go over well if you’re selling financial services or insurance. If you’re in a creative environment like advertising or software development, that might be the right look.

Get Professional Advice First

Do your homework and ask your local, hometown clothier. He or she deals with all kinds of business people. At Shelton Clothiers in downtown Memphis, we coach people every day on what to wear. It is what we do, it’s our profession. Be careful about getting advice from that part time employee at the major chain. They may have been there two weeks and barely knows where the dress shirts are in the store!

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What makes some suits cost more than others?

Tom Shelton — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:30:23 +0000

I’m asked all the time why some suits cost more than others. The answer is the same as any product on the market, whether it’s a suit, a washing machine, or a lawn mower. Time and materials dictate the price of anything. The amount of time put into the product and the quality of materials will determine what it can be made for and what it can be sold for. Like anything else, you will get what you pay for and because of the stiff competition in the industry, you will rarely overpay.

Let’s take a look at the three types of suits available on the market. Off the rack, made-to-measure and full custom or bespoke. Off the rack suits are constructed in about 30 min to 2 ½ hours with materials costing anywhere from $15 to $150. The construction is all done on machine. The low end suits retail for $99 and the high end retail up to $1000 with the average price being about $495. The chest piece and lapels are fused with epoxy or glue to adhere the fabric and lining.

Shelton Clothiers sells off the rack suits from $395 to $650.

Via MIKI MEEK and LAM THUY VO

Made-to measure suits naturally take more time. They are constructed in about 8-12 hours with materials costing from $200-$400. Made-to-measure suits are made by a combination of hand work and machine. The inner construction could be full canvas or half canvas. The canvas is a horse hair material that conforms to your body shape much better than a fused garment. The customer will pick the fabric and lining of his or her choice and then be measured for the garment that will then be made from a pattern with some alterations done in the factory and a few minor adjustments in the store. The cost of these garments can reach $2000.

Shelton Clothiers offers made-to-measure garments from $695-$795.

Via MIKI MEEK and LAM THUY VO

Full custom suits (also known as bespoke suits) are all hand tailored garments that are made just for you. After the customer’s measurements are taken, a special pattern is cut just for them. The garment is constructed in up to 75 hours of materials that cost anywhere from $600 to $800. Bespoke suits can cost up to $8000 but most stores offer a good selection in the $900-$1300 range.

Shelton Clothiers offers a selection of bespoke suits in the $895-$1295 range.

Via MIKI MEEK and LAM THUY VO

So, as you can see from this quick tutorial that it is indeed time and materials that dictate the price of a suit. When shopping for a suit, it is important to be armed with this information before making a purchase. Unfortunately, there are dishonest retailers who do not disclose what type of suit they are providing and play games with pricing in order to draw customers. When you are offered 4 suits for the price of one, rest assured, you are paying for all of them and maybe more. Legitimate retailers far outnumber these dishonest ones. At Shelton Clothiers in downtown Memphis, we provide honest pricing on our clothing with monthly specials posted on our web site. www.sheltonclothiers.com.

I hope this helps you find just the right suit for you.

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Men’s Fashion for the Fall in Memphis

Tom Shelton — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:40:57 +0000

Dressing for fall in Memphis is not unlike most of the country.

Memphis, like most of the country, enjoys four seasons. Fall in Memphis can be considered a transitional period from very hot to moderately cold. The temperatures are mild enough to wear those light sweaters and jackets as well as a more substantial sport coat made of wool, camel hair or cashmere.

It’s a time to put up the linen and cotton outfits and bring out the wools and heavier fabrics. We have mild enough temperatures that most of your wardrobe should be able to go right into the fall. If you shop at a local men’s clothing store in Memphis, such as Shelton Clothiers, your selections will be reflective of the climate you will encounter.

Your local stores shop at market for clothing that works in their climate. Sport coats, because they are so seasonal, are the most challenging for me. I try to find things that can be worn earlier and later into each season. Looking for clothing that is more year round is easier to do in Memphis for this reason.

Color and texture are also factors while dressing in the fall. It is time to put away the pastels and bring out the earth tones. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy wearing a little color. A dash of color is great in a tie or sport shirt, just don’t appear that you want summer to last forever. This is my favorite time of year because the fabrics and colors can be very rich. Fuller bodied sport coats and sweaters make the fall a “comfortable” time of year.

For the suit wearer who has built his wardrobe properly, very little needs to change. Most of your clothing should be year round wear. It’s good to have a couple seasonal suits in your wardrobe. Just be careful not to overdo it or you’ll have nothing to wear when the seasons change. A couple of cotton or linen suits for summer and maybe a couple of flannel suits for winter. I have found myself only wearing my flannel suits a few times in the late fall or winter.

Take a look at what you have and fill those holes at great local men’s clothing stores like Shelton Clothiers.

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Pants: How-to Hem (Little break or lots of break?)

Tom Shelton — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:23:42 +0000

When measuring a gentleman’s pant bottom, I always ask his preference on the break of the pant. While 80% of them have no opinion, it’s the 20% that do that I want to please. I also want to please the 90% of their wives that have an opinion.

There is only one hard and fast rule that you need to keep in mind. Cuffs require more break than a plain bottom. I don’t want to see my customers walking around in “ankle beaters”. This is when a cuff is much too short.

See picture of famous designer Thom Brown. I never could understand that look except that it does get him attention and that is what designers need in order to become famous designers. He also has a line of shoes, so maybe he wants everyone to see his shoes.

If you’re wearing cuffs, please let your tailor put a medium break in the pant so you’re not showing your socks while walking. If you are wearing plain bottom pants, you will notice that they are narrower at the bottom. That makes it necessary to have a slight break so that your pants don’t get caught up in your shoes.

If you prefer to look like you have lost a lot of weight and your pants are falling down, put a full break on them. You may get a few compliments (on your weight loss that is).

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Suit Buying 101: Accesories

Tom Shelton — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:21:38 +0000

Choosing men’s accessories sometimes can be difficult because it is so easy to do. Some men just over think it but most do not give it enough thought.

It starts with the shirt and tie

Basically, accessories for a man wearing a suit, is a shirt and tie. In most cases that is simple enough if wearing a dark suit and a white or blue shirt. It is hard to mismatch such a combination. The trick comes when the suit and or the shirt has a pattern. Patterns can be blended but must coordinate. With patterns, 90% of the time just putting them together and looking at them will tell you if they fight or not.

It is always best to get a second opinion. Getting your local clothier involved is always a good idea. Remember, this is what they do for a living like here at Shelton Clothiers in downtown Memphis. One good rule is to keep the size of your patters different. Small patters work well with large patterns, small plaids will work with large stripes and so on.

Consider accessories when you Purchase your suit

Once you have picked out a suit is the best time to think about shirt and tie. Never assume, unless you have an extensive wardrobe, that you have just the thing. Even if you don’t buy right then, look and see what goes together and compare with what you already have. Work with your salesperson to see what works. It may be that you have just the thing already in your closet.

A pocket square is always a good idea. Even if you just put a white square in your pocket, it makes a nice impression. The color should coordinate with your shirt and tie. Pattern ones should follow the previous rule. Keep you patterns mixed up. For the man who chooses not to wear a tie, a pocket square really makes sense. It is the new tie and ads a dash of color to your outfit.

Lately we have had a lot of interest in the tie bar. It is also a nice touch. It adds a little bit of togetherness to your look. I believe a tie bar says I am paying attention to how I look and I care to keep my tie out of my soup.

Other than a tie bar, I am not a big fan of jewelry. Some men like to flaunt wealth with expensive rings and bracelets. I am not impressed with it and do not recommend it. It really depends on your personal taste. If you have an heirloom handed down from a relative and you would like to wear it. Do so, just not in an office setting.

Men’s Accessories in Memphis

If you’re shopping for men’s clothes in Memphis, stop by Shelton Clothiers and we’ll get you started a new outfit for any occasion.

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Suit Buying 101: Choosing the Right Shoes

Tom Shelton — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:07:20 +0000

One question I get here at Shelton Clothiers in downtown Memphis is “What kind of shoes do I wear?” If you’re shopping for a new suit, you should also consider purchasing a pair of shoes that will match. Putting the right shoes with your outfit is as important as matching the right tie with the right shirt. Choosing shoes that don’t go with the rest of your clothes can make an outfit fall flat.

Consider the Occasion When Selecting Shoes

The more formal the outfit is the more formal the shoes should be.

When wearing a suit, it’s best to go with lace up dress shoes or dress loafer. If you are in a formal setting you will want a nice pair of black lace up dress shoes. They can be wing tip or cap toe. When you are wearing a tuxedo, you will want a tux shoe or the most plain toe lace up you can find with a really good shine.

When you’re in a casual suit setting, lace up or dress loafer will both work. Just don’t confuse a loafer with a driving shoe. A driver is too casual for a suit.

If you’re wearing a sport coat and slacks, a dress loafer or a driver can be worn. In dress or casual slacks and a sport or polo shirt a driver or casual loafer is appropriate.

Many times men are confused about what color of shoe to wear. There are a few simple rules. Black, dark grey and navy suits require black shoes while a light grey, brown or tan suit look great with a brown or tan shoe. Just remember to coordinate your belt with your shoe. They may not match exactly, but you want to get as close a match as possible.

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Suit Buying 101: Color

Tom Shelton — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:30:27 +0000

Years ago there was a popular notion that certain men could only wear certain colors depending on their personal look. I was never a big believer in “having ones colors done”.

I think if you’re redheaded and you want to wear a red shirt, go for it. If your sandy blonde and you like yellow, go for it.

However, there are some rules about color we will point out. There are certain things you simply do and do not wear depending on the time of year and the time of day.

Time of year

Summer time is the right time for light colored suits during the day and for business casual events at night. A man looks great in a light linen or cotton suit in the summer time. Here in the south, you will see men wearing seersucker and pin cord suits in light blue, tan and grey.

Put those up when the season turns from late summer to early fall, and ease up on the light fabrics by the middle of September.

That’s not to say you cannot wear a light colored suit in the fall and winter. We have nice days in the fall and winter that would be great for a tan or light grey suit made of wool. Once the weather turns colder, put the linen and cotton suits away and stick with the wool suits.

Time of day

Day time is the time for light suits year round. If it’s a nice day in November or March, get that light grey or tan wool suit out. But, if you’re headed out to an evening affair, a dark suit is always the best. The only time a light suit is appropriate at night time is if it is a business casual event when the weather is nice.

Summary:

Light colors are for nice weather and the day time.

Dark suits are appropriate always.

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