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

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).

October 12, 2012/by Tom Shelton

Suit Buying 101: Accesories

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[one_half] men's accessories memphis

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.

October 9, 2012/by Tom Shelton

Suit Buying 101: Choosing the Right Shoes

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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.

October 5, 2012/by Tom Shelton

Suit Buying 101: Color

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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.

October 2, 2012/by Tom Shelton

Suit Buying 101: Alterations

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men's clothing memphis

There are main two reasons to have men’s clothes altered, when buying a new garment that doesn’t properly fit and when you have lost or gained weight.

For many years, when buying a new garment, most stores took care of the alterations in the store at no charge. This is a service that is provided depending on where you purchase your garments.

As times have changed, many stores no longer provide alteration services free of charge. Often times, if you buy your clothing at a large chain department store, you’ll have to take your clothes to outside tailor to get them altered.

Quality tailoring is becoming hard to come by, and the art of tailoring has become a lost art. Not very many people want to learn the art and a real “tailor” is hard to find. The best place to find a good tailor is at a high end men’s clothing store such like Shelton Clothiers in downtown Memphis.

Some stores also employee a seamstress. A seamstress is able to do minor operations that most people need however, there are times when a only real tailor will do.

With the competitive nature of the industry, most stores place items on sale year round. Be careful of very inexpensive clothing. Some less expensive garments are not built for the alterations that may need to be performed. If this is the case, consider a different garment.

When making a new purchase:

Keep in mind where you are considering your purchase. As with any product you get what you pay for not only in product, but in service.
Determine if you are in need of complicated alterations or just simple ones.
Remember that when the garment is discounted, there will be a charge for your alterations.
When purchasing from a specialty store, there will be more care in the fit and patience in your overall satisfaction.

Sometimes you may need alterations to an existing garment. If so, you may choose to take it to a shop that just does alterations, a dry cleaner, or to a specialty store.

When you need alterations to an existing garment:

When you take it to a shop or to a dry cleaner, a seamstress is likely to work on it. Keep it simple
When you take it to a specialty store, the work will likely be done by a tailor and will be more expensive. He or she also has to do the stores regular work, so it may take a little longer to get it back.

September 4, 2012/by Tom Shelton

Suit Buying 101: Occasion

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Dressing for a special occasion can be tricky if you are not sure what to wear.

First, try to gather as much information about the occasion as possible.

Today there is casual, business casual, semi-formal and black tie. Casual is for a back yard event with friends or an after work get- together with colleges.

Business casual is for a more professional setting such as a work gathering with executives or a dinner party at someone’s home.
Semi-formal events can be a wedding or a fund raiser with a large attendance.
Black tie is very formal evening wedding or a very fancy fund raiser.

What to wear to each of these can be broken down into each category.

Casual is whatever you are comfortable wearing amongst friends and colleges. If you wear jeans or khakis and a sport shirt to work or with friends, and it is what you prefer to wear, then that is appropriate. If you want to impress, try something a little dressier, such as dress pants and a nicer shirt or jacket.
Business casual with a bigger mix of company, then opt for the dresser pant and shirt with a jacket. You are in a bigger group of people and it is better to be over dressed than under. Who knows who you will meet?
Semi-formal events require suit and tie. The darker the suit the better. If you opt for a sport coat, make sure it is a navy blazer and grey pants. If you want to wear any other sport coat, make sure it is in season and not too loud. Remember, this requires a tie!
Black tie is just that. Tuxedo with a formal shirt and tie. You do not have to wear a bow tie as long as you wear a formal necktie in silver, black or mixture of. A vest is a must for a long tie.

Again, anything short of a casual get together with friends or colleges is an opportunity to network and impress. Don’t be that guy who showed up in khakis to a posh event.

August 31, 2012/by Tom Shelton

Latest NewsEverything thats going on at Enfold is collected here

It starts with the shirt and tie

Consider accessories when you Purchase your suit

Men’s Accessories in Memphis

Consider the Occasion When Selecting Shoes

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”.

When making a new purchase:

When you need alterations to an existing garment:

Dressing for a special occasion can be tricky if you are not sure what to wear.

Latest News
Everything thats going on at Enfold is collected here