We’ve just reduced 23 shirting fabrics by up to 44% off! Select Egyptian Cotton custom shirts originally priced at $185 are now $119. Select Twofold 120s Cotton custom shirts originally priced at $215 are now $119.
Just because it’s Summer Doesn’t mean we stop wearing suits!With the weather getting warmer and more humid, there is a tendency to ditch the suit. Why deal with a suit when you can go more casual? While many of us might not go with the casual Friday wardrobe of jeans, a tshirt, and sneakers made popular in the early 2000’s, many men ditch the jacket. Pants and a dress shirt replace the suit – and many skip over the tie. Why deal with all the layers and formality when it’s so hot … right?
Wrong. Just because it’s warm out doesn’t mean the suit gets locked up until September. No matter the time of year, wearing a suit is about dressing for success and to impress. What the summer months mean is it’s time for different fabrics.
My favorite way to deal with the summer heat is with linen/wool mix suits. Not as warm as a wool suit and with more structure (and far less wrinkles) than a typical linen suit. You can get these in solids and stripes. They are perfect for the heat of the summer and yet you still look polished and ready for that meeting or client lunch. Match with lightweight shirts and you are ready to look great.
The other popular way to survive the summer heat in suits is with seersucker. While not as popular as on the east coast, seersucker is THE summer suit fabric. Lightweight and very breathable, this is the ideal suit fabric to wear to that fancy event on a summer afternoon on the lakefront. My friends in Boston and New York and in the south live in seersucker in July and August. Men are best with the traditional blue seersucker. For women, there is white and pink seersucker – I personally think the pink seersucker with a pink French cuff shirt is an amazing look for a woman in the summer.
If you are going out in the evening for networking events or cocktails with friends, think about ditching the jacket and just wearing a vest / waistcoat. Cooler in temperature and a cool look, you will still be fashionable and you won’t be that ‘sweaty guy.’ Wear a great tie and a pocket scarf in the vest chest pocket and you will be the best dressed in the room.
There is no excuse to not be the best dressed in the summer.
French Cuff Exec
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P.S. Any man who calls himself the best dressed in the room wears French cuffs. Rock some killer cufflinks and express yourself
Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors was recently listed by the Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Journal as one of the amenities that makes the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago one of the best places to live. It’s no wonder Nicholas Joseph’s clients are some of the best dressed men in Chicago. See the article.
Gentlemen,
There’s been some confusion out there about the color shoe to be worn with your suits. This dilemma is easily resolved. A black shoe is ideal for a black suit…always. However, your black suit should only be worn after 6pm. In most cases, black is not suitable for the office or for daytime - it’s far too dressy. For gray, navy or earth-tone suitings, please wear a brown shoe. It is most appropriate and looks fantastic! We also recommend an oxford, wingtip, or cap toe. Your options in shade of brown are nearly limitless and far more interesting than black. The general rule is lace-ups with your suits. A monk strap also makes a nice statement and is correct. We’re not sticklers for rules…but we believe, before you break them you should know them.
Incidentally, if you insist on wearing your black suit during the day, may we recommend an ecru shirt, a tie or pocket square with earth-tones and a chocolate brown shoe. It softens the look and makes it more sunshine friendly.
And naturally, make those shoes shine!
PS: One of the best shoe shines in the Loop is at Altman’s Shoes - and it’s only $2 (allowing for a healthy tip)! Jacob, the shine stand owner’s son, does a really great job and takes his time, you can tell his father taught him well - something to admire these days. Altman’s is at 120 W Monroe St (at LaSalle) in Chicago. (here’s an Article on Altman’s Shoes and Boots in Chicago)
Gentlemen, as a sponsor of The Mens Club we invite you to join us for an evening of cocktails, networking, and special offers at the exclusive Foundation Room | Chicago. A design-on-the-spot custom shirt will be raffled off as well as special offers on membership to the Foundation Room at the House of Blues.
The Mens Club is a men’s only networking organization that believes strongly in making connections. Members are ambitious like-minded men who are focused on business and believe in helping each other socially, professionally and personally.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 | 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Foundation Room at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn
COST: $25 (includes two Belvedere drinks and lite hors d’oeuvres)
RSVP: via The Mens Club Events page.
Space is limited! In order to reserve your spot, rsvp through The Mens Club Events page. We look forward to seeing you at The House of Blues Foundation Room on June 15th.
We’re looking for a someone with style and an eye for the latest and the most classic in men’s style and thought who better to turn to than our fashionisto clients who continually make us look great! Here’s the deal, we’re looking for a fashion blog writer to post to a weekly men’s style blog and in exchange will receive one custom shirt per month - not a bad deal for a few minutes per week!
To be considered, email a sample men’s fashion blog post to us no later than midnight, Sunday, June 20th, 2010. Your sample entry can be about anything our clients and readers would be interested in, from must-haves or key dressing skills, to emerging (or resurging) trends, to tributes to the best dressed men seen on the street in Chicago or around the world.
New hires will be announced and introduced on June 29, 2010. Good luck writing! Enter at info@customsuitsyou.com
All entries become the property of Nicholas Joseph, Inc. and may be used at the sole discretion of Nicholas Joseph, Inc without prior consent by the original author. No purchase or other consideration is necessary to participate in this contest; purchase does not increase chances of winning. Free custom shirt to be awarded at the end of each month of approved weekly writing contributions, approvals to be made by Nicholas Joseph, Inc. staff.
Lightweight, breathable and possibly cotton, linen, or tropical wool and half-lined, or unlined, the Summer blazer is essential for happy hour cocktails, dinner dates, fancy bbq’s, and gatherings. Side vents will keep you cool and patch pockets will give it that laid back summer feel. Wear it with linen or cotton pants, or lightweight jeans with a collared sport shirt and pocket square and you’re ready for anything.
Custom blazers are available in a wide range of cloths, request an appointment to take a look. Save more by purchasing in a custom clothing package.
As the weather starts to change, it is time to think of purchasing a few spring essentials to spruce up your wardrobe and keep you looking fresh. We’ve compiled a brief list of Spring Essentials to get you off to a great start and would be happy to offer additional guidance in-person, on the phone, or via email. And when those April showers bring May flowers remember - a gentleman never forgets his umbrella, and always shares!
Mid-Grey and Light Grey Suits: Lighten up your greys, perhaps add a pinstripe, and pair with a light blue or always classic white shirt. A trim custom shirt always does the trick along with a white cotton pocket square for a clean look. Why not spring for a new custom suit as well?
Patterned Shirts: Patterned shirts are huge for Spring 2010, especially in a plaid fabric. You can pick a bold or subtle plaid, but either way it is a must have. You can wear this look to the office or more casual with jeans on the weekend. Custom shirts are one of our specialties and we just received several great pinks and lavender pattern shirtings in from our Italian mills.
Solid or Small Patterned Ties: An easy way to complete a well-put-together look is to finish with a simple, yet perfectly matched and subtle tie. This season solids, tone-on-tone solids (any type of pattern in one solid color…stripes, pindots, etc), and small patterned ties are in.
Pink: Try something pink such as a shirt, tie or pocket square is a great way to brighten up your spring wardrobe.
Sport coat: A sport coat is a great way to transition to the warmer months. Guys are wearing these with a scarf and leather gloves instead of outerwear, we love the look - and so do the ladies. It makes you look put together and casually chic. But make sure you don’t just wear your suit jacket! If you decide to opt for a custom sport coat or custom blazer we are happy to help.
Trench Coat: A trench coat or rain coat is a essential piece in your wardrobe that will always be in style and help you avoid getting soaked in April showers. There are many different lengths, styles and colors to chose from. A great start is the classic tan or black coat in three quarter length.
Wing tip Shoes: Brogue wing tips are back in style. These tradition British shoes are very detailed and a nice change from your basic lace ups.
In this interconnected global world no man is an island - enter The Men’s Club. Established in 2009, The Men’s Club is a men’s only networking organization that believes strongly in making connections. Members are ambitious like-minded men who are focused on business and believe in helping each other socially, professionally and personally.
The Men’s Club started as an informal group dinner and quickly outgrew its roots as successful leaders of business in Chicago learned of this unique networking experience to meet smart, ambitious people and to rekindle old acquaintances.
Members are a diverse group both professionally and geographically. There are doctors, professional money managers, authors, IT professionals/leaders, real estate professionals, CEOs, entrepreneurs, lawyers and other occupations represented. Our interests run the gamut from investing, exotic sports cars, collecting art/wine/cigars, sports, charity work, world history to overseas politics.
Their mission is to build a tight knit group of like-minded men across the United States that embrace the common belief that, together, we can achieve our personal goals and dreams rather than trying to achieve them alone. Their members believe they are much stronger and resourceful as a group rather than as individuals. As a result of their mission, they will not only provide value and support among our membership but also help our community through charitable endeavors.
The Men’s Club has quarterly events that facilitate valuable networking and relationship building. Additionally, members can contact each other directly via their website.
If you would like more information about TMC or would like to join, check out their website: www.themensclubonline.com.
If looking in your closet and thinking “I have all of these clothes and nothing to wear” is a constant theme while getting ready every day, you are in good hands. Chicago based wardrobe stylist and personal shopper Jenna Burkett provides a unique customized consultation service, a fashion expert who:
With your newly acquired knowledge, you will spend less money on new clothes and more time looking and feeling stylish in the clothes you own. Jenna’s focus is to help you look good, feel good and have fun while doing it.
Your current wardrobe is thoroughly reviewed during an in-home session. We will discuss your tastes, lifestyle and personal wardrobe challenges before we begin assessing your clothing and accessories for style, fit and wear. Our goal is to rid your closet of all unwanted and unflattering pieces leaving a solid base that fits your style/lifestyle needs. The result of your closet purge will be a focused, organized, easy to shop collection that makes dressing on a daily basis effortless. Throughout your consultation I will share my tricks of the trade teaching you how to create new looks by mixing and matching your existing clothing and accessories. Upon completion missing wardrobe pieces will be identified and purchasing recommendations will be prioritized in a detailed shopping list highlighting what you need to pull your wardrobe together and create complete looks. Insight is provided on styles and colors that complement your body shape, size and image goals during your consultation but will also be emailed to you for future reference. We will recommend tailoring pieces that fit our “worthy of” criteria and unusable items will be packed up for donation to charity.
Have an upcoming interview but are not sure what colors and styles best suit you? Or a black tie and are not sure what style gown to wear? Whatever the circumstances may be, our team, in an in-home session, will style several looks from head to toe for your occasion. Digital images will be provided. Per your request, new items may also be purchased for styling session.
Sit back and relax as the experts create complete outfits for your upcoming vacation, business trip or weekend getaway. Not sure what to wear to the captain’s dinner on your cruise? We have you covered!
During your initial style consultation, I will gather information to develop a full understanding of your personal style and budget needs. With that in mind, I will set out to purchase the items requested in a planned, timely manner leaving you extra time for other important areas of your life. Purchased clothing and accessories can be delivered to your home giving you the benefit of seeing how the new items coordinate with the old. Per your request, purchased items may also be delivered to your office. If you’d like to shop as a team, I’ll meet you at our first destination and we will travel from there. I will have a detailed shopping plan and lead the charge in pulling styles, colors and sizes as we go.
This is optimal for the budget conscious shopper looking for style assistance. Based on your budget and style needs I will provide a detailed shopping list via email of online items that fit your criteria. Looking for a six-button black waterproof trench coat, size small, but don’t know where to look? Then this service is for you. Monthly or seasonal retainer service is available.
For more information: http://www.jennaburkett.com/
