A new sweater should be worn two or three times, and then washed. This will help settle the fibres and decrease the amount it will pill. Doing so regularly in the future will also reduce pilling over time. The finer a cashmere is, the longer the fibres, so it can be more susceptible to pilling. And pieces that are hand knitted can suffer particularly.

Hand washing is safest, followed by rolling the sweater up in a towel to remove excess moisture and drying flat. I put mine on a rack to increase the air flow; try not to let the arms dangle over the edge in case that stretches them slightly. Remember you’re drying the sweater flat to protect it in its moist, weakened state.

You can wash most cashmere sweaters in the washing machine though – just make sure it’s on the lowest temperature setting and the gentlest cycle. And put the piece either in a washing bag or a pillow case to prevent it stretching – that’s the major thing you’re trying to avoid in hand washing it, after all.

I only started doing this recently, beginning with a relatively cheap sweater as an experiment and moving up to my most valuable stuff. So far I’ve encountered no negative effects at all.

Lastly, when sweaters do pill simply run an emery board or nail file over them. It picks up the little nubbins beautifully.

I have Audie Charles, of Hayward and now Anderson & Sheppard, to thank for most of these practical tips. She promises more pointers in a blog once the A&S haberdashery gets up and running. We can’t wait, Audie.

Photo: Andy Barnham

Post found here

New York-based designer V.K. Nagrani will be at Andrew Davis Menswear’s spring Trunk Show, Thursday, February 23, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. to unveil an exclusive, limited-edition sock he designed as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Nagrani is the founder of Ovadafut Hosiery Co., which manufactures luxury socks and underwear sold at select men’s retailers like Andrew Davis.

Andrew Davis is donating 50% of each sale of the Big Brothers Big Sisters sock to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“Even if you’re a small company, it doesn’t matter,” Nagrani said. “You still have a responsibility to help out and do something creative. We all need to do our part.”

Nagrani’s company has custom-designed items for many charities, including a pink sock for breast cancer awareness and a camouflage sock for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Nagrani said this year’s design, inspired by Andy Warhol’s pop art, features four blocks, each bearing the hand sign for one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ core values – confidence, competence, conscience and love.

Macey Dale, manager of Andrew Davis, hopes to see the socks fly off the shelves and he enlisted the help of Bloomington personalities who will be wearing the socks.

“Everybody wears socks, but, who would ever think that a simple pair of socks can make a huge difference in a child’s life, not just financially but also in raising awareness of such an amazing program,” said Tom Saccone, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  “Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.”

The cause is one that’s close to the designer’s heart. Nagrani, who worked as a substitute teacher when he started his company, knows first-hand the impact a strong role model can have on a child’s confidence, academic success and social development.

Macey Dale said Nagrani’s socks, which retail for $35 a pair, are popular with customers and Andrew Davis sells hundreds every year, including mailing customers in many states who can’t wait for the next design.

Research has shown involvement in the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs increases a child’s odds of succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative cycles.

Saccone said he hopes seeing men sporting the socks year-round will serve as a constant reminder to the community of the children served by the organization.

“If you think you’re too busy and you can’t mentor, you can buy these socks to support us, talk about us, advocate for us,” Saccone said. “We want to lift up and support more children in our community. Kids will find a model. We’ve got to ensure that they’ll find a positive role model. That’s what we’re all about.”

Style

To Boot New York’s designer Adam Derrick is the men’s footwear specialist. Each season he presents the To Boot New York collection, with many exciting casual styles that are modern, versatile, & wearable, as well as powerfully elegant new dress shoes for business and sartorial dressing. In the fall, he presents many great boot options , for spring the collection becomes more relaxed with the addition of moccasins, drivers and sandals. With close connections throughout the fashion industry and by anticipating the changes in menswear he is able to turn out new classics each and every season. Like the best menswear designers, Adam styles his collection with his clients varied lifestyles in mind. Most To Boot customers become loyal repeat clients and have shoes from seasons and years back that become “old friends”, shoes they reach for again and again.

Quality

Adam knows his shoes can only be as good as the materials that he uses, and only first choice select Italian and French calf make the grade. The skins are hand-selected and hand-cut ensuring the highest quality product. From cutting to sewing and final polishing, each pair of To Boot New York footwear is the product of over 200 individual hand operations. Produced exclusively in Italy’s finest factories this is modern footwear handcrafted with the great time-honored shoe making traditions.

Comfort

By using only natural materials, fit trial testing, and incorporating the latest in comfort technology, To Boot New York offers some of the most comfortable and wearable footwear available today.

Meet Our Rep Josh Reighard

Josh is from Des Moines Iowa..  . He started his shoe career at the age of 18 and worked for Nordstrom department stores for 8 years, including stops in Denver, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, and Seattle, WA. After five years with To Boot New York Josh says “To Boot NY has been the most challenging and rewarding job of my young career. Being 1/5th of the sales team, including owner designer Adam Derrick, has been a tremendous opportunity in a field I love” . Josh and  his fiancé Leslie  will be getting married this September in Chicago.

Join Us February 23rd for our Fashion Event!

9. To find the perfect shoe, belt, and sock to compliment your new clothing

8. To detail a garment with working sleeve button holes or ticket pockets.

7. To expand your choices and options for seasonal needs.

6. To support the local economy.

5. To receive a special offer available only that evening.

4. To experience a wine or scotch tasting with the best.

3. To meet a representative from the best manufacturers available.

2. To create a tuxedo, suit, or sport jacket/pant for an event that will stand out from the crowd.

1. To have a garment created for the most important person – you!

Join us on Thursday, February 23rd from 2:00 — 7:00 p.m.

for our spring trunk show with representatives from Hickey Freeman, ETON, To Boot, VK Nagrani and Edward Armah present to assist you with selection and fitting. We will also be previewing the fall collection of Barbour and taking advanced orders.

How It All Started

In 2009, Edward Armahs fascination of butterflies and their different species led to the birth of BUTTERFLY BOWTIES LLC, now EDWARD ARMAH  a company that designs, manufactures, markets and sells a branded line of high end luxury mens dress furnishings including handmade bowties, ascots, vests, silk robes and pocket circles. EDWARD ARMAH, the brand, aims at creating the most innovative and finest mens dress furnishings.

Edward Armahs idea of a bowtie that can be worn in four different ways, has gained much popularity across borders, and is considered a breakthrough in the fashion industry. It has become his signature product and has merited him the title, Bowtie King.

Profile from edwardarmah.com

Article by Karen Alberg Grossman

First and foremost, socks and underwear are the foundation of your wardrobe.  YOU should care because when you wear a great pair of socks and underwear, you feel great and by choosing a bold colour you get a quick mood enhancer.  Don’t believe it, try a pair of red socks and see how you feel.  After all, Sinatra wore orange every time he performed, Django Rhinehart chose red before every concert and President Bush, 41 opts for the boldest of colours.

What that should tell you is that real men not only understand but enjoy the power of the sock.  Once upon a time, a sock or hose depicted your social status.  In a sea of black and navy, why would you not want to express your individuality?   In addition, a cool pair of socks serve as a great ice breaker in a professional environment and offers a unique insight into your individuality in a social setting.

And underwear? Really?  You probably own various brands and I am willing to be that none of them provide your boys with the pleasure they so deserve. There are very few choices when it comes to true luxury underwear.  Go ahead, splurge on a pair of hand made underwear and see if your day is not that much better.

Written by VK Nagrani

In 30 minutes, you’ll learn

• Why women think a man looks better in a tuxedo than a suit (and why they are right).
• What tuxedos will still be in style 30 years from now.
• Why the shirt collar is one of the most important parts of a tuxedo.
• Why Dr. Martin Luther King showed cuff when he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.
• Why you already know how to tie a bow tie (and should wear one).
• Why a cummerbund makes you look stronger.
• Why real men in tuxedos sometimes wear shoes with bows on them.
• Why, even on a budget, you can dress better than most men at the Oscars.
• Why Sean Combs, Steven Colbert, Jay Z, Tom Ford, John Hamm, Brad Pitt, and Hugh Jackman all wear the same type of tuxedo that Clark Gable wore 80 years ago 2

The PDF download written by Donald H Gjerdingen is available here Black Tie 101

Visit his site here

There are so many suit shapes and styles out there – what would you suggest for a day-to-day suit for a man with an average build?

A slim-fit navy or mid-gray suit with a two-button jacket, side vents, and a fun lining (to bring out the detail while maintaining the integrity and business appropriateness of the suit) and flat-front pants with no cuffs or with stylish two-inch cuffs.

What are the new trends in clothing?

Fitted suits still rule and always should, in my opinion.  Suit lapels are moving back to traditional widths, higher on the shoulder (to broaden the chest and add vertical appeal).   Last year we saw the return of the pocket square and guys are embracing it!  Pair a contrast-color shirt and sport coat with a cotton or linen pocket square during the day and wear fun, colorful pocket squares at night.  Right now we’re placing orders for colorful patterned sports coats to be paired with jeans and collared shirts for dinner and a night out.

What rules should a man follow when purchasing a suit?

If the shoulders don’t fit, don’t buy it!  Make sure the jacket is not too short or long.  A man’s jacket sleeve should allow a quarter to a half inch of his shirt cuff to show. As a general rule, suit pant length should be a quarter inch above the top of the heel; however, shorter and “smarter” lengths might be considered as well.  Great-looking clothing is all about keeping everything in proportion.

By Macey Dale