We’ve already blogged about two of the four vendors that we will be featuring at our “Sweet Clothes, Sweet Cars, and Fine Cigars” trunk show this weekend in Fort Wayne (Allen Edmonds and Coppley), and now we’re going to blog about the third vendor, Robert Talbott.

Robert Talbott is one of our favorite brands and best sellers at Christopher James Menswear. They make mens clothing that is luxurious but accessible, timeless, and versatile. The Robert Talbott aesthetic is decidedly all-American, with touches of the company’s California roots.

Here’s a preview of this season’s RT looks from their Fall 2014 Look Book:

If you like what you see here, you’ll be excited to know that plenty more of it will be on display this weekend at our trunk show.

The trunk show will be held October 2-4, and the fun starts at 4:00 p.m. on the 2nd. It will be held at Christopher James Menswear, located at 6410 W. Jefferson Boulevard, in Covington Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

We look forward to seeing you there.

New fall fabric swatches and designs from Coppley are in here at Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne, and we can’t wait for you to see them at our THREE-DAY trunk show this weekend, October 2-4.

That’s right, three days of your favorite lines including Coppley, Scabal, Allen Edmonds and Robert Talbott. In today’s post, we are going to talk about Coppley, and what you can expect from this season’s collection.

As always, Coppley’s exquisite quality and extensive fabric selection remain the same, but several things are new:

Fits and silhouettes
Coppley Fall 2014 is a blend of traditional and modern, with fits to accommodate both older and younger perspectives. Meaning, the standard fits are generally on the slimmer side, but of course, your suit can be tailored to your preferences, should you want a more classic look.

Color scheme
Coppley’s color palette this season is comprised of classic neutrals: black, grey, blue, and tan. However, there is an overall “greying effect” to each fabric, which adds understated elegance. But don’t worry—it’s not all neutrals. To craft a more compelling look, Coppley has incorporated subtle pops of color, either by blending a fabric with indigo, aqua, or cranberry colored threads, making a deep burgundy tie to pair with a brown suit, or an olive vest to go with a deep blue button-down shirt.

Small but important details
Coppley has also added new tipover buttons, buttonholes with contrasting thread colors, elbow patches and contrast stitching which can help you create a more interesting, fashion-forward look.

So, mark your calendar for our three-day trunk show this weekend and explore all Coppley has to offer.

If you come on October 2nd, you’ll be able to snack on food and drinks from Casa’s, listen to the smooth sounds of Alicia Pyle, and check out some of Fort Wayne’s sweetest cars, courtesy of SweetCars.

Don’t miss this event!

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Donald Pliner makes some of the best shoes in the biz, and we proudly carry the best selection of Donald Pliner shoes in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

As proof of this big claim, check out a few of our new Donald Pliner fall styles:

Come in and try these bad boys on! We have even more styles than pictured here. You know where to find us. (If not, you can find us here).

Alberto Denim

Jeans are as American as apple pie, but we must admit that sometimes, the best denim comes from our stylish neighbor across the pond: Europe. In the case of ALBERTO, a beloved line of high-end jeans and dress pants, it’s Germany.

From their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mönchengladbach, Germany, ALBERTO crafts perfectly fitting, stone washed jeans that are classic and streamlined. They don’t go overboard with decorative hardware or laser burnished whiskers or honeycombs (the faded creases behind the knee), for an uncluttered and comfortable denim look. It’s what they call “smart dressy,” which I think means their jeans look great (and appropriate) in business settings too.

There is much to love about the brand, but if there is one thing ALBERTO is most proud of, it’s their fits. There are four: slim fit, regular slim fit, modern fit, and comfort fit:

• The slim fit is for the younger guys who like a skinnier, fashion forward look. The waist is low-rise, and the overall silhouette is designed to emphasize the figure.
• The regular slim fit offers slim limbs and narrow legs, but isn’t as trim as the slim fit.
• The modern fit features a lower rise with a modern silhouette. Perfect for the guy who likes clean lines but isn’t necessarily onboard with the skinny trend.
• The comfort fit is a loose cut leg with a comfortable rise and casual leg width.

ALBERTO doesn’t mess around with its fits either, so if you buy a pair this season, you can rest assured that the same fit will be there next season, just the way it was when you first fell in love with it.

Their jeans also come in a number of different washes, all of which look a little vintage but are still sharp enough to pair with your favorite sport coat the perfect dinner or Friday night ensemble.

We are ready for fall with a new shipment of ALBERTO jeans and we’d love for you to come in and try on a few pairs. Chances are you’ll become a repeat customer.  Find us here.

Robert Talbott is one of our favorite brands here at Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne. We sell a lot of their stuff, and for good reason. Robert Talbott is high quality clothing and neckwear, made for men who like fashion and dressing well. Their aesthetic overall is classic and American, and their pieces can be worn for years and still look on-point.

They are also the best manufacturer of the seven-fold tie, which we love here at CJM, and is especially great for the upcoming fall season. (It’s a tie made from a single piece of silk that is folded seven times in a special pattern, to eliminate the need for a liner. It’s draping is just amazing.)

Here’s just a little history of the Robert Talbott brand:

It started as a cottage industry in the 1940’s, in Carmel, California, by husband and wife Robert and Audrey Talbott. Mrs. Talbott sewed silk neckties in her spare time, just as hobby and made them for her husband and friends around the holidays. The ties were exquisite. Realizing her talent, the Talbotts went into business selling high-end bow ties. They catered to a very niche market–well-heeled men who saw the value in higher-priced neckwear.

While Audrey toiled away in a bedroom-turned-workshop, Robert peddled her creations at mens clothing stores all along the west coast. Though Audrey was the heart of the operation, she preferred to stay behind the scenes, and therefore they named their business the Robert Talbott Tie Company (it would later be changed to simply Robert Talbott).

The Talbott’s hustle eventually led to success, and they opened their first store in 1953. Several years after the shop opening, they added long neckties to their offerings. While their product was high quality, they still endured years of ups and downs trying to convince more men to pay a higher price for neckwear. Finally, the tide of fashion rolled in their favor and by 1969, they were a million dollar company.

They relocated their headquarters to a larger facility in Monterey, California, and remained dedicated to making high-quality products. As technology developed, the Talbott’s reluctantly incorporated new machinery into their production process, concerned that a machine would lessen the quality of their ties, which they proudly crafted entirely by hand. They only used technology that did not compromise quality.

Today, after almost 70 years in business, Robert Talbott has perfected it’s production process, now a mix of hand and only the best machinery, and sells ties and clothing to raving fans around the world. They are still based in Monterey, California with offices in Italy. They use the best fabrics from around the world, and stay true to their Monterey Bay heritage by making clothing that exudes all-American, west-coast style.

Their seven-fold tie is probably their most recognized product, an accessory that was popular in the 1900’s, but fell out of favor during the Great Depression, then which Robert Talbott resurrected in the 1980’s:

Several Robert Talbott seven fold ties

Christopher James Menswear carries a ton of Robert Talbott apparel, including shirts, sweaters, and neckties. We love it, our customers love it, and we’re sure you will love it too. We just got in some new Robert Talbott fall product, so stop by and check it out this weekend. See you soon.

Find us here.

Good style isn’t just about buying the latest, greatest fashion trends. It’s about properly caring for the high-quality items you already own so that you can enjoy them for as long as possible.

Since many of our customers cherish their Allen Edmonds shoes, we thought you’d appreciate these tips directly from AE on how to keep your beloved shoes around as long as possible:

1. How do I prolong the life of my AEs?

2. What is the difference between a full and combination shoe tree? Is one better than the other?

3. How do I apply product to my shoes?

4. Can I waterproof my shoes?

5. What do I do if my shoes get wet?

For more tips on how to care for your AE shoes, visit allenedmonds.com/shoecare.

British Lead Corp of Guides wearing khaki in the 1800s. By Richard Simkin. Image source here.

Last month I wrote about Bill’s Khakis, a brand of khakis and chinos beloved here in Fort Wayne, and well, the rest of America too. In researching the fascinating history of Bill’s Khakis, I discovered that the history of khakis in general, is equally fascinating. So, I thought I would share it with you. Here you go:

Khakis came to the Western world via the British Indian army in the 1800s. At the time, the standard British soldier uniform consisted of white trousers and a bright red, wool coat. The uniform, which earned them the famous nickname “red coats,” signified power and prestige, and successfully intimidated their enemies.

“British old infantry uniforms” by unknown. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

However, when Britain expanded into India in the 1800s, their sartorial assets became sweltering, itchy liabilities. Many soldiers were stationed in Punjab, India, where the temperature could reach a broiling 120 degrees. So, Sir Harry Burnett Lumsden, a British military officer stationed in Punjab, instructed his men to ditch their red coats and wear their lighter, gently-woven cotton pajama pants instead.

(Casual Friday, anyone?)

To better camouflage their white, pleated PJs, soldiers dyed them with mud and marazi (a plant native to Punjab), which resulted in a drab, beige hue perfect for blending in with their sandy surroundings.

They were called “khakis,” which either originates from the Hindi word धूल, which means, “dust,” or the Persian word khāk, which means, “soil.” Nobody knows for sure, but it’s obvious that both terms aptly describe the yellowish beige color of khakis.

And so, khakis were born.

21 years later, in 1867, the British army made khakis their official uniform, and another 31 years after that, in 1898, during the Spanish-American war, our own U.S. army adopted khakis as their official uniform.

Eventually, khakis made their way into civilian fashion, and today, are as quintessential to American fashion as jeans. While I don’t have stats on how many pairs of khakis are sold per year in the U.S. (I tried, though, and Google did not know the answer. Google did know, however, that Khaki Campbell ducks lay up to 320 eggs per year…), I’m sure it’s a whole heck of a lot.

Courtesy of Bill’s Khakis

It makes sense why modern khakis are so popular. They can be worn with brown or black shoes, and be dressed up with a sport coat or down with a crisp polo. But, with so many khakis out there, finding the right pair can be tough. If you get it right, you can look as cool as Gael García Bernal in The Motorcycle Diaries. BUT, if you get it wrong, you could end up looking like you work at Blockbuster. No bueno.

So, come in to Christopher James Menswear and we’ll help you pick out the right pair of khakis or chinos for you. Find us here.

See you soon.

Join us today for our Royall Lyme Reader Event, from 3-7 p.m., as local author Tony Wittwer talks about his new book, “Jonah’s Belly.”

The novel was inspired by Wittwer’s own experience of living in the wooded hills in Brown County, Indiana, where he spent one year, on a sabbatical of sorts. The lush hillsides inspired the mystical, magical hill that is the center and namesake of the novel, Jonah’s Belly. Here’s the description from the back cover of the book:

Thriller, love story, and supernatural tale, Jonah’s Belly is an intricately woven tapestry of tender and terrible things.

Strange things are happening on the hill called Jonah’s Belly. A tall circle of weathered stone pillars stands on top of the hill. The circle of stones is ancient, crumbling, and holy—a small and hidden Stonehenge, slumbering in the mist-covered woods. An old magic has begun flowing from the stone circle and spilling down Jonah’s Belly. The magic touches those living near the hill, drawing together ordinary people and extraordinary beings as events and dark forces begin to collide.

In an interesting twist, a bottle of lime-scented cologne–inspired by a childhood memory Wittwer had of “Royall Lyme,”–plays a central role in the novel. A few weeks ago, Wittwer sent a thank you note to Royall Lyme. “As both a ‘thanks’ and a gift, I sent a copy of the book to the company, along with a note about my memories of the cologne and the scent’s inclusion in the novel,” Wittwer explains. “The Royall Lyme company not only appreciated the gift, they also decided to ‘have some fun with it.'”

And by “fun” Wittwer means a full-on PR campaign, with promotional events, email blasts, and announcements on Royall Lyme’s website and social media outlets.

Lucky for Fort Wayne, one of those events is happening right here at Christopher James Menswear. Hear Wittwer read from his novel, ask him some questions, and then maybe shop a little bit (you’ll get a free gift bag with any Royall Lyme purchase).

So come in and see us: today, August 7 from 3-7 p.m. You won’t want to miss this!