Gift the Smart Way This Season with Christopher James

You can read this gift guide as either a handy list of your holiday favorites you can print out and give to your wife or as some favorites that are a must for your dad, son, nephew or friend. In no particular order, behold the Christopher James gift list:

Put a solid or patterned shirt that can be worn untucked high on your list. With the prevalence of adopting casual work cultures, there is less of a need to have many suits hanging in your closet. A shirt by Emanuel Berg, for example, can be worn tucked or untucked with jeans or chinos. We should clarify that not just any button-down shirt can be worn this way. Stop by and we’ll show you how to pull it off. 

 

A quarter-zip sweater from Peter Millar or Robert Graham is utilitarian *and* stylish. Sure, it will keep you warm, but over a patterned button-down, it can make a gent look polished for the office or ready to take a place at this weekend’s flute recital. Worn with jeans by 34 Heritage or with dressier trousers, you’ll have versatility on your side for sure. 

 

Dress socks can be a fun purchase from Christopher James for the guy on your list — or for yourself. Buy a luxurious pair by VKNagrani, which Esquire magazine has billed as “the best socks in the world.” They’ll be a treat for you or a good friend on your list. 

If you know your gift recipient’s size, refined sneaks by Wolverine or or Peter Millar would make a great gift. Available in butter leather and different colors, your someone special would love wearing these to work with jeans or khakis or on the weekend while he’s running errands. 

For the ultimate splurge, put a Hook & Albert garment weekender bag under the tree. The leather bag fully unzips to hold a sport jacket or suit on a hanger. Zip it and tuck in your shoes, shirt, sweater, undergarments and toiletries and you’re ready to say bon voyage. You’ll smile big when your special giftee tells you about the stares and double-takes how received while walking through the airport. 

You can never go wrong with a gift card from Christopher James. It shows just how much you care. 

Happy Holidays from Christopher James and see you soon! 

I Can’t Even: The Best Adulting Menswear Essentials from Christopher James — Part 2

Depending on your job, the disheveled look can only carry you so far. A polished appearance complete with well-fitting clothing can do amazing things for one’s confidence. Read on for reliable and effective tips in Part 2 of Christopher James Adulting Menswear Essentials: 

In our last installment, we talked about suits, ties, dress shirts, the necessity of a belt and appropriate jeans. Next on the list are sweaters.

 

Sweaters. A lightweight sweater from Christopher James is a great transitional piece from season to season. You can wear a sweater from Peter Millar or Robert Graham with a button down shirt, with or without a tie, under a sport or suit jacket or with an open collared button down and coordinating solid T-shirt peeking out underneath. Throw on a sport coat and jeans and your not-too-casual-oh-this-old-thing look will yield many approving looks. 


Trousers.
Jeans aside, another wardrobe essential is a neat pair of trousers, be they dress pants or casual chinos. Options from Samuelsohn or Bill’s Khakis are incredibly comfortable, versatile and lightweight. 

Shoes. Your feet will thank you a million times over for investing in a few pairs of high-quality shoes. Start with a pair of dress shoes and a pair that checks the casual box so that you have a few styles to rotate through. At Christopher James, we carry both looks from Trask and J&M 1900 and can offer suggestions for how to pull off completing your outfit in shoes that aren’t black. 

Underpants. Why are these in the list? Because we care. Taking care of yourself and maintaining a good grooming schedule also includes considering the first layer of clothing on your body. Throw out your torn and stretched underwear. You deserve the best! Who wants to wear a great outfit with overstretched underwear that bunches in all of the wrong places? Get some Saxx underwear.

Come and adult with us at Christopher James today!

 

Some Rules Are Meant to Be Broken

Work place style has evolved, there’s no doubt about that. Whether you work at a law firm, in a doctor’s office, or are part of the financial or professional services industries or you’re a teacher, the guidelines for workplace dress are drastically different than they were 10 years ago. Business casual rules were shattered years ago and if you’re unsure what’s de rigeur at the moment, visit us at Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne and we’ll help you out. 

 

What they wore then: A suit with shoulder pads big enough on which to land a plane, a solid-colored shirt and tie. 

What you wear now: Comfortable, form-fitting sport coat from Coppley over a casual button-down patterned shirt by Emanuel Berg with a pair of neat jeans by 34 Heritage. No holes.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What they wore then: Short-sleeve shirts in the summer with a tie and dress slacks. Sorry to bring back terribly vivid memories. 

What you wear now: An untucked long-sleeve shirt from Peter Millar, a half-zip coordinating pullover and chinos by Bill’s Khakis. Skip the pocket protector. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What they wore then: A too-big V-neck sweater, tie and solid-colored button down shirt. Pleated khakis down below. 

What you wear now: Pants with pleats should find their way into your closet if you have larger legs or carry more weight around your midsection. Otherwise, pleats shouldn’t be having a moment in your wardrobe, gentlemen. Flat-front pants are flattering on slim men of all ages and are quite flattering. Paired with a cashmere sweater and vibrantly patterned shirt, you’ll be ready to take a seat at the conference room table in this getup. 

 

What they wore then: Lace-up dress shoes or stodgy and stiff leather loafers.

What you wear now: Refined sneakers from Trask or leather tennis shoes from On that will make you feel like you’re walking around the office on air.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The staff at Christopher James believes the laidback look is here to stay, at least for a while. Stop in at our store and we’ll help you put some casual clothing options to work for you. See you soon! 

Accessories You Can’t Do Without This Spring

How to Accessorize your Wardrobe in Fort Wayne

Gentlemen, don’t overlook new accessories to add to your spring wardrobe this season in Fort Wayne. Whether it’s a pop of color, something new to cinch your waist or a little something out of the ordinary around your neck to complete your look, count on the expert staff at Christopher James to share their expertise on the additions to invest in this spring:

Pocket squares: The smallest details can make the biggest impact. Don’t underestimate the power of the pocket square. Not to be confused with a handkerchief, a colorfully bold pocket square tucked into your jacket breast pocket is all for show and will help you show well. The colors are rich this season — think vibrant blues, red, coral, purple, pink, yellow and orange. Check out our picks from Carrot and Gibbs, Edward Armah and Robert Talbott.

Belts: It’s always helpful to have a smart, sophisticated classic belt in buttery leather from Trafalgar or W. Kleinberg. No need to match your belt to shoes. Instead, choose a complementary color. Play it safe and steer clear of picking a belt in a contrasting color against a dark background.

Underclothes: Who thought underwear could be life changing? You’ll be a believer, too, when you try out Saxx underwear for yourself. They’re well worth the investment. You can choose the material and fit that’s right for you.

Refined sneakers: The brands are many, the colors are endless, the styles are smart and the concept is most welcome. Sneakers you can wear to work! Who knew? With selections from Wolverine and Peter Millar, you’ll have many to choose from.

Stop in to our Ft Wayne Store soon and the Christopher James staff will help you accessorize!

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J&M 1850 Now in Ft. Wayne

New for You at Christopher James: Johnston & Murphy’s 1850 Collection Features Stylish and Smart
Footwear

From custom designing footwear for presidents to offering a distinct clothing look for more than two decades, Johnston & Murphy has certainly evolved with the times. Christopher James is excited to announce that it is now carrying Johnston & Murphy’s latest 1850 shoe collection for men, which celebrates its history and unmistakable craftsmanship with modern, yet classic styles suited for many budgets and appearances.

The spring season is upon us in Fort Wayne, so refresh your wardrobe with a new pair of shoes from the 1850 collection. You deserve it. You’ll see wing tips, cap toes and plain toes, but you’ll also see sneakers,chukkas and boots. There are also a variety of shoes for $100 or under that won’t sacrifice style for a few extra dollars in your pocket. Johnston & Murphy’s motto is “The best shoes money can buy,” and the company continues to succeed in living up to that standard.


The 1850 collection’s artisanal elements are clearly visible in the way no two products are the same, demonstrating the impeccable quality for which the company is known. Among the footwear, you’ll see shoes your grandfather might have worn, but with subtle modern twists. You know the saying, “Everything old is new again.” Johnston & Murphy exemplifies just that.

Complete your classic look with a new sport coat and/or dress shirt. Schedule your shopping trip soon! From now until May 18, you can save $100 when you spend $500 or $250 off purchases over $1,000. Sign up for offer >>

Spring 2017 Trunk Show

Please note on your calendar the upcoming Samuelsohn Spring Trunk Show –  Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 1:00- 7:00 pm. Samuelsohn representative Dorian Anderson will be joined by Meyer and Sartore pant representative Pino Tricase; Donald Pliner shoe representative Jimmy Richmond; and Made to Measure Custom Shirts. The daylong event will feature expanded product selection,  special pricing,  and food and drink from our friends at Casa

Best of the Midwest Trunk Show this Wednesday!

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On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, see the latest and greatest looks from Meyer, Sartore, Donald Pliner, Circle of Gentlemen, Agave and Wolverine, right here at Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne.

Representatives from each brand will be in the store showcasing their best looks for fall 2015, as well as accepting special orders for this season and spring 2016.

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Read more about Agave | Read more about Donald Pliner | Read more about Circle of Gentlemen | Read more about Wolverine

You don’t want to miss this event! So mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 16, 2015.

We look forward to seeing you!

Put a Spring in Your Step with Allen Edmonds Shoes

Spring is slowly rolling into Fort Wayne, and we’re hoping to speed up its arrival by debuting Allen Edmonds’ new line of Spring 2015 shoes.

If you haven’t already been to our Spring Trunk Show, which kicked off yesterday, you can peruse the new collection in Allen Edmonds’ Spring 2015 Styles catalog (PDF).

Or, you can read it here:

Allen Edmond’s spring collection features dress shoes designed to combat the fickle spring weather in style. They are made with an all-weather Dainite sole, which is basically high-tech studded rubber that will give you extra grip and traction when it’s slick. Dainite soles are perfect if March and April bring more showers than sunshine (and here’s praying they don’t. We’ve already paid our weather dues with the polar vortex and Snowmageddon, right?).

Speaking of earning it–we’ve shoveled more than our fair share of snow and deserve the freedom and irreverence of spring, both of which are embodied in AE’s spring drivers. We love AE drivers. They are lightweight and perfect for a long drive, plane ride and even a lazy Sunday run to the store.

AE’s slip-ons are on point, as usual. They have a classic penny loafer shape but with a slightly longer, wider saddle for a more modern look. We love AE slip-ons because you can wear them with tailored dress pants for business travel, or dress them down with jeans and look equally put together.

There’s more we love about Allen Edmonds (really, what’s not to love?) but it’d be better if we could show you in person. We are hosting Allen Edmonds at our Spring Trunk Show until tomorrow, so come by and see us, and these beautiful shoes. We have the best selection of AE shoes not only in Fort Wayne, but in northeast Indiana.

We can’t wait to see you. Find Christopher James Menswear here.

Saxx Underwear Available in Ft. Wayne

Nothing says “Happy Valentines Day” like a gift from Christopher James. We have you covered from top to bottom. Stop in and check out our new arrivals from Saxx underwear and see for yourself why Men’s Health magazine considers them some of the best underwear in the world.  READ THE ARTICLE >>

Kick Winter to the Curb with Allen Edmonds Shoes

Allen-Edmonds

Winter–especially here in Fort Wayne–is the worst when it comes to footwear. Salt lines, water stains, soggy, cold feet, and the list goes on. The best way to combat Mother Nature’s cold streak is with a pair of high-quality, long lasting Allen Edmonds shoes.

Allen Edmonds is the standard bearer of classic men’s shoes and we are proud to carry them. Each pair of A.E.s shoes is constructed via a 212-step process, which, if you want to get technical about it, is actually a 424-step process (212 per shoe). That’s a lot of steps.

But it’s fitting, seeing as you’ll take a lot of steps in your Allen Edmond shoes. They are so well made that they wear well for years, and owners typically have their A.E.s repaired rather than replaced. In fact, many A.E.s are deliberately designed to accommodate easy repairs.

Allen Edmonds reputation for wearing well is more important now that it’s winter, and soon your shoes are being relentlessly exposed to the elements, which unfortunately, is a fate none of us can escape. You can, however, put up a good fight by getting yourself a pair of Allen Edmond shoes.

They use only superior leathers such as calfskin and cordovan, and these materials are combined with cork footbeds to create unmatched comfort. Every shoe remains in the last (a mechanical form that has a shape similar to that of a human foot) for at least 24 hours to ensure that they hold their shape for a lifetime.

Come into Christopher James Menswear today and try on our wide selection of A.E. shoes. We have the best selection in northwest Indiana. Also, an expert sales associate will assist you and make sure you buy a pair that fits properly and comfortably, and give you tips on how to get the most out of your Allen Edmonds shoes.

Find us here. We can’t wait to see you.