The cold weather has finally set in here in Fort Wayne, which means it’s time to add a few extra layers. Ward off the chill with these fine coats, sweaters, and accessories. Everything you see is available right here at Christopher James Menswear.

Save the Duck puffer jacket

Just looking at this all-weather proof puffer coat by Save the Duck ($258) makes us feel toasty, so you can imagine what happens when you put it on. You’ll get warm and fuzzy about helping Mother Nature too – the alternative down used in this jacket makes it earth-friendly.

A cashmere sweater by Kinross

Cashmere is our favorite winter fabric. It’s soft, lightweight, and extremely warm, like this purple cashmere sweater by Kinross ($450). And come mid-winter, the bright purple hue will be a perfect cold weather pick-me-up. The shirt is by Robert Talbott ($228).

A tweed topcoat

Tweed is our second favorite winter fabric. It’s warm, moisture-resistant and it looks very sophisticated. We have several ready-to-wear tweed coats in stock (prices vary), but if you want something more unique, Christopher James Menswear has an array of tweed fabrics by Gladson and Huddersfield and we can custom make you your perfect coat. (Again, prices vary.)

Fabric swatches from Gladson and Huddersfield

A winter vest

A vest is the perfect way to add warmth without adding bulk. Like our topcoats, we have several ready-to-wear vests in stock (prices vary), but we can also custom make something just for you.

 The shearling overcoat by Aston

This black shearling overcoat by Aston ($1,895-$2,095) is an investment in enduring style. The elements are no match for this beautiful, yet hardwearing, jacket.

Flannel shirt by Barbour

Stay warm indoors with this flannel shirt and sock tie by Barbour (sport shirt, $119, tie, $95). Top it off with a matching beanie, also by Barbour ($59), on chilly morning commutes.

Cashmere scarf

Warmth and sophistication all rolled into one classic accessory: the cashmere scarf ($85-$99).

Complete the look: Stentroms dress shirt ($235), Betenly blazer ($550), Robert Talbott tie ($155) and socks ($28).

It’s only going to get colder from now on, so stop into Christopher James Menswear today and get everything you need to stay warm all winter long.

Christmas and Hanukkah are right around the corner and Christopher James Menswear has the right gift for that special someone in your life. We know it is a stressful time of year with gift giving, dinners to make, and travelling to do so take a few minutes to check out this video and relax.

If we can help you in any way this holiday season please stop in, sample a beverage of your choice and let us do the work. We have a great offer running through December 24 (click here for offer) and have extended hours to make your shopping more convenient. We are open this Sunday 12 – 4; all next week 9 – 7; and Christmas Eve and Hanukkah 9 – 4 pm.

All of us at Christopher James thank you for your support this past year and wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season.

All of us at Christopher James would like to wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving.

In addition, congratulations to Coach Jon Coffman and his Fort Wayne Mastodons for their thrilling victory last night. If you haven’t seen it, take a minute to watch Coach’s interview below. What a class act and a great representative of Fort Wayne. (and a pretty snappy dresser…)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just like color and fabric, the width of your tie can change your entire look. Here’s the skinny on the most common tie widths, from thinnest to widest.

2 IN

The narrowest of ties. The 2-inch is for truly fashion-forward gents. Less tie = more statement.

2.5 IN

2.5 inch is the classic skinny tie. It’s a favorite of GQ and looks best with slim suits or trim lapels.

3 IN

Not too skinny, not too wide…juuust right…If you’re a modest guy who wants to try something a tad more modern, go with the 3 inch.

3.25 – 3.5 IN

Wide ties are a very traditional look. They’re also good for bigger guys, or guys with very broad shoulders.

See which ties work best for you by coming into Christopher James Menswear and sampling our selection of ties. We have tons of sizes and styles, and will happily guide you through all of them.

That full-framed guys can’t wear slim apparel is a popular notion. It’s also utterly ridiculous.

Let’s get hypothetical for a minute.

Imagine Bill, 47, a successful investment banker in Fort Wayne. He’s a big guy, say, 6ft tall and 240 pounds, most of it around his middle.

He’s always shopped for bigger sizes in clothing, even when he was a kid.

When the slim trend became a global phenomenon a few years back, Bill abstained, despite his love for dressing well. He resigned himself to “classic” and “traditional” cuts, believing he’d look like an overstuffed sausage in “slim” or “skinny” clothes.

That look is for thin guys only, Bill thinks.

And anyway, he feels better in loose clothing. He can move comfortably (don’t skinny jeans choke your you-know-whats? He wonders), and more importantly, he believes he is cleverly concealing his size by wearing clothes that look “too big.”

So, day after day, Bill wears large suits that hang from his shoulders like a tunic, pool at his ankles, and crease repeatedly in the arms.

Then one day, at a business conference, Bill notices a man who looks oddly familiar. He was built like Bill, even looked like him…and…whayda know…the man is wearing an almost identical suit. How strange!

Bill At first wonders if he’s looking into a mirror, but quickly spots clear differences. The strange man’s suit doesn’t have excess fabric hanging from the ankles and waist. The jacket hem hits just above his upper thigh, and his pants have a clean quarter break just above his shoelaces.

Bill silently marvels at the man. Not only does the guy look incredibly polished—he looks like Bill, only 10 pounds lighter!

Bill grabs his phone and texts his wife to ask if she remembers the name of that menswear store they always pass by in Covington Plaza in downtown Fort Wayne.

Luckily, she does. A few minutes later he has a consultation with the store booked for the following week.

During the appointment, Bill tells the helpful salesman that he’s interested in slim clothing, but had, until recently, thought he didn’t have the right body type.

Everybody has the right body type, the salesman explains. “Slim means that the garment fits closer to your body, not ‘you have to be slim to wear this.’ You can wear a slim 38 and a slim 44. It’s relative.”

The salesman then shows Bill a variety of slim-cut suits in Bill’s size. They need to go up a size with a few brands, but, as the salesman explains, this is common with slim cuts, even for skinny guys.

They find a suit in Bill’s size, but it needs a few alterations. The in-house tailor takes Bill’s measurements, and puts pins in here and there.*

(*Bill enjoys keeps an eye on a football game, thanks to a big screen TV hoisted on the far wall, during this time.)

A week later, Bill sports the slimmest suit he’s ever worn. And he feels fantastic.

To his surprise, he is incredibly comfortable. In fact, he feels more comfortable than before. He hadn’t realized how much all the extra fabric on his other suits had been weighing him down, and the clean, sharp silhouette puts a pep in his step.

Bill’s wife looks at him differently, too–in a way she hasn’t since their first few months of dating. Meanwhile at work, he senses his sharper, more professional appearance is eliciting more respect from his boss. Oh, and Barbara from accounting even asks if he’s lost weight.

Moral of the story: Big guys, don’t dismiss slim clothing. It can definitely look good on you.

Friends,

This is it—the last day to cast your vote for your favorite menswear store in Fort Wayne. If you haven’t done so yet, do it now!

Go here to vote

CJM is nominated for three (!) awards: best menswear store, best shoe store, and best formalwear rental, so if you could select us for all three categories, we’d be forever grateful.

Voting ends tonight at midnight!

Winners will be announced in September on FortWayne.com and in The News-Sentinel and The Journal Gazette.

Many, many thanks, friends!

Hi friends,

Christopher James Menswear has been nominated for three Fort Wayne 2016 Reader’s Choice awards: best menswear store, best shoe store, and best formalwear rental, and we need your help to win.

It’d mean the world to us if you took a quick minute and voted for us in each of the three categories we just mentioned. It only takes a second and we’ll love you forever! (We already do, but we’d love you, like, forever times a million).

Go here to vote

*CJM is listed under “Shopping,” and then “Clothing-Men’s Store,” “Clothing-Formal Wear,” and “Clothing-Shoe Store.”

Christopher James truly appreciates your vote. No opinion matters more than that of our customers and community members.

Deadline to vote is July 28, so hurry and vote today!

Wurkin Stiffs Collar Stays Are Nothing Short of Genius

Limp shirt collars are a drag. Perk them up with Wurkin Stiffs collar stays, must-haves for men who wear a lot of collared shirts.

Wurkin Stiff collar stays are tiny magnets that go inside your shirt’s collar stay insert. They allow you to not only stiffen your collar, but also adjust its height and spread.

They’re brilliant, really. Unlike cheap plastic collar stays, Wurkin Stiffs are sturdy and offer real stand-up support. Meanwhile the magnet allows you to vary the shape of your collar, which you can’t do with a plain metal (non-magnetic) collar stay.

Christopher James Menswear carries Wurkin Stiffs collar stays. We also have their RFID wallets, which are great for traveling safely and fashionably.

If you don’t already know, radio frequency identification, or RFID, is the wireless use of electromagnetic fields to transfer data, such as a credit card number or passport information. RFID technology makes it makes it easy to pay for things, but it also makes it risky to travel, since anyone with an RFID scanner can pick up your information. RFID wallets prevent third parties from scanning your sensitive information by blocking unwanted scanners.

But enough scary talk. Check out these great looking wallets:

When it comes to collar stays, we promise you won’t find anything better than Wurkin Stiffs. Come into Christopher James Menswear today and pick up a set. You’ll love them so much, you’ll wish you bought them sooner.