Need Brown Shoes? Check Out Mezlan

Every man in Fort Wayne needs a great pair of brown dress shoes. Here are a few of our favorites from Mezlan, a Spanish footwear designer.

The Bradley II

The Bradley II is an updated version of the classic penny loafer. It’s made from fine Italian leather and the memory foam sole makes it ideal for all-day wear.

The Hundley II

Brown Oxfords are a must in your closet, and these classic apron-toe oxfords fit the bill. They are made from hand-finished Italian calfskin, and have a memory foam insole.

The Vitoria

Mezlan’s monkstrap shoe is classic with a bit of edge. The leather is a combination of calfskin and hand-burnished calfskin, which gives it that handsome chestnut hue. These would look great with a charcoal gray or navy suit.

All of these beauties are available at Christopher James Menswear. Come in today and try them on. We are located here.

Run for a Good Cause with Blue Jacket, Inc.

One of our favorite charities, Blue Jacket, Inc. is forming a team to compete in the Fort4Fitness Fall Festival, Sept. 25-26, 2015. If you like running, and supporting a good cause, you must join!

What it is

The Fort4Fitness Fall Festival is a two-day health promotion event that includes a free expo of Fort Wayne’s best health, wellness and exercise providers, and a series of road races and walks. Discover new tools and tips that’ll help you get, or stay, healthy, and have fun getting sweaty during one of the road races!

What we need from you

To sign up for one of the races (a half marathon, 10K, 4-mile run/walk, or the senior and kid’s marathon) as a member of Team Blue Jacket.

Why you should participate

 A portion of your race registration will go to Blue Jacket, Inc., a Fort Wayne-based non-profit that helps low-income men and women get a second chance at a career. Blue Jacket, Inc. provides job and skills training and gives people the business-appropriate attire they need to get and keep a job. Learn more about Blue Jacket, Inc. at bluejacketinc.org.

You’ll also get really nice swag.

And it doesn’t cost extra to register as a team member—you’ll pay the same price but a portion of your registration fee will go to Blue Jacket, Inc.

How to participate

It’s so easy. Just register for the race using the code BLUEJ. That’s it!

Go here to sign up.

Others ways to support Blue Jacket, Inc.

Blue Jacket, Inc. is always taking donations of men and women’s professional clothing. They always really need men’s suits, shirts, dress shoes, pants, ties and belts, and women’s plus sizes. Drop of your donations right here at Christopher James Menswear, the designated drop-off location for Blue Jacket, Inc. We are located at 6410 West Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804.

Circle of Gentlemen Makes Luxury Shirts for Everyday Life

In the regular world, the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” makes perfect sense. But in the fashion world, such advice is dangerous. Because in a universe where innovation and creativity is prized, sticking with what works can be seen as complacency.

So, it’s in this trend-seeking world that Circle of Gentlemen, a Netherlands-based menswear brand known for it’s classic aesthetic, feels, ironically, like a bit of rebel.

“Circle of Gentlemen follows trends, but they don’t look to fill a void in fashion with some ridiculous looking style,” explains Chris Lambert, owner of Christopher James Menswear. “What they do is create luxury for a man’s everyday life. This means a really nice, on-point shirt that he can wear to work, on a date or a night out with friends.”

The brand’s knack for on-trend class is exemplified by their Fall and Winter 2015 collection of shirts, which we carry here at Christopher James Menswear. The color palette of the shirts is decidedly neutral, full of grays, whites and light blues, with a muted slate-lavender as a subtle undertone.

Circle of Gentleman says their inspiration for the collection was “the hunting gent,” which denotes the earthly, natural colors of the outdoors. They also drew from what they termed the “Artic Shadow,” a combo palette that on one side, channels coal and steel, and the other, the white and blue hues of arctic glaciers.

Where Circle of Gentlemen really shows their affinity for trends is in their trim silhouettes. Though, it’s fair to wonder if the “slim” or “trim” fit feels more like a new trend to Americans than Europeans. Either way, the fit of Circle of Gentlemen shirts is modern in that they contour nicely to the body, but they’re not so form-fitting that they expose your nipps. They’re clean and classy, like they should be.

In sum, because Circle of Gentlemen brilliantly combines trends with timelessness, you won’t be left holding a stack of last season shirts a mere month after you buy them. Rather, you’ll be the guy who, no matter what time of year it is, pulls a CoG button-down from his closet that, even though it might be a year or so old, will look like you bought it yesterday.

Make a stylish and wise investment by getting yourself a few CoG shirts. We have them right here in the store, ready for you to try on. Come in today.

We’re located here.

We look forward to seeing you.

Because of our amazing customers, Christopher James Menswear has been nominated for “Best Men’s Store,” “Best Shoe Store” and “Best Formal Wear Rental and Sales,” in the Fort Wayne Newspapers’ 2015 Readers’ Choice Best Of…competition.

As a thank you for these nominations, we are giving customers 20% off their next purchase when they vote for us.

VOTE HERE

It’s easy: just click the “Show Shopping” link, then select Christopher James Menswear for “Clothing-Formal Wear,” “Clothing-Men’s Store” and “Clothing-Shoe Store.”

Once you’ve done that, go here to claim your 20% off coupon.

We truly appreciate your vote. No opinion matters more than that of our customers, so being included in the Readers’ Choice Best Of…competition is very meaningful recognition.

“It means so much to be recognized by the community and by people who shop in our store,” says Chris Lambert, owner of Christopher James Menswear. “These are the people we most want to impress and serve, so it’d be an honor to win in these categories.”

Winners will be announced in September 2015 on FortWayne.com and in The News-Sentinel and The Journal Gazette.

Deadline to vote is July 30, 2015, so hurry and vote today!

What if a suit could change a man’s life?

For most Christopher James Menswear customers, a suit is just another part of the workday. It’s forgotten about moments after it’s put on, and happily returned to the closet once the workday is over.

But for many men, a suit means more than most of us could ever imagine. For these men, a clean suit is the difference between entering the workforce and struggling to get by. It means self-sufficiency, financial stability and being able to provide for his family.

Indeed, a suit can change a man’s life. And Career Gear, a non-profit organization that we greatly admire, has been working to change lives one suit at a time.

Career Gear helps economically disadvantaged men get and keep jobs by providing them with tools to improve employability. Tools include business-appropriate attire and image consulting, interview preparation, job search techniques, job training, financial literacy, life-skills workshops and mentoring programs.

To support this important cause, we are helping Würkin Stiffs, the maker of those genius collar stays, raise money for Career Gear.

To do this, we are selling the Würkin Stiffs Career Gear Kit, an awesome bag full of stuff you’ll actually want. For just $35 you get:

• One packet of Würkin Stiffs Power Stays
• Urth Skin Solutions Face Wash
• Urth Skin Solutions Face Scrub
• Urth Skin Solutions Face Balm
• A Tightwäd (an ultra thin wallet by Würkin Stiffs)
• A Career Gear temporary tattoo (for use in a Career Gear social media campaign)

You also get the nice navy and white nylon Döppel bag that all this comes in. It’s perfect for packing toiletries on a business trip or keeping that area underneath the bathroom sink a little more organized.

By purchasing this kit for only $35 (a $75 value), you will help men across the U.S. get and keep jobs. 50% of the proceeds will go directly to Career Gear.

Help a man make the most of his second chance by purchasing the Wurkin Stiffs Career Gear Kit today. You can pick one up right here in our store, located here.

Want to get more involved?

You can also donate directly to Career Gear:

• $2,000: Allows one man to receive the full range of Career Gear’s services from job seeking to job retention for an entire year.
• $1,000: Provides one man access to our Professional Development Series Program offering classes on financial literacy, employment, parenting and work/life balance.
• $450: Enables one man seeking employment to rebuild his future with business attire and interview counseling.
• $100: Funds a one-on-one meeting and healthy meal with a mentor.
• $50: Buys a pair of shoes and socks for a man going on job interviews.

Donate online at www.careergear.org or mail your donation, payable to Career Gear, Inc. to 1 Beekman St., Ste. 301, New York, NY 10038

Daniel Wellington Redefines the Price of a Luxury Watch

A nice watch is the epitome of luxury. But what if you don’t earn the salary necessary to buy a fancy timepiece? There’s no need worry—we have the answer to your problem. Daniel Wellington watches make telling time as luxurious as can be, only they do you one better: they are at a price you can afford.

We know what you’re thinking. But don’t, because with a Daniel Wellington watch, you won’t sacrifice a scrap of quality. Each watch features a mineral glass face, an elegant, leather or nylon pass-through strap, and a Japanese quartz movement (“movement” is what makes the watch tick, no pun intended. Learn more about movements and other technical watch terms here).

Aesthetically, Daniel Wellington is the epitome of a refined watch. They are not over-gadgetized with dials, markers and numbers. Their minimalist, elegant look makes them suitable for any occasion, like the office or the racetrack. (They are forever timely, if you will.)

But what makes them even more versatile is that all straps are interchangeable. So if you’re the type of guy that likes to keep things new and exciting, or if you’re choosy about what looks best for a certain occasion, a Daniel Wellington gives you the options you want and need—and in just one watch, no less.

Come in and see our great collection of Daniel Wellington watches today. We are located here.

Eton’s Spring Dress Shirts Capture the Season

An Eton shirt is one of the best dress shirts a man can own. There is something about the way it feels against the skin, its clean silhouette, and how it stays crisp that make Eton shirts irresistible. Addicting, even. (Rarely does a guy buy just one.)

Eton shirts are addicting to men worldwide, and though the company is globally respected, it’s maintained a strong sense of exclusivity. For one thing, Eton shirts are only sold in specialty stores (like yours truly here in Fort Wayne, Ind.), but more importantly, every shirt they make possesses the same high-quality, European construction that the company became known for when it started back in 1929, in a small factory in a little Swedish village.

Even today, almost a century later, Eton is still not a large company. Compared to other popular, present day shirt manufacturers, Eton is definitely a specialty operation. This is what makes their shirts so great—a smaller operation allows for more attention detail, expertise and ultimately, a superior product.

Every season Eton produces exceptional dress shirts, and this spring is no different. They have produced a line of shirts that perfectly capture how a man wants to feel this time of year—uninhibited but still remarkably well-dressed.

Get a glimpse of Eton’s Spring 2015 Collection in the video below:

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Come check out our selection of spring 2015 Eton dress shirts today. We are located here.