Color Tag

Color and Lighting Conditions

We may think that a color is always the same, but colors can change drastically in different lighting conditions. At dawn and dusk, fabric colors will look warmer and richer. Light from a northern window at noon will give fabrics a cooler appearance. Artificial lighting can change colors even more. Incandescent bulbs give a pinkish cast, while fluorescent lights add green or blue. It’s useful to know how your ensemble will look in its intended setting. Blacks can take on a brown or greenish hue. Midnight blues can appear blacker than actual black fabrics. Planning in advance can allow you to optimize your color choices—especially for formalwear. If true black will turn to dark green, you may prefer to create your next tuxedo in a midnight blue. When selecting fabrics, view the swatches in the lighting types that will dominate during their use: consider indirect and direct natural light, as well as...

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Daring and Sparing: How to Wear Unusual Colors

The basics play an important role in a wardrobe, but sometimes you may want to wear unusual colors to add life and vitality to an outfit. When you’re deciding when—and how—to incorporate these colors into your ensemble, keep the following concepts in mind: A little goes a long way. Whether you’re considering lime green or sunshine yellow, be careful not to let it overwhelm the rest of your ensemble. A bright, bold pocket square or tie will usually serve the purpose better than a coat of the same color. Know your purpose. Are you trying to stand out in a job interview or showcase your inner creativity? A wardrobe piece that shows off your fashion savvy at a luncheon with those in a creative industry may not work as well in an interview setting. Keep unusual colors higher on the frame. A violet vest or tie is generally preferable to violet trousers, unless...

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Spring 2015 Fashion Trends

The men’s clothing designers have revealed their concepts for Spring 2015, and we’ve brought you the highlights. Whether you choose to change your look each season or simply note the styles as they come, being aware of current fashion trends ensures you’re well-informed. Color Blocking Many designers are painting with broad strokes this year. Their creations use large blocks of color to create stand-out ensembles. Stripes are thicker and employ higher contrast between the colors. Geometric shapes are being used in some ensembles. Black and White Along with the traditional spring pastels, designers are looking to black-and-white ensembles to make strong visual statements. This dynamic color combination is being used to great effect in blocks, for accent pieces, in trim, and in layers. Urban and Sporty Many lines are taking their cue this spring from sporty, urban traditions. Designs include sleek black leather jackets as well as loose, comfortable sweatshirts. Nautical Themes Nautical looks are employing bold, broad...

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What’s Great about Gabardine

Born in the middle ages and refined with current textile techniques, gabardine has come of age with surprising elegance. Originally intended for outerwear such as traveling cloaks, today gabardine is a refined, elegant fabric for a variety of purposes. In more modern times, gabardine has clothed adventurers and trendsetters as they traveled to such exotic locations as Antarctica and Mount Everest. Gabardine combines the strength and durability of a tightly-woven twill with a more supple hand than many other twills. The twisted weave that is gabardine’s signature element creates micro-ridges that allow light to almost bend around it, giving it a soft, almost luminous look. The fabric’s luxurious feel will complement the finer pieces in your wardrobe without looking overly formal. This fabric is also a fantastic choice for business-casual trousers. Gabardine’s durability stacks up well next to the twilled cotton that is today’s most common choice for casual trousers, while retaining...

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Detailed Choices in Style

If five different gentlemen all wore the same type of suit, you would see five different styles emerge. What makes the difference? Their choices in detailing. Your own detail choices help you develop your own signature style. Whether you prefer a classic or trendy look, flavorful colors or a palette of neutrals, your individual style should be expressed in each outfit. Custom clothing allows you to be in charge of your clothing’s detailing decisions, including a myriad of individualized options for collars, lapels, pockets, buttons, hems, cuffs, and material. As your custom clothier, we can help you design clothing with colors and fabrics that bring out your personality and flatter your frame. Each decision plays its part in crafting your individualized style and image. Neckwear is one of the most important details about your attire. Your choice of tie each day is often the first thing others notice about your outfit. Wearing high-quality,...

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Shirts: Choosing the Right Color

I received this question from a reader: How do I choose a shirt color? This is what I shared with them: Choosing a shirt is not as simple as picking your favorite color; colors communicate different things to those around you. Let’s start with the basics. Crisp, clean white shirts convey the most power and authority. Blue shirts come next, and work well with almost any suit color. Other solid colors are appropriate for all but the most formal occasions, while stripes and checks work well in most day-to-day situations. “Warm” colors such as red or yellow are more casual than “cool” colors....

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Colors to Complement Your Skin Tone

Choosing clothes that complement your skin coloring doesn’t have to be stressful—it just takes a small investment of time and energy. You can start making great color combinations by using just a few simple steps to make educated choices. Whenever possible, view potential clothing purchases in natural light, usually through a window. The fluorescent lighting in most offices can distort a fabric’s true color. Gather shirt swatches in several shades of the same color. Hold them up under your chin while you look at yourself in a mirror. When a shirt makes you look either worn out or discolored, set that item aside. If you’re not sure how a color makes your skin look, listen to your instinct about whether you like or dislike the color. We tend to like tones that look good on us. When you find several selections that make your skin look healthy and robust, group them together. Once...

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Checkered, Checked, Checks (& Balances)

Many businessmen hesitate to choose checked shirts, keeping to the more traditional solids and stripes. However, with foresight, there is no need to avoid this wardrobe-extending choice. When choosing a checked shirt, the choice of tie pattern can be critical. The tie's print, whether solid, striped, or patterned, should complement the shirt print by offering a visual change of pace. Pairing similar patterns, whether both are large or both small, in tie and shirt can create a feeling of heaviness. Instead, try out combinations with alternating patterns. Tightly-checked shirts require a larger tie pattern, while large checks can support a small, busier print. Colors can be similarly brought into balance. Rather than limiting your choices to single shades of colors, harmonize the tones. The "seasonal" color scheme may help you decide if a certain red or blue is compatible with your shirt and suit tones, as fall or summer colors naturally complement...

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Socks: Choosing the Right Color

I received this question from a reader: What is the rule on sock color? This is what I shared with them: Socks, when visible, act as an extension of the trouser leg. Choose a sock color in a shade that blends well with your suit fabric. Matching suit to sock eliminates calling attention to the ankle in those moments when the trousers’ movement reveals the sock, such as when sitting or walking briskly. Trousers should be cut long enough to cover socks at all other times....

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