Charles Tyrwhitt on the move!

Charles Tyrwhitt, the quality shirtmaker and menswear brand, has moved its flagship store from 92 Jermyn Street to  98-100 Jermyn Street. 

Why bother just moving a few doors away you may ask- well because the new premises are bigger and better. Here the merchandise is spread over two floors and occupies over 4,000 square foot. The store is light and bright due to its corner position allowing daylight to shine through the many floor to ceiling shop windows.

And a sense of space due to the atrium style as you descend to the lower ground floor via the wide quarter turn helical staircase for the smart casual/weekend  wear selection.

But somehow keeps the quintessentially cosy British look through the comfy sofas , leather armchairs, cushions  and dark wood.

Loved the mannequins with their artist’s model style jointed wooden limbs and their cloth covered heads  in various patterns.

Also, good news, they have a promotion on until the end of May where some of their clothing is half price! 

Red & white dogstooth jacket was £310 now £155. 100% cotton, woven in italy with working button 3 cuffs and natural corozo buttons.

Worn here with:
Stone cotton linen canvas trousers were £120 now £59. 68% cotton, 32% linen.

White twill Sea Island quality slim fit shirt was £120 now £59.95. 100% cotton

Navy plain woven tie was £50 now £24.95. 100% silk

Navy quarter handkerchief was £26 now £12.95. 100% silk,
hand rolled hems, discreet Charles Tyrwhitt logo.

Tan Bristol loafers with apron stitch, were £330 now £165. 100% calf leather and made in Northampton, the UK shoe capital. Goodyear welted, leather sole with rubber heel. Fully leather lined.

Mid blue modern jacket was £310 now £155. Again 100% cotton, woven in italy and has working button 3 cuff and natural corozo buttons.

Worn here with:

Soft red single pleat chinos were £80 now £39.95, 100% cotton

Green stripe lightweight Oxford casual shirt was £69 now £29.95. 100% cotton and semi fitted.

Belford navy & pink textured stripe narrow tie was £50 now £24.95. 100% silk

Pink plain handkerchief was £26 now £12.95. 100%silk, hand rolled hems, discreet Charles Tyrwhitt logo.

Light grey Bentley suede summer brogues, were £330 now £165. Made in Northampton, the UK shoe capital. Goodyear welted , leather sole with rubber heel. Fully leather lined.

And if you can't make it to their new store, check out their website: www.ctshirts.co.uk 

Black Tie Event - The Dress Shirt

Always choose white and buy an actual dress shirt, a normal shirt will not do.

M&S PR Shots

The better made formal shirts will have a bib front i.e. a double layer of fabric at the front where it is exposed by the jacket and ending just above the waist. The bib can be plain, pleated or in the traditional Marcella pique pattern.

Wearing studs instead of the top 2/3 buttons of the shirt is traditional and good quality dress shirts will have eyelets to accommodate them. However if the buttons are pearl then this is also acceptable.

Simon Carter jet dress studs

. Simon Carter has a set of 5 clear or jet studs you can add to your shirt.-  http://www.simoncarter.net

What style of collar?

Before WWII, stiff shirts with winged detachable collars were common, but now the modern dress shirt for black tie events is softer with a classic turn down collar and French cuffs. Although in the US they favour the semi-stiff shirt with an attached wing collar, in the UK a wing collar is usually for white tie events only.

Collar styles for black ties are the spread (more formal) and the semi–spread, because both suit a bow tie. 

Spread (wider distance between the collar points.). The spread collar suits slim men or men with long thin faces as the horizontal line of the spread balances out the vertical line of the face.

Udeshi extreme cutaway collar

Udeshi extreme cutaway is their signature collar style and sweeps back as far as possible without it disappearing altogether. Price at time of print is £185-  http://www.udeshi.co.uk

Eton dress shirt

The more rounded face should go for the semi spread as the horizontal line of the collar is not as prominent. If you have a very round or wide face go for the longest collar tips you can find on a semi spread collar as these create vertical lines which will balance more with your face.  Eton shirts have moderate cutaway and classic point collars with longer collar points. Price at time of print £110-£130

Cufflinks should be monochrome and if wearing dress studs should either match or harmonise with them. 

Angelo Galasso cufflinks

 Go for stylish mother of pearl such as these Angell Galasso silver cufflinks (stockists: 8-10 hans Rd, London SW3 1RX 0207 584 3978) or ...

Simon Carter cufflinks

....these understated onyx bars from Simon Carter.

Article seen in Eclipse Magazine 
http://www.eclipsemagazine.co.uk/NewEclipse/Joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2031:look-smokin-in-black-tie&catid=48:mens-fashion&Itemid=74

Dress shirts on Amazon:

Liam Gallagher's label Pretty Green at Stitch

Liam Gallagher's menswear label Pretty Green reflects his own sense of style. Every design is subject to his final approval.

His autumn/winter 2010 collection was displayed at the menswear only trade show Stitch held at Old Billingsgate Market, London.

The label includes 2 collections, the more tailored black label and the more casual green label.

For the black label :Shirts are either granddad style or narrow button down collars, the signature pattern is paisley with the words “pretty” and “green” incorporated in to the design, colours include greens and purples. The jackets are lined with a monochrome paisley pattern. Polo shirt are light weight and T-shirts have tone on tone pretty green logos

The Green label is more colourful with contrasting logos on t-shirts.

The signature colour for the logo is black and green; sometimes the green appears in minute detailing if another colour is used such as in the stitching or a tiny decorative button on one cuff.

More subtle logos can be seen engraved on a few of the coats’ buttons.

Pretty Green have collaborated with Clarkes for a desert boot range in four colours: black, brown. stone and their signature green.

If you like how Liam dresses then you'll love Pretty Green

Stitch - London’s Dedicated Menswear Trade Show

Stitch held the only dedicated menswear trade show in the UK, bringing together an eclectic mix of designers (new and established) under one roof. The venue was the historical Old Billingsgate Market , the dates 30June and 1 July. Here buyers and press are able to catch a glimpse on upcoming trends.

One new label to look out for is E One Six London.

This new label specialises in luxury shirts with their first collection inspired by the lifestyle of modern man on the move – designed to take him from the office to the bar to home. Smart enough to sharpen up a suit yet relaxed enough to look great with jeans and chinos.

Colours are crisp whites and soft blues and pinks. Designs include plain fronts with striped backs.

The fabric and shirt are produced in a single European factory thus reducing carbon footprint and ensuring quality consistency. At least 35 separate parts go in to constructing one shirt, taking a skilled worker 80 minutes to make a shirt from start to finish.

Each piece is stamped with their logo which refers to the bygone era of the East London Dockers.