Friday, March 22, 2013

With so many different types of patterns, how is a man to decide which suit to buy!? We'd like to take you to UWM's classroom. Today's topic: suit patterns.
To make things a little easier we've narrowed suit pattens into four major categories:
1) Stripes
2) Checks/Plaid
3) Herringbone/Houndstooth
4) Bird's Eye/Nails Head
Let's break them down...
STRIPES:
Stripes are typically viewed as a more formal or conservative suit pattern. If you are needing a suit for work or something that is a little more formal, go with a stripe.
CHECK/PLAID:
Plaids (also referred to as Glen-plaid or Prince of Wales) are a little more casual and offer a great amount of versatility. With a nice plaid suit, you can use the jacket as a sport coat and pair it with your jeans. The great thing about a plaid suit is that you can use each piece (jacket, slacks, vest) as a separate.
HERRINGBONE/HOUNDSTOOTH
Houndstooth is the pattern that you see in the top-left of this image (interlocking teeth-like pattern). Herringbone is the diagonal zig-zag pattern seen on the right side. These prints are typically seen in heavier fabrics, and most often worn during the colder months of the year. With great texture and casual look, these patterns are a great choice to wear on a night out.
BIRD'S EYE/NAIL HEAD
If you are looking for something that is had a little more texture than a solid suit, bird's eye/nail-head suits are a great substitute. As you can see from the image above, from a distance these suits look like they are a solid; however, as you get closer, the bird's eye pattern will give definition and distinction to your suit.
You owe it to yourself to branch out and try a pattern that you haven't worn before.
You'll be surprised at your happy reaction!

People often ask us, "What is the difference between a $900 suit and a $5,000 suit?" That is a great question...
We'll use Brioni's suits to help us answer that one for us.
In suit construction (much like a car) there are varying levels of construction.  Many suits that you find are constructed with what's referred to as FUSED construction (Honda). A FUSED jacket is essentially a jacket thats inner structure is glued together with piece of facing for structure (these suits are typically in the $100 - $1000 range depending of fabric selection). Over time this fusing will deteriorate and cause puckering and defections in the suit jacket.
On the other hand, at UWM 90% of our suits are constructed with a form of construction referred to as full or partial CANVAS construction, and the creme of the crop are our Brioni suits (Rolls Royce). With canvas constriction there is no fusing or gluing; therefore, nothing internally that can deteriorate or separate. The canvas is hand-sewn on the interior of the jacket between the silk lining and the outer, front panel of the jacket. This method of suit construction is worth its weight in gold and adds an immense difference in the longevity of your suit.

Brioni suits are arguably the nicest suits in the world and come standard with FULL CANVAS construction. Every little detail on their jackets are hand sewn (we're talking predominately needle and thread) to allow the perfect about of give, flexibility and fit in their garments.

If you've never had a chance to try one of the babies on, come in to UWM and feel for yourself the difference that hand-tailored, full-canvas constriction makes (even if it's just to try one on).

Shop online at shoputahwoolenmills.com

The rule-of-thumb for years has been to match your socks to the color of your slacks, well that rule was meant to be broken. There are so many ways to pump-up your outfit and one of those options is to do it with an awesome pair of socks.
Another rule-of-thumb: match your socks to your tie color or socks to your shirt color (Like Mr. Beckham is doing). This is a great way to ease into wearing colored socks.
After you have matched your ties or shirts with your socks, start branching out and having fun with it! There really aren't any rules to this so use your own creativity. Here are some guys showcasing their socks to give you some ideas of the endless possibilities.
Come in and check out our HUGE selection of socks and let us know if you have any questions!

Shop online at shoputahwoolenmills.com

There has been a fair amount of discussion about slacks, pleated or flat-front and how they should break. Here's what we, at UWM, have to say about it.
For so many years, men have been afraid to wear clothing that was close to their skin. Just think about how boxy suits have been for the past 20 years.
(Yester-year)            (Today)
Today, men's suits have become much for form fitting, leaving out the excess, unnecessary fabric and showing off much more of a man's figure. In another segment we'll highlight a proper jacket fit, but today's topic focuses on the lower half.
Pleats of Flat-front?
We asked one of our reps about 5 years ago whether they sold more pleated slacks or flat front. He said that about 75% of their business was pleated slacks. Today however, that same rep says that they sell about 85% flat-front, a total 180 from 5 years ago but why?
As men's clothing has become more body conscious, so have slacks. When looking for a new pair of pants, we suggest trying some flat-front pants on and seeing the amazing difference that they will make in your shape. Flat-fronts remove extra fabric pleated slacks have and make your hips and thighs look so much slimmer. They are clean, sleek and absolutely the way to go.
If, however, you do have a little more "junk in the trunk" and need the room, find a pleated slack that will allow for just enough room without too much excess fabric exaggerating your leg size.
Slack Break
Another common question is the break, or ending point, of your pants. If you look at the image above, different breaks are shown. This picture excellently portrays our next suggestion: a shorter break. If you look at the difference between the top picture and the bottom picture, you'll see how much cleaner your slacks will look the shorter the break is. You don't want to go too short but we suggest the pants to stop anywhere between the top of your shoes and the middle of your shoes.
A shorter break will clean up any unwanted baggy effect that a longer break may be causing, and will actually make you look taller and slimmer!

Shop online at shoputahwoolenmills.com

UWM on Studio 5

 

 

Ladies, we feel your pain. You have no problem finding clothing you love for yourself. You have found the styles that flatter your body type, highlighting your best features while minimizing your least favorite body parts. But being able to do the same thing for your man is a mission impossible! Daniel Craig seems to wear his clothing like it is second nature, but even he has somebody to help him put his act together. The reason your man struggles to look his best is because he just needs a little help. If your man thinks that dressing up is wearing his cheap mission suit from 20 years ago with a short sleeved din-gee white shirt and polyester tie, here is what you need to know. He needs help, and we will keep it simple:

Let's break it down in three sections:

· Why wear a well-tailored suit?
· What color/style?
· How should it fit?
Why wear a well-tailored suit?

Putting your best foot forward has never been more important than it is today. There is competition for everything we are trying to achieve, be it success, money, spouse, or even satisfaction with our own achievements. With all your man has to worry about, the easiest thing to control is how he looks. You know he can't control half of the stuff that comes out of his mouth nor half the things he does before thinking. What he can control is his appearance which, whether you like it or not, can open or shut doors for all of us regardless of what's inside of us. Let's face it, the only control is his appearance and the beauty is, as his woman, you are in complete control of what he is going to wear. So, good news: you can help him see that there is a place for Nike sweats, t-shirts, and jeans. You can help him leave behind the tan khakis, short sleeve shirt, and polyester tie that seems to be a standard uniform for church in Utah. What he wears is important! Just the confidence that comes from wearing something that was tailored for him will create opportunities. People will recognize that he does feel the importance of respecting the occasion, be it a wedding, church or business. When you know you look your best, everything about your day improves. Countless studies show that how you dress reflects your attitude toward your environment. Why not look your best so that what you endeavor will come out the same?
What color/style?
Start with a dark suit, preferably navy or grey. The style is predominantly a two button coat with side vents in the back and a flat front pant. Whether you are looking for a job, going to church or other endeavors, these colors are very versatile. They will enable you to wear them often without people noticing that it is the same suit you wore a couple days earlier. You can dress down a navy shirt with a polo and jeans or wear it with a white shirt and red tie for an interview for your dream job. When buying your navy or grey suit, solid is often times best, but having a little pattern in the same color within the suit is often a nice touch to distinguish you for other people.
How should it fit?
Each person is unique; there is no standard fit for everybody, which is why we have a master tailor at Utah Woolen Mills. If you want your husband/boyfriend to look his best, please take the time to have a tailor fit it properly. We've seen people make this mistake many times of buying something they like, but don't go the final and most important step of tailoring it to his body. It should fit correctly or even a nice suit will look cheap and looking cheap never leads to good things. There are 5 elements of a good fitting suit:
 1. Shoulder: The fabric should lay flat across your back and through the shoulder area. 2. Waist: Proper amount of taper, depending on build 3. Sleeves : Sleeves should hit at the break of hand; coat sleeve should be 1/4"-1/2" shorter than shirt. 4. Chest: The jacket should conform to the chest. 5. Pant Fit: A slight break with the pant-leg stopping at the top of the shoe.

Have fun with it! With all of these tips, remember to keep your personality intact. Having a solid navy suit can be contrasted with a pair of bright pink socks. Patterned shirts look fantastic against a solid backdrop and adding color to your navy or grey suit will be awesome.

Ladies you might be feeling like it's time to replace your man with a newer, fresher one. Might I suggest taking just a few hours to pay us a visit, so we can offer expertise direction. A newer version of the man you love, the newer models are never as good as the old ones, we just need to give him a new coat of paint and we are very happy to give you some direction as to what color you won't regret!

Shop online at shoputahwoolenmills.com

Ties are icing on the cake. They can be that make or break accessory that can really add another dimension to what you are wearing. They can also, however, be somewhat tricky. The most common problems: SIZE, KNOT, and COLOR. Here's a few tips!

...what knot to wear...

Despite the tie's width, our suggestion is to go with a four-in-hand. It is such a sleek knot and looks good with any collar. Make sure that the front part of the knot (the part that is the most visible) is fully covering the fabric behind it. Dimples also class up any tie, but are not necessary.

...width...

When considering what tie width to choose think of the overall fit and style that you like. If you are wearing a slim fit ETON, like you've seen in previous posts, we would definitely suggest pairing it with a slimmer tie. It doesn't quite work to have a fitted jacket, slim pants, and a fat old-school tie. It's the overall sizing that you should look at. The width of your tie should usually reflect the width of your lapel. As lapels have become skinnier, tie's widths have matched them.

 

...color...

 

Color is really a matter of preference. Ties are called ties because they can tie your outfit together. Try to find a tie that has colors from your shirt and your suit. If you want to go for a louder, more contemporary look, find a color that contrasts the color of your shirt but still ties your suit together. There is a ton of room for your creative discretion with the color of your tie!

 

Come in and see us with your other tie questions and check out the biggest selection of high-end ties in the state. We carry Dulce Punta, Italo Ferretti, Brioni, Robert Talbot, Richard Street, 59 West, and more!

Shop online at shoputahwoolenmills.com

2 Fail-Proof Steps to Dressing Well

I know you are thinking that it takes much more than reading two simple steps from a blog to give someone and incredible sense of style, but trust us, it's that simple.  People have no trouble putting their trust in a doctor's hands when they're sick, nor do they struggle with the idea that a professor should teach upper level courses at the University.  But somehow, Americans have missed the fact that a professional Clothier is key to gaining their individual style.  These two tips will do more for you than any 70% off sale or any buy-one-get-four-free deals you will come across. 1) Get to know somebody who knows what they are doing, and ask them!  You might be shaking your head at the obvious nature of the number one tip, but you might also fail to follow this step.  You see the large corporate machines that produce mounds of the same product and market them at the same malls across the country, pushing the same jacket on any individual with a pulse and a credit card.  Instead of relying on the mega advertising that is sent to everyone, find yourself a specialty store where the products can be tailored to your individual needs.  Get to know a sales associate who knows their own style and can help you find yours.

2) Buy less, get more.  Maybe not as obvious as tip number one, number two is all about buying fewer items that will get you more mileage.  The name of the game is QUALITY.  If you can only afford one nice shirt or three bargain shirts, buy the nice shirt.  If the choice is between one pair of jeans that fit you well or the big box jeans that only fit your budget, buy the quality jeans that fit.  Over time, quality will fulfill and bargains will disappoint.

 There you have it.  Follow these two simple steps and you will be a style icon in your own circle.  Find someone who knows the business of style, and buy the best quality items you can afford.