Lexington, KY - In the clothing business, we are tied to the seasons. Less so than farmers, but more so than most other industries, fashion has well-defined fall/winter and spring/summer seasons that drive our business and shape our decision making.
As designers and marketers, we tend to conjure up images and ideas to help us pull together our concepts and themes for each upcoming season and put them onto so-called "mood boards," which give us a visual reference for each season. Since moving our design business back to Kentucky, our mood board for Crittenden Clothing has been filled with photos of Kentucky horse farms, racing silks and Kentucky scenery.
Autumn in the Bluegrass is a perfect time of year: crisp air, fall leaves, a log fire, a warm drink and of course, Keeneland. For many men, racing season, and fall in general, is the time to think about a new sport jacket. Fall 2011 is respite with classic cotton moleskin, corduroy and velvet, wool herringbone, houndstooth, glen plaids and checks. These classic designs mainly originated in the British Isles and have remained staples of the well-dressed man's wardrobe for decades.
In economic downturn, fashion tends towards more conservative, classic styles as opposed to more flamboyant ones (think today's return to preppie collegiate style versus the 1980s pastel Miami Vice trend in menswear).
For example, one classic style that is seeing a comeback this fall is the bow tie. Hip college students are embracing the bow tie all across America. Another seemingly old-fashioned yet ironically new and fresh look this season is the vest. Classic vest fabrics are showing up in lots of top menswear shops: cotton moleskin, corduroy, and a jaunty tattersall check are ones we've seen that are festive and flattering on most all men.
Looking for the most important items for this season? Think about a worsted or lambswool sportcoat, moleskin vest, corduroy pants, a tattersall shirt and a great pair of suede shoes (color-coordinated, of course).
In closing, here's a brief history of one of the most popular items in a gentleman's wardrobe, the timeless blue blazer of interest. According to one legend, the blue blazer got its name from its place of origin: a 19th century British Navy frigate named the HMS Blazer. The captain of that ship prepared for an inspection by Queen Victoria by having his crew discard their various outfits and don dark-blue jackets, of serge fabric, to spiff up their appearance. The queen approved. The jacket endured. Indeed, it multiplied beyond the HMS Blazer. Today, one trace of the blazer's nautical origin remains on many makes: the brass buttons bearing the insignia of the British Navy. However, the truth of this legend is uncertain. It is also said that British sailors had worn short blue jackets since early in the 19th century, which were the prototypes for the modern blazer.
So wear your blazers with pride, and above all, dress with confidence.