Monday, December 8, 2008

December Specials


Happy Holidays from Astor & Black. Gift cards available now!

December specials.

** Buy 5 Shirts and get one shirt to give as a gift!

** Buy 6 shirts get 2 shirts for 1/2 off.

** 100% Cashmere overcoats, fully custom. Reg-$1500 December...get one for $1250!

Friday, December 5, 2008

The Astor & Black Military Jacket

100% Custom, 100% Hand Made - Nuff Said. Touch base with me to orders your now.


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Guest Contributor: Paul Walters - "Stylistic Integrity"

Hello again. You have no doubt been practicing the presence of first impressions. Our conversation regarding their power and the importance of maintaining a polished image afterwards brings me to the next matter of business.
Today’s writing will delve into what I call “Stylistic Integrity.” As far as I know, this is my own terminology, but the principle applies to everybody. Stylistic integrity refers to developing one’s own personal sense of style, and integrating that style into your wardrobe. I must first stress the difference between “fashion” and “style.” Someone who simply keeps up with fashion is continually updating their wardrobe with pieces pushed seasonally by designers. One can definitely dress well this way, but the tendency to look like a mannequin in a department store window is virtually unavoidable. There is no face to go with the outfit; no real personality present.
The key to “style” is individuality. One who is developing his style (rather than keeping up with fashion) is updating their wardrobe with pieces that will always look good on them, instead of watching designer-created trends that will unavoidably go by the wayside. Buy for quality, and not necessarily for quantity. Steer clear of pieces that may be fashionable, but are simply not you.
A well-developed wardrobe may take 20 years to build to one’s satisfaction. That’s okay. Take your time. With patience, you will fill your closet with pieces that will look good for that long.
Some may ask, how do I know what is my personal style? How do I avoid buying simply to fill a certain fashion niche? For most of us, our identity is in flux, changing with life’s curve balls. What I offer is this: build your wardrobe around the things you like. If you like a Windsor knot as big as a croquet ball, choose ties that are made from thick fabric (generally Italian silk) and have at it. Those ties will serve you for years. If you have a passion for French-cuff shirts, diversify your cuff link collection, and buy shirts made from quality cotton. If you like bright colors, express them in your socks! A brightly colored sock is understated until you want it to be. Stick to the things that you like. Don’t let trends dictate your passions.
Fill your closet with things that make you happy. It’s nice to be able to choose fabrics in colors and patterns that you love, as you won’t get tired of wearing them. Invest in a couple of custom shirts. Astor and Black makes beautiful shirts with your choice of fabric, cuff-style, and collar-style. These are exceptionally well-made and, if cared for properly, will last you for years. Here’s another tip: custom-made clothing is not going to go out of style, and it will always be your style. Designing your clothing from start to finish is going to insure that the only person who knows when it was made is you, and leaves you knowing that you made a purchase for quality.
This is an investment in your personal style. This is especially important with suits. Pick up a couple of magazines, such as Esquire or GQ, and look at pictures of the suits for the features that really impress upon you. Some suits have an additional pocket on one side, above the waist. This is called a ticket pocket, and may be what you were looking for to make your suit stand out. Suits with functional buttonholes on the sleeves usually employ thread that is the same color as the suit fabric. Why not change that? Pick a bright red paisley print for your jacket’s silk lining if it rings your bells!
I mention all of this because it costs about the same price as a nice off-the-peg suit from a department store to have a suit custom-made by Astor and Black. An Astor and Black client can choose every detail of his suit’s construction from lapel size and shape to thread color on functional buttonholes. Features like a bright jacket lining, a ticket pocket, thread choices, or slanted or straight pockets are included in the price of your suit! Hand-picked stitching on lapels and pocket flaps is included if you like it, and can even be done in a different color thread from the rest of the jacket. The finished product will be decidedly YOU!
What I am stressing here is that your style is simply that: your own. And along with your mistakes, your style is one of the few things that you can truly call your own. Stylistic integrity can be achieved by embracing your quirks. Go all-out and exploit them! If you know “rules of fashion,” learning to break them is essential. Next time we talk, we’ll converse about some fashion rules. At that time I’ll provide you with some ideas on how to break them. Until then,
Cheers!
Paul