Thanks are also due to our photographer par excellence, Mr. Steven Ritchie, and Mrs. OTC for her invaluable guidance when it comes to ties and choice of image entries (and, frankly, everything else).

Brooks Brothers is an American institution when it comes to classic Ivy League and American preppy styles, but it also leads the way in connecting with a new generation of customers fluent in Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and mobile e-commerce.  While we celebrate and promote the many outstanding start-up and boutique brands helping to redefine the best in menswear and American style, historic and invaluable brands like Brooks Brothers continue to set important benchmarks towards which we all race.

Last year, OTC ran a series of in-depth articles on the history and importance of Brooks Brothers.  Please take a moment and have a read:

Brooks Brothers: American Icon (Part I)
Brooks Brothers: American Icon (Part II)
Brooks Brothers: American Icon (Part III)
Brooks Brothers: American Icon (Part IV)

Mark your menswear calendar for this Saturday, April 28.  Confirmed Stock is hosting it’s debut pop-up retail event at the 2640 Space in Baltimore, Maryland’s Charles Village neighborhood.

OTC is proud to support and promote this outstanding event, conceived, created, and brought to life by Charm City locals.  Chock full of creative and innovative menswear clothing, accessories, and dry goods brands, Confirmed Stock is set to become the Mid-Atlantic’s keystone menswear event.

The mission of Confirmed Stock is to present a well-curated selection of high quality and mostly American-made goods from some of the best brands around.  For more information on this exciting event, including hours and directions, please click here.

The products on offer at Confirmed Stock are things you can feel good about, from businesses and people you’ll feel good about supporting.  In many cases you’ll be able to shake the hand of the person who made your item.

Some outstanding brands are set to be part of this pop-up, (including a few you have seen profiled on OTC): Almanac Industries, Ball and Buck, Blue Claw Co., Cause and Effect, Corter Leather, CXXVI, Federal, Fischer Clothing, Greenwich Vintage Co., Hellbrand Leatherworks, Jack Robie, Lumina Clothing, Mister Crow, Randolph Engineering, Ruell and Ray, Sandtown Millworks, Sixteen Tons, and Two Inch Cuffs.

To learn more about the brands participating in Confirmed Stock, click here.

As the former CEO of Chrome bags and with a handful of other start-ups under his belt, ranging from real estate to high-tech, he knew how to drive down cost, outsource production and maximize return.  And, in starting a made in the USA clothing line built around classic everyday staples, he chose to ignore all of that profit maximizing experience.  Really, no kidding.

For someone genuinely fascinated by how companies operate, mission and vision philosophies, economic strategy, marketing and brand development, and the business of style (as is yours truly), Bayard is a great interview.

Perhaps his philosophy was best summed up when he pointed out that he had no interest in making a $300 pair of American jeans for a heritage brand-focused customer.  It didn’t excite him.  But, making the best possible crew neck sweatshirt and retail it for $59, now that was a challenge!

He and his team, based out of San Fransisco, are fixated on “the best.”  The best fit, the best design, the best materials, and the best construction.  They have recreated the sweatshirt of James Dean and Steve McQueen – the one that you stole from your big brother back in 1975 and never gave back.

More than just the product, obviously important in any retail endeavor, they also want to create the best customer service experience.  From ordering to packaging, Bayard wants you to love American Giant.  As an internet-based retailer, that’s vital.  Have they achieved this rather lofty goal?  We think so.

Remember the old-fashioned, heavy duty sweats that seemed to last forever?  The well-made sweatshirt that felt sturdy and tough but also soft and comfortable?  They nailed it.  The good news is that they plan to roll out some other product soon.  Next in line; t-shirts.

The American Giant team sent along a hoodie and button cardigan (who knew that was so cool?) for our review and not only are they now default loafing-about wear, they are a sort of inspiration.  The design and construction are both excellent and well thought-out.  Trim, yes.  But faux-retro “heritage fit” – often code for “skinny teen fit” – no.  American Giant sweats are meant to be on the lightly fitted side so that you are comfortable, but not ballooning.  The XL is perfect for an average sized 5’10” editor-in-chief, and the details are many.  A pieced design that allows for movement and flexibility, just enough body length to stay in place when reaching or stretching, thick ribbing at the waist and sleeves, and rock solid construction to age well.

They have not simply fallen into the whole heritage schtick, they have honored a classic wardrobe item that in many ways is a cypher of American casual style.  What did Rocky Balboa wear for his run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s 72 steps?  Tough, reliable, and all American grey sweats.

That is the essence of a sweatshirt – crew neck, hoodie, cardigan; put it on and get something done.  Build a boat, run some errands, plan your future, or grab a beer and sit in the back yard.  A good sweatshirt works with anything.  Washing the car with jeans, your favorite Pink Floyd t-shirt, Vineyard Vines ball cap, and some old docksiders?  Perfect.  Khakis, loafers, and an ancient LL Bean hunting coat on a chilly afternoon.  Looks fine.

You can also put it on, curl up in bed sick as a dog, and conduct and interview with American Giant’s CEO.  Wore that thing for two days.

Legendary menswear designer Joseph Abboud sat down with Fox Business News to discuss the importance of ‘Made in America’ when it comes to brand reputation, order turnarounds, and the luxury apparel market.  The president and COO of HMX Group, which also owns the innovative “Streets” retail concept, highlighted HMX’s healthy growth and retail reach as well as the strong performance of its made-to-measure segment.

Joining us at the private club-like Clyde’s at Gallery Place, in the heart of Washington, DC, were Hugh & Crye shirt makers, Proper Suit, Lotuff Leather, and Image Granted style consultants.  Guests were able to meet with the owners of these outstanding companies, chat about their brands, learn about the beautiful products and, in some case, put in orders right on the spot!

The crowd arrived early and stayed throughout the night.  Manhattans and martinis were mixed at the bar and the constant din of conversation and story-telling filled the room.

Thanks to all who joined us and made the night a huge success; and keep an eye for future events and collaborations.

Below are a selection of images from the evening – enjoy!  All photos by Joy Asico.

Ignatious Joseph is not a subtle man.  Known sartorially for an elegant and distinctive style of dress, including his ubiquitous handmade red shoes and bowler, he also happens to make some of the finest dress shirts available.

Based on shirts from the 1930s, when the soft collar swept the menswear world, Ignatious Joseph’s eponymous brand is coveted by bankers and traders from London to New York, Milan to Brussels.  His shirt’s signature soft collar, luxurious fabrics, and vibrant color schemes are the brand’s collective calling card.

The philosophy behind his shirts is simple: they are luxury shirts for everyday wear; a modern sense of spirit derived from traditional craftsmanship. Ignatious Joseph shirts are what might be called semi-handmade and there is a reason for that.

While he is obsessive about craftsmanship, quality, and construction, Mr. Joseph does not entirely forgo modern technology.  The decision of what to do by hand and what to do by machine must be taken with a view to the product as a whole, and based on the skill and experience of the master shirt maker.  It’s a blend of economics and craft.

Mr. Joseph’s shirts are made by shirt makers who have refined and improved their specific craft over generations. “In order to produce shirts of the highest quality, and which are still affordable – meaning that there is a realistic margin for manufacturer and retailer – the critical tasks of cutting the shirts and sewing the non-fused collars are performed entirely by hand,” he says. Assembling the torso, a less challenging portion of the garment, is done by sewing machine.

Non-fused collars are the trademark of an Ignatious Joseph shirt.  They are complex creations which require highly skilled artisans.  Most high-end “handmade” shirts do not have hand sewn collars, due primarily to the expense and skill needed for such detailed work.

A pragmatist as well as a craftsman, Mr. Joseph demands that every Ignatious Joseph shirt be of the same high quality each and every time. This is only possible when each step of the shirt’s production is performed using the most appropriate method by experts in their craft.

As he likes to say, “The whole of the product is made not only by hand, but with brains.”

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by LEXUS via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LEXUS.

Frank Clegg doesn’t just make leather bags; he crafts heirlooms, one at a time, by hand.

While Frank and his small team of craftsmen design and build elegant leather goods under the Frank Clegg Leatherworks name, the workshop also produces exquisite products for some of the most revered of American luxury labels.

Frank is an artist of the old school; he learned craft over time and understands that when true luxury is involved, less is definitely more.

As with many true craftsmen, he has decades of experience and a repository of thousands of designs, both executed and waiting to be brought to life. Frank is a design and inspiration omnivore – the result of genuine curiosity and New England pragmatism. The more you know, the more you have to offer.

His bags and accessories grace the days of doctors, lawyers, artists, businessmen and globetrotting executives. The relationships he builds over time lead to new designs and the demanding exactitude of his customers keep sharp an attention to quality and detail.

Take for example the simple pen sleeve. In so many bags, a place to put your pen is an afterthought; necessary but uninspired. In Frank’s bags the pen sleeve is part of the interior experience of the bag. It is honored.

The internal components of a Frank Clegg bag are kept to a minimum. Each pocket has a purpose and their scarcity forces the owner to selectively choose the items he carries. Such a bag inspires one to only put in it things of beauty, substance, and purpose. Hence the large, carefully formed pen sleeves. They almost beg for a vintage fountain pen, which Frank collects, or sleek, modern carbon composite roller ball.

Aware of his own depth of knowledge, Frank is also a generous mentor. Young, talented artisans and designers who see him as a font of practical knowledge and priceless experience regularly seek him out. They always leave richer in knowledge and ready to someday pass along the skills they too will develop over time.

Luxury leather work is a deceivingly complex craft. Even the modern conveniences of machines and computerized design must bow to the master of time, because it still takes time to create such durable beauty.

Frank may practice an age-old craft, but this creative innovator is very much on the pulse of today’s luxury goods market. An examination of his new Aiden Duffle Bag provides proof of this pioneering craftsman’s skill and ability to tweak tradition to meet the needs of a modern customer.

The Aiden is named for Frank’s father and updates his traditional carry-on bag with a modern, clean design. Its compact shape, reminiscent of a traditional doctor’s bag, belies some serious space, accessed through Swiss RiRi zipper that spans the bags’ entire length. The shape is distinctly streamlined and minimal, referencing a mid-century modern aesthetic, allowing the luxuriously soft tumbled leather and stunningly precise stitching to shine through.

The bag’s interior is a single open compartment devoid of any lining. Such finishing requires a master’s touch, as every aspect of the bag is open to detailed examination.

Interior seams are prefect and here the quality of the hand-selected leather is truly seen. The delicately arched handles and 1¼-inch shoulder strap bring sturdy functionality and visual balance to the bag.

The Aiden bag, and Frank Clegg himself, are examples of how modern innovation and hand crafted luxury can blend together to create something modern, classic, functional and timelessly stylish.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by LEXUS via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of LEXUS.

After appreciating the beauty and construction of both the Cooper brogues and Bobby slip-ins, it was time to head out for a day of meetings.

On went the Coopers and off went our editor-in-chief.  After literally walking all day, from Metro Center to Georgetown and back, for those of you who know DC, there was not a blister in sight. Never before had a pair of dress shoes so effortlessly slipped into preferred status right out of the box. (See below for a special OTC-only deal on ordering your own pair.)

Fin’s are very special shoes.

Launched in 2008, Fin’s For Him was founded by Londoner Alexandra Finlay. She wanted to create a shoe for her males friends that blended the casualness of a summer loafer with the style and quality of a High Street dress shoe.  She settled on a comfortable suede loafer cum driving moccasin.

What began with that suede loafer, still the brand’s cornerstone, has grown into a collection of footwear and accessories including formal city shoes, casual desert boots and now, accessories. All of her products are designed around the mantra of, “Simple, Classic, Affordable and Fuss-Free.”

As a result, the Fin’s brand has garnered a global clientele and its relatively accessible price point means that one need not break the bank to give them a try. While keeping things affordable is a priority, quality is still vital – especially when it comes to footwear. The shoes are hand-stitched in a family-run factory in Portugal and all the accessories are made in Italy.

We find Fin’s to be extremely well made and almost unnaturally comfortable, hence the total lack of break-in. Similarly, the Bobby slip-in also required no getting used to and its supple leather almost makes it feel like a house slipper. Make sure to order down one size on the slip-ins.

While we have not had a chance to test run their casual footwear, these city shoes are outstanding and uniquely English in form. The trim double soles are complimented by a slightly larger (by American standards) toe box. This allows the shoe to provide visual heft and balance to a suit while not appearing clunky or overly casual. “Elegant” is the word which often comes to mind.

While the Fin’s brand has gained popularity in the United States, the cost of getting them here can still be a bit steep (though, in our opinion completely worth it).

To encourage OTC’s readers to give Fin’s For Him a try, Alexandra is offering a 15% discount – not including shipping – on all orders. Just use the code “OTC15″ at checkout.

OTC is happy to recommend Fin’s dress shoes.  They are a perfect start to building up your New Year’s wardrobe!

This is a quick teaser for the full review which will be coming next month.  What we endeavor to accomplish here is explain what to expect from Proper Suit once you take the plunge.

First off, OTC’s suit both met and exceeded our expectations.  The initial review of key components, including fit, construction, fabric, overall quality and attention to detail impressed us on every count.  (By the way, that wrinkly arm in the picture fits wonderfully – just needs some steam.)

It’s important to remember when choosing to go with a brand like Proper Suit, you are opting to order custom tailored clothing with certain constraints.  Among online clothiers, Proper Suit is unique in that Richard and McGregor will personally take your measurements prior to your placing a first order.  It’s extensive, thorough and designed to ensure that your fit is as accurate as possible.  It is not, however, the same as having a custom suit made for you by a tailor who will update your measurements several times throughout the process.  That is an altogether different, and more expensive option.

Making a custom suit is an art, not a science – don’t confuse the two.  Understand the process and set realistic, firm expectations.

Those initial measurements will form the basis for your Proper Suit suit pattern.  It’s a point in time translated to a tailor who will in turn translate them into a suit of clothing.  So, when you open that box for the first time, this should be your expectation:  it should fit very well, but will likely need some tweaking.

That’s exactly the case with the OTC suit; it fit almost perfectly but will need to be let out a touch on the sides.  Other than that, it’s spot on and that’s pretty darn impressive.  And this gets us to the issue of realistic expectations.  It absolutely met ours.  We were not expecting a perfect suit from a single fitting several weeks prior.  We were expecting a suit that was almost perfect and received just that.

The cost for the tailoring adjustments will be reflected on our next order as a credit and we will indeed be placing a next order.  Once those adjustments are made to the Proper Suit pattern, we should have something that does indeed fit perfectly, right out of the box.

Stay tuned for the full review which will go into the details, look and what goes into a Proper Suit and show you the finished product.

In the coming weeks, you will be learning more about a few of the outstanding brands listed below, such as Lotuff Leather.  We are in fact field testing a leather lock briefcase right now; safe to say they are not getting it back after the review!  Recently, we had the chance to speak with the superlative Ira Neimark, former CEO of Bergdorff Goodman, and the man who’s vision created one of the world’s legendary stores.  His new book, The Rise of Fashion and Lessons Learned at Bergdorf Goodman, should be required reading for anyone seeking to understand what it truly means to be an exceptional retailer or influencer of fashion.  Be on the lookout for our review.

Explore, enjoy and Happy Holidays!

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Classic White Oxford Button Down
Lumina Clothing Company
Raleigh, North Carolina

$128.00

Needlpoint Ball Cap
HARDING-LANE
Dedham, Massachusetts

$30.00

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A Man’s Watch: the Polar Surveyor Chronograph
Kobold Watch Company
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

$8,850.00

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Possibly the Best Jeans You Can Buy
Raleigh Denim Workshop
Raleigh, North Carolina
Around $285.00

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The Blue Crab Belt
Knot Belt & Clothing Co.
Boston, Massachusetts
$38.00

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Lessons From a Master Retailer
The Rise of Fashion and Lessons Learned at Bergdorf Goodman
by Ira Neimark
Fairfield, Connecticut

$32.501

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Colored Dress Shoe Laces
hook + ALBERT
New York, New York

From $14.00

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Leather Lock Briefcase
Lotuff Leather
Ware, Massachusetts

$950.00

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Purple Pinedot Tie
Drakes London
London, United Kingdom

£95.00

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CD-15 Notebooks
Apica
Japan

Set of three, $10.80

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The Arte Italiana Milord Fountain Pen
OMAS
Bologna, Italy

$425.00

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