Wasabi Nights

Good News, Men — Tie Bars are Back!

(Inspired by a post on my company's blog at Hendricks Park. Click here to see the original article: Tie Bars, Tie Clips - All You Need to Know)

 

 Want a quick way to step it up a notch? Wear a tie bar. (a.k.a.: Tie clip. Pin? Tack?)

In April, the LA Times suggested the tie bar is enjoying a new “renaissance” in men's style. I give this two big thumbs up, as this is one of the easiest ways for men to instantly take their appearance from "yawn" to "yowza." But why are there so many names for these objects — and what's the difference?

Here are the answers to what tie bars are and why you’ll love them. And if you’re a business traveler, like easy ways to "step it up," or have suddenly become Mr. Popular Wedding-Invitation-Guy... you may want to bookmark this post.  

 

Tie Bar, Tie Clip, Tie Pin and Tie Tack... What's the difference?

While minor distinctions exist, these words are used interchangeably today for two main types of tie hardware:  

Tie Bar / Tie Clip  (Sometimes called “Tie pin”): Clips the entire tie to the underlying shirt, to hold everything neatly in place. A "clip" opens like a jaw, while a "bar" simply slides over the tie and shirt.

Tie Pin / Tie Tack: Punctures the tie itself and affixes it directly to the shirt (through the button hole) to keep in in place and prevent it from sliding 
around.

Why Wear

• Functional Style: Holds your tie neatly in place and prevents it from swinging around. (Excellent for business travelers and men who live in windy cities.)
• Instant Polish: Adds personality, class and sophistication to your look. Plus, not as many men wear tie bars today, giving you an easy way to stand out.
• Formal affairs: Helps shape a tie for added height and decorum (See this image from a previous post for a great example.)

When to Wear

• Tie Bar / Clip:
  Great for adding polish to business and formal affairs — or anytime you want to step it up. (Easy extra points at work.) Also excellent when traveling for business, to hold things neatly in place amidst mad airport dashes and taxi hailing.

• Tie Pin / Tack:
  Best of formal and/or celebrational events (ie: weddings, opening ceremonies, etc.).

How to Wear

• 

  Proper placement is key.
  If wearing a vest, place the tie bar in the upper third of the tie (generally between the 3rd and 4th button of your shirt). Otherwise, you can position the ba r about 2/3 of the way down — though the modern look is to keep it in the upper third. (This makes you look taller and slimmer.)

• Tall men: Opt for a lower placement (2/3 of the way down) for a more balanced look.

• Style: Choose tie bars and clips that cover no more than 3/4 of the width of your tie. (It’s an accent; not a roller coaster safety mechanism.)

• Add Color: If your suit, shirt and tie are gray, white and black, your personality appears equally colorless. Mix in some color (ie: blue shirt or a red tie) to breathe life back into your appearance.

3 Notes of Caution

• Tie tacks permanently pierce the tie and leave a visible hole, so only wear with ties you only plan to continue wearing with a tack each time.
• If you affix a tie tack improperly, you’ll end up with a “tie tacky.” Be sure you know what you’re doing. (See royal wedding image for reference.)
• Never wear a tie bar with a chain... unless you like the nickname “Grandpa."

Whatever you call your tie-hardware,  adding polish to your look doesn't get much easier than this. Enjoy!

Best,
Lisa, co-Founder and CEO, Hendricks Park

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Business Formal: 10 Things Men Should Know

 

Business formal with serious attitude (Photo: StreetFSN)

(This article summarizes key points from previous posts, based on common questions we hear at my company, Hendricks Park. You can also find the article today on our our Men's Style blog. Enjoy!)

When in Rome, dress like the Romans. For the rest of us however, more traditional rules apply.

I came across these snapshots on some of my favorite blogs, StreetFSN and The Sartorialist, and they reminded me that what's lauded as fashion in Milan and Paris is often chastised as tacky in the American everyman's world.

However you choose to push the envelope (or stay safely tucked inside), here are 10 things men should know about business formal. 

10 Things Men Should Know about Business Formal

1. The point of your tie should never fall below your belt buckle.
2. If your dress shirt blouses out around your waist, it doesn't look like a dress shirt. It looks like a blouse.
3. The shoulder strap of your seat belt goes under your tie.
4. French cuffs are always appreciated by women—as long as your cuff links don't out-sparkle her jewelry.
5. Don't ever skimp on quality shoes. A great suit with lame shoes is wasted money on the suit. If you must prioritize, get a good suit and great shoes.
6. Unless you're 210% confident in how to pull it off, don't wear sneakers with a suit. There's nothing impressive about looking goofy.
7. It's better to be overdressed than under dressed. The most polished man in the room commands attention and leaves the rest of the men wishing they had dressed better. Be a leader not a follower (or a regretter).
8. Drape your jacket over an empty chair, or bring a hanger to work and hang it up when you aren't wearing it. If you place your jacket on your the back of your seat and sit on it, it will look like you placed your jacket on your seat back and sat on it.
9. Button-down collars on simple dress shirts are not your friend. If you still wear them, it's time to update! (Note: In the cases of super-slim/tailored designer shirts, button-down can be a good look.)
10. High quality clothing is designed to fit better. Clothes that fit well make you look better. In the case of clothing, always focus on quality over quantity.

...and when in Milan (Tokyo and Paris), the rules are up to you. Whatever you do: Wear with confidence!

—Lisa Bruckner, CEO and Founder Hendricks Park

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Are You Tucking Your Shirt in Right?

Shirt tucking? There's a technique to it? (YES.)

It's an easy three-step process all men need to know, because nothing ruins your impression like "bunchy-bottom" pants. If you follow three steps every time you tuck, you will:

• Instantly improve your look
• Avoid having to constantly re-tuck
• Never be caught doing the "hand saw" in public again.

What are the three steps to doing it right? Click here to find out now.

Best,
Lisa

 

Do I Need to Tailor My Suit? (You do. Here's why.)

(Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

We can always rely on George Clooney to illustrate how a simple, quality suit with an immaculate fit can knock it out of the ballpark — even when "dressed down" as he so coolly manages to do here.

Why is tailoring so important when it comes to your suit? Click here for the answer.

Best,
Lisa

How to Mix Patterns: 7 Easy Tips

 

Mixing patterns is not as scary as many men think.  Knowing a few basic rules can even make it easy.

Possible? Yes. Click here to find out how.

What to Wear on New Year's Eve by Guest Writer Antonio Centeno, Art of Manliness Style Writer

Dear Readers,

I recently had a great conversation with Antonio Centeno, President of ATailoredSuit.com and resident style writer for the Art of Manliness.  We were both excited about each other's work (check out his men's style articles-think modern Cary Grant...and for quality custom clothing made easy, I highly recommend you visit his site ATailoredSuit.com).  As a New Year's gift, enjoy this article written just for you by Mr. Centeno himself.

Thank you for being a loyal reader and thank you Antonio for gracing our pages with your wit and classy style advice.

All the best to you in the New Year - Lisa; Founder & CEO Hendricks Park

Why Dress Sharp on New Year’s Eve?                                                                                                 by Antonio Centeno

Why should a man Dress Sharp for New Years Eve?  Does it really matter what we wear when we’re simply going to be surrounded by friends at a private party?   Are people really that shallow that they’d make a decision about me based on how I look?  

The purpose of this article is to give you 4 reasons to dress sharp this New Year’s Eve.  Because even though we shouldn’t judge people by their covers, the reality is…we do.  No amount of training or personal awareness is going to fully drive out our human instincts to make quick decisions about others based off their physical characteristics.  By understanding this law of human interaction, you can control how quickly you’re attended to at a busy restaurant, the impression you make on friends of friends you only shake hands with, and even how you feel throughout the evening. 

1.     Dressing Sharp sets the Tone for the Evening

For a man to truly dress well on New Year’s Eve he needs to both physically and mentally prepare himself for the evening ahead.  While women can carry items to freshen up with in their purse, a man has no such luxury.  As such taking the time to properly groom, shower, and dress in a manner so all clothing is pressed, of good condition, and correctly fits cannot be skipped.  Normally this grooming and dressing ritual prepares us for a day of work; on New Year’s Eve by dressing in a careful and deliberate manner, we set the tone for how we’ll conduct ourselves and allow our bodies time to refresh and prepare for the long evening.  A careful shave, the selection of the right dress shirt, the final polishing of our dress shoes, all of this is a reminder that its game time.  Taking the time to get yourself into the right state of mind can be the difference between having a long night you’d rather forget and an unforgettable evening you talk about for years to come. 

  2.     Make a Great First Impression

You’ll make quite a few new acquaintances New Years Eve; most likely though you’ll speak briefly to 90% of these people, maybe remember half of their names, and then spend the majority of your evening talking with your established circle of friends while considering reengaging the one or two other people who caught your interest.  Assuming you’ll have one more shot to speak with that beautiful brunette in the blue dress, what do you think is going to make a better first impression?

A) a sincere smile, you dressed sharply from head to toe, and a short but memorable conversation with eye contact  -OR-

B) a sincere smile, you dressed like her kid brother, and a drawn out conversation as you try to talk over the music blasting through the speakers.

As shallow as it sounds, your keen intellect is not going to shine through in this situation; in fact how often do you remember what you talked about in moments like this? What will make an impact tonight is your appearance and body language, visual cues that we instinctively use to make split second decisions.  And after making our initial judgment, we are then subject to the desire to confirm these impressions with follow-up conversation.  Understand this and you’ll have a great night, make solid first impressions, and create a sense of curiosity that will lead to follow-up conversations.    

3.     Always be Ready for Opportunities

Although technically you’re celebrating New Years and “relaxing”, any businessman worth his salt is ALWAYS open to meeting another go-getter with great ideas.  In fact it’s often these random encounters at social events that lead to new profitable partnerships and future sales – a sort of cross pollination that normally wouldn’t happen had we not ventured outside our traditional network.  It’s important to remember that even though you’re off the clock you can’t predict who you are going to meet and where a random conversation is going to take you.  Luck in business is nothing more than being prepared for opportunity.   If you run into a potential client for your startup at a small New Years get together in LA, are you going to be dressed for the pitch?  Be dressed for opportunity.     

4.     Dressing Sharp Shows Respect

If the party you’re attending specified a dress code in the invitation, then make plans to attend dressed appropriately even if this require you purchasing a piece of clothing specifically to accommodate this party.  If no dress code is specified, then dress to at least the level you expect your hosts to be dressed to.  If still in doubt, simply ask or look to wear clothing that can be adjusted to suit a variety of dress levels (such as a dress shirt, suit, or sport jacket and dress slacks – add or subtract a tie, wear or remove the jacket and we have a wide range of outfits).   

You should be aware that hosting a party, especially one at your home, is hard work and requires days of planning.   The hosts will try to account for every possible situation, and is often footing the bill for food, alcohol, and entertainment.  All they expect from their guests is that they 1) show up close to the right time, 2) dress in a manner that adds to the atmosphere, and 3) enjoy themselves without too much embarrassment.     So dress sharp and show up on time – as for the last expectation, well, it is New Years………

 
Dressing Sharp for New Years Eve - Conclusion

We celebrate New Year’s Eve once a year, a celebration of making it through the trials of one year and welcoming the opportunities yet manifested in the new.  With so many things in our lives out of our control – the economy, our job stability, and our health – it makes sense to do the best with what we can control.  So this New Years Eve forget your troubles, look towards a brighter future, and dress like the man you know yourself to be.  

Antonio Centeno                                                                                                                                Men's Style Writer, Art of Manliness                                                                                                  President, www.ATailoredSuit.com

Connect with Antonio on – Linked In – Facebook - Twitter

How to Coordinate Patterns...does this tie go with this shirt?

Coordinating patterns is not always intuitive, but the pay-off is great.  Unfortunately, many men give up before they even try.  They wear all solids and if they do wear a pattern (like a striped shirt or patterned tie), they wear solids every where else. Here are some guidelines to you pattern-challenged men out there.

1.  Many men assume if they wear a patterned tie, they must wear a solid shirt.  False!

  2.  Any shirt that has a single color pattern on it (ignoring the white background) such as a pinstripe, check, plaid, etc. can be considered for all intensive purposes a "solid" shirt. For example, the grey plaid shirt on the far right can be considered a "solid" white shirt.  A blue and white pinstripe shirt can be considered a white shirt if the pinstripes are thin and spaced far apart.  Conversely, consider it a "solid" blue shirt (see above) if the stripes are so close together the optical illusion is that it's a solid blue from a distance. 

If you consider shirts like this a solid shirt then coordinating a patterned tie or jacket becomes much easier.  However, unlike a true solid shirt you have a little more style and interest to your look!

3.  You don't have to match the pattern of your tie to the pattern of your dress shirt.  Contrast is recommended!

4.  If you are wearing a vertical stripe shirt, it's nice to select a tie with a contrasting pattern (plaid, windowpane, paisley, floral, stylish geometric, dots, etc.).  A striped tie is ok, but mix it up sometimes!

5.  The key is to create contrast and interest.  Too much matching leaves you with a dull look.

6.  Balance is another key to success when coordinating patterns.  If you have more than one bold pattern and you feel like a clown, it's because the patterns are competing against each other instead of coordinating with each other. (see the example at the very bottom of this article)

For example, I love the shirt and tie below (right), but not together.  The large coin pattern on the tie is unbalanced with the thin stripe on the shirt.  A better combination would be the orange geometric tie (below) with a smaller scale print that balances the narrow stripe better.

7.  There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.  Too many patterns can overwhelm the senses and instead of looking stylish, you may just look stupid.

8.  Start slow...pick a stripe shirt and coordinate it with a contrasting pattern (a windowpane, glen plaid, check, paisley, dot-all the rage now-or floral).  This can be a tie, a jacket, trousers, a scarf, what have you.  Just go on and put the two together, make sure the colors coordinate (they don't have to match!  just look good together) and then go out and let the compliments pour in.  After that, you will be able to recognize the value of coordinating multiple patterns and will be able to "own" bolder combinations and find your inner chemist!  Mix away!
 
This photo, captured by The Sartorialist, is a perfect example for three reasons. 

While I think this man would probably look stylish in a paper bag, I do feel he is demonstrating the competing pattern problem I previously mentioned (the suit is a bold choice, but it's the shirt that sends his look over the edge in my opinion). 

However, he is beautifully demonstrating how to balance patterns with regards to scale.  The check and geometric patterns on his tie, suit and dress shirt while competing, are nicely balanced with regards to scale (size).

Lastly, and most importantly, style isn't something you wear, it's something you own, and it comes from within.  It's a confidence that some are born with, some are raised with and some learn by pushing their boundaries step by step until it comes naturally.  Don't be afraid to push your comfort zone a bit and learn to own your style.  It's one of my favorite parts of being a Trunk Club Expert...I get to see it happen everyday!

-Lisa Bruckner, Trunk Club Expert

What color goes with...Does this match?

Does this match?  I hear this question so often I chuckle each time I hear it.  Men, please take a deep breath and repeat after me..."I don't match, I coordinate!"

The man in this photo for example; captured and documented on The Sartorialist, is a nice, mainstream example of how you can wear four different colors together at the same time.  Sure, the pin dots play off each other in a potentially matching way; but nothing "matches" the blue shirt.  It's just a pop of color that coordinates wonderfully with the brown suit and burgundy tie.  Additionally, it's a great example of how you can mix different browns together.

Since you men like rules and guidelines, I will educate you in this format:

Matching Rules:

1.  Your socks should match the color of your PANTS.

2.  When wearing a formal suit, your suit jacket should perfectly match your suit pants (thus, always wear and dry clean them together).

3.  Another rule about formal wear; your dress shoes and dress belt should generally match (same color!).

4.  For a sleek, elegant look, go for the monochromatic style: your shirt, pants, shoes, belt, etc. are all the same color.  Or, wear all black clothing and a rich dark brown for the accessories (shoes and belt).  Yes, you can wear dark brown with black!

5.  If you are wearing black separates (items bought separately from different dye lots or different brands) make sure the black perfectly matches the other black pieces.  Nothing looks tackier than a man wearing black pants and a completely different hue of black jacket or shirt, etc.  Black is one of the toughest to match to be honest.

6.  Your pocket square does not need to match your tie.  Yes, you can, but you can also pick a coordinating color to add interest and a pop of color.  See the photo above for example.

 
How to Coordinate color:

1.  Don't match!!!!

2.  If you are wearing brown shoes, wear a brown belt, but they don't have to be the exact same color brown.  They just need to coordinate and be "similar" in hue (same type of brown-dark, light, red undertones, etc.).

3.  Think about colors that coordinate well together.  For example, turquoise and brown coordinate beautifully.  Olive green and pink/purple are awesome.  They don't match, they coordinate and add interest to each other. 

4.  Orange is a fabulous accent color, even for the timid.  Don't be afraid to coordinate orange accents into your wardrobe.  See how nicely the orange and lavender look together?  An orange tie like this would look fabulous with most dress shirt colors and would really add interest to a brown, black or navy suit or sport coat.

5.  When coordinating a tie to a dress shirt, you don't need to match the color of the tie to something in the dress shirt pattern!  Instead, make sure they coordinate (do these colors look good next to each other?).

6.  Dark brown shoes look amazing with black pants (and most other colors to be honest).  I repeat, yes, you can wear brown and black together!

7.  Grey also looks amazing with brown.  The lighter the grey, the lighter the brown (and vice verse).

8.  People who wear their style well and get a second, third, etc. look from others are those who wear a completely monochromatic look OR those who understand that matching is for the birds and coordinating is the key.  They mix different colors, sometimes incorporating bold, subdued and contrasting color all into one look.  See photo at right.

9.  Next time you get dressed, don't think "does this match?"  Instead, think "does it coordinate?"

The man in the photo to the right is a great example of a man who would get a second look.  While I feel the balance of his choices is a little off (his long legs are overly accented due to the short vest), his overall look is interesting and sophisticated.  The turquoise blue shirt pops and complements the mixture of browns.  I love how he mixes black and near-black accessories into his look.  And his hat is amazing and I would love to see more men wear hats (I think you might enjoy the weather protection too for those of you with short hair cuts!).

I'm curious... if I came up with a "manly" version of Garanimal-inspired tags for men's clothing, would you like this?  Basically, it would be a clothing tag where fashion-challenged men knew which items "match" and thus take the guesswork out of getting dressed.  I'm curious to hear what your thoughts are.

Kudos to Trunk Club members Mr. MD and Mr. MC for helping me formulate the idea!

-Lisa Bruckner, Trunk Club Expert

Suiting the Man: Walker's Story

One of the perks of my job as a Style Expert is I get to meet great people like Walker and Angelina.  They have given me permission to share their story and this photo from a wedding they attended last weekend.

When I first met Walker, he was a bit unsure how a style expert could really help him.  He is a former linebacker who made the switch from knocking teeth out, to taking care of them (he is a successful dentist).  While Walker's outward physique changed (he dropped a considerable amount of weight after leaving the football field), in his mind he was still a LARGE man.

Walker likes nice clothing and unlike many men, doesn't mind shopping; it's just a matter of time and availability.  When we first met, much of his clothing didn't fit well; in part because it was difficult for him to select the correct size and fit since losing his extra linebacker weight.

Walker is a muscular, 6' 5" with long arms, a barrel chest and narrow waist.  Add to this challenge; Walker has good taste and appreciates details and style.  He says he is picky. I say he is selective.  He knows what he likes and has a good ownership of his personal style. 

While it took us a couple boxes to figure out what size Walker really was, he was patient, and very fun to work with.  Hendricks Park pays for all standard shipping so all he had to do was try on the clothing with me and share a few laughs as we figured out what sizes and brands fit him best.  I adore his girlfriend Angelina who made regular appearances during our consultations and we even did a mini Hendricks Park for women consult when she asked for advice on what kind of shoes to wear with her fabulous BCBG dress (the lavender one she is wearing above). 

In addition to outfitting Walker for his upcoming formal events, we also found him some great Joes Jeans, an awesome Canterbury polo and some great shorts (a plaid pair and a pinstriped pair) to enhance his existing wardrobe.

When I received this photo from Walker last night, I spontaneously gasped out loud and grinned ear to ear.  He looked amazing.  While I wish I had a full length photo to show you, at least you can get an idea of how great he looked in his navy, two-button, windowpane suit.  The crisp, white, dress shirt by Ike Behar and the uber chic windowpane, silk tie (it's a luxurious honey-gold with accents of khaki, navy and sky blue) were perfect coordinates with his suit. Many men are unsure how to wear more than one pattern at a time.  Walker's look above is a great example of how to balance patterns and colors well.  He looks like a stylish gentleman. 

They have another wedding to go to soon and they promised me a full length photo so you can see his entire look (including his new shoes which are very cool!). 

When I asked him if he received any compliments, Angelina quipped in that many people told him how nice he looked.  I commented that it's rare for a man in his situation to hear any compliments because they generally tend to go to the woman he is with.  Angelina didn't mind sharing the limelight (as I am sure she had her fair share!).  I think they both look fabulous and I can't wait to see more photos!

Thank you Walker and Angelina for sharing your story and for being such wonderful people to work with!

-Lisa Bruckner, Hendricks Park

Arbitrage Dress Shirts: A Personal Review

I recently learned about a new clothing line called Arbitrage.  It's based out of New York City and is the brainchild of three fresh upstarts who were tired of baggy, boxy, dress shirts that were also too long to wear un-tucked (i.e. after work).  Arbitrage dress shirts are designed to offer men an off the rack, tailored fit.  Their shirts are made from 100% cotton, but boast a luxurious jacquard look and feel (silky smooth without looking "silky").  Lastly, they are designed to appeal to the modern man's style; he wants something he can wear to work, then un-tuck, roll the sleeves up and go out after work-without having to go home and change first.  They say it's well worth the price of $148 a shirt.

After seeing one of these shirts up close and personal (on my dear husband); I had to agree with their claims.  The shirt was indeed everything they said.  My husband is 6'5" without shoes and has a 32" waist.  Basically, he has alien proportions.  Finding shirts for him that are both long enough in the arms and torso, but fitted enough for his narrow frame is next to impossible.  Even most slim fit options are quite baggy on him.  Did I mention he eats a pint of ice cream a night?  Yes, you may get the voo doo doll ready!

The Arbitrage shirt fit him better than any shirt he owned.  The shirt is long enough for him to tuck in comfortably, but short and straight enough for him to wear un-tucked.  The look and feel are wonderful and the shirt has been quite forgiving with my absent-minded laundry techniques.

What appealed to me as a were the three different fit options, and the unique patterns and details that would fit the bill for many of our Hendricks Park clients.  A common request I hear is for a better fitting dress shirt with an interesting look.

First, let's talk about the fit.  For the slender man, they offer a "Slim Fit" which is very narrow through the torso and arms.  Let me clarify here when I say narrow, I don't mean tight, just narrow so it actually offers a tailored fit for the Slim Jim's out there.

For men with broader shoulders, larger chests and bigger biceps, they offer a "Tailored Fit" which offers a bit more room in these areas but still tapers in at the waist to give them a comfortably tailored fit.

Lastly, they have a "Classic Fit" which is the widest and boxiest fit they offer; but by no means the typical Classic Fit (a.k.a. Monsieur Box).  The Arbitrage Classic Fit offers moderately larger men the option of a tailored fit dress shirt.  It's actually quite slimming and once the men get accustomed to the feel of a tailored fit shirt, they feel great in it (I am sure the compliments help!).

Arbitrage dress shirts come in French Cuff and Barrel Cuff options but I've noticed their barrel cuffs are actually a chic hybrid between the french and barrel.  The cuffs button together, however they do it in the traditional kissing method typically used in french cuffs.  Men love the look of them and I think they are a fabulous detail.  Unlike true french cuffs, its quick and easy to roll the cuffs up for a casual look.

Another detail that men (and women) appreciate is the fabric.  It's luxuriously soft to the touch, and I've had quite a few "complaints" lately from men saying women can't stop touching their shirt.  (Ladies, I don't think they are truly complaining ;).  I say it's a pettable shirt if I dare label it as such. 

Not only is the fabric soft to the touch, but many of their patterns and colors are appealing to the eye and not your average run of the mill solids and vertical stripes. 

My husband, a man of few words when it comes to clothing, recently said out of the blue to me; "My Arbitrage shirt is my favorite shirt."  Choking back shock at his fashion revelation, I said "Hmmm, tell me why?"  His reply was quick and to the point "I like the fit.  It's a good looking shirt."

Recently, a client who gave me his permission to tell his story in this article, told me he's received quite a few compliments and comments about his new Arbitrage shirt.  MC, is a man who works in the financial industry, which by nature is a sea of suits, dress shirts and slacks.  To receive compliments about your dress shirt in this environment is quite a plus!  He sent me a direct tweet yesterday saying "chalk up another compliment for the Arbitrage shirt!"

I think the shirts offer a great option for an off the rack, tailored fit.  Clothing that fits better, looks better. 

Arbitrage also offers ties, cuff links and some funky, hooded dress shirts that I was skeptical about until I saw MC try one on.  He looked awesome in it and I think it's a great option for hip, casual wear.

NOTE: While I am a true fan of the shirts, I am not a huge fan of their website.  I don't think it does their product justice and most of the shirts I have seen on Hendricks Park clients are not even shown on the website.  Such is the problem with on-line shopping.  You often see items that are out of date and in photos that don't accurately represent the merchandise you are buying.  Arbitrage shirts are sold in a few stores, but in limited runs.  You really need to see, touch and try on these shirts to appreciate them and determine if they are right for you.

-Lisa Bruckner Hendricks Park