Wasabi Nights

Are you wearing the wrong size clothes? Before and After Photos

Steve wanted to update his wardrobe and improve his style.  When we learned the sizes he had been buying and wearing, we understood why he didn't feel confident about his current style and wardrobe.

Steve had been buying clothes in the wrong size and fit for years.  He had built a wardrobe for a shorter man with a larger physique.  He made up for it by wearing thick, boxy, undershirts to fill up the extra room - for pants and shirts that were sometimes two sizes too big.

To demonstrate this point, we sent him clothing that was similar to what he already had and liked, but in the correct size and fit.  See the before and after photos to understand the difference it made.

The clothes make the man, but only if they fit the man.

Wearing the wrong size and fit for your body, can make even nice clothing look cheap and sloppy -regardless of how much money you spent on it.  

Thank you Steve for sharing your wardrobe makeover photos with us and for being such a great Hendricks Park client.  You look great!

("After" clothing -  shirt by Zachary Prell, jeans by Adriano Goldschmied, shoes by Auri, belt by Torino)

Sincerely,

Lisa 

Lisa Bruckner
Founder & CEO
Hendricks Park LLC 
Dressing Well Made Easy

Do You Dare Wear? How to "Step it Up" with Saddle Shoes

 

 Featuring Guest Author & Hendricks Park Men’s Style Expert Michelle Miller

As you may have noticed, saddle shoes are everywhere now...

...and as with any trend, we’re bound to see the good, the bad and the horrendously obnoxious. I recommend you stick with the good, like these ones from Cole Haan.  A man can really knock 'em dead with a classic style like these, even worn casually, and with the most basic items.

Not sure how to wear them — or what with?
Click here to see a great look — you probably already own!

Enjoy!
Lisa Bruckner, CEO and co-Founder Hendricks Park

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Do My Pants Fit? A "Good Fit" Guide for Men

When it comes to your pants, do you know what a good fit looks like?

If no, you're not alone. Most men really don't know how pants can and should fit, so many settle for "fits-ish." To the onlooker, this just looks sloppy. On the flip side, a great fit from waist down creates instant polish and class — and says "I know what I'm doing."

So what does a good fit look like, and how can you tell? Click here for a graphic guide.

Enjoy!

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

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Best Wedding Wardrobes: From Proposal to Honeymoon

Shopping... for clothes? Probably the last thing a man wants to think about when planning his wedding.

Earlier this month, I shared a few tips for busy grooms in an article on my company's blog.  In it, I touched on Walker's story, a wonderful client I helped dress for his wedding, from proposal to honeymoon. It's so much fun to work with grooms like Walker, making it easy to dress well through this milestone in their lives — and saving them the time and hassle of shopping.

What did we do to help Walker look great, so he could focus on enjoying the important things? Click here to see his story!

Best,
Lisa Bruckner, CEO and co-Founder

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Have a wedding coming up — or know a groom-to-be?

Hendricks Park allows busy grooms to look their best on their wedding day — and all the events surrounding – without having to shop. Plus, there's NO fee for our service.

• You'll have your own Personal Style Expert, who meets with you live on video chat to learn about your wedding, style and budget in order to design your perfect outfit.
• Your Style Expert takes care of your whole outfit from head to toe, or just the specific items you need.
• Items are shipped directly to you, with FREE shipping and easy returns.
• Items for your groomsmen can be shipped separately to each man. Easy.

Click here to see more about what we do!

 

AURI: Quite Possibly the Coolest Men's Sneakers Ever

Some things are just ridiculously cool...

Like James Bond, the Ferrarri F50...  and comfortable, ultra-stylish sneakers with NASA technology. When it comes to shoes, I might literally be the planet's pickiest buyer – but AURI Footwear was love at first sight for me and my entire team. 

This ground-breaking "fashion lab" from Laguna, California is fusing old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge performance — and the latest in NASA-grade material engineering.

What does that mean for you — and why I recommend these shoes? Click here now to find out.

Best,
Lisa & the Hendricks Park Team

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How To: Layer Clothing — Easy Style Tips for Men

Featuring Guest Author and New York style writer, Dustin Enrique Larsen of Apple to Apple.

There are many things a man can do to be "stylish," but when it comes to truly expressing your own sense of style, the key concept to embrace is layering. Incorporating layering into your everyday routine has a multitude of benefits.

Layering... 

• ...provides an unlimited number of ensemble combinations — especially when you take a “layering approach” when purchasing new items to add to your existing wardrobe.

• ...gives you numerous opportunities to experiment and show off your own personal style.

• ...allows you to be prepared no matter what the weather or occasion.

How to do it

To truly reap the benefits of layering, follow what I call the “The Three’s Company Rule.” Click here to find out how!

How To: Dress for Your Wedding — 3 Tips for the Groom

 
At my company Hendricks Park, we love it when our clients get married. It's so rewarding for us to share in the couple's excitement, helping transform the "task" of outfitting the groom into a fun part of the wedding experience. Today, I'm sharing three tips we offer busy grooms, to make planning your own Big Day easy and fun. 

What to wear? Click here to see 3 Tips for the Groom

Plus, more tips coming up... Check back in again soon for more ideas! 

Best,
Lisa & the Hendricks Park Team

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Have a wedding coming up — or know a groom-to-be?
Hendricks Park allows busy grooms to look their best on their wedding day (and all the events surrounding) without having to shop. Plus, there's no fee for our service. Click here to see what we do.

And Ode to Denim: Stylish Jeans at Any Age

Since I've been talking about denim this week...

I received this phone-pic from Aydika James, writer for our men's style blog at Hendricks Park. I immediately responded: "This grandpa is looking sharp!"

This gentleman's outfit proves how regardless of a man's style or age, a great pair of jeans goes a long way. Plus — as our friend Grant Harris says: "The foundation of a stylish wardrobe begins and ends with good shoes. Observe: Fantastic mahogany shoes.

Here's what works about this look. (Well-groomed beard not required.)

And... is it me, or is this man channeling Sean Connery?

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

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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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If You're Set on "7 Jeans," Read This First. (How much will they stretch?)

(Republished with permission from my company's blog at Hendricks Park. Click here to see the original article: 7 For All Mankind Size Chart)

What flatters your best features, handles well in every occasion, and often looks better with age?

Ah, premium denim.... how we love your ways. (If only you could share your secrets with some people we know.)

Dress it up, down, or a combo of both, premium denim is the handsome workhorse of your wardrobe. By "premium" we mean denim with high quality materials and construction, stylish washes and impeccable fits. Some of our top recommendations for men now include Citizens of Humanity, AG, Agave, and Hudson. These lines consistently impress on all counts. Another refreshing thing? They run fairly true to size.

Another line that's gained a lot of popularity is 7 For All Mankind. If you own a pair, you've probably noticed they stretch. A LOT. So if you're set on buying "7s", beware: Your sizing will be different; and you'll need to adjust the rules of your normal "Do they fit?" test.

Follow these three guidelines to avoid ending up with a pair of soon-too-big jeans. (And the sad realization two weeks later that you didn't really lose 10 lbs. — you just lost some money.)

 

7 For All Mankind: 3 Key Things to Know About Sizing

If they feel "just right" now, they will soon be TOO BIG. The construction of 7's causes them to stretch about 1-2 sizes when "breaking in," and are difficult to shrink back. 

If they're so tight you feel like "Mr. January 2012," they're probably about right. Trust me on this one. The best long-term fit will be a pair that feels 1 - 2 sizes too small.

To get a sense of how much (and how fast) they'll stretch: Try on the pair that feels one size too tight, and then move around normally for 10 minutes. If shopping, put them on first and keep them on while you try on other shirts, etc. No time? Take them home and wear them around the house for a bit. Within minutes, you'll start to feel them "soften" a lot, especially in the inseam (crotch) area.

And as with any premium denim, expect to get them hemmed after purchase. Like a suit jacket, quality brands usually come in one length, with the understanding you'll have them tailored for a perfect fit.

So if you're set on 7s, follow these rules and for best results. And if you magically find an actual (official) size chart for men's 7's out there, please share it on our Hendricks Park Facebook page!

Good luck!

— Aydika Jack James & The Hendricks Park Team