The Men’s Jumper: Not Just For Winter Anymore

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If the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the term “men’s jumper” is a heavy, tacky, gaudy sweater with a reindeer design, complete with and antlers with bells sticking out the front, then you need to rethink your definition of the term. When done well, jumpers bring out your best look. Jumpers are not heavy and thick contrary to the idea you might be getting.

There are several designs of jumpers available. These versions of the men’s jumper are ideal for spring when it is neither warm enough for polo shirts nor cool enough for the heavy wool sweaters. If you choose the right fabric you should be fine in any weather.

Men’s Jumper- Men’s Jumper And The Spring

Spring brings with it the need for color…and lots of it! Don’t let anything deprive you from taking advantage of the things you really need in winter. Have you been thinking that pastels are just for girls? You need a rethink! Soft shades of lavender, powder blue, pink, yellow, and minty green are all excellent additions to any guy’s wardrobe. Even the more vibrant colors such as cobalt blue, magenta, grass green, and orange are wonderful choices for spring men’s jumper palates.

Men’s Jumper Material- Cotton or wool is enough to sever for your material. There are three reasons why you need to choose the cashmere:

  • It is soft and always comfortable on the skin.
  • It can help you stay warm.
  • It is the best dress to use during overly warm temperature.

Cashmere is also a very durable choice when taken care of. You can wash it but keep it away from heat. Hand washes only, as even the gentle cycle on your machine could damage the fibers. Alternatively, you can have your cashmere men’s jumper dry cleaned to avoid any at-home mishaps and it will come home looking like new. It is always better to hang your cashmere so it doesn’t distort the shape.

The men’s jumper style you need should be one that is appropriate for the warmer weather. V-neck jumper will never be a bad idea. A solid tee shirt added will help keep you in your best at any weather. There are many other styles available. Check out this selection of men’s jumper

How To Choose The Right Tie

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Choosing a tie is quite a task. Many men give up at a certain stage in their life because they don’t feel they can ever get it right. Get the tie choice wrong in any way, and it could affect your chances of getting a job, for example. Some men stick to just a few ties and don’t try any harder than that.

However, it is possible to choose a tie with real intent as regards the impact you are going to make – combined with the right mens designer clothing you can use a good tie to make a great first impression on a boss, client or potential partner. And you can even calm people down with an appropriate tie.

The basic piece of advice if you work in the corporate world is to make sure that your ties match the environment in the office. If your office, for example, is rather conformist and conservative, wear dark ties that accentuate this mood of muted sophistication. You should not wear black, but there are many colours out there, especially in the navy blue area, that are close to this and have that great muted effect that can have such a calming and solid impact on the work environment.

If you work in advertising or some other such creative environment, a muted colour may not be the way to go. You may even want to go absolutely crazy with colour and have wild floral designs with bursts of vivid colour on them, or even the old classic that is the piano tie. If you intend to do this at your place of work, make sure that the choice of tie does meet the mood, or you could be making a rather serious error.

The best width for the ties that you wear is around nine centimetres. Some ties do differ in this regard, but this width should be in place for the majority of ties in your wardrobe, because it is generally acceptable. If you want to instantly tell the quality of a tie by the way, there is one very simple test. All you have to do is tie it, and then if the tie falls over the knot easily and smoothly, you have a tie that is worth looking after.

It is vitally important that you choose a tie that very obviously goes with your shirt and suit. It will be very noticeable if you do not do this. Essentially, a patterned tie that is reasonably eye-catching matches very well with a solid tone and conservative suit. The same is true for vice versa, so it should be relatively easy to take the ties that you currently have in your wardrobe and match them up with suits and shirts.

It is always a good idea to buy one tie at a time, so that you can get used to it. And ties should be enjoyed. Don’t forget that they are responsible for many first impressions, both good and bad.

Selecting The Right Look For Your Job Interview

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How To Dress For An Interview

It’s true what they say. Dressing well for a job interview is perhaps more important than what you have on your CV. Okay, maybe that isn’t strictly true, but having the right look when you take an interview means that you are serious about the position you are going for, and that speaks volumes.

So, when you are preparing for the interview, it is worthwhile making sure that you have a plan of action as regards what you are going to wear too. It could make all the difference, especially when an interview panel has a number of people to choose from.

Add to a dark suit some high quality black leather shoes, with laces, and a black leather belt. You are going for a kind of muted look that allows the interviewer to focus on you, not what you wear.

Consider the colour of the shirt you are matching to your suit. White is safest, but you could consider wearing a blue shirt, because this colour goes well with most skin colours and tones. Essentially blue will complement your face, which will lead to a positive impression with the people who are possibly going to hire you

With the rise of the creative industries, many companies don’t ‘allow’ suits into their offices. If you have a chance of a job at a software firm, or an advertising agency, and you are one hundred per cent sure they are an informal team, then consider dressing down a bit for the interview with casual but smart and stylish brands such as Junk De Luxe and Farah Vintage.

If you are tempted to dress down, but not confident to really let it all go, then find a nice blazer with some good smart trousers and a dress shirt. This will take away the need for a tie and allow you to fit neatly into their style of working

So there you have it. Keep it simple and cool if you are going for a formal interview at a serious place. And if you are hoping to join a hip community, get with it and dress to unwind. But whatever you do, polish those shoes.

The Continuous Creativity Of Seiko Watches

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The Seiko Corporation began as K. Hattori & Co., Ltd in 1881; it later became Seikosha clock supply factory and finally Seiko Corporation in 1895. The line of work was always about timepieces, initially with wall clocks, and then pocket watches. Pocket watches which were also known as fob watches, due to the short leather strap which allowed them to be secured to the belt of a waistcoat. In 1923, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake centered under Oshima Island destroyed most of Tokyo, and the ensuing fires took away the Seiko factory and headquarters before Seiko men’s watches had even begun.

When Japan seated a new emperor in 1912, Mr. Hattori considered this a good sign, and began to manufacture a new watch, the first ever with a Seiko brand. All Hattori wristwatches manufactured since then has carried the Seiko brand name, while wall clocks continued under the Seikosha name. At this time, the manufactured wristwatches were small by current standards, measuring only slightly more than an inch in diameter.

The terminology we use in describing watches can be confusing to most people. The term movement, for instance, refers to the moving parts of the watch, with exception of the hands. The most common types of movements are mechanical, quartz, and electronic. Except for the mechanical watches, very few moving parts exist within the movement.

The transition from mechanical movement Seiko chronograph to electronic and quartz movement was filled with drama, and is a fascinating learning point for business in general. Two American companies developed non-mechanical watches in the 1960s, causing a considerable stir for the Swiss watch-making industry. They set about carefully reexamining the possibilities for quartz movements.

In what is now a classic example of how business can blind itself to the future by relying on past success, it was the Swiss that first introduced a quartz movement watch at the International Chronometric Competition in 1967. They had become convinced their mechanical watches, the most accurate in the world, would remain the staple for timepieces for the future. In 1967, they showed their first watch with a quartz movement, which they did not patent since it was considered only a passing fad. But the world was watching, and learned fast.

The advent of the accurate quartz movement allowed for a revolution in the watch-making industry. With size no longer the defining factor in manufacturing, watches could be made in any size and shape, as long as the face remained flat. Digital readout watches became famously popular, especially after they appeared in a blockbuster science fiction movie. Watches for women became more than just a functional accessory, they became fashionable.

The complexity of the timepiece would continue in pace with the increase in other technology. The days of the comic strip two-way radio watches are approaching. It is no longer uncommon for a watch to include special features. Some come with built in calculators, and others with primitive scheduling programming. Aviator watches not only tell time where you start your day, but keep time for all the time zones on earth, changing with the push of a button.

The watch has come a long way over the last hundred years, from the first ingenious yet primitive mechanical watches to the marvelous variety available today, they have steadily increased in accuracy, decreased in size and expense, and become a fashionable addition to any attire. The manufacturers are always pushing the limit for the next great thing in watches, to the happiness of the public in general. Seiko women’s watches have been in the mix all along, and now have introduced watches around a new technology call electronic ink, which will allow for even greater and more amazing watches designs.

Retro Skinny Ties Are Here Again

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All old things are new again. A perfect example is mens skinny neckties. They first came into style at the beggining of the 20th century, only to gain real popularity in the 50’s and yet again in the 80’s. Today they are returning to fashion again with the likes of Will Smith, Jeremy Piven and other actors opting for thin black ties to go with their tuxedos at the recent Acadamy Awards.

Narrow Ties from the 1920’s

It is usually acknowledged that skinny men’s neckties vary in width from 1 to 3 inches across the widest part of the necktie. Both pointed neckties and flat bottom skinny ties during the first ten years of the last century were thin, ranging from 2 to 2 ½ inches wide. Some ties measuring as thin as 1 ½ inches, were even referred to by people at the time as string neckties. Much didn’t change the following decade due to lack of materials brought about by World War I. 2 inch wide ties remained in style throughout the 20’s and then disapeared until the 1950’s.

In the period after the war, according to Sarah Gibbings, in her great book “The Tie: Trends and Traditions”, the shortages of World War II left no funds, no available materials or manufacturing base in Europe. The United States became an engine of change and upbeat postwar expectations for war ravaged Europe. Returning soldiers sought colorful and bold patterns, something exuberant and modern. The United States answered with a move toward the wider, flamboyant and extravagantly colored ties which continued to set the style for the 1940’s and early 50’s. Men’s jacket lapels started to become wider and suits were buttoned lower, providing more space necessary to display such a necktie.

Skinny Neckties of the 50’s  

The American psyche of the middle 50’s was restrained by Cold War, the Korean War and a recession. Men’s style reflected the world’s more understated attitude. Styles were becoming more unadventerous, with tighter trousers, less wide lapels and thinner ties to match. glowing and outragous color combinations were pushed out by less colorful patterns and solid colors. This hearlded the certified rebirth of the quintessential thin black tie.

As popular stars such as Elvis started to wear narrow ties, the young men imitated their fashion. By the mid 60’s neckties as narrow as 1 inch were worn by most business men and college students alike.

The 1980’s Resurgence of the Thin Necktie

As the extravegant style fashion of the 70’s came to an end the thin necktie returned, primarly as a rejection of the former decade’s flights of fancy.

Thin Neckties Are Popular Today

Narrow neckties are popular today. Just the other night attorney Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) made an appearance on the Colbert Report wearing a dark thin necktie. During the episode, Stephen Colbert asked him to find something wrong with him. After a quick glance at Colbert’s wide yellow foulard patterned necktie, Romero quickly pointed out, “That tie is not my favorite”, which predictably brought plenty of giggles at Colbert’s expense.

Style is a matter of personal style and fashion trends but a well dressed man wearing a extraordinary narrow tie will always stay popular. Original classic skinny ties from the 1950’s, 60’s and 80’s are available online when searching for “vintage skinny ties”. Try one today!

Your Guide to Mad Men Skinny Neckties

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Mad Men is not only a phenomona on the AMC channel, the wonderful classic skinny ties worn on the show have become a popular trend in modern fashion. The Mad Men TV show takes place in the beginning of the 60’s when narrow neckties were at their hight. Now men’s periodicals like GQ adopted the style and even fashion designers are examining the show for inspiration on vintage ties. If anybody wants to adopt this vintage look then try searching for authentic classic 1950’s or 1960’s thin neckties.

The Best Time to Wear Skinny Ties:

Thin or classic neckties are such an up and coming trend, for the reason that they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and the individual style of the wearer. The best thing is that everyone from young boys to executives are pulling off this look which gives them an instant cool edge.

For business professionals, a patterned, tailored suit or patterned shirt can be combined with a solid vintage men’s neckties. Keep the look business like by wearing a tie that is slightly thinner than usual, creating the impression of confidence and power. Make sure the color is also not too bright which can cause the look to be too much for business.

A thin tie combined with a formal black suit and white button down shirt is a look that never goes out of style that is perfect for a formal affair. For a lighter look, a narrow tie can also be paired with a cotton shirt and a vest. Roll up the sleeves on a long sleeved shirt or go with short sleeves and add a striped or bold colored skinny necktie to create a playful and comfortable style, perfect for young men.

Though thin neckties look wonderful, their small size means they are just not the best look for bigger men. Buff, muscular men will look more pulled together with a regular width tie. Also, the skinny necktie look is more in tune with younger men. To still get the style of the Mad Man TV show, older men and more buff men can wear a tie that is thin, but a little wider than the 2 inch neckties typically worn as thin neckties.

Pure silk ties in soft light blues, muted grays, browns and greens pull off the classic look that held court during the rockability era. Of course, skinny neckties in plaid, with graphics, vivid reds, purples and oranges can also be worn. When going with a bright necktie remember that the more exciting the tie is, the more tuned down the rest of the outfit should be, to keep from looking too busy.

Finding a Vintage Thin Necktie

Second hand shops are a perfect place to look for vintage neckties. The Mad Men television show has inspired several fashion designers to create classic styles. This includes fashion designer Michael Kors who recently created an early 60s inspired line. Classic neckties from the era can be acquired on the web as well. Skinny ties straight from the 1950’s and 1960’s can be found with a google search.