From the Bookshelf: One Hundred Years of Menswear

Here in the studio we've received a number of noteworthy coffee table books from clients as "Congrats on the new space!" gifts. I was just flipping through one of my favorites, "One Hundred Years of Menswear," an inspiring and educational tour of men's style and fashion over the past century.

Product Description (from Amazon.com):

A rich, comprehensive collection of images covering the revolution in menswear over the last 100 years with text by fashion historian Cally Blackman.

Rare photography and illustrations reveal the elegant tailoring of Savile Row and tough khaki and denim of the uniform and workplace giving way to an exuberant array of styles and colors as the century progresses. Packed with images of Hollywood style icons, the artist personalities of the 1930s, and more, the evolution of menswear from practical to peacock is explored in an array of rarely seen photographs and illustrations.

The impact of Pierre Cardin, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and other designers is contrasted with the street fashion of the 1960s, punk, and the club scene to bring together the story of the flourishing menswear market in one invaluable book.

About the Author (from Amazon.com):

Cally Blackman is a writer and lecturer with degrees in Fashion Design and History of Art, and an MA in History of Dress from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. She teaches on the BA Fashion History and Theory course at Central Saint Martins College. Her previous publications include 100 Years of Fashion Illustration (Laurence King) 2007), Costume: From 1500 to the Present Day (2003), and The 20s and 30s:

 
Thanks for reading, and from everyone here at MAB, happy New Year!
 
Cheers,
The MAB Crew

Favorite Fall/Winter Fabrics

It's our favorite time of year: LAYERS SEASON. It's when those of us with a passion for quality clothing begin looking forward to layers of tweeds, flannels and cashmeres.

Here are some of our favorite fabrics from Fall 2010, stuff to keep in mind now that the winter season is most definitely upon us, with temperatures rarely climbing above the freezing mark. Keep these fabrics in mind when thinking about how to dress for colder weather—whether it be overcoats, suits, blazers, vests, or trousers.

 

Grey/Brown Flannel Glen Plaid          Medium Grey Wool Donegal

Brown Herringbone Tweed         Medium Grey Herringbone Tweed

Light Grey Flannel                          Midnight Navy Velvet

    Navy Cashmere                        Navy Corduroy (Medium Wale)

Tan Corduroy (Fine Wale)              Light Grey Wool/Cashmere

More on MAB WINTER pieces, including product and client pictures, coming soon. Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

The MAB Crew

Garment Care Instructions, Part I: Suits

To maximize the life of your suits, we recommend the following:

Restaurant: Acme

It seems like daily we have a client ask us for food recommendations in the area. So, we are proud to announce the blog's new 'Our Neighborhood' section. Here you can find reviews on restaurants we personally love that are in walking distance of Great Jones Alley. First up: ACME.

Just a couple doors down from our alley you'll stumble upon Acme Bar & Grill. This is a great Louisiana- themed restaurant. Having family from Louisiana, I can't attest to its authenticity but it does have some good food. The burgers are tasty as well as the cornbread. With good drink specials you can stop and get another drink after you've stopped by our bar. We recommend Acme for any and all who are looking for a Southern food fix.

All the best,

The MAB Crew