How to Tie a Bowtie

More and more men are re-embracing bowties for both formal and casual wear. While bowties have always been appropriate with a tuxedo, they are also a great way to add a splash of "dandy" to other outfits  without looking over-the-top.

If you've been thinking about trying one, you'll need to know how to tie it (clip-ons are never a good idea), so here is a brief tutorial on tying a bowtie. Also, if you are wondering how to pull it off casually, or would like some tips/ideas on putting an outfit together, visit us in the shop and chat with one of our stylists. That's what we're here for.


Step 1
With your shirt buttoned all-the-way up, place the bow tie under the collar around your neck, situating it so that the end on your left side (let's call it end "A") is about two inches longer than end "B".

Step 2
Cross end "A" over end "B" in the middle of your shirt.

Step 3
Bring end "A" up and around end "B" - and pull the two sides tightly (like the first part of tying your shoes).

Step 4
Fold end "B" in half over itself to form the first side of the bow, and hold it folded in your hand.

Step 5
Loop end "A" over the center of the bow you just formed out of "B".

Step 6
This is the tricky part!
Hold the bow you created out of "B" and the skinny part of "A" that is laying over it in the same hand. Now you should notice that there is a "hole" formed near the neck between the skinny part of "A" and the folded "B". Once you've identified this hole, fold side "A" similarly to how you you folded "B" in Step 4 and slide this through the hole - folded section first. Make sure not to let "A" go all the way through the hole - the tail (widest part) should stay poking out facing the way that it came from.

 Step 7
Now, pull the folded section of "A" with your right hand as you simultaneously pull the folded section of "B" to tighten the bow. Make sure the tails don't slip all the way out! Alternate from pulling both folded edges to pulling both tails until the bow is tight, the ends are even and the knot looks straight. (Tip - it doesn't have to be super tight, in fact, it often looks better when the center knot isn't overly stretched).

Hope this helps and inspires you to try wearing a bowtie!


Thanks for reading.

All the best,

MAB

Style Icon - Cary Grant

From time to time, as a new segment on our blog, we will be featuring some of the "Style Icons" that inspire us. 

This feature can spotlight anyone from an elegant movie star, to an athlete with a uniquely fashionable demeanor, to one of our many stylish clients with a subtle flair for the dramatic. 

Today we highlight English-American actor Cary Grant (1904-1986) who is regularly considered one of the greatest male movie stars of all time.

"Cary Grant managed to give great performances in comedies, thrillers, and romances and at all times he appeared cool and imaculate. He had an easy manner, his ready wit and charm complemented by his ability to wear clothes effortlessly. Grant always looked relaxed  in his stylish outfits" - Giorgio Armani

Above: flannel chalkstripe suit with wide peak lapels. Staple white shirt and solid tie.

Above: grey flannel narrow-stripe suit, paired with a grey V-neck sweater, white shirt, and pencil stripe tie. Let's not forget the pipe and the brown shades nicely tucked into the breast pocket.

Above: keeping it simple. When your clothing fits properly, subtlety goes a long way. Dark flannel suit, white shirt, solid tie and white pocket square. And how about them specs? Ironically, these are the same black frames that can be seen today in just about any modern fashion/style magazine.

Above: the timeless tuxedo. Someone with great style, in our opinion, remains classic and timeless. The best part about this picture is that it, from a purely stylistuc perspective, it could have been taken anytime between 1950-2010. A peak lapel, one button tuxedo with white french cuff shirt, simple studs & cufflinks, black bowtie, and simple black loafers = forever chic.



Thanks for reading, more features on inspiring "Style Icons" coming soon.

All the best,

The MAB Crew

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