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Father's Day Gift Guide

Father’s Day Gift Guide

He taught you how to ride a two-wheeler, played catch with you out in the yard on countless summer evenings and cooked up plenty of lip-smacking BBQs for you and the fam’. But more than anything else, he taught you to be the man you are today. So, on Father’s...
Choosing the Right Suit Lapel

Choosing the Right Suit Lapel

So you saw you the latest Baz Luhrmann joint, read our post, and now all you can think of is decking out your closet with peak lapel suits like Jay Gatsby. But should you? What exactly is the difference between notch, peak and shawl lapels? What separates the three besides...
Ask a Black Lapel Stylist: How to Match Socks

Ask a Black Lapel Stylist: How to Match Socks

Q: “When suiting up, should I match the color of my socks to my suit pants or shoes?” – Ken J.  A: As you can see from the picture above, we’re not all too serious about matching your socks to either your pants or your shoes. If we really had...
Black Lapel Custom Suits vs. Designer Off-The-Rack Suits

Black Lapel Custom Suits vs. Designer Off-The-Rack Suits

A Case for Custom We’ve all felt it before – the anxiety of spending a bit more money than we’d like on article of designer-branded clothing. And it often goes against our natural instincts to pull the trigger…an internal conflict often arises in this familiar form: “I don’t really want...
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How to Suit Up Like Gatsby

How to Suit Up Like Gatsby

While you’re reading this post, we suggest you open up Spotify and listen to the newly-released soundtrack to The Great Gatsby (2013). If you’re not already, it will get you pumped about the film’s release on May 10th. We’re definitely excited. And not just because of the killer threads all of the Gatsby boys will...
It's Your Mother's Day Gift Guide

It’s Your Mother’s Day Gift Guide

She’s the person responsible for bringing you into this world. She raised you to become the custom suit-wearing gent that you are today. There’s one day a year dedicated to celebrating this fact…and on this one day, you best be showing ma dukes some love. So lets begin with a little test to see where...
Ask a Black Lapel Stylist: Difference Between a Blazer and a Suit Jacket

Ask a Black Lapel Stylist: Difference Between a Blazer and a Suit Jacket

Q: “What’s the difference between a Black Lapel blazer and a suit jacket?” – James D.  A: Not all things in menswear are clean-cut, and the difference between a suit jacket and a blazer is a prime example of this. Traditionally, a blazer meant a jacket of a solid color (usually navy or black) with...
Guide to Colognes

Guide to Colognes

We’ve all experienced it before: walking down the street and catching the brief intoxicating scent of a beautiful woman passing by. The scent reminds you of your ex. Or perhaps of a missed connection. Of a chance encounter on a cobble stone street. And if you really dwell on it, it’ll even take you back...
Using Color in Your Accessories

Using Color in Your Accessories

Spring is in full swing. And unless your home address contains the word “Winterfell”, this should be your cue from Madre Naturaleza for some full-on color-play. Last week, we showed you how to raise your pattern and color game in the context of shirts and ties. This week, we’ll show you how you can introduce...
Ask a Black Lapel Stylist: How to Wear a Vest Casually

Ask a Black Lapel Stylist: How to Wear a Vest Casually

Q: “Enjoyed your How to Dress Down Your Suit Jacket post. Do you have any tips for wearing a vest casually?” – Patrick N.  A:  Go ahead and give that suit jacket or blazer a day off and give that vest a little moonlighting as a stand-alone piece. In fact, a vest can be a...
How to Match Your Shirts and Ties

How to Match Your Shirts and Ties

When it comes to putting together a shirt and tie combination, some gents seem to be born with an uncanny ability to just pull sick ensembles of colors, patterns and texture together. Many other men however often fall into one of two camps: 1) the “I will wear the same exact combinations and hope no...
How to Dress Down Your Suit Jacket

How to Dress Down Your Suit Jacket

We hear it all the time. You want to give those custom Black Lapel threads some more wear but your office is a bit too casual to handle all the sartorial heat. Now of course, you wouldn’t want to be the only one in the office who missed the dress code memo and look like...
Introduction to Double-breasted Suits

Introduction to Double-breasted Suits

The double-breasted suit is back with a vengeance and we’re loving every minute of it. Once a staple in every man’s suited wardrobe, the double-breasted suit has become a rather elusive creature of sartorial splendor, only recognizable by the extra gust of wind caused by all the sudden double takes. Today, the double-breasted suit has...