OCTOBER 6TH – 13TH
Ken’s Custom Haberdashery Week
Garments made exclusively for you, from the very first thread.
There is something special about choosing the fabric, color, and details of a garment made exclusively for you. This year’s Custom Haberdashery Week brings new mills and new fabrics to the shop, and the collections we’re currently stocking are some of the best I’ve seen.
You’ll find stunning fall fabrications in rich colors with large plaids, extra-large windowpanes, exploding houndstooths, thick herringbones, and an assortment of stripes.
Two strong trends that have emerged this season are stripes and double-breasted jackets. We’ve been watching these two slowly reemerge, and the double-breasted garment can no longer be ignored. Create this silhouette in a blazer, traditional suit, or a more contemporary line (think patch pocket with a wide peak lapel).
The color spectrum has grown, too. That’s especially true in the brown and blue tones. Mixed in among them you’ll find more earthy hues like mauve, burgundy, and olive — a genuinely wide palette to build from.
Beyond color, a few styles that have been solidifying their place in men’s closets. City western shirts and jackets are coming into their own. Custom-made shirt jackets to wear with five-pocket trousers and flat-front cotton trousers have been on almost every client list.
Dallas formalwear continues to expand, thanks to the plethora of galas, hosted events, and weddings on the calendar. Gentlemen who already own a tuxedo are coming back for a formal jacket. When you have seventy percent of the ensemble already (tuxedo pant, shirt, bow tie), a new jacket is the easiest way to create a whole new look with just one piece.
Appointments are required for Custom Haberdashery Week, and you’re welcome to make one and begin shopping custom before October 6th.
I’d love to sit down with you and build something that’s truly your own.
QUICK TRIP TO NYC
Back to the Basement
Our friend in Manhattan returns to where it all started, and it’s better the second time around.
I recently visited Articl3 for the grand opening of its new space in Nolita. For those who don’t know Manhattan well, that’s one block south of Houston Street, on Elizabeth Street, to be precise.
One of the real pleasures was finding the new location and realizing that Vivek Nagrani, known as VK, has gone back to the beginning. He started with his first showroom and clubhouse in a basement, and now here he is, back in a basement, only this one is so much better. There’s a certain poetry to a man ending up exactly where he began, just with better lighting and a better story.
I joined VK for the grand opening last Thursday, the 9th. The main floor showed the entirety of his collection, and his team was still painting each of the doorways and walls as the guests arrived, with the finishing touches applied in real time. It was a surprising touch, and somehow exactly right. The clothing fits perfectly with the brick and the eclectic nature of the decorating, and yet every decorating piece is there on purpose. The man does not miss a single detail. There are even paintings on the windows that only reveal themselves at night.
His long-standing clientele turned out all evening, alongside plenty who were brand new to the location and the newest collections. Downstairs, in the clubhouse at the Liz, one of VK’s clients was pouring his tequila. He owns the tequila company, and they craft limited-edition bottles in four styles. And yes, we’ll be buying a case for the haberdashery so you can sip on it here in Dallas.
VK draws a wide array of clientele from every walk of life. In one evening I met hedge fund managers, investors, bankers, Secret Service, FBI, lawyers, doctors, and more. It made for a thoroughly entertaining night of conversation.
Here’s the nice surprise. With this new partnership between Ken’s Man’s Shop and Articl3, any time one of our Ken’s clients are heading to New York, they can call me and I’ll make an appointment with VK at the Liz. Anything you purchase that night gets shipped right back to the haberdashery in Dallas where we can tailor the pieces and have them ready for you.
By the way, I did buy many items for the fall collection that will be exclusive to Ken’s in Texas. They’ll be arriving every third week throughout the fall season, so there’s always something new to look forward to.
FINAL DAY
Samuelsohn Fall Trunk Show
Monday is your last chance to take advantage of 15% off custom Samuelsohn. Drop in or contact us for a last minute appointment.
A Sweet (Well-Dressed) New Year
A wish for the year ahead.
To all of those who celebrate the Jewish holidays amongst us, may the year ahead be full of laughter and happiness, travel and exploration, love and family, and peace.
May the year in reflection be a blessing.
🙏🏻💜 Kory Helfman
