While mohair is a great warm weather fabric, it's not the only option under the sun. We like the idea of keeping a varied and functional wardrobe, so we generally advise our clients to keep some different fabrics in their rotation so they're prepared for different occasions. In that vein, part two of the Henry A. Davidsen Fabric Series will focus on a different fabric: cotton. Unless you've been living under a rock your entire life, you've worn cotton. Most of us are used to wearing it in our … [Read more...]
Color-Coding an Outfit
May 9, 2013
Men often have a hard time with color. As we've mentioned before, guys aren't trained to look at colors the way women are from their early teens into adulthood. This often puts us at a loss when getting dressed, which translates into armies of men wearing nothing more than their basic blues, greys, and whites. While there are many professions that adhere to conservative dress codes, there are many that don't. Between those and the occasions when a shot of color(s) is called for, the boys at … [Read more...]
Spring Suit Fabrics, Pt. 1: Mohair
May 7, 2013
Spring has sprung, and it's time to start thinking about switching our our closets. With one of the most extensive fabric selections in Philadelphia, we have you covered whether you're looking for a simple light grey worsted suit or a mint green mohair/wool blend. What's mohair, you ask? Welcome to the first of a series on spring fabrics and styles. In this series, we'll be covering the following materials: Mohair Cotton Linen Lightweight wool Piuma Silk Shorts with suit … [Read more...]
Style Profile: Justin Timberlake
April 30, 2013
If you haven't seen it yet, check out this video of Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" on Saturday Night Live. Watched it the whole way through? Good. We here at Henry A. Davidsen are big fans of Mr. Timberlake's new image. His transformation from a teen idol in N'Sync to this most recent iteration of his solo career has been nothing short of drastic. Everything -the clothes, the hair, you name it- has matured. He (and likely his management team) realized a while back that his original … [Read more...]
Henry A. Davidsen Hosts Gentlemen’s Merit Badge Series
April 23, 2013
On Wednesday, 4/17/13, Henry A. Davidsen had the pleasure of hosting the Gentlemen's Merit Badge Series for the networking group Young Professional Scouts. YPS is a group of Boy Scout alumni who are now young professionals, and they partner with local businesses to teach their members gentlemanly skills. Henry A. Davidsen happily offered a primer on how to care for custom suits and a lesson on how to tie various tie knots. Bluecoat gin and Penn 1681 vodka were generously provided by Philadelphia … [Read more...]
How To Dress For A Cold Spring Day
April 16, 2013
Northeasterners complain about the weather incessantly, and the boys at Henry A. Davidsen are just as guilty of this as the next guy. It's either too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter, and we generally get a total of five and a half weeks of truly pleasant weather a year. Thankfully, we're a week into April and are beginning to see the sun shine brightly for longer periods of time during the day. While that's all well and good, the temperatures are still not quite warm enough for linen … [Read more...]
The Suit Series, Pt. IX: Sport Coats, Blazers, and Suit Jackets
April 9, 2013
In the world of menswear, not all jackets are created equal. The terms blazer, sport coat, and suit jacket are often mixed up and misused as a result. This causes confusion amongst men and makes their lives more difficult than they need to be. In the interest of offering some guidance, here's Henry A. Davidsen's quick, easy-to-understand breakdown of these terms. Suit Jacket This term is the most self-explanatory of the bunch. At their most basic, suits are comprised of a jacket and pants made … [Read more...]
The Suit Series, Pt. VIII: Buttons
April 2, 2013
If there's one thing we know about looking good versus looking great, it's that details matter. A lot. When designing a custom suit, decisions get heavy on details: lapels, vents, linings, pant styles, and plenty more. One detail that will differentiate your suit from the ready-to-wear masses is the button you choose. Read on for a brief list of some options that Henry A. Davidsen offers. Corozo Buttons A plastic-like material that's actually a natural grain, also known as Tagua. It's … [Read more...]
The Suit Series, Pt. VII: The Tuxedo
March 26, 2013
The Oscars just passed us, and with wedding season coming up, formal wear is on our minds. Few men have the opportunity to wear a tuxedo nowadays and there's a lot of mystification as to what they're supposed to look like. So, what makes a tuxedo a tuxedo? WHAT MAKES A PROPER TUXEDO? First and foremost, tuxedos are not suits. Yes, both involve jackets and trousers made from matching materials, but the garments serve different purposes. Suits are a bit more casual and appropriate for daytime … [Read more...]
The Suit Series, Pt. VI: Pleats or Flat-Fronts?
March 19, 2013
Pepsi or Coke? White or wheat? Pat's or Geno's? Some issues in life don't have shades of grey, and in the world of custom suiting, the question of pleated pants versus flat-front pants is one of those issues. What's a man to do? This sixth installment of the Suit Series will explore both options and give you some food for thought. Flat-front pants Flat-front pants are unquestionably more “of the moment” and have been for a while. Younger men tend to prefer them as they have a more … [Read more...]
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