Layer Item #1 for Fall 2009

Prepidemic Magazine lists as the v-neck cashmere sweater as their # 1 layering item. "The v-neck sweater is something that every man should have on his closet. It can be worn with nearly anything. It’s the classic layering item. Wear it over a button down and you’re golden. Wear it by itself and you’re fresh. Wear it under a jacket and you’re a stud. But this is something you all should know by now. The real question is which v-neck you should own. Well, it should most definitely be cashmere and it should most definitely be simple (get it in navy or heather grey if this is your first serious sweater)."

Visit my post from October 1, here, for more information on a limited supply of high quality J Hilburn cashmere v-neck and zip-ups. Order your sweater today, Rebecca.Faulconer@jhilburn.com

style vs. fashion

The difference between style and fashion is quality.
Giorgio Armani

Layer Layer Layer

Eric Wright, the recently installed creative director of high-end French retailer Façonnable, has been obsessed with fashion since the age of five. For his first collection coming out this fall, Wright, a San Francisco native, drew inspiration from the climates of the two cities that helped shape his sensibilities. "I've always had an appreciation for the weight of fabrics and for the importance of layering," he says. "Growing up in San Francisco, which has the same sort of weather as Nice, you apply layers in the morning because it's cooler, and by the afternoon, you're down to your shirtsleeves because it's very very warm." See full article here.

J. Hilburn shares that same appreciation for layering, which brings me to our Fall sweater collection; a perfect way to stay warm and stylish with very little weight.

You can wear our Ivy V-Neck to work or when you're just bumming around. Layer it over a dress shirt and tie or even just a tee shirt. The name is a nod to this sweater's preppy beginnings that helped define classic American menswear style and continues to inspire designers today.


Available in Blue, Charcoal, Chocolate Brown, Navy, Pearl Gray
Luxury Blend - $89.00
Luxury Cashmere - $149.00

The Houston, pronounced "How--stin", takes it style cues from New York City. It's inspired by the city's famed SoHo neighborhood, an area known for its hip artists, lofts, and trendy shops where you'd likely find guys strolling in vintage denim and designer, double zip sweaters. To that end, check out our Houston Zip Cardigan. It can take the lead for a night on the town or layer nicely under your favorite sportcoat.


Available in Charcoal, Chocolate Brown, Navy, Pearl Gray
Luxury Blend - $119.00
Luxury Cashmere - $189.00

There are a limited supply of sweaters available. Contact me today! Rebecca.Faulconer@jhilburn.com

A Well Coiffed Man

Personal style doesn't include just the shirt on your back or the shoes on your feet; it’s the total presentation...and that includes your 'do.

The website Fashionising discusses three men's hair trends for 2009. The first cut is called "The Fringe". I prefer to call it the Roger in honor of stylist Rachel Zoe's husband. I probably shouldn’t share this, but I think Roger is kind of hot. Of course he could look even better if he were sporting a black label J Hilburn shirt. Call me, Roger, and we'll set up a time to measure you ;). Next is the "Slick Back", personified by the always stylish George Clooney. Finally, there's "The Classic Part", a favorite look of the timeless American gentleman, Cary Grant. Each style is very dapper in its own right and they all complement the new modern looking, but classically influenced, trend in men's clothing.

Knowing the hairstyle you want is only the first step. Finding the perfect hair stylist takes time and patience, but I have some recommendations that may be of help in this department. Laurel Berg's Groove Salon has a large and happy male clientele and you get a cold beer with every cut (2 if you drink fast and wine if you prefer). Another spot worth investigating is the hip and funky Barber Lounge in SOMA.

contact me for a fitting today at Rebecca.Faulconer@jhilburn.com and follow me on twitter @jhilburnsanfran

Fog Or Shine A Zip Up Cardigan And You'll Be Fine

Not surprisingly, San Francisco can’t seem to decide if we are experiencing summer weather or fall weather.

Question?

How does one dress when the news is reporting a heat wave yet the fog hangs around until well after 10 a.m.?

Answer:

October 1, J Hilburn is introducing its sweater collection! Details to follow in a posting next week, but the double zip cashmere sweater is the answer to our schizophrenic weather issues.

E-mail: Rebecca.Faulconer@jhilburn.com

Twitter: @jhilburnsanfran

not to ruffle your feathers, but change is here

“LIFE should never be color-by-numbers,” said the musician Ben Harper. “We’re the only animal in the kingdom that can change its feathers. Why not take full advantage of that?” --from the NYTimes article, Birds of a Feather.

I love this quote and I'm happy to see so many men starting to take a greater interest in the way they present themselves to the world. With high end barber and hat shops popping up all over San Francisco, there seems to be a revival of mid-1950s sensibility (perhaps inspired by Mad Men?) that places an emphasis on wearing high-quality, tailored clothing that both looks and feels great.

Need new feathers? Setting up an appointment for a shirt fitting with me today and I'll work with you to design a unique shirt that represents your personality.

Follow me on Twitter: jhilburnsanfran

J. Hilburn on Fox News

And Veeral looked sharp! It is impossible to not be excited about a company that had $4 Million invested in it by Battery Ventures, one of the top 10 Venture Capital companies internationally, just this past April.

Enjoy the clip and contact me if you are in need of a style adviser.

Movember for Your Health

mustache decal from willowcreeksigns on etsy

You might be wondering what a mustache has to do with J. Hilburn's custom made shirts. Well the answer is nothing really, BUT it does have to do with Men's Health and since I care about every single one of you and since November is fresh on our heels I'm going to be spend a few posts over the next few months highlighting Movember, shaves, mustache styles and throwing the perfect mustache party to earn pennies for prostate cancer. Confused? Let me explain further by taking information straight from the official Movember website.

The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia (shocking isn't it?). The guys behind it joked about 80s fashion and decided it was time to bring the moustache back. In order to justify their Mos (Australian slang for moustache), they used their new looks to raise money for prostate cancer research… never dreaming that facial hair would ultimately lead to a global movement that would get men talking about a taboo subject – their health. A Mo Bro starts Movember – the month formerly known as November – clean shaven, and grows a moustache all month long, garnering support from friends and family in the form of donations. What’s more, a Mo Bro is a walking billboard for the cause as his new look opens the door for him to talk about cancers affecting men – making the moustache a symbol, much like the pink ribbon is for breast cancer. Each Movember culminates in a Gala Partè in major cities around the globe where Mo Bros dress up to match their Mo, channeling the likes of Tom Selleck, Ghandi and Ron Burgandy, vying for the ultimate accolade: Man of Movember.

While growing a Mo is left to the guys, Mo Sistas (women who support their guys) form an important part of Movember by recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds and attending the highly anticipated Gala Partés.

My advice to you? Sign up to participate in Movember today, watch this blog and follow my twitter, jhilburnsanfran, to find fashionable ways to sport your Mo. And, of course, all Mos are best pulled off when accompanied by a stylin shirt so contact me about your bespoke shirt today.

For information on Movember click here.

Esquire's 11 Best Dressed Real Men in America

Esquire has done an amazing job at identifying a variety of personalities to represent the 11 finalists for the Best Dressed Real Men in America. What pleased me most after reviewing the details of each outfit is that J. Hilburn can provide the same looks for a much-reduced price. The difference between the men that Esquire highlights and a J. Hilburn customer is that the J. Hilburn customer pays less for a bespoke shirt of equal or higher quality than the shirts listed in the spread.

If you want to be among the best dressed at recession prices, contact me today, if you mention this blog I'll provide you with a $20 introductory discount on your custom fit shirt.

To see the Esquire article click here.

iPhone application for picking up chicks

Let's be honest, we can't rely only on bespoke shirts to get the ladies attention which is why none other than Men's Health has invented an application to help men find the right watering holes and use the best lines to get a ladies response.

The cost of the Jimmy the Bartender application? A mere $2.99

Men's Health Article here.

UrbanDaddy Welcomes J. Hilburn to San Francisco

After consecutive bikini-rich pool parties and a healthy dose of mojitos, you could probably say you had a solid weekend.

But we're back to Monday, back to the office, back to where things have to be more, well, buttoned-up—shirts included.

Happily, there's a new online shop designed to make all that buttoning painless.

Welcome J. Hilburn, a website that dispatches an arsenal of tailors to you to take your measurements, sew up your custom shirts and deliver them by hand, available now in San Francisco.

Combining the convenience of the virtual world with the personalization of actual human contact, you'll be glad to know that the folks at J. Hilburn will come to you for your fittings (like the Chinese delivery of the sartorial world). Just set up a time for your personal style advisor to come by your condo or office, and they'll help you create your ideal, bespoke shirt.

From blue label to the top-of-the-line black, you'll like that the fabric for the shirts is sourced from Italy—from the same mill as Thomas Pink and Brooks Brothers. Pick classics from pinstripe to herringbone, then opt for one of seven collar styles (like the spread collar or full cutaway), as well as cuffs, pockets and more components than you ever thought went into a shirt.

When it's all over, your advisor will hand-deliver your shirt, and if that shirt's everything you were looking for, it'll be on record for the next time you need to replenish.

After all, you're not one to mess with perfection.

Article can be found here.