We are very excited about our new spring collections. In tuxedos we put in the Gray and Brown Calvin Klein from Flow. We put in the La Strada in black basic wool and in the pin-stripe from After Six. We converted all shirts to Luxe Micro Fiber from Ascot LLC in Laydown collar with 1/2" pleats. From Black/Gold we added seven new colors to our solid fusion collection complimented with Paisley windsor ties to match. I also filled in the Calvin Klein Hunter which I believe will still be our top renter.

Last issue the manufacturers told us what was selling well for them.  In this issue I contacted several stores/wholesalers across the country to see what they are buying.  It is interesting to know why owners feel the choices they have made will be the correct ones. Read on to see what a few of the answers were.  If we do not have your choices here let us know what you think Rebeccamc522@aol.com  

 

 

Jeff Shain

Friar Tux Shop

 

Our new 2008 coat purchases consisted of just two coats this year-- 1) the Jamaica Light Tan Destination suit from FLOW and 2) the Grey Catalina suit from After Six. Having purchased nine coats (and pants on most) last year, we didn't have that many new needs to fill.

 

The biggest success of the nine coat buy last year was in the Super 120s notch from Joseph Abboud. Our Super 100s notches, framed notch, and peak tuxedos from Calvin Klein and Lauren, our narrow notch Super 100s from Galante/After Six, as well as our peak tone on tone from Joseph Abboud are our top renters. Our Red Sleeve corded cable tone on tone notch and our Chocolate Parisian tone on tone notch are also very good renters for us. (We were one of the first companies to offer the better woolens, almost a decade ago, and have reaped the rewards ever since.) Our Tan Catalina suit is also doing nicely. 

 

For accessories, we added ten new Sterling vest colors, giving us a total of 26 Sterling colors. We also offer four different ties in all 26 colors-- a bow tie, solid four-in-hand, stripe four-in-hand, and Savvi paisley four-in-hand. We feel accessory color matching will still be the key ingredient to booking those weddings again next year. We also added two new "Luxe" micro fiber shirts from Ascot, in Brown and Grey, and two new shoe styles, the Radio City and the Studio Slip-on, from Barclay.

We will be purchasing the following:

 

1.)  CK Radnor - This will be our first traditional 2B notch in premium piece goods.  We believe this will be a top renter for 2008 due to its powerful label, traditional styling, and great photography.

 

2.)  A6 Black LaStrada (in burlington wool) - This will also be a very popular renter for 2008 due to its unique lapel styling as well as its heavily advertised photography.  We believe this coat will perform comparable to the A6 Trilogy (which was also a very popular renter for us.)

 

3.)  A6 White LaStrada - This will be very popular for proms, quinceaneras and southern weddings.

 

4.)  FWI Midnight Blue Suit (2B notch) - While this garment will likely never be a top renter, it fills a couple of niche markets.  We have experienced numerous requests for a dark blue tuxedo or suit to wear with the many military weddings that are taking place in the U.S.  Also, we have experienced numerous requests by destination wedding customers for a "nautical" looking ensemble with tan pants and a dark blue coat.  This suit will be marketed as a business suit (with matching pants), a wedding suit (with matching pants), and a destination suit (with tan pants.)

 

5.)  FWI Taupe Destination Suit (2B notch) - For 2008, we will be replacing our entire inventory of taupe (destination) suits.  This garment will be constructed of a poly/wool blend material that will be more durable, and offer a nicer hand than our previous model.  Our historical success with this look and photography will ensure this will once again be a top renter for 2008.

 

6.)  Black Microfibre shirts by Ascot - These shirts will be used to replace our current inventory of black Perry Ellis pinwhale shirts.  This addition will offer our customers wanting a black shirt a nicer quality shirt.

 

7.)  Fusion Accessories by BlackGold - We will purchase these vests in 19 colors, with two tie options (stripe and paisley.)  We have spent considerable time working with Black Gold to ensure the colors coordinate with a wide offering of dresses on the market by various manufacturers.  This program should be a very popular renter in 2008.

One Specialist who was not yet ready to hurt the feelings of all the hard working salesmen out there has not yet placed orders.  They have decided on two Abboud lines.  They are purchasing a vest line in a wide variety of colors. They are adding the white and ivory Ascot striped shirts and a brown shoe line.

The convention in Nashville presented many opportunities to meet people in the business from near and far.  One of those new contacts, nice enough to answer a few of my pestering questions is Laurence Swerner of London England.  He operates 10 stores in the London area and was happy to share insight into the business we all love.  Be sure to check out his website with the vast variety of styles and practices different then our own.   
  

                                 

 

As someone who has been involved in the UK wedding industry for over 25 years I feel I am qualified to write this article. I have been visiting the IFA convention for the last 12 years and have very much enjoyed meeting many new friends from around the world all in our beloved business. Up until last year I was privileged to serve on the IFA board of directors and bring a British perspective to the meetings.

I put the owners of Bridal stores or Men’s Tux stores into two categories, those who ended up in the family business or those who loved the experience so much they had to open their own store, I am the former.

I went into the family business straight from school, a business that had been trading for 30 years from one store and at the time was the largest rental hire store for Men’s   Tuxedo and bridal dress rental.

The company has now expanded with ten stores in London with 60 employees, I am the only family member still involved in the business.

I have probably experienced most situations and scenarios involved in helping the bride and groom`s big day go smoothly (we hope).

For those who did end up in the family business you arrive into the comfort zone at an early age without experiencing the harsh realities of working for someone who is not going to take it easy with you because your family.

I travel between the US and England 3 or 4 times a year and over the years seen how the industry has changed on both sides of the world. (INSERT UK PIC#2)

The terminology is so different We call it morning tails, you call it cutaway, we call it a waistcoat you call it a vest, we call them trousers you call them pants.  As for styling and fashions, 90% of grooms in the UK will get married in morning dress (cutaway); however I believe in America it is very much the tuxedo which is the order of the day.

Like all fashion the wedding industry is no different, colours , styles and fabrics come and go, 25 years ago brown was the hot colour for weddings and within 3 years it had sunk without trace, two years ago it reappeared and has become second in popularity only to black.

Silver grey has started to emerge as a strong colour once again after a few years away, as for styling a shorter length tailcoat is becoming very popular.

As for fabrics, satin is all the rage for 2008 and as for colours, golds, ivory, cream and pale pink are still leading the way.

Wherever the store, whatever the country, as tuxedo store owners, managers and employees we have all had that groom asking for something we don’t have, or even asking us for something different, either side of the pond the questions are the same and hopefully so is our answer :

 

YOU TELL US WHAT’S DIFFERENT AND WE WILL FIND IT.

 

I hope you have found my insight into formalwear English=style interesting and look forward to seeing you all on my next IFA trip. 

 

WWW.TUXNTAILS.CO.UK

I feel having a strong selection at great price points is important for 2008:

1. Joseph Abboud Carlyle- FCGI- The most luxurious fabric to the customer & in an updated fashion 2 button Peak.
2. Joe by Joseph Abboud (3 Coats)- FCGI- This coat brought the most excitement to me.. It’s about time we had something fun to show our younger customer and with new look with out going over board… 29 ½ “ length…better fit with arm hole gussets…good choice with satin edge notch lapel…and even media/Money/ & Sunglasses inner pockets. Plus great photography to boot! I bought the Black –White – Grey with black satin edging…all shown with black pant (we will push flat front).
3. Calvin Klein Infinity – FLOW- This was a great coat for 2007 in fashion narrow stripe and we will know it will do well…Great Label!
4. LaStrada (2 coats) – A6- This was a winner the first time I looked at! We bought the Black Basic Wool & White. Strong Photography and Great Look!
5. Demetrious Light Tan Suit – FLOW- My favorite choice in a quality fabric for a high end suit to work for Outdoor & Destination Weddings!
6. Brown Solid Micro Shirt – ASCOT- What can I say – Brown is hot…why not!
7. Lido Vest Line – Great colors & the new look fit for Milroy’s.
8. Siena Windsor Ties – B/G- Getting a strong reply for stores and accounts and works with both the Sterling & Lido Vest Lines 33 Colors.
9. Solid Fusion Windsor Ties- B/G – A must for the Sterling & Lido Vest Lines to give our customer a great variety to mix and match from! 34 Colors

Solid Zelente Vest & Ties – CSS – Great Price for strong Prom fill for color!

Joseph Abboud Black Tribeca 2B Peak – Proprietary style developed exclusively for Savvi; black tone-on-tone stripe.  We purchased the Tribeca 2B Notch for Spring ’07 and it quickly became our #1 renting coat, as a result we have high expectations for this coat, as well.

Joseph Abboud Black Gramercy – 2B Notch, side vents, faille satin lapel.  Very limited distribution, but we believe that this coat is a “sleeper.”  Once again, we look forward to this coat enjoying similar success to the RL Hudson in days gone by.

JOE  Black Element and Gray Element – 2 “hip” new style coats that will appeal to this year’s youth market, this is NOT “your father’s Oldsmobile.”  We received very positive play on these coats at both the National Bridal Market in Chicago and the N.W. Buyer’s Show in Minneapolis

Black LaStrada and White LaStrada – Two solid renters, based on the prior success of LaVida several years ago and strong photography, we believe that these styles will offer us handsome new looks in our mid-price range.

In accessories, we are adding three programs;

Savvi Paisley by Red Sleeve – Once again, a proprietary paisley pattern produced exclusively for Savvi, this program will be available to work with a variety of other accessory programs manufactured by Black Gold.

Lido by Jean Yves – Based on early reaction both from the industry (IFA EXPO “Accessory of the Year”) and from the consumer, we believe that this program will be one of our star performers for Spring ‘08

Solid Fusion II by Jean Yves – We are re-introducing the solid fusion program in updated 4-button styling.  A staple in our line and always a strong renter this program is a guaranteed winner in all of the key colorations.

From Colonial Shoe Company

November 19, 2007, Greg Sharp, President of “The New Colonial Shoe Company”, announced the completion of an asset sale of all assets of the former Colonial Shoe Company and the relaunch of this business in Atlanta, Ga. The Colonial Shoe Company is primarily a business providing Tuxedo Shoes for the Formal Wear Industry for both the rental and retail business.

 

Sharp said, “We are very excited about the relaunch of the Colonial Shoe Company and look forward to the opportunity to serve our current and future customers with the best service and product in the Formal Wear Market.” Sharp went on to say that Kevin Moran, a 30 year veteran of the shoe business will continue in his role of Executive Vice President for “The New Colonial Shoe Company”. Sharp said that Moran will be responsible for all day to day operations as well as product development for the new company. Sharp also believes that as there are opportunities

to expand and develop other market areas “The New Colonial Shoe Company” will look towards expansion. Sharp said that first and foremost that Colonial has been and will continue to be the best source for basic and fashion tuxedo shoes in the Formal Wear Industry. “Our commitment to serve our customers needs will be our top priority as we go forward”, said Sharp.

 

Other new offering from “The New Colonial Shoe Company” will include online ordering from a newly developed website which will be coming soon. In addition to that there are new styles such as the “Max” which will be available for Spring 2008 delivery.

 

“The New Colonial Shoe Company” will continue to ship and to do business from its present location in Atlanta, Ga and can be reached at 1-800-678-7463 or email at info@colonialshoe.com.

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
--Joseph Addison

The opinions expressed by the authors do not reflect necessarily of the Association of  International Formalwear, its officials, directors or personnel. Each author is the unique person in charge of her or his content.

The opinions expressed by the authors do not reflect necessarily of the Association of  International Formalwear, its officials, directors or personnel. Each author is the unique person in charge of her or his content.