Blog: Carriere Menswear Style

Save the Date: Moore & Giles Airstream Event

On Friday, June 19, we are hosting a one-of-a-kind event that you won’t want to miss. Repeat: WON’T WANT TO MISS.

Our friends at Moore & Giles, a luxury leather company, will be displaying their world-renowned bags and wallets inside an Airstream trailer the company has converted into an impressive mobile showroom.

The Moore & Giles Airstream travels thousands of miles every year, and lucky for us, it’s making a stop right here in Westlake Village. It will be parked in front of our store, and open to all who wish to explore. A representative from Moore & Giles will be on hand to answer any questions you have about their products or company.

About Moore & Giles

During the event, not only will you marvel at Moore & Giles’ converted Airstream trailer, but you’ll also be enamored with their bags and wallets. The company, headquartered in Forest, Virginia, has a long history of producing fine leathers for home, hotel and airplane interiors. In 2007, the company added bags and accessories to their repertoire, as a new way to showcase the beauty of their high-quality, luxury leather.

Let Moore & Giles tell you about their leather in more detail here.

Carriere Menswear is now carrying Moore & Giles bags and wallets, and we’d love for you to get acquainted with them during this unique trunk show. We could blog forever about how they last a lifetime, are well-made and durable, and how they class up any morning commute or weekend getaway, but it’s best to see them yourself. The heady smell and sumptuous feel of soft, supple leather is worth a thousand words (if not more).

The perfect Father’s Day gift

A Moore & Giles wallet or bag would make an excellent Father’s Day gift, too, and the Airstream will be here just in time for you to pick one up.

But it’s only here for one day, Friday, June 19, so mark your calendars now to ensure you don’t miss this one time only event.

The Airstream trailer will be parked in front of Carriere Menswear, located at 30770 Russell Ranch Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, so please come by and visit. We look forward to seeing you there.

New at Carriere Menswear: Vince

We are proud to announce that Carriere Menswear is now your number one source for Vince, an exceptional line of men’s casual wear, in Westlake Village.

Vince excels at luxury basics, most notably with its cashmere sweaters and flattering jeans. Note: Vince has stood strong against the ultra skinny trend, a most admirable stance to many men. That being said, they do offer a trim silhouette, for guys who like a clean, no-frump look.

Vince, founded in Los Angeles in 2002, is one of those brands that you’ll keep in your closet for eternity because their pieces are classic and high quality. It’s modern everyday clothing that is both sophisticated and effortless. You could also say it’s “smart casual” with some edge.

The name “Vince” alone makes an edgy statement. The full name, “Vincent,” is derived from the Latin term vincere, which means, “to conquer.” We don’t know about you, but when we imagine a guy named Vince, we envision a powerful, sophisticated and successful guy (and maybe he’s even a bit of a playboy) who conquers work, love, and play with ease and style.

Be that guy by coming into Carriere Menswear today and sampling our new Vince collection. We have a lot of great pieces for spring.

Find us here.

We look forward to seeing you.

With Eton, You’ll Never Iron a Dress Shirt Again

Eton shirts are special. They are crafted in a relatively small factory in a tiny Swedish village, and then sold only in specialty stores like yours truly here in Westlake Village. But this doesn’t mean Eton shirts are hard to care for. Rather, they are famous for being the complete opposite. They are so low maintenance that you don’t even need to look at an iron. All an Eton shirt needs is a proper washing, which we describe below.

Washing instructions:

• Unbutton the shirt.
• Place in the washing machine with like colors (note: do not overfill the washing machine)
• Add a fabric softener (optional).
• Select warm water and a low spin-dry.
• Once the cycle is finished, hang the shirt on a hanger and stretch the collar, cuff and front plackets softly. Do not wring the shirt.
• Let dry.

The fabric should smooth out as it dries, but if there are lingering wrinkles, give it a light tug. You can also just put the shirt on—the wrinkles should vanish after about 20 minutes of wear. It’s not magic, just superior Eton engineering and craftsmanship. You can apply a medium iron if you want an extra finishing touch, but doing so is not recommended.

Professional cleaning instructions:

If you take your shirts to a professional launderer, all you need to ask for is a light press and no starch.

The benefits of low-maintenance Eton shirts:

Aside from the obvious perk of not having to spend so much time caring for your shirts, you will also lengthen your shirts’ lifespans. Ironing, while necessary, is hard on fabric and quickens erosion. By not ironing, you’ll be able to hang on to your favorite shirts even longer.

Learn more about our Eton offerings here.

Speaking of favorites, we just got in several new Eton shirts in bright spring colors that we’re sure you’ll love. Come into Carriere Menswear today to add them to your collection.

We are located here.

AG’s Digital Luxe Denim Available here in Westlake Village

Every once in a while, a truly new concept comes along in the denim world that pushes the envelope on how we think about jeans. Last year, AG—always at the forefront of jean design—introduced their revolutionary new “digital luxe denim,” which sent a wave of oohs, aahs and yes, a few hmms, throughout the denim world.

Digital luxe denim makes the softest, most comfortable pair of jeans you will ever wear. Funny thing is, though, it isn’t denim at all.

Rather, it is sateen (a soft woven cotton) upon which an image of distressed denim is digitally printed. Yes, a fancy computer prints all the rips, holes, patches, burnishing and fading onto the fabric, which gives the appearance of real vintage jeans.

And when we say real, we mean real.

Digital luxe denim technology is much more than the jean version of a silk-screen tee. It is 21^st century, mind-blowing engineering. The jeans look so authentic that even when you know it isn’t real, you’ll still go to put a finger in one of the holes. More than once, too. That’s how real it looks.

AG’s digital luxe denim plays the part inside and out. The inner side of the pants are also printed on, but with a reverse denim pattern, so that if you cuff them, they look just like rolled up jeans.

Right about now we’re sure you’re wondering: if these pants are so life-like, why not just buy regular ol’ jeans?

It’s a fair question. But the answer is easy. First, if you’ve ever worn sateen, you know it’s one of the most comfortable materials on earth. Sateen is cotton woven like satin so that it has a soft, silky feel and a low-gloss finish (which also makes it ideal for digital printing). They are so luxurious, in fact, that some customers have attested to the pants feeling like pajamas.

Second, digital luxe denim is a wise investment. The reality of real distressed denim is that eventually it ripens from stylish to tattered (sometimes all it takes is a foot getting caught in a knee hole). With digital luxe denim, you don’t have this problem. The pants will last for years, patches and all.

We could talk about them for years too, but really, you have to see them to believe them. Come into Carriere Menswear today and be amazed at the innovative digital luxe denim for yourself. Find us here. We look forward to seeing you.

Our Favorite Footwear Lines for Spring in Westlake Village

Spring footwear is all about being light and flexible. Comfortable, breezy shoes are a palate-cleanser from the thick-soled winter shoes that began to weigh us down, and a welcome reminder that summer splendor is on its way. The following are our favorite dressy, business casual and carefree shoes for spring (all of which are available here at Carriere Menswear).

Dressy: Magnanni

Magnanni is among Spain’s most fancied shoe lines, known for its slightly burnished, antique, Cary Grant-era aesthetic. All of their shoes are lightweight and the soles are extremely flexible, which makes them ideal footwear for spring and summer. Magnnanis are perfect for both the office and formal, warm-weather event. Pair them with your best spring suit for a pivotal business meeting, or with a tux for a classic black tie look.

Business Casual: Johnston & Murphy and John Varvatos

Johnston & Murphy

Take a plane ride in comfort, drive in style, or perfect casual Friday with the classic slip-ons, loafers and drivers from Johnston & Murphy. Also, don’t be surprised if they make you feel a little presidential; Presidents Fillmore, Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt (Theodore), Kennedy and Reagan all wore J&Ms.

John Varvatos

John Varvatos reimagines traditionally dressy shoes, like the Oxford, into casual cool footwear that transitions easily from work to play.

Carefree: SWIMS

You may know SWIMS as the makers of the sleek, sophisticated rubber overshoe (or galosh), a legendary invention that allows you to wear your favorite shoes in inclement weather without fear of ruining them. The company also makes loafers, which are what we love. SWIMS overshoes are ideal for wetter locations like New York City or Boston, but their yacht-chic loafers are made for the beaches, docks, and piers of California. Each pair has a strong rubber grip on the bottom, so you can step confidently through any small puddle of water (not to mention that your functional fashion savvy will be the talk of the town).

Check out the company’s video showcasing their loafers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82q7LY5cqJs (will embed the video in the post)

Come into Carriere Menswear in Westlake Village today to sample our wide selection of Magnanni dress shoes and SWIMs footwear. You’ll be the talk—and the walk—of the town.

Find us here.

We look forward to seeing you.

Go on Gents, Show Some Ankle…

A flash of purple here, a flicker of polka dots there…

One of the easiest, and most subtle, ways a man can demonstrate personal style is with statement socks. They communicate personality but not in a clownish way, like a neon paisley suit jacket does.

Wearing statement socks also exhibits a high level of self-care, because it shows you pay attention to detail.

Fine detail is king nowadays, now that a cleaner, dressier aesthetic has permeated all of menswear. “Men aren’t just requesting clean silhouettes and slim suits. They are caring for the lesser-seen details, like socks,” says Bob Carriere, founder and owner of Carriere Menswear in Westlake Village, Calif.

“Men used to think socks didn’t matter because they were covered by your pant leg. But now, with pants being more tailored and pant breaks less severe, there is less coverage on the ankle when you sit or cross your legs,” Bob adds.

Men are using this newly exposed space to convey a bit of personal style without going overboard. “Polka dots may sound peacockish, but in small doses they can make a really sophisticated statement.”

Carriere encourages men who have reservations about the trend to start with a solid colored pair of socks in a semi-traditional but still fun color, like electric blue. Then, ease into patterns and multi-colored hosiery at your own pace.

However, you’d be surprised at how many men have an inner-peacock. Vivek Nagrani, founder and designer of the most popular statement hosiery, told the Daily Beast of an early customer, President George H. W. Bush:

“He’s a huge fan. Just over ten years ago he got a couple of pairs for Christmas. He was so impressed by the socks that he invited me through my client to come and visit him. I got a chance to see this man in his office and present him with these socks. I took all these conservative socks and a handful of wild ones. He grabbed all the wild ones.”

So, come on guys, let loose your wild side a bit. Carriere Menswear has two brands of socks: VK Nagrani and Marcoliani Milano, an Italian line of luxury socks that feel so good you will never again buy a six-pack of itchy, slouchy Hanes.

Stop in and see our full selection of amazing socks at the store, here.

Be Neapolitan Chic in Westlake Village with Eidos Napoli

If you love the nonchalant and sophisticated Neapolitan suit or jacket—and you should, because they are fantastic—then you will love Eidos Napoli, one of the world’s finest Neapolitan-inspired menswear lines. Led by designer Antonio Ciongoli, Eidos Napoli exudes the modern man’s approach to tailoring: refined with a dash of rebellion.

If you don’t already know, Neapolitan tailoring refers to a specific style of tailoring inspired by the fashion of the picturesque Naples, Italy. In sum, Neapolitan tailoring is defined by soft shoulders (no padding) with a pleated sleeve head, minimal lining, patch pockets with a rounded bottom (like the shape of a brandy snifter), boat shaped chest pockets, higher lapel notches, and a trimmer silhouette.

The Parisian Gentleman provides an excellent in-depth explanation (with pictures) of what makes a jacket Neapolitan on his website, so go here to learn more.

Eidos Napoli suits and sport coats feature all of the above, but with a little less polish and little more edge than traditional Neapolitan tailored jackets. Eidos Napol is still high-end, of course, just in a different way. It’s casual cool, and a little rugged, but it’s still Italian chic through and through. It oozes what the Italian’s call sprezzatura, which means “studied carelessness.”

Eidos Napoli suits and sport coats are designed for the contemporary traditional man. It sounds like an oxymoron, we know, but it isn’t. It is merely the magnificence of luxury Italian clothing. It’s at once both classic and new, worldly and on-point, and always effortless. It’s taking a finely milled, luxury fabric and making it coffee shop appropriate.

To see our full selection of Eidos Napoli suits and sport coats, come visit us in Westlake Village. We are located here.

Ciao.