News Archives - Coffmans

How to clean your closet during quarantine!

Given the events of the last few weeks we all have a lot more time on our hands. We all want to remain productive and something we should all do is clean out our closets. Having cleaned mine out earlier this week I wanted to share my tips and process for getting your closet in the best shape it’s been in, in years.

Doesn’t matter what it is—get it out and in one central location. For me that was the middle of my bedroom on the floor. First, it’s easier to look at and make decisions outside the confides of a closet; two, once something is out it’s harder to put back. We all have things in our closet (me included) that we know we should get rid of, but for whatever reason don’t. Once everything is out, we can start separating everything into different piles.

First pile is items you haven’t worn in over a year. Time for them to go. If you haven’t worn them in a year, chances are you never will. Don’t overthink it and don’t let clothes you probably won’t ever wear again clutter an otherwise clean closet. If it’s still in good shape donate it, otherwise junk it.

Second pile are items that are no longer in good repair. Frayed shirts, little pinholes, or yellowing around the collars. Keep a pair of work pants (I cut up my old shirts and use the cloth to polish my shoes) but those clothes better off out of your closet than in it. Don’t hang on to or wear something that doesn’t look good.

Finally, you have to get rid of stuff that is no longer is in style, fits, or looks good. Generally, a good rule of thumb is: if you have to ask it’s time to go. If you want an expert opinion reach out to us and we’ll be happy to advise. Old mixed with new is not a good look either. It looks like attention was paid only to part of the outfit. It’s always obvious.

What your left with is your cleaned-up wardrobe. Those items can go back in the closet. Tailored clothing should be hung on wide shoulder hangers to protect the structure, shirts and pants should be hung, and knitwear folded. Make sure not to cram everything in. Give your clothes space to hang freely. They’ll look better and stay in better shape. And protect them from moth holes.

Stay productive and you’ll stay sane. Spend an afternoon cleaning out your closet—you’ll be happy you did.

Will Franklin

Everything has a Story!

I’m sure if you have ever walked into Coffman’s Men’s Wear you have been greeted by all of the old and interesting curiosities that decorate the store. Unlike more manufactured men’s retail environments, every bit of decor in our store has a story. Many of them are from Europe. A remembrance of Mr. George Coffman’s 70+ trips there.

There are a great many suitcases in Coffman’s. All of varying sizes and age. What better to merchandise clothing than something we put clothing in? A special one for the store is Mr. Coffman’s own old Hartman Knockabout. Monogrammed and well-worn it tells a story through its patina and scratches. While we can’t travel right now, we’re looking forward to the days when we can. Hartman was the big brand back in the day for luggage.

Nowadays we carry Briggs and Riley. Monogram-able, better with age, and a lifetime warranty, it’s something you know you’ll have for the rest of your life.

Many have also seen the Tin Man. A suit of armor that was brought back from Europe many years ago. It is, indeed, a real suit of armor with a real sword!

A modern-day suit of armor would almost certainly have a Canali blazer in it. Crafted out of a crisp, blue hopsack wool, it won’t wrinkle and has hand work in critical points. This makes for a blazer that only gets better the more you wear it. It’s easy decision when suiting up in the boardroom.

Finally, we still have Mr. Coffman’s typewriter. It doesn’t get much use anymore, but it reminds us to be intentional about how we communicate with the people around us.

We still write, by hand, thank you notes; and always try to be the best part of another person’s day. For these reasons, we still enjoy print media. With social media pulling our attention from all different angles we enjoy the escape of a good book or magazine. We love WM Brown. We think it’s a gold mine of clothing, recipes, and life. It’s one of several print publications we have in the shop.

We’d love to show you any of these artifacts or any of the merchandise next time you’re in the store!

The Coffman’s Team

What to Wear While Working from Home

With the capabilities of video conferencing, gone are the days when you could call into to a meeting with your phone and leave what you’re wearing to the imagination. With services like Zoom, colleagues will see you and notice how you’re dressed. It’s important to stay professional and comfortable, and above all else create a routine during the quarantine.

Knitwear is your friend. It’s easy to wear and feels great. Sweaters were the original lounge-wear long before sweatpants and hoodies. However, unlike sweatpants and hoodies, sweaters can be made to look professional. I have a cardigan I like to throw on over my shirt. Having something cover my shoulders while working just feels right to me. I typically wear a sport coat or suit and wearing something like a jacket while working from home puts me in the mindset of “it’s time to get work done.”

Wear a pant you need a belt with. Jeans, khakis, or wool trousers all work fine so long as they have some structure. Did your mother ever tell you that you are what you eat? Same is true with the clothes you wear. If you wear sweatpants, you’ll feel like sweatpants. That’s fine for loafing about, but when it’s time to work, you can do better. Putting on a pant with structure puts the wearer in the right frame of mind to get work done! And hey, as soon as you’re finished with work, switch back into the sweatpants.

Finally, wear a shirt that goes one step above lounging around. If you typically wear a t-shirt, wear a polo; if you wear a polo, wear a button-down. Little elevations do a lot to put you in the right mindset and build a routine.

No one should expect anyone to wear a suit and tie while working from home. Just wear something different than what you’d wear when you’re just lounging around. Working from home is a tough adjustment for most of us. Keeping a routine and creating ways to separate work from play will help us a lot as we navigate through this. Do yourself a favor and pay attention to how you’re dressing working from home. Follow these suggestions and it may help your life become a little easier in a very difficult time.

Will Franklin

Canali…Made in Italy!

MADE IN ITALY

Since 1934, Canali has been synonymous with quality and excellence in the creation of Suits and Sport Coats that combine craftsmanship and Made in Italy elegance.

For Canali, Made in Italy is not just a label, but the result of a longstanding tradition that interweaves culture and history, style and taste, a quest for excellence and respect for professionalism, quality and reliability. It is for this reason that all of our garments are produced by Canali-owned production centers throughout Italy, each specialized in the creation of specific product categories. This ensures perfection in every garment, made carefully by highly skilled craftsmen with a taste for the tradition of fine tailoring and premium quality.

All of the best fabrics and materials that are used for the interiors, linings and buttons of a Canali Suit or Sport Coat, and it is an Italian who designs, cuts and sews it. An artisanal spirit brings together leading edge technology and sophisticated manual skills, the result of sartorial experience and long, continuous training courses that are carried out within the company. Click here 200 Steps to watch the steps, detail, care, attention, and also, love that is put into making a Canali Garment.

Get ready for Fall with The Barbour Collection

Since 1894 in South Shields, England, Barbour Ltd has been making its classic wax jackets. Today the 5^th generation family business remains true to its core values as a family business which espouses the unique values of the British Countryside and brings the qualities of wit, grit and glamour to its beautifully functional clothing.

Barbour’s most famous waxed jackets – the Bedale, Beaufort and Beadnell, are a part of the Barbour originals collections and are all available in our store. Made for the practicalities of country living, these British legends are timeless, traditional and tough, with iconic looks that have made them popular with royalty and rock stars alike. Today, Barbour has broadening out from its country wear roots, and it produces clothing that is designed for a full lifestyle wardrobe. As well as jackets and coats, the Barbour wardrobe includes shirts, sweaters, and a range of accessories.

On Friday October 20th, Sydnor Coffman, our southeastern representative for Barbour will be in the store from 8:00AM to 6:00PM for our Barbour Trunk Show. This is a great opportunity to view the complete fall collection of men’s outerwear, sportswear and accessories. In addition, we also have a wonderful selection of LADIES Barbour wax cotton and quilted jackets, vests, scarves, and seasonal fashion pieces. For the first time ever, BARBOUR jackets for the little ones are available; come check out the inaugural kid’s collection of wax cotton and quilted jackets.

Stop by the store and check out the Barbour collection today or click on Classic Wax Cotton Jackets to shop now.

Barbour Trunk Show Friday October 20, 2017

WHY ARE TRUNK SHOWS SPECIAL?

In the late 1800’s traveling salesmen from New York would carry trunks of clothing to stores across the country. Since stores do not have the space to carry the complete collection a manufacture offers, a trunk show allows the store’s customers to see a wider selection of merchandise made by that manufacturer. We look forward to seeing you during our Fall 2017 Trunk Shows!

LUCIANO BARBERA Monday, September 25^th8am – 6pm

We are excited to offer the incredible LUCIANO BARBERA collection of Fall 2017 Made to Measure suits, sport coats, top coats, shirts, and trousers. In addition, we’ll have a select group of “in-stock” sweaters, sport shirts, soft jackets and outerwear. Come see one of Italy’s finest luxury makers.

RALEIGH DENIM & LUCCHESE BOOTS Wed, Sept 27^th12pm – 6pm Thurs, Sept 28^th9am – 4pm

Please join us in welcoming Joe Lafko, the representative for RALEIGH DENIM. He will be on hand to assist customers in selecting from a collection of finely crafted denim. He will also be introducing new styles. RALEIGH DENIM jeans, collection and accessories, are all produced in the United States with a focus on design, process, material, and craft.

Also joining us is Richard Gouldin III, the representative for LUCCHESE BOOTMAKER. LUCCHESE was established in 1883 by Sam Lucchese, Sr., an Italian immigrant from Sicily, and his brothers. Built to stand the test of time, LUCCHESE BOOTS have been worn by presidents, governors, prime ministers, and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.

PETER MILLAR Wed, Oct 11^th & Thurs, Oct 12^th 8am – 6pm

Join us as we welcome James Blaikie for our PETER MILLAR fall trunk show. The collection includes sport shirts, sweaters, outerwear, knits, trousers, footwear and tailored clothing, and maintain a classic style yet with a twist.

BARBOUR FRI OCT 20^TH 8am-6pm

Please stop by and meet, Sydnor Coffman, southeastern representative for BARBOUR. You will be able to view the season’s collection of men’s outerwear, sportswear and accessories. And, for the ladies, we have a wonderful selection of new quilted jackets, vests, scarves, and seasonal fashion pieces. Also, for the first time we will have BARBOUR for children!

Wardrobe Maintenance

Here are some tips to help keep your clothes looking their best and lasting their longest:

Always hang your jacket on a nice, wooden hanger like the one given to you when you purchase a suit or sport coat. DO NOT hang it on a wire hanger, as the shoulder of the coat will lose its shape.
Most wrinkles should fall out after the garment has been hanging for 24 hours (it does not need to be pressed after every use). If it is still too wrinkled to wear after 24 hours, take it to a trusted dry cleaner and have them press it.
If you spill something oil based on the garment, generously apply baby powder to the spot and let it sit for five minutes. The powder will absorb the oil based stain and it will rise to the surface of the fabric. After five minutes, use your finger nail to brush or flick off the baby powder covering the spot.
If the garment comes in contact with something dirty, try wiping the spot with a baby wipe.
Only take a soiled garment to the dry cleaners if both of the above methods work, as over dry cleaning your suit or sport coat will reduce its longevity.
Feel free to stop by the store if you have a specific question about maintaining one of our garments or another quality piece in your closet.

Cost-Per-Wear

Whether it’s purchasing a car, seeing a movie or going to dinner, you want to get the most out of whatever you’re spending money on. The same holds true when buying clothes. Most people shy away from more expensive, specialty stores due to the misconception that “cheaper” is synonymous with better value.

If you are getting your suits and sport coats from a discount/mass retailer, you will realize you are actually spending more once you apply the cost-per-wear formula. The cost-per-wear formula is simply the price of the suit divided by the number of wears before the suit begins to deteriorate.

Consider a $200 suit from a mass retailer, you will most likely only get 104 wears (twice per week for a year) before it begins to deteriorate–$1.92 per wear. That may not seem like a bad deal, but once you apply the cost-per-wear formula to a Coffman’s suit, there is a big difference. A quality suit from Coffman’s will, with care, retain its appearance for many years (five is very common). Although a Coffman’s suit costs more up front, at $1.53 per wear, it is less expensive in the long run, thus a better investment. With top brands like Canali and Hart, Schaffner, Marx, Coffman’s will make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck!

What is business casual?

Many people have a hard time finding a good balance between casual business attire and just plain casual. Casual in the business sense is not what you would wear to work every day, but not to grocery shop either. Take a cue from the tips below and you’ll be sure to master business casual style!

Choose a solid or patterned sport coat and pair it with a long sleeve sport shirt. Add a pair of cotton trousers and loafers to complete the look. A jacket gives you versatility because you can always take it off if the occasion has a more relaxed feel, while trousers provide a more professional look than plain khakis. Don’t forget a colorful pocket square as the finishing touch!

Coffman’s has a wide selection of both solid and patterned sports coats as well as sports shirts from world famous brands. Our experienced sales staff will show you ways to combine different pieces, adding multiple business casual options to your wardrobe.

Keeping Your Shoe Game Strong

Use these simple tips, to keep your shoes looking new for years to come.

Always use a shoe horn when putting on your shoes.
Do not wear shoes on consecutive days, this allows them to completely dry, inside and out.
Always put a pair of cedar shoe trees in your shoes after wearing. The shoe trees will absorb any moisture in the shoe.
Use a shoe bag or wrap your shoes in a soft material when traveling.
Send your shoes back to the manufacturer when repairs are needed. Allen Edmonds and Alden, offer an excellent re-crafting process.
Do not use shoe polish or creams that contain alcohol. They will dry out the leather and cause it to crack.

Coffman’s offers a wide selection of shoes for every occasion; from business meetings to backyard barbecues, we’ve got Pat and Charlie covered! Our experienced sales staff will help you find just the right shoe and give you tips on how to maintain them.

Category: News