“Be yourself,” says Jason Hammerberg, founder of Hammer Made in Edina. “Define your style. This is who I am, and this is what I like.”
Trends change all the time, and it’s easy to get caught up in trying to wear whatever current trends dictate. If men do that, they’ll be buying a new wardrobe every couple of months, and probably end up broke in the process. The best way to change your wardrobe with the changing seasons is to define your style, and add specific pieces that fit in with the latest trends.
In some ways, being well-dressed is easier for men. Men’s fashion is based on a few core styles, particularly in the business world. From there, it’s all about accessorizing and building out your own personal look. So as summer turns to fall, we asked some expert men’s fashion retailers in Edina for seasonal wardrobe tips and trends.
On Paul Mayers: custom navy end on end suit jacket $600; custom
blue/spice vintage plaid shirt $154; AG Jack Dark Denim $168; custom
gray suede belt with navy stitching $135; Cole Haan socks $12.50 from J.
HIlburn.
Where to Begin?
Before worrying about what’s hot right now, start by making sure some key pieces that every guy should have are in place—and it starts at the bottom.
“The most important thing? A pair of comfortable shoes,” says Peter Colwell, co-store manager, along with Scott Peterson, at Belleson’s at 50th and France. “You can look good, but if you don’t have a comfortable pair of shoes, you will be miserable all day.”
Belleson’s specializes in classic men’s fashion and has been a staple in the Edina community since 1948. Customers often visit Belleson’s looking for assistance with their wardrobe, and Colwell and Peterson like to start everyone off with the basics. Every guy, they say, should own suits in black, gray and blue, and some nice blue and white dress shirts. These items can be the base for nearly any wardrobe, and allow for easy accessorizing with ties, tie bars, cufflinks and little pops of color. It’s especially important for young professionals to start with the basics.
“Young professionals are building a wardrobe, so they need the essentials to build that wardrobe in the beginning, and then they can be a little more creative,” Peterson says.
Those formal looks are great for the business world, but men should also have a nice pair of dark jeans, says Jodi Mayers, personal stylist for online men’s fashion retailer J. Hilburn, and owner of Corset Styling at 50th and France. With jeans becoming more versatile than ever, and more guys dressing them up with a sport coat, a well-fitting pair of jeans is a must. Mayers also believes every guy should find jewelry or accessories they are comfortable with as a way to inject a little color and personality into their style.
On Paul Mayers: custom navy end on end suit $825; custom gray and pink
check shirt $164; large plaid olive tie $89; silk brown and orange
pocket square $49; custom brown leather belt with cobalt blue stitching
$135; Cole Haan socks $12.50
What’s Big for Fall?
Fall is the most versatile season for men’s fashion because it allows guys to layer, opening up countless options to refresh a look. The staff at Belleson’s is seeing a lot of classic contemporary looks for fall. Blues, blacks, grays and browns—especially accent browns—are big this season. However, bolder colors are also being incorporated into the latest trends. Purple is huge right now, and many guys are becoming bolder with their color choices.
Flannel is also big for fall. At Hammer Made, Hammerberg stocks soft flannel shirts for cooler weather, and bases the store’s inventory on trends he sees at fashion shows around the world. Hammerberg comes across bold looks all the time at runway shows, but seeks ways to incorporate those extreme looks into what’s comfortable for his customers. That may mean a small pop of color inside the cuff or collar so when the sleeves are rolled up, there is a little more visual appeal.
Mayers is seeing more guys embrace shoulder bags and even handbags. She also says matching suits are making a comeback. “As the workplace got more casual, guys stopped wearing full suits. But now, we’re seeing the matching suit and pant come back in a big way,” Mayers says.
Ryan Miller wears turquoise/brown stitch belt $59.50; Woodae
checkered dress shirt $128.50 from Hammer Made and Cole Haan socks
$12.50 from J. HIlburn.
Where to Get the Look?
While some men hate shopping, others like to shop. Edina has great options for both types of guys.
J. Hilburn blends personal styling with online retail. It’s a national brand that employs regional stylists who will come to you and do everything from taking measurements and recommending specific looks to revamping your wardrobe. Mayers will even help clients go through their closets and think of new ways to freshen up looks without buying anything new. “The guy feels like he has a whole bunch of new clothes because [we’ve] put it together in a way he didn’t think of,” Mayers says. And by specializing in custom clothing, J. Hilburn is able to guarantee a look that will be designed for your specific body type.
For guys who prefer to shop in a store, Belleson’s and Hammer Made offer a premium shopping experience. Belleson’s also offers made-to-measure clothing, and has 1,000 fabrics to choose from when designing your own suit. Customers can set up shopping appointments and have items handpicked and ready when you arrive in the store to make the process as convenient as possible.
Hammer Made is almost exclusively a shirt shop. They also sell ties, belts, shoes and accessories, but the core business focuses on creating cool shirts from the best Italian fabrics. Hammerberg has spent many years working to forge relationships with elite Italian mills that only work with the highest-end designers.
Hammerberg says 90 percent of the store’s sales are to shoppers coming in to grab something off the shelf. So he makes sure the store carries a wide range of sizes. For a fee, Hammer Made’s tailor can put permanent darts into the back of a shirt to create a slimmer fit. Hammer Made also has an extensive online catalog and a shirt-of-the-month club that provides clients with a new shirt each month so you don’t have to lift a finger to look amazing again and again.
The key for these retailers is convenience. Each seeks to create an experience that is best for each customer, no matter what he’s looking for. As Hammerberg says, “Be yourself.” If you are able to define your own style, everything else will fall into place.
Brad Winters wears custom tan multicolored check with orange
windowpane suit $890; custom check twill shirt $155; burnt orange circle
medallion tie $89; navy/yellow paisley pocket square $49; custom
tobacco belt with black contrast stitching $135; orange check cufflinks
$79 from J. Hilburn.
Tips
- Start with a basic suit in black, gray or blue, and a nice blue or white dress shirt to allow for easy accessorizing with little pops of color.
- Keep your wardrobe versatile by dressing up well-fitting jeans with a sport coat.
- Bold colors and patterns are big this season. Don’t be afraid to accessorize with color.
- The matching suit and pant is making a comeback.
Special thanks to our contributing style experts from:
J. Hilburn
via Corset Styling & Fashion Boutique
5400 France Ave. S.
952.224.2495
Belleson’s
3922 W. 50th St.
952.927.4694
Hammer Made
3380 Galleria
952.681.2534
And to Edina Country Club for providing a beautiful location:
Edina Country Club
5100 Wooddale Ave
952.927.7151
This acclaimed golf club offers premier recreational and social amenities incuding regular golf, intermediate golf, pool/tennis and social.
