DRESSING ROOM : Washable wool suit perfect fit for the guy on the go
Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Today, Dressing Room debuts the first of what will be a recurring Just for Men column. Laundry room to boardroom
Whaa-a ? A machine-washable, machine-dryable suit ? And it’s wool ?
Sure thing, according to Bagir Ltd., a manufacturer of what it calls innovative, tailored clothing. If your mind’s eye sees something bearing a “leisure-suit” look or resembling that ratty trench coat worn by TVmovie detective Columbo, stop it. This suit bears a high-fashion look, but — thanks to technology that took years to develop — you can wash it, dry it and go.
Available at J. C. Penney under the Stafford Washable Wardrobe label, the $ 200 suit jacket and $ 100 pants are made with fine wool and are crease-resistant as well as environment-friendly. Take that, Armani. Bull’s-eye for guys
They’re not machine-washable, but Target — that pillar of high-fashion affordability — does have men’s suits, along with many other items in its men’s spring 2006 collection. It’s not just the women having all the fun here.... Well, you’ve seen the commercials. Mossimo, Merona, Cherokee, C 9 by Champion and Roma Atletica come together to offer classic, relaxed-cut suiting; bright-colored polo shirts, logo tees, striped oxford and solid dress shirts, ties that run the gamut, sophisticated athletic wear, vintage-washed denim and camo bottoms. And there are plenty of accessories to go around. Go check it all out. New scent in town So it goes that Rene Lacoste got his “Crocodile” nickname by winning a French Davis Cup team match and collecting the croc-skin suitcase the team captain had promised to buy him if he won. The crocodile became the legendary emblem for the Lacoste sportswear line.
Now, that same crocodile graces Lacoste Essential, a men’s fragrance. Lacoste Essential draws from notes of tangerine, bergamot, tomato leaves, cassis, rose and black pepper. It also features the patented Time Release Technology, which traps the top-note oils in the fragrance and steadily increases their scent over
time. Prices are $ 45- $ 62;
ancillary products are
available. Lacoste Essential will debut in April at better department stores. Grooming pleasure
Clinique has added a few goodies to its Skin Supplies for Men line. A twostep treatment for hair comes via the Skin Supplies for Men Hair Maximizing Shampoo and its partner... Hair Maximizing Serum, a leave-in conditioner. Also on tap: Soothing Shave Oil and Exfoliating Body Wash. The new products debuted this month; they retail for $ 13. 50- $ 18. 50 and can be picked up at the Clinique counter or ordered online at clin iqueformen. com. Not dad’s undies
Just in time for spring, Undergear — the catalog for the fashion-forward fella — “has added a little more spice and a whole lot of sizzle to men’s fashion underwear,” according to an e-release. (Like they haven’t done that already ?) The company touts its Seven Deadly Sins Collection, a comfort / performance line made of Australian cotton and available in such shades as pink, army green, “ice,” royal blue and red. Check it out at undergear. com, where you can also request a catalog. ‘Trick’ my face
It’s not men’s makeup, OK ? It’s “The Ultimate Camouflage for Men.”
Mister Tricky, a new corrective product designed for the style-conscious man by Nutraceutics Corp., is designed to hide acne, blemishes, scars, bruises, razor marks and dark circles. Unlike women’s cosmetics, Mister Tricky cannot be detected on the face. It comes in two versions, each containing a two-tone combination: light / medium and medium / dark. Each combination allows the Mister Tricky user to customize the product to suit his skin tone. You can find this product, in its camo-print box, for $ 18 at mistertricky. com. A tux and a smile
Need some help with your forthcoming prom or wedding tux ? I mean, some help... something above and beyond what you get from your average formalwear store. You might consider Sophisticated Formals Inc. The company offers services such as formalwear consulting, office fittings, house calls, pickup / delivery, prom and wedding packages and groomsmen-fitting parties.
Sophisticated Formals was established in 2004 by Tyrone Jackson, a former shipping supervisor for Paul Morrell Formalwear. Picking up inspiration from that company, Jackson decided to go into business for himself. Operating from his home and in conjunction with a wholesale warehouse, Jackson has “streamlined the formal fashion market.” His Sophisticated Collection includes more than 450 styles and accessories in the formal, business formal and “FormallyFly” categories.
After-hour, next-day and last-minute service is available. For more information call Jackson at (501 ) 351-1636 or e-mail M. Jackson 33 @comcast. net. Dressing Room is published biweekly. Send news releases and Fashion Picks candidates to Helaine R. Williams, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P. O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail: hwilliams@arkansasonline. com
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