DRESSING ROOM : Custom clothier lets client choose location for service
Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/220304/
Are you seeking clothing for your professional lifestyle, but having hard luck finding the needed selection and fit in stores ? The Tom James Co. is ready to come to you.
More than 40 years old, the international company bills itself as the world’s largest provider of custom, made-to-measure and ready-made executive apparel. The line is directsold: Wardrobe consultation, clothing selection, fittings and delivery take place at the location of the client’s choice. “One thing people are doing since there is a more casual influence in clothes today [is that ] they’re looking for more value” — better quality and a better fit, says Richard Thompson, personal clothier for Tom James of Little Rock. “One thing the businessman appreciates is we come to them and save them a lot of time.” Men are looking for alternatives to the familiar pinstripe suit, white shirt and red tie, Thompson adds. The company offers more than 500 suit fabrics, 250 shirt fabrics and thousands of tie styles. Clients can find what they want and get it styled to their taste. Women clients can choose professional clothing from Tom James ’ Essenza line.
Thompson gets not only a lot of hard-to-fit clients; he gets clients who are looking for more choices than those offered in stores. He can put a client in a two-, three, or even four-button coat with cuts ranging from traditional and Italian to British. Some featured fabrics are stain-resistant and repellent; others are biotechnical, able to resist harmful bacteria. Other choices include luxury fabrics featuring silver mink and cashmere and “Super 200” wool. The company deals a lot with suit separates; these range in price from $ 399 to $ 699. Custom suits start at $ 700 and go to $ 7, 000 and beyond. Alteration services are also available. For more information, call Thompson at (501 ) 664-1120; e-mail him at r. thompson@tomjames. com; or go to tomjames. com.
ROCKIN’ THE RUNWAY Mychael Knight, a finalist on Bravo reality TV show Project Runway, will serve as host of the first Designers Choice Fashion Preview. Presented by Impressions of U, the event is scheduled for March 29 at The Metroplex, 10800 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. Doors open at 5: 30 p. m. for the vendor expo; the show, co-hosted by Donna Terrell of Fox 16 News, will start at 7. The show will feature the original collections of eight Arkansas de- signers: Korto Momolu, Andrea Jenkins, Erin Lorenzen, Georgia Ashmore, Marcus Lewis, Missy Lipps, Natasha Dixon and Stephanie Thomas. Tickets are $ 20. VIP tickets are $ 30 and include admission to a 6 p. m. reception / meet-and-greet with Knight and special seating. For ticket outlet information, call Theresa Timmons-Nooner at (501 ) 247-5497.
SEA OF TRANQUILITY Dillard Department Stores has launched a new department in select markets that includes its Park Plaza store in Little Rock. The Tranquility Department was established to meet the fashion needs of active women. It was inspired by the fashion craze generated by the increasing popularity of yoga, Pilates, and other fitness pursuits. Featured labels in the Tranquility Department include Om Girl, Beyond Yoga, Pink Lotus, City Lights, Balance Connection and Shiva Shakti. The apparel features moisture-wicking capability for workouts and is also fashionable enough to go beyond gym or studio. Check out the Tranquility Department in Dillard’s Park Plaza’s west entrance, lower level. (The apparel is also available at dillards. com. )
STILL BATTING 1. 000 I’m still hanging with the Naturalash eyelash extensions. And recently I learned a new term: “Crazy lashes.” Crazy lashes are my technician’s term for the often-interesting results of having gone too long without a touch-up.
A missed appointment because of sickness left me “unretouched” for four weeks. At this point, most of the fake lashes had shed, leaving about five lashes remaining on one eye and three on the other. The remaining lashes were pointing every which way. Ironically, it was the day before finally getting that touch-up that a young lady complimented me on my eyelashes. Go figure.
For more information about Naturalash extensions, call New Beginnings Transformation Center at (501 ) 812-6398.
DRESSING ROOM PICKS Three final products I must tout before shutting up for awhile about the Ashro catalog (ashro. com ): Two of its many silklike polyester lounging caftans ($ 19- $ 24, fitting sizes 8-24 ). One, “Energy,” is a black-on-white African print. The other, “Queen Zhinga,” is a rich red jacquard whose V-neck is surrounded by a thick “queen’s necklace” of gold embroidery and beading. Both surpassed their photo depictions and look good enough to wear beyond the house. Its Mudcloth V-Neck Tunic ($ 49 ), a long-sleeve tunic that comes in a black print on a white background, and vice versa. The top features black jet stones that frame the V- neck and — along with black sequins — encircle the sleeve hems. It’s a good day-into-evening piece. Another find: An open-toe (not just peep-toe ) pump from Chadwick’s (chadwicks. com ). A big fan of this style, I was all too happy to find it in wide as well as medium widths. Made of manmade patent leather, the pump has a skinny 2 3 / 4-inch heel and comes in six shades. Online reviews were all positive. I ordered the shoes in size 9-wide. The verdict ? The reviewers were dead-on: Cute shoe, fantastic fit. Dressing Room is published biweekly. Send news releases to Helaine R. Williams, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P. O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail:
hwilliams@arkansasonline. com