Author: Mike Irons

Posted on by

Donegal Tweed

Donegal Tweed is a woven tweed manufactured in County Donegal, Ireland. Originally all handwoven, it is now mostly machine woven and has been since the introduction of mechanised looms in the 1950s/1960s. Donegal has for centuries been producing tweed from local materials in the making of caps, suits and vests. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, The Royal Linen Manufacturers of Ulster distributed approximately six thousand flax spinning wheels and sixty looms for weaving to various Donegal homesteads. These machines helped establish the homespun tweed industry in nineteenth-century Donegal.

Donegal Tweed fabric – with the characteristic small pieces of yarn in different colours
While the weavers in County Donegal produce a number of different tweed fabrics, including herringbone and check patterns, the area is best known for a plain-weave cloth of differently-coloured warp and weft, with small pieces of yarn in various colours woven in at irregular intervals to produce a heathered effect. Such fabric is often labelled as “donegal” (with a lowercase “d”) regardless of its provenance.
Along with Harris Tweed manufactured in the Scottish Highlands, Donegal is the most famous tweed in the world.
Brown Donegal Tweed Sport Coat in fabric by Caccioppoli (Naples, Italy)
Custom Situation Control tiger camo lining
Various color options available. Contact us today for your next suit or sport coat
Posted on by

Tuxedo? Which one?

Some of our favorite wedding Tuxedo looks. Are you asking yourself do I want Black or Blue, A Peak lapel or Shawl Lapel? We offer a wide range of fabrics and styling options but which one is best for you?
The classic. A Black one button peak lapel in a luxurious Italian wool Super 150’s fabric by Caccioppoli. This is timeless and appropriate for formal weddings and black tie events.
The blue shawl lapel tuxedo. Still a classic but with a bit more attitude. This one button shawl tuxedo with jetted besome lower pockets uses Super 130’s wool by Vitale Barberis Canonico. Shown here with our custom white stud front formal French Cuff shirt.
Ah yes. For the groom that wants some flair. The Burgundy Tuxedo. This one button shawl lapel tux is wool & mohair. It’s crisp lustrous finish is hard to resist and it is very resilient and resistant to wrinkling. Making it an ideal fabric for tailored clothing and also perfect for Summer. We offer wool & mohair in a variety of colors from the finest Italian Mills. Stop by and check them out today!

Posted on by

What A Groom Should Wear

When it comes to weddings and what a Groom should wear all comes down to how formal the wedding actually is. The location of the wedding and time of day play some factors and also any wedding colors that need to be incorporated.

Some Grooms tend to want something that is a little different, but not too flashy. Others want a real over the top stunner piece, while some very understated. Whichever route you decide to take should be a reflection of you and always remember at least you can wear it many times after the wedding.

If you or someone you know is having an upcoming wedding and not sure where to start, we would love to meet you and answer any questions you may have. Keep in mind that the process start to finish is typically 4-6 weeks with a few fittings if necessary. Plan accordingly and don’t wait until the last minute to avoid any unnecessary stress.

Here are a few real wedding photos of Grooms and couples we had the pleasure of dressing for the big day. Enjoy!

Holly Farm Wedding
The Groom & Groomsmen in Formal Black Tie
Hawaii beach wedding. Off white tropical wool dinner jacket and black wool formal trouser. Off white dinner jackets are typically worn for warmer climates. This style of dinner jacket is never pure white as they should contrast the formal shirt which is white.
Classic Black Tie. Peak lapel one button black wool Tuxedo. Tuxedo’s should be either a peak lapel or shawl lapel, save a notch lapel for suiting. And always one button.
Grey Mohair three piece peak lapel Tuxedo
Royal Blue windowpane suit
Brown tweed houndstooth for a rustic wedding
A rust paisley lining to incorporate some of the wedding colors
The Bride & Grooms wedding date embroidered under the collar make this really special
With the suit jacket off at the reception reveals the waistcoat with notched lapels
Black wool Nehru suit
Midnight Blue velvet dinner jacket and Black formal trouser
Burgundy wool shawl lapel Tuxedo
One button Charcoal Grey Wool Shawl Lapel Tuxedo. Worn with a Fly Front Tuxedo Shirt with French Cuffs and Cummerbund.
The Groom in a charcoal grey tuxedo and all of the Groomsmen in medium Grey suits.
All custom by Situation Control
The Madonna Inn Wedding
Black peak lapel velvet dinner jacket, pleated stud front formal shirt and bow tie.
The boutonniere sets it off nicely.
Chaz in NYC nailing the modern no socks with velvet slipper look
Buttery soft Grey velvet dinner jacket
Tan tropical wool suit for a Summer Wedding.
Posted on by

Daniel Wu & Dan The Automator

Two Bay Area heavyweights and natives Daniel Wu and Dan The Automator stopped by the showroom for a visit today. You may recognize Daniel Wu from the AMC TV series “Into the Badlands” and you may also remember we made a custom tuxedo for Music Producer Dan The Automator last year for the premier of “Always be my maybe” . Aside from both being great guys and super talented individuals; they share the appreciation for timepieces automobiles, Scotch and tailored clothing.
Posted on by

Hawaii Beach Wedding

Congratulations to Sharlene & Ranier on their recent wedding in Hawaii. Ranier wears our custom off white tropical wool dinner jacket, black formal trouser, fly front formal shirt, pocket square, cufflinks and bow tie. Mahalo!
Posted on by

Classic Black Tie

You just cannot go wrong with a classic Black Tuxedo. This one features a one button peak lapel jacket with satin trim and besom pockets, roped shoulder and a flat front trouser in Super 130’s wool by Vitale Barberis Canonico.
Our custom French cuff formal shirt and Sit-Con Bow tie.
Posted on by

Milano Wedding

Burgundy wool / mohair three piece suit. Notched lapels suit jacket and waistcoat.
Flat front trousers with cuffs.
Mohair is one of the oldest known natural fibers used in textiles. Consisting of a protein fiber made from the hair of an angora goat, this particular type of wool is known for its supreme luster, sheen, durability and resilience. With excellent insulating properties and wicking capabilities, mohair is suitable for year ’round usage keeping one warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Typically, the hair used for apparel is of a younger goat due to the fact that it has a soft hand.
Posted on by

Grey Tuxedo

Yes it’s ok to do formal in Grey. This grey sharkskin wool three piece tuxedo is in Super 120’s VBC fabric and is wrapped in smooth Black satin on the lapels, jetted pockets and buttons.

The finest “natural sharkskin” fabric has been historically made of all natural fibers, being some mixture of mohair, wool and silk.
Sharkskin is a smooth worsted fabric with a soft texture and a two-toned woven appearance.
Sharkskins’ two-toned woven appearance is achieved by basketweaving, thereby creating a pattern in which the colored threads run diagonal to the white fibers. Because both fabric options already have a relatively smooth texture, the combination results in the finish for which sharkskin fabric is known.
Posted on by

Dapper Dandy

Wedding Location: @bodegabaysecretgardens
Photos: @lifeof_robbie
Florals: @katebarhydtdesign
Dress: @pronovias
Suit: Situation Control
Custom three piece suit in dark brown houndstooth wool in fabric by Caccioppoli from their Dapper Dandy cloth collection. Paired with our custom cut away french cuff shirt.
Pocket watch detail (client’s own)
Side tab adjusters and 2″ cuffed bottoms
Wedding date embroidered on the under collar felt
Milanese buttonhole and Sit-Con lapel pin in gold
Rust paisley lining and 5 button waistcoat with notch lapel
Flap pockets with flap ticket pocket
Caccioppoli “Dapper Dandy” wool Made in England
Burgundy double monk cap toe dress shoes by Meermin (clients own)