That Dapper Chap: ties

Thursday 10 March 2016

Product Review - Accessories by The Dark Knot

Craig of That Dapper Chap reviews ties, pocket squares and lapel pins available from The Dark Knot and offers readers an exclusive 15% discount.

Myself and Harry wear accessories by The Dark Knot

Product

Today's product review focusses on accessories from Dark Knot, an outlet for gentlemen's ties, lapel pins and pocket squares to pep up your daily looks and help you to stand out from the crowd.

You're able to buy an item just on it's own or alternatively they offer a starter kit and a tie subscription where you are sent a surprise tie every month for just $62.00

Product Review - General Knot

Craig of That Dapper Chap reviews neckwear available from General Knot & Co

PRODUCT

General Knot & Co neckwear and accessories are designed in Bedford, New York & made exclusively in the United States.

The guys at General Knot & Co say "We create limited edition neckwear and accessories in the U.S.A., using rare and vintage fabrics collected from around the world. Our goal is to offer uniquely designed and enduring products that stand the test of time"

After years of directing creative teams for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Original Penguin, Tommy Hilfiger and Levi’s, co-founders Ann and Andrew Payne began General Knot & Co. in the Autumn of 2010 with the desire to combine a passion for design with an unyielding commitment to bringing conscientious quality manufacturing back to the United States.

The say "It is an honor and a privilege to create all GK&Co. products here in the United States, with the world’s greatest craftsmen. Those whose talents and skills have been honed through generations of shared adoration of their craft"

The GK&Co fabrics are curated through a global network of collectors who search high and low for the most amazing vintage fabric, giving it another lease on life.

Each collection of General Knot & Co. designs are made in very limited quantities, uniquely finite and never to be repeated. They hope that you enjoy them as much as they have enjoyed creating and bringing them to you.

PRICE

At between £45.00 ($68.00) and £70.00 ($108.00) for a bow tie/tie I can't tell you that these are a budget garment. They are at the higher end of the price scale, but for that price you are getting something very limited and crafted by individuals with a real passion for what they do, rather than a mass produced tie that you're going to see on another guy at some point.
The fabrics are all vintage, they are unusual, and the majority of their ties and bow ties have contrasting fabrics, or are double sided making them very unique and versatile.

My two General Knot & Co bow ties

PACKAGING & PRESENTATION

The items arrived quickly and were nicely packed in a box and wrapped with tissue paper.

In addition, each tie has its own vintage style card sleeve detailing the product information and its limited edition number. This is a nice touch and again reinforces the fact that these items are crafted with love and care.

My ties, neatly packed in their card sleeves

My GK&Co bow tie, styled with a beige suit

The light jade pickstitch wool neck tie

PERFORMANCE

What does a guy want from a tie? You want it to look good. Check. You want it to tie well. Check. and you want it to stay in place. Check.

All of the ties I received covered all of these requirements. They were all well made with no snags or loose threads and were all the correct size expected from a tie or bow tie, the bow ties of course being fully adjustable.

The 1970's carpetbagger neck tie $108.00

These are vintage fabrics and to some degree you could expect to find damage, maybe even the odd smell. I can assure you that I experienced neither of these with any of the items that I received. Please buy with confidence that the guys a GK&Co. take what they do very serious and are committed to quality.

Wearing my beige suit with a double sided GK&Co. bow tie

PERTINENCY

If you like the idea of wearing something from a unique family company and supporting everything that that means, check out General Knot & Co.

If you are a gentleman who also enjoys the thought that your new tie has had a life before it reached you, and that you're helping the world you live in by recycling and reusing discarded items, then you should check out General Knot & Co. too.

If on the flip side you're a guy that wants a standard garment and something off the shelf that has not been anything else in an unknown previous life (I know that some people find this icky) then maybe you should stick to the high street.

The light Jade pickstitch bow tie $78.00

The 1970's Kaleidoscope tie $108.00

PRO'S & CON'S

I genuinely love the fact that these ties have history and a soul, that they were something else before it happened upon my neck. I respect the fact that GK&Co. are recycling and doing their thing for our environment too. I also very much appreciate the individuality of each item and its limited number.

On the more negative side, I do feel that the price is a little on the high side. Lowering the price will make these products more accessible to a wider audience and one that appreciates this concept.

A closer look at my limited edition bow tie

PEOPLE

The team really liked these ties. They liked the seasonal fabrics and tones and the very individual looks. With comments like "I've never seen anything like this one before" and "I like that they are double sided"

The were a little taken back by the price but one member of the team did comment "well you get what you pay for, if you want a cheap boring tie, go to xxxxx"

One member of the team was put off by the fact that the fabrics are vintage and didn't like the thought of not knowing where the fabric had been and who had owned it. While I don't subscribe to this view myself, I do understand that it's an issue for some people.

The jade pickstitch neck tie

PRÉCIS

Overall, I'm a fan. The use of vintage fabrics is a great USP. The choice and attention to detail is very good and I felt good when wearing them in the knowledge that I was never going to bump into another guy wearing the same tie.

The Potomac reversible floral bow tie $68.00

Find General Knot & Co

THANKS FOR READING! COME BACK SOON.

KorβátaTies

That Dapper Chap introduces us to a range of colourful ties handmade in Guatemala and offers readers a special discount.

A short time ago I commented on a fellow Instagrammers picture in which he wore a bright orange tie which grabbed my attention. After I left the comment I received a lovely email from the company that made the tie: Korβáta. A couple of weeks later and I have my own orange tie!

The instagram image that grabbed my attention
Image property of TheDressedChest

About Korβáta

In Korβáta a tie is not merely an accent piece or an afterthought. Their hand-woven ties tell a story. When the thread is woven, the rich history and heritage of the Mayan people are woven along with it. That is because each thread has been put in place by the hands of a Mayan woman whose efforts preserve Guatemala’s textile traditions. All of their collections are limited edition. Crafted from 100% cotton, each hand woven pattern is unique, never to be duplicated. Korβáta’s ties and bow ties are for the man who knows quality when he sees it, loves old world tradition but isn't afraid to dress for the 21st century.

The 'Laguna De Ipala' bow tie $35.00

Korβáta’s story begins by the serendipitous meeting of two entrepreneurs. Both of Guatemalan descent, they found a shared love for their country, the beauty of its land, the Mayan culture and Guatemalan art. Combining their talents and efforts, they started a small artisan project and named the company Korβáta. Our work has been most gratifying because we have not only brought our dream to fruition but are helping to sustain Guatemala’s rich weaving history and providing work for those in rural areas of Guatemala.

I'm an instant fan of their individuality. They are like nothing I've seen before and that really appeals to me. Do they appeal to you too? If so read on for a discount!

My Laguna LagoYolnabaj bow tie modelled by Dave the mannequin

The 'Laguna De Chicabal' bow tie $35.00

My new Laguna De Peten Itza tie styled up

The 'Laguna De Amatitlan' tie $40.00

The 'Lago De Izabal' tie $40.00

The guys at Korβáta are offering That Dapper Chap readers an exclusive 10% discount. All you have to do is click HERE to go to the Korbata page at Amazon and use code DAPPER10 at checkout

THANKS FOR READING!

Pocket Square Clothing - Product Review

That Dapper Chap reviews the products available from US based mens accessory brand Pocket Square Clothing.

This is a sponsored post of unbiased opinion

POCKET SQUARE CLOTHING

Pocket Square Clothing was established in 2011 as a men’s accessory brand. With no formal fashion training but with an architectural and business background, founders Rodolfo Ramirez and Andrew Cheung sought to create a lifestyle brand beyond clothing.

To date they feature a collection of handcrafted bow ties, skinny neckties and pocket squares. The brand is a reflection of the ideals behind the Urban Gentleman. This is their effort to tell a story, to inspire and be inspired, and to create a powerful connection with you through timeless pieces and I shall review some of their products for your now.

Dapper chaps wearing PSC clobber. Image courtesy of PSC

Pocket Square Clothing takes pride in its domestic manufacturing and attention to detail. Using traditional techniques, everything is carefully handcrafted by some of the oldest remaining craftsmen in the heart of Los Angeles. Each piece comes with a narrative and fully handcrafted vintage inspired packaging. The brand follows the mantra that American made is better, and that quality and attention to detail is key

PRODUCT

The Pocket Square Clothing Company offer gents like you and I a range of good quality accessories from neck ties to bow ties, pocket squares (of course), socks, lapel pins, tie bars and even leather wallets and portfolio cases.

I received four bow ties, two neckties and three pocket squares.

The Broker bow tie I received from PSC

Some of the products available from PSC

PRICE

At $56 (£37) for a neck tie the price is very reasonable. You must bear in mind of course that these items are designed and manufactured in the USA, not mass produced in the sweat shops of China or Turkey. Each item is perfectly considered and handmade with integrity.

A bow tie will cost you $56 (£37) for a self tie and $40 (£26) for a pre tied, vintage style, clip on version if you're new to bow ties or simply can't be bothered to tie one.

My green, red & blue striped bow tie(no longer available)

Pocket squares are priced at $26 (£17) and they also offer sets of three at $55 (£36)

Tie bars and lapel pins are set at $30 (£20) and socks are $19.50 (£13)

Overall I do not think these prices are unreasonable.

PACKAGING & PRESENTATION

The packaging is most impressive. My package arrived in a sturdy cardboard box and inside, each item was individually packed in its own branded dust bag. Along with this was a thank you card and a business card, showing great attention to detail and making the product feel very special.

In addition to this, each item has its own printed swing tag and the pocket squares come with a printed card sleeve

The printed dust bag and business cards

the delightful printed card sleeve which comes with every pocket square

Each product comes with an individual swing tag

PERFORMANCE

Each item is very well made and you can trust the quality that you will get from Pocket Square Clothing products. I found no poor stitching, loose threads or snags. They are all very well made, neat and well presented.

The bow ties tie well and hold their knots as do the neck ties which I thought may be an issue as the two I chose were of a thick wool (well, it is winter)

One of the thick wool ties in my collection

Two of the pocket squares I received are of very fine fabric which gives a 'floppier' feel so I had to adjust them a couple of times to get the right look as they do not have the same level of stiffness that some of my other squares have.

My PSC Pocket Squares

My 'Madras' bow tie $56 from PSC

PERTINENCY

If you're a man who likes to dress up and use accessories to create an individual look or to inject from color and personality in to your daily outfits, Pocket Square Clothing is for you. If you are a true patriot and like to buy from a trusted company that trades ethically and manufacturers in the US give PSC a look.

PSC offer a great range of colour, pattern and texture. There will be something that you like.

beautiful floral pocket square, perfect for spring

Instagrams TheDoleBoy sporting PSC

PRO’s AND CONS

I love the wide choice of products, from classic designs to bright florals, quirky designs to sedate. I know that I will be able to log on to their site and see something I want.

The quality is great and the packaging makes each item feel high end.

My own bow tie, styled with a floral shirt by Open Menswear

In addition, the fact that these items are all made in Los Angeles is a huge plus that cannot be ignored

I have genuinely struggled to find an area that I think Rodolfo and Andrew can improve on. If I could think of some constructive criticism I would write it, but I am honestly more than satisfied with my range of products, the brand and the entire package.

Gents styled in PSC. Image courtesy of PSC

PEOPLE

The team were most impressed by the packaging and the individual dust bags. They loved the colours and patterns of the bow ties and the pocket squares and said that they were of very good quality.

Your truly styling the 'Southern Gents' bow tie with a mustard shawl collar cardigan

PRECIS

Overall Rodolfo and Andrew have got it spot on. The range of products is good, their product styling and presence on social media is very savvy and their passion for what they do is clear from the products they sell and the effort they put in to give the quality that they do.

That Dapper Chap is a fan. Take a look and you will be too.