Any men's clothing stores in town? | Off the Cuff - Edmonds Beacon

Any men's clothing stores in town? | Off the Cuff - Edmonds Beacon
How entrepreneurs are designing a trans-inclusive future through clothing - PBS NewsHour
Throwback Thursday | Jung Clothing store - Sheboygan Press
This Best-Selling Men’s Sweatshirt Is the Most Comfortable Piece of Clothing I Own - Yahoo Lifestyle
Free clothing, benefit concert, and Ikebana - The Boston Globe

Posted: 31 Oct 2019 11:37 AM PDT

Being a retailer smack in the center of downtown Edmonds naturally and frequently puts us in a position to be a community information booth.

Customers and visitors often ask us where to eat, if we have seen the movie at the local theater, directions to local events, where the public restrooms are and, of utmost importance, if there are any men's clothing stores in town.

To the latter we sadly answer no. As of this writing, there are nine women's boutiques in downtown Edmonds, but not one for men. One gentleman jokingly asked, "Is this because there aren't any men that live in this town?"

This question cast the dye and curiosity took hold, prompting a bit of research.

It started as a chat outside Starbucks with three "silver generation" of local boys, Greg, Dave, and Marv, who told me they used to buy all their clothes here in the bowl. Not online, not at a mall, but locally. From jeans and suits to letter sweaters and shoes, downtown Edmonds had it all.

So what happened? Why aren't there any men's clothing stores in our downtown now?

First, some history.

In 1925, George Durbin, a general merchandiser, and his wife, Althea, moved to Edmonds. Shortly after moving, George opened Edmonds first department store, Durbin's Mercantile, in the newly constructed Fourtner Building, now occupied by Starbucks).

In 1946, he sold the men's department of Durbin's to his grandson, Paul Weller. He'd previously turned over the management of the other three departments to his daughter, Shirley Weller, who later ran Durbin's Apparel in another brand new building at 107 Fifth Ave. N, now Rusty Pelican Cafe.

Paul opened and ran Weller's at 519 Main St. (recently Fabric of Life) from 1954 until 1969 when he sold the business and retired. The 519 Main St. space went on to house various men's clothing stores until the late 1980s.

Jimmy's was the most recent men's store, opening in the late 1990s, at the current Treasures and Teas location, but it closed shortly after 9/11.

Second, some shopping psychology.

According to recent research, the bottom line is ... men's and women's shopping habits are simply different. Men buy, and women shop. It is well documented that women account for 80%-85% of all consumer purchases, shopping, and buying both for themselves and on behalf of others.

It is no surprise that when it comes to apparel, women shop for relaxation, pleasure, individual freedom, atmosphere, and social interaction. Women make a concerted effort to socialize when shopping for clothes, especially in malls and boutiques.

Our walls at Sound Styles are often privy to "girls gatherings" and celebrations.

Most men, on the other hand, shop pragmatically, measuring success high when they leave a store with the product they originally set out for. Men are not browsers like women, and most often shop alone, especially when it comes to clothes.

When I recently asked a dear friend of mine if he ever called up a buddy to invite him on a clothes-shopping excursion, he quickly replied, " No. Clothes shopping is way too personal." My youngest brother, who shops alone and purchases most of his cool clothing and shoes at thrift shops, told me he can instantly scan a shoe rack for name brands and subsequently has quite an expansive collection of exclusive tennis shoes.

Furthermore, think of all the wives who purchase the majority (or all) of their husbands clothing. It comes as no surprise that most men aren't clothing shoppers.

Does this help to explain why there are presently nine women's boutiques in our downtown and no men's, despite the fact that, according to the most recent U.S. census, there are 100 females for every 94.8 males here in Edmonds?

Upon further investigation, while there are no current apparel stores exclusively serving men in our downtown, there are a growing number of women's boutiques now offering men's clothing.

At C'est La Vie the men's offerings are colorful and fun ... beautiful men's button-down shirts by Luchiano Visconti, T-shirts with sayings, and relaxed fit boxer briefs by Saxx.

At Savvy Traveler, the focus is on travel – pants, shirts, and moisture wicking travel-ready underwear all by Exofficio. Tilley hats and vests by Scotte complete the selection.

At Sound Styles, a men's department is being added in mid-November, with inventory offerings including Joules and Life Is Good, two reasonably priced and Pacific Northwest-oriented men's apparel lines featuring one-quarter zip sweatshirts, logo T-shirts, button-down shirts, fun socks, vests, and underwear, as well.

So, all you 94.8 husbands, uncles, brothers, nephews, sons, dads and granddads who live and work in Edmonds and beyond ... and all you 100 wives, aunts, sisters, nieces, daughters, moms and grandmothers.

Next time you want or need to shop or buy for yourself or him, men's clothes are available for sale here in downtown Edmonds. We Edmonds merchants are extremely happy to be of service, and hope you'll shop local.

Off the Cuff is a monthly casual review of fashion styles, attitudes and trends by Jenny Murphy, owner of Sound Styles in Edmonds.

How entrepreneurs are designing a trans-inclusive future through clothing - PBS NewsHour

Posted: 30 Oct 2019 03:06 PM PDT

Clothing is an important way individuals—both cisgender and transgender alike—communicate their gender to society. Clothing can hint at how people might like to be addressed and what their interests are.

Some trans people say they use clothing as a political statement and to disrupt gender stereotypes. But, at its core, clothing can be a way for trans people to feel like their most confident, genuine selves — as it is for many cisgender people.

However, few companies design their products with trans consumers in mind.

Trans-inclusive apparel has been dismissed as too "niche" for larger, established companies, according to NiK Kacy, who traveled throughout Europe speaking to shoe designers before launching their own company NiK Kacy Footwear that makes smaller-sized masculine dress shoes.

NiK Kacy, founder of NiK Kacy Footwear. Photo by Alex Schmider.

That's why more entrepreneurs like Kacy have started companies that sell and design apparel like chest binders, shoes and dresses with trans consumers in mind.

"The predominant response that I've had has been–they've waited their whole lives for this," Kacy said.

The need for transgender-inclusive clothing

Clothing can be a way for some trans people to address their gender dysphoria, described by the American Psychiatric Association as a "conflict" between a person's assigned gender at birth and the gender with which they identify.

Elliot Ayres, a transgender man who works as a program coordinator at The Association of LGBTQ Journalists described his experience with gender dysphoria as alternating between "wanting to tear off" his skin and frustration that "people weren't seeing what I really needed them to see."

"Someone said it's like you can see a home but there's a fence around it." he said. "And you know that as close as you can get, you can never reach it or you can never get inside."

Alternatively, clothing can be used to affirm transgender people's gender identity. Andrew Reilly, a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, who researches fashion and gender, notes that clothing tends to be used to hide, reveal or shape certain parts of the body.

Elliot Richardson, who is non-binary and works as a legislative analyst, often has trouble finding masculine shirts and pants that fit them well. Many of the standard "men's" shirts do not fit them well in the shoulders and chest area. Another issue is that their body is "plush"–a body type that they say men's clothing does not tend to accommodate. But, when Richardson is able to find a shirt that "hits all the right angles," they feel "affirmed" in their gender, as opposed to dysphoric.

"It's like a warm, glittery feeling. It's very comfortable," Richardson said. "It's like going inside after a cold day to a hot, warm beverage. Like a lot of it is also like a feeling of relief."

For trans people, the impact of clothing choice is very real–getting fired is one potential consequence of openly expressing their gender identity.

In 2013, Aimee Stephens was fired from her job for refusing to comply with the company's masculine dress code required for people assigned male at birth. Stephens is a transgender woman. Her case is being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this year, but, at least for now in the United States, people can be legally fired in 26 states for being transgender.

How entrepreneurs are addressing the need

Some designers are producing collections that specifically showcase transgender models.

Others are stepping up to design and sell apparel for trans consumers.

For many of these entrepreneurs, their products and businesses were inspired by personal need.

Binders

Marli Washington, founder and CEO of gc2b, first sketched prototypes of a chest binder in 2013 as a college student. Initially, he created the cloth device for personal use. But, over time, he realized there was a broader need. Since 2014, gc2b has sold about 400,000 binders.

The chest binders Washington designed are longer than a sports bra and serve a markedly different purpose. They're a revision of the compression tank tops originally meant for cisgender men looking to slim down their torso or mask the condition of gynecomastia.

Cropped a few inches above the navel, the binders are used to compress the chest area to hide or de-accentuate the user's bust. Some trans people feel dysphoric or uncomfortable with their bust being visible, and flattening it provides some relief.

Many customers have posted photos online of them wearing the binders for the first time. Some are visibly crying out of happiness.

The Austin-based company FLAVNT (pronounced flaunt) has produced its own line of binders since 2016.

Models wearing FLAVNT's razorback nude chest binders. Photo by Heather Burrell.

Chris Rhodes founded FLAVNT in 2013 with his identical twin sister Courtney Rhodes. Chris had tried other binders, on the market as a consumer before designing his own. And it was the Texas heat that inspired him to make razorback binders with thinner straps, allowing for a "higher range of motion" and for it to be worn underneath a tank top.

Both Washington and Rhodes agree that binders are a much safer tool than alternatives some trans people were using before, which include wrapping their chest with ACE bandages.

"Basically, if you give the user the option to tighten it themselves, then they're probably gonna go overboard thinking that they can achieve a flatter look if they do that. So there's been a lot of cases of like bruised or cracked ribs," Washington said.

For Washington, not giving customers the option to tighten their binders was a "conscious design decision" to prevent physical injury and promote safety.

Dresses, swimwear and more

Melissa Atkinson was studying fashion design at Kent State University, when she created her first clothing collection with trans women and trans feminine people in mind.

Now the founder, designer, talent booker and seamstress of Trans* Clothing Company, Atkinson says she was first inspired to make the collection when a close friend came out to her as trans feminine. But, her peers at school were "confused" by her project's focus.

"Everybody's like why just trans people–why not cis women too?" Atkinson said. "They were confused about why just trans women, when it's such a small population of the country. But they need to be catered to as well."

An estimated 0.6 percent of adults, or 1.4 million people, identify as transgender in the U.S., according to a 2016 study conducted by the Williams Institute at UCLA. But, there may be a generational shift happening, as a 2017 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that nearly 2 percent of high school students identify as transgender.

By March of this year, Atkinson had her first fashion show and various items available for sale on her website. Her line includes sheer flowy pants, slim-fitting dresses and tri-colored sports bras.

Melissa Atkinson and the models from her show in the Omaha Fashion Week.

Of course, trans people's bodies are as diverse and wide ranging as cis people's bodies. But, Atkinson notes that there are distinct "fit issues" that the fashion community may need to consider when creating clothing for trans consumers.

"There's certain things in transition that will not change like hand size and arm length and proportions of the torso," she said.

Some trans people may still want to have the appearance of a bust or a wider hips–whether or not they have the desire or access to medically transition–so Atkinson takes that into consideration when designing clothes.
Atkinson says she uses design techniques to create the "illusion" of wider hips or a fuller chest. For the former, she tends to use "bigger skirts" and for the latter, she provides foam padding or removable cups that lay "completely flat" against the skin.

While Atkinson's collection has solely focused on femininity, she plans to debut masculine, feminine and even gender neutral stylings next year.

Shoes

Henry Bae was working in the fashion industry as a women's shoe buyer when, every once in a while, a larger sized pair of heels would come into the office. Bae would try them on as a "joke" in front of his women coworkers and it was largely treated as a spectacle. In general, Bae says that the few feminine shoes made in larger sizes are typically intended for performers, particularly drag queens.

The lack of feminine shoes in larger sizes prompted Bae and his friend Shaobo Han to launch their own Brooklyn-based shoe company, SYRO, with a focus on everyday footwear. Bae and Han said they wanted their collection of larger-sized, high-heeled boots to be worn for everyday use like "to the grocery store, to the office."

The AXEL shoe from SYRO's collection. Photo courtesy of Shaobo Han.

Bae and Han are still working to find the right mix of sensible and stylish– some of their customers complain that the shoes are a "little bit too practical and boring." But Bae said that the company plans to expand their catalogue to include more traditionally feminine shoes for trans women who are just trying to "get through society without being confronted by strangers that are questioning their transness and identity everyday."

Han, who is genderqueer, and Bae, who is gender nonconforming, say they have both been harassed for wearing feminine apparel in public. (The duo says that their own personal styles "flirt between androgyny.")

Henry Bae and Shaobo Han, co-founders of SYRO. Photo courtesy of Shaobo Han.

Other entrepreneurs are starting to offer masculine style shoes in smaller sizes. Lauren Craig, who is a cisgender woman, founded the Toronto-based Tomboy Toes, because she couldn't find the "perfect pair" of masculine dress shoes.

"Not only could I not find a pair of shoes that I wanted," Craig said. "When I pointed at like a really handsome pair of men's dress shoes and said, 'What are the odds you carry this in a women's seven and a half?' They looked at me like I had three heads."

While Craig is cisgender, their consumer base is more expansive than that. And marketing products to people with various gender identities can be a learning process. Craig said a trans customer once messaged her on Facebook saying that he loved her product, but that he had a "couple of concerns about the wording" of Tomboy Toes's advertisements and website."

Craig ended up changing the name of her most popular product–from The Dapper Woman to The Downtown Dappers.

A pair of The Downtown Dappers, made by Tomboy Toes. Photo courtesy of Lauren Craig.

In Los Angeles, NiK Kacy went from producing commercials at Google to launching their own line of smaller-sized masculine dress shoes in 2015.

Kacy, who is trans masculine, had always wanted to wear men's shoes, but said they were "constantly humiliated" and "told to go to the women's section" at stores.

"Even back then, I didn't really understand it. I just knew what I liked, but I could never find it in my size," Kacy said. "In my adolescence–I was like, 'You know one day I'm going to make these if somebody else doesn't.'"

Like Craig, Kacy says their online customer base is "wide" and includes "cis men, cis women, trans people and gender nonconforming people." That's why the sizing on Kacy's website is gender neutral and comes with an original size chart.

For Kacy, it's one step toward their vision of a gender neutral fashion future, where clothing stores aren't divided by gender and people have that many more options for self-expression.

Throwback Thursday | Jung Clothing store - Sheboygan Press

Posted: 31 Oct 2019 07:00 AM PDT

SHEBOYGAN - In July 1970, Jung's Clothing Store closed its doors forever, resulting in a loss of four generations of Sheboygan's Jung family line of businesses.

In the early 1850s, Jacob Jung arrived to put his mark on producing wagons. In 1928, Jacob's son, Alfred, opened Jung's Clothing Store. The founder was honored in 1961 with a life membership in the Salvation Army for his efforts to help the less fortunate in society. It was noted that a life membership was a rare event at the time.

His son, Alfred Jr., continued the operations until the clothing firm's closure in 1970.

At the time it was said in a Sheboygan Press editorial: "It's never pleasant to see a respected old family business close the doors, but memories cannot compete with economic reality. We wish the Jung family well in whatever new endeavor it undertakes", according the clipping provided by the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.

Early in the 1950s, Jung Clothing provided both men's and women's clothing along with a men's clothing branch in Appleton's Valley Fair Shopping Center. However, in the company's final year, it narrowed its offerings to only men's clothing.

Today, the building has been restored to its former 1850s splendor and currently houses Whisk Bakery on the main floor of the building.

To see the image larger, click here.

Read or Share this story: https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2019/10/31/throwback-thursday-jungs-clothing-store-8th-street-sheboygan/2458077001/

This Best-Selling Men’s Sweatshirt Is the Most Comfortable Piece of Clothing I Own - Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted: 31 Oct 2019 01:45 PM PDT

Growing up, I stole a lot of things from my brother — his LEGO bricks, his chocolate bars, his Nintendo Game Boy and, occasionally, his raffle tickets that he'd win at the arcade. (Oops!) It was all in good faith, and my brother never minded. However, what I knew I could never touch and were completely off-limits were his clothes.

My brother has fantastic style: He owned bomber jackets before every street-style star wore them, kept the black leather jacket that my father loved in the '80s, and had the softest t-shirts that somehow only grew softer as time went on. It had been agonizing for me to stay away from his closet, so I knew that when I finally had the chance to take something, it had to be something good. I just never expected it to be this $12 Hanes sweatshirt.

The choice was a surprising one considering how many things I've wanted to nick over the years. My brother's broad shoulders and long limbs meant that his Alpha Industries jacket was perfect for my love of oversized looks, and his Nike jogger pants have always somehow fit me better than my own.

Yet the moment I picked up the Hanes sweatshirt from the top of his folded pile of laundry, I knew there was nothing that I wanted to steal more from him. I had been on the hunt for a lightweight sweatshirt that was thin without compromising on warmth, and this sweatshirt's cozy inner-lined fleece made from recycled plastic meant that I could wear it on chilly fall days without having to put on another t-shirt underneath just to stay warm.

Plus, I've always had the tendency to pull my sleeves over my fingers whenever I wear sweaters and knits in chilly weather since I can never remember to wear gloves, so the long sleeves of this sweatshirt were perfect for me. As to be expected, considering how comfortable this sweatshirt is, my brother noticed it was gone and knew I was the culprit. He demanded that I buy him one in return and, fortunately for me, this sweatshirt cost less than a salad in New York City.

Ever since I stole it from him, this sweatshirt has been my go-to whenever I need to throw something on quickly to run an errand, or whenever I'm just lounging at home with a cup of tea. I can say honestly without any regret that I made the correct decision in choosing this sweatshirt to be the one thing I could ever steal from my brother's closet. I'm already buying myself a second one, and with 23 colors to choose from, the only question is: Which one?

Shop now: $12; amazon.com

Free clothing, benefit concert, and Ikebana - The Boston Globe

Posted: 30 Oct 2019 07:37 PM PDT

St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Marlborough offers free clothing to the general public on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. Men's, women's, and children's clothing in good to excellent condition are up for grabs, along with accessories like hats, gloves, coats, shoes, boots, and belts. Costume jewelry, purses, and fashion scarves will also be available. All items were donated by St. Stephen parishioners and friends who gave clean, popular, wearable items people will take and use, believing they are helping not only individuals but also the earth, keeping good clothing out of landfills. Bring a bag or one will be provided. The church is located at 537 Bolton St. (Route 85) near Navin Rink.

The Suzuki School of Newton will stage a benefit concert Nov. 17 featuring chamber works for strings, winds, and piano by Cesar Franck, Gabriel Faure, Franz Schubert, Luys de Narvaez, Samuel Barber, and contemporary composers Jennifer Grady and Max Richter. In addition to the faculty performances, there will be a silent auction, a raffle, and a post-concert reception. The fund-raising goal is $10,000; all of the proceeds will go to the James Thornblade Memorial Scholarship Fund, which directly offsets the cost of tuition for students facing financial hardship. Tickets are available at www.ssnfall2019.bpt.me. The event will be held at Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., at 4 p.m.

The Mary Finn School in Southborough has opened a permanent StoryWalk, in a ceremony honoring retired principal James Randell for his 12 years of service to students and his dedication to literary education. StoryWalk combines literacy with physical activity. Children and adults walk along a trail dotted with wooden poles, which hold metal frames that contain the individual pages of a book. The initial installation at the Mary Finn School is "All Are Welcome," by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. The StoryWalk was made possible through a grant provided by the Southborough Education Foundation and the efforts of recent Algonquin High School graduate Alexander Forrest. Visitors are welcome to the StoryWalk at any time when school classes are not in session.

The Massachusetts Horticultural Society hosts a six-week course in Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging. Using all-natural materials, Ikebana seeks to bring out the inner qualities of flowers and plants and express emotion. The sculpture-like arrangements use color, line, and form to fashion living, almost spiritual, creations. Classes will be held every Tuesday between Nov. 5 and Dec. 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington St., Wellesley. The series costs $250 for MassHort members and $325 for nonmembers. The fee covers books and materials. For additional information and to register, visit www.masshort.org/upcoming-classes.

The Sudbury Senior Center holds a Dementia Friendly Kick-Off Event Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 8:30 a.m. Dementia Friendly Sudbury invites attendees to raise awareness of the condition and learn more about the group's initiatives and how it hopes to help families and individuals affected by dementia. Coffee, tea, and breakfast will be served over a short presentation. Register by Friday, Nov. 8, at 978-443-3055 or senior@sudbury.ma.us. The senior center is located at 40 Fairbank Road.

Corey Dockser can be reached at corey.dockser@globe.com.

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