Ike Comes To The Windy City

    

This past month Ike Behar was proud to celebrate the opening of its newest retail shop. Opened on Friday, July 5^th at 67 East Oak Street, Chicago, IL 60611, this new store features an entire collection of our distinctive high-quality dress shirts, suits, neck wear, sport shirts, sport coats, outer wear, along with much more. Like our flagship location, on the historic King St. in Charleston, South Carolina, our Chicago location is designed to showcase our entire lifestyle brand.

Alan Behar, company president remarks, "With a long-standing and loyal customer base in the area, Chicago is a natural city to wholly embrace the total Ike Behar. Fresh off our successful launch last fall in Charleston, SC, we now are presenting the brand's unique product experience in our own stores. Our IKE BEHAR stores will augment the many fine specialty and high-end department stores that continue to carry IKE BEHAR products, to bring the finest in menswear to a most discerning consumer. The opportunity to join with many other respected luxury retailers on Oak Street in one of the nation's finest shopping arenas, creates a special new home for Ike Behar."

SVP of Merchandising Steven Behar adds, “Chicago is the perfect place for Ike Behar. It’s a fashion forward town that at the same time has a classic sense of style. It’s a town of men of all ages and demographics.  With so many professionals, businessmen, famous national icons in sports, entertainment and politics along with such terrific nightlife we’d be hard-pressed to find a better locale for our brand.”

On the emergence of the IKE BEHAR retail business, Ike, the company's eponymous co-founder, states, “It’s a truly dynamic chapter in our brand’s evolution. We’ve always enjoyed a very large and loyal group of customers and fans in many great American cities, particularly, Chicago and Charleston. That we’re now able to provide these towns and our patrons a more comprehensive experience with our brand and our products in our own stores is all very exciting."

So next time you’re in the windy city, take a stroll down Oak St., and discover everything that Ike Behar has to offer. 

Ike Behar Memorial Day Sale!

Be sure to take advantage of our Memorial Day Sale only at Ike Behar Online!

The Pocket Square Essentials

           

            After decades of neglect, the pocket square is back. In the past two years, many men have begun embracing the subtle touch of flash and style that a pocket square can provide. Some men choose to go simple, wearing a plain, shirt matching, pocket square folded straight, while others prefer the panache of a brightly colored elegantly folded square. Whatever your preferences, before adding a pocket square to your wardrobe you will first need to find the right pocket squares and learn how to fold them.

            Selecting the right pocket square can be difficult. Many men simply choose a white pocket square to match any basic shirt, however this can be more limiting than you might think. When wearing a simple elegant suit or tuxedo a colorful square might detract from the ensemble as a whole, so for black tie or other formal events white pocket squares are usually best. However, for most other occasions I would recommend branching out.  Consider purchasing a few pocket squares in different colors and patterns to compliment your favorite ties and suits. An ensemble with a purple tie, for example, can look nice with the right purple pocket square, though I would recommend that you avoid choosing a pocket square that matches any part of the outfit to closely; shades and patterns should be similar not the same.

            As you can imagine there are many ways to fold a pocket square; there are too many, in fact, to describe here. Pocket square folds can range from simple and elegant to majestic and ornate, with hundreds of variations in between. While most are rather straight forward, others might require a bit of practice. If you are going to begin adding pocket squares to your suits you should consider learning a few different folds to ensure you always have the right fold for every occasion.  The five folds I think are most important are the straight fold, the single-point, the puff or reverse puff, and the Cagney, because each is relatively simple and can fit with a wide variety of outfit combinations. Choosing a fold is like choosing a tie knot, it is important to consider both the occasion and your personal preferences when making a decision.

The Straight Fold

            The straight fold is one of the most simple, yet it can add a subtle touch of class to any nice suit or jacket without drawing attention away from the rest of the outfit. 

1. Flatten the pocket square across a smooth surface.

2. Fold the pocket square into thirds.

3. Fold the pocket square slightly below the midpoint (where you place this fold will determine how far the pocket square will peak out of the pocket. Adjust the placement of this final fold accordingly.)

 The Single-Point Fold

            The single-point is quite possibly the most popular way to wear a pocket square. It is one of the easiest to fold properly and displays your pocket square more than a straight fold would, while still simple.

1. Start by flattening the pocket square on a smooth surface, with one corner pointed towards you.

2. Fold the pocket square in half, forming a triangle.

3. Fold the left point of the triangle over.

4. Repeat step #3 with the right point of the triangle.

5. Fold the pocket square slightly below the midpoint (AGAIN: where you place this fold will determine how far the pocket square will peak out of the pocket. Adjust the placement of this final fold accordingly.)

 The Puff & Reverse Puff Folds

            The puff and reverse puff folds are also extremely simple to fold properly, as neither 'technically' requires you to do any folding. They are also similarly popular, in that, like the one-point, they display your pocket square nicely without being too flashy.

1. Flatten the pocket square across a smooth surface.

2. Grab the center of the pocket square with the thumb and index finger.

3. Pinch a small bulb of fabric, and pull it through the fingers, leaving the four points of the pocket square hanging.

4a. To achieve the Puff, simply fold back the four hanging points, and insert into jacket pocket.

4b. To achieve the Reverse Puff, invert the pocket square, fold back the bulb, and insert into jacket pocket leaving the points visible.

 The Cagney Fold

            My personal favorite method of folding a pocket square is slightly more difficult and not appropriate for every occasion. The Cagney fold, when mastered however, creates an elegant and eye-popping look without appearing too flashy. The Cagney got its name from movie star James Cagney, who popularized the fold in the early 20^th century.

1. Start by flattening the pocket square on a smooth surface, with one corner pointed towards you.

2. Fold the pocket square in half, forming a triangle.

3. Fold the left point of the triangle up and over, so that is even with the top point of the triangle.

4. Repeat step #3 with the right point of the triangle.

5. Fold the right outer third towards the center, then repeat by folding the left outer third towards the center.

6. Fold the bottom  point of pocket square up, slightly below the midpoint (AGAIN: where you place this fold will determine how far the pocket square will peak out of the pocket. Adjust the placement of this final fold accordingly.)

*****

The Straight Edge

 The Single Point

The Puff

The Reverse Puff

The Cagney 

Ike Behar History: NY to Korea to Hawaii & Back!

Having only immigrated to the United States several months prior, Ike Behar had already met his future wife and found work as a tailor, when he was informed that all men of age were required to register for conscription. It was 1953, and Ike was drafted almost immediately, beginning the period of his army years that would forever change his life.

Ike was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for training, where he was first informed that he was to be sent to Korea, which had been in the midst of a vicious civil war for close two three years. His older brother, Isidore Behar, had already spent time in Korea fighting as a U.S. Marine, earning his U.S. citizenship, and Ike saw this as his opportunity to do the same. Ike recalls, “The day after we graduated from training, an officer lined up all the new privates, before walking down the line and assigning each soldier his deployment. Some people wanted to go to Japan or Europe, but most just wanted to go anywhere but Korean. They picked every tenth, or so, private for Korea, and I was one of the ten.”

 Before leaving for Korea, Ike grew worried about the places the army might take him, and began to think about how that might affect Jean. Regina and He had grown very close, but at the time his future had become too uncertain. In her memoir, Threads of My Life, Regina remembers “‘I want to be fair and honest. I don’t want to feel guilty,’ he told me on our steps, ‘my mother taught me never to tie up a girl I didn’t have honest intentions with.’” After reluctantly breaking up with Regina, Ike decided that he would tell his parents that he had been deployed to Germany. His older brother Isidore similarly lied to their parents before his deployment, and although Ike hated to deceive his parents, he thought telling the truth would only serve to worry them. They would not hear about the true nature of Ike’s military service for many years.

While in Korea, Ike was lucky enough to remain out of serious combat. The war had begun to wind down by the middle of 1953, and the United States focus shifted from war to the maintenance of the fragile armistice that had developed. Most of Ike’s time in Korea was spent on guard duty or on short patrols. He remembers that, although the war was in it’s terminal phases, at the time the soldiers in country had only moderate confidence that a true peace could be reached. He recalls the tension of constant patrol duty, where “for weeks you would be lucky if you were able to get more then two hours of sleep at any one time.” One night, after a few months in Korea, Ike was finishing his final patrol of the day when a captain, looking for a private that was to be reassigned to another platoon scheduled to ship out immediately for Hawaii, approached him. Ike jumped on the opportunity, and inquired about taking the reassignment himself. When the Captain agreed, with the condition that Ike had to be ready to leave in thirty minutes, Ike quickly grabbed his belongings, recalling, “he said thirty minutes, I was ready to go in five.”

Ike looks at his time stationed in Hawaii as one of the most fun periods of his young life. While in Hawaii, Ike honed his English, learned to drive, and bought his first car. He was initially assigned to the Scofield Barracks where he was put in charge of mail distribution. After a few weeks, Ike was called into the office of his superior, who told him that, due to an accounting error, he had been over-payed while was in Korea, and as a result would not be payed for the next several months. “It was terrible. They were sending money to my mother’s bank account, and now that I needed it there was nothing.” Not wanting to burden his parents, but needing money, Ike formed his first business. With the last bit of money he had left, Ike leased a sewing machine, and began offering tailoring services to his fellow soldiers. He set up a make shift tailor shop in the back of the mailroom, and would spend all day switching between sorting mail and sewing. Soldiers are required to wear their army uniforms trim, and the need for constant alterations, along with the fact that he charged twenty percent less than other tailors, made Ike’s nascent business tremendously successful. Aside from standard alterations, Ike helped his company maintain the barracks, sewing and repairing curtains, chairs, and doing other upholstery work. However, as Ike’s reputation on the base grew, he became best known for his ability to sew tiny seams at precisely the right places to make a uniform appear as if it had been pressed; a useful trick he learned in Cuba that understandably earned him many friends.

Though Ike had ended his relationship with Regina before leaving for Korea, his thoughts quickly returned to her during his time in Hawaii. Before leaving he told Regina not to write him, but as he still says, “I didn’t say anything about me writing her.” They began a friendly correspondence, which according to Regina grew “warmer in tone,” as his two-year stint in the army drew to a close.

In 1955, Ike was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States, before returning home to New York, where he was welcomed with U.S. citizenship. In the two years prior, he had been from New York to Fort Dix to Korea to Hawaii and back, in the next two he and Regina would be married, he would begin work as a tailor, and embark on a long and successful career as one of the best men’s fashion designers of the 20^th century.

 To be continued...

Website Revamping Sale!

We're revamping our website, and want to give you the chance to take advantage of our revamping sale for a limited time only! 

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Ike At Charleston Fashion Week

Ike on King Street.

The Charleston Fashion Week was a tremendous success for us here at Ike Behar, after being showcased as a featured designer. The week kicked off with a special custom event at our retail store on the famous King St., and culminated with a terrific runway show on Wednesday night of CHSFW, where selections from our entire line of men and boys wear were on full display.

Company founders Ike and Regina Behar, along with much of the Behar family, were on hand for the week’s events. After getting his first look at our flagship store on King St., Ike said, “Our company has a long history in Charleston, and it’s only fitting that we were able to bring an Ike Behar shop to King Street.” Ike was also happy to be there to meet and talk with some customers and personally kick off our special custom event, which will run through this Saturday, only at the Ike Behar Store.

The Ike Behar boys collection on display.

The models getting ready to show off Ike Behar.

The highlight of the week, though, was by far the Ike Behar runway show this past Wednesday night. The show featured some of our latest pieces ranging from suits and tuxedos for both men and boys to lounge wear and sports wear. The crowd grew lively as the show began with a terrific ensemble complete with sport coat and jeans and progressed through our more formal pieces and new loungewear. Ike himself said, “The boys may have stolen the show. They really did a terrific job showing off our special boys line, and it’s no wonder the crowd responded so well.” In addition to the runway show, Ike Behar’s own Fred Jabber participated as a special judge in the CHSFW Emerging Designer Competition, featuring work from a terrific group of young designers. Ike Behar President, Alan Behar, remarked, “Ike Behar relishes the opportunity to support young talent, while at the same time showcasing part of our exciting new line here in Charleston. It’s really great seeing what all of these up-and-coming designers are doing, and we’re tremendously grateful to be able to encourage their fabulous work.”

Lawrence Behar & Christian Siriano.

Ike Behar's Fred Jabber with Cynthia Bailey & Christian Siriano.

In all it was a tremendous week. We had the opportunity to meet a number of our loyal customers and fans, were able to see and support some wonderful up-and-comers in the fashion industry, all while displaying a wide range of exciting new pieces from Ike Behar’s great collection. Charleston is truly a great American town, and it is clear why the Charleston Fashion Week is among the most exciting fashion events of the year.

Ike

The Cuff and The Collar.

Ike Behar's How To:

Collars and Cuffs

Like tie knots, there are many different cuff and collar styles, each of which can subtly change the tone of your entire ensemble. Many men only know one or two collar styles, and are unaware of what occasions call for what type of collar or cuff. While cuff and collar styles might seem irrelevant, consider that at best the right cuff and collar choice can make the right outfit perfect, while at worst the wrong collar choice can make even the finest outfit look sloppy and awkward.

The Cuffs

There are two primary cuff styles you need to know: the French cuff and the barrel cuff. The French cuff is considered the fancier option and is usually reserved for special occasions that require dressier attire. French cuffs are twice as long as ordinary cuffs, so that they can be folded back on themselves and clasped with cufflinks. Many men like the added class that a French cuff and nice pair of cufflinks adds to an outfit, however it is best to save them for important business meetings, formal events, and other circumstances that require a dressier look (but remember there are exceptions to every rule).

The most commonly worn cuff style is the barrel cuff. They can be worn with a dressy outfit, a casual outfit, and everything in between. The barrel cuff is unfolded, usually fastened with a button, and makes the wrist appear rounder than a French cuff.  It can be worn buttoned for a dressier more formal look, for those who find a French cuff too cumbersome or ornate, or it can be unbuttoned and rolled to the forearm for a stylish casual look. Many men often choose to purchase shirts with barrel cuffs because of their versatility, especially those who like to where the same fine shirt on both casual and formal occasions. Whatever your motive you can almost never go wrong with a barrel cuff.

The Collar

While there are too many collar styles to name and describe here, there are five basic collar styles every man should familiarize himself with: the button down, the hidden button down, the medium spread, the cut-away spread, and the point. While it depends on the man, it is generally a good idea to have multiple shirts with different collar styles to ensure that you always have the best collar for every occasion. Learning what collar style works best with each occasion can be fairly simple, and can add a subtle new depth to any wardrobe.

BUTTON DOWN 

The button down collar is widely considered the most casual, and traditionally is not worn with a formal suit or tie, though not all men agree. Originally, conceived for polo players who wanted to keep their collars in place during play, the button down collar has become fairly popular as a slightly more casual alternative to the traditional dress shirt. It is intended to be worn without a tie, however recently, more and more men are choosing to wear button down collars with a nice suit and tie to achieve a look that is still dressy but slightly more relaxed, or with the collar and points unbuttoned for an even more casual and stylish look. We do, however, recommend avoiding button down collars on strictly formal occasions (as always, it is important to use your best judgment as to what the appropriate level of dress is for a given event).

HIDDEN BUTTON DOWN

For those who like the benefits of the button down collar, but require more flexibility, a hidden button down is often a good option. The hidden button down, as the name implies, has points that attach to the shirt using buttons that are hidden beneath the points. Though the hidden button down collar can be worn with a tie or in more formal situations than the pure button down, it is still best saved for less formal occasions.

MEDIUM SPREAD

CUT AWAY SPREAD

In contrast to the button down collars, spread collars are generally considered a more dressy option. Spread collars are called such because of the larger distance between the collars points as compared to other collars, and therefore are ideally worn with wide tie knots, such as the full-windsor. The medium spread and cut-away spread collars differ only in a matter of degree of the spread, and can be worn almost interchangeably, though remember wider tie knots look better with a larger spread. While, some men choose to wear spread collar shirts with the collar unbuttoned and without a tie, this look is best served with a traditional point collar.

POINT

The point collar is by far the most versatile of all collar styles. The point collar can be worn with just about any tie or tie knot or with the collar unbuttoned and open. It can be worn with a formal suit or a pair of jeans. Because standard point collars are so versatile it is a good idea to purchase multiples, while many men with a limited wardrobe budget choose to buy point collars exclusively.

While certain collar and cuff styles work better with different styles, diversity in ones wardrobe is essential. Showing up to an important meeting in a spread collar shirt with a wide knot tie one day, while showing up at the company barbeque in a open button-down collar shirt and jeans the next, displays your fine shirts as they were intended while reminding everyone that you understand style, class, and perfection.

Find shirts of all styles, including Custom Express Originals, at ikebeharonline.com