Silk - a fabric prized for its luxurious luster, delicate beauty, strength and durability.

You probably have a few choice pieces in your wardrobe already - but have you stopped to ask what is silk? And why is silk important? 

Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this remarkable fabric by exploring the history and its enduring significance in the modern world.

How familiar with tweed are you? Some seek new pieces, some treasure tweed garments they’ve long had in their trad-style wardrobe, and others cherish memories of particular people who were seldom seen without their tweed bow tie or jacket.

But what is tweed, really? And what does its history hold?

Let’s take a look at what is special about tweed and how you can incorporate this iconic fabric into your collection of fine accessories. 

The right accessory can elevate an ensemble from handsome to dashing. For a true gentleman, the devil is in the details – no accoutrement is insignificant when it comes to looking sharp. 

The bow tie, of course, is the king of the trappings of elegance. So how do you match it with your outfits? Here's our style guide to help you choose the right bow tie.

Tailored clothing is a rite of passage for any gentleman wanting to make his mark. Bespoke clothing, though, is a different kettle of fish.

Generally, custom clothing is just that – custom. Yet distinguishing whether they're worth it can be quite overwhelming. Fabrics, style, process, and cost – all of these considerations can make made-to-order clothes feel altogether excessive. 

Here's what you need to know before deciding to embark on getting a tailored or bespoke suit.

Figuring out which suit to wear for a particular occasion is usually an easy decision. More formal events call for a darker suit; more casual or daytime events are well suited to lighter colors. We tend to choose our fine accessories according to the theme, the location, or our mood. 

But what about shoes? They're seemingly the most confounding of menswear staples. This really is a two-part question then: what color shoes to wear with your suit, and what shoes to wear with what color suits? 

At R. Hanauer, we value the details. In this edition of The Gentleman’s Guide, we'll spend some time with the small but mighty cufflink. It has waxed and waned in popularity over the last several centuries, but it has never disappeared from elegant settings. 

We’ll explore a little cufflink history and answer several common questions around when and how to wear cufflinks. Join us!

Are bow ties business professional? To us here at R. Hanauer, the answer is: of course. But we wear a bow tie most everywhere and recognize that we may be a bit... biased. Zooming out from personal preference however, the answer is: it depends. 

Let’s get into the criteria for deciding whether wearing a bow tie to work is right for you.

At R. Hanauer, we consider every day to be an occasion for a fancy bow tie. We appreciate, of course, that not everyone feels the same way.

Some gentlemen reserve their bow ties for special events. Others do not have any bow ties in their wardrobe at all - and even wonder, “Are bow ties in style in 2023?” (Chagrin!) We are delighted to inform them that bow ties indeed are still very much in fashion and are not likely to go out of style any time soon.

In this article, we’ll show you some suitably fancy and fashionable bow ties to have a little fun with, highlight a few luxury bow ties, explore the most popular bow tie color, and suggest some accessories that will spiff up every wardrobe!

Viva Magenta has been named the Pantone Color Institute’s 2023 Color of the Year while being fittingly proclaimed "an unconventional shade for an unconventional time." 

But what's behind Pantone’s choice? Come explore with us magenta's fascinating history and symbolism, color pairings - and... does it even really exist as a color?