Interview with me on A&H Magazine:
Out of want and passion a business was born. The story of Kent Wang Haberdashery started with just one pocket square and frustration. Since 2007 this Austin, TX born brand has been delivering quality goods for men at reasonable prices. So how does a person go from searching for a simple linen pocket square to a full fledge brand? We sit with Kent Wang and discuss menswear, cats, and well-dressed homeless men.
My polos on GQ.com:
Traditional polos feature those floppy ribbed collars that start looking tired by the end of the first day you wear them. Kent has taken a cue from tailoring, and makes his polos with a full collar band, and two-ply self collar in the same soft cotton pique as the rest of the shirt. Not to mention it’s a rakish cutaway collar that stands proudly and won’t droop on you after a few washes. The three button placket means you don’t have to stretch the shirt out getting it on and off, and the durable stitched seams, thick mother of pearl buttons, and a trim cut all add up to make it the ideal summer shirt. At $65, one of the best deals going.
Cutaway rugby shirt, as featured on Departures magazine:
The refined long-sleeve polo, a longtime favorite of the jet set (Gianni Agnelli and his cohort favored them for hopping along the Riviera), gets an updated treatment from Kent Wang, a haberdasher favored by today’s young menswear junkies. His version has a rakish cutaway collar, commonly seen on dress shirts, but still honors the traditional spring nautical stripe.
We Got It For Free: Kent Wang’s Rugby (Redux)
The photo above is of Jacqueline Kennedy and Gianni Agnelli walking together in Ravello, Italy during the summer of 1962. The US First Lady choose to vacation there after it was recommended to her by Gore Vidal, and once she arrived, she met the famous Italian industrialist, Agnelli. The two spent a lot of time together sailing and going around the Amalfi Coast. So much so, in fact, that many speculated whether they had a romantic relationship.
Enough of the historical rumors, however. I thought I’d pull the photo to highlight what Agnelli is wearing - slip on shoes, trousers with no belt (though there are belt loops), and a popover shirt with a spread collar and mitered cuffs. It’s a great, casual ensemble. The popover is sort of in-between an oxford and a polo in terms of casualness, and the collar and cuff styles give it a “tailored” appeal.
The shirt reminded me of Kent Wang’s new batch of rugbys. He sent me one in navy a few months back, but the cuffs were too tight. Well, he’s since had the design adjusted and the new ones are absolutely perfect. They’re slim and flattering, and just the right length to be tucked into the trousers or left out. Like his polos, Kent’s rugbys are made with reinforced collar bands, which make the collars themselves sit up straight like those on well-made dress shirts. The combination of the shirt collar and long-sleeve button cuffs make them smart enough to wear underneath a jacket or just as a stand-alone shirt. The cuffs are also comfortable this time and can be rolled up easily if you want a cooler, more casual feel.
In my first post about Kent’s rugby, I talked about how I wanted a smarter, more “tailored” looking rugby than the ones you typically find on the market. With these new adjustments, I think Kent’s rugbys fit that bill exceptionally well. I plan to wear mine on weekends just as Agnelli is wearing his popover above. It probably won’t charm any First Ladies, however.
The Put This On Club Tie Returns
Kent Wang sends word that our collaboration, the Put This On Club Tie, is back in stock in his shop. We sold out our first two runs of this handsome little devil. It’s available in two widths - 3” and 3 1/2” - and is made with a luxurious six-fold construction.
It’s the tie that gets you into the only club that will have you: Put This On. Suitable for business, casual, dancing, swimming, ditch-digging, spelunking and television hosting, among other activities.
Best of all, a portion of the purchase price supports the editorial content here at Put This On.
Unrefinery reviews my polo shirts, with fit pic:
Clearly our favourite cotton pique polo ever, this design gets so many things right: the slim fit, the perfect length of the sleeves, and most notably the signature structured collar that puts its ribbed, lifeless competitors to shame. And of course, no stupid horses or alligators on the chest.
Culture Shoq reviews my grenadine ties, pocket squares, and cuff links
Gentleman’s Gazette reviews my polos, ties, and cuff links:
There has been no shortage of buzz on the internet the past few months about Kent Wang’s spread collar polo shirt. It wouldn’t be a big stretch to call it the official summer shirt of the menswear blogosphere.
