The work environment, as well as social events, has become more casual over the last several years. In a few places, suit and tie are still mandatory, while in others, tee shirts and jeans are the norm. Your boss will determine the dress code at work, your host at other events, so follow his or her lead. Most “dressy” places are pretty flexible; suits are common, but the blazer allows more variety and comfort while presenting a professional or cultured appearance.
Blazers, sports coats, sports jackets (or simply, jackets) are essentially the same thing; they look like suit jackets but are not sold with matching pants. It is a dress coat, proper for wear to office, church, dinner, first meeting with the prospective in-laws, IRS audit and other important events. If the invitation says semi-formal, definitely wear a suit; if not, a blazer is entirely appropriate.
Color
If you can only afford one sports coat, it should be camel hair. Harvested from Asian Bactrians (the two-hump type), this light brown wool is soft and durable. More importantly, this jacket is a fashion icon that will match many colors of trousers and will never, never, never be out of fashion.
As an alternative or a second, get a navy blue or gray jacket. They are always popular (the choice will depend on personal preference, not where you ancestors lived during the Civil War). Blue and gray sports jackets are so common as to be almost cliche, but it’s hard to go wrong with a clothing item that always works. For fun, get the navy blazer double-breasted with brass buttons for a nautical flavor. Gray blazers are usually light in color to match more pants colors and, if made in tropical weight fabric, can be very comfortable even in summer.
If you’d rather show off your personal style, get a herringbone or hounds tooth pattern. You could also pick an English tweed or Scottish tartan. Even if you are ethnically unqualified, declare your fashion flair! Just remember, a blazer is not a stand alone item: To be properly fitted out, match the coat with other business apparel–shirts, pants, shoes and ties–to complete the set.
Materials
As in all clothing, fabrics vary widely and each has its particular appeal:
Corduroy
A cut pile cloth of pure cotton with ”ridges” running up the length. A corduroy blazer is distinctively casual among men’s coats. One thing: When wearing cords, go jacket or pants, not both.
Leather / Suede
It’s more common in bomber-style jackets from the play clothes group, however, a suede or leather jacket cut like a suit jacket (with buttons instead of a zipper) really looks good if it’s well made. One caution: Skimp on this purchase price and you’ll be very unhappy you did; invest in full-grain, high-quality leather.
Linen
A natural fiber that’s stronger and stiffer than cotton. Lightweight and very good for summer, linen is doubly good when blended with wool or silk.
Polyester
The double-knit fad of the 1970s was a bad idea from which some of us may never recover. Fortunately, new polyester fabrics closely match natural fibers in appearance, though not in comfort or durability. Often blended with natural fibers to lower the cost, the poly-blend is a good, affordable compromise.
Silk
The premier clothing fiber is unmatched in luster, warmth, strength, high cost or delicacy. Silk-blends, with wool or linen, make affordable compromises.
Wool
The best fabric overall has a great appearance, is durable and comfortable and blends well with all other fabrics. Wool is pricey, but not out of reach. Woven in a variety of weights for various climates, a 100-percent virgin wool blazer will look good for years.
Blazer care
It really couldn’t be simpler, ‘Professionally dry clean only.’ Even if it’s marked wash and wear, pamper your sports coat a little, they deserve it.
Terms to keep in mind:
Though used interchangeably, there is a technical difference between a sport coat or jacket and a blazer. Speaking strictly, a blazer is a civilian uniform jacket–for a school, club or other group. Proper blazers always have metal buttons (but don’t let that stop you, it’s an easy fix), and, like the coat of arms of King Arthur’s knights, it is ‘emblazoned’ with the crest or logo of the group sewn or embroidered on the left breast. These should always be worn with a necktie, preferably in the group’s colors–some groups even have an official tie pattern. Embroidered crests have become pretty rare but, if you are entitled, wear it proudly. Too ostentatious at work, it’s an impressive choice for evening or social gatherings.
Double breasted
The jacket front panels overlap and have a double row of buttons–one just for show. (If the working buttons are on the left, don’t try it on; it’s a woman’s blazer!)
Single breasted
The front panels on the jacket don’t overlap, with a single row of buttons.
Vent
The split in the back of the jacket from just below the waist to the lower hem. Some blazers are no-vent; single-vented has the split in the middle, double-vented has one along each side seam.
How do I know it will fit?
Get measured by someone who knows what they’re doing. Good clothing stores will measure you, even if you don’t buy from them. Blazers size the same as men’s suits, with S (small), R (regular) and L (long) for sleeve length. Get a jacket with sleeves that reach just to the wrist–your shirt should extend an inch or two beyond, to the base of the thumb. Since very few people are ”average,” you may need slight alterations to fit your individual measurements. Better clothing stores have an in-house tailor who will adjust clothes you didn’t buy from them quite inexpensively.
What about trousers?
Do not match colors exactly. Wear dress pants in complimentary or contrasting shades. With that camel hair, any brown corduroys or khaki pants look great. With the double-breasted navy, white makes a real statement for summer. Gray or black trousers match virtually all jacket colors. Some colors, like green or purple, don’t ever look professional, but work for a party.
Whatever your choice in color or style, remember, spend what you must to get a quality blazer, and it will be a purchase you’ll never regret.
If, instead, you’d like to show off your personal clothing style, get a herringbone or pick up a houndstooth; buy an English tweed or Scottish tartan–even if you are ethnically unqualified, declare your fashion flair! Remember, a blazer is not a stand alone item: To be properly fitted out, match the coat with other business apparel–shirts, pants, shoes and ties–to complete the set.
Materials
As in all clothing, fabrics vary widely and each has its particular appeal:
Corduroy
A cut pile cloth of pure cotton with ”ridges” running up the length. A corduroy blazer is distinctively casual among men’s coats. When wearing cords, go jacket or pants, not both.
Leather/Suede
It’s more common in bomber-style jackets from the play clothes group, however, a suede or leather jacket cut like a suit jacket (with buttons instead of a zipper) really looks good if it’s well made. Don’t skimp on this purchase price and you’ll be very happy you did.
Linen
A natural fiber that’s stronger and stiffer than cotton. Lightweight and very good for summer, linen is doubly-good when blended with wool or silk.
Polyester
The double-knit fad in the 1970s was a bad idea from which some of us may never recover. Fortunately, new polyester fabrics can closely match natural fibers in appearance, though not in comfort or durability. Often blended with natural fibers to lower the cost, the poly-blend is a good compromise.
Silk
The premier clothing fiber is unmatched in luster, warmth, strength, high cost or delicacy. Silk-blends, with wool or linen, make affordable compromises.
Wool
The best fabric overall has a great appearance, is durable and comfortable and blends well with all other fabrics. Wool is pricey, but not out of reach. Woven in a variety of weights for various climates, a 100-percent virgin wool blazer will look good for years.
Blazer care
It really couldn’t be simpler, ‘Professionally dry clean only.’ Even if it’s marked wash and wear, pamper your sports coat a little, it is worth it.
Terms to keep in mind:
Though used interchangeably, there is a technical difference between a sport coat or jacket and a blazer. Speaking strictly, a blazer is a civilian uniform jacket–for a school, club or other group. Proper blazers always have metal buttons (but don’t let that stop you, it’s an easy fix), and, like the coat of arms of King Arthur’s knights, it is ‘emblazoned’ with the crest or logo of the group sewn or embroidered on the left breast. They should always be worn with a necktie, preferably in the group’s colors (some groups actually have an official tie). Embroidered crests have become pretty rare but, if you are entitled, it is appropriate for evening or social gatherings. Other useful terms:
Double breasted
The jacket front panels overlap and have a double row of buttons–one just for show. (If the working buttons are on the left, don’t try it on; it’s a woman’s blazer!)
Single breasted
The front panels on the jacket don’t overlap, with a single row of buttons.
Vent
The split in the back of the jacket from just below the waist to the lower hem. Some blazers aren’t no-vent; single-vented has the split in the middle, double-vented has one along each side seam.
How do I know it will fit?
Get measured by someone who knows what they’re doing. Good clothing stores will measure you, even if you don’t buy from them. Blazers size the same as men’s suits, in S (small), R (regular) and L (long). Get a jacket with sleeves that reach just to the wrist–your shirt should extend an inch or two beyond, to the base of the thumb. Since very few people are ”average,” you may need slight alterations to fit your individual measurements. Better clothing stores have an in-house tailor who will adjust clothes you didn’t buy from them quite inexpensively.
What about trousers?
Do not match colors exactly. Wear dress pants in complimentary or contrasting shades. With that camel hair, any brown corduroys or khaki pants look great. With the double breasted navy, white makes a real statement. Gray or black trousers match virtually all jacket colors. Some colors, like green or purple, don’t ever look professional, but can work well in casual situations.
Whatever your choice in color or style, remember, spend what you must to get a quality blazer, and it will be a purchase you’ll never regret it.
By: Phoenix Roberts
Buying a Quality Blazer Or Sports Coat
March 6th, 2010 by admin No comments »Sports Conditioning – Change of Seasons, Change of Sports
March 4th, 2010 by admin No comments »
When the seasons change, our sports change. Our bodies, our gear, and our exercise conditioning should change, too. Preparing one’s muscles for a different sport prevents injuries, enhances recovery from preexisting injuries, and improves performance for the sports to come.
Here in Colorado’s Aspen Valley, cyclists are in great form. In the quiet red-rock town of Basalt, cyclists have been enjoying the splendor of riding along the Frying Pan River. For months, they have been fine-tuning their cycling muscles.
But now our attention turns to the slopes of Aspen. In fact, months before the ski resorts open for ski season, locals work on getting their “skiers’ legs” on backcountry hillsides.
Cycling to Skiing: comparing Sports Conditioning styles.
Let’s use the cycling-skiing comparison to demonstrate the different requirements of these sports on our bodies. First, cyclists work on staying in a tucked position. The muscles on the front of the body that put cyclists in a forward-flexed position are strong and tight. And the positioning of a cyclists’ body over their bikes is grossly different than a skier’s stance.
Cycling also occurs within a limited space around one’s bicycle. Riding efficiently and maintaining balance on a bike requires a rider to tighten around the bike. The goal is to limit the area within which they work; i.e., to minimize their “work-space”.
Skiers, on the other hand, are unlikely to be as space-conscious. Their work-space is not so strictly defined. And unless they are competitive speed-skiers, they do not need to practice staying tucked.
For those cyclists who are skiing in the backcountry before the start of ski resort season, their muscles are not conditioned for the change in sports. Backcountry skiing requires a different sense of balance than cycling. The work-space is broader. Obstacles may surround you. Terrain changes radically beneath the skier’s feet. The skier must adapt and rebalance continually as they move.
Other conditions affect the transition in seasonal sports. These include: your gear, injuries, your overall physical activity levels, weather and environmental conditions, and participation in other sports.
Sports Injury Prevention.
When changing seasonal sports, your first priority should be to prevent injuries. Before one season ends, you should be conditioning your body for the upcoming sport. You, the athlete, should take 4-8 weeks, minimally, to prepare for the next sport. If you have any preexisting injuries, you may need longer.
If you do not make a physical transition, you are predisposing yourself to injury. It is recommended that you start the next sport at a low physical intensity. Take basic first aid precautions, if necessary. Icing sore muscles and getting aerobic exercise will remove the soreness and speed up recovery.
Recovery.
Taking the time to get physically conditioned for the next sport will aid recovery in two ways. First, it will improve the healing environment so that preexisting injuries may heal. Your injury may be aggravated by your current sport. Or maybe it is not healing in the presence of training for your current sport. Changing your training may allow your injury to rest and heal.
Second, as you start to practice the next sport, being physically prepared will allow your muscles to respond better to their new requirements. You are less likely to become sore from new activities, and less likely to get injured. Your muscles will recover faster. This will make you feel better: energized, stronger, ready to get out and repeat the fun!
Enhanced Athletic Performance.
All of these advantages of pre-conditioning for your sport result in enhanced performance. What is performance, and which of its features can be improved?
Performance means your ability to participate in a sport. It includes your muscles’ abilities to perform, or execute, the basic moves of that sport. Performance also refers to how you feel while practicing the sport.
Performance refers to measurable features, too. It might refer to the time requirements of performing the basic activities. It might refer to the level of difficulty in executing certain moves. It might refer to the fluidity, creativity, or elements of artistic expression revealed through “sporting display”.
If you practice your sport for fun and recreation, then enhancing performance may just mean that you end the day without injuries or feeling wrecked! Improving performance means “More Play-time”!
If you are a competitor within your sport, you probably already know the need for pre-conditioning, and you practice it seasonally.
Starting a pre-Conditioning program.
When you plan to condition for your upcoming sport, consider all of the factors described above. How are the sports different? What condition is your body in? Do you have any injuries? What does performance mean to you?
Hiring a personal fitness trainer or a sport-specific coach can make the transition easier. They can also make it more fun. They may motivate you to have your best season ever! And also, they have the coaching tools to make those athletic dreams come true!
In conclusion, seasonal sports pre-conditioning is an effective way to prevent injuries, treat injuries you already have, aid recovery as you change sports, and enhance athletic performance for the new sport.
By: Nina Schnipper
Sports Psychology For Bowlers – A Very Important Bowling Tip to Get You Bowling in the Zone
March 2nd, 2010 by admin No comments »
Do you love bowling? Are you pro or do you bowl in a league or two a few nights a week? Do you love the feeling of seeing the ball in the one-three pocket? Can you feel a strike ball the second it leaves your hand? Do you know what it is like to bowl in the zone and get on a roll? Do you hate seeing a high ball knowing that you will face a split? Don’t you hate it when you miss a seven pin or a ten pin?
Once you master the mechanical and physical techniques that are involved in bowling, this sport becomes quite mental. That is, once you know how to roll the ball, hit your marks, keep your rhythm and your balance the game becomes quite psychological.
Over the years, I have counseled many bowlers. Some have been recreational bowlers and others have been professionals. I have used hypnosis, guided imagery, relaxation training, confidence building techniques, focusing techniques and motivational strategies to help them achieve their long term goals and their short term goals.
Some want raise their average. Some want to earn their living on the lanes. Some bowlers want to be stars in their weekly leagues. Others want to avoid choking when the pressure is on.
In counseling these bowlers, I tend to learn a great deal about their personalities, their dreams and their approach to the game. Believe it or not, many of them have very different things running through their mind when they step up to the lane and get their fingers into their ball.
Some bowlers are target oriented. Others are more technique oriented. Some enjoy the pressure and the crowds. Others like to feel alone, centered and focused on the lanes. They like feeling that they are in their own cocoon of concentration. The mental training I do with them is about getting them into the ideal state of mind to perform to their fullest potential.
One of the very important decisions I help my clients make is whether or not they want to watch their opponents bowl. They also need to decide if they want to watch the score or not. Some players do better attending to the competition and some do better bowling in a physical and psychological vacuum.
The bowler and I frequently sort this decision out via counseling and trial and error. We tend to go with whatever works, whatever feels most comfortable and whatever produces the highest scores and the most wins.
So, no matter what level you bowl at, you need to decide how aware you want to be of external cues.
By: Jay Granat
