Memorial Days is coming up this month, and we couldn’t think of a better way of celebrating it other than sharing with you one of our favorite Timeless Champions of Khakis, John F. Kennedy.  The Memorial Day holiday has become a lot of things to a lot of people over the past decades.  Overall, it’s a time to honor the men and women who have died serving our country, and it also marks the beginning of summer.  JFK seemed like the perfect guy to feature this month because, of these two reasons.  He was not only our Commander in Chief, but an Officer in the NAVY and an avid fan of sailing.

The Kennedy family is the closest thing that we as Americans have ever had to royalty, and it is no secret that they spent their fair share of time sailing the coast.  John and Jackie spent a lot of their time on the water, while they enjoyed time away from D.C.  John’s classic Americana style has outlasted the decades and remains something that many men make their own today.  If you go through photos of the Kennedy family, you will see that many of them appreciated a good pair of khaki pants or khaki shorts, boat shoes, and sunglasses.

If you’re looking for a style upgrade this summer, take a few pointers from a man who set the bar decades ago.

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• Timeless Champions of Khakis: Steve McQueen(jackdonnellykhakis.com)

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Motorcycle or automobile, it didn’t matter; Steve McQueen will always be famous for going full throttle in his vehicle of choice and arriving to his destination clean-cut, and well tailored.  In a new era where guys are beginning to care about how they present themselves again, Steve McQueen still stands out to this day as a fashion maven for men.  His masculine style influences gentlemen from every walk of life.

Whether you’re pushing trends with a denim shirt, or rocking a tailored pair of khakis like McQueen, take note of his style and make your own from it.  McQueen wasn’t badass by accident, and his style didn’t come to him from a magazine.  Just like the cars he drove, McQueen’s style was simple, clean, and to the point.  There was nothing overdone, or flashy about it.  When it comes to developing personal style, McQueen was able to show how easy it is by not trying too hard.

Whether you’re a guy wearing khaki shorts or khaki pants this spring, one style choice which is strongly suggested is to let your feet be free by kicking off your socks.  If you’ve ever seen a guy wearing socks with their boat shoes and shorts, it just looks a bit weird.  Many gentlemen like to wear a pair of loafers or lace-ups with their khakis to work too.  What matters most is that you stay comfortable when going sockless (that’s probably why the trend took off.)  It’s hard to stay comfortable if your shoes start smelling after the second or third time you go sockless.  In fact, you will probably feel more self conscious than anything.  So how are you supposed to feel comfortable and stylish without stinking up the place? Try a few of these tips to keep your shoes from smelling so that you can enjoy this spring and summer sockless.

• Wash Your Feet - If you’re going to solve a problem, start by trying to prevent it in the first place.  The reason why your shoes are smelling is because of the bacteria that grows on your feet when they sweat.  Wash your feet with antibacterial soap (with a washcloth) along the bottom of your foot, in between your toes, and around your toenails as well.  Don’t just run water over your dogs; scrub them.
• Switch Your Shoes Out - Give your favorite shoes a break and alternate through your collection.  Letting your shoes breath for a day or two before wearing them again will prevent bacteria build up.
• Use Cedar Wood Shoe Trees – Not only can you extend the life of your shoes by maintaining the shape, but you will also reduce the ability for damaging moisture build up.  Cedar shoe trees are essential for those of you who plan to wear shoes without socks.
• Wear Half Socks - Most of the moisture build up around your feet will occur towards the front with the toes.  If you feel unsure about your foot sweat, pick up a pack of half socks.  They cover the first half of your feet, but keep your ankles exposed so that your feet still feel free and you achieve the no sock look as well.

Don’t let your feet ruin a classic look, appropriate for weekends on the boat, weekdays in the board room, and nights out on the town.

What are your favorite shoes to wear without socks?

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• Pair the Perfect Boat Shoes with Your Khaki Shorts (jackdonnellykhakis.com)

Has the pollen count dramatically increased around where you live?  It looks as if these early spring days are promising some warm weather ahead, and that means it’s time to break out your khaki shorts.  Once the work day is over with, it’s time to find a fresh pair of shorts for the week night or weekend ahead.  Once you find your perfect pair of khaki shorts, it’s time to pick the right footwear.  A timeless classic, no matter where you live, is the boat shoe.  A quality pair of boat shoes and khaki shorts worn together is a great way to stay casual and comfortable in the spring and summertime.  Here are a few of our favorite boat shoes to wear:

Oak Street Bootmakers – Brown Boat Shoe - $252:  Handcrafted in America, these hand stitched boat shoes are based off of the classic look.  Whether you spending time on the dock, or walking from your loft to your favorite corner pub, your feet will thank you.

Quoddy – Boat Moc - $300:  Do you love the classic look of boat shoes, but want a modern twist?  The Quoddy Boat Moc’s might be the perfect pair of boat shoes for you.  These moccasin shoes feature a Vibram rubber sole, and are “made to order.”

Sperry Top-Sider – Cloud Logo Authentic Original 2- Eye Boat Shoe – $80:  This iconic boat shoe brand takes a modern leap with their Cloud line of boat shoes.  For a great looking and durable boat shoe, this is a great price point as well.

Whether you are looking for a classic, or a more fashion forward boat shoe to go with your khaki shorts this spring, make sure you feel comfortable and confident in them.

Photo via Flickr

It’s about that time…

The Bean Boot

As we hope most of you know by now, all Jack Donnelly’s come with an unfinished inseam – 39” to be exact. For the record, a 39” inseam will fit a gentleman that stands 6 feet 10 inches tall (think Horace Grant). So, if anyone knows Horace, please tell him we have a pair of khakis for him.

We did this strategically for your benefit.  This allows you to have the khakis tailored to your perfect length.  Although this is an extra step, it is one we feel necessary in achieving a perfect fit.  We all come in different shapes and sizes, so it seems near impossible to assume that a company can accurately provide all the different waist and length combinations.

The unfinished inseam allows for you to choose:

The Break- Generally, there are 3 different breaks to choose from when having your pants altered at the tailors:  Some choose to rock the “high waters”, sport the safe play mid-break, or really let loose with the full break.

The Finish- You can go with the straight, clean finish or the classic cuff.

Now you know.  The choice is yours.  Please enjoy and wear them well!