The Chairman’s Desk – Insite Victoria

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The Chairman’s Desk – Indochino

I have worked with suits for just over three years, before that I had spent another three years working with with high end casual wear. So, after years of seeing and working with proper fits, fabrics, and styling, I have a few things to say about one certain “retailer”. The most important thing I do at work is ask questions. Questions like: “when are you wearing this?” or ” how many suits do you own?” It is important to also ask “what do you need this suit to do?” and “what kind of fit are you interested in?” as well as several others throughout the process. It is these questions that I will use to recommend whether you need a black, charcoal, navy, or patterned suit. Do you need a suit for work? If so, I take you to ones that I know will hold up. Are you getting a Nobel Prize? We head over to a piece of wool so beautiful it just says “thank you”.  The most important service I provide is answers – what shirts to wear, what ties, what socks, when to separate the jacket to wear with jeans (never) and any others that come up along the life of the suit. If you were to walk in today you would be able to try on the suit, see how the pant feels, how the construction of the jacket works for you. All fabrics hang, and feel different. Its crucial to make sure you like the tone of the colour, the depth of the fabric and how it makes you feel. I am a huge believer that suiting is more about feel then fit. To look really good in a suit you need to feel like yourself at your best. You should put the jacket on and just feel like life got a little easier. It’s my job to make sure you look good. If we build trust it’s easy to help guide you throughout this process and the results do show. Now lets take a little look at costs.

The break down is that the difference of three hundred and sixteen dollars gets you a fair amount. What’s the difference of 20 threads per micron? The big difference is wrinkling, a 200 being much less prone to harsh wrinkles. A super 200 will also have more depth than a super 180 wool. Now, I am a little bit of a sucker for manufacturing; I love things that are made with history. I am so lucky that I get to work with product that has a story to tell. Jack Victor for example was established in Montreal in 1913 and now employees 700 people all in their downtown Montreal factory and customer service centre. Empire’s story is much the same. To fit your suit online you are asked for several measurements of several different locations of your body. I needed a little help to get some of them. It really should never be so difficult. Suit sizing works with with logic through drop sizes. I wear a size 36, which is in reference to inches around the chest. That is all you really need to know. If I am at work and it is a size 36 suit, that will fit me. It could be a little small, or a little big, but that is the difference between company and cut. A standard suit comes with a six inch drop, hence a 36 jacket comes with a size 30 pant.  Tweaks like taking in the back, hemming the pant, collar roll, shortening or lengthening the sleeves, are other alterations that can be done on site by an in store master tailor. This is one of the major investments. A suit can be let out, or taken in, so as you grow and change over the life of the suit (generally one to three years depending on wear) these changes can easily be made free of charge. And because you have opted for a higher quality super 200 wool, your suit will last longer. And then there is shipping, oh wait, you supported a local business. You get to go in, and you can try it on with your shirt, shoes, and tie. I get to make sure you look suitable. If a further alteration is needed, then the in house master tailor comes up and takes a look, and makes it right. Thankfully my job doesn’t stop there. In the real world things happen, your suit was such a hit you got invited to an amazing cocktail party, you got home late, a touch blurry eyed perhaps, you hang your jacket up weird. Three days later you go to grab your suit and suddenly somethings not right. Well your not on your own at all, call, email, come in, most of these issues can be solved by the tailor or a simple trick you had never heard of. I know I cannot speak for all suit sales people, but I do speak to how myself and my coworkers treat our profession that is menswear.

A few shots from Fashion du Jour 

The Chairman’s Desk – CTV Promo

So our local television station here in Victoria –  A-Channel, did a little re brand at the beginning of September. Changing from “A” to CTV – Two. They rolled out some promo clips for this occasion. So, news anchor Stephen Andrew would be doing a clip involving Outlooks for Men, my workplace. Check out the final promo video below.

The Chairman’s Desk – A Personal Challenge to the Occupying Protesters.

A Follow Up – The Chairman’s Desk – Balcony Concept – Follow up

Back in March 2010 I posted about greening urban living spaces. I showed a few concepts as to how I could make my fire esacape patio a little more livable. Check out the original post (here).

Back for More

Members of the Board,

I am happy to announce that the Chairman of the Board is back. I will try to provide something of interest on a near daily level. As for other web presents, I have started up Fashion Du Jour once more. Giving you a look into my daily wears. Then there is also, the less updated but forever classic, Tintin Fashion, as well. Finally the JSB Group, which was formed in late 2010 as a voice of progression for the City of Victoria. You can find links to these in the tabs at the top of the page. As always I welcome any comments, question, or suggestions can be sent to enrussell@gmail.com

Thank you,

Iain Russell

The Chairman’s Desk – Ellen Russell Web

I created this website for my

sister Ellen. check out the

first version at

www.ellenrussell.co.nk

also stay tune for the

finished launch

The Chairman’s Desk – British Petroleum

The Chairman’s Desk – The Industrial Complex

I started a new blog to explore

the military industrial complex.

Primarily the USA but also

other world powers and superpowers

The Industrial Complex

LINK

The Chairmans Desk – Balcony Concepts

Purpose – Greening of urban living space

Method – Using two large planters and tall grasses

to create an easy to maintain green space

The Chairmans Desk -Cards

The Chairmans Desk – Quarter One Review

More information to come…

The Chairmans Desk – Light Rail Plan

I love Victoria. And I am trying to

find a way to live, and work out of

Victoria in the future. I also hope to

be a part of the progression of this city.

We need a light rail link from downtown

to the western communities, as well as, a link to

Saanich. Working with BC Transit to effetely

connect the Capital District is extremely critical

to the future of Victoria.

The Chairmans Desk – Rebranding Canadiana

The Chairmans Desk – 1408-1410 Broad

So I sent off an email on Friday asking the city of Victoria if they could help me find out some of the history of my new building. Monday, the answers arrived. This is part of the “Statement of Significance” about the building. note both of the pictures are before the facade restoration of a few years ago and it again looks more like the top photo not the later

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The historic place is a two-storey plus basement brick commercial buildings concealed by a post-modern stucco façade, and addition to rear occupying almost an entire lot in Victoria’s Old Town, a vibrant historic commercial district at the heart of the provincial capital.

Heritage Value

The historic place is valued for its association with the origins of Victoria’s automobile industry, and for its history of use that reflects wider trends of use in this part of Victoria’s Old Town.

Constructed for the Plimley Auto Company in 1910 to the designs of accomplished and prolific Victorian architect William Ridgeway Wilson, the building at 1408-1410 Broad Street served as showrooms and a repair shop for one of Victoria’s first automobile businesses.  Thomas Plimley, a former bicycle dealer, who in 1901 sold the first car in the city, and R.P. Clarke who had bought Plimley’s business the year before and subsequently entered into partnership with him, formed the Plimley Autos, a company that is remembered city-wide, where by the time of its closure in 1998 it had established many car dealerships and garages.

The original use of the historic place reflects the evolution of the automobile as a vehicle of leisure for the monied classes in Victoria and its popularity as a means of transport is echoed in the subsequent use of neighbouring buildings for garages, auto supplies, and showrooms.  Plimley and Clarke’s choice of this block almost certainly refers to its growth during the late nineteenth century as a centre for bicycle and carriage sales and repair, and to their first-had knowledge of that industry.

The 1910 leasing of the upper floor by a printer and sign-writer speaks to another activity focused on Broad Street – journalism and printing.  Victoria’s main newspapers, the Colonist, the Times and the Daily News all had offices nearby.  And the purchase and alteration of the buildings by the Columbia Paper Company in the 1930s strengthened that association.

Subsequent use of the building reflects social trends in the Downtown core: its conversion to premises for the Victoria Social Club reminds us of the transition, in the Pacific north-west, of the senior citizen from perceived nuisance to respected elder; the creation of residential suites speaks to the need for low-cost housing and soaring inflation; and the Government’s Downtown Outreach Service, catering to the severely mentally ill, to the reaction to care in the community policies for mental illness, and the terrible consequences caused by cheap street drugs and continuing homelessness in the city.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of 1408-1410 Broad Street include:

Ÿ       Location on the 1400 block of Broad Street

Ÿ       Proximity to a number of surviving former carriageworks, car showrooms, and repair garages

Ÿ       Cambered and flat brick-arched window openings and double-hung wood window joiner in the front, rear and north elevations

Ÿ       The fair-faced brick rear and north walls except for the light-reflecting whitewashed panels on the north wall that refer to the window positions of the former Kingdom of Jehovah’s Witnesses Hall on the lot to the north

Ÿ       The stepped parapet of the north wall

Ÿ       The automobile repair pits

Ÿ       The flat-roofed kitchen addition to the rear including its tiled floor

Ÿ       The floor surfaces, scarring and textures in the basement that indicate the former arrangements of the garage

Ÿ       The remains of the ‘area’ beneath the pavement on Broad Street

Ÿ       The reveals of the vehicle opening in the rear elevation within the former restaurant kitchen (now Chain Chain Chain) and certain internal partitions that indicate the position of the former road through the building

Ÿ       The scars and iron fixtures behind the modern stucco that indicate the position of the Italianate scrolls, pressed-metal cornice and string courses that adorned the street façade

Ÿ       The scars and fixtures behind the modern stucco that indicate the former arrangements of the gallery clerestory glazing, the lower cornice and the awning position.

The Chairmans Desk – Moved In

The Chairmans Desk – Moving

So the board room is moving.

I am really excited for the new location

right downtown. So the posting may be

a little more infrequent as I pack up my life.

The Chairmans Desk – Letterhead

The Chairmans Desk – Fall Fashion

This has been my work uniform of late

- Gitman vintage oxford, white and red

- Simon Miller jean, mine are a raw grey…amazing

- light weight knit sweater, crew neck, v-neck or cardigan

-knit tie, wool blends for fall over the shown summer silk knit

-classic oxford shoe, I have a pair of vintage ones in a burnt orange perfect for denim

The Chairmans Desk – Shelter

So I am currently trying to find a bachelor in or near

downtown. in the 600-700$ range.  if anyone knows

a place please pass it along.

The Chairmans Desk – Rammed Earth Walls

Over at CBLS (Christian Barnard Land Studio) I have been looking at a lot of rammed earth walls. I love how it has the ability to add structure wile still having a natural aesthetic.  the garden on the top is a Dieter Kienast who I believe is the most amazing landscape architect of modern times..

The Chairmans Desk – CBLS

great news.

I have entered an internship at

Christian Barnard Land Studio,

featured in The futures market.

I am mostly working on

3D Sketchup models and other

drafting needs. But i am super

excited for this opportunity.

Christian Barnard’s Blog

The Chairmans Desk – Style Quotient

Check out Style Quotient for

a little Chairman picture…

Future House – Part One

So i am going to start to design my future

house. well houses.

hopefully this will help to get more

different house concepts that are locked in

different areas of my brain. for part one

i have kept it pretty simple. i picture a

nice calm neighborhood. small lot size.

The Chairman’s Desk – The Fashion of Tintin

Finally did a new post on The Fashion of Tintin

Check it out HERE

The Chairmans Desk – Velodrome

The stage.

version 1 – red roof

version 2 – dome

Both roofs are simi closed.

materials would vary on funding.

I just have this dream of

being able to ride the veledrome

in November.

The Chairman’s Desk – Livable Cities

One of the areas of Victoria that really needs some help to avoid the

plagues of dead-zones and transients flow is the lower Pandora,

Store, Fisgard and Hearld blocks. One of the most

effective ways to combate these problems

is to bring the public into theses spaces.

But the only way we will be able to make our

downtown a livable space is to change the way

the core operates. By puting the focus on

cycing and walking not cars. With the

removal of street signs and stop lights

all cars, people and bikes must openlly

share the space. To often we let systems control us

its time for us to take steps forward not back.

Here is my concept

FULL SIZED IMAGES HERE

The Chairman’s Desk – Fisgard @ Store

We should do more with parking lots.

We need livable cities

Mac Tip – Command, Shift, 4

Have you ever wanted a photo from the interweb.

but its lock into some flash. Just hit apple command key,

shift, and number four. a little crosshair pops up

choose your size with your mouse click and then

thank Apple

Wasting Time On – Sim City 4

I Have been a SimCity player since the

SimCity Classic days. Although

I am no longer tweleve years of age .

I have become a city planner for an

unreal world. I have spent a fair amount

of time concerning myself with the

issue of Health Care, tax policy,

transportation times, and

environmental sustainability.

The Chairmans Desk – Breakwater

The breakwater in Victoria is a lovely place.

but is definitely in need of a modernization.

its lack of railing is a safety concern.

and also has some serious 1960s styling.

So I have taken up the challenge.

this first installment is the new entrance.

Update – Kevin Ehman / Sofia Maria

At First Kevin and Sofia where not to happy to

be removed from their mother, father and

brothers. but I am the hand that feeds. and now

am the proud father of the two sweetest cats.

they have become extremely cuddly and

its very rewarding to pet a cat and have it

purr instantly.  I recommend cat ownership…

What I Am Currently Designing – Fences

I ran into one of  Victoria’s coolest  katz on

friday Christian Barnard who you will know

more about next week. via something i am

working on. Monday maybe Tuesday if your a

schedule person. With out saying to

much he is a landscape architect.

So think garden planning… on crack.

But for some reason all

I could think of today was fences.

so heres some fences.

Day Off – Computer Aided Design

The way I start my day – Sunday

Cigarettes and Tea.