J.Hilburn Style Journal

Recently, we were pleased to welcome Mr. Silvio Albini, President of Albini Group, and his team to our Dallas, TX headquarters. Mr. Albini was in Dallas catching up on the exciting and ever growing product assortment offered by J.Hilburn. Included in this assortment are some incredible shirting fabrics from two of the Albini Group’s brands; Thomas Mason and Cotonificio Albini.  

left: Jon (JP) Patrick - VP Product JH, Sally Michael - SEP JH, Mr. Silvio Albini, Michelle Williams - SEP JH, Alberto Pallante - Albini Group 

The Albini Group is a 5^th generation family operated fabric mill, started in 1876. The Albini family continues to be involved in all aspects of the mill. They take great pride in their craft, their community, and their culture. There are no corners cut in the production of Albini fabrics, from the raw cotton to the finishing. Mr. Albini had several words of wisdom (in an Italian accent) on his visit. The message that he truly wanted to resonate was the Albini Group’s commitment to quality, innovation and integrity. He feels that this is what distinguishes Albini and Made in Italy products.

In addition to his responsibilities as President of Alibini Group, Mr. Alibini also serves as President of the Milano Unica fabric show in Milan. This is a must-attend show for menswear designers from around the world.

Watch these videos from the Albini Group website to learn more:

No two men are alike. We believe their shirts shouldn’t be either. Each man has a unique persona, and through customization he can make his shirt just as unique as his personality and way of life. The shirt a man wears speaks profoundly about him and who he is. We sat down with three of J.Hilburn’s more influential voices to see what shirt they choose to call their own.

Veeral Rathod - President/Co-Founder

“Customizing my own shirt allows me to tap several of my style sensibilities. My favorite is a versatile sportshirt that straddles the line between casual and dressy. The spread collar gives it more presence and updated attitude than a soft collar, while the double pockets are a styling detail borrowed from military dress uniforms. The overall effect is a look that is “Modern Aviator”. I typically opt for a pinpoint oxford or a performance stretch fabric. When I want a casual, washed look to wear with denim, I usually cold-water wash at home and hang to dry. To dress it up, a nice press from the cleaners gets it in shape to wear un-tucked with 5-pocket chinos or even under a sportcoat.”

Jon Patrick - VP of Product

“I have always like the club collar. It’s a look that harkens back to the early days of menswear, yet is still very relevant and modern today. I prefer it in a white contrast collar, as it dresses it up a bit - I’m a big fan of white collars in general. I typically don’t care for pockets or a monogram. I like a dress shirt to be clean and simple. For fit, I opt for the European with no back pleats. I always prefer a fitted shirt. I actually find them more comfortable, slimming, and my shirt is less wrinkled when I take off my sportcoat because there is less fabric to bunch up.”

Mix things up. Enjoy putting different patterns together in one look. To do this successfully, remember to have the scale of the patterns slightly different. Checks and stripes, dots and checks, plaids and stripes, whatever your choice, each combination creates an added dimension to the look.

Matching can work, but it is not the only way. Working with complementary colors is a nice way to add some pop to any outfit. Purple and black, orange and green, navy and merlot, these are all combinations that complement one another, each creating a rich and exciting visual.

Seasons change and so does neckwear. For fall, think beyond silk. Milled wool is an incredible tie option that offers a way to add seasonality, texture and warmth to an already stylish ensemble. Give each outfit a seasonal difference by addign wool to your neckwear arsenal.

Change the desired outcome of each look by a simple change in the necktie selection. Add a plaid cotton tie to a shirt and wear it with a corduroy sportcoat, take the same shirt and wear it with a silk dot tie for a sophisticated touch under a crisp navy suit. Sensibility of an outfit can change by more than what shirt one wears, the necktie makes a superior difference.

Let the palette work for you. Navy, grey, and tan are particularly versatile suit colors. These shirt and tie combinations are perfect pairings for the sophistication of these tones. Let the suit be the base of the outfit then accessorize and enhance the impeccable look with a well thought out shirt and tie combination. To seperate from the crowd, be intentional in all elements of the look.