Keeping San Antonio’s Most Fashionable Stylish
You know the type, the one who stands out from the rest. There’s something crisp and impeccable, or put together in a way you’d have never thought of, and you wonder how they acquired such a sense of personal style. Well chances are they might have a little help. If you want to up your fashion game, there are two resources in the Alamo City that will have you exceptionally well-dressed.
Kim Castilla | Personal Clothier | Tom James
(210) 979-0579 k.castilla@tomjames.com
Kim Castilla is a Regional Manager for Tom James. She and her representatives keep men enviably well dressed in Nevada, Arizona, San Antonio, the Hill Country, San Marcos and Corpus Christi, Texas. With a degree in political science, she’s been with the luxury custom clothing company that has 200 offices worldwide since 2005. More than styling, Tom James provides custom-made, tailored fine clothing. While they offer women’s business attire, they specialize in seasonal and perennial fashions, made-to-measure men’s modern, traditional and formal clothing as well as sportswear and accessories.
A majority of Castilla’s clients in all her markets are business executives, business owners, or local celebrities, but she also fits wedding parties, and client’s sons needing an interview suit after college.
For her San Antonio clients, Castilla sees a lot of boots with suits. “We make pants in accordance to boot and shoe size.” South Texas influence is also noted in many men preferring western-style coats and pearl snap shirts. “For someone who is out in the field a lot like an oil field supervisor, we do made-to-measure khakis and jeans.” To address our hot, humid climate, special fabrics like tropical wool keep things cooler.
With three mills and eight factories, Tom James is dedicated to valuing their client’s time and money. “We like to say from the sheep to your back. Our vertical integration and resources cut out the middle man affording value to the client. Our clothing is direct from the factory, with a pattern custom-made for them individually.”
Making the jump from retail to custom can be not only one of savings but also one of superior quality. “Our custom clothing will fit better than anything in the store. Off-the-rack you have your chest size and then sleeve lengths of regular, short or long. We take 40 measurements for a suit and 9 for shirts.” And while store suits use assembly line construction, Tom James has a lot of handwork. Depending on the style and suit, it can have 40 – 60% hand-sewn to 100% hand-stitched. “Our materials are lighter, more comfortable to wear and have a memory mold when you wear them.” Mass produced suits can have glued construction, but Castilla says, “We use horsehair, free-floating chest pieces.”
Hundreds of fabrics are offered in varying choices like finest bespoke wool, cashmere, linen, cotton, seersucker, bamboo and silk for suits, sports coats, trousers and shirts. But there’s also plenty of opportunity for personal style, “We offer a full range, even exotic fabrics. If you want cashmere with mink and platinum pinstriping, we can accommodate you.”
Working with a four step process, consult, style, tailor and deliver, Castilla visits clients typically two to four times a year around seasons spring/summer and fall/winter, coming to the client’s home or office or wherever is convenient. She’s even done appointments at private airport plane hangars. Armed with a software program and iPad, she asses their current wardrobe, creates a personalized list for wardrobe needs and will even clean out your closet. “We provide great service and want to make it easy for our clients.” She’ll even take your eligible castoffs to a consignment shop and the rest to charity, “We deliver a check and a tax receipt.” Expert tailoring ensures a great made-for-you fit. Deliveries are made and finally, a color chart and “what goes with what” style guide is provided for everything right down to socks and shoes.
Clients find their custom clothing lasts longer than other clothing in their closets. A born-on-date on each piece of clothing ensures quality. After 11 years with the company, Castilla is just now replacing a few trousers that have held up so well for her long time clients. But if needed, the in-house tailor makes repairs, alterations and adjustments for weight fluctuations.
Erin Busbee | Personal Stylist | BusbeeStyle
Erin@BusbeeStyle.com
www.BusbeeStyle.com YouTube channel BusbeeStyle TV
Erin Busbee knows how important appearance is, after an award-winning career as a CBS journalist in New York, becoming a wife and mother and a move to Texas, she parlayed her inherent passion for fashion into her own consulting company BusbeeStyle in 2009, specializing in styling ‘real’ women. Erin’s goal is to share her styling expertise with her contemporaries . . . 40+ year old women.
As a style expert, Busbee has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS 2 News This Morning,” and “San Antonio Living,” and speaks before major corporations, colleges and charities.
Busbee and her team offer a variety of services for women for different reasons. “Most of my clients, viewers and readers fall into one of three categories: Women who feel guilty taking care of themselves, women going through a major life transition, like motherhood, new job, retirement, etc. and are not sure how to adapt their style, and women who are simply too busy to shop and learn more about their personal style,” says Busbee.
San Antonio has its own unique flair, “I think women in San Antonio love lively design details like embroidery, fringe and embellishments inspired by the rich Hispanic culture. They also love color. The San Antonio style is vibrant with a casual spin. There is always an effortlessness about the looks here.” As for the heat, “It's not easy to look chic and sophisticated when it's 105 degrees! I recommend a lot of breathable cotton pieces, and dresses for the hot summer months. And, for those who do not want to show their arms, I look for lightweight blazers and cardigans or dresses with sleeves.”
Offering three options: personal styling, fashion styling and online shopping, style-seeking women have lots of choices of how to engage Busbee’s expertise. Busbee says, “Great style is about the complete head-to-toe look, including shoes, bags, accessories, even hair and makeup! I help women with all of these areas.”
Personal styling: A free phone consultation determines your most pressing shopping needs. Busbee or team will strategically select a store and pull clothing based on budget, age, body type and lifestyle needs. Clients go home with well-fitting pieces that add style, sophistication and ease to their wardrobe.
Fashion styling: A thorough review of your existing clothes and accessories and put together fashionable head-to-toe looks showing you what to wear. Pictures are taken of each look that you can upload to have a catalog of your stylish outfits.
Online Styling and shopping: Carefully selected online clothes and accessories based on your age, body type, budget, and lifestyle needs. Clients provide a shopping wish list and BusbeeStyle will deliver the suggestions directly to your inbox.
BusbeeStyle online platforms offer expert advice on outfits, shopping and style.
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