A Southern Man's Haberdashery : Karl's Clothiers

English Novelist, Anthony Trollope once said, "I hold that gentleman to be the best-dressed whose dress no one observes."  If only Mr. Trollope was born and raised or lived in the Old South, perhaps he may have been better understood; for the pride involved in the process and presentation of dressing a Southern man is much obliged indeed.


For it has been said, behind a well dressed Southern man is a Southern woman; teaching her sons how do dress appropriately with style and when the occasion often calls, panache.  In appreciation to the several privately-owned haberdasheries scattered throughout the Southern region, clothiers of the Deep South including Mississippi, Virginia and the Carolina's have been customizing men's clothing and sportswear since the early part of the 20th century.  Borrowed from the old peddlers and mercers of Continental Europe; today's men's outfitters continue to retail wares and goods inspired by their brothers of French, Belgium and English descents.  


Fast forward to the 1940's in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where Karl and Delores Jabour founded their first shop, Vicksburg Tailoring Company.  As years progressed and the sons of the Jabour's segmented into the family business, The Jabour Brother's surfaced in 1950.  After graduating from The University of Southern Mississippi, son Karl became actively involved in the propriety.  Eventually, Karl moved to his mother's hometown in Jacksonville, Florida in 1987 and took the business with him, renaming it Karl's Clothiers.  With locations in various neighborhoods throughout the Jacksonville area, Karl's has called many places home; but today with the increasingly popularity of the ever-growing St. John's Town Center located in the Southside, the store has claimed its most recent home.  



Occupying approximately 2000 square feet of retail floor, Karl's newest location is a generous interior space but cozy enough to shop intimately with the staff.  Tim Shurling, Store Manager and employee for 5 years, invited South of MaDi, to take a close look at the shop and elaborate on what it offers today's Southern gentleman.  The merchandise is distinctively divided between the Sportswear attire and the high fashion Clothing area.  Centrally located within the store is the living room area inviting patrons to stay for a bit with a leather sofa, two upholstered wing-back chairs and a coffee table displaying the latest issues of fashionable men's magazines.  


Karl's father originally only featured the high fashion European-based style in his store.  The shop continues the tradition of elegant, cutting edge fashions with lines such as Jack Victor and Peter Millar.  Men can walk into Karl's and custom design their entire suit in full made-to-measure services, custom shirt design programs and in-house tailoring.  Tim Schurling assures that, "We are a men's haberdasher, and as all Southern men would have it, we are a provider of all men's furnishings."  Items are stocked to sell, including Italian neckwear with seven-fold silk ties, cuff links and men's footwear.  European influenced designs from Italio Farreti and Dolce Punta compliment such fine apparel.


One thing is for sure in the 21st century, and that is men in the workforce and off-the-clock have become more and more relaxed over the years.  Corporate firms now offer its employees more casual dress code with a collared shirt and khaki slacks as appropriate business apparel.  Karl's provides in its Sportswear an array of articles for both a casual work atmosphere and the casual sport lifestyle.  The coastal South is a tremendous influence on men's fashion.  Pawley's Island, South Carolina has introduced the line, Coast, with their motto as, "Where Taking it Easy is Serious Business."  Charleston-born, Southern Tides' iconic fish logo replaces the mass recognition of the Polo.  Southern Point features a pointer dog in its apparel which was established in 2006.  And don't forget the comeback of the bow tie!  Men both young and old are grabbing the reinvented professor-like neckwear from company's such as High Cotton, Southern Proper and Collard Greens.  The new traditional look is now fresher and bolder than ever with vibrant colors and conversational prints.  Buying featured accessories such as koozies, boxer shorts, belts and hats can accent this easy breezy attitude in menswear on the beach, poolside or on the links at the club.  


What the Southern man will wear 50, 100 or 200 years from now, one can never predict.   Bob Dylan sang about it in the 1960's, "Times They Are a-Changin' ", as the lyrical words continue to resonate in a timeless effort in all aspects of society.  However, one thing can be rest assured and that is that as long as the legacy continues in men's haberdasheries and women of the South continue to raise the young men right; Southerners can look back on the family businesses such as the Jabour's with gratitude and pride.  For the Southern man deserves to be halted and observed.....every once in a while.  


Please visit Karl's website and facebook page!  http://www.karlsclothiers.com