Produced in partnership with Wakulat Dhirani LLP, this series of Hogtown Rake workshops will give you the practical knowledge and confidence to dress better, look better and hopefully feel better. Whether you are just starting on your style journey or wanting to fine tune your skills, this series is intended for you. Also, these workshops offer an easy entry point for social entrepreneurs looking to create the desired first impression with potential funders, investors and partners.
Each workshop is conversational and interactive: participants are encouraged to ask questions, debate and input their own ideas. Most workshops will be hands on, featuring demonstrations with actual products and/or clothes.
Register for as many or as few workshops as you wish at the bottom of the page.
Workshop 1
Building a classic men’s wardrobe on a tight budget
COMPLETED
Description: We cannot all afford bespoke or luxury items but that doesn’t mean we have to dress poorly. The money you spend on poor fitting, poor quality clothes can be used carefully to buy quality.
Topics:
- Getting yourself properly measured
- Tips for clothes shopping on eBay
- Tips for vintage and thrift shopping
- How to shop sales, online and offline
- How to identify quality over price
- How to make simple repairs / Using an alterations tailor
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2015 / 7pm-8:30pm
Workshop 2
How to tie a tie (and accessorize a wardrobe)
COMPLETED
Description: A big part of a guy’s style is communicated through his accessories. This workshop will teach you how to build a collection of ties, squares, clips and so on, and most importantly, how to combine them with elegance. Plus, you won’t have to ask your dad to tie your ties any more.
Topics:
- How to choose and tie neckties and bowties
- How to pick, fold and puff pocket squares
- How to choose, wear and care for belts and suspenders
- Men’s jewellery – tie clips, collar bars, watch chains, rings, watches, bracelets, collar pins
- Hats, from casual to dress, how to choose and wear them
Date: Monday, May 4, 2015 / 7pm-8:30pm
Workshop 3
Building and caring for a shoe wardrobe
[Sponsored by Nick’s Shoe Repair]
COMPLETED
Description: Whether on a job interview or a big date, your shoes help make your first impression. Do you look sharp and professional or scuffed-up and sloppy? A clean, well-fitting pair of shoes will lift you above the crowd as well as set the tone for the rest of your outfit.
Topics:
- How to clean, cream, polish and buff your shoes (bring along a pair in need of TLC)
- Choosing the right styles for your feet and your wardrobe
- Casual to dress, oxfords to brogues, suede to cordovan, explained
- How a shoe should fit / How to measure your feet
- The importance of shoe trees
- Keeping a shoe horn and brush by the door
- Why you should use galoshes
- When to get your soles replaced or repaired
Sponsor: Nick’s Shoe Repair (my pick for best shoe repair shop in Toronto) will be providing shoe care samples for each student, as well as a special shoe care package for one lucky attendee.
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 / 7pm-8:30pm
Workshop 4
Traditional wet shaving
[Sponsored by Elvado Classic Shaving and Perma Brands Canada]
POSTPONED
Description: Most of us were never taught to shave, we just stumbled through with disposable multi-blade razors. Shaving was a chore that we never looked forward to. But traditional wet shaving, with a double-edged (safety) razor or straight razor can not only give you a better shave, it can change your life. (For safety reasons, only the instructors will demonstrate how to shave).
Special guest Jonathan Hagey of Kingpin’s Hideaway will be demonstrating straight razor shaving.
Topics:
- Picking all the right items: soaps, blades, razors, brushes, after shaves and accessories
- Pre shave – preparing the skin with an oil soap
- Shaving – building a lather with a brush, using a double edged (safety) razor and straight razor
- Post shave – how to treat the skin
- Beard/moustache care
- How to care for your shaving accessories
- “Dollar shave clubs” – how they work/are they worth it
Sponsor: Elvado (local makers of all-natural, vegan shaving care products) and classic shaving distributor Perma Brands Canada will be providing shaving cream, soap and lotion samples for all students as well as special shave kit prizes for a lucky few.
Date: POSTPONED, DATE TBA
Cost: Workshops are $50 each ($20 for CSI members). Receive 10% off if you sign up for more than one class.
Location: All workshops held at The Centre for Social Innovation (Annex), 720 Bathurst Street (south of Bloor) – light refreshments will be served.
About your instructor: Pedro Mendes is a men’s style writer and broadcaster, regularly heard on CBC Radio, and has been published in Sharp Men’s Magazine and Toronto Life, as well as the creator and editor of The Hogtown Rake. He has lead classes in building a wardrobe and wet shaving for the Toronto School for Gentlemen and completed “Valet Skills” at the Charles MacPherson Butler Academy.
thehogtownrake.com 
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