Like a superhero in their signature suit, our best threads can act as sartorial armor, giving us that unmatched confidence that comes with knowing you look as good as you feel. But there’s an art to formal attire. Finding a suit that hits the mark on both a flattering cut and complimentary colors can prove difficult enough, but layer in a tailored fit? It can feel like rocket science. That’s where Kenny and Danny King come in. The dapper duo behind King Brothers Clothiers craft bespoke clothing that will have you stepping out in style every time you suit up. Here, the brothers share their unique approach to custom clothing, favorite trends and tips for polishing your formal looks.
How did you get started in fashion and bespoke clothing?
Danny: We started our business in neckwear. Our first project was a tie line called the ShelbyKnot Collection, where we partnered with broadcasting legend Don Shelby. Don introduced us to his suit maker, Kingford Bavender, who became our mentor in business. After a couple years of being intentional about learning from Kingford, we shifted our business from ties to custom clothing and the rest is history!
What inspired you to launch King Brothers Clothiers?
Kenny: As twins, we have always understood the power of clothing in a different way than most people do. Growing up, our clothing was the only thing we didn’t share because people would associate who we are with what we wore. “Kenny is wearing red, and Danny is wearing blue. That’s how I’ll be able to tell you apart today!” We didn’t always know we would be in the clothing business, but we always knew we’d do something together. We have always gotten along well and when we’re working together, we are able to tap into something additional.
D: Our clients often comment on the “twin thing” they see in action when we’re working together. It’s a really cool experience and impossible to replicate outside the walls of our shop. So, having been as intentional as we were about our clothes growing up, it makes sense that this is the business we’d find success in.
K: We love what we do, and we know it shows in every appointment we have!
What sets King Brothers apart from other menswear and formal attire boutiques?
K: For starters, we use a bespoke process. We don’t work off of a block pattern or stock silhouette like a traditional made-to-measure process does. This allows for a better looking and more comfortable fit for the customer. We also pride ourselves in the experience we deliver. We are extremely efficient in our appointments, maximizing the customer’s time with us. We are unapologetically luxury and high-end, and cater to clientele who understand and appreciate that.
D: Our unique style (both fashion sense and business sensibility) has brought about some really cool opportunities to work with people who want to work with us. People like Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell, Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (of strongman and Game of Thrones fame), CrossFit’s Mat Fraser and reigning Mr. Olympia Ryan Terry to name a few.
You’re the only master bespoke clothier in Minnesota. Can you tell us more about this and the difference a bespoke approach makes?
D: “Bespoke” refers to the process of creating a suit from a unique, original pattern specific to a client’s body structure. Unfortunately, the word has lost the impact it once had in the industry; most custom clothiers claim to deliver a bespoke garment, but nearly all of them use a made-to-measure process. Some think a suit can only be bespoke if it is being measured, cut and sewn by one individual called a bench tailor.
K: The few bench tailors left in the world are most certainly delivering a bespoke suit and so are we! As the industry changes, a few bespoke manufacturers have figured out a way to provide select expert clothiers like ourselves with the training, tools and processes necessary to deliver top-tier, true bespoke garments to our customers. We are currently the only certified master bespoke clothiers in the Midwest.
Any menswear trends that you’re excited about right now?
D: We’re really excited to see earth tones incorporated in a major way — greens, browns and complex versions of historically “boring” or “traditional” colors. It’s not all about blue, gray and black anymore. Everyone needs the basics, but we’re really excited about being able to incorporate some “new” colors into people’s wardrobes in a way that feels approachable, yet fun. And the great news is that they’re versatile. Earth tones are as versatile as blue!
K: We always love when trends we’ve been trying to implement end up taking root. We’ve been wearing and preaching the earth tones gospel for years, so we feel super validated that the masses are embracing them as well. Not all our trends have worked here in Minnesota — I immediately think of when we were trying to make knit ties happen in 2016 — but this earth tones trend has landed, and we are so glad!
Do you have any advice for avoiding common fashion faux pas?
K: Instead of a rule, like never button the bottom button of your jacket, there are a few things we often find ourselves telling people. One is something we hear about all the time: the everything suit. “I just want a nice, go-to suit that will work for everything.” There is no such thing as an everything suit! Sure, dark blue, black or charcoal gray are very versatile colors that can be worn in a number of different settings, but true versatility comes from having things you can wear in addition to or instead of. Not to mention, the more pieces you have, the longer everything will last. Our mom used to tell us, “Just because you can doesn’t mean that you should.” That is our philosophy. Even if you can wear the same exact suit to every occasion, that doesn’t mean you should.
D: The overcoat game in Minnesota is weak. Everyone should have at least one nice coat they can dress up or down. You shouldn’t wear a Canada Goose or Moncler jacket with a suit. If you can wear it on the slopes, you shouldn’t wear it with a suit! You can’t beat the way a classic cashmere overcoat looks and feels.
K: Dress for the body you have.
D: That’s a good one!
K: Don’t wait till you’re at your “goal weight.” Most people will never reach their goal weight, and even if they do, their body will not stabilize there. We recommend working with an expert who can make you look and feel great in your clothing with the body you currently have.
D: If you do hit your goal, you can always reward yourself by getting some new clothes to fit you in that stage. You want a closet full of clothes you can and do wear!
Where do you find style inspiration?
D: We get the most inspiration when we travel. We often find ourselves in New York City, working with customers and meeting with vendors. Much of our inspiration is drawn from there — style and business. Our shop has the vibe of something you’d stumble upon taking a walk through SoHo or the Upper East Side. That’s intentional. The clothing we wear is inspired by what we see and experience, and some of our go-to choices stylistically have come from us being on a walk through the streets of New York City and saying, “What if we started doing it this way?”