Tue | May 30, 2023

Max Allen: Fabulous shirts for men

Published:Monday | April 26, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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You just can't go wrong in white, especially when you are wearing a nicely made and detailed shirt like this one.
It is all about being trendy and Andrew's pose reflects confidence in this striped, 100-per-cent-cotton shirt with sleeves made to show off nicely toned arms.
Look fresh and sophisticated in this tafetta flax patterned shirt.
Andrew is definitely dressing for the temperature in this, loose-fitting white crushed-cotton shirt. This shirt is ideal for the heat of summer and is also multifunctional as it can be worn on different occasions.
Chadrick seems to be pondering his next move in this eye-catching black cotton shirt with velvet ribs.
Chadrick is as hot as the afternoon sun in this orange shirt made of seersucker fabric. And, based on his facial expression, he certainly knows he will be standing out in this one.
Quite a stunner in this silk blend two-toned iridescent shirt. This shirt is perfect for the man who wants to look and feel exceptional while at an evening function (not formal) or even a night out at a party or club.
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Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Writer

Designing is her passion. "I love being creative with my hands. I started designing and making shirts over 25 years ago. I always wanted to become a fashion designer but then I branched out into interior decorating. But I am refocusing on my men's line, Max Allen".

Max Allen was coined from the designer's name, Maxine Allen. This shirt line caters to men 18 and older who simply want to look fashionable, and feel comfortable at the same time. "We live in a tropical climate, so the fabrics used are suitable for that, and at the same time the designs are quite trendy."

Creating designs and making shirts to suit the man who frequents the social scene became Allen's interest, based on observations. "You know, I would go to parties and look at men and think that they are not properly put together, and I found myself thinking what would look better on them."

The styles are quite edgy and are not only suited for the men with bold personalities but also the ones who are on the conservative side. The styles and she says, are combinations of her own ideas and the current trends in the world of men's shirts. "I pretty much think about a particular style as well as I pull bits and pieces from different styles that I see around."

Satisfying the appetite of her many fashion-forward male clients for decades, she has gained many repeat and new customers through word of mouth. "People will wear my designs and then others will ask questions; from that I get many clients. The support I have received has been good over the years."

Clients have the option of selecting pieces from her existing collection, or on request can have a shirt made. "Orders can be done between five to seven days, but of course this depends on the specifications."

Allen's love for fabric and designing is perhaps innate as she says, her mother was a well known designer in Ocho Rios, St Ann. Today she can possibly take the responsibility for inveigling her daughter into the same field. At present her daughter is a third-year textile student at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. Maybe, quite soon, the collaborative efforts of the two will be a force to reckon with in the local fashion industry.

Maxine Allen can be contacted via email at maxinedesigns@hotmail.com or call: 882-3203.

Models: Chadrick Huslin and Andrew Spence

Photos by Latoya Grindley