Elhoffer Design

Check Out These New Offerings From Elhoffer Design

October 5, 2020 B Leave a Comment

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared some new items from Elhoffer! But have no fear, that post is here. There’s a nice mix of new offerings for you to spend your money on.

God of Thunder Tunic & Cape

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A post shared by Elhoffer Design (@elhofferdesign) on Oct 2, 2020 at 9:37am PDT

People have been asking for a Thor inspired piece and here it is! The God of Thunder Tunic & Cape is a fresh pre-order that’s on schedule for December. The cape is removable for those days where you don’t want to be extra. And yes, it has pockets!

Interstellar Prodigy Shawl Shrug

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A post shared by Elhoffer Design (@elhofferdesign) on Sep 30, 2020 at 10:37am PDT

The Interstellar Prodigy items are always a huge hit and this shawl is no different. It’s perfect for those of us who still need to go into a freezing office but still want to look cute.

Peplum of Power + Shorts

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A post shared by Elhoffer Design (@elhofferdesign) on Sep 26, 2020 at 9:00am PDT

The Peplum of Power Set is everything a She-Ra fan could want. The pieces are sold separately which is great. It makes it easy to mix and match and make it your own look. I know it’s a lot of white but don’t be scared! Both pieces are due in December. *whispers* The shorts have pockets too.

* * * * *

That’s all I’m sharing for now. Be sure to visit Elhoffer Design to see everything they have to offer. Don’t forget to follow them on social media that way you don’t miss out on any new or limited releases! Please keep in mind that all release dates are estimates. Sometimes things get delayed, or even arrive early! But none of it is written in stone. Oh and while you’re there, don’t skip out on checking the Starpuff Special! You never know what type of deal might pop up.

Elhoffer Design Fit Guide: Round Two

July 4, 2020 B Leave a Comment

I mentioned creating another Elhoffer fit post and here we are! Since Elhoffer Design is always releasing new styles and cuts, I wanted to revisit this post and hopefully feature some new customers and clothing. This guide will never be perfect. Everyone likes their clothes to fit differently. Some like things to be form fitting, others a little looser, but hopefully in the end it’ll help you out with what size to pick. The most important thing to pay attention to are the measurements people supply! Every listing that Elhoffer has includes a measurement chart that I find helpful. Plus she mentions the measurements of the models used in the listing. If you don’t have your measurements, I highly recommend having someone take them for you. You don’t need all of them, just the basics like chest, hips, and waist. Once you have that information, finding your size will be much easier. As always, if you have any questions or comments leave them below and I’ll try my best to help you out! The Starpuff Community is pretty great. You can always post on Twitter as well for help and someone will swoop in! You can find Round One here.

Ashley

Height – 5’4″
Bust – 47″, 42D
Waist – 45.5/46″
Hips – 46″
Size: 3XL (dresses, leggings and non-oversized tops), 2XL (wrap dresses, midi skirts and knit skirts), XL/2XL (oversized sweaters), XL (unisex pieces)
Extra thoughts: I’m a standard US 16/18 in pants, skirts and dresses, however depending on fit I may be a US 20. Elhoffer is true to size for me and fits better than clothes that I get in typical retail stores. It’s loose enough to where it’s comfortable and flattering without being baggy, which is an issue I run into elsewhere since I can float between sizes.

Devyn

Height 5’6”
waist: 33in
hips:39
butt:46
bust: 38.5
biceps 14.5
weight: 205
Extra Thoughts: I wear Larges sweaters/ dresses/skirts or if they are combined sizes m/L except the red wrap top with is a medium.

Katarina

My measurements are 32 bust, 25 waist, and 36 hip. I purchase XS’ and they fit pretty spot on even if I measure closer to a S on some pieces. It’s the beauty of the stretch that practically every piece has. In fact I have a small cardigan that I bought on Black Friday and ended up taking it in. I’m only 5’1 so I do have to hem the longer dresses and capes are a bit more epic on me length wise but it’s easy to add a hem so I’m not bothered by that. The clothes are always a great quality that fit my frame and make my nerdy self feel put together and stylish.

Chelsea:

Height: 5’5″
Bust: 51 inches (40 DD)
Waist at Belly Button: 53 inches
Waist above belly button: 51 inches
Hips: 56 inches
Dresses, tops, skirts: 3x
Oversize items: xl/2x

Thoughts: I am a pretty standard 3x in most things Elhoffer. Theoretically, I can go down a size (especially in the wraps) but I prefer to have a little wiggle room for comfortability. I also have broader shoulders and larger biceps and I have never had an issue with anything being tight in the arms and shoulders. At 5’5″ I’m a pretty average height so I don’t have to worry about hemming anything and, with the exception of the original House Wraps, I’ve never had an issue with anything being too long. I am a pretty standard 3x across the board.

Amberle

Bust – 38”
Waist – 31”
Hips – 43”
Inseam – 30”
Bra Size – 32D

I own the following in small
Navy/Silver Maxi
Make it Pink Maxi
Queen of Ashes
Queen of Fire Burgundy
Burgundy Wrap top
Soviet Shell (ACE 2019)
Striped Wisdom Shell
Spider Shell
Ravenclaw Sweater (XS/S)
Black Midi skirt
Grey Midi skirt

Medium:
Marvelous Arrow Dress
Navy/Red Maxi

Heather:
Height: 5’7″
Bust: 32B
Waist: 29″
I am normally a Small in tops and dresses ( Oversized sweaters I’ll fluctuate between the XS/S to M/L depending on how I want the sweater to fit)
Medium in skirts.

Julia:
Waist – 30in
Bust – 35in
Hips (biggest part around bum) – 39in
Height – 5’2”

Name: Retired Mischief Sheath Dress
Size: Small
Fit on me: Dress is a perfect fit. Upper chest section has good stretch and is not at all snug. Length is un-altered and lands below knee at upper shin.

Name:
Retired Galactic Dark Lord Oversized Sweater – Purple
Essential High-Waisted Leggings – Black

Size: Top – XS/S
Bottoms – Small

Fit on me: Top is long enough in back to cover my um, and is oversized but still shapely.
Leggings sit on my waist and are a tad long so can be rolled or hemmed. Leggings are a bit snug on my waist but fit well around my thighs.

Name: Retired Oversized Corps Sweater
Size: XS/S
Fit on me: Sleeves hit a bit above wrist, sweater hits just below belly button and is loose. Shoulders can be worn as wide boat neck.

Name: Retired Magical Maxi Wrap Dress – Red (HEMMED)
Size: Small
Fit on me: This dress fits like a glove!! Top can be wrapped more or less to show more or less cleavage. I got this hemmed to a midi length so it hits at me knees and had the wrap ties cut a bit to match.

Name: Retired Galactic Scavenger Hooded Cape – Grey
Size: One Size
Fit on me: When the cape is hung down the tips almost touch the ground but I can drape those bits over my arms to make the cape shorter if desired.

Name: Retired Galactic Bromance Cardigan
Size: Small
Fit on me: Cardigan length hits around my belly button. The sleeves are a little long but if I need them shorter I fold the cuff back and they’re the perfect length. I have the Retired Punk and Retired Corps cardigans in the same size but with ¾ length sleeves and they fit the same way

Name:
Retired Serpent Slayer Hooded Cardigan
Retired Magical Midi Pleated Skirt – Dark Emerald
Size: Top: Small
Bottom: Small – hemmed approx. 4”

Fit on me: Top fits well but gapes a bit between top buttons when buttoned up.
Skirt fits perfectly and was hemmed to hit me at knee length rather than mid calf.

Name:
Essential Catherine V-Neck Top -Charcoal
Retired OG Agent 13 Skirt
Size: Top: Medium
Skirt: Small

Fit on me: I sized up on this top which I’m so glad that I did because I personally don’t like when tops have to stretch to fit around my torso as I feel constricted. I also have a kind of short waist-line so I don’t personally like the look of tops that stretch over my ribs and hips. That said, I can tell that this material has a lot of stretch and I’m sure that had I gone with my regular small it would have worked, the medium just gives me more wiggle room. I also love the length of this top and it works well tucked in or out.
The skirt fits great at a size small and like the magical midi skirts has a thick waistband.

Name: Retired Marvelous Arrow Sheath Dress
Size: XS!
Fit on me: I took a chance on this dress and ordered the XS because S&M were sold out and it fits so well! The knit material has such amazing stretch and in a way that doesn’t feel at all tight or constricting, and the nature of the material doesn’t pull or cling anywhere. I was worried that it might me a little tight in the underarm area but it is not.

Name: Retired Stars and Stripes Soviet Sheath Dress
Size: Small
Fit on me: This dress also fits great and doesn’t stretch much to fit me. Because of the thickness of the material it doesn’t cling anywhere. This dress is a little tighter under my arms than the Marvelous arrow dress but it’s not uncomfortable.

Bren

Height: 5’10”
Bust: 42″ / 36D
Waist: 36″
Hips: 42″

I’m normally a Large in most things (shells, leggings, skirts, wrap dresses, tunics, sweaters, cardigans), but can size down to Medium on wrap dresses if needed. I have the Catherine tops in Large, but they’re a bit tight, so I could *maybe* go up a size – next color release! Also, the skater skirts that are top stitched I’m an XL or 2XL (which is a bit loose, but I didn’t get an XL so can’t test this theory).

Kacey:

Bust: 38
Waist: 34
Hips: 41
Generally I’m a 12, or Large in most US sizes.

Pic 1: bravery cape wrap in medium
Pic 2: yule ball dress in large (could have gotten a medium)
Pic 3: essential oversize sweater in M/L and skater skirt in L
Pic 4: magical midi in M (now I size up to L since it presses on my ribs and they are my widest part)
Pic 5: skater skirt in M
Pic 6: maxi skirt in L, with this fabric, I do feel I could have stayed at a medium based on where I wear the top of the skirt
Pic 7: mischief shell in L
Pic 8: mischief shell in M
I was ordering the shells in a large, bit have since changed to mediums, and out of necessity, even a small works sometimes
Pic 9: snips shell in small

Stacey:

I’m 5’9” with 36” bust, 29” waist, and 34” hips. I typically wear Smalls across the board with Elhoffer, with the exception of shells and skirts. I prefer the fit of XS shells and Medium skirts compared to the Smalls.

Liz:

Height: 5 5
Upper Arm: 13.5”
Chest: 39.5” ( 36”/ B cup in Vic S bras)
Waist: 36”
Hips: 43”
Thigh: 25”

Large in purple essential skater skirt, sitting right under bra
Large in black slip, hand showing where pocket sits
Large in vanilla slip, wearing a gray/ purple bra to show how see-through the fabric is
Large in the Leia cardi
Large in R2D2
Medium in Hades

The 30 Days Of Elhoffer Fashion Challenge

December 2, 2019 B 2 Comments

I’ve tried to do challenges before and always fail. It doesn’t matter if it’s nerd related, just posting a random photo every day, I always just end up lasting a day or two and then forgetting about it. Not this time though! When Elhoffer Design announced she was doing a 30 day fashion challenge, I knew I had to do it. It would be a good way to step outside of my comfort zone a bit and I knew I had more than enough of her items to make 30 days happen. The hard part was just matching up what I own with the different themes and trying to get decent photos. I didn’t want every photo to be a work bathroom selfie! Thankfully my Mom and my BFF stepped in to help. When Manda came out for a visit, we actually stockpiled some photos. This is probably the number one tip I can offer with something like this. If possible, take a day and try to take a few photos. You don’t need to do all 30 days obviously, but having a few days already out of the way can really help take the stress off!

Another thing I did was print out the prompt. That way I could make notes, circle anything I thought might be a little harder, and see if I needed any help with any of them. Plus as I completed them I’d highlight them to help keep track. A few were Harry Potter related and I don’t own anything from that collection. Luckily my friend Elizabeth does so I was able to borrow a few things from her. Since I printed the list out and studied it, I knew when I’d need those photos in order to work around her schedule. Plus, if you did want to purchase a few things to help with the challenge, it would give you time to order and hopefully get them in the mail. The challenge ended over the weekend and I still can’t believe I managed all 30 days. And guys, it was a lot of work. I don’t normally think about what I’m going to wear but for a month I had to do exactly that. And I had to remember to take photos and post them. Plus remember the hashtag! While I’m a little sad the challenge is over, I let out a little sigh of relief as well.

I want to thank Team Elhoffer for all the hard work they put into this. It’s not easy to keep track of 30 days worth of entries. I know people had a lot of questions about certain things and they did a great job of answering them. Plus all the fellow Starpuffs were amazing in spreading lovely comments, advice, and sharing ideas for some of the more challenging days. Honestly, we’re all winners here. I stepped outside of my box a little bit and figured out how fashion works just a little more than before. I’m not someone who posts a lot of photos of myself on Instagram, so that in itself was a big thing for me. I’m not going to share all 30 days here, you can find my photos on my Instagram, but here are just a few of them!

New Offerings From Elhoffer Design

November 13, 2019 B Leave a Comment

It’s the most wonderful time of the year where Elhoffer Design starts dropping some amazing new pieces. The best part is everything I’ve listed here is in stock and ready to go! No waiting until next year for these wonderful things!

Corps Longline Cardigan – Green: $135

I actually ordered this one! I’ve never bought one of the longlines before but who doesn’t love a cozy sweater? It can be worn year round honestly. Throw it on over a tank in the Summer, use it to stay toasty in the Winter! I can see this being super helpful at conventions where you never know if the AC is going to be blasting or not. And I love this color combo. I’ve learned that the classic Carol colors are just not a combo I’d wear on a regular basis but I’m all over a black/green option!

Galactic Desert Pullover Sweater – Black: $95

Yes, I own this one too. I actually have this in Purple as well! It’s a very comfy sweater and I love the simple details on it. It’ll be a staple in my wardrobe that’s for sure.

Serpent Slayer Shell: $75

I absolutely love this design. It’s one of those patterns that if you know, you know. And the shells are perfection. I own I think about three shell sweaters at this point. I can wear them year round since I work in an office. You can wear them alone or style them with a button up or something else underneath like in the photo here.

This is just a very short list of things you’ll find over at Elhoffer Design. Don’t forget to check out the Starpuff Special everyday as well! It’s always changing and some retired stuff has been popping up lately. If you want to stay in the know, before to sign up for their Newsletter and give them a “Like” on Facebook.

How To Save Money When Shopping At Elhoffer Design

October 12, 2019 B Leave a Comment

Here I am, talking about Elhoffer Design again. I just can’t help it. I love her stuff and I won’t apologize for it. I do know her clothing can be a bit expensive for most of us though. It’s a justified cost but that doesn’t change our budgets or add money to our wallets magically. I’m here to help you out with a few tips on how to easily save some money when shopping her designs.

Order Early

Elhoffer normally runs on a pre-order system. That means she’ll launch something new but it won’t arrive for a few months. She’s a small company and needs to know there’s a demand for something before committing. This is honestly the easiest way to save money when shopping. The first day of a pre-order is when the price will be the lowest. Over time the price will increase, finally reaching it’s final price. One current example is the Marvelous Punk Poncho. The day it went up for order it was $90. The final price will be $150. If you order it the first day verse waiting, you’ll save $60. That’s huge! You could buy another item for that price.

The Starpuff Special

Starpuffs is what she calls her customers/fans. If you go to the front page of her website, you’ll see a large button that says “Starpuff Special.” This will change on a pretty regular basis. I want to say it changes daily but don’t hold me to that. Here you’ll find some great deals sometimes! It could be a few pieces she found while reorganizing, items that only have a handful of sizes left, or just something she feels like putting up for sale. Sometimes the savings will be pretty minimal, where you save $10, and other times you could save $100 if it’s a dress or more expensive item. I try to check the Starpuff Special on a regular basis because you never know what’s going to pop up.

Newsletter

You need to sign up for the Elhoffer newsletter! You can find the sign up box on the bottom of the home page. Not only will you find out about new designs, but you’ll get emails about discounts and sales as well. She just had one the other day where she offered 20% off pink items and donated 20% of all sales to a breast cancer charity. Don’t worry, it’s not a newsletter that will spam you.

Elhoffer Design Market

The Elhoffer Design Market is a Facebook group where people can buy/sell/trade their Elhoffer items. You can find some pretty good deals here as people clean out their closets. In most cases the items have barely been worn. I’ve used the market a few times and never had any issues. I think we’re all guilty of rushing to buy something only to realize later it doesn’t really work for you! It’s a great way to find some older pieces as well and things that sold out. A few items currently listed include the Stars and Stripes Soviet Sheath Dress, Queen of Dragons Hi-Low Dress, Loyalty Cape Wrap Top, and Galactic Senator Hooded Dress. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone is really good with listing all the details including if it’s a smoke/pet free home, any snags/stains, or weird fit issues.

And that’s pretty much it. So while her stuff might be on the more expensive end, there are ways to save a buck or two. Another good idea is to purchase yourself some gift cards. It’s a great way to stash some money away for something you might want to buy later. I actually do this with Southwest gift cards to help make convention travel a little easier. I feel like I need to add that I don’t receive anything for these posts. I’m not an affiliate, I don’t get anything if someone clicks a link. I just really love her stuff and want to help spread the word.

Elhoffer Design: A Post To Help With Sizing And Fit

September 14, 2019 B 1 Comment

I write a lot about Elhoffer Design. I can’t help it, I just really love her stuff. It’s just the right amount of nerdy/geeky without being too in your face. You can easily wear some of her offerings to both the office and a convention. But like with most online shopping, it’s hard to figure out your size. Even if you know your measurements, it can still be hard to figure out the fit. Maybe you like things tighter? Maybe you’re a fellow shortie and aren’t sure where a dress will hit. Well, hopefully this post will help you out. I reached out to some fellow Starpuffs (that’s what we call ourselves) to share their sizing and measurements. Elhoffer shoppers come in all shapes and sizes and I wanted to try and show that as much as possible. I hope this post will help some of you that are on the fence about ordering! If you have any other questions, please let me know and I’ll try my best to help you out!

Me
Height: 4′ 10″
Bust: 32DD (36.5″)
Waist: 29″
Hips: 38″
Dresses/Tops: Medium
Oversized Sweaters: XS/S
Extra Thoughts: I’m a solid Medium in pretty much everything. I do think I could size down in the wrap dresses to a Small and be totally fine with it. Since I’m short, hemming is a thing for sure with some of the longer dresses but in the knits it’s not really an issue. I like my stuff a little tighter, so when it comes to oversize items, I go with a XS/S.

Whitney
Bust:38DD
Waist: 31/32″
Hips: 40″
Size: Large

Kelly
Height: 5’8″ (and a half)
Bust: 41″
Waist: 33″
Hips: 45″
Tops/Dresses: XL
Skirts: Large
Oversized Sweaters: Size down to a M/L instead of XL/XXL
Extra Notes: “I find everything is very true to size. I’ve never had to return or exchange anything. The measurement chart is very easy to use and if you’re between sizes definitely size down as they’re not kidding about the stretch being very forgiving.”

Katarina
Height: 5′ 1″
Bust: 32″
Waist: 25″
Hips: 36″
Size: XS
Extra Thoughts: I purchase XS and they fit pretty spot on even if I measure closer to a S on some pieces. It’s the beauty of the stretch that practically every piece has. In fact I have a small cardigan that I bought on Black Friday and ended up taking it in. I’m only 5’1 so I do have to hem the longer dresses and capes are a bit more epic on me length wise but it’s easy to add a hem so I’m not bothered by that.

Samantha:
Height: 5′ 6″
Bust: 37″
Waist: 29″
Hips: 38″
Size: Medium
Extra Thoughts: Pretty much any US size 8 will fit me, though sometimes I can squeeze into a size 6. When it comes to Elhoffer sizing, I almost always get the size medium. I find that they have really generous mediums.

Ashley
Height: 5′ 4″
Bust: 47″ (42D)
Waist: 45.5/46″
Hips: 46″
Size: XL-3XL. In unisex styles I’m typically XL.
Extra Thoughts: For me, Elhoffer’s stuff fits even better than clothes I get at brick & mortar stores. It’s loose enough to where it’s comfortable and flattering without being baggy which is an issue I run into else where since I can float between sizes.

Alice:
Height: 5’2
Bust: 33″
Waist: 27″
Hip: 38″
Sizing: Small or XS depending on the style/fit.

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Colleen
Height- 69.5”
Shoulders – 15.5″
Bust – 39.5″
Underbust – 33″
Waist- 34.75″
Hips- 48″
Inseam- 33″
Waist to knee- 23″
Arm length- 23″
Size: Normally Medium
Extra Thoughts: I usually wear a size medium, but the Galactic Commander medium was too tight. My arms are a bit too long for the thumb holes in sweaters to feel comfortable. I probably should have gotten a large in the pleated midi skirt but I’ll lose the weight!!

Jennifer
Bust: 35″
Waist: 28″
Size: Mainly Small with a few XS or Medium
Extra Thoughts: I like things fitted and found that Elhoffer mediums are just a tad bit loose on me. Pretty much everything I own is smalls, except my winter soldier shell and Padme cardi are XS and my commander dress is a medium.

Ashley
Height: 5′ 3″
Chest: 36D
Waist: 30″-32″
Hips:43″
Size: Medium/Large
Extra Thoughts: I am usually a Medium but own the bravery shell in Large as I wanted the shell to be a bit longer on my frame. The Queen of Dragons hi-low is a medium, but I’ve owned the small and was able to get myself into it but I feel more comfortable with the Medium dress as it’s not AS snug on the girls.

Rachel:
Height: 5’1”
Bust: 40” (with a min padded bra and I wear a 36DD usually)
Waist: 36”
Hips: 44”
Biceps: 14-14.5”
Extra Thoughts: I included an oversized sweater (xs/s so more fitted), short sleeved cardi (L or xl. The extra large fits better over my bust but I can get away with the L if I pay attention to the type of bra I wear or just not close it these are my sun guardian(L) vs sailor guardian pics (xl)), Shell (L but rides up and I need to watch the bra with it), midi skirt (M but it’s tight! Not horribly uncomfortable but I notice I’m wearing it all day tight and I have to wear it right underneath my bust), unisex shawl (S but could have wore an XS it’s still rather large on me), the galactic dolman (xs-l and the length hits my knees) longline cardigan (L I SHOULD have gotten a M, it’s going to be tailored later), cropped sweater (xs/s it fits well everywhere but it’s tight in the arms, a m/l would probably be better overall but sample sale!), cropped sweater (L and due to the fabric fits perfectly) and a sweater that just buttons at the top or no button (L since I don’t have to worry about the girls and it fits over my biceps)

Devyn:
Height 5’6”
Waist: 33″
Hips:39″
Butt:46″
Bust: 38.5″
Biceps (which is always the area I am most concerned with when they are fitted) 14.5
Weight: 205
Size: Medium or Large

Christina: She’s the fit model for Medium! They are made to her measurements and then scaled accordingly for other sizes.
Height: 5’7″
Bust: 38″
Waist: 29″

Not sure how to take your measurements? Christina offers this advice:

A measurement tape from amazon or a sewing kit etc. for bust measure the fullest part of your chest. Keep the tape even, flat and taught. For waist put your hands on your hips and bend over. The part that “bends” is your natural waist. Do the same thing as above here. Hips should be lower than your hip bones around the top full part.

I normally have someone help take mine, that way I know the measuring tape isn’t messed up or not exactly where it should be. You can then save it as a file on your phone, or email it to yourself that way you always have them on you! I had mine on hand because I needed to send measurements off for cosplay commissions. Honestly, no matter where you shop online it’s always a good idea to have your basic measurements handy.

I can’t end this post without thanking everyone above who answered the call. I was expecting maybe a few people to submit their information but I was blown away by how many emails I received! I know for some putting themselves out there with their measurements can be a huge thing, and because of that I appreciate all of you. I really hope this post helps someone out there who’s on the fence about ordering. Is this post perfect? Not at all! But it’s something. I know it always helps to see clothes on actual people and not just models. Everyone has a different shape, even if they rock the same size. Curves can affect how a dress fits. Height can affect hems. Your chest can affect the stretch of a design. There are just so many things to think about when ordering clothes online, especially if it’s your first time.

Again, if anyone has any questions please let me know and I’ll try my best to answer them myself or find the answers. If you still aren’t sure about sizing, feel free to tweet about it! As you can see, the Starpuffs are super a helpful crew. Someone out there will be able to help you out. Please feel free to share this post wherever you want! I want to try and help as many people out there as possible. Tweet it! Facebook it! Hell, throw it on Instagram!

Edit:

Just a little edit to say I don’t receive any sort of referral for sending people to shop at Elhoffer! I just do it because I love the clothing.