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Dressing the Best
MrDoctorProfessor
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I have a dilemma. Like most men, I have an extreme lack of style. I typically wear shorts, sandals, and a tshirt/button up long sleeve. The nicest clothes I have are some slacks and sweaters. In January, I will be taking my Wife to Vegas for her Bday. I plan on spending the day doing random sight seeing around the strip and such, but I would like to take her to dinner at one of the nicer casino restuarants (Craftsteak most likely) followed by going to see one of the Cirque shows. My wife will most likely be wearing some sort of dress in the evening. My question is, what the heck do I wear? I look at things like sports coats and they either look too formal or not formal enough. Another problem I run into is, I dont feel like they would look right on me. Im 6ft 220lbs with most of my weight being carried around the midsection. Im not huge by any means, but Im rockin around a 40 in waist. I normally wear things that kind of minimize the belly I have and I feel like I would just look odd in some sort of jacket.
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Go somewhere like a Nordstroms to the "dressy" part of the men's clothing section. Tell them what you need. That's their job. They know what they're doing. They'll kit you out. They know how to do more than just ring you up. If you go somewhere cheap, those people are going to be glorified counter monkeys. Drop a little cash. Every man needs some nice clothes in his closet.
This is not something I'd attempt on your own as your current sense of fashion is severely lacking. I've seen people try and it generally turns out terribly.
And definitely listen to the above advice. Do not be afraid to ask for help. That old guy with the pins and the measuring ribbon? He's not a creeper. He knows what he's doing. Let him put his hands on you and be not afraid. You will be so much happier for it.
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It needn't be Classy McClasserson's. Most larger mall department stores will have someone competent in Men's suits to help you (if you're in the US, think like J.C. Penney's, Macy's, etc...).
And remember always bet on black! Also, don't play roulette. Seriously, it's like the worst casino game.
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Again, stay away from black. Dark Navy or Charcoal.
Macy's, probably. JC Penny, I wouldn't.
The downside to not having that final bit of finishing is you could end up with a suit that wears you instead of the other way round.
Pennys or Kohls will be more of a gamble, but should take care of you. Wherever you go, let them know what you're looking for, and go with their recommendations. Note this may include new shoes.
A grey suit is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing you can own. Go with a modern cut, but not too aggressive.
Then for going out dress it down with a brown belt and shoes, a colored shirt with no tie, and maybe a pocket square in whatever color you damn well please, or maybe white with colored piping around the edge.
In any case if you want to go a bit fancier you just swap brown leather for black, and/or add a tie, and/or use a conservative pocket square, white always works.
And everybody looks good in a well fitted suit. If you're a bit bigger around the middle it can pull the eye up to the color in your shirt and face for instance.
--LeVar Burton
If you can swing it in you budget get a tailored suit they will taper the back in to adjust for your stomach. Something off the rack and tailored will usually fit to shoulders and then tailor the length of arms. A lot of subtle things like finishing the jacket length at mid palm won't happen with something off the rack.
Finally, never be worried about being over dressed anywhere. The only exception to this rule is the beach, and even then there are beach weddings.
Satans..... hints.....
Satans..... hints.....
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A man can pick out his own clothes. Besides, a good charcoal suit goes with anything.
It's always good to have a second opinion.
Fixed.
Fixed.
Yes indeed. In my head I include charcoal in the spectrum of grey, but it really does probably deserve special mention.
--LeVar Burton
1) A good tailor will know more about menswear and be able to offer better advice re: suits than your wife. If this is not true, you need to find a better tailor. Department store assistants do not count as tailors.
2) By all means take your wife suit-shopping with you, but for the love of God, you are buying yourself a suit. You need to feel comfortable in it. You're not confident about suits and style, and that's fine: see point 1. "As the person who will have to be looking at you, she deserves a say in what you display" is just so fucking patronising -- this isn't his wedding, he doesn't need to make sure anything matches anything besides himself.
rarrrrrrrr man post fashion advice on computer man go hunt wild pig now
He never actually said he was buying a suit though, and a custom tailored suit might be a bit out of his price range. And no one is being patronizing. We're just saying, since he seems to be fashionably challenged, maybe she can help a little. And while the people at Nordstroms may not be tailors, they know how to make sure something off the rack fits right (and places like Nordstrom do do hemming and what not for a better fit) and what will look good on him.
If you sign up for the frequent buyer club you also get a free $50 gift certificate for every 200 spent.
Also, I think it's worth pointing out that for all this talk of being "fashionably challenged" and "male fashionistas", we're talking about a guy going to buy his first suit. Which should be either charcoal or navy, single-breasted, notch lapel, 100% wool, with no more than three buttons (preferably two), that fits well in the shoulders and the length -- pretty much everything else can be altered. It's the sort of thing that sounds daunting, but gets a lot easier once you narrow down some "rules" to follow. That's pretty much the most conservative suit you can buy and it will be very difficult to go wrong with it.
If you decide against a suit and go for a sportscoat, similar rules apply: wool or cotton (depending on season), solid navy, good fit.
Men's Warehouse sells not just inexpensive, but cheap suits, which means they aren't great value for money. A $150 Men's Warehouse suit will last you a quarter as long as a decent suit bought on sale for $400.
On the other hand, if you're only just breaking in to nicer clothes, a cheap suit trimmed to fit halfway decent can be really nice because if you find you don't like it anymore as you learn better how you look in a suit, it hurts a heck of a lot less to get rid of it.
As for your wife, sure bring her along, just don't let her pick anything out. She's only allowed to tell you what she thinks about the things you pick out yourself. And she has to be nice about it.
It's like comedy, only tell the jokes you like, and only keep the ones the audience likes.
--LeVar Burton
People get jobs in clothing stores because they like clothes. Asking for this type of advice is the equivalent of asking a clerk in a record store if they can point you in the direction of some mad tunes. And like MentalExercise was getting at - take their suggestions but only keep the things you actually like. Chances are you'll try on some things you wouldn't have without their suggestion - and chances are you'll like some of it.