How to Dress

[theinevitable]

will people think I'm a loser if I wear a tie-clip? I like them so much, for some reason.

also: where do you buy dress shirts that do not cost 2 million dollars? I feel like I need more than 2. At least, eventually.

[Arachno-capitalist]

will people think I'm a loser if I wear a tie-clip? I like them so much, for some reason.

also: where do you buy dress shirts that do not cost 2 million dollars? I feel like I need more than 2. At least, eventually.

No. Tie clips are functional and always in style. Tie clips themselves can run in price like cuff links from really cheap to jewelry class. If you want dress shirts, there are almost always sales going on at the major chains. Around here its Mens Warehouse, Jos A Banks, or sign up for the e-mail lists of the better places like Brooks Brothers and you'll get tipped off to 2 for 1 for 3 for 1 deals. All of these places will have tailors who can find your perfect size and cut for free in like 2 minutes.

[Asherdan]

I agree on both points. Remember your audience and leave off the 'gopher with martini glass' clip for interviews, however. I have and still wear my grandfathers 1940-ish gold strip clasp with ruby. I've had good luck with Mens Wearhouse on the decent shirt deals. There's one in Brentwood.

Remember, in dress shirts, to get your core items covered first. Solid colours, light striping (if any) and no spazzy collars or buttons, things that will work with navy/black and khaki, gold, brass and silver. Then you will be able to mix up looks until you need and/or can afford dedicated suit combos.

What are you doing about a watch? I finally went for the 'none' approach but still have the classic brushed stainless and the gold on reserve for high ceremony times.

Oh, and only a complete tosser would put on the tuxedo sans vest.

[Choop]

if you're wearing a tie you need to be wearing a jacket too, or else you look like a waiter.

until you get those coupons in your inbox check out discount stores like ross and tj maxx, most of the shirts there will be good for at least one wearing; just check that they have no holes or stains between the unwrapping and the donning.

[Asherdan]

Oh, Kohl's can treat you OK for a non-premium but decent shirt. You got some of them out there as well.

[Mr Trout]

Most important thing when shopping for deals is to know your size up front. A well-fitting cheap shirt looks a million times better than an ill-fitting premium one.

Go to some nice stores, Brooks Bros., Nordstrom, Saks. Start browsing the shirts and you will have a salesman ask you if you need help in a few minutes. Say you're not too sure about your size and they will measure you. Try on some shirts to see what you like. After you get a good feel for what a nice fitting shirt feels like go deal hunting at the discount stores.

[theinevitable]

is Choop right about the jacket thing?

The only jacket I have is a "sports coat" of a type I don't think adult men wear. (big fake-gold buttons)

I am pretty sure I have some sort of "membership" thing where I save money for every # I spend at Men's Wearhouse. I will check that out.

Watch: I have my dad's really nice watch from the 1980s, but it needs a new battery. it is pretty 80s/retro-futuristic looking. It is a Movado.

I have one really nice one (or at least it seems "really nice" compared to my Gap shirts) that is my size according to the guys at Nordstroms, but it is still kind of baggy around the body. I think I just need to eat more/work out. My girlfriend says I look like I have lost weight since I have been living alone, and that seems likely, as no one is pouring oil into my food anymore.

[Arachno-capitalist]

Jackets have become much more popular in recent years so there is now a wide selection of jackets that can be worn with anything from Jeans to dress #####. I personally suggest a darker grey or lightly striped jacket to start with. These will run you less than $200 but pay dividends for years. Yes you need jackets. Jackets pay off more than suits.
Watches have fallen out of favor because we can all see what time it is on our cell phones. Watches are therefore non-functional pieces of jewelry. Older guys look at watches and shoes on first impressions, but our generation doesn't really give a shit. Your movado likely fits your body type, but would look ridiculous on me. I wear an enormous breitling because it fits me, but I don't wear it to work.

[jay-ell]

Oh, Kohl's can treat you OK for a non-premium but decent shirt. You got some of them out there as well.

Absolutely Kohl's. Pedro gets all his work clothes there -- and he has a Real Job in an Office, and everything. The shirts won't last forever, but they'll be good for a couple of years, and you're likely to change sizes by the time they wear out anyway. Dry them on low to keep them looking decent for as long as possible (or, better yet, line-dry and then iron them, unless you hate ironing as much as I do).

Pedro wears shirts and ties without jackets, but then, he works at a place where his manager wears jeans on a daily basis. And he wears khakis, not black pants -- I think that makes a difference.

Black pants + white shirt + wacky tie = waiter
khakis + blue shirt + subdued tie = young professional

IMHO, YMMV.

He wears ties to work because he's kind of youngish (compared to most of the people at his level) and wants to be taken seriously. My dad gave him this advice, and it seems to have worked out for him. His friends tease him, of course, but he has also been invited to a lot of meetings with people much, much higher up than he is because they are Interested in his Ideas, so maybe there's something to it.

[Choop]

Inev take that blazer and stash it in a safe place like a box marked "Halloween" somewhere. Never wear that thing anywhere except as a joke.

Stick with two or three buttons on your jacket, more than that went out in '02. Every man should have a suit in black, navy, and gray; they should not all be solid nor all pinstriped. Select your ensemble depending on the purpose of wearing it; a job interview at a large, old company requires a suit and tie, whereas a smaller company might be impressed if you show up in (say) jeans, white dress shirt, navy jacket, and bold pocket square. Jackets that aren't part of a suit are great too, but don't try to match ##### to them because that'll never work.

The only suitable shoe to wear with a suit is a lace-up dress shoe, wing-tipped or not. And always remember the cardinal rule: Socks match ##### not shoes - socks that match your shoes makes you look like you're wearing boots. Matching socks to shirt or tie or square is such an advanced technique that most of us don't bother to try for fear of failing.

[theinevitable]

yeah, a lot of men's watches look huge on me.

I like this jacket idea. I have kind of always wanted one.

Kohl's has already proven itself to me by having Levis for cheaper than anyplace else I looked.

damn, my best outfit is definitely black ##### + white shirt. My ties are not wacky, though. My dad thinks they look "old fashioned," which means they are stylish in my opinion. Navy blue, bright orange, green/aqua striped, light green, very skinny dark green. And one old crappy one that I like but would not wear when I wanted to be taken seriously (it is the one in my facebook picture, but you can't tell in the picture that it cost 3$ at goodwill. it is kind of fuzzy with wear.)

I have a pair of khaki ##### that my dad says are not dressy enough. I can't decide what this means, because I am not applying to be president of a financial company, I am applying to do data entry. He says they aren't dressy because they don't have a crease.

today, my best friend is coming into town for a week or so. Not sure whether he will want to sleep on the couch, or on a bed that I don't have sheets for. Either way, I need to recycle a lot of beer bottles that are lining every surface of my apartment.

[Choop]

pleats: don't let them happen to you

[Asherdan]

Yes you need jackets. Jackets pay off more than suits.

The independent jacket concept is definitely on the good idea shelf. I have suits but get far more regular use out of jackets that can move freely between pant/shirt choices. I prefer a two-button, non-metal.

pleats: don't let them happen to you

Oh hells yes. One crease that could shave you is all the good lord requires.

[CortJstr]

Which is weird because pleats started appearing more with the popularity of the cell phone. Since the whole point of a pleat is to help mask things in your pockets.

I'd heard your socks should be in between your ##### and shoes to blend them. Oh, and shoes should match belt in both color and material.

[jay-ell]

Which is weird because pleats started appearing more with the popularity of the cell phone. Since the whole point of a pleat is to help mask things in your pockets.

I thought the point of pleats was to help mask wood in your jockeys.

But they are not flattering, especially on skinny guys. Go flat front.

And I think your dad is right about the crease. The fact that they're khaki doesn't matter, it's how they fit. If they're cut like jeans, they're too casual for most offices.