Ultimate noob thread - recommend me X in my wardrobe - post questions here please. - Page 313

Need two recommendations:

Either black or dark indigo waxed denim

Credit card holder with six total slots (more would be fine, less will not work. also prefer another brand besides Paul Smith)
This is the first one I considered but I also need a place to store cash: http://www.farfetch.com/shopping/men/maison-martin-margiela-polished-leather-card-holder-item-10263505.aspx

What to wear with:



or




Going to get one, I can't really choose. I'm a college student living a couple miles away from a beach.

Wallet: http://coronadoleather.com/i-7873011-coronado-cxl-wallet8.html (Pretty sure you could get it in any color you wanted)

Apologies, but I am unfamiliar with waxed denim.

 

nudies and naked and famous both do waxed. I can't comment on the quality of either but naked and famous seem to be pretty standard entry-level jeans.

Over the last year I lost a ton of weight and am in decent shape for the first time in my life.  Almost nothing in my closet fits me any more (I waited to buy until I got near my goal) and I have to start completely from scratch.  I never paid attention to clothes before (my usual uniform was cargos and t shirts), but I want to do this right.

 

I need to buy button downs, chinos, and maybe a sportcoat or blazer.  Casual wear for fall and winter.  I'll also need a new suit as I have some weddings coming up, but that's not the most pressing concern.   Problem is, I have no idea what stores I should start looking at.  As an example of fit, I found the Express 1MX extra slim fit fits nicely.  However I'm not sure if should depend on Express or not for my wardrobe. :)

i would recommend uniqlo for basics, i believe they have a US webstore now? check the uniqlo thread for details.

Thanks.  I like what I see in their store.  I'd also like to find actual brick-and-mortar stores as well so I can try things on and see what i like. :)

There are only 5 physical stores in the US; 3 in NYC, 1 in New Jersey and 1 in San Francisco.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a shawl neck cardigan similar to this one http://andreappleater.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/screen-shot-2010-12-03-at-12-27-07-am.png ?

I'm going to check it out, assuming we don't get blown away by Sandy. :)  I was wondering what other stores I could check out though.

You should go to a Ralph Lauren store. They make everything you could want. Get the custom fit sport shirts. Classic fit is too baggy IMO. I like their Suffield chinos. At the store they will only have select stuff on display but if you see something online they will have it in the back if you ask. For me RL is all that is needed.

Also check out Brooks Brothers. They are the oldest men's clothing chain in the US. Founded in 1818. They have a more classic look there. When buying a sport coat there research their different cuts first. Madison is the fullest and biggest cut you probably don't want that. Fitzgerald cut is what seems to be the basic choice in cut.

A lot of people suggest the Milano Chinos from BB.

For basics like plain t-shirts and hoodies I suggest American Apparel. Made in the USA in Downtown LA. They even have a store in the factory.

Hello, can anybody recommend some UK resources for a new waistcoat - I'm thinking ahead to the Christmas parties already but googling hasn't brought up much.

 

Ta

Try Club Monaco.

Just found this thread.  Hope I can contribute.  Here goes...

 

 

This really depends on what kind of look you are going for.  If you are going for the bare minimum step up, I would say you could do dark (preferably indigo) denim, white shirt, beige or tan blazer.  This is a little boring, I know, but the tie is very loud and speaks for itself.  I feel if you do more coordination, it would become increasingly more formal.  An alternative is tan or stone chinos with a navy or green blazer, white shirt.  Either of those would work well with some casual brown shoes. (You could replace jacket with vest, but I just don't like that look.)

 

Beyond those basics, there are some less versatile shirt options that would require more effort.  Olive or burgundy -on-white windowpane buttoned-collar shirt could work well, here, but avoid stripes.  I would generally stick to solid and more traditional pant and jacket options, but shirt patterns could be played with.

 

 

As has been suggested elsewhere, look into children's clothes designed for young teens.  I know I myself have great luck with slacks designed for a youthful athletic build, whereas otherwise the seat and thigh are either impossibly snug or sloppily baggy.  Youth XL (size 18-20) works well for me for athletic shirts in particular, and I assume that something similar might work for you.  A bonus advantage of this option is that the clothing is more reasonably priced.  Several popular retailers that have a separate children's line would be a place to start.

 

 

 

That works, though I'm not awed by the black/black combination, which I find less than exciting.  You could combine the black with green, for example.  Greens, reds, and light blues would work, as would white or medium-tan.  As has been suggested, you could also go for some loud sneakers or high-tops, which are ever-popular.  Basically, I think you should contrast against the denim while not clashing with it.  Blending in seems to not make the most of the waxed denim look.

 

 

 

I would have to say grey blazer.  The navy sees a little dated and stuffy, though versatile, and so I don't think it's well-suited to your purpose. I feel that is true unless you are deliberately trying to invoke the trad look for appropriateness of the environment (prep school) or to make a younger person into a more gentrified, older figure. 

 

Grey is better also because it is slightly more dressy without being over the top.  Plus, you have more pairing options.  If you go for a medium to darker grey, then you can pair with all the staple trouser colors -- navy, khaki, grey (so long as the jacket is darker and not too close), olive, black (though black is less good to pair with grey jacket).  In those combinations the grey looks polished, whereas the navy would look good only with grey and passably boring with khaki.  If you worry about looking too washed-out, then try a simple (possibly solid) pocket square in a conservative color (e.g. white, light-blue, burgundy, olive).

 

 

 

You can wear t-shirts and blazers if it's casual enough, but it is not my favorite.  Though it can be well put-together in some instances, it still pains me to see it a little. I just can't stand the look or feel of jacket collar against bare skin (which trashes the jacket anyway).

 

However, if your motivation for getting a blazer is so that you can wear nice shoes, forgettabout it!  Shoes are the one thing you can dress up almost to no end while still coordinating with a casual outfit.  As long as you avoid a cap toe or very shiny black oxfords, you should be ok.  Wingtips are a great option for dressing down whilst dressing up, as are plain-toe bluchers and saddle shoes / spectators.  Seriously, wearing any of those three options, pairing with decent (not shitty beat-to-death) denim or chinos and a t-shirt is fine!  As long as you pair your colors and leather textures well, you should be ok.  If you can find some vintage shell-cordovan, great.  Pebble-grained leather is also a good way to go.  Plain loafers work well also.  Suede is indeed more casual, and in fashion, but will draw more attention to the style of your shoes and could upset the whole casual look.  One of my standard combinations is black or brown plain loafers with denim and crew-neck longsleeve. 

 

I'm not saying that a jacket wouldn't be better, but if you are only trying to get a jacket so you have an excuse to wear nice shoes, don't worry about it.  Leather jackets can be cool, too, if you want to go that road.  In that case I would say to go for an harmonious contrast rather than a matchy-matchy arrangement.  So for example tan or beige suede shoes could go well with a distressed or textured brown jacket.  Blue suede pairs very well with black.  Brown pebble-grained also works well with all kinds of brown leather jackets.  If going for dressier black shoes, then try grey leather rather than black.

 

Ok, to answer you general question, I would say to go for unlined, unstructured 1 or 2 button blazers (i.e. with patch pockets) in either cotton or linen.  This really dresses the whole look down a lot and still lets you dress up the shoes a bit.  These can be hard to find, generally, but get yourself measured and then hunt on the 'bay and you can occasionally find some good stuff.  Sorry if that's an imprecise answer, but I have a near-impossible time finding in stores stuff that meets the above description and yet fits.

 

 

 

 

Get the louder one.  Hey, go big or go home.  I'm having a hard time giving recommendations because I don't know what style you are going for.  I can imagine this perfectly on someone wearing taupe suede chukkas, slightly worn denim, light shirt and burgundy cardigan or a not-too-bright vest or a brown jacket.  Since you are near the beach, though, even espadrilles (shudder) could work, or deck shoes, or leather sandals, with navy chinos or denim, beige or light brown vest or blazer and a discreetly striped shirt in white with green or brown stripes.  I'm assuming that's brown as a base that I'm seeing.

 

Another option would be to complement the pattern with texture and do a monochromatic look, using beige corduroy pants, chocolate suede or velvet blazer, ecru shirt or white shirt with discreet brown or taupe stripes, maybe a white linen pocket square?  Shoes could be almost anything brown, then.

 

Many options for the crazy (but cool) scarf!  Could also do a navy blazer with brown corduroy pants, grey cardigan and white shirt.  Or denim with tan corduroy jacket and taupe shirt, preferably striped.  Feel free to respond with further refinements or confinements so as to better tailor an answer.

Looking for a leather jacket, I've never had one before so I don't know much about them. I can't remember what the style I'm looking for is, but I remember it doesn't have much of a collar.

Basically I'd like something like that, in a dark brown. I'd look by myself, but since I know no nothing about leather jackets, I know I could likely end up with some cheap pleather garbage if left to my own devices. Also I don't know if is possible, but I don't have a ton of money, if something like this would be available in the price range of $200.

Yeah very specific request I know.