To Roll or Not To Roll (Short Sleeves/Long Sleeves/Shorts/Pants)

Hello all! I am looking to establish some guidelines for my evolving wardrobe with regard to shorts, pants, short sleeve and long sleeve shirts. There seems to be a constant debate over:

• whether shorts are ever acceptable
  
• whether short-sleeve collared shirts are ever acceptable
  
• rolling long sleeves vs. short sleeves, etc

I am just building my wardrobe so I don't want to buy anything I don't need. I live in North Carolina and needless to say the summers are quite hot. I know that the type of fabric makes all the difference (linen, light wool, etc.) but I am a college student and don't have the luxury of picking the materials that compose my clothes outside of the ambiguous cotton (of which all my pants and long-sleeve shirts are made).

My question is this: Can I avoid spending/owning twice as many clothes by owning only long-sleeve shirts and pants? Is it unacceptable (based on the conventions of traditional men's style) to roll one's pants? I see that rolling one's shirt sleeves is much more common and has a tendency to look much fine. Phat Guido seems to do it all the time.

In the same sense I have been warned that short-sleeve shirts make you look like a NASA command center engineer. Get Smart seems to pull them off well.

The long-sleeve and shorts combo seems to be a staple of ill-informed cookie-cutter frat boys. This is something I would really like to avoid unless it can be done tastefully.

I don't want to compromise comfort in my efforts to be better dressed. What is the point of trying refine one's appearance if you will sweat uncontrollably?

Goal: My goal is to avoid breaking the bank on clothes and as a result the majority of my clothes will come from the Goodwill of Craigslist to be altered and fitted by myself (a skill I have spent some time developing).

Hope ^this^ was at least mildly clear! Thanks in advance.
Bill

Short Sleeve vs. Long Sleeve is a matter of preference. I don't wear any short-sleeves myself and enjoy rolling my sleeves. I guess from a $$ point of view you can have all long-sleeves.

Shorts can look good if you are taller. They make me look like a kid.

If you want to save money just look out for j.crew sales and such.

Short-sleeve button-downs have been absent from my closet for the better part of five years for the reasons mentioned. I recently decided to begin adding a few into my rotation, though. I think the most important aspects of preventing the nerdy look is to get a good fit and a pattern (if you're not dealing with a solid color) that works for you.

you can always go to like H&M or whatever cheap store for linen shirts

i do like to roll up the long sleeves for a more casual yet dressy look.

i use to wear a couple nice military style short sleeve button ups. they did look sharp although i do believe if u are a slim/fit it looks better. And for me with the short sleeves i needed the sleeves to be shorter than normal. ie. just slightly below the round of ur shoulder.

not a big fan of shorts unless im on vacation or near the water. as trying to look stylish with hairy legs doesn't scream out at me.. lol

I'm curious too about the rolled long sleeve shirt/ shorts look. I've done it with the sleeves unrolled (I had a J.Crew lightweight shirt tailored too tight in the sleeves to be rolled) but I want to get the same shirt in other colors and wear the sleeves rolled with shorts. Obviously, tailored, plain front knee length shorts, nothing baggy or with cargo pockets.

There's a lot of overthinking on the forum these days...

these days?

*Zip-Offs! Why didn't I think of those? Well then, problem solved.

Thanks for the insight on J-Crew and H&M. While I don't purchase new clothes with any sort of frequency, I will keep these places in mind the next time my funds come back to me. Nothing like starting a new hobby (dressing well) that requires money at every turn just to participate. I should have joined a Bridge club.

There seems to be a theme in the responses I am generating:

• Get Smart is an enigma with regard to the PC-Repair Man short sleeves
  
• Cut and Pattern is everyting (as it always is)
  
• ...and yes, there is a lot of overthinking.

Overthinking? Absolutely! I am a product of my generation which is incapable of thinking independent of rules. I am trying (clearly on SF) to establish what I am "supposed to do" with regard to every aspect of my new "looking well-dressed" pursuit. Perhaps, that is my first mistake. Never thought I would make a formal internet request to roll up my sleeves but here I am.

Originally Posted by whodini

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There's a lot of overthinking on the forum these days...


Is there? Help! I need advice on how to overthink. Or, Recommend me some things to overthink about.

I roll long-sleeved shirts. I wear polos and short-sleeved shirts, so long as they hug. I don't roll trousers.

I wear shorts. I cuff shorts.

I prefer to roll long sleeves than wear short sleeves. There's less margin for error. As long as you're not wearing black socks, I don't see any problem with wearing shorts. Perhaps it's beneficial to ankle-roll your chinos in hot weather? I've never done it but, if it's hot, why not?

If you can roll your sleeves, they are too baggy.

s/s buttondowns are a staple, as they can be worn year round in socal (add a sweater for chillier days) just find a brand that has slimmed down sleeves so they dont flare out. Today I'm wearing a black gingham s/s buttondown from Jump the Gun and it fits really slim thru the body with slim sleeves, but there are plenty of other brands/styles that fit similarly

Originally Posted by converge

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If you can roll your sleeves, they are too baggy.

Wha... !?