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Suit without tie guidelines?

gateslion

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I really like the look of a suit with unbuttoned shirt and no tie. Maybe not for the office, but for taking a chick on a nice date or something. I think it looks great without being too stuffy, and it seems really flattering for a tall athletic shape. Unfortunately I have no idea the rules on making this look work. Hoping you guys could spell it out for me? Especially which cuts, styles of suit, fabrics, how many buttons, etc? Thanks.
 

NORE

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this can look good if the shirt collar is high and stands up on it's own, preferably a spread collar.
 

Mac

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Google Tom Ford. He does it amazingly well. As long as the collar stands up on its own without flopping—I've found stiff and point collars work best, rather than spread. I often do crisp white shirt with two/three buttons undone, dark suit and a pocket square.
TomFord2.jpg
 

Kslim

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3 buttons. Gotta show a little skin!
 

Ianiceman

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Ford looks like a seventies lounge lizard with his receding hairline and too many buttons undone. Clooney is the master of this look IMO.
The biggest mistake I see is when the shirt collar flops down over itself. Like Mac just said, make sure your shirt collar holds up. IMO you need a point or medium spread not a cutaway, and if you spray a bit of starch on when you iron it will do the trick.
 

MrG

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+1 to spread, stiff collars that stand up/don't flop out. Also, I'd go with barrel cuffs.
 

Mudhiker

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Originally Posted by gateslion
chick on a nice date or something.

Hypothetically speaking.
 

Orsini

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The "rule" would be to wear a tie.
 

Imhoff

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Originally Posted by Kslim
3 buttons. Gotta show a little skin!

No. This will often make you appear as a douche or gigolo. 2 Buttons is max on this and little to no (preferred) chest hair should be seen.

Originally Posted by NORE
this can look good if the shirt collar is high and stands up on it's own, preferably a spread collar.

+1 On this again. Stiff collar that stays within the jack lapels looks wonderful. Do not flop them outside the jacket or else you will look like a douche or gigolo (or both).
 

spitfirees20

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Originally Posted by Orsini
The "rule" would be to wear a tie.

No. Like everyone else has said, if you have a shirt made for this purpose (and a great, stiff collar truly is necessary), this looks absolutely fine.

pierce-suit-no-tie.jpg
 

spitfirees20

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Originally Posted by Imhoff
george-clooney-brad-pitt-738792.jpg


It's funny how suave and stylish Brad Pitt is supposed to look in this movie, but to anybody with even a hint of what to look for knows that his suit looks like a god damn train wreck. It's sad how the majority of the population will see nothing wrong with his outfit.
 

Orsini

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Originally Posted by spitfirees20
No. Like everyone else has said, if you have a shirt made for this purpose (and a great, stiff collar truly is necessary), this looks absolutely fine.
pierce-suit-no-tie.jpg

I didn't say it didn't. And I don't care what everyone said.
 

Svenn

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I would not button the jacket if you're not wearing a tie, too much formality contrasted with casualness. Apparently in the Edwardian/Victorian era, jackets were made to hug the torso and stay flat on the stomach without even having to be buttoned... If you had the money, I'd get a 'tieless' wardrobe made up just for that purpose- a jacket that fits snugly without being buttoned, and of course high, stiff-collared shirts. On the shirts, I've always thought it would be good to design them where the collar points would stay relatively close to each other even if unbuttoned... too much spread and you start getting the '70's lounge lizard' look
wink.gif
 

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