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conservative business dress WAYWRN: An Experiment

eudaimonia

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Originally Posted by MBreinin
If you are serious, you need to lay off the crack pipe. I don't give two ***** about my knots. If you are joking, I second the joke. Later, Mike
This will be the first time I'm expressing an opinion in a post, so here goes. I feel like there is a lot of backlash against the whole idea of shoelace knot criticism, but that reaction confuses me. There are all kinds of tiny nuances that people discuss on this forum: pant cuff size, monogram placement, space between jacket cuff buttons, extremely minute differences in materials, etc., all of which are legitimate topics of discussion, and really the essence of this forum. To paraphrase Manton, in the grand scheme of life these details are practically inconsequential, but in the context of the discussion they are worthy topics. I suspect that part of the reason for the strong reaction to the shoelace knot comment is that the original post regarding knots implied a "right" or "wrong" way to tie a knot, and as with many of these topics, there is not necessarily a right or wrong way. But does that mean this specific nuance of style should be completely off the table for discussion? Maybe it's not a traditional topic of men's style, but it seems to me that some knots look more elegant, and since I've started tying square knots, my shoes stayed tied longer. Edit: It's also possible that I'm still too much of a n00b to catch that this conversation is not as sincere as I'm taking it to be.
 

gdl203

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Originally Posted by eudaimonia
This will be the first time I'm expressing an opinion in a post, so here goes. I feel like there is a lot of backlash against the whole idea of shoelace knot criticism, but that reaction confuses me. There are all kinds of tiny nuances that people discuss on this forum: pant cuff size, monogram placement, space between jacket cuff buttons, extremely minute differences in materials, etc., all of which are legitimate topics of discussion, and really the essence of this forum. To paraphrase Manton, in the grand scheme of life these details are practically inconsequential, but in the context of the discussion they are worthy topics. I suspect that part of the reason for the strong reaction to the shoelace knot comment is that the original post regarding knots implied a "right" or "wrong" way to tie a knot, and as with many of these topics, there is not necessarily a right or wrong way. But does that mean this specific nuance of style should be completely off the table for discussion? Maybe it's not a traditional topic of men's style, but it seems to me that some knots look more elegant, and since I've started tying square knots, my shoes stayed tied longer.
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ndw

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Originally Posted by gdl203
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gdl - what kind of knot is used in your avatar? It's very elegant.
 

NOBD

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Originally Posted by eudaimonia
I suspect that part of the reason for the strong reaction to the shoelace knot comment is that the original post regarding knots implied a "right" or "wrong" way to tie a knot, and as with many of these topics, there is not necessarily a right or wrong way.

There is a right way and a ****** way.

Hi gdl.
 

either/or

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Originally Posted by oldog/oldtrix

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I don't think step 4 is conservative business dress WAYWRN approved. Really, it belongs in the WAYKRN thread.
 

eudaimonia

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Anyway...

I am thoroughly enjoying just about everything in this thread. Plenty to draw inspiration from.

I have been surprised to see a few instances of double-breasted jackets in this thread. Are those really conservative business dress? I see them so rarely that I wonder if they would stick out too much in most conservative business dress environments. Granted, the instances shown in this thread have looked great, and have prompted my search for a double-breasted jacket for myself. I just think if I were going to wear one, it would feel like a bit of a statement.
 

ctp120

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I know this might not fly as workwear for almost anyone in a business/office environment, but FWIW, it is what I wore to work today. So in relation to this thread-defining statement, I wonder how it will be received:
[T]he thread ... manages to articulate a position that the forums have struggled with for years: that it's possible to play at the edges of the classical guidelines without either going full-on wild, wild West (WAYW of late) or becoming entirely hidebound/crippled by social anxiety (AA).
(DocHolliday as qtd. in Manton's sig.)
DSC_0847-1.jpg
 

Redwoood

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MBreinin

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sellahi22

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Originally Posted by eudaimonia
Anyway...

I am thoroughly enjoying just about everything in this thread. Plenty to draw inspiration from.

I have been surprised to see a few instances of double-breasted jackets in this thread. Are those really conservative business dress? I see them so rarely that I wonder if they would stick out too much in most conservative business dress environments. Granted, the instances shown in this thread have looked great, and have prompted my search for a double-breasted jacket for myself. I just think if I were going to wear one, it would feel like a bit of a statement.


DB jackets are conservative business dress in theory, but in practice they are highly unusual and definitely a statement.

Wearing a DB jacket in the modern workplace suggests one of the following:

- you found it at the back of a clearance rack and are too cheap to buy a normal suit (if the fit is less than 100% perfect)

- you're a bespoke customer and want to issue a F-U statement (if the fit is 100% perfect and you are >40 years old)

- you're a bespoke customer and spend too much time on Styleforum (if the fit is 100% perfect and you are <40 years old)
 

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