When do you wear a sport coat?

I always feel like I am either under-dressed or over-dressed in slacks and a sport coat. Either everyone else is wearing slacks and a button-down or they are wearing a suit. How do you folks know when rocking a sport coat is the right move? Are the only for daytime? What sort of events can I wear them to?

SC = anytime.

Please search previous threads, this is a subject that has been beaten to death. Also check the WAYWERN thread, the answer will be immediate when you see many members sporting chinos / sc or dress slacks / sc etc. Welcome to the forum btw...

Sports coats with khakis at formal events, church, weddings, and if I'm feeling daring at a bar or coffee shop

Dress for yourself and not others and you will feel a different kind of confidence.

I wear them to the office (business casual) when I don't have meetings and on casual Fridays. I wear them out to dinner at non-jacket required restaurants.

I wear suits to work whenever I have a meeting and to nice dinners.



scurvyfreedman said:

Dress for yourself and not others and you will feel a different kind of confidence.

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I would, but it is illegal to expose oneself in public. Why not to jacket required restaurants?



trigirdbers said:

Why not to jacket required restaurants?

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Not to speak for scurvyfreedman, but in general if the restaurant requires jackets for men, I'll usually just wear a suit. In my experience, a large percentage of the men at such restaurants wear suits.

However, at less formal restaurants (not necessarily a McDonald's, mind you), I'll often wear a sportcoat. Often, I'm one of the very few (if any) men present wearing a jacket. Nor is this fact likely to leave me feeling uncomfortable.

trigirdbers, sportcoats are definitely not just for daytime, although there are many events which - if held in the evening - would really call for a suit, but which when held during the day are appropriate venues for the wearing of a sportcoat. What can I say - the setting of the sun often represents an increase in formality, whether one is talking about a concert, a wedding, a meal, etc. As for where you can wear a sportcoat, as Klobber points out, that's already been asked and answered many times here, and in any case the question doesn't really lend itself to a quick, one or two sentence answer.

I would point out though that a key to looking good in a sportcoat is to feel comfortable with the fact that you've chosen to wear a sportcoat. No matter how superb the fabric, how perfect the tailoring, etc., if you keep asking yourself "Should I be wearing this? Am I overdressed? Am I underdressed?" you're unlikely to appear truly comfortable in your clothes. And this will show in various subtle and not-so-subtle ways. (Much the same thing applies to wearing a suit, of course.)

And much like dating, only experience will get you to the point where you're confident and at ease with it.
--
Michael

If I'm not wearing a suit or shorts, I'm usually wearing a sport coat.

When business/formal attire is not required.

When a suit is too formal.

My boss wears a suit, so it's a nice subtle step down.

I tend to wear them rather than 'rock' them. But they're definitely casual, I wouldn't wear one to a wedding. For me a sports jacket is a daily-wear jacket, even if I'm just popping out for a loaf of bread.



pvrhye said:

My boss wears a suit, so it's a nice subtle step down.

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Wouldn't you want to dress in the same manor as your boss?

The lord probably keeps his manor private.



12345Michael54321 said:

Not to speak for scurvyfreedman, but in general if the restaurant requires jackets for men, I'll usually just wear a suit. In my experience, a large percentage of the men at such restaurants wear suits.

However, at less formal restaurants (not necessarily a McDonald's, mind you), I'll often wear a sportcoat. Often, I'm one of the very few (if any) men present wearing a jacket. Nor is this fact likely to leave me feeling uncomfortable.

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Exactly. Jacket required- I wear a suit. Sportcoat other nicer restaurants. Casual at casual.



Agatha Crusty said:

I tend to wear them rather than 'rock' them.

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I thought I was the only one who declines to "rock" his clothes. How do you feel about "kicks" as a synonym for shoes?