Casual the true mark of well-dressed?

Good point Parker. I think the biggest underrated accessory for men is *attitude*. The really well dressed guy, regardless of what he's wearing, has that panache and you know he never cares about what anyone else thinks of his gear. of course, there's a very fine line between having this attitude based on a good sartorial foundation of knowledge, vs. having the attitude based on ignorance and just thinking you're hot ****. It's nothing easily defined but you know it when you see it.

I've talked about this with other fellas and it's almost like a "mythic sartorialist", the kind of guy you see once in a blue moon on the streets and you wonder what the rest of his life is like and where he's going. Cuz as much as folks can list their expensive shoes and suits, on paper has no comparison to just seeing a guy in real life and taking it all in (one of the nicer parts of Scott Sartorialists' photos, when he really finds a great subject)

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

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Oh really? I bet if someone posted a picture of a Target suit that was well tailored and fit nicely in WAYWN, and called it a Brioni or Kiton suit, he'd get all sorts of props on how nice the fit and how elegant the drape was.

Don't waste your money, because it's a sucker bet. I've already done it (and no one blinked an eye)

Well, getting the fit right alone is hard. I have only seen one pic of your Merona suit btw in the thread about an inexpensive suit, looked pretty good . All the ones at Target around here are all synthetic, no wool suits (AFAIK at least)...

So, will anyone try to take on my question regarding warmer climates? I am really curious to see how people would approach that.

Originally Posted by Get Smart

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I really like the Bergdorf/Paul Stuart dressy-casual look you're referring to, but I don't think most guys can put together an outfit like that with much success, leading back to my original assumption.

I think you're right; that's why business casual ushered in an era of poor style: without a safe, good looking option, many men foundered.

Originally Posted by skalogre

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Oh ok, thanks Chorse123, I see it. Some of that is nice. Well, not the ones with the leaf and what appears to be small animals everywhere. But I have to agree with Jason as for being "too dressy". Here at least IMHO it is worse as anything not involving open toed footwear and khaki trousers/shiorts would be considered "dressing up"

Plus I just don't wear sportcoats. I like suits but feel far too self-conscious in sportcoats; that is a dealbreaker for me, if I don't feel like it is a natural thing for me to wear I just won't feel comfortable wearing it. I also don't like a lot of the Ivy League styles Jason and many other here like using as points of inspiration...

So what happens to us in warmer places where layering (something I love doing) is a rare luxury?

If you don't want to layer but want to look fairly dressy you can always go with a linen shirt (short or long sleeved) with off-white or khaki colored linen or tropical-weight wool trousers, and boat shoes or something of the like... perhaps with something nautically inspired.

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

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If you don't want to layer but want to look fairly dressy you can always go with a linen shirt (short or long sleeved) with off-white or khaki colored linen or tropical-weight wool trousers, and boat shoes or something of the like... perhaps with something nautically inspired.
Mmm... I have half a dozen linen shirts and some lightweight trousers. Boat shoes terrify me almost as much as sack suits, crab shorts and loafers P.s. I am hoping the incredible luck we had with Target's much improved clothing this winter extends to some decent linen shirts and lightweight wool trousers this summer :fingers crossed: I'd rather get some decent fitting things for very little

Originally Posted by skalogre

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Mmm... I have half a dozen linen shirts and some lightweight trousers. Boat shoes terrify me almost as much as sack suits, crab shorts and loafers

Heh, I have a couple pairs that I wear with jeans or light colored trousers of varying materials. I sorta like the contrasting colors and they are pretty non-slip

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

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Heh, I have a couple pairs that I wear with jeans or light colored trousers of varying materials. I sorta like the contrasting colors and they are pretty non-slip

You are a brave man

This thread gives me an (admittedly imperfect) opportunity to threadjack and trot out a pet theory of mine about clothes, the "rules" and class.

Here's my theory: A lot of the rules that govern when certain combinations are acceptable/OK have the effect of limiting the flexibility of clothes. This lack of flexibility requires those who wish to be well-dressed to purchase more clothes than they otherwise would. Example: To have a range of "proper" shoes for a variety of occasions, one would "need" oxfords, bals, formal shoes of some description, etc. A less restrictive set of rules might allow one to get by with 1/3rd as many shoes.

These rules, taken together, increase the burden of maintaining "proper" dress. This in turn makes it harder to fake proper dress through a variety of occasions on a shoe-string, and so allows people to better distinguish between fakers and the truly respectable.

So, that's it, in not-quite-a-nutshell. The rules, in part, erect a class barrier to dressing "appropriately." Discuss.

Quality of fabric and construction is hard to evaluate without a brand name to correlate quality for you via one picture alone; however, fit can more easily judged.

In the real world, we would all immediately discern $100 target suit fabric, construction within seconds.
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Casual is much tougher to have a consensus, it's rare people rave on about casual attire on Whatyouwearing. Whereas Suits have the general rules we all aspire to and can evaluate well.
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We also get an influence from the street wear crowd where sneakers/jeans and t shirts/hoodies are studied to an nth degree to very ages to those who would wear ascots and sportcoats. Casual on style forum is very broad.

not sure what you mean by "fakers"?

from what I read, a guy with say 2 suits/3 pairs of shoes is a "faker"?

Originally Posted by Get Smart

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I really like the Bergdorf/Paul Stuart dressy-casual look you're referring to, but I don't think most guys can put together an outfit like that with much success, leading back to my original assumption. And unfortunately by today's standards that would be considered dressed-up, much in the same way as a suit/tie.

For me, one of the ultimate examples of a great casual dresser was 60s/early 70s Steve McQueen. He tied together a classic ivy influence (which I think is a great foundation for smart casual) with his own touches.


I do like McQueen's look, it holds up very well. It's classic yet modern, not too fussy yet still well dressed. I like his 'Bullett' wear alot. And he looks like a man not a high schooler, slob, etc. He pulls off a sportcoat well in this movie. A very timeless look.

Originally Posted by Get Smart

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not sure what you mean by "fakers"?

from what I read, a guy with say 2 suits/3 pairs of shoes is a "faker"?
See, I don't buy this. Some of the best dressed guys you will ever see are the old ones with two suits and a sportcoat and who look good at all times whether they are in a sweater and levis or a suit. I kind of agree with the original premise. I find that the biggest challenge is being able to maintain casualness at all times. I really have no interest in ever looking slick or too well turned out, but I also don't want to look like crap either. To me, then, the mark of somebody who is truly well dressed is to be able to look good in all situations and to look comfortable at a football game, a nice dinner or a picnic. I guess that the right clothes are less the key than comfort.

The Paul Stuart catalog is the ultimate

Originally Posted by iammatt

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See, I don't buy this. Some of the best dressed guys you will ever see are the old ones with two suits and a sportcoat and who look good at all times whether they are in a sweater and levis or a suit.

I kind of agree with the original premise. I find that the biggest challenge is being able to maintain casualness at all times. I really have no interest in ever looking slick or too well turned out, but I also don't want to look like crap either.

To me, then, the mark of somebody who is truly well dressed is to be able to look good in all situations and to look comfortable at a football game, a nice dinner or a picnic. I guess that the right clothes are less the key than comfort.

Completely agree. Anyone can get lucky one day. Well dressed is well dressed all the time, in all situations. It does not have to mean wearing different clothes every day, though it may.

It is about that attitude. That is why most people will not look stylish, only well-dressed.

An Argentine gigolo in a sharp suit will look much better than a billionaire in a Kiton suit.