Outfit with the most dynamic range (socially, economically, artistically)

So I started a shared workplace, and now seem to have meetings with crust punks, artists, designers, and guys who cut 5 and 6 digit checks. I'm starting to feel over dressed and under dressed almost every day. I work around people in plaid shorts and flip flops, all black attire with DIY patches all over, and suits with ties.

I typically end up dressing nicer for a meeting and getting flack or wearing a t and getting flack from the other end. anyway, I've been thinking of creating the "perfect blending" outfits that are more ready for whatever/whoever. Something that has a bit more range.

I know the devil is in the details, but right now I've been thinking:

chucks (burgundy brogued shoes under my desk just in case)
selvage jeans
grey chambray or ocbd
some sort of cotton jacket in the closet (again just in case)

i don't know. what do you wear when you're going out, and it could be a bro bar or an art show? meeting with old money or an artist who hasn't showered in a week?

I guess I need to feel more comfortable in whatever I wear, but picking things that have more range seems like it would go a long way.



elliottw said:

So I started a shared workplace, and now seem to have meetings with crust punks, artists, designers, and guys who cut 5 and 6 digit checks. I'm starting to feel over dressed and under dressed almost every day. I work around people in plaid shorts and flip flops, all black attire with DIY patches all over, and suits with ties.
I typically end up dressing nicer for a meeting and getting flack or wearing a t and getting flack from the other end. anyway, I've been thinking of creating the "perfect blending" outfits that are more ready for whatever/whoever. Something that has a bit more range.
I know the devil is in the details, but right now I've been thinking:
chucks (burgundy brogued shoes under my desk just in case)
selvage jeans
grey chambray or ocbd
some sort of cotton jacket in the closet (again just in case)
i don't know. what do you wear when you're going out, and it could be a bro bar or an art show? meeting with old money or an artist who hasn't showered in a week?
I guess I need to feel more comfortable in whatever I wear, but picking things that have more range seems like it would go a long way.

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My advice to you would be to keep a pair of dress shoes a shirt and tie, and a suit at the office for when you meet the old money types, and just clean/replace as needed, for other occasions just be slightly more dressed than who you are meeting, basically if your office allows it and I'm assuming they do since you mentioned working along side people in plaid shorts and flip flops, then just come wearing whatever you want but have the bits and pieces in the office to use when necessary.

yeah, i keep a pair of shoes under my desk. i just feel like a db every day i change for a meeting.

"getting flack or wearing a t and getting flack from the other end."

Does this all matter? Maybe the problem is not the clothes but the people, or the management in your organization.

Dress to do well with the people who matter.

I think the OP has already defined that they all matter..

This is a perfect opportunity to chart your own course!

What are YOU comfortable in might be a good question to ask.

Based on my personal experience of working in an upscale creative environment I offer up one possible way to go.

Keep the major items within the 'safe' range and all perfectly fitted. This would mean you could wear anything from dark denim, white denim, to khaki, to wool trou. Jackets in both wool and linen/cotton. Button down collar shirts and polos. All based on trad basics but to whatever cut suits you and your build and style. (ie: if you want, go italian and little wild, or anglo and completely trad.)

Then mix it up with accessories such as belts, shoes, sunglasses, etc. etc. these can be quirky and bit off the chart as well as eccentric combos.

Unless you really feel a need to go with a suit I'd avoid it. It sounds to formal for your work environment. Are the guys with the six figure checks in suits when you meet with them? If so then I stand corrected.

Ultimately what those around you say seems not to matter much in this case - as it seems the environment is a delightful hodge podge.

BTW - if you have a boss/supervisor what does he/she wear?

As for me apart from my office suits, I also have my sports coats, blazers, trenches, classic white shirts, dark brown brogues , black loafers.



Gdot said:

This is a perfect opportunity to chart your own course!
What are YOU comfortable in might be a good question to ask.
Based on my personal experience of working in an upscale creative environment I offer up one possible way to go.
Keep the major items within the 'safe' range and all perfectly fitted. This would mean you could wear anything from dark denim, white denim, to khaki, to wool trou. Jackets in both wool and linen/cotton. Button down collar shirts and polos. All based on trad basics but to whatever cut suits you and your build and style. (ie: if you want, go italian and little wild, or anglo and completely trad.)
Then mix it up with accessories such as belts, shoes, sunglasses, etc. etc. these can be quirky and bit off the chart as well as eccentric combos.
Unless you really feel a need to go with a suit I'd avoid it. It sounds to formal for your work environment. Are the guys with the six figure checks in suits when you meet with them? If so then I stand corrected.
Ultimately what those around you say seems not to matter much in this case - as it seems the environment is a delightful hodge podge.
BTW - if you have a boss/supervisor what does he/she wear?

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thanks for the feedback. maybe this is an opportunity to not take things too seriously. be a bit business, but do it in a more whimsical way. i like that a lot. i don't know, i do meet people in suits on occasion, and i feel like i'm being judged every time i show up in sneakers (even cps) or jeans. but maybe i can wear slacks in a playful way.

as for my org, well it's *my* org. I run a coworking space and honestly, it's so much fun to be around so many different types of people, but a little like hearding cats.



elliottw said:

thanks for the feedback. maybe this is an opportunity to not take things too seriously. be a bit business, but do it in a more whimsical way. i like that a lot. i don't know, i do meet people in suits on occasion, and i feel like i'm being judged every time i show up in sneakers (even cps) or jeans. but maybe i can wear slacks in a playful way.
as for my org, well it's *my* org. I run a coworking space and honestly, it's so much fun to be around so many different types of people, but a little like hearding cats.

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Sounds like a swell place.

As for the shoes look for some soft soled suede shoes and dump the sneakers. There are some good and inexpensive models here www.afinepairofshoes.com And of course many other possibilities as well. They will only look more bohemian with some wear and tear. And that's a good thing.

As for the jeans - if they are dark dyed or unwashed selvedge they should pretty good with a textured sport jacket and decent shoes. Perhaps positively proper by many peoples standards.

As for cat herding........good luck with that.

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

I never miss an opportunity to post this video - it slayed me then and it slays me now!

(Edit: if a slim person) The type of slim-fit jacket sold at places like Bluefly probably would be a good starting point. (Wool would be more versatile than cotton. Also, a dress shirt with colorful checks sounds worth adding.



mensimageconsultant said:

(Edit: if a slim person) The type of slim-fit jacket sold at places like Bluefly probably would be a good starting point. (Wool would be more versatile than cotton. Also, a dress shirt with colorful checks sounds worth adding.

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thanks for all the replys. these are some good ideas. my build is fortunate in the real world, but unfortunate in the fashion world. I'm 5'10 190 pounds, with an 8 inch difference between chest and waist, which means it's hard to find things that don't billow in the waist.

i've been wearing cps and AA ts for so long I feel like a fish out of water.
how does some driving mocs, selvege denim, and a button down sound? guess i need to test out some of these ideas.

I work in a government office so I never wear suits to work on principal. I generally wear them at most other times though, even in the house; I don't like to be like everyone else. where I live people just to the bars in the evening in T shirts jeans and trainers or even track suits and hoody tops. If ever the fashion circles around to wearing suits again, I guess I'll stop.

I have recently had to cross a similar span at work, I sort of wear two different (figurative) hats.

I find on a typical day I wear dark denim or some chinos with an ocbd and some suede boots. With the shirt un-tucked it is pretty casual. I have a navy blue cotton jacket that looks enough like a blazer I don't stick out with the business casual crowd, but as it is unstructured with patch pockets I don't look too out of place with the non-business casual crowd the shoes also bridge that gap as well.

Not too far from your driving moccasins, jeans and shirt idea.

Judging by your mixed clients perhaps your best bet would be a pair of well fitting dark jeans, some form of brogue/monkstrap/suede captoe, oxford shirt and a sportcoat. I know lots of people here don't agree with jeans and sportcoats but it should be smart enough or casual enough to please either party. Similar to what the gentleman above suggested.

Alternatively you could just keep separate outfits in your office and change pre-meeting as some people have suggested. Maybe if you would go for the jeans-sportcoat look you could keep some ties around to up the formality depending on who you're meeting



Lord Mulberry said:

I work in a government office so I never wear suits to work on principal. I generally wear them at most other times though, even in the house

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This reminds me of the heyday of AAAC.