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Help me find my style!

post #1 of 16
12/19/12 at 8:53am
Thread Starter 
I've been here for a while, just read and gained a lot. Didn't post much as I didn't have much to add to the community, but i'm confused and have bunch of questions I'm trying to find answers to? If I can get separate answers to my questions then that would be very helpful. Pardon my ignorance but i'm just trying to find out if SF is really for me coz I can't afford Zegna suits or Ferragamo shoes and apparently the main discussions here revolve around very high end brands.

I'm a guy who has been buying off the rack clothes, just like any other Joe. Would buy clothes from Macy's and Zara. Suits I would buy BB or of course JAB (when they were not buy a shirt & take 3 blondes with u). The more I read here the more i learn but here are my qns

1) I'm a 30yr old single guy making around 100k in NYC. I don't think I can afford Tom Ford suits and shell out 4 or 5k for a suit or 1k on shoes. There was a time when 100k used to sound so cool but today its nothing. What are good brands SF would recommend I should focus on?

2) And my main qn is purely based out of curiosity. What do ppl here on SF do for a living that u can afford 5k to 8k suits and have 20 pairs of crockett & jones coz as much as I want a closet full of crockett & jones, i just can't lol
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post #2 of 16
12/19/12 at 5:20pm
Thread Starter 
Not even 1 response frown.gif
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post #3 of 16
12/19/12 at 5:29pm
The limit of $ you spend on something is really relative. How much is too much? Personally, I try not to buy something at full retail unless I really like it. The most expensive thing I've paid full retail for is a pair of Saint Crispin shoes at $1,600. Other than that, if you lurk long enough on the forum, or visit a few good sites like www.shopthefinest.com, or a few reputable ebay shop, you can get good quality things at a steal.

That being said, I make about $40k after tax, and even with my purchases I live a fairly comfortable life.

In summary, the amount of $ you limit yourself for any item is a personal preference, but a lot of good deals can be had on this forum and/or from forum affiliates.

The total amount of retail $ on my shoe collection is approximately $6-7k, but I paid maybe half of that amount just by shopping smart.
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post #4 of 16
12/21/12 at 1:03pm
You make a hundred k a year and "can't" buy ferragamos? Are you drinking all your money?
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post #5 of 16
12/21/12 at 1:04pm
Most people here aren't paying 5-8k for a suit. Probably 2k and under.
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post #6 of 16
12/21/12 at 8:10pm
Be patient. Shop sales. Find a few things that work for you, and your wardrobe will gradually expand in both quality and quantity. I have more than enough mid-to-high grade clothing I've accumulated after a little more than a decade of Styleforum. I celebrate my ten year anniversary on the site next month!

P.S. I'm not part of 35% tax bracket, and I was a NYC graduate student for the better part of the past decade.
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post #7 of 16
12/21/12 at 9:28pm

If you are in NYC, check out Suitsupply.  Century21 for the occasional Tom Ford items.  In NYC, you have no excuse with all of the great sales.

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post #8 of 16
12/21/12 at 10:19pm

Pop some tags, bro

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post #9 of 16
12/21/12 at 10:45pm

100K in NYC really is not a ton of money, you're right.  But you're single with no kids I assume, so it's not bad either.  

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post #10 of 16
12/21/12 at 11:00pm
My brother in law, while in college was able to assemble a classic wardrobe on a Top Ramen budget. The key is to 1) have a plan 2) focus on a specific look 3) stick with colors that all coordinate, mix and match 4) look for sales and bargins 5) get quality and take good care of it.

For example, he started out with blue blazer, gray pants a few button downs some black oxfords and brown loafers (simple trad/preppy). He later added a navy suit on sale, a trench coat, etc.

Buy the best fabrics and workmanship, but not the most expensive. Places like Nordstrom have great sales after Christmas with nice wool dress pants and shirts. That is a good place to start. Also their annual anniversary sale gets major brands to do special runs at low prices for a few weeks. There are some good classic looks there. J Press has good deals and Brooks Bros has excellent sales.

You might want to check out WW Chan for a MTM jacket, some shirts or even a suit. It would be nice to set a goal of a nice MTM navy or charcoal gray suit for fancy occassions.
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post #11 of 16
12/22/12 at 1:36am
I feel your pain man, but it's all about the journey, and it'll take some time.

I'm in the camp that believes that you can buy every piece of clothing you want from Banana Republic or J. Crew and look damn good. In fact, to 95% of the population, you can be deemed a stylish and fashionable fellow. However, those in the know, like those on this forum, are aware of the benefits of owning more high quality garments from higher end brands. Thanks to the knowledge I've gained over the years, I've replaced most of my disposable GAP clothing with higher quality pieces from places like Thom Browne, RLBL, Alden, Gitman, etc.

With research and patience, you'll also learn all about the brands that carry these garments, and will likely start to make a slow transition to paying $250 for a pair of shoes as opposed to $100. It won't break the bank as long as you do it slowly and patiently, and find things on sales whenever they happen (and trust me they always do).

Frankly, a lot of people here probably spend much more than the average person on clothing (in terms of % of income). Nothing wrong with that, but it's a large part of their lives, and a hobby of sorts. Rather than spilling $2k on snowboarding gear, I personally would rather spend that $2k getting a nice sports coat and pair of shoes, seeing as how this is one of my hobbies indeed.

I think you should just try to understand the rules of style, and figure out what types of looks make you happy and confident. Start purchasing slightly more high quality clothing, and slowly work up to the Crockett & Jones shoes if you deem it as a worthwhile purchase. It may not be for you now, but as you enter this world, you'll find that it is.

Anyhow, sorry to bore you with so much talk, but that's just my 2c.

As for brands I would recommend at non-outrageous price points: Brooks Brothers, Hickey Freeman, POLO Ralph Lauren, Paul Stuart, Canali, Barbour, Filson, and Gant Rugger.

Cheers.
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post #12 of 16
12/22/12 at 3:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by myk7000 View Post

I feel your pain man, but it's all about the journey, and it'll take some time.
I'm in the camp that believes that you can buy every piece of clothing you want from Banana Republic or J. Crew and look damn good. In fact, to 95% of the population, you can be deemed a stylish and fashionable fellow. However, those in the know, like those on this forum, are aware of the benefits of owning more high quality garments from higher end brands. Thanks to the knowledge I've gained over the years, I've replaced most of my disposable GAP clothing with higher quality pieces from places like Thom Browne, RLBL, Alden, Gitman, etc.
With research and patience, you'll also learn all about the brands that carry these garments, and will likely start to make a slow transition to paying $250 for a pair of shoes as opposed to $100. It won't break the bank as long as you do it slowly and patiently, and find things on sales whenever they happen (and trust me they always do).
Frankly, a lot of people here probably spend much more than the average person on clothing (in terms of % of income). Nothing wrong with that, but it's a large part of their lives, and a hobby of sorts. Rather than spilling $2k on snowboarding gear, I personally would rather spend that $2k getting a nice sports coat and pair of shoes, seeing as how this is one of my hobbies indeed.
I think you should just try to understand the rules of style, and figure out what types of looks make you happy and confident. Start purchasing slightly more high quality clothing, and slowly work up to the Crockett & Jones shoes if you deem it as a worthwhile purchase. It may not be for you now, but as you enter this world, you'll find that it is.
Anyhow, sorry to bore you with so much talk, but that's just my 2c.
As for brands I would recommend at non-outrageous price points: Brooks Brothers, Hickey Freeman, POLO Ralph Lauren, Paul Stuart, Canali, Barbour, Filson, and Gant Rugger.
Cheers.

A number of good points, however remember one thing:

 

No one can find your style for you, you have to find your own.

 

 

It may even change over the years, however time has proven it best to stick with classics as those styles tend to be timeless.

 

 

Yes, buying quality will cost more, but it will last longer.

 

So it will cost you less over time if you don't take so long finding that style.


Edited by dddrees - 12/22/12 at 12:19pm
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post #13 of 16
12/22/12 at 11:46am
Also mid level brands that FIT great will look better than high end brands that don't fit as well.

Fit, fit, fit.
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post #14 of 16
12/24/12 at 10:37am
(duplicate)
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post #15 of 16
12/24/12 at 10:37am
"No one can find your style for you, you have to find your own" is a stock Style Forum phrase that is only half-true. There is vaguely an industry of professionals (including image consultants) that helps people find their style. Largely by getting people to reveal information and preferences. It can save a lot of time and energy (but, in person, maybe not money).

Anyway, it's the NYC area, with a wide range of clothing options and street styles, making it understandably confusing. To add one more retail possibility to the list, there's Nordstrom Rack.
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