Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › IT Professional in Greensboro, NC
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

IT Professional in Greensboro, NC

post #1 of 25
2/1/13 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 

Hi Forum,

 

I am happy to be here. I have been in IT for 8 years. I have served in the United States Marine Corps for 5 of those years. The other three have been various roles until now.

 

I am on my third week into an amazing dream job that I have always wanted to end up in. I stated out as a Tactical Data Systems Specialist in the Marine Corps. Upon seperating, finished my degree and became a Systems Engineer at Honda. I have since moved and got more credentials into IT Security.

 

The company that I am working for is very "old school" per say in the dress code. I am required by dress code to wear a suit and tie everyday besides Friday which it is suit pants no tie (jacket optional). Though I see directors wearing suits 5 days a week.

 

I currently own two suits much of which I can change the look of rather easily. #1 Medium to light Charcoal pinstripe  and #2 Navy pinstripe.

 

I have changed the look through black/brown shoes, belts and watch bands, and different shirt/tie combinations.

 

The thing I am affraid of is the lack of shirt and tie options that I currently have.

 

I have 3 tailored white shirts, 2 Blue stripped shirts (one with white collar) a pink/grey stripped, and a lavender shirt.

 

I have maybe 7 different ties I change the look but I am wondering with these two suits what would be the best option for creating more looks?

 

Also, I want to add another suit in the next month or so and have no idea in what direction to go. Solid? Color?

 

Thanks for any and all help in advance. I will be posting pictures of some looks that I have this evening with my grey suit. (Navy suit is getting tailored again)

 

`jkbucksot


Edited by jkbucksot - 2/1/13 at 1:31pm
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 25
2/1/13 at 2:56pm
Welcome to the forum. You should read the Stylefirum 101 guide to dressing for a job interview. The same look works well in an old-school business formal environment.

You do need more shirts. Ideally you want about 15-20. To stay versatile, most shirts should probably be blue or a blue and white combination like stripes of various widths, check, solid etc. you might want 1 or 2 white shirts as well. To start with, avoid the contrast collar shirts, as they stand out more, and make it more obvious that you are wearing the same shirt.

As for your next suit, definitely get a solid. Navy and charcoal are good choices.

What do you have for shoes? This is an important component of an outfit and often overlooked by those new to tailored clothing.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 25
2/2/13 at 11:20am
Thread Starter 

Thanks msulinski for the advice. I will be picking up a couple of shirts a week. Went and got a solid blue shirt and a yellow tie today. 

 

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 25
2/2/13 at 11:29am
Thread Starter 

I also had a question about watch bands. I know it is very nit picky but being a Marine I am very particular about my appearance. My wife bought me this very nice Citizens Eco Drive when I got my new job. I know it isn't very expensive but this thing wears and looks very nice. It is super slim and my shirt cuff slides over it without any problems.

 

My question about it is when I will be wearing brown shoes, brown belts with a suit, Am I too OCD to want to have my watch band match the brown as well? I have this one watch besides my sports watches and tactical watches I wear when we are out and about in jeans.

 

 

 

Citizen Men's BM7190-05A Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Date Watch

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 25
2/2/13 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkbucksot View Post

Thanks msulinski for the advice. I will be picking up a couple of shirts a week. Went and got a solid blue shirt and a yellow tie today. 

 

I recommend youget lighter blue shirts. This is quite dark. Something in sky blue is ideal.

Reply
Reply
post #6 of 25
2/2/13 at 12:07pm
Thread Starter 

Would you suggest any shirt makers over others? My measurements are 17.5 32/33 for shirts. I have to get the slim fit and most of the time still have to get the shirts tailored even more on the sides.

 

Is there any good stores online with decent shipping that you have used?

 

Here is a picture of me at Thanksgiving. I have started cutting and have lost 15lbs. So you can see I have very broad shoulders and a huge neck. A tailors worst nightmare....or buyers.

 

Reply
Reply
post #7 of 25
2/2/13 at 12:23pm

I like Charles Tywhitt and TM Lewin. Both sell decent shirts for reasonable prices. TM Lewin is in the UK, so online only for you. Charles Tyrwhitt has a small US presence in NYC and DC only. Otherwise, you are looking at online only as well. If you can make a trip up to DC, I highly recommend stopping in, getting measured, and trying on their samples. Then you can mail order whatever you want. Both makers have whole sleeve sizes (none of this 32/33 stuff; it is 32 or 33) and 3 fits, each with increasing slimness. You are likely going to need the slimmest cut from each maker.

 

For a local source, try going to Brooks Brothers. They are a little more expensive, but also offer the same fit options as the above makers (3 fits, whole sleeve sizes). For me (16/33), BB extra slim fit is about the same as Charles Tyrwhitt extra slim fit.

Reply
Reply
post #8 of 25
2/2/13 at 12:26pm

Regarding your watch band question, I am not really the one to ask, as I wear a watch with a metal bracelet. I don't try to match my metals either. There are some on this forum who will try to match leather colors, and others who find the practice ridiculous. If you do go down this road, I suggest keeping things simple and getting only black and brown. Don't try matching the exact shade of brown.

Reply
Reply
post #9 of 25
2/2/13 at 12:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by msulinski View Post

I like Charles Tywhitt and TM Lewin. Both sell decent shirts for reasonable prices. TM Lewin is in the UK, so online only for you. Charles Tyrwhitt has a small US presence in NYC and DC only. Otherwise, you are looking at online only as well. If you can make a trip up to DC, I highly recommend stopping in, getting measured, and trying on their samples. Then you can mail order whatever you want. Both makers have whole sleeve sizes (none of this 32/33 stuff; it is 32 or 33) and 3 fits, each with increasing slimness. You are likely going to need the slimmest cut from each maker.

 

For a local source, try going to Brooks Brothers. They are a little more expensive, but also offer the same fit options as the above makers (3 fits, whole sleeve sizes). For me (16/33), BB extra slim fit is about the same as Charles Tyrwhitt extra slim fit.

Thank you sir for your advice. I have a couple of buddies in the Richmond area and one in Quantico. Might make it a point to go bye there next time I am up that way. Charles Tyrwhitt seams like a more reasonable price. BB is a little more than what I am looking at spending.

 

Yeah I have looked a band replacements. To change them until I find another watch that I like.

Reply
Reply
post #10 of 25
2/2/13 at 12:54pm
jkbucksot, first of all, Thanks for your service...for BB items, check out forum member Steve Smith's for sale thread. He has a decent number of shirting items. You just have to find/know you size and fit. Good Luck
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 25
2/2/13 at 2:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by msulinski View Post

I like Charles Tywhitt and TM Lewin. Both sell decent shirts for reasonable prices. TM Lewin is in the UK, so online only for you. Charles Tyrwhitt has a small US presence in NYC and DC only. Otherwise, you are looking at online only as well. If you can make a trip up to DC, I highly recommend stopping in, getting measured, and trying on their samples. Then you can mail order whatever you want. Both makers have whole sleeve sizes (none of this 32/33 stuff; it is 32 or 33) and 3 fits, each with increasing slimness. You are likely going to need the slimmest cut from each maker.

For a local source, try going to Brooks Brothers. They are a little more expensive, but also offer the same fit options as the above makers (3 fits, whole sleeve sizes). For me (16/33), BB extra slim fit is about the same as Charles Tyrwhitt extra slim fit.

+1 on fthe Charles Tyrwhitt extra slim fit.

I find the fit comparison to BB interesting, though. I bought a BB extra slim fit shirt a few years ago and found it to be a bit tighter in the chest and a but fuller in the waist than CT extra slim fit. FWIW, I'm 5ft7, wear a 39 jacket and have a 32 inch waist. This may just be a case where different people have slightly different fit experiences with particular garments (that or they've changed their dimensions slightly in recent times).
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 25
2/2/13 at 2:22pm
that shirt and tie is "cell phone salesman" esqe. return if possible. I also like CT

Your pinstripes are fine, but not as versatile because its easy to tell its the same suit.

I suggest solid navy and solid charcoal.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 25
2/2/13 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Ugh. I really thought it was ok. I will return it. I really want to wear something besides my white shirts.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 25
2/2/13 at 4:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by archibaldleach View Post

+1 on fthe Charles Tyrwhitt extra slim fit.

I find the fit comparison to BB interesting, though. I bought a BB extra slim fit shirt a few years ago and found it to be a bit tighter in the chest and a but fuller in the waist than CT extra slim fit. FWIW, I'm 5ft7, wear a 39 jacket and have a 32 inch waist. This may just be a case where different people have slightly different fit experiences with particular garments (that or they've changed their dimensions slightly in recent times).

I am a 46 short jacket and a 36 waist. I have to get almost all my shirts tailored. I will give CT a try next time I'm in the DC area.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 25
2/2/13 at 4:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkbucksot View Post

Ugh. I really thought it was ok. I will return it. I really want to wear something besides my white shirts.

Light blue is probably the safest solid color for a dress shirt if you're looking for options other than white. Another option would be a cream or off-white color. Also, keep in mind that a shirt can have darker blue components (e.g. navy and white striped shirts, checks, etc.) as long as there is some sort of white background and 50% or so of the shirt is white. When you say "old school," do you mean just that they require you to wear a suit and tie or that they're also rather uncolorful in what they wear? I love pink and lilac shirts personally and have no issue wearing them, but it's worth considering whether you'll be the only guy not wearing white or blue. Blue is definitely the safest bet; either light blue solids or darker blue and white stripe patterns to add some additional interest and variety.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Classic Menswear
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › IT Professional in Greensboro, NC