Ask A Question, Get An Answer... - Post All Quick Questions Here (Classic menswear)

rcoreytaylor · Apr 22, 2012

PigFlys said:
Hello everyone, I just joined this forum not very long ago. The information here is just overwhelming, love it but at the same time, lost! I am 26, 6'0" 180 lb, solid build. Never in my life wore suit/blazer or anything along those lines before. My work does not require it and I just wear a shirt with jeans/chino pretty much 99% of the time. However, I do think its time I kind of step it up a little bit style wise.

So here is my question, where do I start reading on casual blazers and suits? I don't even have the slightest clue what to type into the search bar... I am in no hurry and willing to take time reading.

Currently I own 0 suits/blazers. After going through some posts, I pretty much got the idea a navy summer/spring blazer is a good place to start. What do I need to know before I buy/orhttp://www.styleforum.net/t/79716/ask-a-question-get-an-answer-post-all-quick-questions-here/14265der? Price is not the biggest issue but keeping it around 600 would be nice.

Pretty much I am looking for one of those " ***newbies*** READ FIRST before post and ask for advice on suit/blazer " thread or anything similar.

Thanks in advance !

You are right, there is an overwhelming volume of information and opinions - most good, some not - on this forum. I suggest you take a step back and visit Put This On www.putthison.com to gain some insight into the basics and then branch out from there.

Cheers!

Gdot · Apr 22, 2012

The Thin Man said:
There was a tradition, now largely forgotten like most clothing traditions, of not wearing suede in summer. It's one I like, but I'm in the minority and few have even heard of it. If it were me, I'd get a light tan suede, like the Alden tan, rather than brown.

I was raised on this tradition as well. All things suede were fall and winter only.

Although white and 'dirty' nubuck was, of course, standard issue for men's summer footwear. And suede drivers became another exception as the US styles became more 'continental'.

As you say - these days the old fashioned rules of dress are nearly completely forgotten. I have mixed feelings about it. Not because I think they should still be followed. But because I think it is more interesting to keep a wardrobe that has lots of seasonal variety.

cptjeff · Apr 22, 2012

Gdot said:
I was raised on this tradition as well. All things suede were fall and winter only.
Although white and 'dirty' nubuck was, of course, standard issue for men's summer footwear. And suede drivers became another exception as the US styles became more 'continental'.
As you say - these days the old fashioned rules of dress are nearly completely forgotten. I have mixed feelings about it. Not because I think they should still be followed. But because I think it is more interesting to keep a wardrobe that has lots of seasonal variety.

Seasonal variety is good, but most of the guidelines originated as practical considerations. Heavy, rough wools in the winter, light cotton and linen in the summer. Higher contrast combinations in the dimmer light of winter, lighter and paler shades in the brighter light of summer. But unlike those rules, there's absolutely no good reason suede should be a winter only thing.

Gdot · Apr 22, 2012

cptjeff said:
Seasonal variety is good, but most of the guidelines originated as practical considerations. Heavy, rough wools in the winter, light cotton and linen in the summer. Higher contrast combinations in the dimmer light of winter, lighter and paler shades in the brighter light of summer. But unlike those rules, there's absolutely no good reason suede should be a winter only thing.

I do agree. But it just looks 'warm and fuzzy' to me and that seems somehow a bit incongruent with summer.

For me it ends up something like this: Dark to medium suede on oxford and derby laceups = fall and winter. Medium to light suede on loafers, chukkas, desert boots = summer.

I'm not proposing these are rules everyone else should follow - just my own personal taste. And I freely admit I have a pair of suede loafers that I've worn every summer for decades.

sam handwich · Apr 22, 2012

I'm getting married in a few weeks and am a bit style challenged; I could really use some recommendations.

This is me, wearing the (charcoal, pinstripe) suit I will be wearing:

And these are the shoes. I purchased these for the wedding and love them like my own children...which I do not have:
Cole Haan Air Colton Saddle Oxford (in Grape/Iron)

So...I still need a shirt, tie, belt, socks, maybe cufflinks. I'll have a boutonniere so I'd imagine that precludes a pocket square? I've thought about a dark purple shirt and light purple pattern tie, or light purple shirt, dark tie...but I'm open to any and all suggestions. Bridesmaids will be wearing purple and groomsmen will have purple ties.

What I love about the shoes is that they're quirky while still being (IMO) very stylish...so more of that without going over the top is great.

Thanks so much! And just let me know if I should post this elsewhere.

Oh! Also, I'm 5'2", 145lbs...so horizontal stripes are out.

ter1413 · Apr 22, 2012

sam handwich said:
I'm getting married in a few weeks and am a bit style challenged; I could really use some recommendations.

This is me, wearing the (charcoal, pinstripe) suit I will be wearing:

And these are the shoes. I purchased these for the wedding and love them like my own children...which I do not have:
Cole Haan Air Colton Saddle Oxford (in Grape/Iron)

So...I still need a shirt, tie, belt, socks, maybe cufflinks. I'll have a boutonniere so I'd imagine that precludes a pocket square? I've thought about a dark purple shirt and light purple pattern tie, or light purple shirt, dark tie...but I'm open to any and all suggestions. Bridesmaids will be wearing purple and groomsmen will have purple ties.

What I love about the shoes is that they're quirky while still being (IMO) very stylish...so more of that without going over the top is great.

Thanks so much! And just let me know if I should post this elsewhere.

Oh! Also, I'm 5'2", 145lbs...so horizontal stripes are out.

I would wear the shoes in the picture and not the Colehaan's....

JubeiSpiegel · Apr 22, 2012

ter1413 said:
I would wear the shoes in the picture and not the Colehaan's....

+1

Kid Nickels · Apr 22, 2012

ter1413 said:
I would wear the shoes in the picture and not the Colehaan's....

+1... those Cole Haans are :uhoh:

TheloniusDrunk · Apr 22, 2012

I'm a not quite broke college kid who's been browsing SF for a few months and style blogs for a little longer. (Spoiler, also reddit.com/r/malefashion advice, sue me). I'm at the point where I want to start building a wardrobe.

I've heard that as you build up you should move up the ladder in quality for various things. For example, with shoes I should start with AEs, get a feel for how my foot works, move on up to Aldens, and then start buying the "higher tier" shoes such as G&G and EG after I've been playing around with the lower price points. Is this generally good advice, or can I begin building my wardrobe with built to last brands and higher quality brands. Essentially, is the risk of getting a feel for how my body fits into certain brands/styles that prone to error that the higher price points should be worked up to?

I'm thinking about buying some new trousers and I've heard that Howard Yount, Epaulet, and Panta are all good brands. Would it be smarter to start at say, Banana Republic, and work up?

Thanks!

VLSI · Apr 22, 2012

If you're still in college, may I suggest you check out the SW&D section rather than MC? Not to say you can't dress up for special occasions, but I'd hate to walk around campus in suits all the time.

oneeightyseven · Apr 22, 2012

first thing is first, get off MFA. the rest will come to you.

TheloniusDrunk · Apr 22, 2012

VLSI said:
If you're still in college, may I suggest you check out the SW&D section rather than MC? Not to say you can't dress up for special occasions, but I'd hate to walk around campus in suits all the time.

I'm not going for dressing up in a full suit all the time, but I've always been drawn to dressing nicely. I think I'd like to have a more MC casual style with sportcoats and pants, as well as mixing some denim/jeans rather than full casual SW&D, though I'll start browsing there. I do realize that my predilection towards dressing nicer on campus might not be widely accepted, but I'm not too concerned with that

.

oneeightyseven said:
first thing is first, get off MFA. the rest will come to you.

Haha, I realized that a while back, now I just browse occasionally, and not for any advice.

VLSI · Apr 22, 2012

SW&D has some interesting trouser fits. Even if it's not your thing, it's worth reading and understanding. Will help you cultivate your own aesthetic in the long run, even if you continue to follow a more traditional MC casual route. And yea, MFA can only do so much, they're so, so narrow minded over there.

TheloniusDrunk · Apr 22, 2012

I'll be sure to start checking out SW&D then, thanks!

oneeightyseven · Apr 22, 2012

seriously, take it from me. I tried ging on there, because I'm a pretty heavy redditor. It's a shithole. To get your intended effect, just browse the WAYWT. I'd suggest not even posting a thing until you've browsed for 6months to a year (I didn't even make an account until lurking for a year) and after that it took me 6 months to start posting regularly. It will benefit you infinitely if you just intently observe and listen.

Ask A Question, Get An Answer... - Post All Quick Questions Here (Classic menswear)

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