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

jcb9 said:

Quick question: I am going to an outdoor graduation tomorrow (5/5) in GA. I have my clothing set but I need advice on which shoes (and consequently, which belt) to pair with it.

Blue Kenneth Cole seersucker jacket w/ white pocket square
Pink oxford shirt from Macy's
Light BR chinos

My shoe choices are (shoes that I own):
Brown BR driving loafer
Brown J&M penny loafers
Brown Sperry boat shoes

Suggestions? Any other shoe that would be a better fit? On a tight budget.. Any help is appreciated.

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What shade of brown? I think anything medium to dark brown should work well. I would probably go with the penny loafers.

The BR and the J&M loafers are medium to dark brown. Thank you for your advice.



DeluxeB said:

Hi, just wondering, can a derby shoe be worn casually? If so, what are some good brand, I dont want to just blindly start searching. Not looking to spend a whole lot, would like a casual derby, brown leather for about 200 dollars or so.

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Derby's are technically casual shoes, so yes. I would look for Alden, or Allen Edmonds used on ebay.

I live in an area with very limited retail options for men's clothing - Belk is one the higher end stores nearby - and the ones we do have carry a very limited selection.

I'm a novice when it comes to fit or style, and I'm looking for a fairly mainstream navy blazer. I am very slim and above average height - 6'1", 130lbs - and 36R has the been the best fit OTR that I can find; shoulders are usually okay, chest sometimes too large, and waist almost always too large.

After visiting every store in the area, I found four navy blazers. Three are low-end with lousy material that I don't care for; the last large enough I worry if it will look okay after alterations.

I don't live near any big cities, and it's difficult for me to travel. When I do, I rarely have a lot of time available to clothes shop.

I'm considering trying online MTM even though I don't have any jackets that fit well. I'm also thinking of ordering jackets from places like Zappos and Nordstrom and returning them until I find one that fits, though I feel a little bad doing that.

What would you do in my situation?

(Note: I'd like to spend less than $500 for the blazer.)



radiocures said:

What would you do in my situation?

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Move out of the sticks.

patrickBOOTH said:

Move out of the sticks.

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I'm planning on it, but it's 2-3 years out.

Save your money for 2-3 years and get something nice.



pronxs said:

anyone? thanks

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Looks fine.



ccardill said:

Are these acceptable for a 1st pair of black shoes?
http://www.thearmourystore.com/shoes/carmina-black-cap-toe-oxford-robert-last

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Yes, but I would only wear it with a suit or sports coat.



taxgenius said:

Yes, but I would only wear it with a suit or sports coat.

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Really? Why? Because they are formal? If you get that picky than even the sportcoat would be too casual.



taxgenius said:

Yes, but I would only wear it with a suit or sports coat.

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I would typically wear them with suits. I prefer the punch cap over the plain cap but didn't know if the punch was acceptable for interviews, funerals, etc. I assume it is.

what color tie should i wear with a navy suit? gold or baby blue?

Erik JN said:

Hi guys,

I just got what appears to be an Hermés tie off a local thrift store, and after scrolling through a couple of guides on how to spot a fake, I think it seems genuine. It's got twill going from 11 to 5, the thread loop, the tag seems legit etc.

I know many of you guys have heaps of experience spotting fakes though, so I would really appreciate some SF input.

Here's a couple of photos:





Thanks!

Erik JN

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Hey Erik,

First things is - does this look like an Hermes design. Obviously, original designs can be replicated, but that should be one of the first things to look for. This does look like a typical Hermes design. Secondly, based on the tipping of this tie, it looks authentic, given that Hermes ties are typically tipped with silk of the same color or similar color to that which is the dominant color of the tie i.e yellow in this case. Thirdly, what you might want to do is walk into a high end store at a mall that sells Hermes ties, and look to see if your tie has similar stitching. As far as I remember, Hermes ties are quite discreet with their stitching, whereas some other luxury tie manufacturers like Pal Zileri have stitching on the back of the tie that is much more visible to the eye i.e on the outside of the fabric.

Another thing to look out for is interlining. This is the material that is inside the tie and is what gives the tie additional weight and helps to keep its form. If you cannot reach into the tie with your hands, its a sign that it has been fully seamed up inside, which is what hermes typically does. If you really want to go the extra mile, break a few threads, pull out the interlining, and make sure its not plain polyester. If it is, chances are its fake. Obviously, this depends on whether you want to break up the therads and re-stitch them by yourself.

I know this was quite detailed, but just to summarize, to compare what you bought to the original product, look for the following (1) Design similarities (2) Color and fabric of the tipping (3) Stitching (4) Quality of the interlining. Hope this helps.



ccardill said:

I would typically wear them with suits. I prefer the punch cap over the plain cap but didn't know if the punch was acceptable for interviews, funerals, etc. I assume it is.

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Absolutely, a punch cap will be more than suitable for anything short of black tie, which you could use a highly polished plain captoe for.

Can anybody tell me who made this tie?!?!?!??!