A little advice?

[ejohns4563]

Well this is my first post and truthfully it is my first real attempt to do something with fashion. I have always had a good eye when it comes to what works and what doesn't with other people but I have never really paid much attention, until recently, to my style. I am 29 and do not have the need to wear a suit everyday as my job doesnt require it, but I would like to turn my wardrobe around and be more fashionable.

With that said here is my latest purchases and I was wondering if I could get some opinions and advice on what you would change about them please.

First here is the suit, it is a Sean John 3 piece in a taupe color (not really brown but not quite gray either:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1237.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1238.jpg
Here is the Bill Blass lavender small checkerboard shirt and the purple/lavender Kenneth Cole tie:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1240.jpg
This is the Cole Haan wingtips:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1234.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1235.jpg


What does everyone think? Be gentle....

 

[acridsheep]

It's all pretty terrible. I added the word "pretty" to the last sentence because you asked for lube.

 

[ejohns4563]

Ok, maybe some constructive criticism? I am asking for advice...

 

[acridsheep]

Sorry, I heard a request for opinions in the OP, despite the thread's title.

My advice would be to poke around Styleforum more prior to purchasing anything else. If you can return the items you've already purchased, do so. Welcome aboard.

 

[Digmenow]

As Cole Haan goes, you could have done much worse.

 

[acridsheep]

I agree. Technically, it is possible.

 

[acridsheep]

Also, never buy anything from Sean John again. That includes music.

 

[add911_11]

With your choice of clothing (suit, tie, shirt), I am surprised with your fashion sense, the tie knot is definitely the worse I have seen. The shoes seems quiet nice though, although I am not convinced with the leather quality but it does look comfy

My opinion would be to return all the clothing, have a look on the 'WAYWRN' thread and you will improve gradually.

The suit jacket styling is the weirdest design I have seen

 

[Quadcammer]

if the shoes were cheap (i.e. under $100), keep them for now, and make them rain beaters later on.

The rest of it is the bloody awful. That suit is shameful and the tie should be use to start fires. The shirt is not hateful based on that picture, but I imagine that the material is not good.

My advice is simply to start over. Taupe is not a great color if you are just getting started. I'd say a nice charcoal or mid gray.

 

[joeman]

The Sean Jean suits look too big or loose in my opinion.

 

[NORE]



Well this is my first post and truthfully it is my first real attempt to do something with fashion. I have always had a good eye when it comes to what works and what doesn't with other people but I have never really paid much attention, until recently, to my style. I am 29 and do not have the need to wear a suit everyday as my job doesnt require it, but I would like to turn my wardrobe around and be more fashionable. 

With that said here is my latest purchases and I was wondering if I could get some opinions and advice on what you would change about them please.

First here is the suit, it is a Sean John 3 piece in a taupe color (not really brown but not quite gray either:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1237.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1238.jpg
Here is the Bill Blass lavender small checkerboard shirt and the purple/lavender Kenneth Cole tie:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1240.jpg
This is the Cole Haan wingtips:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1234.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/low1/IMAG1235.jpg


What does everyone think? Be gentle.... 

How much did you spend on all that?

 

[JayJay]



My advice would be to poke around Styleforum more prior to purchasing anything else. If you can return the items you've already purchased, do so. Welcome aboard.

Good advice. Nothing the op has bought is worth keeping. He should lurk more.

 

[ddonicht]

Well, I guess the first thing to do is step back and talk about Style versus Fashion. Fashion is thrust upon us by designers and labels. It changes often because they want to keep selling new products. Fashion generally doesn't take into account different body types, work needs, or anything else other than the ever changing whims of the industry. Fashion items, regardless of brand, will tend not to be as well made due to there not being a need. I mean why spend the extra time and money to build something that will last 20 years when it will be outdated in 6 months? GQ, Details, etc, tend to show the current fashions. If this is what you want, stop reading here and just browse those publications.

Syle on the other hand is what someone wears wih confidence regardless. They have made it their own and are comfortable in it. They don't ask permission for it, apologize for it, or think twice about. I have seen people that are stylish wearing stuff that I wouldn't be caught dead in and I'm sure some of what I wear would be the same to them. What they wear can range from expensive traditional items to off the rack, disposable, fashion items. In this case it is more about the person than the clothes. I know some people will disagree with me here but honestly, on this board it doesn't matter what you say, someone will always disagree with you and sometimes even in a hostile or rude manner. That is just type of discourteous behaviour tends to run rampant on anonymous message boards. Not that everyone is like that, in fact most people here try to be helpful even if they can be short due to having seen similar topics multiple times.

One word you will probably hear a lot on this board and others like it, is "traditional". In this environment it tends to refer to clothing that is well made and in more of a timeless form. That is, it stays in style for many years. A high quality blue blazer, such as ones from Brooks Brothers is a good example of that. Most people here tend to go this route instead of the pure fashion route which is why you saw the comments against the suit you posted. Traditional items are generally going to be well made so they can last for a long time. They are also made in the correct manner so they fit and look better as well (do some searches on canvassed versus fused jackets).

My recommendations to you would be to read more here and at AskAndyAboutClothes.com. I would also read some books on how to dress. On Amazon, do a search for "how to dress gentleman" and you will find quite a few. If you need to get a couple of suits before you have had a chance to read a lot more, go to http://stores.ebay.com/The-Wizard-of-Aahs?_rdc=1 . For the price, you are going to be hard pressed to find better new suits. I have aslo found that www.moderntailor.com is a decent place to order made to measure shirts from. The last thing I would say is to find a good tailor in your area. Garments will always look better properly fitted to you so having someone local you can trust is very important. I hope this hleps.

 

[ejohns4563]

Thank you ddonicht for the informative post. I have been on Ask Andy quite a lot and have learned some things. As far as the comment about the tie not being a good knot, it wasnt tied but rather folded over on itself for the purpose of taking the picture. I actually have a black 3 pc suit already and wanted to add one of a lighter color and initially went to a lighter gray color but was told that a light tan or taupe gray would look better with my complexion and hair color (darker and brown).