Ahheck01
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Upon discovering a stark difference between my appearances as a few very successful people whom I admire and respect, I found this forum in search for a better understanding of mens' style. After much "lurking" on these forums, a few question threads about shoes, watches and pants, I've realized that there is a world of quality items out there that can be found at insanely low cost on ebay or the B&S forums here, thus allowing someone like myself without an exorbitant budget to build a wardrobe of quality items, and have enough money to get things tailored to fit properly. So now I'm finding a ton of things that I want to buy and upgrade - shoes (used AE's) watches (seiko 5 or spirit), pants (quality wool trousers), casual and dress shirts, glasses & sunglasses, etc. Unfortunately, I can't upgrade everything at once, so I will be acquiring all of the "staples" and important items gradually over the next 3-12 months. Probably will be $400-$500 at a time, once a month. So, if I'm to purchase one item at a time, what should my top priority list be? Here are my quick stats: - Small Business Owner (high end car detailing business, and internet marketing business) - very sharp business casual (no tie) 1-3 days a week for meetings - casual jeans & button-up or jeans and polo, perhaps khaki's and polo 5-6 days a week - 24 year old male, 6' 5" tall, 180lb, 33-34" waist, thin, but broad sholders - semi-athletic - Some so-so pics here: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=194678 - Need to look like I definitely know how to dress to maintain credibility with 50 year old business owners, while staying relatable with 20-somethings, whom I often work with as well. Here's what I currently own: - Olive colored polyester pleated trousers that I swim in (can't wait to throw these out) - Kenneth Cole Reaction brown square-toe glossy finish bluchers (ditto) & matching belt - Decent looking but still cheap walnut loafers (not a noteworthy brand) & matching belt - Square toe Target-specials black loafers - 5-6 Various patterned button up shirts (all of which are either too short, or I swim in them - need to have nearly all of them taken in, and some I just have to roll up the sleeves since they're too short. Also most of them are not "nice" shirts - gap or khols OTR) - No-name square-face silver watch with brown leather strap - No-name pewter colored watch with metal band - 3-4 various crap ties - 1 brown dress shirt, standard turn down collar (too short in sleeve and body length, otherwise fits great) - 1 white dress shrit, button down collar (so-so quality material, too short in sleeve and body length, otherwise fits great) - Various underwear & undershirts (let's assume this one is good for now) - 1 pair of well-fitting (NOT tight-pants, but fits properly) boot-cut Mavi jeans - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Just so it doesn't appear I'm asking y'all to do all the work, I'll give this a try myself based on what I've read here, and my own common sense. You can either completely redo this if it's horrible, or suggest tweaks based on your wisdom and experience. Edit: Skip below the greyed out text for updated list. 1st: Alter existing shirts to fit Why: While I begin to accumulate quality things, best to have existing things at least fit properly so as not to drag down the new additions considerably. A way to start looking like I know what I'm doing in a hurry. Not terribly expensive. 2nd: Wool Charcoal Trousers Why: Currently have one pair of dress pants, and even those are kind of embarrassing now. Understanding that wool is a preferable material, and Charcoal one of the more flexible colors 3rd: Black Cap-Toe Oxfords & Quality Belt Why: Commonly identified as one of the first must-haves of any wardrobe - will go with the Charcoal trousers and be a key player in many of the nice combo's I'll be able to put together down the road. Eyeballing the AE Park Ave's in 12D, which I've seen go for $60 very lightly used on ebay. 4th: Seiko Watch Why: Cheap but classy automatic watches, commonly recommend here on the forums for the "watches under $$$" threads, inexpensive way to class up overall look in both semi-casual and dress situations. 5th: Khaki Colored Cotton Trousers Why: To be worn with either polo shirts or casual button-ups for lunch appointments weekend dates, or with nice dress shirts for the business-casual look 6th: Chocolate/Burgundy/Dark Brown Shoes & Matching Belt Why: To go with anything but black, essentially. Replaces the awful Kenneth Cole's, preferably with an Allen Edmonds shoe. Possibly something simple and versatile like the Brown Burnished Calf AE Fifth Avenue, but also open minded. Currently eyeballing low priced used AE's, such as these two auctions: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=380259920661 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260654576000 7th: Two or Three Dress Shirts Why: The most important thing is fit, as I've probably never worn a shirt that fits me properly, due to being very tall, very skinny, but with very wide shoulders. Probably two white and a light blue, all of which plain collar button-cuff to start with. I don't really have any other staple dress shirts, so this has to be an early addition here. 8th: Three or Four Polo Shirts Why: Long sleeves in this weather (often 85+) seems questionable. Polo shirts should work with jeans or khaki colored pants for sharp looking casual encounters, such as a lunch meeting, round of golf, or late-night cup of coffee with a friend. 9th: Second Pair of Jeans Why: Perhaps this should come sooner, as I wear them almost every day. I couldn't be happier with these Mavi jeans, although they are getting lighter quickly (and I do wash them inside-out). Probably the first properly-fitting jean I've owned. Since these are a mid-blue, probably look for a darker blue to dress things up a bit. 10th: Brown Loafers & Matching belt Why: To go with Jeans, Khaki's, semi-casual attire, but at a higher quality than what I have now to round out the quality-shoe basic collection. 11th: Medium-Grey Wool Trousers Why: Versatile Trousers to continue to round out the business-casual wardrobe. 12th: Walnut Colored Wingtip and matching belt Why: Because I love the AE Bel Air in Walnut. I would literally look for excuses to wear this shoe. 13th: Multiple quality casual button up colored shirts to go with jeans or khaki's Why: Again, probably should be sooner, since this is my most common mode. I'm going to stop there, because the further I go, the more likely I'm off if my thought-process isn't sound. Here are other things I'd probably want/need to get after the above: - Various Chino's - Topcoat/Peacoat for classy warmth in winter - Associated scarves and gloves for proper winter warmth - Navy Blazer - Monk-Strap Shoes - Black Loafers - Dress/Chelsea Boots - Various other Trousers - Several more dress shirts - Various other Watches (Perhaps a Tissot a year or so out, definitely want a flexible variety. Not sure if I'm into a big shoe collection or a big watch collection more. Probably both. This is why I run businesses, because that's going to cost a fortune.) - Navy & Charcoal Suits - Tasteful sweaters (that don't make me look old, but keep me warm and looking classy) - Sneakers (Don't have any, always wanted to see what some Chuck Taylors would look like on me) - Lighter colored jeans (for more casual clothes, with the above sneakers perhaps) - Khaki Shorts (hot Iowa summers, picnics and ballgames) I'm sure there's more. I'm so far behind. Thank you deeply for any further guidance you can offer! -Evan Edit: Okay, updated approach. Given budget and timing, I reformatted, and took advice into consideration. Thoughts? Month 1: August - $510 1) Have 2 of my nicest shirts altered ($30) 2) Mid-Grey Wool Trousers (~$60 on B&S/Clearance) 3) Charcoal Wool Trousers (~$60 on B&S/Clearance) 4) Lightly Used Black AE oxford ($60) + Belt ($25) 5) Cedar Split-Toe Shoe Tree ($25) 6) 2 x Dress Shirts (2 x $50 = $100) 7) 2 x Polo Shirts (2 x $25 = $50) 8) Khaki Shorts ($30) 7) Necessary Alterations on the above ($70) Month 2: September - $560 1) Khaki Colored Trousers ($50) + Alterations ($15) 2) Lightly Used Brown AE shoes ($70) + Belt ($25) 3) AE Shoe Care Kit ($95, but open to quality alternatives) 4) Lightly Used Brown Loafers ($50) 5) Second Pair Jeans ($80) 6) 3 x Casual Button-Up Shirts (3 x $40 = $120) + Alterations ($45) Month 3: October - $665 1) Navy Blazer (~$200) 2) Tailoring of Blazer (~$40) 3) Khaki Colored (dif shade) Trousers ($60) + Alt ($15) 4) 2 x Chinos ($50 x 2 = $100) 5) 3 x Dress Shirts (3 x $50 = $150) 6) Alterations on the above ($70) Month 4: November - (Budget ~$650) 1) Winter Overcoat/Peacoat - $??? 1.5) Alterations to coat - $?? 2) Quality Leather Gloves - $?? 3) 2 x Quality Scarves - $?? Month 5: December - (Budget ~$700) 1) 1st Suit, tailored 2) 2 x Sweaters 3) Appropriate Boots 4) 3 x Ties