conservative business dress WAYWRN: An Experiment

[Fred H.]

Man is this a SWEET look.

This, too:

 

[oldog/oldtrix]

Originally Posted by Manton

Those look like bluchers to me.

With a first generation print and a magnifying glass, it's just possible to tell they're wholecuts (or, at least, that there are no seams on the visible parts of the shoes). I discovered this while trying to get a closer look at Harlow's knees. Anyway, would Powell ever have worn a blucher with a town suit? I think not.

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by Manton

I never go the other way and wear oxfords with a blazer, however.
Out of interest is this just a personal like, or considered a 'rule' in the US? I assume you mean oxford in the British/Balmoral sense. Does this just apply to black/brown calf or would it encompass suede or spectators?

Originally Posted by gdl203

The suit cloth with the red overcheck is probably not the most conservative business dress. Burgundy shoes are also not common with suits in conservative business environments.

Thanks. I thought the shoes were brown rather than burgundy. Do burgundy shoes cross a line that brown don't? They're uncommon over here, but wouldn't be out of place in any business that was happy with brown shoes.

I'm never sure where the line is with over-checks - I think subtle over-checks have probably just crossed into conservative business dress whilst they definitely remain non-UCBD. The same is probably true of non-white/silver/grey/blue pinstripes.

 

[Manton]

Closed lacing shoes are suit shoes to me. Always have been. Only exception might be suede but no need any more as I have other suede options.

 

[Holdfast]

Definitely not conservative business wear, but I think this falls comfortably under classically conservative casual wear, despite the little bit of eccentric square you can see. Spoiler-coded as doesn't meet the business criterion of thread, although I see quite a few other outfits in this thread already that probably don't meet that criterion anyway.

 

[ManofKent]

^^ square aside I like it. Whether it's Business or not I suppose depends on how far you want to stretch the term business. It wouldn't be out of place in some office environments.

 

[ManofKent]

Knit ties

I see quite a few in these threads (and sometimes wear them myself), but are they considered conservative business dress in the US (other countries please chip in too).

I wouldn't describe them as conservative business dress over here. They're fine with country wear, and in academia, but I don't think I've ever seen one in a conservative business setting.

Any thoughts?

 

[Manton]

Knits are not common in business here. That said, in solid colors, they can be hard to tell from grenadines at a distance, especially if you can't see the square end (or if it does not have a square end). They don't cause much second guessing for that reason/

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by Manton

Knits are not common in business here. That said, in solid colors, they can be hard to tell from grenadines at a distance, especially if you can't see the square end (or if it does not have a square end). They don't cause much second guessing for that reason/

Thanks. I suspected they were more of a SF trend than a real-world one.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by ManofKent

Thanks. I suspected they were more of a SF trend than a real-world one.

I don't know about that.

Knits were very, very common here in the '70s through about the early '80s. When America rebelled against the fashions of that era, it discarded knit ties with a vengeance. However, they were always popular in parts of Europe and considered classy there. SF is just overcoming an American reflex that associates knits with bell bottoms and handlebar moustaches.

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by Manton

I don't know about that.

Knits were very, very common here in the '70s through about the early '80s. When America rebelled against the fashions of that era, it discarded knit ties with a vengeance. However, they were always popular in parts of Europe and considered classy there. SF is just overcoming an American reflex that associates knits with bell bottoms and handlebar moustaches.

Interesting - I think the association (in that they have one) over here would be academics, social-workers and other left-leaning professions.

 

[mmkn]

Originally Posted by ManofKent

academics

Yes, university chemistry professors and their tweed jackets, knit ties, and corduroy trousers!

- M

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

MOK,

Thanks for the compliments.

Trini,
Great look!!

Knit ties, I dont like them for business per say. I keep them with linen suits and such.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by ManofKent

Interesting - I think the association (in that they have one) over here would be academics, social-workers and other left-leaning professions.

That's true here too but the '70s association is what caused a backlash.

 

[gdl203]

I would argue that square-end knit ties are actually profoundly unCBD these days in the US. It would automatically attract stares and comments in most conservative professions. Moreso than unCBD shoes, an unCBD jacket or shirt.