wavey.dave
Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2011
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello
I've been lurking in the forum for a while, and I've been overwhelmed by how knowledgeable a lot of you guys are (and by the same token, just how much I *didn't* know about style).
I've recently started subtly changing my wardrobe, having pretty much spent the better part of my 36 years on earth in jeans and trainers (sneakers). Its a slow process (which has been slowed further by my wife's recent shopping spree in Milan, but that's a different matter!).
Anyway, to the point of my first SF post (which starts with something I'm sure you guys have heard a lot!!).
I'm going on a cruise in about 6 weeks, and I need to sort out a dinner suit. Previously I rented one, but the fit etc was mostly poor. This time I wanted to buy one, but I don't have the time (or money as explained in paragraph 2 above) to go bespoke. I'm also currently losing a bit of weight (got another 18 pounds to get to my target), so this also adds to my reluctance to spend too much (otherwise I'll need to get it altered again, which seems pointless for a recently MtM or bespoke item).
This pretty much leaves me with OTR as my only choice. I'll only wear the dinner suit on the cruise for the time being. As a result, I had in mind the TM Lewin Mayfair (HERE), I know its not a patch on what most of you guys would go for, but its a tide me over.
Anyway (finally getting to the point), I've been reading the Black Tie Guide, and it mentions things like wearing braces (suspenders in American parlance), a pocket square etc. I quite like the idea of being a bit more dressy. However, due to the cheap nature of my dinner suit, would this make me appear pretentious? Should I really try to keep it minimalistic so as not to draw attention to myself (not that I'm a show off anyway - I've always lacked a bit confidence and tried to blend in, but reading this forum has inspired me!).
Apologies for the (much longer than I had intended) post, and if you managed to get this far, thanks for reading.
I've been lurking in the forum for a while, and I've been overwhelmed by how knowledgeable a lot of you guys are (and by the same token, just how much I *didn't* know about style).
I've recently started subtly changing my wardrobe, having pretty much spent the better part of my 36 years on earth in jeans and trainers (sneakers). Its a slow process (which has been slowed further by my wife's recent shopping spree in Milan, but that's a different matter!).
Anyway, to the point of my first SF post (which starts with something I'm sure you guys have heard a lot!!).
I'm going on a cruise in about 6 weeks, and I need to sort out a dinner suit. Previously I rented one, but the fit etc was mostly poor. This time I wanted to buy one, but I don't have the time (or money as explained in paragraph 2 above) to go bespoke. I'm also currently losing a bit of weight (got another 18 pounds to get to my target), so this also adds to my reluctance to spend too much (otherwise I'll need to get it altered again, which seems pointless for a recently MtM or bespoke item).
This pretty much leaves me with OTR as my only choice. I'll only wear the dinner suit on the cruise for the time being. As a result, I had in mind the TM Lewin Mayfair (HERE), I know its not a patch on what most of you guys would go for, but its a tide me over.
Anyway (finally getting to the point), I've been reading the Black Tie Guide, and it mentions things like wearing braces (suspenders in American parlance), a pocket square etc. I quite like the idea of being a bit more dressy. However, due to the cheap nature of my dinner suit, would this make me appear pretentious? Should I really try to keep it minimalistic so as not to draw attention to myself (not that I'm a show off anyway - I've always lacked a bit confidence and tried to blend in, but reading this forum has inspired me!).
Apologies for the (much longer than I had intended) post, and if you managed to get this far, thanks for reading.