Guide to Semi-Casual Style

[DeusExa]

Originally Posted by malefic

Well if you have no specific criteria you can go to town. Take some exact measurements of things that fit you so you can buy things that will suit you without alterations and then check the B&S forum (or eBay, or SuFu, or your local Nordstrom Rack/Off 5th Ave/whatever) for something that appeals to you.

You have some idea of what you want, clearly, since you posted those photos of things that you liked, so just browse around and look for some items that you can afford and will fit you.

Then buy them.

What would you define that look as? If I'm asking (older) friends for advice, what can I mention? Semi-Casual is all I pretty much can come up with.

Also, are there any guides that focus on this area? The ones I've seen (Flusser, etc) are mostly hinged on formal wear (tuxes, suits, etc.)

 

[luftvier]

Originally Posted by DeusExa

What would you define that look as? If I'm asking (older) friends for advice, what can I mention? Semi-Casual is all I pretty much can come up with.

Also, are there any guides that focus on this area? The ones I've seen (Flusser, etc) are mostly hinged on formal wear (tuxes, suits, etc.)

Business casual.

But even so, the best guide is WAYWRN. Take a look.

 

[DeusExa]

Originally Posted by luftvier

Business casual. But even so, the best guide is WAYWRN. Take a look.
WAYWRN? Care to explain a bit? Also, I would like an idea of what the better brands I should be looking at, were my budget to be around $75-150 for a shirt, sweater, cardigan, etc. (business casual/semi-formal?).

 

[luftvier]

Originally Posted by DeusExa

WAYWRN? Care to explain a bit?

Also, I would like an idea of what the better brands I should be looking at, were my budget to be around $75-150 for a shirt, sweater, cardigan, etc. (business casual/semi-formal?).

Ask and ye shall receive.

And the abridged version.

 

[bubbleboys]

Originally Posted by DeusExa

WAYWRN? Care to explain a bit?

Also, I would like an idea of what the better brands I should be looking at, were my budget to be around $75-150 for a shirt, sweater, cardigan, etc. (business casual/semi-formal?).

For shirts, I'm a big fan of Charles Tyrwhitt and their slim fit shirts. They're on sale now for like $50 a shirt.

 

[DeusExa]

Also, I'm looking for dress shirts - restocking the wardrobe (and since the shots I posted all have a dress shirt foundation). Anything great ~$50-100 range? In black/grey/navy/steel-blue/burgundy, in solid or striped. Mostly paired with a sweater/cardigan/vest. I like a modern, sharp look.

http://9.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kta...opmto1_400.jpg http://www.kinowear.com/images/sweater_shirt.jpg http://www.jaeger.co.uk/images/press...e89_01_138.jpg http://www.jaeger.co.uk/images/press...e88_01_138.jpg

In short, it looks like it's a dress shirt paired under a sweater/cardigan/vest that I'm going for. Any suggestions on pairing?

 

[luftvier]

Originally Posted by DeusExa

Also, I'm looking for dress shirts (since the shots I posted all have a dress shirt foundation). Anything great ~$50-100 range? Prefer black, grey, navy, steel-blue, burgundy in solid or striped.
Don't do this, especially not black, navy, burgundy, brown, etc. Most kosher for a beginning wardrobe:

• white
• blue
• white base with tasteful stripes
• blue base with tasteful stripes
• white base check
• blue base check
• pink

Take a look at Charles Tyrwhitt for some ideas.

 

[luftvier]

Originally Posted by bubbleboys

For shirts, I'm a big fan of Charles Tyrwhitt and their slim fit shirts. They're on sale now for like $50 a shirt.

If you are lucky, you can find some for $30ish.

 

[DeusExa]

Originally Posted by luftvier

Don't do this, especially not black, navy, burgundy, brown, etc.

Most kosher for a beginning wardrobe:

• white
  
• blue
  
• white base with tasteful stripes
  
• blue base with tasteful stripes
  
• white base check
  
• blue base check
  
• pink

Take a look at Charles Tyrwhitt for some ideas.

Took a look at their site - it's online only? based in UK). How would you compare them to i.e. Boss, etc, same price range?

Pink? No Navy or Black? Could you explain? Thanks.

 

[luftvier]

Originally Posted by DeusExa

Took a look at their site - it's online only? based in UK). How would you compare them to i.e. Boss, etc, same price range?

Pink? No Navy or Black? Could you explain? Thanks.

Online only in the US. Shirts are a good buy at less than $60. They run eternal sales.

Navy and black are generally inappropriate for dress shirts (as are any dark colors a la eggplant, hunter green, brown, bright red, etc). They're casual shirts. If you're looking for the business-casual look, keep it simple with whites and blues.

 

[DeusExa]

Originally Posted by luftvier

Online only in the US. Shirts are a good buy at less than $60. They run eternal sales. Navy and black are generally inappropriate for dress shirts (as are any dark colors a la eggplant, hunter green, brown, bright red, etc). They're casual shirts. If you're looking for the business-casual look, keep it simple with whites and blues.
Actually, that was what I was looking for - not really business casual - sorry if I introduced some confusion. The dress code at events are mostly semi-casual. Navy or black shirts I see mostly, actually (pretty much anything that doesn't stand out like purple, bright red, etc - the events are mostly in their 20-30s, those in the tech or media industry. generally chill and laid-back). Dining/occasions with friends/acquaintances are even more casual. So you'd say Tyrwhitt would compare to Boss, etc?

 

[luftvier]

Originally Posted by DeusExa

Actually, that was what I was looking for - not really business casual - sorry if I introduced some confusion. The dress code at events are mostly semi-casual. Blue or black shirts I see mostly, actually. (the events are mostly in their 20-30s, those in the tech or media industry. generally chill and laid-back). Dining/occasions with friends/acquaintances are even more casual.

So you'd say Tyrwhitt would compare to Boss, etc?

As a matter of taste and fashion, I would shy away from dark shirts like that anyway, even if they are the norm in the tech/media industry (whose members are not known for their dressing skills).

Boss ≠ quality. I would buy CT or Brooks Brothers over a Boss any day. Especially since both CT and BB are cheaper.

 

[DeusExa]

Thanks for the pointers. Is there a good dress shirt guide? It seems like Brooks Brothers doesn't have many solid dress shirts? Also, towards the triple-digit price range - would you still go with CT?

 

[phxlawstudent]

Ok, I am utterly confused. What the hell is semi-formal?

I don't mean to be facetious or mean. I just can't wrap my head around it.

The way I see the world and my wardrobe, it breaks down into three categories with one missing:

Business dress
Business casual
Casual
And white tie, of which I have no examples in my closet.



Semi-formal cannot be in between casual and business casual because at the very bottom, business casual requires you to wear slacks and at least a polo. Any BD will fit in with bus-casual. Unless its some clubbing shirt or something else inappropriate.

And of course, casual encompasses everything else.



Perhaps the question you want to ask is:

What should I wear to a nice restaurant with my friends?

Wear what the other people going to that restaurant wear. Most restaurants don't require suits or jackets anymore so you can get away with pretty much anything.

It sounds like you've got it under control. If you want to fancy yourself up a little bit, throw on a blazer. The people in the pictures, wearing the sweaters, are wearing sweaters because its cold. Its not a fashion thing. You will not wear a sweater when it is 80 degrees outside. Period. You'll look ridiculous. You can throw on a vest too. Its kind of fashionable. But the classic look is to throw on a blazer. It will work with jeans.

Thats my take anyway.

 

[DeusExa]

Guess I have to say: Technically I'm don't work at a "real job" so business formal wouldn't really be appropriate (being a part-time intern at a major tech/media blog), and I'm quite young (years from drinking age). What I guess I'm trying to say is that since I'm growing older, (that which brings more formal events, etc) I'd like to redo my "going out" wardrobe. Right now it's just a polo and jeans pretty much, and I'd like to start wearing dress shirts, etc. when I go out.