The Age one should transition to moving away from SW&D and into MC?

[tommyrt]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to hear everyones thoughts on what time in life, someone should move away from a wardrobe dominated by tshirts, hoodies, sneakers, and jeans. I've always pondered this as an oddball that is still in college but loves to dress well, probably groomed partly by my time lurking at SF's MC & BS&S forums.

Not even legal to drink, but I've forgone my SW&D way of life for a couple years already. I don't wear sportscoats or suits (for some ineffable reason, I feel like I'm not ready for that yet) unless I'm working internships, but I've stubbornly stuck to wearing on a everyday basis: casual slim fitted dress shirts, well cut trousers, well-polished shoes; setting myself apart from many people my age.

Would you frown upon such behaviour, along the lines 'kids should dress their age', or something of a similar sort?

Thanks!

 

[edmorel]

Different for everyone I guess. For Connemara, it was when he was 11. Now at 22, he has moved onto the next level, where he is dressing like deceased octogenarians.

 

[gladhands]

Your dress should transition with (or slightly ahead of) your lifestyle. There's no set age.

 

[ff4marvel]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Different for everyone I guess.

That's basically how I feel, though in my opinion it doesn't really make sense to pose this question in terms of "should." I don't think (unless absolutely required for a job) that anyone should feel like they need to fundamentally change the way they dress just for the sake of doing so or because it's what they "should" be doing.

Honestly, if someone is wearing something because they feel like they have to, I think they miss the whole point of enjoying nice clothes for their own sake. I think there are a lot of guys who pull of the SW&D style really well, and if it's what makes them happy I don't see any reason why they should change (unless, again, their livelihood requires it). Just my two cents.

 

[Bellum]

At the age when one enters manhood. This confuses the physically full grown boys you see on college campuses and elsewhere because there's few rites of passage into manhood today. Going off to fight a war is still one.

 

[Makeshift_Robot]

You should transition away as soon as you start feeling like what you have is too young for you. Even then, you don't have to throw away all your old stuff, there's no pressure to suddenly change your wardrobe.

Also, don't make the mistake of thinking you look better because you're dressed more formally. Looking nice and looking good are two entirely different things.

 

[Makeshift_Robot]

Originally Posted by Bellum

At the age when one enters manhood. This confuses the physically full grown boys you see on college campuses and elsewhere because there's few rites of passage into manhood today. Going off to fight a war is still one.

Note: this is the opposite of true. You can be a full-grown man in t-shirts and jeans, and going off to fight a war doesn't mean you're manly, it means you're poor or deluded. All, "I'm going to go kill some people because that's the only way to prove that I'm brave and emotionally mature."

 

[gdl203]

Never? That's why we have weekdays and weekends?

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Yes, I've been making the opposite trend these days.

Tired of over-doing it and since I wear a suit 5-6 days a week I feel like a break is needed.

There is no age to jeans, sportshirts, boots, ect.

 

[NewYorkIslander]

I was at my tailor's when a well to do Orthodox Jewish Father and Son team were in there getting fitted. The son was dressed wearing designer denim and a black tee shirt and looked great. The father was wearing THE SAME designer denim and black tee and looked like a total douche bag. The kid must have been in his late 20's early 30's (like me) and the dad approaching 60. Ironically I was with my dad, and he was dressed like any 60 year old would for a casual day with the grandkids...loafers, khaki shorts and a short sleeve button down. When they left my dad and I joked about how we could take a ride to Barney's and get kitted out like those clowns!

I guess my point is, don't dress the same as someone who could be your child. I still have a few years to rock the denim, but by the time 45 rolls around, I will hesitate to wear designer jeans and will prob roll in khakis and flannels for casual wear.

 

[gdl203]

Cool story bro

 

[barims]

^ Indeed. The answer really is "Transition before your dress places you on a parity with the owner of Abercrombie & Fitch"

 

[Trompe le Monde]

13

 

[horse's_ass]

If you're wandering around a college campus wearing meticulously pressed trousers and freshly shined AEs, your peers are probably thinking that you're a tool of epic proportions.

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Never? That's why we have weekdays and weekends?

You seem to be confusing SW&D with 'casual' and MC with 'formal'. You can dress in MC style yet still be dressed casually...