Wearing Jeans with a French-Cuff Shirt? ...

[cmeisenzahl]

From today's WSJ.

Q: What do you think about men wearing medium-wash jeans with French cuffs, tie and jacket? My husband thinks it is fine and fashion-forward. I think it is the equivalent of mullet dressing -- business on the top and party on the bottom. To me it just looks too incongruent, especially if it is a suit-coat-type jacket and not the most casual sport jacket. Thank you for possibly settling this issue between my husband and me.
"”M.K., Rapid City, S.D.

A: Men don't have to limit their French-cuff shirts to dressy business suits or formal wear. Think of the debonair former Gucci designer Tom Ford. He's been rocking French-cuff shirts without a tie as his signature look, inspiring many fashionable men to do the same.

For years, dashing gents in Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Madrid have long paired flat-front dress slacks with a fitted, open-collar, starched white shirt with French cuffs. It's an elegant sportswear look for warmer weather that Continentals favor for dining out and nightclubbing. They sometimes artfully drape a sport coat over their shoulders. It's an affectation that many American men might find a little too "La Dolce Vita." But on a slender, confident guy, this get-up has a certain panache.

Your husband's choice of jeans with his French-cuff shirt could work if he chooses crisp, dark denim jeans with a narrow silhouette. But just say no to faded, baggy denim -- no matter what he's wearing on top. And if he's really committed to wearing jeans, he should leave the tie off.

As for his choice of casual cuff links, he should regard them as an opportunity to express his personal style. He might pick tidy silk knot links, if he is understated, or flashier gold, silver or onyx cuff links if he is prone to a bit more flash.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123681038743900849.html

 

[Douglas]

Actually not terrible advice. Probably not officially iGent approved, but overall not bad advice given what's usually dished out in major publications.

 

[AscotMcPocketsquare]

agreed, french cuff shirts with jeans is 100% fine, but no need for a tie.

 

[Johnathan]

Originally Posted by AscotMcPocketsquare

agreed, french cuff shirts with jeans is 100% fine, but no need for a tie.
Couldn't disagree more.

 

[Steven Aver]

French Cuffs without a Jacket is a big NO for me, let alone Jeans.....

 

[AscotMcPocketsquare]

Originally Posted by Johnathan

Couldn't disagree more.

If you are wearing jeans you are most likely not going somewhere that requires a tie. Wearing a tie to go to a bar or something is just a pathetic attempt at affectation.

 

[AscotMcPocketsquare]

Originally Posted by Steven Aver

French Cuffs without a Jacket is a big NO for me, let alone Jeans.....

French cuffs + jacket + jeans - tie = yes

 

[awxg]

Some people are able to pull it off nicely but I wouldn't even try. I don't want to appear confused.

 

[whiteslashasian]

Originally Posted by AscotMcPocketsquare

agreed, french cuff shirts with jeans is 100% fine, but no need for a tie.

But...what about a knit tie? Is that not casual enough? Especially if a fun pocket square is used to tone down the formality of the outfit.

+1 on the advice for not trying to pull off that "look" with a suit-like jacket.

 

[Davelli0331]

I've worn this look before. The problem is that without a jacket/blazer, it looks like you're headed to the club. Not bad if that's the look you want, but probably not office-appropriate.

Now, with a jacket/blazer, dark jeans that fit well, and the right shoes, I think it looks ok at the office.

 

[awxg]

Originally Posted by AscotMcPocketsquare

French cuffs + jacket + jeans - tie = yes

Now that I think of it, this actually doesn't sound so bad. But replacing jeans with chinos or cords would be so much better.

 

[yfyf]

Huge no, tacky, especially without jacket.

The square "chunk" of a French cuff at the end of a sleeve with no jacket is very jarring. You need an outer sleeve to balance it out. FC in general is a very fussy looking thing.

 

[AscotMcPocketsquare]

Originally Posted by whiteslashasian

But...what about a knit tie? Is that not casual enough? Especially if a fun pocket square is used to tone down the formality of the outfit.

+1 on the advice for not trying to pull off that "look" with a suit-like jacket.

This is presumably something you are wearing casually or to a bar, why would you ever wear a tie? I makes it look like you are trying way too hard.

 

[AscotMcPocketsquare]

Originally Posted by Davelli0331

I've worn this look before. The problem is that without a jacket/blazer, it looks like you're headed to the club. Not bad if that's the look you want, but probably not office-appropriate.

Now, with a jacket/blazer, dark jeans that fit well, and the right shoes, I think it looks ok at the office.

Jeans are never appropriate for my work, so this is not a workplace concern.

 

[AscotMcPocketsquare]

Originally Posted by yfyf

Huge no, tacky, especially without jacket.

The square "chunk" of a French cuff at the end of a sleeve with no jacket is very jarring. You need an outer sleeve to balance it out. FC in general is a very fussy looking thing.

Did you read the link? She says he husband wears french cuffs with jeans A JACKET and a tie.