Where do I begin?

[Viral]



Am I the only one who wonders if these 6'5, 6'6 guys asking for style advice are former NBA players?

yup...............just you.

 

[GoldenTribe]



I wear jeans and polo shirts way too often [...] I'm looking to update my wardrobe so that I look like I care about how I present myself [...] I want to be respected as a professional as well as attractive to women.

+1000 to what pnutpug said.

For basics, most people here love Uniqlo (available only at a brick-and-mortar store in NYC, or through Suddenlee.com if you don't live in New York).  American Apparel, Alternative Apparel, Lands End Canvass, and Banana Republic are also good places for basics like sweaters and tees, but beware of the gaudy things at BR.

Spoiler: Warning: blah blah blah stupid crap

Since you wear dress shirts and oxfords a lot, you should probably make sure that they fit well.  If they are blousy (too much fabric), take them to a tailor.

If you have the money, bespoke (custom-made) trousers from a reputable tailor will fit you better than anything off-the-rack, especially since you are so tall. 

Pay attention to your shoes - they are very important.  Cheap or mismatched shoes (relative the the whole ensemble) speaks poorly about a man.

Best advice I can give you is to post pictures of yourself in these threads:
http://www.styleforum.net/t/253842/waywrn-mc-casual-style/2535
http://www.styleforum.net/t/234255/hof-what-are-you-wearing-right-now-part-iii/21315#post_5134619
That way, you won't have to decide on your own if your shoes are ok, or if your shirts are too blousy.  Also, going through the threads and reading lots of posts will allow you to gain advice vicariously through previous posters, some of whom probably started out like you.

Best of luck to you!

-1000000 to everything this clown wrote.

American Apparel? Uniqlo? Arbitrarily defining blousey (poorly)? This is MC, get a clue before you dole out advice.

 

[Gus]



Wear a lot of light grey.

If you are blond and fair skinned then I would avoid light grey except for pants. For suits, jackets and sweaters, if you even want grey then go for deeper greys and charcoal. Light, and warm greys will wash you out.

 

[Gus]

Here are my favorite top ten items. There are numerous sources and brands for any of these. All of these colors work well for fair skinned folks. Also consider a solid navy suit.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/278789/what-are-your-10-menswear-essentials/0_30

 

[CDHagg]

I mean no disrepect at all to CDHagg, but I would never buy anything at Banana Republic or Lands End or American Apparel. That does not mean that he's wrong and I'm right. It simply shows that his tastes are different than mine.

See how weird and complicated this can get? If folks could come to blows on the Internet, they would over such subjects as Joseph A. Bank, which some see as a legitimate place to buy clothes while others, including myself, wouldn't step in there to buy anything but shoe trees.

Definitely stay away from Jos. A. Bank. You could walk in there and buy a cheap made-in-China suit for $400, or you could buy a high-quality made-in-America Hickey Freeman suit for $400 if you search hard enough for a sale. Please, please avoid Jos. and Men's Wearhouse. As pnutpug points out, things like this can be subjective, but I think most SF members would subjectively agree with me on this point.

 

[Wolfador]

avoid the thrift store thread. You will end up at a thrift store everyday buying everything that is a "good" brand and end up with a bunch of stuff that doesn't fit and is too much of a pain to resell.

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

Like many have said, give yourself at least 3 months of dedicated lurching and searching topics you have questions about. Next, get out there and actually look at the items that you are interested in. Try alot of items on, and ignore the SA's at this point. When the time comes, you know what you want, stalk the product online if possible, and hopefully get it at a good price. Your welcome

 

[MyOtherLife]

All the best advice has been given.
Welcome to Styleforum.

 

[ddonicht]

I have 2 pieces of advice that hopefully can help. First, find a tailor in your area that you can trust. Unless you buy everything bespoke (not likely) you are going to need to have things altered. You can spend all you want on a garment but it will still look bad if it doesn't fit correctly. The tailor will help get everything fitting correctly where it most likely won't right off the rack. They will also help you figure out the correct size you need without trying to sell you something (like a salesperson will). Ask around the boards for one in your area as well as other people you know that dress well. I would also suggest taking something simple and easy to them for the first couple of things (shirt sleaves, trouser hem, etc). That way you can see their work without losing something too expensive if they mess up.

The other thing I would recommend would be to listen to your instincts. This does not mean go off and act on every impulse purchase, quite the opposite really. That isn't instinct but emotion. What I am talking about is more geared toward color, styles, and other things of that ilk. You'll find after reading the boards that there are opinions and counter opinions on just about everything. You can say the sky is blue and you'll have people talking about whether it is actually azure, cerulean, or beryl and that is before a troll jumps in and says he generally finds it to be peuce...at sunset. When it comes to clothes things are even more subjective. You can ask about a seersucker suit and you'll have half the people who love them and the other half thinking they are terrible and will make you look like Col. Sanders. If you really like something, wear it. If you have the fit right and are comfortable with yourself in it, you will look fine. I am of the opinion that if it is something out of the norm at all and you have to come to a message board to ask if you should wear it, you most likely don't have the confidence to pull it off.

Enjoy your journey.

 

[AndyMG]

Here's a good place to start for wardrobe essentials: http://putthison.com/post/712103418/the-essential-mans-wardrobe-perhaps-the-most

Also find a decent alterations tailor and avoid man-made materials.

 

[Gus]

^^^That is a good list of classic, good looking essentials from Put This On.

As several have mentioned, find a good tailor. Even better department stores will sell you things that are too large or poorly tailored. (often a dept store tailor will err on the side of making pants too long, sleeves too long, the waist too large, etc. because it allows him to be sloppy. If he made them really fit you, he risks making more errors).

How your clothing fit will set you apart and allow you to look your best. Go for a more trim, shorter look but not too short. That is for fashion shows. Don't think that just because you are a tall guy that everything needs to be overly large and extra long.

In your case, it will take some research to find which brands, sizes and cuts fit someone 6'5". You will need a size Long, but even then sizes and Longs vary by manufacturer. Go for the very best fit.

 

[AndyMG]

It certainly is. I discovered it when I first started improving my wardrobe and have found it to be an invaluable guide. Also, by having access to the items listed, there is a huge number of combinations that can be worn without having to have an enormous wardrobe and bank account to match.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Ever notice that such people rarely stick around past a few days?

The work wardrobe might not be bad. The casual wardrobe sounds bad. Beyond all the take-it-slow and fit advice, it would make sense to gradually change from wearing polo shirts often to usually wearing casual button-front shirts (in a variety of colors, patterns, fabrics, and styles). Polo shirts that fit badly or are pale, black or in loud colors probably should be weeded out quickly. Lands' End Canvas is an idea, but without pictures, a location, or budget, it is hard to say.