» Sun Dec 11, 2011 4:37 pm
For formalwear - tails. I've never had the occasion sadly.
For semi-formal - proper black tie, i.e. black tuxedo, single briasted, one button jacket with peaked, grosgrain or satin facing lapels, matching self-tie bow-tie (no pre-tied, I'm not five years old), white bib-front shirt with single cuffs, studs instead of buttons, white silk pocket square, and patent leather balmoral shoes with leather soles.
For occasions that require me to dress my best - i.e. weddings, formal events that are not black/white tie, etc. - a solid suit in grey or navy. A three-piece if I feel like it - I own two 3-piece suits and don't get the opportunity to wear them that often. Never pinstripes - pinstripes are for business only. A light coloured shirt, usually white. Normally button cuffs, but if I wear French cuffs, I'll dress them down with some colourful cufflinks. Not light blue as again, it's more 'business' than pleasure. A more casual tie than your usual woven silk - maybe a knitted silk or wool/cashmere tie. A 'fun' pocket square, i.e. not white linen in a square fold. Also never a square that matches the tie - that's never good - instead one that compliments it or has hints of the tie's colour in the pattern. Brown shoes, as I wear black far too often for business. Maybe suede if it's a bit more relaxed, but to counter-balance the informality of suede, I'll wear a relatively formal style, i.e. captoe or monkstrap.
For work (Monday - Thursday) - Suit, navy or grey, patterned or striped is fine but nothing too loud. White or light blue shirts, again, nothing too loud in terms of pattern. Silk ties, classic patterns such as repp or pin dots. Black or brown calf shoes, styles like captoed, monkstraps and wingtips.
For casual Friday - Chinos or straight dark denim, suede shoes, chukka boots or chelseas - always brown (black shoes and jeans is a combo that should be consigned to the 9th level of hell. Unless of course the jeans are also black). Shirts with more casual patterns - bold strips, gingham, etc. More interesting colours too. Usually a button-down collar that looks good without a tie. Tucked in - I'm not in college, I'm a grown man. In colder weather, cashmere and merino wool sweaters in various colours. Sometimes a casual blazer or sports jacket.
For weekend wear - pretty much the same as Friday, although I'll dress down a bit if I'm not doing anything - short-sleeved polos, sneakers instead of shoes, etc.
I just want to add that beneath the whiskey-swilling, cigar chomping exterior, I have some more... unusual interests. Mens style is one of them. Note that I said style and not fashion. Style is the concept of timelessness. James Bond has style. Steve McQueen had style. Frank Sinatra oozed buckets of style out of every pore. Fashion is the concept of disposable junk, of 'look at me'! attention seekers, of the bastardization of style into something grotesque that is designed to influence those without an ounce of class or style themselves.
