Hey Snappy Dressers: I need my first suit, help?

[Twoplanker]

Did not know this either, why?

Who knows? I don't make the rules.



Also, cedar shoe trees (also called horses) are a must to retain shoe shape and resist stank. Sand them a bit to freshen them up; expect to pay $20 for them. Buy shoe cream not polish and use it weekly. Get the shoes professionally maintained by a cobbler whenever you can and they'll last forever.

[Chemical Ali' The Wax Master]

I never knew there were so many metrosexuals on TGR.

[skier666]

This topic is so FUN!

If commuting, don't drive while wearing your coat. The tail of the coat will get fucked, and I've ripped buttons off the coat by being lazy.

[MarsB]

Just ask yourself, WWMIW?

[RShea]

2 vs. 3 button: yes, 2 button is safer. 3-button can work if the buttons are lower and closer together...it's the ones that button waaaaay up high that go in and out of fashion. Mostly it's tall guys who can do 3-button, but don't rule it completely out if it makes you look good. Odin makes a good point that the extra-low 2-button is bad, too (unless you're astoundingly short). Basically you don't want anything extreme or "stylish" on either end.

Buzz: No square toe shoes like those in the picture. The shoe on top is not a business shoe and says "I am a security guard, ignore me". The bottom shoe is OK if you have several pairs and can choose appropriate to the occasion, but for your only shoe, mitch is absolutely correct -- a classic cap toe oxford will never go out of style. Ditto for Allen-Edmonds (expensive) or Johnston and Murphy (a bit cheaper but still legit).

For shirts, don't just get multiple white shirts. Light blue and/or French blue are always legit. Other patterns and shades tend to go in and out every few years, like ties. If you need to wear a suit often enough to need more than a couple dress shirts, you may have to resign yourself to buying shirts and ties every few years.

Get the sleeves and body of your dress shirts tapered to fit you. This costs about $15 at Nordstrom and will make you look good.

If you are looking for a nice fit on dress shirts and are thin- try the athletic or fitted shirts. JC Penney's Stanford shirts (order through the internet if the store does not have selection) and 3 or 4 other companies make them-Clayborne (watch some do not have a traditional left shirt pocket if that matters to you), Geoffrey Beanne, Van Heusen, and John Ashford are some brands. They are for a thinner waist by a few inches- nothing worst than 3 inches of extra material stuffed in around your waist of a regular cut shirt.

[natty dread]

If you can't do that, I would look for a pleated pant

No!!!
Unless you've turned into a really fat guy since the last time I saw you...
Or unless you think the height of fashion was in the eighties.

[runethechamp]

Van Heusen

I once dated a girl who once said to me: "Please promise me that you NEVER EVER buy any of that horrible Van Heusen stuff. I hate it!"

[Obstruction]

I dunno, I have had reasonably good luck with Van Heusen cotton oxford button downs. Reasonably inexpensive, run true to size, press pretty well hold up OK.

I don't wear them when I'm getting dressed up for real but then again one should never wear a button down with a suit in my estimation.

[Woodsy]

OK jeebus people,
I talked to buzz off line I am not ignoring him; y'all always assume the worst......
a few caveats
if you are wearing a suit, you are not
1)wearing loafers. Suits require lace ups
2)wearing a shirt with a button down collar
both are too casual with suits.

Aslo, suits are a lot like skis in many ways:
-1 is never going to really be appropriate for all occasions
- you dont need a huge quiver unless you use them every day.
-knowledgeable sales people are hard to find but much needed
-people who dont know much will be impressed by things that those that do know will not; and those with knowledge will notice things that other would never
-handmade/fitted is always the best but rarely cost effective
-selections of both are very dependant on where you live, what you use them for and how long you have been using them.
-you can't buy style with either

[Spats]

if you are wearing a suit, you are not
1)wearing loafers. Suits require lace ups
2)wearing a shirt with a button down collar
both are too casual with suits.

Bump for the truth.

Also, visible logos on shirts or ties (e.g. Polo) are for high school preppies.

[irul&ublo]

Sorry...negatory on the no buttondown collar rule, especially those w/ loops underneath where the buttons don't show.

But yes on the no logo rule. Also, get a shirt w/ a neck that is big enough, the shirt is not supposed to strangle you.

[irul&ublo]

...no french cuffs (unless you're a CEO)

...no ties lighter than your shirt

...no deeply colored shirts...maroon, black...

...no leg showing...get some long socks...

...cuffs on the pants, especially light weight fabrics

...pants should break over the shoe...

The best looking guy in a suit, ever, was Cary Grant. Emulate.

[Woodsy]

Sorry...negatory on the no buttondown collar rule, especially those w/ loops underneath where the buttons don't show.

But yes on the no logo rule. Also, get a shirt w/ a neck that is big enough, the shirt is not supposed to strangle you.

your own example proves you are wrong
why are teh buttons "hidden"
because they are not appropriate.

[Missing Sock]

...no french cuffs (unless you're a CEO)

...no ties lighter than your shirt

...no deeply colored shirts...maroon, black...

...no leg showing...get some long socks...

...cuffs on the pants, especially light weight fabrics

...pants should break over the shoe...

The best looking guy in a suit, ever, was Cary Grant. Emulate.

Nothing wrong with cuffless pants but agree with a full break for pant length.

[Chemical Ali' The Wax Master]

i said metro, but i meant gay.
never trust a guy who will take a dick in the ass or the face.
that is a joke...for you angry types.

[runethechamp]

Buttondown shirts wher you can't see the buttons - meh
Pants with no pleats - actually preferred with flat front pants

[Obstruction]

A few good tips on keeping your suits looking new (From a website someplace with a few extra thoughts tossed in)

• Store suits on the original hanger when not being worn. Wide hangers keep the shoulders from sagging. Wool has memory - wrinkles will hang out.
• Never button the suit jacket or zip the pants while storing. This is the only time you can keep your pants unzipped.
• Brush your suit after each wearing. It takes off the surface dirt.
• Dry clean your suit no more than 3 or 4 times a year. Remove them from the cheap ass plastic bag that the drycleaner put them in so they can breath.
• Find a reputable dry cleaner (you get what you pay for).
• Always clean both jacket and pants together. Colors may undergo subtle changes in the dry cleaning process.
• Request hand pressing of the jacket (lapels need to be rolled).

[Buzzworthy]

Thanks for all the help!!!

Now the shopping part begins.



Horse=DEAD.