things a man should know about style
A man in a good suit and tie looks chic; a man in a good suit without a tie looks more chic. A man who uses the word "chic" had better be kidding around.
Never button the bottom button on a vest. No one really knows why.
Gold buttons are not necessary precondition for a jacket to be worn as a blazer. In fact, gold buttons are never necessary, Admiral. Speaking of buttons, with two you fasten only the top button; with three it's either the middle or the middle and the top. Three-button suit: yes. Two-button: yes. One button: only on tuxedo. Should you find yourself in a four-button suit coat: Unfasten all buttons. Remove. Discard.
You know how the outside pockets of a new suit are stitched shut? Leave them stitched shut. This preserves the lean shape of a suit by prohibiting you from stuffing the pockets full of stuff.
The bussiness-shirt wardrobe: Though some stylebooks would prescribe four white shirts, four blue shirts, etc. It's better to have whatever kind of high-quality shirts you like that are acceptable in your office. That said, your shirt wardrobe should total least ten, so that the first five can be the laundry for a week before you're caught without.
If you haven't worn it in the last year, get rid of it.
If you're not sure whether or not it looks good on you, it doesn't.
If you wear a suit on an airplane and there is a flight delay or cancellation, the ticket agent will help you in a way that she wouldn't if you were in sweats. The preceeding principle also applies to the following situations: at restaurants, in certain nightclubs, taxi hailing, when being pulled over by a policeman, when shopping for lingerie (unless it's for yourself), and in the office, either for the bossing-about of subordinate or receiving of bossing-about from a superior.
When in doubt, wear black. There will never be a new black.
Contrary to popular belief, not everybody look better in black. On the other hand, wearing all black, all the time, is the transparent affection of people who want to be seen as artsy, and who should just quit it. To wit: Tall, thin men of exceptionally pale visage look more dead than better.
Green suites are not wearable, are difficult to match ties to, and can cause a short man to be mistaken for a leprechaun.
Short meen need the illusion of height, which means: dark suits, vertical lines, tapered trousers, two-as opposed to three-button suits, and the avoidance of the horizontal effect of pocket flaps and cuffed trousers.
Tall, thin men need the illusion of breadth, which means: plaids, patterns, thick, nonclingy fabrics, looser three-button suits, wider lapels, flapped pockets, cuffed trousers.
Fat men: see short men.
Ties with vertical stripes: no.
Silk shirts: no.
Blousy pirate shirts: unless you're a figure skater. And even then - actually, especially then - no.
Glittery clothing: no.
Never button the bottom button on a vest. No one really knows why.
Gold buttons are not necessary precondition for a jacket to be worn as a blazer. In fact, gold buttons are never necessary, Admiral. Speaking of buttons, with two you fasten only the top button; with three it's either the middle or the middle and the top. Three-button suit: yes. Two-button: yes. One button: only on tuxedo. Should you find yourself in a four-button suit coat: Unfasten all buttons. Remove. Discard.
You know how the outside pockets of a new suit are stitched shut? Leave them stitched shut. This preserves the lean shape of a suit by prohibiting you from stuffing the pockets full of stuff.
The bussiness-shirt wardrobe: Though some stylebooks would prescribe four white shirts, four blue shirts, etc. It's better to have whatever kind of high-quality shirts you like that are acceptable in your office. That said, your shirt wardrobe should total least ten, so that the first five can be the laundry for a week before you're caught without.
If you haven't worn it in the last year, get rid of it.
If you're not sure whether or not it looks good on you, it doesn't.
If you wear a suit on an airplane and there is a flight delay or cancellation, the ticket agent will help you in a way that she wouldn't if you were in sweats. The preceeding principle also applies to the following situations: at restaurants, in certain nightclubs, taxi hailing, when being pulled over by a policeman, when shopping for lingerie (unless it's for yourself), and in the office, either for the bossing-about of subordinate or receiving of bossing-about from a superior.
When in doubt, wear black. There will never be a new black.
Contrary to popular belief, not everybody look better in black. On the other hand, wearing all black, all the time, is the transparent affection of people who want to be seen as artsy, and who should just quit it. To wit: Tall, thin men of exceptionally pale visage look more dead than better.
Green suites are not wearable, are difficult to match ties to, and can cause a short man to be mistaken for a leprechaun.
Short meen need the illusion of height, which means: dark suits, vertical lines, tapered trousers, two-as opposed to three-button suits, and the avoidance of the horizontal effect of pocket flaps and cuffed trousers.
Tall, thin men need the illusion of breadth, which means: plaids, patterns, thick, nonclingy fabrics, looser three-button suits, wider lapels, flapped pockets, cuffed trousers.
Fat men: see short men.
Ties with vertical stripes: no.
Silk shirts: no.
Blousy pirate shirts: unless you're a figure skater. And even then - actually, especially then - no.
Glittery clothing: no.
when in doubt, ask a woman.
posted by devildiva at
1:34 AM
