Jeans. For some people they symbolize lazy weekends; perhaps paired with your favorite old tee shirt and beat up sneakers. Perfect for washing the car or walking the dog. For others they connote urban hip; the ultimate counter play to formal office wear.Ralph Lauren once made news when he wore jeans with his dinner jacket…
Tag: Wardrobe/Clothing
Dressing Well Has Always Been Environmentally Correct
This past summer, an interesting article appeared in the International Herald Tribune about how employees at Eni, Italy’s largest power company, agreed to shed their ties and cut back on air conditioning in an effort to help fight global warming. The company’s Rome and Milan offices began a tentative experiment in what it called, “lighter…
Style Guide: Flat Front Khakis
Unless you have to wear a suit every day, khaki pants are probably the real backbone of your work wardrobe. From formally tailored to comfortably slouchy, they go with almost anything, can be dressed up or down, and travel well. Choosing the right pair at the right time is important, or you’ll quickly wind up…
Vested Interest
Vests are back in fashion and I for one am very happy about this overdue trend. A dozen years ago, I bought a wonderful waistcoat in Dublin. It was a classic Irish country tweed; colorful but not overdone, elegant but not at all dandified. It was a real classic and had a timeless cut. I…
"V" For Sartorial Victory
Now that cooler weather is upon us, it’s time to break out the clothes we’ve been waiting all year to wear. In my opinion, men’s clothing is at its finest when the weather turns chilly. Tweeds and cashmere, woollens and heavy corduroy are what make a guy’s wardrobe interesting and masculine. And the purpose-built DNA…
Wardrobe Requirement: The Odd Jacket
So, you ask; what is an “odd Jacket?” It’s really just a clever term for any sport coat, blazer, or other jacket that is not part of a suit. The odd jacket, long a versatile weapon in many a man’s wardrobe arsenal, has finally come into its own on the fashion front. In catalogs and…
Finding a Shoe Shine in D.C.
Getting one’s shoes shined used to be a regular occurrence for most men. Back when most workplaces were formal, suits, ties, and business shoes were the daily costume of every working man, from CEO to junior accountant. After decades of erosion, the very foundation of men’s business dress was on the verge of collapse until…
Fit First
I talk a lot about your clothes needing to fit properly, because when it comes down to brass tacks if what you’re wearing doesn’t fit nothing else really matters. When your suits, shirts, and trousers fit your body, they disappear; people may notice your overall appearance but exactly what you have on is less prominent….
Choosing the Right Footwear
Men being men, many of us tend to see shoes as utilitarian, something we need, but not something on which to spend a lot of time. Once we have to look good though – an interview for the top job, a friend’s wedding, or a big date – we’re scrutinizing our footwear like a panicked…
Style Guide: All About Socks
Several years ago, during the run-up to my wedding, I found myself in the midst of a quandary. My best man and I were locked in sartorial combat over socks; or hosiery, whichever you prefer. At issue was this: should socks match the trouser or should they be left open to personal interpretation? This was…