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Newbie Fashion Tips for Grown-up Men
- tomjen2 17y agoPersonally, I just wear a suit - if you know enough to critic the suit I don't want to get to know you, since you obviously have different ideas about what makes life worth living.
- nsrivast 17y agoI'd like a site like crowdspring, except I upload pictures of my clothes and people tell me what tie/shirt/pants/suit go with each other.
- sgrove 17y agoI believe that hn's vaksel runs a site close to that - http://styleguidance.com/ http://styleguidance.com/ Although it does seem geared slightly more at women than men, I think it gets pretty close to what you're looking for. Perhaps vaksel can work with you to round out the rough spots.
- agentq 17y agoThough not quite what you're looking for, StyleForum (mentioned in another comment) has a "What are you Wearing Right Now" thread in the Men's Clothing section... you can actually try out different combos and receive (mostly) constructive feedback.
- mhb 17y agoThe Sartorialist is great: http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
- sown 17y agoNeat photos... ...but I think this demonstrates my main problem about fashion: only the good looking can do this. Not a single fat person in these pictures. I'm not saying that they must out of some sense of equality or some kind of obligation. Clothes are not made for fat people probably because they just don't look good in anything. I should just lose weight if I want to look fashionable. I speak from personal experience. I'm quite overweight -- like most americans -- and nothing I wore had any affect on how well I looked. So i just gave up on fashion years ago.
- dtegart 17y agoChurchill was overweight and he wasn't too bad of a dresser. If you want to see more realistic examples than on the sartoralist then checkout the styleforums thread "what are you wearing today", mentioned elsewhere. Suits work best on someone who is around 5'9". I am quite tall, which means I can look a bit goofy if I wear the wrong things, but just like with being overweight, it is possible to put together a combination that looks good.
- io 17y agoSuits work best on someone who is around 5'9" Nonsense. Tall guys look great in suits. I'm 5'7" and I always feel a bit like Tatoo from Fantasy Island (The Plane! The Plane!) when I put on a suit.
- alaithea 17y agoWhether a suit looks good for your height just depends on the proportions of the suit compared to your body. A short guy can wear a suit just as well as a tall guy (or vice versa), if he has the right length jacket. This is because the jacket divides the body into two visual sections, the primary effect of which is to either visually shorten or lengthen the legs. Shorter guys look stubby if their jacket is too long and cuts through their thighs. Hint: many clothes come in [S]hort, [R]egular, and [T]all length variations. It's good to figure out which one you are and buy the appropriately proportioned one, or err on the side of too long and have a tailor crop it for you.
- nandemo 17y agoWhile it's true most Sartorialist "models" aren't overweight (and that's simply a result of the author's filtering), they aren't especially good looking either. They're just random people who happen to have very good fashion sense. That's the whole point of the blog after all.
- Semiapies 17y agoIt varies. Compare this young guy: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/12010TanLeather3822Web.jpg http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/12010TanLeather3822Web... with this older man: http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/11810DGscarf3456Web.jpg http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/11810DGscarf3456Web.jp... The second man has serious style, and his outfit could be tailored to a heavier man. However, if you're not a young, handsome guy who pays so much attention to your hairstyle that people will notice it before your epic static cling, you can't get away with the first man's look.
- iron_ball 17y agoAlmost all of this is solid. One small quibble: "Black tie" means tuxedo. If your host doesn't really mean black tie, that's their mistake, not yours. Don't get a black suit. Everything a black suit can do, a charcoal suit does better. I only bring this up because people seem to think black suits are essential. They aren't. You won't get funny looks, but you won't look as good as you would in charcoal. BONUS TIP: Match your socks to your pants, not your shoes. You want to draw attention to the shoes/leg boundary, not the sock/trouser boundary. BONUS LINK: http://www.styleforum.net http://www.styleforum.net is where I learned what I wanted to know about tailored men's clothing. Scour the stickies; dip into the daily threadpiles only with caution.
- kyro 17y agoI'd also add the askandyaboutclothes.com forums.
- lamby 17y agoWow that domain name took me about 20 seconds to parse :/
- dtegart 17y agoalso http://www.throughtherye.com/flusser/index_current.html http://www.throughtherye.com/flusser/index_current.html for one of Alan Flusser's excellent books on the matter
- isleyaardvark 17y agoParticularly Flusser's "Style and the Man" and "Dressing the Man". I can't upvote you enough, he literally wrote the book on men's fashion. The main problem with this article is it doesn't stress proportion nearly enough. Proportion/fit trumps all.
- kyro 17y agoI'd add a few more things. Make sure your shirt and jacket fit. The most common things I see are men with collars too big for them so there's this huge gap between the front of the neck and the knot of the tie. Make sure your shirt fits snug, along with the suit jacket. The suit jacket should follow the contour of your sides, not hang straight down. It should look tailor-made for your body shape, and those with jackets that drop straight down on the sides look as if they purchased a one-size-fits-all suit. Also, ties should reach mid-buckle, and the knot should be appropriate for the occasion. I see lots of guys at weddings who tie their knot using the simplest method and it looks too casual. Look up various tie knots like the half-windsor, etc. And as he said, your pants should reach the floor, but they should also drape nicely around your shoes. I see lots of guys with bulky dress shoes that cause scrunching of the pant leg at the ankle because there's not enough room for the pants to fit over the shoe and drape; so pick slim fitting shoes. I disagree with him on the shinier the shoe the dressier and that they should be made of leather. I've got slip-on black suede shoes that work really well when dressing up.
- defen 17y agoGood advice; I'd like to add rule 0: Lose some weight, and wear clothes that fit.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- yason 17y agoThis is all good if you intend to either impress people you're sure you want to impress or you're sure you actually to want to dress like this even if you were the only person on this planet. Not really objecting to good-looking clothes selected with class but do it for the right reasons.
- InclinedPlane 17y agoThis is why I like the tech industry and the west coast so much. Because I can wear jeans and a geeky t-shirt to a 6 figure salary office job and nobody thinks there's a damned thing wrong with that. I have a suit, I wear it extremely rarely and only because I want to, not because I feel forced to do so by society or office culture. I disagree that I am thus not a "grown-up" by some absurd definition. Some people take fashion seriously, others take a more relaxed attitude, that doesn't make either better or more mature than the other.
- stse 17y agoFashion is one of those things (like etiquette, social norms and maybe religion) that you need to understand to willfully ignore. You're making just as much of a statement by wearing jeans and a t-shirt as someone wearing a suit. For me a truly relaxed view on fashion is when, while other peoples view of you might change with your appearance, your view of yourself never does. Insight over ignorance.
- yummyfajitas 17y agoRevealing information is not the same thing as making a statement. Richard Stallman deliberately tells you his website/etc is powered by free software. You can infer from the http headers of my homepage that it is powered by free software. Stallman is making a statement, my host (NYU) is just not bothering to obfuscate headers. Similarly, a person who wears comfortable, easy clothes is just revealing information. A person who actively selected their clothes based on the message they send is making a statement.
- stse 17y agoEnglish is not my first language and I find it very frustrating when people nitpick on words. The first year of my fashion studies was (more or less) devoted to the meaning of the word 'fashion', but I still manage to understand what people mean by using it. What I meant was statement in the sense of fashion[1], which is the connotation of your clothes, 'reavealing information' as you put it. But if you are deliberately buying geeky t-shirt or 'easy' clothes, you are still making a conscious statement, for example "I'm a geek" and "I prefer comfort over fit". In the event that the selection of your clothes is not deliberate, there's still the connotation of them. For example, with 'easy' clothes some may look at you as a slob, while others sees you as laid back. While you can be outside of the 'fashion system', your clothes still have meaning, to you and to others. If you want to read a proper simile regarding fashion, i.e. not with http headers, I can (almost) recommend the works of Roland Barthes [2]. [1] http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561533193/fashion_statement.html http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561533193/fashion_statemen... [2] http://books.google.com/books?q=roland+barthes+fashion http://books.google.com/books?q=roland+barthes+fashion
- apsec112 17y agoI don't know how accurate these are for people who dress this way, but I would guess that very few people on this site do dress this way. The style he's describing is as formal as that of a New York City investment banker when he's at his office (http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-wardrobe-men/ http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/investment-banking-war...).
- isamuel 17y agoAnyone who enjoys this will enjoy "Put This On," a collaboration between "the Sound of Young America guy" and "the You Look Nice Today guy." It's a video series (season 1 is about to launch, & there's already a pilot available) and tumblr. http://putthison.com/ http://putthison.com/
- warfangle 17y agoFor those of you in NYC - take a peak at mysuitny.com. Design your suit, pick the fabric, then go into the store to get measured. Suit arrives later in the mail. It's where I'm going for my next suit, at least..
- jodrellblank 17y agoI thought I'd try that with http://www.leftfootcompany.com/ http://www.leftfootcompany.com/ a while ago - you go to a store and get your feet scanned and then order online and they machine make shoes to fit your feet. They emailed me to say my feet are too large/small/different/whatever and their process cannot make shoes to fit me. :/
- sown 17y ago3 Suits?! That's like asking me to own three cars.
- ohashi 17y agoWhat's wrong with 3 cars? 1 for daily use, 1 to go out on a date and one for business!
- jodrellblank 17y agoWhat's wrong with 3 houses? 1 to live in, 1 for impressing and 1 for working. Of course, you outsource the impressing one to whichever social building is appropriate for the event and outsource the working one to your office, but still. Maybe you could have a daily driver, and either hire a van as needed, and have a weekend car or hire one as needed, or own or hire both or indeed all three. New startup - make regular car hiring better?
- GFischer 17y agoI guess that's very country-specific. In my country (Uruguay), as a professional, I'm EXPECTED to wear a suit, and I own far more than 3 (it helps that they're about U$ 100 each as opposed to whatever price they are in the US).
- mseebach 17y agoHe says that you eventually want to own three suits. Once you start wearing suits for different occasions, it's pretty obvious, at least IMHO. A black suit is good for formal use. Church-business, meetings with executives etc. You're conveying the message that you're dead-serious. A charcoal suit works well, also, as mentioned in another comment. A lighter suit, maybe grey with a very light pattern, no color, goes well for anything non-dead-serious. The message is that you respect and take whomever you're with seriously. Lower level meetings, fancy restaurants, conferences. A black suit don't go well here, because the situation just isn't dead serious. The third suit is for when you're used to wearing suits and like it (if you don't like it, don't go there) - something more playful, something like a color pin-stripe is popular. Generally not for business-use, but for going out. If you show up at a post-conference cocktail reception in a suit like that it says "let's enjoy ourselves" and shows another side of you.
- seldo 17y agoThis is "Fashion tips, as long as by fashion you mean what 19th-century British aristocracy wore". If you asked a woman to wear an uncomfortable and restrictive item of clothing designed in the 1800s you would be a crazy sexist. But apparently men are supposed to do just that.
- philk 17y agoWomen wear uncomfortable and restrictive items of clothing all the time. For instance, high heels.
- eru 17y agoAnd the expensive stuff for men is usually quite comfortable. (Though you have to put down a lot of money on a suit to get as comfortable as you get with even very cheap T-shirts.)
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- rokhayakebe 17y agoThe styliest guy in the room is also the simplest. If you do not know what to buy, keep it simple: get 1 pair or Rock and Republick (they always fit), and 1 7 for all mankind, get 2 white shirts and 1 black one from J crew. Pack up on Hanes t-shirts. Add a simple stainless silver watch, you are done. Do not worry about the shoes, just keep them clean, and no square toes.
- grandalf 17y agoThe most important thing is that the clothes actually be comfortable. There is nothing less flattering than a person wearing clothes that he'd obviously not be wearing. This has the following implications: - If you are overweight, maybe a button down shirt is just going to bunch up and come untucked and look untidy. If so, you'll look better with a quality t-shirt on underneath a suit than with a button down. - Shoe quality is among the biggest signals of your overall wardrobe quality. Don't skimp on shoes. A high quality pair of shoes will not require much break in and will be extremely comfy. - All suits (and jackets, and most pants) need tailoring for comfort and appearance. You are slightly asymmetrical and having it tailored by a skilled tailor will make it look 10x better. - Suits are made to be as comfy as pajamas. There is a reason investment bankers tolerate them. If yours isn't, it's either a lousy suit or it needs to be tailored. Also, - Do not have your suit dry cleaned more than once every two years unless something catastrophic happens. Just hang it on a quality hanger after you take it off and let it air out. - There are probably some types of clothing that just don't look good on you. Figure out what they are and avoid them.
- eru 17y ago> - Do not have your suit dry cleaned more than once every two years unless something catastrophic happens. Just hang it on a quality hanger after you take it off and let it air out. My mother-in-law swears on hanging your woolen suit in the bathroom while you take a shower. The steam helps with the airing out.
- harry 17y ago>Suits are made to be as comfy as pajamas. There is a reason investment bankers tolerate them. If yours isn't, it's either a lousy suit or it needs to be tailored. Wearing a tie to bed sounds like a form of mild torture.
- amohr 17y agoMy favorite line came in the comments: "business casual is a trick foisted on Gen X & Y by the baby boomers to make us look like dolts and keep us from taking over their corner offices! Just say no!"
- RK 17y agoKeep it casual. Start your own business. Problem solved.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- tsally 17y agoAs the author describes, one reason technical people don't dress well is because they never learned how. Another reason is that techies are unconventional and don't place a high priority on mainstream standards. That being said, I've been fashion hacking for half a year now and the results have been great. Here's some concrete advice based on my experience. Note that I'm 20; people who have been professionals for 15 years and have kids probably dress differently. I'm also average height and average weight, so you'll have to make adjustments if you are tall/short/whatever. Tshirts. Fitted solid color shirt with jeans that fit and shoes that impress = coffee shop, homework at the library, class. Easy as pie, and if you get the fit right and are in decent shape you look good. Casual collared shirts. For general wear get bright, solid color fitted ones. Bar, restaurant, class, whatever. It's a very flexible look because you can switch in/out jeans and slacks. Express's 1MX shirts are a solid choice (http://bit.ly/cXBvxS http://bit.ly/cXBvxS) and very popular for this type of role. Collared shirts for your suit. Go to a tailor. Get measured. Go to a store that sells suites like Men's Warehouse. Get two white shirts, a powder blue shirt, and a light gray shirt and you are done. Don't complicate things with strips or harder colors if you are just starting. If you want to add personality to your shirt you can do it with a tie You're going for these kinds of looks: http://bit.ly/bwI7zG http://bit.ly/bwI7zG, http://bit.ly/16mDVK http://bit.ly/16mDVK, and http://bit.ly/97P8ld http://bit.ly/97P8ld. Hoodies. Buy two solid color ones, one navy and one grey. No branding, no weird details, no nothing. Solid color only. You can't really improve your look with hoodies, but you can really mess it up by buying one that isn't a solid color. Example (from JCrew): http://bit.ly/bcG2uB http://bit.ly/bcG2uB. Graphic Tees. These are hard. You have to be younger to pull off a graphic tee and even then the single to noise ratio in terms of nice/ugly graphic tees is really high. You're probably better off avoiding them Polos. it's very tough to find ones that fit well. I've had decent success with the custom fit from Raulph Lauren (http://bit.ly/clGtz5 http://bit.ly/clGtz5). But please, don't buy a polo with a huge logo on the front. Examples: This one from Raulph Lauren (http://bit.ly/arvbbg http://bit.ly/arvbbg) and this one from Express (http://bit.ly/9VX3oB http://bit.ly/9VX3oB) are both BAD choices. A big logo just doesn't look good, and it makes it seem like you are brand dropping. Something for parties. Something that's a little different. Do not buy this until you are ready. Go with your graphic tee or a regular collared shirt until you are confident enough to pick something cool. Example (from Express): http://bit.ly/9AOupm http://bit.ly/9AOupm. Jeans. Don't get designer jeans. Don't get them torn. Don't get them baggy. Regular or slim fit only. Get them in colors ranging from dark blue to blue/gray. Do not get light blue. Do not get jeans that are too long. They should never, never touch the ground and they should cover 1/4 to 1/2 of your shoe laces when you are standing. Casual Shoes. Women notice shoes. Seriously. It's really interesting how much they look at your shoes. You can have everything else right, but if your shoes are big blocky white gym shoes, you have failed. I say this as someone who bought big blocky white gym shoes from freshman year in high school to sophomore year in college. The good news is that you can crowd source style selection by looking at Zappos's most popular (http://bit.ly/bep8vN http://bit.ly/bep8vN). Once you have the style selection, just make sure you get a decent color. I own a pair of these (http://www.zappos.com/multiview/126799/14074 http://www.zappos.com/multiview/126799/14074). Boots. Get something that looks good but does what it is supposed to do (stand up to the elements). I've had a good experience with Red Wing. The company used to make the shoes for the US Army during WWI and WWII, so they make a quality, durable product. I own a pair of these (http://www.amazon.com/Red-Wing-Shoes-Gentleman-Traveler/dp/B0018E0RPA http://www.amazon.com/Red-Wing-Shoes-Gentleman-Traveler/dp/B...) and they are awesome (but really expensive :-/ ). I've used them constantly in the snow and hold up great, plus they look good too. Coat. You should get a wool pea coat. You should stop wearing your Northface that is the side of a small tent. Example (from J Crew): http://bit.ly/cVNqg2 http://bit.ly/cVNqg2. Peat coats are a proven style that have been around forever. A nice coat is a really expensive investment and you don't want to buy one that will look bad when your style changes as you get older. Sunglasses. Authentic aviators that have frames that fit your face. Done. Like the pea coat, aviators have been around for a long time and there are only a few people who truly don't look good in them. Also, a few general tips: Fit is the key to everything. It doesn't matter how much you spend on clothing or how well you match your colors. You will not look good if your clothes don't fit. Period. Everything you get should be slim fitting. Odds are 10 to 1 that the jeans you are wearing right now are far too baggy. Loose clothing was one of my most difficult habits to break. Do not accept anything less than exactly what you want. Settling for clothing is the worst thing you can do. The legs on the pants you just bought half an inch too long? Return them. The collar of the shirt a little too tight? Return it. There are billions of styles and billions of fits out there. Taking a shortcut to save some time is not the road to success. You have to keep searching until you find a fit and a brand that you really, really like. Focus first on making choices that don't look bad. It's actually really difficult to develop this skill. Once you can consistently make choices that aren't bad, you can start being more risky and shoot for things that look good. --- Yesh, that turned out to be longer than expected. It was kind of a brain dump, so I apologize if there are parts that don't make sense. EDIT: One more thing. The first rule of fight club is you don't talk about fight club. Wearing nice clothes is something you do, but it's not something you brag about. Your clothes and brands don't define you and they don't change who you are. The only things clothes do is get in the way (if they are bad) or complement what you already have (if they are good). It's like being rude or polite in a conversation; it doesn't change the content of the conversation, but things can be really ugly or really pleasant depending on the choices you make.
- davidmurphy 17y agoAnyone want to dare venture an opinion why women place such stock in judging men by their shoes? As a guy, I enjoy dressing nicely when I can except it irks me people care so much about (men's) shoes. I don't get why they matter so much - they're on our feet near the floor out of sight mostly and serve an impt functional purpose to cushion and protect the foot. And it angers me our society makes it fashionable for women to hurt themselves with really painfully uncomfortable shoes.
- eru 17y agoI guess shoes are easy to judge for women. > And it angers me our society makes it fashionable for women to hurt themselves with really painfully uncomfortable shoes. Me too. I am just glad, that `nice' shoes for man are comfortable, too. At least after you have walked in them for a few days (or weeks) and the leather has become soft.
- cynicalkane 17y agoIt has partly to do with that most men buy terrible shoes. Particularly dress shoes, but they also tend to buy ugly sneakers. Shoes are actually the easiest thing to understand, to the point many newbies on StyleForum start out by expanding their shoe wardrobe. It's hard to tell an expensive suit from a cheap one, but easy to tell a good shoe from a bad one, if only men would spend any time at all thinking about it. A pair of Allen Edmonds dress shoes is $325 or so. Seems like a lot, but 1) they look ten times better and 2) they last ten times longer. In an office environment where the "best-dressed" men wear hideous $200 KC glue-jobs that fall apart after a few years, you can one-up them while saving money. Pretty neat. Most dress shoes have hard leather soles, but this isn't a big deal unless you walk several miles in them every day. I can't explain why women love foot-destroying heels. It makes no sense to me.
- scott_s 17y agoMost dress shoes have hard leather soles, but this isn't a big deal unless you walk several miles in them every day. Funny you mention that. A friend of mine works at the State Department, and walks to the Metro every day. In total, he walks about 3 miles a day. The State Department is suit-and-tie, every day. He goes through suit pants and dress shoes like I go through gym clothes.
- davidmurphy 17y agoAnyone want to dare venture an opinion why women place such stock in judging men by their shoes? As a guy, I enjoy dressing nicely when I can except it irks me people care so much about (men's) shoes. I don't get why they matter so much - they're on our feet near the floor out of sight mostly and serve an impt functional purpose to cushion and protect the foot. And it angers me our society makes it fashionable for women to hurt themselves with really painfully uncomfortable shoes.
- aaronkaplan 17y agoit angers me our society makes it fashionable for women to hurt themselves with really painfully uncomfortable shoes. Me too. Unfortunately, I also tend to like how women look in high heels. I have a lot of cognitive dissonance about fashion in general. It disgusts me that people buy new clothes even though they have old ones that are still perfectly functional, but despite this disgust, I am sometimes one of those people. When I'm dressed well (which includes, among other things, being not too far out of date), I feel better about myself, but then I feel stupid for letting myself be manipulated for profit by the fashion industry. I know a couple of women who have such a strong aesthetic sense that they can look good without being trendy. I have a lot of respect for that.
- philwelch 17y agoHigh heels aren't about making the feet look better....
- abalashov 17y agoYeah, I may get around to considering some of these things someday if I make any money. Broke-ass entrepreneurs rolling their own out of pure cash need not apply. Most clothes I have are left over from high school or first year of college and suit just fine.
- Radix 17y agoThere were some comments on the blog asking about tucking in your shirt without a belt. I believe it's okay if you do not have belt loops. My brother has an old suit from the 80s which has no belt loops and as long as the shirt is tapered it looks good. Of course you have to walk like you intended to wear a suit from the 80s.
- holygoat 17y agoIMO (and this seems to be supported by modern American culture), if a man isn't wearing suspenders he should be wearing a belt.
- blasdel 17y agoA fedora is one affectation that a man can't truly pull off unless they're old enough to have fought in the Korean War (Vietnam if Black). Don't be that guy: http://m.assetbar.com/achewood/uua4Mm6Fp http://m.assetbar.com/achewood/uua4Mm6Fp
- eru 17y agoI've seen a guy pull it off. But it was in a more casual setting (still well dressed).
- subwindow 17y agoI disagree. I wear a fedora somewhat frequently, and everyone says it really suits me (not lying/puffing- just trying to convey that it's not just me). I think the key is venue. Don't wear a fedora to work or every damn day. Wear it out occasionally, and match your outfit to it carefully.
- holygoat 17y agoI wear a rabbit felt fedora. More casual than the feather-in-the-band style, and waterproof, without looking like a Tilley hat.
- io 17y agoMy sister's a fashion maven. I'm a geek. She once told me: "You could pull off a hat. But first you'd have to change your whole personality." YMMV :)
- bitwize 17y agoI saw a guy wear a derby hat and trenchcoat on the T today. Looked like John Steed, or a douchebag trying to put on a John Steed affectation. I wonder how many pizza goiters are in his friend list?
- Dylanfm 17y agoI bought one of these hats recently http://www.truffaux.com http://www.truffaux.com (I think it's the Snakeskin one.. nice and simple) and I'm very happy with it. Like subwindow says: don't wear it all the time. I just wear it every now and then. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a wanker by wearing something that's not super normal, but I think that's probably generated by self-consciousness and doesn't really have much validity. At least that's what I tell myself :)
- jokull 17y agoDon't buy anything that says anything on it. Perhaps a small Lacoste badge logo or something but no messages. Don't wear pink and yellow. When in doubt, copy everything from Tom Ford's A Single Man movie. And it's more important to look fit then wear the right fit, although both are important to look good.
- dkasper 17y agoAre you serious? Yellow was an in color last year.
- jokull 17y ago"In" colours don't apply to anyone except fashion industry people.
- jgfoot 17y ago> When in doubt, copy everything from Tom Ford's A Single Man movie. Great; now I can look forward to male hackers wearing bright white angora sweaters everywhere.
- jokull 17y agoDon't copy the lost teenager guy (obviously).
- xiaoma 17y ago>White socks are for sports. Only. White socks are a lot more versatile than that, unless the scope of "sports" is so broad as to include hikes, walking in the park or even having a barbecue. Wearing dress socks with sneakers is just odd.
- njs12345 17y agoWatch Mad Men and copy Don Draper?
- scotty79 17y ago> Dress Suits As soon as they make suits incorporating Polartec and Goretex I'll think about wearing suits. Until then I prefer my comfort over pretty much anything. I make exception only for funerals and weddings.
- matrix 17y agoI would rate this article as very basic at best. I became very interested in fashion after I needed to learn about it (long story). One thing you'll see a lot of -- and this article is guilty of this too -- is that clothes should fit well. Duh. The thing is, it's very rarely explained what that actually means. Part of the reason is that a lot of people writing these things simply don't know, beyond a few basics (listen to a tailor or a fashion designer who understands drape, etc). The other part is that the definition of "good fit" changes with time. Currently, the trend for mens fashion is for slim fitting garments. In two years that might change. Dressing well is not about wearing certain types of prescriptive clothing ("thou shalt wear a slim-fitting button-down oxford, slim chinos, and expensive longwings") but rather, is about dressing appropriately for the context, and choosing your clothes with a little care. This means fit, but it also means making sure the colors and patterns work well together (I can expand on this topic a bit more if anyone is interested).
- andrewcooke 17y agoi absolutely agree on context. you are participating in a kind of conversation; the statement you make takes its value not from the absolute measure of what you wear, but how it contrasts with the assumed standards of your particular environment. it might be worth emphasising that for many "nerds" that probably means that taking more care over your choice of jeans + t shirt is better advice than how to pick a suit. (i say this because i asked my american co-workers if they had any sense of what "well dressed" meant and all their answers focussed on formal wear. that's missing over 50% of the point).
- kscaldef 17y agoPersonally, I would skip the loafers. IMO, grown men tie their shoes. Instead, have a pair of wing-tips and a pair of unadorned or cap-toe oxfords.
- adnam 17y agoSoon on Hacker News: How to eat with a knife and fork! How to do "number twos"! How to brush your teeth! Sheesh
- stse 17y agoDon't know about the last two, but some people would definitely benefit from learning table manners and fork etiquette. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette
- parbo 17y ago> 4. You can unbutton the top button always (provided you’re not wearing a tie), the second button usually, the third button only on disco night at the Rollerama. The version I've heard is that you need to see the Mediterranean to unbutton the third button.
- jackfoxy 17y agoThat does it. This weekend I am definitely buying the kangaroo skin Vibram Five Fingers!
- hristov 17y agoWhat about a cane? Can I have a cane as my affectation? I was just outside and it is gorgeous cane weather.
- jff 17y agoYou'll look like a tool with a cane unless you: a) genuinely have a limp, b) are wearing some sort of impeccable reproduction of Victorian men's wear (and not some silly steampunk crap), or c) are over 50.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- mkramlich 17y agoToday is the day I realized Hacker News has jumped the shark. Plus, I realized just how many more readers it has that are either women or are homosexual men. :) Seriously, this whole thread reads like Cosmo magazine. (Oh, do dish! You go girl, tell it! I only wear Gabana. Yellow goes bad with red. Hoodies are to die for. Anyone that matches a Denillo with a Gucci something-or-rather is a fashion disaster! I'm going to tell all you people how to dress because I have mastered it -- did I mention I'm only 20? OMGBBQ!!!)
- csytan 17y agoI disagree. I think this is a perfect topic for HN; Dressing well is important in improving self confidence, and it is vital in making good first impressions (useful for VC funding ;). If this doesn't make sense to you, think of how you perceive a website on your first visit. Would you use a service with a design that had been slapped together in a few hours? It's the same with people. Being sloppily dressed conveys an image of laziness and carelessness. One thing I enjoy on HN is discussions which may not be related to programming or start-ups. It's interesting to hear how hackers approach problems in other areas of their life. That being said, I'll gladly listen to fashion advice from those who have the experience to offer it, even if they are women or homosexual men.
- maco 17y agoWearing a big black t-shirt from ThinkGeek 2 sizes too big, baggy shorts, white socks pulled up, sneakers, and your hair messy... it's like using the <blink> tag with cyan text on a red background and little animated gifs.