Fashionable Mature Men, I have a question.

[Warrior74]

I work for a local media company of about 200 employees. We are having our employee appreciation party in two weeks. I have no sense of fashion and in my line of work I really don't have to. 90% of my job is sitting in a room designing and editing, the other 10% is spent filming and shooting photos.

As you may know from my thread about poverty, I'm recovering from 3 years of financial oblivion. I've upgraded to struggling with one job and working on my side business.

Anyway, I need some advice on what to wear to this company holiday party. I saw the photos from last year and the men ranged from suits and ties (management) to polos and jeans (IT guys, engineers). I want to stand out but I'm on a super tight budget. What would you advise?

 

[AAAgent]

How does this party work? Is everyone heading there after work? Our parties we head straight from the office and cab it to the venue or take the subway together so you're going to your office party with what your wearing. Girls normally bring dresses and get changed but the guys really don't care. Most people are business casual or business professional anyway.

If you are driving there, either stop by home and get a nice suit or bring your clothes and leave them in the car and get changed at work. Business casual will look alright as well. I'm assuming there's no dress code and not many people care what you're wearing anyway but if all the girls are wearing nice dresses, it's easier to get along with them if your wearing something of the same caliber.

 

[samspade]

1. Get a good pair of dress shoes and shine 'em up. As noted in the other thread, square toes are considered lame, like pleated khakis.

2. If you have a thrift store or Goodwill nearby, check it out. Especially one near an affluent neighborhood. You can get good stuff for a pittance. People get rid of perfectly good clothes all the time. Or they die.

3. I'm a blazer/button down/jeans + dress shoes guy. A dark blazer, contrasted with a button down that's a lighter color. Jeans should be sharp and not baggy, not work jeans, and no holes or stains. This way you look "sharp" but casual. If you wear a full suit, make sure it fits you well so you don't look uncomfortable.

4. Socks can be a slightly off-color. Don't match them to your shoes. A little contrast (but nothing hipsterish) is good.

5. One small piece of jewelry if that's your thing. I wear a nice but inexpensive watch. I also wear a chain that's mostly hidden and not gaudy. Some men go for a ring. Again these things can be had cheap. But if it's not your thing, think of one other small thing you can use to peacock.

None of these rules are hard and fast, and this is my personal taste. The most important thing about fashion isn't what's cool and what's not. It's congruency. You've got to own your look and not care. If a guy walks into a bar with a bowler hat or a fedora, he's got to not give a fukk if people care. The moment he's shyt-tested and says "well uh I dunno, I thought it looked cool...." he's toast. So don't dress like a slob, but make sure your outfit is an extension of the part of you that's attractive and confident, if that makes any sense at all.

Again, I cannot stress enough that you do not have to spend a lot of money to look good. One of the great things about American culture is thrift. Goodwill, Burlington Coat Factory, Salvation Army, etc., etc. If it's used just be sure to wash it right away.

 

[Tictac]

Get a pair of black khakis (no pleats), long-sleeve white shirt, decent pair of casual shoes (Dockers makes some cheap ones) and belt to match the shoes. If it's warm, roll the cuffs on the shirt up a cuff-length or two.

All done.

 

[Warrior74]

1. Get a good pair of dress shoes and shine 'em up. As noted in the other thread, square toes are considered lame, like pleated khakis.

2. If you have a thrift store or Goodwill nearby, check it out. Especially one near an affluent neighborhood. You can get good stuff for a pittance. People get rid of perfectly good clothes all the time. Or they die.

3. I'm a blazer/button down/jeans + dress shoes guy. A dark blazer, contrasted with a button down that's a lighter color. Jeans should be sharp and not baggy, not work jeans, and no holes or stains. This way you look "sharp" but casual. If you wear a full suit, make sure it fits you well so you don't look uncomfortable.

4. Socks can be a slightly off-color. Don't match them to your shoes. A little contrast (but nothing hipsterish) is good.

5. One small piece of jewelry if that's your thing. I wear a nice but inexpensive watch. I also wear a chain that's mostly hidden and not gaudy. Some men go for a ring. Again these things can be had cheap. But if it's not your thing, think of one other small thing you can use to peacock.

None of these rules are hard and fast, and this is my personal taste. The most important thing about fashion isn't what's cool and what's not. It's congruency. You've got to own your look and not care. If a guy walks into a bar with a bowler hat or a fedora, he's got to not give a fukk if people care. The moment he's shyt-tested and says "well uh I dunno, I thought it looked cool...." he's toast. So don't dress like a slob, but make sure your outfit is an extension of the part of you that's attractive and confident, if that makes any sense at all.

Again, I cannot stress enough that you do not have to spend a lot of money to look good. One of the great things about American culture is thrift. Goodwill, Burlington Coat Factory, Salvation Army, etc., etc. If it's used just be sure to wash it right away.

Thanks for this. I appreciate it. Honestly, my mother instilled a deep hatred of shopping in me as a child. We would be in stores for hours and hours on end. Whole Saturday or Sunday afternoons. I loath shopping. I only do it when I have to and I tend to rush in and out like I'm Seal Team Six. I gotta get over that.

 

[GotED?]

I would recommend this set up:

1) Wear dark blue jeans (tight fitting on the arse - boot cut, not baggy or relaxed sh!t), if possible, some with fine striped patterns that dictates semi-formal wear capacity. Make sure it is not short on the length, nothing looks more terrible than highwater. Proper length of pants/jeans should drape right over the mid-level of your shoe strings and no more and no higher.

2) Match a sports jacket or blazer to the jeans - make sure if it is a 'orphaned suit jacket' that it is not patterned or else it can not be worned as orphaned jacket. A non-black colored jacket is preferred as it goes better with jeans.

3) Shoes - depending on the color of your jacket/blazer, this is the color of your shoes. If black jacket/blazer, black shoes almost a must. Otherwise, dark brown shoes with some brogue or wing-tipping is a good pick. Dressier the shoe the better, but anything better than your sneakers is good enough LOL. Leathered soled shoes looks best in semi-formal attire occasions.

4) Button up shirt or a really tight fitting long sleeve top that grabs around your chest (if you are fit) would look killer in jeans and jacket (hard to pull off so check in the mirror first). If button up shirt, nice white shirt is a good bet - make sure it isn't your formal white dress shirt that has no attitude or taste than a business man attire. No ties! too nerdy for the jeans.

5) Match the color of your belt to the color of your shoes. Wear argyle socks that mixes and matches colors to your jeans to your shoes and the jacket. Most likely you won't have to worry about socks too much because you will be standing around most of the time and nobody is going to assess your sock fashion statement.

6) Put some stuff in your hair (other than cuum, not There's Something About Mary here) to make it look more modern - gel, mousse, etc and goddang style it!

7) Clear your facial complexion really well, no bad skin surface showing - get a luffa sponge from the store and scrub your facials if you have dry skin flaking off. It is a major turn off.

8) Go get a haircut beforehand.

Go knock them out.

Exodus

 

[Demodulate]

I would recommend picking up a second hand suit and having a tailor make it fit well.

check out these before and afters with just a proper tailoring

http://www.beckettrobb.com/gq-before-after

 

[Warrior74]

I would recommend picking up a second hand suit and having a tailor make it fit well.

check out these before and afters with just a proper tailoring

http://www.beckettrobb.com/gq-before-after

I can't afford it at the moment, but I will keep it in mind. I'm about the size of this guy.

http://www.beckettrobb.com/uploads/images/home/1277507708_3.jpg

 

[Demodulate]

I can't afford it at the moment, but I will keep it in mind. I'm about the size of this guy.

http://www.beckettrobb.com/uploads/images/home/1277507708_3.jpg

What is currently in your wardrobe?

any old suits or blazers?

hit these guys up
http://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice

they will have much better advice.

 

[pierce_r]

Whatever you get, get it tailored. Never wear a jacket or suit off the rack and for God's sake don't buy a sport jacket at Goodwill without earmarking $50 to have it tailored. $100 if it's a full suit.

$100 in tailoring makes this much difference:

http://sartorialsavillian.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/customvsofftherack2.jpg?w=300&h=243

 

[SecondHalf]

I can't afford it at the moment, but I will keep it in mind. I'm about the size of this guy.

http://www.beckettrobb.com/uploads/images/home/1277507708_3.jpg

I was going to say you could save a bunch if you can pull off a fitted shirt, un-tucked with decent pants / shoes.

Given your a big guy, go for a blazer, crisp shirt and new jeans (so you can get good value from them).

Some of the advice here on where to buy used clothing is great. Sometimes you can score a pretty decent, classy, leather jacket which would also be a better value (as long as it's not a heavy one).

Good luck Warrior,

SH

 

[Warrior74]

What is currently in your wardrobe?

any old suits or blazers?

hit these guys up
http://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice

they will have much better advice.

Yah made MFA one of my default subreddits and I read through the FAQ last week. Some of the guys on there come off as super metro or in college so I figured I'd ask here as well.

I do have an old suit but it's a bit to large. The coat isn't bad but the pants are just ridiculous. I have an old navy blazer somewhere.

A bunch of old polos and button downs, couple of pairs of kahkis and jeans. All of it is ill fitting or old and worn.

As for shoes, some brown dockers. 2 pair of rockport loafers light and dark brown. Oh and some square toed black shoes lol.

 

[AAAgent]

what's your body type?

I generally go with fitted clothes or slim fit but if you don't have the build to pull it off you need to look towards size.

I have this one that i wear often

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/brows...ww.bananarepublic.com/products/mens-suits.jsp

All of your suits will most likely need to be tailored. I often times am in a rush and will buy a suit in mens wearhouse and get it tailored on the spot. (i would not reccomend their suits but you can ask for tailoring on the spot)

 

[Bible_Belt]

The clearance stuff is always in the back. A lot of clothing will get marked down 50-90% off the original price, because the markup is so high initially. If you just find a few stores with a decent clearance rack, and get in the habit of visiting them, you can accumulate a wardrobe over time. And I know it doesn't help for your party, buy if you buy your clothes out of season, like a winter coat in the summer, you can expect to pay 1/4 to 1/2 of the in-season price.

 

[disgustipated]

Man we a need a fashion section. You guys know your stuff.

 

[Scaramouche]

Dear Warrior,
Check out the charity shops...I general it's hard to be over dressed if you want to turn heads....but your peers may be offended...For Women,don't forget your Shoes,they really care...always look at theirs,they really appreciate comments on shoes!

 

[Warrior74]

I stepped it up today, I'm in the office all day writing and setting up appointments. I rocked the one decent fitting blazer I have, an oxford shirt, my jeans and dockers. Lots of compliments today at work.

 

[backbreaker]

seriously go to goodwill. you can find some very nice **** at goodwill for pennies on the dollar.

i'd take 50 bucks, and a full day. find all the salvation army / goodwill stores in your area and go shopping at all of them. 50 dollars will get you about 10-15 pieces of clothes.


TRY on the clothes before you buy them to make sure they fit. But you'd be surprised at the crap you can find there.

ONce you get you rmoney like you want it start shopping at real stores lol but for now you can more than hold your own at goodwill.

 

[KarmaSutra]

You can't beat SamSpade's advice.

My only contribution to this topic is this: NEVER wear fvckin' skinny jeans. If you do, make sure there's a c0ck in your craw so no one mistakes you for a heterosexual.

 

[Peaks&Valleys]

Not sure if you took care of this yet. But I hate shopping as well, and I'm also on a budget..... I do like looking good though I usually stick to the all in one stores, like TJ Max, Ross, Marshall's and Burlington. Designer brands that I guess were an overstock or imperfect (like a thread hanging). You're not always going to find exactly what you want, but there's usually a varied selection, and usually quality stuff at close to half off, if not more, of what you'd normally pay at the mall. When I was wearing a tie to the office I'd get designer pants, shirt and tie for under $50.

Also, if you're not sure what looks good on you, if you can, find a chick to come with you and help, they love that kind of stuff.