3Z3VH

Some people take it to the "Everyday living style" extreme, but they are all psychos

NORMAL people can see the value in a ripped pair of comfy jeans and an old t-shirt when there is noone else to impress

Martian

It's good to know that I'm a psycho.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Nirvana

i don't think that trying to look your best is something to be worried about. that doesn't mean wearing a nicely tailored suit everday, but maybe a pair of light comfy jeans with loafers, a button down and a blazer. even a pair of jeans, tennis shoes, hoodie, and a graphic t can look amazing when worn right.

Temporary_User

Im all for dressing to impress 24/7.
I dont go all out everyday though. I'm only 21, so even my best isnt even that formal. When I goto the bar/club I normally just dress how I would on a normal day. nothing too special, a good quality polo (Lacoste, RL etc.) or even a nice T. then some jeans. Here is where I would like to go for something nice and expensive but dont. right now I have a pair of Gap, Old Navy, Guess, and RL.
Can someone convince me on more expensive brands?
My next outfit that Im thinking I want to buy would be a nice ben sherman argyle sweater (black) to pair up underneath. with a dark with lines (black) button up shirt.
I always wear Aldo shoes (Im in Canada, do they have those elsewhere)
black and brown I have.
What kind of socks should I wear with my brown shoes?
currently I am wearing wool socks. they are the only ones that I can find that look decent if my socks are actually showing.
black is simple. I just go to footlocker or wherever and buy a bag of black socks.

Any advice for me would greatly be appreciated!
It almost seems to me that I might be falling into a polo only hole or something. it's not that bad, but could get there.

I didnt want my other post to get too long and ignored, but i have some more questions.
this on the more formal clothing.
At my work (restaurant) I have to wear black dress pants and I currently wear a uniform provided to me, Ill soon have to be wearing a black dress shirt.

Im 5'6" 160lbs. I would say medium build.
What brand of pants would you guys reccemend?
My knowledge of these consists of going to the bay (canadian version nordstroms?) and getting a pair. The only kind that I found I like are Perry Ellis. These seem to be alright, but I think they could be better out there.

Also shirt. What brand should I look at here? for this again I would probably just goto the bay and find one.
I really want something good for work, but nothing too expensive since there is always the chance of me spilling food on myself and ruining the clothes.

Zeraph

I'm an outdoors type of person, are wearing glacier glasses (when I'm not hiking, or skiing or whatever) too much of a faux pas?

If you don't know what I mean, here's a link to some amazon GGs.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ance&n=3375251

Nirvana

Hey temporary user, gap jeans are great. I generally don't like their regular line but the 1969 ones usually come out with a few surprises now and then. Frequent gap now and then and see what they get. I find that the feel and quality of the denim is very often similar to that of jeans that cost hundreds of dollars. Sometimes, i even prefer it.
Their pants arent that bad either.Ccheck their site out. I think the pants that I am talking about are called the dress pants. i like the way they fit on me and they don't cost a lot so you should definetely check them out. Plus I think gap is having a huge sale right now. However, if i can recomend jeans that are worth the money you pay for them,they would be the levi's Capital E. check out the Levi's Skinner in the Stone Age wash and the Coveted wash. Both jeans are excellent and are pretty cheap right now. You can order from Urban outfitters for about 90 (the coveted ones) and the stone age wash from nordstrom for about 110. the stone age wash is so soft and light. The jeans are amazing. Also check out deisel jeans. the zathans are pretty cool.
Really expensive jeans that i think are worth the money are nudie jeans. check out their website to see why.
Also, more expensive doesn't mean better. I think when it comes to buying a nice suit or a coat or whatever, it's ok to shell out some extra cash. but generally, the price that you pay for somehting is mostly going for the name. not always, but sometimes it is true.

VirFighter

I've never seen anyone wearing those around, but I think it all comes down to your personal style and where you are. With enough confidence and the right attitude I believe a person can define their own style (within certain limits).

Sunglasses are such a personal preference (for me at least). I've worn aviators ever since I found an old pair of Foster Grant's that were my Dad's. I love the way the look on the me and how they fit on my face, I'll be wearing them until I find something better, regardless of the current style or trend.

So yeah, give it a shot man, sounds like you already own them, what's the worst that could happen?

__________________
"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

Nirvana

hey will, i was wondering if you could recomend a pair of jeans. im thinking something slim in the thighs with a slight bootcut. i don't want a full bootcut but somehting very slight so i dont have the flared look but the jeans fall nicely over my shoes. thanks.

oh and ignore everything that i said about gap jeans. i went there yesterday after not being there for like a month or so and their new collection sucks. they don't have anymore left-weave denim which was very very nice. actually whatever they do have they're selling for about 20 bucks so hurry and go pick up a pair before theyre all out. their new jeans are stiff and they feel like cardboard. once again, quality has dropped at the gap.

Willravel

So you like the soft, worn stuff? American Eagle has always been a great place to get decent jeans for a fair price. They're comfortable and they tend to fit pretty much everyone. If you're looking for something less boot cut, then got with straight leg jeans. They're not as goofy as they once were. My straight leg jeans from AE fit over my New Balance running shoes or my Kenneth Cole Reaction dress shoes prety well.

oracle2380

Personally, I've become addicted to Hollister. The pants are comfortable, and the button-up shirts look nice enough for any casual situation. I will admit that I could definitely use more formal clothes, but I rarely have occasions that require suit and tie. I tend to stay in natural colors and well away from black.

When I do get snazzed up though I have about ten or so dress shirts and (a lot of) ties that tend to once again stay in the natural tones to go with my three suits.

As far as shoes go, running/tennis/basketball shoes were intended for those activities. I've got some old ankle high 'boots' that I wear with every day pants/jeans when it's cool outside, 'boat shoes' or flip-flops for shorts or in the summer, and square toes for going out on the town.

__________________
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost

Nirvana

personally, i dont like the stuff from hollister. i think for the prices you pay there, uou can hunt down some good bargains around the city (if you happen to be in a metropolitan area). especially now that it is summer, there are somemajor sales going on.

Nirvana

hey i was wondering has anyone ever had any luck at goodwills or thrift shops? i've always wanted to go cuz 've always ehard of people finding amazing things in thrift shops.

Willravel

Well one never knows till one tries. I've been in some goodwills around, but I have yet to find anything of real value. I always feel guilty going in, though, so I end up giving something away. Usually specialty thrift shops are a better bet. There are a few decent ones in San Francisco, if you don't mind the flamboyance.

Nirvana

u know, i've heard of people finding some crazy things in thrift shops. somebody found a worn but in excellent condition armani suit for 20 bucks. though i think if i ever went, the only thing i would be comfortable purchasing is a suit or a jacket of some sort.

Willravel

Well looking for name brands is important, but I think the more important thing is how you look and feel wearing it. I love my Hugo Boss suits, but NOTHING beats some comfortable chinos of jeans, leather flip-flops, and a my favorite t-shirt. I'd wear it to church if I could.

Nirvana

ye the reason being i wouldn't be comfortable wearing someone's t shirt. as far as i would be willing to go is possibly jeans but they would have to be a great find like some really old classic levi's.

MSD

Occasionally when people die, the family will just truck everything down to Goodwill. I've heard of amazing finds (my favorite was the Minimoog Synthsizer for $50, and to remain relevant to this thread, a plethora of high-end designer clothes.)

I'm having trouble figuring out how you're OK with wearing a stranger's discarded pants but the shirt poses a problem.

Nirvana

well judging from my own body chemistry, i know my torso sweats a lot more then my legs do. i can buy a pair of vintage levis and just keep them as a collector's item or wear them if i am in the mood. now even though i'd get the garments cleaned, that whole "sweat" thought will still be in my head. i wouldn't be a opposed to a shirt because those are usually worn with an undershirt, but a t-shirt in my mind is just nasty.

VirFighter

This thread so far has been all about clothing... what about watches?

I currently don't wear a wristwatch but would like to start... just have no idea where to. I don't have a big budget but would like something to complement a suit or just those days when I'm dressed nice. Something where the strap could be easily changed would be a huge plus too!

Anyway, what do the gentlemen of TFP wear on their wrists?

__________________
"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

Willravel

I have a few watches:
Silver/gold band, black face: This is best for semiformal to formal situations, including dark suits. This works with black/brown/tan leather. Silver or gold belt buckle/cuflinks.
black leather band, black face: This is also formal/semiformal. Best with black leather and silver/stainless.
stainless band, silver face: Über-formal. I wear this with a tux going to very special events. Still, it's a damn good watch for $500.
brown leather band, gunmetal/stainless face: Casual. I wear this with chinos or jeans.

Watches are like any other thing. Wear what you like, wear what's comfortable, and wear what matches.

VirFighter

Thanks for the response. Its always nice to see what others are wearing. I suppose I just need to go try on several and see what I like.

__________________
"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

Mantus

My turn!

There is a difference between dressing to impress, look good or attract

Impressing people is easy. Have expencive, well fited clothing. Well fited is key. People worth impressing will be impressed because they themselves shop for expensive clothing thus recognize the quality.

If you simply wish to look good it's not impoirtant to have expensive stuff, the reason people recomend having one great outfit rather then five cheap ones is because most guys dont know how to dress themselves. Expencive usually equals taste and style. If you have both then you can be thrifty. Looking good is wearing whatever you feel most comfortable in that's within social norms. It's something that's congruent with who you are. For example jeans and a t-shirt that fits you well works for allot of guys. You will look good becasue you will feel good and people mostly care about the energy and vibe you project - not your clothing. A guy can be wearing a $500 casual outfit or a $100 outfit and it will make a very minor impact on how people percieve him as long as he can be himself and comfortable.

This is key! Understand this.

Dressing to attract, or peacocking as some may call it, is a whole other animal. Dressing good gives you points with people, however many men know how to dress themselves so you wont be that special. Dressing to impress can actually work against you if you are also trying to attract...because well, you are trying...

Dressing to attract is having the balls to dress outside of the "cool" boundaries. It's going beyond the norm being totally comfortable with it. That doesnt mean you have to dress like an Japanese raver kid. Infact they are not dressing to attract because they are actually playing it safe, their style is within the "norm" for their peer group. Same with goth kids - they actually dress within boundaries of cool. I'll get more into this later, for now some minor ideas.

Have a "wuz-that" item. See, people want to talk, but most find it difficult to open a conversation. So give them something to go "wuz-that?!" about. This is usually a cool piece of jewlery, or a unique item of clothing. Notice how a nose piercing is while "cool" and "out-there" is not an attraction item...there is nothing that special about them. If you had a unique nose piercing...then it would work. However it has to catch intrest which means it has to have character - it can't blend in. It helps if you have a story or cool fact about the item to spark a conversation further.

I personally have a hand made bracelet that's shiny and a bit feminine which a friend of mine made me. I have a shirt which says "I Heart Redheads"...everyone that's not a readhead always wants to know why they are not loved. A spiked necklace.

Next is any item that can be taken away. Hats, scarves and easy to remove jewlery works here. People will want to play with them. This will spark an interaction. Not only that but if you want to make someone feel special or stick around while you are talking to someone else, just put your hat on their head. They are obliged to stay then.

Now that the minor issues are covered lets bring out the big guns. As a disclamer I have only tried this in casual settings (bars, clubs, house parties) Dressing to attract by going outside of what is cool. The key is to be unique. It all depends on the context. Dressing like a goth or a raver outside of those circles will get you looks and may even attract a few people to you, but existing styles have allot of baggage. So you will probably get pigeonholed by most.

What we are aiming for is for people to want to meet you in order to figure you out. We don't want people looking at and placing us in a niche as "polo", "business", "goth", or watever guy. People are intrigued by what they don't understand. They will either come to you or be receptive when you come to them.

It's very important to have a style that is completely congruent with your personality. If you are a good guy, dont dress like a badboy. If you are a laid back guy who hate sloud colors, dont put them on just to get attention. Not only will you feel uncomfortable, which people will read, but people will feel decieved/disapointed once they actually meet you. If you dress to your personality then it will amplify your character.

This is dressing to attract.

Cheers.

longbough

I just get what feels and looks good on myself.

I won't characterize my stuff in any particular way but I have a decent variety. If I buy more expensive stuff it's only because I "know" what I'm paying for ... not because I'm a "label whore" ... quite the opposite. There's crappy (poor quality) brand-name stuff as well as great off-brand stuff. It helps to know your materials and construction ... and to know what goes into the construction of, say, a good suit, for example.

There are Armani suits and jackets that look great on the rack but look ... overstated (for lack of a better term) when worn IMO.

On the other hand, the best suit I ever owned was made for me by a friend of a friend ... this little old tailor in the back streets of Lima, Peru - who built me a complete suit for the cost of materials plus $150 for his labor. I would have purchased 3 or 4 up front if I hadn't been so arrogantly skeptical from the start. Boy was I wrong. 2 fittings later I had a suit that felt like no other ...

When I lived in the UK I purchased an unconstructed David Moss herringbone jacket for only 50 pounds (it was on sale - being discontinued). I swear it was only 2 weeks later the exact same jacket appeared as a new Hugo Boss item for 150 pounds! It was the EXACT same item with a swapped label (both made in Malaysia, too, as I recall).

Moral: Know what you're paying for ...

At the moment I'm wearing a John Varvatos print shirt, a pair of bootcut 7's jeans, Prada leather belt and black Bruno Magli Manado loafers (no socks).
But tomorrow I'll probably be wearing a simple Gap black T-shirt under a comfy Woolrich forest tremont shirt and Citizens of Humanity Evans jeans ... albiet with brown Prada loafers (the Pradas are overpriced for the construction IMO ... but they look and feel really nice).

If price is no object go to Saks Fifth Avenue and try trousers from Dolce & Gabbana and Ermenegildo Zegna. Actually it seems I own more Zegna than any other name - I just like their stuff ... shirts, and trousers. For shirts also try Hugo Boss, Richard James and Prada.

I don't know what your budget is ... but at the very least you should try these items to get an idea of the look you'd want. Then shop around for the "look" rather than the brand name. You can get shirts from Express Design Studio, for example, that have the same cut as the Hugo Boss shirts. I have a couple of their shirts which look great at a fraction of the cost. They look about 90% as good on me as my Hugo Boss and Richard James shirts. The more expensive stuff certainly feels better because of the fabric.

If your sole object is to look good ... don't skimp on the shoes. A great pair of shoes will make an otherwise nondescript outfit elegant ... conversely, a terrific outfit will be destroyed if your shoes are lousy. John Lobb, Bruno Magli, Loake, Prada ... all have nice shoes. And don't rule out Ralph Lauren shoes, some of which are actually from Edward Green (excellent English shoes).

Nirvana

i too would go for a custom made tailored suit than any off the rack dior homme or dolce suit anyday.

Vincentt

How tight is too tight?

For say, polo shirts, or even normal Ts.

I have some fairly tight polos, but sometimes wonder if I'm going too small.

T shirts are the same, for me, they are almost always too big or too small. Maybe I just can't be happy

__________________
.

passthru

High five bro!

Willravel

...seeing your nipples through the shirt = too tight, imho. Also, different companies have different ideas about what size their "medium" is. I also existed between sizes for a while. When I was there, I used Ralph lauren t shirts and polos. they fit quite well.

How tight your shirt should be also depends on your build. If you have man-breasts and a gut, you need to cover it with a larger, darker, somwhat thicker shirt. If you're Über-skinny, you need lighter material and colors, and a leaner shirt. If you're built, then something comfortably snug can work, but usually just go with whatever fits (if you're in good shape, you tend to be able to wear more, better).

longbough

But, willravel, I'm sure you'd agree that if you're Sean Connery the rules don't apply at all. You can wear ANYTHING and still look purposeful and charismatic.

case and point: The film, Zardoz - If you recall, Sean Connery is wearing what amounts to a big red diaper with a bandolier - and yet he's still a tough guy. Not a lot of people can wear that outfit without looking completely ridiculous.

Nirvana

in regards to the nipples showing through the polo, in the words of Chandler Bing, you might just have "big man nipples." wearing an under shirt should solve this problem. hey will i was wondering if you could take a picture of your nudies and post them on here. i presume you bought the dry pair and i was wondering how they turned out.

Willravel

Dude, I f**king love that movie. If you haven't seen Zardoz, you're missing out on some ridiculously cool stuff. Some days I feel like a brutal, and sometimes I fel like an Emortal.

Nirvana:
I tore them pretty badly riding my bike. I tried to sow them back up, but couldn't match the quality of the manufacturer. I ended up giving them to GoodWill. While they lasted they were damn good jeans. I'm considering ordering more.

Nirvana

i was wondering, did the majority of the tearing end up on the crotch of the jeans?

Sharon

I found this thread by accident, and thought it was worth reviving. I saw a man out walking today wearing a truly revolting Hawaiian shirt... I'm not very good giving advice on men's fashion, I only know what I like when I see it.

So perhaps this thread can be brought to life again to help our TFP brethren dress better. And of course, piccy eye candy for us missies.

Willravel

I'm here to offer what I can.

Bear Cub

Here's my jeans dilemma.

I prefer to wear low cut, often shallow in the back sneakers such as the classic Adidas, or a few pairs of skate shoes I own. I also have very short legs, and while I'm much more proportional now (went from a 38-40 to a 30-32 waist), a 30 length pant is really pushing it for me.

While a boot cut tends to look/fit better than a straight leg or anything else on me, I can't find a damn pair of jeans that will stay above my sneakers. Even if they sit normally around my shoe, they almost ALWAYS will slip beneath the heel of my shoe, getting pulled/tugged and eventually torn in that area or stretched out, complicating matters. Is there any particular cut of jeans that works better than the other as far as actually fitting with sneakers without me looking like I'm wearing an adult diaper beneath my clothes?



With my recent weight loss and newly acquired lady friend, I'd also like to try and dress a little more sharply when going out at night (more or less so I don't look like an embarassment next to her). I'm still mostly a jeans kind of guy, but you'd swear my closet looks like Homer Simpson's, just packed full of black, navy blue, and grey t shirts, and virtually nothing more.

While I do have one or two dressier shirts, I'd like to pick up at least a few button up shirts that I can wear with a solid tee beneath it. The trouble is, I have no idea what would look good on me. I'm of average build with a big chest/shoulders/back (5'7", 170#), dark hair, brown eyes, dark facial hair. I have retardedly short legs, so I'm mostly neck/torso. I've always been a dark colors kind of guy, but I have no idea what to look for as far as patterns or color combos. I'd like to try something other than my "big 3", but I have no idea what looks tacky or what looks tasteful in regards to the patterns/colors. If someone could throw some example pics up of what to look for, it'd be much appreciated.

Willravel

This is VERY common. One thing I would suggest first is to shop around. Don't just go to American Eagle or Abercrombie. Head over to Macys, Levi, Banana Republic, Armani Exchange, etc. and try different ones on. Not all jeans are cut the same just because they are given the same measurements.

In addition to that, you can take jeans in to get fitted. I know it sounds corny, but clothes that fit are better in look and feel. It's not the most common thing, but it's almost a guaranteed fix.

Well a big fat ass congratulations. When I got skinny, I got married. Horizontal stripes of a color that your gf thinks you look good in. Remember: you're dressing for her. I know I work well in strong blues and blacks, reds and grays, and muted earth tones (browns, teals, greens, tans).

Again, you'll want to ask your gf, but here are a few ideas to help out:
Black funny T shirt
Brown slip fit dress shirt
Low Rise Bootcut Dark Wash Jeans
Black Leather Belt
Badass Watch
Black Leather Flip Flop
Shades

This is still your style because it’s dark, but it’s perfect for a night on the town type of situation. The flip flips aren’t for a club, but if you’re headed to a party at someone’s house, you’ll be a badass.

jorgelito

Buy pants that fit. It should sit around your waist with the cuff falling to just a half inch from the sole (heel side). Especially if you have short legs, wearing low slung jeans will just make you look like a slacker midget. A lot of stores have helpful charts on the different cuts, Spend some time trying them on.

aKula

An overcoat is nice as well for the winter months. You can wear it over a suit or with casual dress. Darker jeans look good with the standard black overcoat. I really like wearing black leather gloves occasionally, though it's rarely cold enough here.

__________________
"I am the wrath of God. The earth I pass will see me and tremble." -Klaus Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre

Bear Cub

I LOVE that brown slip fit dress shirt. That's more my speed, and along the lines of what I'm looking for. The jeans are nice too. I only own two pairs now that I bought half way through my weight loss, and already I have no choice but to cinch them around my waist with a belt just to keep them up. I think I'd probably look good in darker jeans, as I tend to stick to the lighter ones.

I'll definitely have to spend some time trying on the different jeans. I got my last few pairs at Macy's, and noticed that certain brands tended to fit a lot better in general.

Keep the ideas rolling guys :-D

Bear Cub

Well, the advice paid off. Headed up to Clinton Crossings for some outlet shopping and did pretty well for myself.

Picked up a bunch of shirts on the cheap, and they all worked out. The girlfriend told me I'd look good in white, especially given my very tan summer skin. I was VERY leary at first, as I've never before looked good in white (read, I had huge man boobs). Well, apparently my chest has gone down enough with the weight loss that I looked pretty darn sharp in a pair of white polos with a graphic off to the side and some thin horizontal stripes from Aeropostale. Really comfortable, not too long, show off my shoulders/neck muscles, and just fit perfect. I threw in another brown polo shirt with beige and red stripes from Aero, and headed on to the next store.

The Gap also worked out well for me. I picked up a nice pair of dark charcoal grey cargo shorts with a big pocket on each side, but nothing poofy or goofy looking. I got REALLY lucky and found a pair with a 31 waist which fit me PERFECT, and it's probablyt he first pair of shorts I've ever had that weren't too long. They're comfortable as hell too, and look pretty sharp. Also made out with an uber cheap brown set of swim trunks, as I was in dire need.

At another store, I was able to pick up two slightly dressier shirts on the cheap. The first a mixed stripe/thin squares (think checkerboard, but not checkered), with some blues and browns in it. Also picked up one with green vertical stripes. What amazed me was that a SMALL fit me PERFECTLY. Don't stick out when they're tucked in, sleeves can be nicely rolled up, fits the chest/midsection very nicely, sleeves the perfect length. Having something green definitely made the little lady happy, too.

A trip to Pacsun nailed me the PERFECT pairs of jeans. I wanted a more casual set first, so found a lighter pair with a washed out look and some tatters. Fit great in the waste, but enough room in the thighs with a loose boot cut to be very comfortable without looking baggy. I really wanted a dark pair to go with some nicer shirts/slightly dressier looking casual. I found a dark pair in a slim fit boot cut, and fell in love with the things. They tapered in just a hair in the thighs, still comfortable, and sat great around my sneakers (no tripping over the heel with either pair). They actually made my butt look GOOD, and I never even knew I had one!

I decided to end off the day on a shoe hunt. I needed a pair of plain white sneakers, and lucked out as plenty of shoe stores had the 2 for $89 going on. I scored a set of mid-height classic looking adidas with just a thin grey striping on them that looked very nice, but found the PERFECT pair of other adidas, almost all white, but with a brown sole, brown stripe, and an off-white stripe as well. Will go perfect with a lot of my clothes, as I'm trying to incorporate some brown more and more.

All in all, spent about $200 on the day, picked up some great deals, LOVE the look of the new clothes, and even managed to get a cat call and wink out of a pair of young ladies when walking out of the dressing room at Aeropostale. I've also got a good idea of what to look for when I'm dragging a young female around with me, which should certainly be helpful.

Willravel

Very cool. Let us know how your gf likes the new clothes, and feel free to stop by for more info.