Cecilie1200
Diamond Member
I got our "shopping list" for next Sunday from Emmi Sorokin @ It's A Man's World Image Consulting....
4/5 Casual Shirts (mix of button downs and polo alternatives)
3 Knits (casual to dressier)
4/5 Layering Tees
1 Chino
2 Jeans
2/3 Casual Pants
2/3 shoes
1 Wallet (added at my request)
2 Belts (casual and dressier)
1 Lightweight Jacket
1 Suit
2 Dress Shirts
2 Ties
1 Dress shoe
1 Belt
Approximate budget... >$1800
What do you folks think of that list?
I wish I'd caught this thread before you hired someone. I was going to tell you the same thing for free.
By the way, there's nothing wrong with polo shirts and cargo pants for casual wear, so long as they're in good condition and the colors match. There's a reason why such things stick around through every season and fashion change.
Couple of specifics. Make sure your pants are all fitted well to you. Unless you're fat or a circus clown, shapeless baggy pants are anathema, and we're not even going to TALK about skintight. Ideally, a man's pants should be close-fitting enough to indicate the presence of the . . . um, essential body parts while still being loose enough to allow him to move comfortably.
Ditto on the casual shirts. I can't stand guys who seem afraid I'm going to notice there's a body in all that fabric, and very few guys in real life look good when they look in danger of busting seams. Happy medium, please.
On the shoes: contrary to popular opinion, black does NOT go with everything. Specifically, if you're wearing lighter summer colors, heavy black shoes look ridiculous. Take this into account. And no, you CAN'T wear the same shoes all the time.
On the suit: I'm sure you already know this, if you work in a professional environment and wear suits a lot, but I'll say it anyway. Spend the money to go somewhere that tailors it to fit. Nothing is more obvious than a cheap, hasty, off-the-rack suit choice, and it defeats the entire purpose of wearing a suit in the first place. Consider it an investment, and get a good-quality one altered just for you.
Oh, and make sure you hold onto some grubby knockabout clothes. You will want them eventually, and just because you own casual clothes doesn't mean you want to use them as your grubbies.
Summer's coming. I don't know how you feel about swimming, but I've always considered a good, comfortable swimsuit to be an essential in anyone's wardrobe. Swim shoes or sandals are a good idea with this, as you will not want to get water all over your regular casual shoes.