OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread Forum

[kaiser]

As far as ties go: If you can't tell whether your tie goes well with your shirt, you probably need to tone it down. The good thing about wearing light blue or white solid shirts is that they will nearly always go well with your tie.

On a different tack, what do people think about criss cross lacing a captoed oxford? I get that you only get the full closure of the shoe's sides if you flat lace the shoe... but I find that flat lacing doesn't look that great -- almost cheap for some reason.

I prefer to criss cross lace my dress shoes, but understand that doesn't lead to a perfect meeting of the shoe's sides. What are people's opinions?

Interesting, I prefer flat-lace because it creates the fewest lines to draw the viewer's attention. I'd much rather someone looking at my oxfords see the break of my pants and the toe of my shoe, passing over the laces area. That may just be because I have giant, size-14 feet.

I think it's okay to have some space between the sides of your shoe and the break and toe, especially if you have somewhat smaller/normal-sized feet.

As Morgan Freeman said in one of my favorite movies: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?"

I don't know how some of you guys convince yourselves that anyone looks this hard

[Bronte]

As Morgan Freeman said in one of my favorite movies: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?"

I don't know how some of you guys convince yourselves that anyone looks this hard

There will always be those who pay attention to detail and those who don't (in matters of fashion and elsewhere). I prefer to be one who pays attention to detail. Also, they say a man's shoes is the first thing a woman sees.

[California Babe]

As Morgan Freeman said in one of my favorite movies: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?"

I don't know how some of you guys convince yourselves that anyone looks this hard

My boss this summer (1L job) frequently makes comments about the shoes the guys are wearing.

[kaiser]

As Morgan Freeman said in one of my favorite movies: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?"

I don't know how some of you guys convince yourselves that anyone looks this hard

My boss this summer (1L job) frequently makes comments about the shoes the guys are wearing.

Well, apparently its the first thing a woman notices. If my boss (a guy) makes a comment about my shoes, I'll be sure to remind him of that

[Renzo]

As far as ties go: If you can't tell whether your tie goes well with your shirt, you probably need to tone it down. The good thing about wearing light blue or white solid shirts is that they will nearly always go well with your tie.

On a different tack, what do people think about criss cross lacing a captoed oxford? I get that you only get the full closure of the shoe's sides if you flat lace the shoe... but I find that flat lacing doesn't look that great -- almost cheap for some reason.

I prefer to criss cross lace my dress shoes, but understand that doesn't lead to a perfect meeting of the shoe's sides. What are people's opinions?

Interesting, I prefer flat-lace because it creates the fewest lines to draw the viewer's attention. I'd much rather someone looking at my oxfords see the break of my pants and the toe of my shoe, passing over the laces area. That may just be because I have giant, size-14 feet.

I think it's okay to have some space between the sides of your shoe and the break and toe, especially if you have somewhat smaller/normal-sized feet.

As Morgan Freeman said in one of my favorite movies: "I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?"

I don't know how some of you guys convince yourselves that anyone looks this hard

I always notice someone's shoes. More than any other item of clothing, and regardless of gender.

However, not even I notice how someone has their shoes laced.

[crazycanuck]

center or side vents?

[Pufer]

center or side vents?

Totally personal preference. Assertions that one or the other looks better for fat/skinny people are generally nonsense.

-Pufer

[romothesavior]

This button down collar hate for formal and business attire or all attire?

I can't stand when people wear button down collars with suits and ties, but you better believe I rock my Ralph Lauren oxford button down casually.

I think it actually looks better for business casual than a non-BD. If I'm not wearing a tie, I want my collar to stay down.

[Bronte]

This button down collar hate for formal and business attire or all attire?

I can't stand when people wear button down collars with suits and ties, but you better believe I rock my Ralph Lauren oxford button down casually.

I think it actually looks better for business casual than a non-BD. If I'm not wearing a tie, I want my collar to
stay down.

Agreed. I try to wear button down collars when I wear business casual. I think it looks much sharper.

[HenryKillinger]

center or side vents?

Totally personal preference. Assertions that one or the other looks better for fat/skinny people are generally nonsense.

-Pufer

I feel like side-vents allow for more freedom of movement but that might just be something I've erroneously convinced myself of.

[GeePee]

Just got the CT shirts that I ordered. Great fit and very comfortable, only qualm is that the medium-spread collars are a little closer to wide than I might like. Fortunately it's not too egregious or noticeable to the average viewer.

[emciosn]

Hey I see that Charles Tyrwhitt is having a sale on shirts right now (maybe they are always having a sale like JAB I dunno). Is the consensus here that those are pretty good shirts for ~$40? I noticed they have been talked about over the last couple pages.

[xyzbca]

Pufer or anybody else that may wish to chime in:

I ordered the grey BB 1818 Fitzgerald yesterday. I'm thinking of spending the extra $100 for the functional cuff buttons (the suit is being shipped in and we haven't started on alterations). I'm a fairly conservative person but I like the idea of the functional cuff buttons. Is the 1818 "high end enough" to justify the functional cuff buttons or will it look ridiculous? This will be the nicest suit I own. Cost is not an issue.

[leobowski]

I personally wouldn't spend the extra money for surgeon sleeves on a half canvas suit. Maybe down the road when you can afford a golden fleece or something top notch.

[xyzbca]

I personally wouldn't spend the extra money for surgeon sleeves on a half canvas suit. Maybe down the road when you can afford a golden fleece or something top notch.

That's exactly why I'm trigger shy on it. It's a nice detail that I would like to have but my instinct is that it would appear out of place. I'm guessing the vast majority of people wouldn't notice even notice it. Perhaps I'll be able to do it in a few years.

[Bronte]

I personally wouldn't spend the extra money for surgeon sleeves on a half canvas suit. Maybe down the road when you can afford a golden fleece or something top notch.

That's exactly why I'm trigger shy on it. It's a nice detail that I would like to have but my instinct is that it would appear out of place. I'm guessing the vast majority of people wouldn't notice even notice it. Perhaps I'll be able to do it in a few years.

You can always have it done later. I didn't do it on my Fitzgeralds, but I would have had I not already felt like I was splurging. I don't see any reason to think it would look out of place. They're upper-middle end suits (in fact, to most people, they're extremely high end suits), and all you're doing is making the buttons work. It can actually come in handy for washing hands.

[notanumber]

Pufer or anybody else that may wish to chime in:

I ordered the grey BB 1818 Fitzgerald yesterday. I'm thinking of spending the extra $100 for the functional cuff buttons (the suit is being shipped in and we haven't started on alterations). I'm a fairly conservative person but I like the idea of the functional cuff buttons. Is the 1818 "high end enough" to justify the functional cuff buttons or will it look ridiculous? This will be the nicest suit I own. Cost is not an issue.

Don't get functional cuff buttons unless you're 110% sure that the sleeves will need no adjusting whatsoever. Getting surgeon's cuffs altered is a real bitch and can sometimes ruin a suit.

If you're sure that the fit is spot-on and money isn't an issue, I'd say go for it. You'll be the only person who knows that they're there, so don't worry about looking gaudy. It's entirely psychological, but I've found that suits with surgeon's cuffs feel more put together. They're also occasionally useful (hot weather, washing hands, if you ever need to roll up your sleeves, etc...).

[Bronte]

Pufer or anybody else that may wish to chime in:

I ordered the grey BB 1818 Fitzgerald yesterday. I'm thinking of spending the extra $100 for the functional cuff buttons (the suit is being shipped in and we haven't started on alterations). I'm a fairly conservative person but I like the idea of the functional cuff buttons. Is the 1818 "high end enough" to justify the functional cuff buttons or will it look ridiculous? This will be the nicest suit I own. Cost is not an issue.

Don't get functional cuff buttons unless you're 110% sure that the sleeves will need no adjusting whatsoever. Getting surgeon's cuffs altered is a real bitch and can sometimes ruin a suit.

If you're sure that the fit is spot-on and money isn't an issue, I'd say go for it. You'll be the only person who knows that they're there, so don't worry about looking gaudy. It's entirely psychological, but I've found that suits with surgeon's cuffs feel more put together. They're also occasionally useful (hot weather, washing hands, if you ever need to roll up your sleeves, etc...).

Thanks for the info on sleeve length. Didn't know that.

[Pufer]

I ordered the grey BB 1818 Fitzgerald yesterday. I'm thinking of spending the extra $100 for the functional cuff buttons (the suit is being shipped in and we haven't started on alterations). I'm a fairly conservative person but I like the idea of the functional cuff buttons. Is the 1818 "high end enough" to justify the functional cuff buttons or will it look ridiculous? This will be the nicest suit I own. Cost is not an issue.

I'm not sure what would be un-conservative about functional cuff buttons, and I doubt that it would look ridiculous. My advice would be, if you want them, go ahead and get them; the value of the suit itself doesn't matter. You only live once.

$100 seems a bit steep, though. My tailor is viciously expensive, but even he only charges $10 per.

They're also occasionally useful (hot weather, washing hands, if you ever need to roll up your sleeves, etc...).

I guess I never thought of it before, but I have literally never seen anyone in real life roll up the sleeves of their suit jacket. If you're in a situation where you need to keep your jacket on and actually need to roll up your sleeves (a situation that I don't think any lawyer has ever found himself in), I have no idea what you're doing.

-Pufer

[Renzo]

I guess I never thought of it before, but I have literally never seen anyone in real life roll up the sleeves of their suit jacket. If you're in a situation where you need to keep your jacket on and actually need to roll up your sleeves (a situation that I don't think any lawyer has ever found himself in), I have no idea what you're doing.

-Pufer

Thank you, this is what I was thinking. Why would you not just take your jacket off? Maybe if you were in an open field with nothing anywhere to set anything on, and no one around to hold it, and there was a flood, and you needed to reach into the water with both hands, but only a few inches, and...

[Bronte]

I ordered the grey BB 1818 Fitzgerald yesterday. I'm thinking of spending the extra $100 for the functional cuff buttons (the suit is being shipped in and we haven't started on alterations). I'm a fairly conservative person but I like the idea of the functional cuff buttons. Is the 1818 "high end enough" to justify the functional cuff buttons or will it look ridiculous? This will be the nicest suit I own. Cost is not an issue.

I'm not sure what would be un-conservative about functional cuff buttons, and I doubt that it would look ridiculous. My advice would be, if you want them, go ahead and get them; the value of the suit itself doesn't matter. You only live once.

$100 seems a bit steep, though. My tailor is viciously expensive, but even he only charges $10 per.

This is what I though you'd say with regards to getting the buttons done. (Yes, I channel Pufer.) BB charges $10 per, and there are eight cuff buttons on an 1818, so it'll come out at around $80 plus tax.

They're also occasionally useful (hot weather, washing hands, if you ever need to roll up your sleeves, etc...).

I guess I never thought of it before, but I have literally never seen anyone in real life roll up the sleeves of their suit jacket. If you're in a situation where you need to keep your jacket on and actually need to roll up your sleeves (a situation that I don't think any lawyer has ever found himself in), I have no idea what you're doing.

-Pufer

People just unbutton them and then unbutton their shirt sleeves so they can really get a good hand wash after taking a mean shit. Or maybe just so they can leave the bottom button unfastened so people know their suit is tailored (yes, I've seen this done, and I've also seen it advocated in a classic men's style book).

[bartleby]

psh, i don't buy into the CT hype. it is a british jos a banks

[Bronte]

psh, i don't buy into the CT hype. it is a british jos a banks

Maybe, but a British Jos. A. Banks might be a good thing where instead of inexpensive frumpy suiting it's inexpensive contemporary suiting. I'm only going from viewing their respective lines on the web and ordering and returning one JAB item that was awful.

[bartleby]

but CT isn't really cheap either. not like any of this really matters.

[Bronte]

but CT isn't really cheap either. not like any of this really matters.

It's relatively cheap when it's on sale. $50 shirts last I checked. But no, it's not in the lower tier. I think it's better than JAB though on a number of levels, again just from my perceptions from perusing the site and from the one item I ordered from JAB. JAB's website is TTT and their clothes are drab and outdated. It epitomizes 90s wear to me.