The style thread

[HMSwolfe]

Your socks should, most of the time, match the color of your pants...never the color of your shoes. If it's dark jeans, it'll be easier to find the socks...if it's faded jeans, you'll have difficulties to find the right hue. Bring your jeans to the store and experiment. It's difficult to remember an exact color.

I pretty much exclusively wear black socks nowadays…white socks make me feel like a pre-teen, for some reason.

 

[greenmachines]

I pretty much exclusively wear black socks nowadays…white socks make me feel like a pre-teen, for some reason.

So on my days that I feel old I am wearing white ankle socks to test this theory. The truly ironic part is my son's gen wore knee high black socks.

 

[greenmachines]

Your socks should, most of the time, match the color of your pants...never the color of your shoes. If it's dark jeans, it'll be easier to find the socks...if it's faded jeans, you'll have difficulties to find the right hue. Bring your jeans to the store and experiment. It's difficult to remember an exact color.

Additional technicality, when the socks are covered by the pants vs when there is leg and skin showing between pants and sock top? Like the rolled cuff mentioned earlier. I am guessing it is a summer only look but seems like most pics of that were wearing a white sock or no sock. That is not to say it looks better than a sock that matches the pants and still a gap between showing skin. Just never really thought about it til now. Nor would I ever wear closed shoes without socks, not my style due to not wishing to have stinky toe/shoe. But then again maybe in sun filled areas with beaches, you could find function in no socks?

 

[Ron]

There is an old saying about Fashion and Style which is so very true

Fashion fades, Style is eternal

Yup! It's about being stylish, not fashionable. Fashion comes and goes but good style is timeless. Steve McQueen was mentioned. If he were resurrected today wearing the same clothes he had before, he'd still look great. The same cannot be said for the floral print, wide lapel, bell bottom wearers of the 70's.

All good points; colors are really hard to choose for men; especially in the case of a "Mix and Match". That's why you see a lot of women walking the men's clothing isles As for pocket squares, the tradition was: same color as your shirt...then it changed to: same color as your tie
I go for the color combo shirt +tie...a little bit of white (shirt) and a little bit of red/dark blue of the tie
As for shoes; yes, the basic brown/black and I would add a capped toe laced tan for blue suit in the summer.

Here's Fred with his belt buckle on the side

View attachment 1660162

And Tony for good measure...yeah, we didn't invent anything

View attachment 1660163

A lot of of guitarists learned this trick the hard way after scratching up the backs of their guitars .

 

[Ron]

There's so much to expand upon which has already been said so if I quote some older posts, forgive me . I don't have time right now to respond to everything but really quickly...

Yes and, glad to see Steve with the waist coat (vest) combo. The last button should be open; Winston Churchill did it first because of his girth; it was more comfortable to sit down with that trick. So, before that, vests were buttoned all the way
Not everyone has the chance/money to spend on a pocket watch...you don't have to have one for pulling that look.
On a side note: suspenders. Wear them with pants designed without their belt loop. Never wear suspender with a belt.

Was it Churchill this was attributed to? I've read it was attributed to King Edward VII who was himself a rotund fella. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, other noblemen and parliamentarians began leaving the last button open as well.

At any rate, I once had a desire to buck this custom in order to have a more uniform look. Most vests already cut outward after the last button so there's no need to leave it open for mobility purposes. I tried it once and then stopped as I realized it's a catch-22. Anyone who's style conscience is going to think I don't know what I'm doing and those that aren't won't notice or care lol.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

On a side note: suspenders. Wear them with pants designed without their belt loop. Never wear suspender with a belt.

And suspenders/bracers with clips are a shame. Get pants with interior suspender buttons if you're gonna wear it properly.

Another side note: I once heard it's a faux pas to wear sunglasses and a hat (same deal with belt and suspenders) but that's never stopped me and the rest of society.

I only exclusively wear dark socks now. Knee wool socks for the winter and high-cuts for every time else. Various shades of grey or black, but I buy about anything with hints of color in them. I also don't bother sorting my socks as no one ever sees them, and if they do, I do a Henny Youngman joke: "I got another pair like them at home!"

 

[VanPersie]

The same cannot be said for the floral print, wide lapel, bell bottom wearers of the 70's.

Oh I don't know about that as I think Richie Jackson pulls it off and it suits him

There's so much to expand upon which has already been said so if I quote some older posts, forgive me . I don't have time right now to respond to everything but really quickly...

Was it Churchill this was attributed to? I've read it was attributed to King Edward VII who was himself a rotund fella. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, other noblemen and parliamentarians began leaving the last button open as well.

At any rate, I once had a desire to buck this custom in order to have a more uniform look. Most vests already cut outward after the last button so there's no need to leave it open for mobility purposes. I tried it once and then stopped as I realized it's a catch-22. Anyone who's style conscience is going to think I don't know what I'm doing and those that aren't won't notice or care lol.

Was indeed King Edward VII.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

Yeah, I see paisley quite a lot in the last decade or so. It looks good on those who want to wear it, a lot like hats in that instance.

 

[Riceball]

I tend to dress for the occasion and for every day wear I just go for what's simple and what's comfortable. For me that means long sleeved tees (both with and without logos/designs)or flannel shirts and jeans or cargo pants with (usually tan) Marine Corps issue combat boots during the Winter/Fall plus a hoodie and/or vest for extra warmth. During the Spring;/Summer it's t-shirts (with or without logos/designs), shorts (usually cargo shorts), and low hiking boots. And now a days, when I go out to run errands or to grab a bite to eat I'll toss on a ball cap because I work at home now so I don't bother styling my hair most days.

That's all just daily wear. On special occasions when I might need to dress nicer I'll toss on a polo or a nice short-sleeved button-up shirt depending on the formality of the event. I sometimes ditch the boots in favor of semi-dressy shoes, but I'm usually still wearing my boots. Then I have 2 suits, a dark one for Winter/Fall and a lighter one for Spring/Summer.

But whenever I go camping or on a serious hike, I throw on a pair of tactical pants, a camping/hiking shirt, and either a felt fedora like hat (usually just around the camp site) or a boonie cap. Of course I'm wearing my combat boots for both hiking and camping. I like the combo of tactical pants and combat boots because it helps keeps the bugs off, allows me to carry a lot of stuff on me, and to keep from getting as dirty as I would get from wearing shorts and tennis shoes.

One thing that I learned from my time in the Marine Corps for wearing dress shirts is to do what's called blousing. This is where you gather up the material from the front and push it to the sides and back. You then fold it over on itself (on both sides) and helps keep your shirt from ballooning about your waist. For the maximum neat look, you get what are called shirt stays, they're sort of like suspenders for your shirt, clip one end to the bottom of your shirt (one on either side), and the other to the top of your socks. This keeps your shirt pulled down nice and neat and it won't rise. It's how we keep the shirts on our service dress uniforms looking all nice and tucked in at all times with nothing folding over the top of your pants.

 

[greenmachines]

There's so much to expand upon which has already been said so if I quote some older posts, forgive me . I don't have time right now to respond to everything but really quickly...

Was it Churchill this was attributed to? I've read it was attributed to King Edward VII who was himself a rotund fella. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, other noblemen and parliamentarians began leaving the last button open as well.

At any rate, I once had a desire to buck this custom in order to have a more uniform look. Most vests already cut outward after the last button so there's no need to leave it open for mobility purposes. I tried it once and then stopped as I realized it's a catch-22. Anyone who's style conscience is going to think I don't know what I'm doing and those that aren't won't notice or care lol.

As to the replying to old, there is no old currently. This thread exploded immediately so I expect joberg wouldn't mind if you responded to comment number one, it being like only a day and a half since we were on page one.

Yeah, I see paisley quite a lot in the last decade or so. It looks good on those who want to wear it, a lot like hats in that instance.

love me some paisley no doubt and in ridiculous colors. It is one of the few things I love that makes my wife cringe.

I tend to dress for the occasion and for every day wear I just go for what's simple and what's comfortable. For me that means long sleeved tees (both with and without logos/designs)or flannel shirts and jeans or cargo pants with (usually tan) Marine Corps issue combat boots during the Winter/Fall plus a hoodie and/or vest for extra warmth. During the Spring;/Summer it's t-shirts (with or without logos/designs), shorts (usually cargo shorts), and low hiking boots. And now a days, when I go out to run errands or to grab a bite to eat I'll toss on a ball cap because I work at home now so I don't bother styling my hair most days.

That's all just daily wear. On special occasions when I might need to dress nicer I'll toss on a polo or a nice short-sleeved button-up shirt depending on the formality of the event. I sometimes ditch the boots in favor of semi-dressy shoes, but I'm usually still wearing my boots. Then I have 2 suits, a dark one for Winter/Fall and a lighter one for Spring/Summer.

But whenever I go camping or on a serious hike, I throw on a pair of tactical pants, a camping/hiking shirt, and either a felt fedora like hat (usually just around the camp site) or a boonie cap. Of course I'm wearing my combat boots for both hiking and camping. I like the combo of tactical pants and combat boots because it helps keeps the bugs off, allows me to carry a lot of stuff on me, and to keep from getting as dirty as I would get from wearing shorts and tennis shoes.

One thing that I learned from my time in the Marine Corps for wearing dress shirts is to do what's called blousing. This is where you gather up the material from the front and push it to the sides and back. You then fold it over on itself (on both sides) and helps keep your shirt from ballooning about your waist. For the maximum neat look, you get what are called shirt stays, they're sort of like suspenders for your shirt, clip one end to the bottom of your shirt (one on either side), and the other to the top of your socks. This keeps your shirt pulled down nice and neat and it won't rise. It's how we keep the shirts on our service dress uniforms looking all nice and tucked in at all times with nothing folding over the top of your pants.

I like this shirt stay widget you speak of Riceball. Would like to hear details.... does it cause any fabric distortion on specific materials, notable features of a good shirt stay, etc..

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

I've heard of shirt stays that wrap around the thigh but never one that goes down to sock, so that's a first. They're a lot like old women's garters for stockings but for men's shirts, for those that aren't familiar with them.

 

[Ron]

I don't know the exact nature of this thread but if it's advice on dressing, I say this: dress for the day. It doesn't matter if it's the same outfit you've worn for a week-and-a-half, or you're trussed up in the latest trends: get out of your pj's and dress for the day. Make your bed, brush your teeth, dress yourself, have breakfast if you need it--That's the day started. It's little rituals like that build a sense of agency, self-worth and respect.

As for me, I mostly wear military surplus. Old military surplus, at that. I'm on the small and slight side of builds and there's not much available commercially that fits my body type without going into the weird cuts of children's clothing (and I have too much pride/shame for that). Old military surplus is stocked with clothes that perfectly fit me (when there were more people built like me due to poor nutrition) and are robust enough for my needs. It also doesn't hurt that I like heavy, textured, coarse fabrics. Yeah, they might stink of must from time to time, but a wash will make it nearly-new! I'm more for function over form and clothes is just another facet of that for me.

My family says that I have a "look" I've not strayed from, and my every-day wear is this:

- Cardigan or Jacket (with lots of pockets, if possible) in a shade of "olive green." Green has always been my favorite color and I like earthier tones. There's not a day since childhood where I've not worn a jacket or some kind of extra outerwear.​

​

- Shirt is typically a Henley undershirt in warmer weather or paired with a wool sweater in colder months. I've fallen out of favor with crew neck tee's, as I think they're a bit restrictive at the chest, and full button up's I just find stuffy. I don't wear anything with labels, prints, or imagery. Just simple, solid, warm colors. I also avoid wearing solid white unless "flecked" with another color. I tend to mess clothes easily so the break-up pattern helps hide stains I may not notice.​

​

- Pants are typically jeans: blue, grey, or brown, and always with a belt. No black pants. Though, I'm entering that point in my life where jeans stop looking decent on men. I continue to wear them now but I'm looking for alternatives (maybe canvas as they tend to last longer).​

​

- Footwear: boots. High-cut leather boots, fully laced, no zippers. Always in a chocolate brown color, and never buffed. I keep every scuff like a badge. I've rocked with Dr. Martens for a long time now, but I may have to finally turn over to something else. The quality hasn't been very good ever since they stopped all manufacturing in England, so I'm on the look-out for something better but in similar veins.​

​

No other accompanying details: no watch, no rings/earrings, no necklaces, nor any sort of trinkets. I've always worked with my hands and around machinery, and safety precautions just naturally turned into preference. Summer or fall/winter come round, I'll throw on my hat and scarf, but other than that, function over form.

I'm with you on v-necks over crew. They tend to look a bit more stylish. You also want to wear ones that are fitted. Snug around the shoulders & chest and slightly loose around the torso. Also not long in the torso but not too short either. The sleeves should end at the middle of your biceps. The fabric of the cotton makes a difference as well. Lightweight fabric is going to look looser and more casual. A heavier fabric, particularly one with a suede texture, is going to look a bit more chic.

When it comes to tees, I usually wear only solids unless I'm going to the beach or the pool (which is rare), then I might mix in a stripe shirt. For button ups, I try to keep a good mix of solids and patterns. Nothing crazy and nothing too bright. Earth tones as well as some blues and blacks. Lighter colors in the day, darker at night. These aren't hard and fast rules mind you. More of a general guideline to follow.

As far as jeans go, I've cut them back a lot in my wardrobe as I've gotten older. I have a few but that's it. They're not the staple they used to be for me. They have a place but I usually opt for other types of pants first. I have a casual pair, a "dressier" pair, and a pair of black ones. That's it. And none of them are distressed. I think that's a fad that desperately needs to end. It's cool if your everyday jeans for casual wear distress on their own overtime. But don't pay $200 for the ones that come that way and then wear them out to a nice restaurant thinking it's fine because it's a designer label. Buy the normal non-distressed ones. You'll look so much better especially if you're an older chap. If you're still in your late teens, okay you'll get away with it. Also, I won't buy any jeans that have gaudy back pocket stitching and prominent "whiskering". It just screams douche bag lol. And for goodness sake, BUY ONES THAT FIT YOUR BODY TYPE!!! If you're stalky or overweight, don't wear skinny jeans and when I say skinny jeans, I'm not talking about something fitted. You should wear fitted. I'm talking about the jeans that are tighter than spandex. It's not a good look even if you have a slender body.

I don't accessorize either with the exception of watches which is a category unto its own.

I tend to stick with solid colors and earth tones too. I tend to look absurd in bright flashy colors and that's just not my style anyway. My wife loves me in polo shirts but I can't stand them. They feel too pretentious for me and I feel like the preppy villain in a John Hughes movie whenever I'm forced to wear one. I might as well tie a cardigan around my shoulders and laugh at all the poor people...

View attachment 1659616

I told myself that I would stop wearing clothing with logos or labels when I turned 40 but I still haven't gotten rid of the few t-shirts I have left with images on them. More for convenience than anything else and I've got some super comfy ones I'm not ready to part with just yet because they've softened up enough plus the clothing I used to wear to work at my old job would get ruined with enough time so I never wanted to risk destroying a nice garment.

Something about having a logo/ phrase/ "vintage" look image splashed across the front, or some geek t-shirt with an image of Han Solo just feels sad to me at this age and the need to broadcast my entertainment preferences on my shirts left me by my early 30's. I'm not faulting anyone who enjoys wearing them, as I said I have a few left, but I need to retire those sooner rather than later.

I would like to dress better than I currently have most of my adult life. Being able to make my own custom stuff is still the goal as I can establish my own style. I'm more keen now to dress more age appropriate and well at that.

I don't wear anything with labels or imagery either. I'd feel like a billboard. No offense to anyone who wears clothes like that. It's funny, we're so used to seeing clothing of that sort in the modern age that it seems normal but if you think about history and how people dressed, it is kind of an odd thing to be wearing something that has words or pictures on it. I'm like you, I had my share of band shirts, sports team shirts, geek shirts, etc but now that I'm older, it's not for me. Fine if you're going to a concert or a ballgame although even then I don't like wearing that stuff anymore.

Whether we care to acknowledge it or not, the way we dress says something about us. It's a form of communication. The first impression we give off is how we look. I know some will say it shouldn't matter how we dress. To a certain extent I agree but, there's something respectful and classy about taking care to look nice and present your best self. If I have a meeting with someone and they show up in flip flops and shorts...unless that meeting is taking place at a beach, I'm going to think this person doesn't care enough to put forth any effort. Same thing if I were on a date and the girl shows up wearing sweats. I wouldn't feel very flattered lol. However, it's quite nice when someone puts in that time and effort to look good. Hey, if you don't want to dress well for other people, dress well for yourself! I'm a believer that looking good will make you feel good.

 

[VanPersie]

One thing that I learned from my time in the Marine Corps for wearing dress shirts is to do what's called blousing. This is where you gather up the material from the front and push it to the sides and back. You then fold it over on itself (on both sides) and helps keep your shirt from ballooning about your waist. For the maximum neat look, you get what are called shirt stays, they're sort of like suspenders for your shirt, clip one end to the bottom of your shirt (one on either side), and the other to the top of your socks. This keeps your shirt pulled down nice and neat and it won't rise. It's how we keep the shirts on our service dress uniforms looking all nice and tucked in at all times with nothing folding over the top of your pants.

Interesting. Shirt stays aren't something I came across in the Royal Marines in either blues or lovats, though it does seem USMC wears their dress shirts more often. Especially now the Corps is using Crye kit, nobody wants to be wearing anything else during the work day, for fear of not looking, as we say in the uk, ally in gucci rig.

The tucking of the shirt as you say and pulling the excess around the back is certainly something done here too.

 

[joberg]

I pretty much exclusively wear black socks nowadays…white socks make me feel like a pre-teen, for some reason.

White socks should be labelled with a warning: do not wear them unless you're wearing white pants, or playing tennis, or on your yacht/sail boat

 

[joberg]

Additional technicality, when the socks are covered by the pants vs when there is leg and skin showing between pants and sock top? Like the rolled cuff mentioned earlier. I am guessing it is a summer only look but seems like most pics of that were wearing a white sock or no sock. That is not to say it looks better than a sock that matches the pants and still a gap between showing skin. Just never really thought about it til now. Nor would I ever wear closed shoes without socks, not my style due to not wishing to have stinky toe/shoe. But then again maybe in sun filled areas with beaches, you could find function in no socks?

You shouldn't show skin between your socks and the bottom of your pants; even when sitting down and crossing your legs for example.
I was in Venice, last September, and every man was wearing the same kind of outfit: sport jacket (blue, light blue, rusty reds, light beige, off white) with light colored pants (slim look and a little "short", i.e.: showing the beginning of your ankle bone) no socks and loafers of various colors and designs. Sockets are a must to pull the "no socks look". They're low enough to not show at the top of your loafer.
Some aren't wearing socks with traditional shoes (Derby, Oxford, or Brogue).

 

[joberg]

There's so much to expand upon which has already been said so if I quote some older posts, forgive me . I don't have time right now to respond to everything but really quickly...

Was it Churchill this was attributed to? I've read it was attributed to King Edward VII who was himself a rotund fella. Not wanting to make him feel awkward, other noblemen and parliamentarians began leaving the last button open as well.

At any rate, I once had a desire to buck this custom in order to have a more uniform look. Most vests already cut outward after the last button so there's no need to leave it open for mobility purposes. I tried it once and then stopped as I realized it's a catch-22. Anyone who's style conscience is going to think I don't know what I'm doing and those that aren't won't notice or care lol.

Yes, difficult to attribute a particular "trend" to someone...historical or popular figures from that particular era.
We tend to think that we're the only ones who thought about opening our vest's last button or just moving our belt buckle to the side as unique.
That's human thinking 101 I always read that Winston was the one...mea culpa as, it seems, it was King Edward VII who "started the trend.
Others have done it prior to this, simply for the sake of personal comfort.

Here's Grant in his uniform:

 

[joberg]

And suspenders/bracers with clips are a shame. Get pants with interior suspender buttons if you're gonna wear it properly.

Another side note: I once heard it's a faux pas to wear sunglasses and a hat (same deal with belt and suspenders) but that's never stopped me and the rest of society.

I only exclusively wear dark socks now. Knee wool socks for the winter and high-cuts for every time else. Various shades of grey or black, but I buy about anything with hints of color in them. I also don't bother sorting my socks as no one ever sees them, and if they do, I do a Henny Youngman joke: "I got another pair like them at home!"

It seems that, since their invention around 1700 (England), the sunglasses became another fashion accessory for the masses. It's alright to wear a hat + sunglasses as long as the design doesn't impede the brim and stance of your hat.

Other mistakes people have a tendency to make is to not remove the X thread affixed to slits in jackets and skirts.
Those are only there to avoid deforming the slit (and curling it) by removing the garment from the store racks. As soon as you return home, please; take a pair of scissors and cut it off

Another fairly new mistake is this: on brand's Websites, pictures are showing a woman with a shirt combo pants/skirt. One side is tucked in, while the other is loose, covering the skirt or pants. This was a trick, for the customer, to show both style in one pic. All you had to do was to take a sheet of paper and mask one or the other side to decide if you were to tuck or not your top/shirt into that pair of pants or skirt.
But the new Gen thought that this was another fashion trend Several times, I've seen that kind of outfit worn by young people...if they only new

 

[joberg]

I tend to dress for the occasion and for every day wear I just go for what's simple and what's comfortable. For me that means long sleeved tees (both with and without logos/designs)or flannel shirts and jeans or cargo pants with (usually tan) Marine Corps issue combat boots during the Winter/Fall plus a hoodie and/or vest for extra warmth. During the Spring;/Summer it's t-shirts (with or without logos/designs), shorts (usually cargo shorts), and low hiking boots. And now a days, when I go out to run errands or to grab a bite to eat I'll toss on a ball cap because I work at home now so I don't bother styling my hair most days.

That's all just daily wear. On special occasions when I might need to dress nicer I'll toss on a polo or a nice short-sleeved button-up shirt depending on the formality of the event. I sometimes ditch the boots in favor of semi-dressy shoes, but I'm usually still wearing my boots. Then I have 2 suits, a dark one for Winter/Fall and a lighter one for Spring/Summer.

But whenever I go camping or on a serious hike, I throw on a pair of tactical pants, a camping/hiking shirt, and either a felt fedora like hat (usually just around the camp site) or a boonie cap. Of course I'm wearing my combat boots for both hiking and camping. I like the combo of tactical pants and combat boots because it helps keeps the bugs off, allows me to carry a lot of stuff on me, and to keep from getting as dirty as I would get from wearing shorts and tennis shoes.

One thing that I learned from my time in the Marine Corps for wearing dress shirts is to do what's called blousing. This is where you gather up the material from the front and push it to the sides and back. You then fold it over on itself (on both sides) and helps keep your shirt from ballooning about your waist. For the maximum neat look, you get what are called shirt stays, they're sort of like suspenders for your shirt, clip one end to the bottom of your shirt (one on either side), and the other to the top of your socks. This keeps your shirt pulled down nice and neat and it won't rise. It's how we keep the shirts on our service dress uniforms looking all nice and tucked in at all times with nothing folding over the top of your pants.

Yes, I knew about the shirt stays. Those are impossible to find in regular store (maybe Army Surplus). To make sure that your shirt doesn't "balloon/blouse" you'll have to ask your tailor to affix a "rubber belt" inside the waist of your pants. Modern pants (not all models/design) do not have that feature anymore.
Again, most Military designs have transitioned into the public realm from a long time now.

 

[joberg]

I'm with you on v-necks over crew. They tend to look a bit more stylish. You also want to wear ones that are fitted. Snug around the shoulders & chest and slightly loose around the torso. Also not long in the torso but not too short either. The sleeves should end at the middle of your biceps. The fabric of the cotton makes a difference as well. Lightweight fabric is going to look looser and more casual. A heavier fabric, particularly one with a suede texture, is going to look a bit more chic.

When it comes to tees, I usually wear only solids unless I'm going to the beach or the pool (which is rare), then I might mix in a stripe shirt. For button ups, I try to keep a good mix of solids and patterns. Nothing crazy and nothing too bright. Earth tones as well as some blues and blacks. Lighter colors in the day, darker at night. These aren't hard and fast rules mind you. More of a general guideline to follow.

As far as jeans go, I've cut them back a lot in my wardrobe as I've gotten older. I have a few but that's it. They're not the staple they used to be for me. They have a place but I usually opt for other types of pants first. I have a casual pair, a "dressier" pair, and a pair of black ones. That's it. And none of them are distressed. I think that's a fad that desperately needs to end. It's cool if your everyday jeans for casual wear distress on their own overtime. But don't pay $200 for the ones that come that way and then wear them out to a nice restaurant thinking it's fine because it's a designer label. Buy the normal non-distressed ones. You'll look so much better especially if you're an older chap. If you're still in your late teens, okay you'll get away with it. Also, I won't buy any jeans that have gaudy back pocket stitching and prominent "whiskering". It just screams douche bag lol. And for goodness sake, BUY ONES THAT FIT YOUR BODY TYPE!!! If you're stalky or overweight, don't wear skinny jeans and when I say skinny jeans, I'm not talking about something fitted. You should wear fitted. I'm talking about the jeans that are tighter than spandex. It's not a good look even if you have a slender body.

I don't accessorize either with the exception of watches which is a category unto its own.



I don't wear anything with labels or imagery either. I'd feel like a billboard. No offense to anyone who wears clothes like that. It's funny, we're so used to seeing clothing of that sort in the modern age that it seems normal but if you think about history and how people dressed, it is kind of an odd thing to be wearing something that has words or pictures on it. I'm like you, I had my share of band shirts, sports team shirts, geek shirts, etc but now that I'm older, it's not for me. Fine if you're going to a concert or a ballgame although even then I don't like wearing that stuff anymore.

Whether we care to acknowledge it or not, the way we dress says something about us. It's a form of communication. The first impression we give off is how we look. I know some will say it shouldn't matter how we dress. To a certain extent I agree but, there's something respectful and classy about taking care to look nice and present your best self. If I have a meeting with someone and they show up in flip flops and shorts...unless that meeting is taking place at a beach, I'm going to think this person doesn't care enough to put forth any effort. Same thing if I were on a date and the girl shows up wearing sweats. I wouldn't feel very flattered lol. However, it's quite nice when someone puts in that time and effort to look good. Hey, if you don't want to dress well for other people, dress well for yourself! I'm a believer that looking good will make you feel good.

Yes to many of your observation in your personal style and protocol/etiquette
If you don't change your clothes from work to bar...we have a problem Houston Meeting, interview, etc, should always be seriously taken in terms of presentation. I know, I know...but we're suffering from, as I call it, an "Esthetic Syndrome".
But that's a natural program given to us by Nature. We evaluate the person, first, by his/her looks. Friend/Foe program. Same in the way a person will communicate; we'll judge.

Flip Flop/sandals are worn in a beach town...

 

[Riceball]

I like this shirt stay widget you speak of Riceball. Would like to hear details.... does it cause any fabric distortion on specific materials, notable features of a good shirt stay, etc..

Here's what they look like.

But I have no idea if they cause any fabric distortion, but if they do, it would be down on the tails of the shirts where you wouldn't see them since they'd be tucked into your pants. As far as features go, I've only used what was issued to me in the Marines, so I don't know if there's anything really to look out for aside from the usual sort of things like longevity and maybe making sure that the elastic is not scratchy.

Even though the pic I posted shows 4, you really only need 2. Clip the top to where the shirt tail is folded over and then clip the bottom to the top of your socks, off to the side and slightly forward so that the shirt stay is coming down at an angle. If you want to use 4, just clip the other pair to either side of the front of your shirt and clip them to your socks going straight down. We only used 4 when we wore the short sleeved khaki shirt or the long sleeve without the accompanying jacket.

When done right, this is the look the shirt stays creates, granted this is on a mannequin and kind of idealized. But it does show what blousing looks like.