Going out suit/jacket/shirt
Discussion
I'm a jeans and t-shirt kinda guy. I have one suit for interviews, and a sports jacket for anything else vaguely formal.
As I get a bit older, I realise that things that look nice and are nice are worth paying more for (without going silly).
And the last few years, I've taken up karate (#cough# I may be a PH cliché, see further details later #cough#) and some general exercise, lost 4" off my waist and grown a bit of muscle tone. So I actually feel happy with my shape and keen to flatter myself
I'm 44, starting to grey, 6' 4" tall (long in the back, regular length legs/trousers), 36" waist, 42" or 44" in the chest depending on make/cut. I also have a goatee, but no company directorships
I've got a couple of evening dos coming up soon - a wedding and my first function with my new job (about 200 people going, no dress code as such, but generally "smart" I'm told... at least not the dreaded smart/casual!) so I'm thinking of re-inventing my wardrobe at least a little to reflect the new me..
So, can you folks point me at some shirts/jackets/suits that will be almost entirely for evening/party wear and be a cut above the high street (Debenhams seems to be my default place at the mo... lots of RJR in my wardrobe including the sports jacket; the only shirts I found that I liked today were Jeff Banks) and maybe of a style that's a little out of the ordinary... I remember fondly the business "do" years ago I ended up hiring a Neo/Matrix cut tuxedo for!
I can get people thinking I look smart easily enough at the moment, I'd like people to think I look smart instead
As I get a bit older, I realise that things that look nice and are nice are worth paying more for (without going silly).
And the last few years, I've taken up karate (#cough# I may be a PH cliché, see further details later #cough#) and some general exercise, lost 4" off my waist and grown a bit of muscle tone. So I actually feel happy with my shape and keen to flatter myself
I'm 44, starting to grey, 6' 4" tall (long in the back, regular length legs/trousers), 36" waist, 42" or 44" in the chest depending on make/cut. I also have a goatee, but no company directorships
I've got a couple of evening dos coming up soon - a wedding and my first function with my new job (about 200 people going, no dress code as such, but generally "smart" I'm told... at least not the dreaded smart/casual!) so I'm thinking of re-inventing my wardrobe at least a little to reflect the new me..
So, can you folks point me at some shirts/jackets/suits that will be almost entirely for evening/party wear and be a cut above the high street (Debenhams seems to be my default place at the mo... lots of RJR in my wardrobe including the sports jacket; the only shirts I found that I liked today were Jeff Banks) and maybe of a style that's a little out of the ordinary... I remember fondly the business "do" years ago I ended up hiring a Neo/Matrix cut tuxedo for!
I can get people thinking I look smart easily enough at the moment, I'd like people to think I look smart instead
Don't wear a DJ unless black Tie is stated as the dress code, you will look a right plumb otherwise.
Cheaper high street stuff can be absolutely fine as long as it fits well, the worst thing is wearing something too big or small however expensive it is.
Your best bet is to go to a few shops and try things on, find a cut and fit that you like and then go from there, go to somewhere like house of Fraser or Selfridges to try on different sizes and cuts, some are more fitted than others.
I tend to prefer Paul Smith for shirts as I find they fit well and their off the peg suits are nice was well, you should be fine in your size. Boss do some nice off the peg suits as well but you are looking at 400quid as a starting point but a good investment.
If you are in London, PS have a sale shop in Bank which are slightly cheaper.
Or if you have the patience, go flicking through the racks at a TK Maxx as they occasionally have some old season designer stuff but really you should treat yourself and do it properly, but you have to try it on and find out what you like.
Cheaper high street stuff can be absolutely fine as long as it fits well, the worst thing is wearing something too big or small however expensive it is.
Your best bet is to go to a few shops and try things on, find a cut and fit that you like and then go from there, go to somewhere like house of Fraser or Selfridges to try on different sizes and cuts, some are more fitted than others.
I tend to prefer Paul Smith for shirts as I find they fit well and their off the peg suits are nice was well, you should be fine in your size. Boss do some nice off the peg suits as well but you are looking at 400quid as a starting point but a good investment.
If you are in London, PS have a sale shop in Bank which are slightly cheaper.
Or if you have the patience, go flicking through the racks at a TK Maxx as they occasionally have some old season designer stuff but really you should treat yourself and do it properly, but you have to try it on and find out what you like.
Mattygooner said:
If you are in London
I'm right off the far end of the M4, actually... there's not a lot of shopping choice here in deepest darkest Wales, which is a good chunk of the reason I'm on PH and not out trying stuff on Matttrakker said:
Have a look at a website called Thread. It's very good at suggesting things to go with your wardrobe, and the items reasonably priced.
Thanks, will look defblade said:
InductionRoar said:
Dinner Jacket all the way.
If you are overdressed you may feel ridiculous. If you are underdressed you are ridiculous.
DJ is certainly going to be too much at either event If you are overdressed you may feel ridiculous. If you are underdressed you are ridiculous.
It says 'I'm a dapper sort of chap but I don't take myself too seriously. Also, I take sartorial advice from a motoring web site full of IT consultants'.
You can't lose!
defblade said:
Mattygooner said:
If you are in London
I'm right off the far end of the M4, actually... there's not a lot of shopping choice here in deepest darkest Wales, which is a good chunk of the reason I'm on PH and not out trying stuff on Matttrakker said:
Have a look at a website called Thread. It's very good at suggesting things to go with your wardrobe, and the items reasonably priced.
Thanks, will look Ari said:
defblade said:
InductionRoar said:
Dinner Jacket all the way.
If you are overdressed you may feel ridiculous. If you are underdressed you are ridiculous.
DJ is certainly going to be too much at either event If you are overdressed you may feel ridiculous. If you are underdressed you are ridiculous.
It says 'I'm a dapper sort of chap but I don't take myself too seriously. Also, I take sartorial advice from a motoring web site full of IT consultants'.
You can't lose!
www.ctshirts.co.uk
www.harvieandhudson.com
cant go wrong with a few nice shirts and some chinos/trousers, might be considered boring by some but can look smart without being OTT
www.harvieandhudson.com
cant go wrong with a few nice shirts and some chinos/trousers, might be considered boring by some but can look smart without being OTT
I'm rather liking these shirts to go with stuff I've already got. Anyone got pointers to anything else similarly smart/sharp/stylish?
You need a suit, shirt, tie and shoes for the wedding, and everything except the tie for the work thing. Your call on the tie though.
Dark grey or black suit, decent pair of black shoes, white and/or blue shirt, nothing crazy patterned, just plain is fine. You can get all of it from M+S if you're on a budget, maybe except the shoes. The work thing, you might get away with a gingham type shirt if that's your thing, open neck is usually OK. In which case, overly dressy high polish shoes would be a no-no.
Wouldnt bother with a DJ, you can always hire if there's an occasion, I threw mine away as my weight changed over the years and I barely used it. White tux guy is never a good look anyway regardless of what people say. There's no point wearing a DJ to a wedding either, it's generally not a black tie kind of thing and as a guest you want to blend in more than stand out.
Dark grey or black suit, decent pair of black shoes, white and/or blue shirt, nothing crazy patterned, just plain is fine. You can get all of it from M+S if you're on a budget, maybe except the shoes. The work thing, you might get away with a gingham type shirt if that's your thing, open neck is usually OK. In which case, overly dressy high polish shoes would be a no-no.
Wouldnt bother with a DJ, you can always hire if there's an occasion, I threw mine away as my weight changed over the years and I barely used it. White tux guy is never a good look anyway regardless of what people say. There's no point wearing a DJ to a wedding either, it's generally not a black tie kind of thing and as a guest you want to blend in more than stand out.
If it was me and I'm 43 and a 1/2. I would just wear light chino type trousers and a smart casual jacket. The trousers can be from anywhere the last couple of jackets I bought where from El Ganzo something like this will do for most days and nights out
http://www.elganso.com/intl_uk/men/blazers/america...
http://www.elganso.com/intl_uk/men/blazers/america...
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff