PFFT!

Ass. I think the scarface poster in the background sums up everything you need to know about that f**k.

I just wanted to drop in and lend my support to 95% of what 'Boot listed. However, I will have to admit that I once had a blazing hot crush on a teacher of mine who regularly wore colored dress shirts with a tie, jeans, and sandals with no socks. Maybe he was just so super hot that the could pull it off?
Dunno.
Anyway, well said!

Was it a "leisure" tie?

Let me first say that Reboot's list of do's and don't are pretty much on, even if they do make him sound snooty and maybe a little fem.

Second...I have a job where I get to see MANY, MANY fashion faux pas. For those who don't know...I'm a wedding photographer. I used to work for a very high end studio in Washington DC. My first job with this company my boss disabused me of my notions of what a professional wore to a wedding. Black tie for them (a vendor, person at work) did NOT mean a tuxedo. A couple of pointers on Tuxedos as a guest or vendor, do NOT expect to wear a tux you own unless it is a very simple style, and impeccably tailored. If you break this rule...you will look like a tool. Whether you are a guest, a DJ, a photographer or a videographer, your K&G Menswear 200 dollar tux is going to stick out like a 4 count shrimp at a kosher luncheon. For "black tie" events as a photographer AND a guest I wear a well tailored BLACK suit, a crisp (french cuff, no butterfly collar) WHITE shirt, cufflinks, and a PLAIN black satin tie, and shoes that I ONLY wear to "Black Tie" weddings (if you think you are fancy enough...you can wear a pocket square but I wouldn't recommend it your first time out). Next time you go to a wedding that has a DJ in a tux, look at him, look at him CLOSELY...he wears it like a uniform, formal wear should NEVER be worn like a uniform...unless you are a waiter. For non "black tie" events with the company in DC I could wear a black or gray suit with whatever color tie I wanted, but ALWAYS a white shirt, and NEVER slacks and a blazer. This is good advice if you are a guest too, blazer...no suit yes...white shirt yes....other shirt...well let me delve into that further. Unless you are wearing a bowtie and cummerbund say NO to the tux shirt with any kind of ruffles. Oxford style button down collar shirts have NO place at a wedding EVER...EVER...EVER... Ralf Lauren should be tortured with a single needle for popularizing this hideous and useless style (which also gave birth to the denim shirt...don't even get me started on denim shirts). Shirts that have no collar are not formal...they are missing a collar, unless you are Jean Claude Van Damme....don't wear them. If your top button requires jewelery to keep it closed, you should send it BACK to Elton John. Color...Don't wear a black suit with ANYTHING but a white or off white shirt. This bears reinforcement....A BLACK SHIRT does NOT...NOT...NEVER...NO...EVER...NOT go with a black or even dark suit....You are NOT in the cast of Guys and Dolls, you are NOT Regis Philbin. Leave the fedora at home...or run it over with your Lincoln, cause unless you have a violin case...again you are NOT in the cast of Guys and Dolls. Shoes....don't wear athletic shoes or even casual shoes to a wedding unless it is outside, and no sandals unless it is on the beach or a luau theme. Oh...and PLEASE remember this...

It is ok to take your jacket off to dance, dancing with it on is ok if you are over 40, but drunkeness does NOT make your shirt come untucked, and it should NOT be untucked unless you are planning of entertaining with a striptease. If your dance moves require your shirt to be untucked or worse unbottoned it is a SURE sign you should NOT be doing these moves at a wedding. If you are NOT in good enough shape to do the worm...untucking your shirt WILL NOT HELP.

Women...wear whatever the hell you want...the skimpier the better. BUT NO PANTS!!! I DON'T CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE, HOW HOT YOUR ASS LOOKS IN THOSE "ALADIN" PANTS, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T SHAVED FOR MONTHS WEAR A SKIRT OR A DRESS FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS NATURAL.


I no longer work for the company in DC, so now I wear (for non black tie weddings) a black shirt (and I get rid of them when they aren't black and wash them in woolite for darks) or sometimes a white shirt with gray or black slacks and dress shoes (with a rubber sole, but don't look like they have a rubber sole, Nun Bush/Deer Stags/Birkenstock Footprints if you work on your feet...seriously try them), no tie.

Here's the problem, Blur -- black suits should really only be worn at weddings and funerals (or anywhere else that you would wear a black tie). In a professional office setting? No. It's too formal for every day wear (which explains why black leisure blazers are an abomination). Incidentally, navy pinstripe is also considered very formal, and should be treated accordingly.

A dark charcoal suit is the closest you should get to black in a professional setting (unless, of course, you like looking like a mortician). Your wardrobe should include a medium to dark charcoal suit, a light charcoal suit, and a navy suit for every day professional wear.

Yeah I was only talking about weddings...you salary people who work 5 days a week...disregard, I have NO clue about how to operate in your environment.

Actually craziesean, black has no hue. Neither does grey or white.

Hue is the colour.
Saturation is how much colour is in there.
Brightness is how close to black/white it is.

And - great list ReBoot!

I think someone should add men in black sneakers. I think if you work in Radio Shack it is okay. Otherwise, you really look like a dork, and not the good kind.

Sorry if I offend, it's just a peeve of mine.

Ok, I'll throw this one out there:


Shirt and trousers.
Of course it's tucked in, but how much? I've been seeing more and more people tucking the shirt in so far that you can clearly see the belt/top-of-the-pants without *any* shirt overhang.

I've always been a slight overhang without sloppy kind of guy but I've seen the smooth look a lot recently.


*edit* this is really starting to sound like a Seinfeld episode

So i can't wear my bling chain wit my cut off pink tshirt and my big green work boots with black jeans and a red tie wit a black dress shirt?? and white socks. and handcuffs hanging off my wrist.. (I actually showed up to a baseball game dressed like this my senior year, changed in the dugout then came out and pitched a no-hitter[cept this one fat kid i beaned] I was bad-ass)

Ok, I have a question, Reboot.

How high should a man's socks go up while they are wearing shorts?

I remember years ago when tube socks (ugh) were in and everyone seemed to be pulled up too high.

I tend to like guys in ankle socks where you can barely see much of any sock at all.

What do you think is the correct height? The middle, near the calf,...or halfway between the middle of the calf and the ankle?

I know this sounds confusing but this is very relevant to a conversation I had with another unnamed Plimate.

IMO socks should *never* be worn with shorts UNLESS you're dressed athletic. At which point they should be as low as possible without them looking forced.

I'm shuddering at the thought of the middle aged man in my supermarket who was wearing dress shorts with dress shoes and socks pulled up as high as they could go. It was as if someone had stolen the lower half of his trousers and he'd failed to notice.

Good question, Miss Winkle.

Boomer is right. The less the better (although going completely without socks is just icky). Pull your socks up all the way to your knees, and you run the risk of people mistaking you for Little Lord Fauntleroy.

When I wear shorts (which is probably once a year) and shoes, I wear ankle socks.

Ok, I have another one, Reboot.

I read your somment about black suits and I have to fully agree with you. The look is way too harsh and I always think funeral director.

But this kid was the hallway of my job the other day. He is just about to become a full time representative here. I had a slight disagreement with the girl I work with because I commented on the shirt he was wearing.

It was red. Maybe slightly on the darker side-with a black tie. And black slacks.

I think the look is awful. She thought the shirt was nice and the look not that bad.

I have to disagree with her here. She has a rather refined taste and I found myself surprised by her support for this red shirt in question.

Am I wrong here?

Where do we stand on the colored shirt with a tweed suit for those non-formal, business casual situations?

Something like this?

Well, that looks kinda dorky with the mustard yellow, but some shade of brown (like heather) that would compliment the tweed. And he's not wearing the jacket.

Nope. It sounds as if your coworker is getting his fashion sense from a JC Penny's catalog.

I'll be the first to admit that dark crimson and black go great together (just check out my profile). But you should only wear a black tie if you are a) attending a formal-dress event, b) a waiter at said event, or c) part of the mafia. Not for a normal day at the office.

Go for it. Tweed is informal. Pick shirt and tie colors that will compliment the tones in the weave.