Men's Fashion: The Wardrobe (2)
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A Well-Balanced Wardrobe:
It's important to look at your wardrobe as a kind of tool kit. Just as you need specific tools for
specific jobs, you need specific kinds of clothing for specific settings. And you can build your wardrobe slowly if you need to do so.
By making a list of what should be in your wardrobe and keeping track of what you need, you can fill out the list as you are able. Here
are some suggestions:
Suits:
Every man needs at least one suit. Make it a dark suit - black is preferable, though navy is a second
choice. With a black suit you'll be ready for semi-formal occasions (fancy weddings, holiday parties, dining in nice restaurants), somber
occasions (funerals and important business meetings), and any other occasion where you want to make the best possible impression. If you
can afford it, get two suits and make sure one is black and the other is navy.
Avoid buying suits in "colors", as these tend to go in and out of fashion rapidly, unless you have the
budget to own several suits and can replace the trendy colors when they go out of style. Stick to neutral colors: black, navy, grey, and
possibly brown. These offer the most versatility, and can carry you through virtually any situation.
Also, if you buy a suit "off the rack" in a department store or menswear shop, look into having the
suit tailored to ensure a proper fit. And keep things simple: go with a single-breasted suit-coat design. Double-breasted suits are
unnecessary for a slim physique, and only make a large physique look larger.
Finally, remember that the whole idea behind a suit is that the parts of the suit are to be worn
together. If you treat them as mix-and-match separates, you'll end up having to have one part cleaned more often than the other and soon
they won't match any longer. If that happens, what's the point of having a suit?
Sport Coats:
The sport coat is another essential for the wardrobe because it offers you the ability to dress-up a
casual look. You can choose from corduroys, tweeds and wool blend fabrics, and will want to focus on neutral colors that will be versatile.
In the case of sport coats, you want to avoid black, and go for navy, grey, tan or brown. It is recommended to have at least two sport
coats in different colors and fabrics to maximize their versatility, although you can add more as your budget allows.
The sport coat can be worn with slacks, casual trousers or jeans, and will dress-up the look of each.
They can also be worn with all but the dressiest of shirt styles. Oxford-cloth shirts with button collars, polo-style shirts, and even
t-shirts can look good when paired with a sport coat and jeans or khakis. This is a great idea for those guys who really prefer a casual
style, but need to dress-up their look.
Pants:
In discussing pants we're going to consider them to be separate from jeans, although some people would
argue against doing so. Every man needs at least two pairs of dress pants and two pairs of casual pants. Dress pants (also called slacks)
are typically of a blended fabric, and should be either black or navy. They are an important addition to the wardrobe for wear at business
meetings, interviews, fancy dates and 'dressy casual' functions. When paired with a shirt and tie, dress pants offer a clean, professional
look.
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