Style police: Teach us!

[DionTheDman]

Every time I've had to dress nicely since WFH started, it's been on camera. So button up shirt, tie and jacket if necessary, and either sweat pants, shorts, or nothing on the bottom.

[peter12]

Two suits came in. One in the olive corduroy and the other in an RAF blue flannel. I love them. Guess I’m going to be spending a lot more money.

[Northendzone]

so i am curious about the slim fitting suit look (personally i would never wear one due to my age and my build), but i see guys in them and they just don't look that comfortable to me.

are they comfortable? like a pair of spandex shorts, or what?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

so i am curious about the slim fitting suit look (personally i would never wear one due to my age and my build), but i see guys in them and they just don't look that comfortable to me.

are they comfortable? like a pair of spandex shorts, or what?

I’m not into look and my chest and shoulders are too big to pull off anyway.

Usually, most men wearing that look are just wearing a poorly fitted suit with all kinds of fit problems - the most common being collar gap or the lapel buckling outwards.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Tell me about Brown Shoes.

I was recently gifted a really nice pair of brown dress shoes (couldn't tell you the style or make).

I've always just worn black.

I know match the belt with the shoes (easy enough). However, in terms of suit, brown shoes work with a blue suit? Grey? Black?

What do I do or not do in order to not look like a goof... more of a goof?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Blue - yes. Grey - usually, depending on the tone of the shoes and suit but 90% of the time sure. Black - no, the only circumstances in which a black suit is appropriate also entail black shoes.

[peter12]

Brown shoes, but preferably dark brown. Tan shoes, while having a moment, look tacky and draw attention to someone's feet. Not ideal.

And to Corsi, the only time a black suit is appropriate is at night.

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Tell me about Brown Shoes.

I was recently gifted a really nice pair of brown dress shoes (couldn't tell you the style or make).

I've always just worn black.

I know match the belt with the shoes (easy enough). However, in terms of suit, brown shoes work with a blue suit? Grey? Black?

What do I do or not do in order to not look like a goof... more of a goof?

I only own brown shoes, of different shades. Black shoes, while contrary to popular opinion, don't go with everything.

Brown shoes can be worn with almost any colour, other than black. It is dependent on the shade of brown I guess. The darker the shoes, the more versatile.

Navy and blue look awesome with almost any shade of brown shoes.
Grey also looks great. The Brits will tell you that light grey suits should only be worn with black shoes, but I disagree.
Green/olive work well with dark brown - though a more reddish brown can make you look like a Christmas Tree.
Tan and dark brown is great.
Depending on the style of shoe, jeans and brown shoes look great.

[SilverKast]

You can absolutely wear brown shoes with black. I do it quite often, although I do make an exception if it's a nice suit where I tend to stay with black shoes. Here are some easy examples:

https://www.dmarge.com/how-to-wear-b...oes-with-black

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

You can absolutely wear brown shoes with black. I do it quite often, although I do make an exception if it's a nice suit where I tend to stay with black shoes. Here are some easy examples:

https://www.dmarge.com/how-to-wear-b...oes-with-black

Are those examples supposed to look good?

Kidding aside, I guess it depends on the style of shoes and pants. Black jeans and brown boots... maybe, I guess since black jeans are typically just really dark gray after being washed a few times.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

You can absolutely wear brown shoes with black. I do it quite often, although I do make an exception if it's a nice suit where I tend to stay with black shoes. Here are some easy examples:

https://www.dmarge.com/how-to-wear-b...oes-with-black

So you wear brown shoes with a crappy black suit, but not a nice black suit? Why would you wear a terrible black suit if you have a nice black suit in your closet? Why would brown shoes go well with one suit, but not the other, if they are the same colour, but are different quality/fit?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Why would you even have a black suit at all unless you attend a lot of funerals, weddings (even there there's no particular reason why you'd need to wear black), or formal parties in the evening?

Just don't buy a black suit, period. The instances where there's any reason to wear one are very few and far between, and as a result there's no reason to actually have one taking up space in your closet. A solid navy or charcoal 2 button will work in any situation where a black suit will and also in every other situation where a conservative suit is appropriate.

[blankall]

Lol. I don't think a black suit is that unversatile. You can style them to make them look less formal. Also depends on the cut. There's also varying shades of black.

Also dark brown shoes can absolutely be worn with a black suit.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by blankall

Lol. I don't think a black suit is that unversatile. You can style them to make them look less formal. Also depends on the cut. There's also varying shades of black.

Also dark brown shoes can absolutely be worn with a black suit.

All of this is incorrect.

[peter12]

Black suits are bad unless it is a tuxedo and it is a formal event at night. I gotta say this is pretty basic menswear blog knowledge circa 2009.

I actually just own one navy suit and the rest of my suits are just suits that make me happy.

[PepsiFree]

I think the Oscars have really done a number on the black suit mindset. People wear them to non-formal events and think they look like a celebrity when they just end up looking goofy and weird.

[Fuzz]

You people have too many "rules". Have some fun, live a little! Show your creativity and wear black!

[_Q_]

Black is such an obnoxious colour with clothes.

People who don't know, think it "goes" with everything.

People know, know that it goes with virtually nothing.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by peter12

Black suits are bad unless it is a tuxedo and it is a formal event at night.

I actually think if you're the sort of person who could justify owning a tux because you go to enough stuff that calls for formal attire, you might be better off buying a black suit instead. I can see the argument for that. But that applies to almost no one.

I actually just own one navy suit and the rest of my suits are just suits that make me happy.

I have actually moved away from suits a lot for work and nearly always wear sport jackets with wool pants. Even for a lawyer in large a corporate firm there are very few workplace situations where you absolutely have to be wearing a suit, I find.

Originally Posted by _Q_

Black is such an obnoxious colour with clothes.

People who don't know, think it "goes" with everything.

People know, know that it goes with virtually nothing.

Well we were specifically talking suits. If we're now talking about clothing in general, streetwear stuff, I definitely disagree agree with this. Black works just fine in plenty of contexts casually.

[peter12]

Black knits look great.