Business attire...

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

ALWAYS wear what a chick tells you.

You don't own a pink shirt do you?

[ken0042]

The one serious point I will make is to find yourself a good dry cleaner. Myself I typically find the mom & pop places with the cleaning on site the best. You aren't paying a surcharge to have it shipped somewhere else, and they tend to do a better job.

Rule of thumb- take one item in and see how the service is. I wear my suit maybe 3 times per year, and there's times where I've taken it in to get freshened up and I swear all they did was iron it. Other places have ruined suits on me.

[the-rasta-masta]

Supreme Men's Wear downtown...pricey but worth it...youre gonna be wearing this stuff every day.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

ALWAYS wear what a chick tells you.

As you gain more experience in life Grasshopper, you'll come to understand that it is you, not her, who has to wear this stuff on a daily basis . . . . . women are braver in picking their clothes which can be helpful to you on occasion but downright suicidal on many others.

You might end up looking like a neon sign sometimes if you follow a woman right over the cliff.

Enjoy their council, even savour it but reserve the right to say no.

Cowperson

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Claeren

Hey, if you are paying what Banana Republic and Zara now ask for their clothes you should follow my prior advice and at least get some quality for your money.

BR (etc) is BRUTALLY over charging you. You could get a hand tailored shirt, in high quality fabric, in a limited edition, from Montreal or Italy for roughly the same price as the over priced pieces of crap that BR sells that are pattern rip-offs from the better fabrics from the REAL stores from last year, manufactured (shirt and fabric) in the third world, on substandard fabric bases.

It was cool when they would charge like $65 for a shirt. But now that they often ask well over $100 for them it is just brutal.

I have been getting Klaus Boeler and Dagr shirts on sale for ~$100 a peice and they have double fabric/weight cuffs, convertable to french cuffs, solid collars, much nicer buttons, tailored to fit me, in cool custom fabrics. No comparison to mall clothes at all except in price.


Claeren.

Just so you guys know, The Pronto Uomo or something like that from Moores are the same people that make suits for BR minus markup and name.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You don't own a pink shirt do you?

Naw my chick friends like me

Originally Posted by Cowperson

As you gain more experience in life Grasshopper, you'll come to understand that it is you, not her, who has to wear this stuff on a daily basis . . . . . women are braver in picking their clothes which can be helpful to you on occasion but downright suicidal on many others.

You might end up looking like a neon sign sometimes if you follow a woman right over the cliff.

Enjoy their council, even savour it but reserve the right to say no.

Cowperson

This coming from the man who was getting hit on my the cutties in the office after his wife sent him off with a pink shirt :P

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

This coming from the man who was getting hit on my the cutties in the office after his wife sent him off with a pink shirt :P

Some day, some time, in some far off future, she's going to be there with you pointing at some obvious monstrousity, then frowning and crossing her arms at your evident displeasure because you're saying she has no taste and that's when you'll remember: "I should have pre-argued for my right to decline like Cowperson said because now I'm going to have to buy this piece of crap I'll never wear for hundreds of dollars just so I can get laid tonight."

Cowperson

[tvp2003]

LOL... I was asking about business attire, not "pink shirts that look lame but will get looks from chicks who think you're 'metro' and want to be your new shopping buddy" Not that there's anything wrong with that

[Winsor_Pilates]

I find most Calgarians don't dress up anyway, so you might not need to. The most common brand I see around downtown in Mountian Equipment Co-Op. That and free logo'd golf shirts that guys get from their work to match the free logo'd lap top bag they got the week before. That should do it for most Calgary office jobs.

Why the hate for short sleeve dress shirts? I wouldn't wear one with a tie, but other then that they're fine. I wear them sometimes, and I'm an extremely picky dresser who pays a lot of attention to fashion.

[jimmy11]

If you want another place to get awesome shirts is Landsend. They last longer than most shirts I have ever owned from Harry Rosen and they are way cheaper. Next time you need like 5-6 shirts, order some of those to make the shipping charges worth while.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by Igottago

The reason I mention these mall places is because they're easy and they also sell other, non dress clothes that I like, so I shop there more often anyways. As for the specialty menswear stores like you shop at, I always assumed they were way more expensive and out of my league.

They are a bit out of my league too, but if you are smart about what you buy full price and keep an eye out for the sales you are set.

Like Ed Williams had a sale and i got 3 REALLY nice tailored dress shirts (2xDagr/1xBoehler), 1 Ben Sherman golf/fashion shirt, and one silk/linen blend summer jacket/blazer all for $350. But that was on sale. They have four a year though and the best ones are last weekend and in the second week of January - that is when i buy 90% of my clothes.

Also remember that higher end clothes last MUCH longer, which makes them 'worth' more. I would not be surprised if they are not half the price if you look at it as 'price per times worn'.

My most expensive purchase to date is a pair of $250 VERY nice Omega golf/dress pants. They are only(?) sold at EW, but my point here is that they are indestructable, totally versitile, tailored to me, wrinkle proof, stain resistant and water proof, cool in summer and warm in winter, look great, etc. This pant will last me years and will still look great. I would have purchased 4 or 5 pairs of BR pants instead to give me the equilivant - which makes $250 more palletable.


And i am not saying just my favorite store and sales rep (Thomas) works. There are plenty of good menswear places in the city.



On another note, and totally the opposite as my mens wear store rant, is to try out Superstore!! Their new 'Joe' line is really good for the money. It is just cheap china stuff but they are basically selling it AS cheap china stuff, as opposed to say... BR, which sells cheap china stuff but displays it in nicer stores and charges a 600% mark-up and tries to pass it off as highend Montreal/Italy means wear.

Why pay $80 for a golf shirt at BR when you can get a nice one at SuperStore for $9-$20?


Claeren.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I should have pre-argued for my right to decline like Cowperson said because now I'm going to have to buy this piece of crap I'll never wear for hundreds of dollars just so I can get laid tonight.

I promise you, the next time I'm at the mall looking for clothes I'm going to utter this quote aloud. I'm still laughing, whomever I'm with won't get it, but I'll be sure to post it here when it happens.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Claeren

On another note, and totally the opposite as my mens wear store rant, is to try out Superstore!! Their new 'Joe' line is really good for the money. It is just cheap china stuff but they are basically selling it AS cheap china stuff, as opposed to say... BR, which sells cheap china stuff but displays it in nicer stores and charges a 600% mark-up and tries to pass it off as highend Montreal/Italy means wear.

Why pay $80 for a golf shirt at BR when you can get a nice one at SuperStore for $9-$20?

Because BR stuff is much better quality. I have a BR t-shirt that's over 15 years old and it looks pretty much the same as when I bought it. And it was worn quite often the first few years I had it.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

As you gain more experience in life Grasshopper, you'll come to understand that it is you, not her, who has to wear this stuff on a daily basis . . . . . women are braver in picking their clothes which can be helpful to you on occasion but downright suicidal on many others.

You might end up looking like a neon sign sometimes if you follow a woman right over the cliff.

Enjoy their council, even savour it but reserve the right to say no.

Cowperson

+1 LOL good advice

The best course of action is to find a salesperson at a store that you like who will become "your guy". Ask around at work (or this site) for some names.

Downtown Calgary law firms are generally pretty conservative, except for Fridays when you're not meeting clients and of course Stampede.

Navy, grey and black suits will largely be the norm. Careful of dressing too "fashion forward" or you will certainly be the subject of derision from senior associates/partners.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Because BR stuff is much better quality. I have a BR t-shirt that's over 15 years old and it looks pretty much the same as when I bought it. And it was worn quite often the first few years I had it.

Well it is made in the same place, in the same way, by the same people with (sadly) little discernable difference in fabric or thread... so i guess that is an endorsment of Superstore clothes as much as it is BR clothes.

And if your shirt is actually 'over 15 years old' (which i doubt - pre-1991? The FIRST BR opened in Canada in 1995, the first GAP(!) store opened in 1989.) it was before everything went to China anyways. It was likely made in North America then...

Also, you may want to actually look at 'Joe' clothing at Superstore before saying BR is so much better. It is better, but not 6x better. Look at: www.joe.ca

Also, the story behind it:
"Meet Joe, as in Joseph Mimran, the man synonymous with Canadian fashion. He is, after all, the dynamic force behind three of Canada's greatest Canadian retail success stories - Alfred Sung, Club Monaco and Caban."


Claeren.

[HOOT]

You go to Moores or one of those places....find the hottest sales girl there and ask her....

[JD]

Originally Posted by HOOT

You go to Moores or one of those places....find the hottest sales girl there and ask her....

Yeah, but then you won't look that good or feel successful and thus won't be successful. Of course, if you're going to Moore's, you're probably over 50 anyway.

Man, we've got some fashion snobs in here!

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Claeren

Also, the story behind it:
"Meet Joe, as in Joseph Mimran, the man synonymous with Canadian fashion. He is, after all, the dynamic force behind three of Canada's greatest Canadian retail success stories - Alfred Sung, Club Monaco and Caban."


Claeren.

now I'm confused...alfred Sung is a real person, isn't he? that blurb seems to imply Joe and Saul Mimran started Alfred Sung. what's real here?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Claeren

And if your shirt is actually 'over 15 years old' (which i doubt - pre-1991? The FIRST BR opened in Canada in 1995, the first GAP(!) store opened in 1989.)

Just because you're Canadian doesn't mean you can't leave Canada. Especially for things like vacations. I bought the shirt in Florida.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Just because you're Canadian doesn't mean you can't leave Canada. Especially for things like vacations. I bought the shirt in Florida.

Well at that point in time Banada Republic was as much a travel clothes store (its roots - get it? Like going to a 'banana republic'.) as it was a supposedly 'upscale' clothing store. Not surprising that they would have durable clothing i guess...

Regardless, a lot has changed in the last 15+ years. Banada Republic, like virutally every mass clother, has raised their prices AND lowered their quality. Call it the Walmart effect, call it globalization, but whatever you call it you are getting ripped off...


Claeren.