Tell me basics about buying men's dress shirts.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Okay, I'll admit it. Half the dress shirts I wear to work are hand-me-downs from my uncle. Most are just fine for my purposes, but I'd like to get a couple new, really sharp shirts, and spend as little money as possible. I'll probably get them at JC Penney, which has a wide selection and is much cheaper than Dillard's or Macy's. But tell me, stylish Dopers:

Is it better to go with a cotton-poly blend, or 100% cotton? I hate ironing and don't even own an iron, so wrinkle-free is always a big plus. However, I live in a hot, humid state, and tend to sweat.

Is it cooler to have no buttons on the collar, or are buttons okay? I tend to prefer the look of no buttons, but those shirts tend to be more expensive, and I'm not sure what is "cool" or "professional," given the choice.

Cufflinks? I've never owned a shirt that required cufflinks -- they always have button-cuffs.

My absolute favorite shirt I own was a gift: a silver-gray shirt that I believe is 100% cotton, but the material is kind of shiny, almost shimmering. I love it. I really want a black shirt with this shiny look, and even moreso, a dark blood/wine red shirt with sort of a black shine to it. How cool is this? I can see myself wearing shirts like that unbuttoned over black T-shirts even when I'm not at work wearing ties.

[JThunder]

Cufflinks are out. They haven't been fashionable in many years.

[kunilou]

Let me just hit a few random observations and let the debate begin.

Button collars vs. tab colars. Actually, the more important thing is the relationship between the collar and the tie: narrow tie = narrow collar. Once you work that out, there's not much difference between buttons and tabs. The old rule was that a tab collar shirt was actually dressier than a button down, but unless you're wearing a tuxedo, I don't think that much matters.

Cotton/poly or 100% cotton. Actually what you want is a shirt with thicker material. If you ever have to ask "can you see my nipples through this shirt" you should burn both your shirt and your nipples. In general, a shirt with more cotton than poly will feel better on you for a longer period of time. But either way, if you want to look sharp, buy an iron.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I always wear undershirts, whether they're white or colored. So nobody gets to see my nipples without paying!

[Neurotik]

Cufflinks are out. They haven't been fashionable in many years.
Actually, I was under the impression that cufflinks were making a comeback. Not that I own any, I find them uncomfortable.

Anyway, my honest advice is to get to a Men's Wearhouse or something and let them pick stuff for you. They've done a masterful job with my dress wardrobe and are very understanding of my finances.

[Cliffy]

Cufflinks are definitely in at my place of business, but you shouldn't worry about them -- I'd certainly never wear cufflinks to an interview, for instance.

--Cliffy

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I don't think I would opt for the cufflinks anyway. But just curious, why wouldn't you wear them to an interview? I know you're a lawyer, and I WAS a lawyer, but I'm done with it. I'm walking away from the profession, so I'd like to redefine my style a bit as well as my career path.

[plnnr]

I'd buy 100% cotton if at all possible. While they wrinkle a little more, they also wear longer and you'll save money in the long run. Plus, they hold starch and look sharper than poly/cotton blends.

Oxford cloth shirts and button-down collars are considered more casual than finished cotton and straight-collared shirts. You choice depends on how formal the situation. Same thing with french cuffs vs. button cuffs. French cuff shirts give a very finished look, but they may be over doing it depending on the situation.

One thing that's REALLY important in buying shirts is getting the correct size. Don't let your vanity get in the way of proper fit. If your shirt is too small in the neck you'll look like a sausage casing, you'll be uncomfortable, and the shirt won't wear as long. Suck it up and buy the shirt that fits. If possible, buy shirts that have exact sleeve lenghts (34" instead of 34/35, for instance). Shirts that are too long in the sleeve look just as bad as shirts that are too small in the neck. A good men's shop will be able to take your measurements without a problem.

Pay some more attention to color - silver, black, maroon, etc. aren't appropriate for business wear. They may be fine for entertaining or going out, but I'd stick to white, ecru, blue (light and royal), pink, and yellow for business dress.

Once you're working and can save up some money, buy some made to order shirts. There's nothing like pampering yourself to some really good clothing once in a while. The difference will definitely show.

[Mr. Jibby Jabbish]

I have no advice to give, but I think that plnnr is spot on. We have a book here in the office that goes into excruciating detail regarding business fashion, and most of it is perfectly in line with plnnr's advice. The only other morsel I can find is that short-sleeved shirts are never acceptable in any professional business, no matter the climate.

I wear short-sleeved shirts well into the fall, so you certainly don't want advice from me. I even wear Hawaiian shirts to important meetings. The thing is, I've given up entirely. Don't let the same thing happen to you.

[irishgirl]

Save up $100 and buy yourself ONE really nice shirt, from a proper tailor or men's outfitters.
Thomas Pink www.thomaspink.co.uk or Charles Tyrwhitt www.ctshirts.co.uk are good examples of the kind of stuff I mean.

While you are there, make the staff work to earn that money...get yourself properly measured and have them help you find "the perfect shirt" for you. Try on lots, buy one. It doesn't have to be ultra-formal, just something that makes you feel professional, confident and handsome when you wear it. If it's white, blue or pink you'll also get a lot of wear from it, as it will go with most things. If you're feeling very flush treat yourself to a nice tie, handkerchief and cufflinks to finish off the look, and which you can wear to add some zing to cheaper shirts.

Once you have your "perfect shirt" you'll know what you want, and what a great shirt looks and feels like...then you can look for the nearest approximation in your more usual price range.

In my experience men find it much harder to justify spending money on clothes, but honestly, if you spend $100 on a great quality shirt you wear once a week every year for 2 years you've cost yourself a dollar a week. Which is better value than $30 on a shirt you wear once a month for a year, or a $15 shirt you wear 3 times before it falls apart.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Sorry, that's never going to happen, even if I was ever rich.

[irishgirl]

Ah well... I can only try.
I'll just have to expound further on my theory to my husband, who left for work this morning wearing a Yoda t-shirt, jeans and a pair of Converse...but he works in IT development, and they think that's smart office wear.

[plnnr]

Ah well... I can only try.
I'll just have to expound further on my theory to my husband, who left for work this morning wearing a Yoda t-shirt, jeans and a pair of Converse...but he works in IT development, and they think that's smart office wear.

He doesn't have scotch tape holding his glasses together, does he?

[Ravenman]

Ditto on everything plnnr said. Very well said. The sleeve length thing can't be emphasized enough -- I've noticed even Macy's is now selling 34/35 shirts, so I've stopped buying mine there.

Plus, my advice: To look sharp, learn to use a bit of starch and iron it yourself. You can send shirts out to be laundered, but the press used at most dry cleaners is very harsh and will break buttons and wear out your shirts much faster. I assume that you're wearing a tie and jacket with your shirts. If you are not, skip the French cuffs. Also skip the spread collar, too, if you are skipping the tie and jacket. And the tab collars just look awful, period.

The number one best place I've found to buy dress shirts at good prices is the Joseph Banks outlet stores. In my area, I can usually get a good fitting, stylish shirt from them at prices between $20 and $35. Much, much better quality than you'll find at JC Pennys.

[plnnr]

Cufflinks are out. They haven't been fashionable in many years.

Nope. French-cuff shirts are "in" again. See today's "Washington Post" 'Style' section for a blurb about men's wear for this season.

[Mr. Jibby Jabbish]

Susan Bixler, author of Professional Presence, the book I mentioned earlier, says that French cuffs are not only in, but they're sharp and crisp and they're readily available in men's stores. Mind you, our copy of the book was updated in '92. French cuffs have probably gone in and out several times since then. Anyway, they'd look silly on my short-sleeved shirts.

[Cliffy]

I don't think I would opt for the cufflinks anyway. But just curious, why wouldn't you wear them to an interview?

You shouldn't wear anything overly stylized to an interview. Instead, you should just look well put together.

Oh, I'll second the Jos. Banks outlets -- my whole wardrobe is from there, and their stuff is nice, well made, and quite reasonable even at regular stores, while being positively cheap at the outlets.

--Cliffy

[D_Odds]

I, too, agree with plnnr. I'm an "all-cotton" guy. There are some all-cotton, wrinkle-free shirts. To me, wrinkle-free doesn't mean no-iron, it means less- and/or easier-iron. They're more expensive than regular shirts, usually by about $10.00. I find they wrinkle less over the course of a day and travel a little better.

Cotton breaths, so if going with a cotton/poly blend, get a high cotton mix. Your body will appreciate it in high humidity weather. T-shirts will extend the life of your shirt and don't add much to one's personal heat index (unless you are out of doors for extended periods).

Your wardrobe should always contain one white dress shirt. It goes with any color suit, and it can handle any color or pattern tie. Someone is eventually going to get married or die, and you'll need the suit / shirt / tie combo. Personally, I go with the weekly ratio of 3 white shirts (one textured) / 1-2 solid colored shirt / 0-1 pattern shirt. I keep about 3 weeks worth of shirts in my closet.

[plnnr]

One thing to remember when wearing a white shirt - If you don't feel your best (looking a little sallow, bags under the eyes, a little scruffy, etc.) the white shirt is going to amplify it.

[Doctor Who]

I hate ironing and don't even own an iron, so wrinkle-free is always a big plus. However, I live in a hot, humid state, and tend to sweat.

Is it cooler to have no buttons on the collar, or are buttons okay? I tend to prefer the look of no buttons, but those shirts tend to be more expensive, and I'm not sure what is "cool" or "professional," given the choice.
I am by no means an expert (reformed slob actually), so I would pay attention to the other posters advice. . . HOWEVER

. . . after buying a couple of Brooks Brothers non-iron shirts, I will NEVER go back. They are absolutely amazing and good looking. And since I don't iron under any circumstances, they are perfect for me. I don't want to just shill their product, because other companies make comparable non-iron stuff, but these are all I buy. I don't have any problems with sweating either.

Also re: buttons - I am a firm no button man. I think it looks much cooler. YMMV.

- Peter Wiggen

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

This is all great advice, and I appreciate everyone's input. I still desperately want dark red and black shirts, as much for casual wear as for my very relaxed workplace (which I'm only at for one more month). I'm thinking non-iron cotton, no-button collars are the way to go, although I'm pretty adamant about only spending $20-$25 per shirt.

[ana/kata]

Don't wear polyester, please.

Go to a Filene's Basement or a Century 21.

Google "jantzen tailor" and use them (MTM shirts way cheap, good quality).

Button-down collars are less formal and a bit dweeby looking.

Cufflinks have not been "in" nor "out," they have simply existed. French-cuffed shirts look nice, but they sound like they're probably not your thing.

Avoid JC Penney.

Avoid blousy dress shirts. Get something that actually fits you.

Wear the type of collar that best suits your face/physical features (info available on Janzten's website).

Tyrwhitt shirts fit like dresses.

The "shiny shirt" idea you have sounds like it might have a dated "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" look to it. If you're alright with that, go for it. Otherwise, stick to the classics.

[Mikemike2]

I suspect that you do not wear a tie with your shirt that often. In that case I think that button down collars look more "finished" than collars without buttons. Many collars are floppy if not closed and snugged up with a tie.

[Eonwe]

Could someone explain about collars?

I can think of two kinds, the sort that button to the front of the shirt and are basically an even height all around the neck. Then there are the sort that taper to a point in front, don't button, and are much longer in the front than the back. Are there names for these? And, is one more 'formal'? I've always felt that the button collars are less snazzy-looking and are appropriate for wearing at the office but not formal occasions. The other collar (non-buttoned) is much more versitile, but sits a bit higher on the 'formality' ladder.

[Ravenman]

Er... I don't quite get what you mean by "longer in the front than in the back."

Here (http://www.raresplendors.com/custom-dress-shirt-collars.htm) are the standard collars. I wouldn't wear a button-down collar to a wedding. Instead, I'd wear a point or spread collar, depending on the tie. Big tie knot = spread, normal/small knot = point.

[ana/kata]

Spread collars are a bit more "European" looking, as well, though they've recently come into a bit more favor stateside.

[TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW]

BBVL, I'm a man who likes to dress good. I'm also under 50 (exactly half that) which is something that I'm just not getting from most of the advice in this thread (no offense to you guys!). If you follow most of the advice in this thread, you're going to look like a stuffy, frumpy middle manager who hates going home to his thankless kids and that hedgehog of a wife.

Here's my advice.

1. Check out an H&M if they're near you - they're typically in malls. They specialize in cheap urban hipster clothing, but they have a "business" section as well for young urban semi-professionals. Hot stuff - you'll look straight out of GQ, but in a really effortless way rather than in a flashy way. The shirts are $39.99 each, but I think they have a permanent "buy two for $59.99" thing. You could do a hell of a lot worse than to just go there and pick up five or six of those. They're cut more fashionably and are available in fashionable colors and patterns - classic pinstripe and flat-white or blue, but more daring things like pale violet or pastel pink or green. They look and fit and twice as good as anything you'll find in your average department store.

Here's me (http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b181/TheJoo/IMG_0628.jpg) in an H&M black pinstriped shirt, looking a bit metrosexual but still twice as hot as your average office worker. ;)

2. Don't wear shirts that are too large. I see this mistake on probably 90% of guys that I see riding the El or walking around in the loop - shirts that "blouse" out, especially around the waist. A button-down dress shirt is not a t-shirt; it should not be baggy and droopy. It should be form-fitting but not tight, like this (http://www.liberty.edu/media/1216/Temp%20Dress%20shirt%20pic.jpg) . If it's bunching up and blousing out around your waist, you look like a clown, and it also makes shorter or stockier men look significantly fatter.

3. No button-down collars, ever, unless you want to look like the guy who comes around to service the copier or the guy in that movie Falling Down - those dinky little button-down collars are a one-way ticket to nerdville. Your collar should come to a nice point, not be rounded and dinky, and shouldn't button down. This looks totally hot with or without a tie.

4. Most "regular" clothing stores for the 18-39 demographic have expanded to featuring hip and stylish dresswear, mainly because there was this huge vacuum there and business casual has devolved enough (and rightfully so - it's probably the least flattering mode in existence) to allow stylishness and creativity. Check out places that cater to people that don't have salt-and-pepper hair. I recently disovered that Express for Men - a place mostly known for their overpriced jeans and pants - has a great line of dress shirts in great colors and patterns. They're too expensive, but I recently hit up a great sale there where they were selling the plain/flat color ones for $19.99 each, and I stocked up.

5. Though French Cuffs are ostensibly coming back, I think they make even the best-looking man look like a gay pirate. YMMV to the ninth power.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I actually like your advice, VC03, just like I like your musical recommendations. I'm 27 and don't want to dress like I'm 47! Luckily I'm leaving the traditionally stodgy and conservative field of law, so I won't have to worry about seemingly-arbitrary rules like "white and blue shirts only" or "no brown suits, ever" or "red ties = power." If I can afford it, I'd love to bring some sharp retro-hipster style to the workplace.

[Miss Violaceous]

I've gone with my dad to buy dress shirts many a time. He likes a cotton-poly blend, more cotton than poly, but he lives in Florida. He goes to that outlet people were talking about, plus the department stores, but he goes to the department stores when they are having sales and gets the higher-end shirts.

He bitches that nobody makes fitted dress shirts anymore. For a couple of years, that was the Great Hunt, to find the sale on the few fitted dress shirts still being made, but by now we've given up. Now the Great Hunt is for 60/40 cotton poly in nice colors.

If you are too... well, anyone who made it through law school without knowing how to buy dress shirts has to have turned out the kind of lawyer I'm going to be... too GRANOLA to go buy a ritzy shirt just to see what works on you, you could try going down to the thrift store and buying a bunch of different shirts, to try the different fabrics and sizes. You'd want to get measurements so you're still in the ballpark, but shirt sizes seem to be awfully specific.

[Kalhoun]

Actually, I was under the impression that cufflinks were making a comeback. Not that I own any, I find them uncomfortable.

Anyway, my honest advice is to get to a Men's Wearhouse or something and let them pick stuff for you. They've done a masterful job with my dress wardrobe and are very understanding of my finances.
I go to the Mens Wearhouse to buy shirts for my dad, but they have a very limited number of poly blend shirts. If you don't like ironing, don't go there!

My dad is one of those "always sweaty, always hot" guys. The shirts I buy him are fairly thin, and he's not overwhelmed by the heat of polyester. Actually, I found some nice ones for him at Sears. Around $20/ea. if you catch them on sale.

[slaphead]

F'rinstance, if you are going to a lot of corporate meetings, especially with clients, then the general rule would be blue or grey suit, white or blue shirt, your choice of collars and cuff types. VC03's shirt choice would be about as appropriate as a leather basque and gumboots.

High-powered lawyery or similar stuff would be even more conservative than the above. No button-downs, french cuffs, very restricive tie choices, shoot VC03 if he tries to come within 100 yards of the office door.

If you are working in a fairly relaxed business casual atmosphere, then VC03 would be giving you good advice. If you are working in somewhere like our back office (shorts & T-shirts allowed), then VC03 will make you a fashion god.

In general I would tend to agree with others that anything other than cotton is a bad idea, and also point out that while blue, white and maybe gray are boring, they are always appropriate in a business context, so you'll never be forced to leave them on the shelf and you'll be safe if you get dragged into an unexpected meeting. They are also easier to coordinate ties and stuff with if that is a concern.

While french cuffs look sharp in the appropriate context, they also tend to wear faster if you work at a keyboard a lot. Windsor (cutaway) collars look fugly without a tie IMO and not much better with one. The tyrwhitt shirts are very nice and often available at steep reductions (http://www.ctshirts.co.uk/product.aspx?DepGrpCode=CLE&DepCode=&ProCode=SPLPCH) - also, in the UK at least they will let you return any shirt that has not been worn/laundered, so you can order a few, try them on and send them back if they are not your thing or size. At $40 and a free trial you can't really go wrong but remember the size is key.

I think the material you are referring to might be one of the superfine cotton fabrics like 180 thread count. I have a blue shirt like that which I think is Sea Island cotton - very nice material but expensive.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

If you are too... well, anyone who made it through law school without knowing how to buy dress shirts has to have turned out the kind of lawyer I'm going to be... too GRANOLA to go buy a ritzy shirt just to see what works on you, you could try going down to the thrift store and buying a bunch of different shirts, to try the different fabrics and sizes. You'd want to get measurements so you're still in the ballpark, but shirt sizes seem to be awfully specific.

I've never been accused of being "granola" before... I assume that means hippie-like? If you knew me, you'd never say that about me. :) But I rarely had to dress up IN law school, I was smart enough to wear my more conservative stuff for interviews, half my shirts were hand-me-downs to begin with, and in my current workplace, I sit in front of a computer most of the day, never deal with clients or appear in court, and I'm the youngest person in the county and the only male in the entire circuit, so I get cut a lot of slack on my wardrobe. And woo hoo, in one more month, I'm turning my back on the entire profession and escaping!

[QuickSilver]

I'm a bit of a clothes horse so take that into consideration...

I buy my shirts almost exclusively here: banana republic shirts (http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/category.do?cid=5411)
The are a bit spendy but when they are on sale, they are quite reasonable (I think) and the quality is pretty high. I wear them regularly for work and machine wash after each wearing. They last and keep their fresh look.

For more conservative but still high quality shirts and a pretty good description on various collar styles and range of fabric (including non wrinkle blends) I suggest: Land's End (http://www.landsend.com/cd/index/fp/0,,311,00.html?sid=2229190838380114850)

An excellent selection for the more conservative dresser.

You can also go into a Department store like Hecht's or Macy's or some similar type of store and look in the men's department. They usually have a wide range of styles and prices. Try them on and buy what you like. Just remember, you get what you pay for and a $15 dollar shirt won't last as long or look as good as something in the $40 and above range. It's all got to do with thread count and fabric quality, etc...

[asterion]

I only shop two places for clothes. Men's Wearhouse for the fancy stuff and JC Penny for everything else. And I don't buy dress shirts at Men's Wearhouse anymore because I just can't justify spending $54 on a shirt. My other problem is that my current measurements don't make it easy to buy off-the-rack. I've got a big neck and broad shoulders but it's hard to get a shirt with the right neck size (generally a 20) without the rest of the shirt being too big. The chest especially, but the arms are often too long. This means that most of the time I have to get every shirt I buy altered, which isn't cheap. Heck, I've got to get my suit pants altered for the same reason--I bought the suit based on the jacket size, which is fairly large because of my shoulders, but the pants are scaled for the jacket, making the waist far too large.

That said, I do like the Men's Wearhouse, though I seem to quickly run up a tab without knowing it. Like the time I went in for an overcoat and walked out with my suit (including new shirt and tie) as well as the overcoat. You can get a bit of a discount though if you join their club and a little more if you get one of their credit cards. For example, if I were to go buy another dress shirt and the price was $40, I'd get a $4 discount (10%) with the club, bringing the price down to $36 and then another $1.80 discount (5%) if I used the credit card, making the price of the shirt $34.20. And I'd get 40 more points added to getting a $50 gift certificate ($500 spent=1 $50 gift certificate). So the savings can start adding up, especially seeing as how I'm not about to buy clothes on credit (especially with a 21% APR!) unless I have the cash to pay off the balance right away. In fact, I got myself a really nice jacket using a gift certificate, another coupon they sent me, the club card, and the credit card for about $20 out of pocket. (This was like an $90 jacket.)

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

I've found really great deals on dress clothes at Syms, if you have those nearby. I got two of my three suits and my badass gray trench coat at Syms, much cheaper than I would have at Men's Wearhouse. Sadly, I never find any decent shirts there.

[Dignan]

Jos. A. Bank has some really great shirts. The "Traveler's Collection" is 100% cotton and wrinkle-free. They're probably more than you're looking to spend, but I think they're well worth it. They look nice, and the time I save not having to iron (and embarassment I save by not wearing wrinkled shirts) is well worth it.

You should not wear cuff links or suspenders unless you either: 1.) work on Wall Street, or 2.) are extremely pretentious. If you are going to work in a more casual environment, then don't go anywhere near cuff links. I work in a business casual office, and those that wear ties and/or cuff links are thought to be trying to hard. Get a shirt or two that you like, then see what your co-workers are wearing, and judge by that what is acceptable in your workplace.

I agree with ana/kata on the shiny or monochrome look being leftover from "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" One of the anchors on SportsCenter was doing this as recently as a year or two ago, and I kept wondering if he just didn't realize the "look" had been over for a while now. Then again, it's important to be comfortable. Any recommendation you might take doesn't matter much if you aren't comfortable with what you're wearing.

[Hampshire]

Also try places like Ross, Marshall's, or TJ Maxx.
They have name brand shirts like Calvin Klein, Nautica, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfigger, Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne at $20-$25.
They're the same shirts you'll find at the department stores for $60+.
You just have to know your size and be willing to pick through them.

Or try K&G Fashions. There's one at 4308 East Colonial, Orlando.
All my shirts are Kenneth Cole 100% cotton and were all $25.

[TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW]

F'rinstance, if you are going to a lot of corporate meetings, especially with clients, then the general rule would be blue or grey suit, white or blue shirt, your choice of collars and cuff types. VC03's shirt choice would be about as appropriate as a leather basque and gumboots.

High-powered lawyery or similar stuff would be even more conservative than the above. No button-downs, french cuffs, very restricive tie choices, shoot VC03 if he tries to come within 100 yards of the office door.


Haha! I love it. I just wanted to say that my reccomendations are solely for a "business casual" office, not for corporate board meetings or lawyer jobs or anything stodgy and "old boy." I thought this was implicit. :)

[Atticus Finch]

Gotta say - watch the cut / size of your shirt. The shoulder seams should be on your shoulders, not hanging halfway down your arms. Don't go the "full cut" or "traditional cut" around the waist either, where it's one straight seam from armpits to waist. They're all baggy around the waist unless you're pretty chubby. Go what's called a "European cut" or "tapered cut" around the waist, where there's slightly less material and it doesn't hang out.

[asterion]

Hey, I like suspenders. They keep my pants up.

[cerberus]

I suppose that VCO3's advice is good ... if you are working as a pimp, or a male prostitute...And it's dressing well, not "good." If you can't parse your language correctly, your clothing is irrelevent, no matter how "good" you're dressing. The male fashion rags are not good sources for business/corporate fashion advice.

In a formal business/corporate environment, you are not dressing for yourself or your vacuous 20-something friends. You are dressing for your 30-50-something managers, partners, investors and clients. And even the younger clients want a serious image if they're paying for your professional or corporate services. Unless you are a sex worker, GQ fashion model or pimp. Or drug pusher or club manager.

If you're going corporate/business, go cotton. Period. Not poly-cotton, not shiny. If your mommy didn't teach you how to iron or press clothing, buy those wrinkle-resistant cotton shirts, or better yet, learn a new skill: ironing! You'll need to be able to press or iron stuff when you travel and mommy can't do it for you. Get an expensive iron with steaming capacity. Get a smaller version for travel purposes, if of course irons are not on the TSA no-fly object list. Working professionals in a dressed setting use dry cleaners, who will clean and press work clothing. Clean, pressed, starchy work clothes, at a price, but available reliably.

Get to a suit place, like Men's Wearhouse, where they will fit the suit to your build. If you work out and are fit, the typical shirts and suits won't fit well. You'll want a "European cut." Get the suit fitted, and clean the entire suit together each time.

If you're buying corporate shirts and the like, go "all in" and update your shoes and socks.

[slaphead]

I suppose that VCO3's advice is good ... if you are working as a pimp, or a male prostitute...
I say, that's a tad harsh isn't it? It's not my particular style, but plenty of people dress like this in my (blue-chip) company and no-one thinks anything much of it provided it's not around clients (although it's not likely to get you tagged as being a mustard-keen go-getter, there's no shame in that). Embracing diversity and so on :D

[QUOTE=cerberus]
In a formal business/corporate environment, you are not dressing for yourself or your vacuous 20-something friends. You are dressing for your 30-50-something managers, partners, investors and clients. And even the younger clients want a serious image if they're paying for your professional or corporate services. Unless you are a sex worker, GQ fashion model or pimp. Or drug pusher or club manager.
Certainly, but what if it's an informal environment, or your 40-something VP dresses in jeans, linen shirt and sports jacket at all times? Not all companies are the same - I've been told to ensure I'm not dressed too smartly for visits to certain companies (engineering types can be suspicious of people in flashy suits) - a perfect opportunity to get some more wear out of a slightly shabby suit I was about to discard :)

It's sometimes a challenge picking the right clothes for a given context, but generally I try to err on the side of caution, since it's easier to take off a jacket or tie or roll up shirtsleeves etc, rather than making hiking trousers hold a crease.

Having said that, I'm typing this wearing blue jeans, leather sneakers and a fleece top - there are good things about Friday apart from the pub lunch......

[plnnr]

Don't dress for the job you've got...dress for the job you want.

Lou seems to be moving out of the corporate arena and into something a littlle less formal, so he should dress accordingly. I still wouldn't go out and spend a bunch of money on maroon, black, and silver shirts with corresponding ties for a simple reason - those shirts are going to go out of fashion and then he's going to be stuck with the shirts and ties that he doesn't wear anymore. Better to stick to the classics for business wear and show some flash in the choice of neckware and accessories. That's the difference between fashion and style - fashion is variable and fleeting. A sense of style is not.

[Enright3]

JC Penney is a good place to get a good medium quality shirt for wearing every day. I've been buying JC Penney Stafford shirts for several years. They wear well, and they always look nice. They're actually having a sale right now too (http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/productlist.aspx?CatTyp=BRD&DeptID=469&Dep=Men%27s&PCatID=4400&PCat=Stafford&CatID=4443&ShopBy=4400&Cat=Shirts&cmAMS_T=T7D&cmAMS_C=C1). $20 per shirt isn't too bad, for a decent quality shirt!

I also have some all cotton shirts from Men's Wearhouse that I use for special occasions.

From the JC Penney web site (http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/featurestory.aspx?CatTyp=FEA&DeptID=469&CatID=10907&cmAMS_T=U3&cmAMS_C=C6)

point collar can be worn buttoned without a tie for a dress casual look. Versatile, wear with all suit types.

button-down: requires no collar stays, not worn with a double breasted suit. (at Men's wearhouse, I was told that button-down collars were primarily with or without a tie, but when you're NOT going to wear a jacket.

tab collar: neat look, focuses attention on the tie. wear with all suit styles.

spread collar: more formal than a button down, wear with all suit styles

[ana/kata]

I suppose that VCO3's advice is good ... if you are working as a pimp, or a male prostitute...And it's dressing well, not "good." If you can't parse your language correctly, your clothing is irrelevent, no matter how "good" you're dressing. The male fashion rags are not good sources for business/corporate fashion advice.

In a formal business/corporate environment, you are not dressing for yourself or your vacuous 20-something friends. You are dressing for your 30-50-something managers, partners, investors and clients. And even the younger clients want a serious image if they're paying for your professional or corporate services. Unless you are a sex worker, GQ fashion model or pimp. Or drug pusher or club manager.

If you're going corporate/business, go cotton. Period. Not poly-cotton, not shiny. If your mommy didn't teach you how to iron or press clothing, buy those wrinkle-resistant cotton shirts, or better yet, learn a new skill: ironing! You'll need to be able to press or iron stuff when you travel and mommy can't do it for you. Get an expensive iron with steaming capacity. Get a smaller version for travel purposes, if of course irons are not on the TSA no-fly object list. Working professionals in a dressed setting use dry cleaners, who will clean and press work clothing. Clean, pressed, starchy work clothes, at a price, but available reliably.

Get to a suit place, like Men's Wearhouse, where they will fit the suit to your build. If you work out and are fit, the typical shirts and suits won't fit well. You'll want a "European cut." Get the suit fitted, and clean the entire suit together each time.

If you're buying corporate shirts and the like, go "all in" and update your shoes and socks.

The tone of your post in combination with the recommendation for Men's Wearhouse is hilarious in a seemingly unintentional manner.

Get measured and buy things that are actually of decent quality on eBay if you're working within the "Men's Wearhouse" price range. If things are a bit off, have them altered. It's relatively cheap and if you got a good deal on an item to begin with, it's a very small price to pay to actually look good rather than looking like some guy who is required to wear business attire and can't wait to get home and put on some cargo pants or whatever.

[ana/kata]

I suppose that VCO3's advice is good ... if you are working as a pimp, or a male prostitute...And it's dressing well, not "good." If you can't parse your language correctly, your clothing is irrelevent, no matter how "good" you're dressing. The male fashion rags are not good sources for business/corporate fashion advice.

In a formal business/corporate environment, you are not dressing for yourself or your vacuous 20-something friends. You are dressing for your 30-50-something managers, partners, investors and clients. And even the younger clients want a serious image if they're paying for your professional or corporate services. Unless you are a sex worker, GQ fashion model or pimp. Or drug pusher or club manager.

If you're going corporate/business, go cotton. Period. Not poly-cotton, not shiny. If your mommy didn't teach you how to iron or press clothing, buy those wrinkle-resistant cotton shirts, or better yet, learn a new skill: ironing! You'll need to be able to press or iron stuff when you travel and mommy can't do it for you. Get an expensive iron with steaming capacity. Get a smaller version for travel purposes, if of course irons are not on the TSA no-fly object list. Working professionals in a dressed setting use dry cleaners, who will clean and press work clothing. Clean, pressed, starchy work clothes, at a price, but available reliably.

Get to a suit place, like Men's Wearhouse, where they will fit the suit to your build. If you work out and are fit, the typical shirts and suits won't fit well. You'll want a "European cut." Get the suit fitted, and clean the entire suit together each time.

If you're buying corporate shirts and the like, go "all in" and update your shoes and socks.

The tone of your post in combination with the recommendation for Men's Wearhouse is hilarious in a seemingly unintentional manner.

Get measured and buy things that are actually of decent quality on eBay if you're working within the "Men's Wearhouse" price range. If things are a bit off, have them altered. It's relatively cheap and if you got a good deal on an item to begin with, it's a very small price to pay to actually look good rather than looking like some guy who is required to wear business attire and can't wait to get home and put on some cargo pants or whatever.

[ana/kata]

I suppose that VCO3's advice is good ... if you are working as a pimp, or a male prostitute...And it's dressing well, not "good." If you can't parse your language correctly, your clothing is irrelevent, no matter how "good" you're dressing. The male fashion rags are not good sources for business/corporate fashion advice.

In a formal business/corporate environment, you are not dressing for yourself or your vacuous 20-something friends. You are dressing for your 30-50-something managers, partners, investors and clients. And even the younger clients want a serious image if they're paying for your professional or corporate services. Unless you are a sex worker, GQ fashion model or pimp. Or drug pusher or club manager.

If you're going corporate/business, go cotton. Period. Not poly-cotton, not shiny. If your mommy didn't teach you how to iron or press clothing, buy those wrinkle-resistant cotton shirts, or better yet, learn a new skill: ironing! You'll need to be able to press or iron stuff when you travel and mommy can't do it for you. Get an expensive iron with steaming capacity. Get a smaller version for travel purposes, if of course irons are not on the TSA no-fly object list. Working professionals in a dressed setting use dry cleaners, who will clean and press work clothing. Clean, pressed, starchy work clothes, at a price, but available reliably.

Get to a suit place, like Men's Wearhouse, where they will fit the suit to your build. If you work out and are fit, the typical shirts and suits won't fit well. You'll want a "European cut." Get the suit fitted, and clean the entire suit together each time.

If you're buying corporate shirts and the like, go "all in" and update your shoes and socks.

The tone of your post in combination with the recommendation for Men's Wearhouse is hilarious in a seemingly unintentional manner.

Get measured and buy things that are actually of decent quality on eBay if you're working within the "Men's Wearhouse" price range. If things are a bit off, have them altered. It's relatively cheap and if you got a good deal on an item to begin with, it's a very small price to pay to actually look good rather than looking like some guy who is required to wear business attire and can't wait to get home and put on some cargo pants or whatever.

[cerberus]

... Or pop proper money on fewer high-quality items. Quality counts, even in business-casual environments.