# More dating tips for the sartorially clueless **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 23, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896 "2006-08-23T16:16:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/41 "2006-08-23T19:50:36Z")
Seriously, if jeans or khakis are out, I can only think of a few other options, none ofwhich seem really practical. 1. Formal suits. 2. Shorts. Then again, you might get criticized for showing off your hairy legs. Also very impractical in places like Minneapolis and Toronto during much of the year. 3. Cargo pants. On a similar list I saw last year, I read that they’re a no-go; they’ve been out since 2003. So what’s left? ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/42 "2006-08-23T19:50:53Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] I thought chaps were, by definition, ass-less. If not, could someone direct me to photos of assed chaps?? [/QUOTE] You are correct. But specifying “ass-less” enhances the mental image, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/43 "2006-08-23T19:51:18Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] What? How? Other than “this person has bought a pair of jeans” what other idea do they give? How do you do them right? [/QUOTE] A pair of jeans, depending on their: - brand (Phat Farm? Wrangler?) - cut (Baggy? Snug?) - condition (Faded? Dark blue? Soft and holey? Crisp?) …can tell you a lot about someone at a glance. The kind of music they like is one thing that comes to mind, unless they’re over 40. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/44 "2006-08-23T20:05:56Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] What? How? Other than “this person has bought a pair of jeans” what other idea do they give? How do you do them right? I also don’t think I’ve ever noticed a man’s shoes. (Except dance shoes. Dance shoes, I notice. But you shouldn’t wear those outside, it’s bad for the soles. And occasionally biking shoes.) [/QUOTE] Well, there are sloppy-fitting “I don’t give a shit how I look” jeans (like my husband’s) and there are oversized baggy jeans (like my son’s) which to me, scream “hip hop music”. There are jeans that fit well and show off a nice butt, which says to me “I want you to notice my butt”. There are well-worn jeans (the kind you can tell usually have a chained wallet in them). I think jeans say a helluva lot more than “I just got off work where they make me wear khaki.” ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/45 "2006-08-23T20:12:13Z")
When I go on a date, I’ll wear what I usually wear, skewing towards the nicer side. Since I usually wear a t-shirt, jeans, and boots, I’ll wear a solid color t-shirt, clean jeans, and boots. That’s who I am. If she doesn’t like who I am, then I don’t want a second date. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/46 "2006-08-23T20:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] men should not wear open-toed shoes away from the beach. Ever. [/QUOTE] Hmm, on the one thing we have dating and sex. On the other, sandals. Hot sex… Sandals… Hot sex… Sandals… Good luck with that dating thing, hope it works out for you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/47 "2006-08-23T20:33:36Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] When I go on a date, I’ll wear what I usually wear, skewing towards the nicer side. Since I usually wear a t-shirt, jeans, and boots, I’ll wear a solid color t-shirt, clean jeans, and boots. That’s who I am. If she doesn’t like who I am, then I don’t want a second date. [/QUOTE] _applaudes_ ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/48 "2006-08-23T20:40:11Z")
[QUOTE=The Weird One] Black leather pants, of course! 😃 [/QUOTE] While there is a certain sector of of men and women in their thirties and forties who look great in black leather pants, I am not one of them. Also, I am not a woman. 🙂 I _am_ over forty, though, so I may claim Old Fogey status and just wear whatever the hell I want. If you’re confident and relaxed, I suspect that makes up for a lot of these alleged ‘sartorial sins’. Side note: I was at a party on Saturday night. I wore olive-green Dockers from my work wardrobe (why, yes, I _am_ an office worker, thanks), black socks (and black shoes, left at the door when I arrived, of course)… plus my multicoloured manga-drawing print shirt. The shirt was mostly orange and black, but had enough olive-green in it to key with the pants. It worked, as far as I can tell. I met this interesting woman, and I think the interest may have been mutual (damn if that isn’t unusual in my life!). If only she hadn’t been leaving for a retreat in BC on Sunday… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/49 "2006-08-23T20:47:33Z")
So my kilt is a safe bet? ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/50 "2006-08-23T20:56:02Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] So my kilt is a safe bet? [/QUOTE] as long as you’ve got the legs for it ! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/51 "2006-08-23T20:56:21Z")
No. It just screams Scottish-casual. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/52 "2006-08-23T20:57:36Z")
This is seriously one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. Who are these picky, bitchy women? Why does anyone want to date them anyway? My sweetie wears khakis and striped (or checked) shirts on virtually every date we’ve been on. When I see a guy dressed like that I think, “Good. He must have a decent job.” This list is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/53 "2006-08-23T21:00:34Z")
[QUOTE=miss elizabeth] This is seriously one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. Who are these picky, bitchy women? [/QUOTE] They may not even be picky or bitchy. Maybe they just know what they like. Unfortunately, they think that every other woman in the worlds likes the same things. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/54 "2006-08-23T21:00:58Z")
Of course you have to actually get a date before you can dress for one. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/55 "2006-08-23T21:07:48Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] I thought chaps were, by definition, ass-less. If not, could someone direct me to photos of assed chaps?? [/QUOTE] I’m sure I could find you a photo of a chapped ass, but I’m at work right now. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/56 "2006-08-23T21:12:12Z")
[QUOTE=633squadron] You should know, though, that I insist on wearing a tie to a nice restaurant, even though around here (Silicon Valley) people sometimes show up in _shorts_. [/QUOTE] Ah, so that was YOU the other night! Sorry for staring. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/57 "2006-08-23T21:25:18Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] No. It just screams Scottish-casual. [/QUOTE] Another word for that would be ‘naked’. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/58 "2006-08-23T22:00:48Z")
[QUOTE=Surly Chick] Personally, I like khakis. But then again, I’m easy. [/QUOTE] How _you_ doin? 😉 I wear Khaki’s. A _lot_. However, I do have some very nice and expensive sportscoats to wear over 'em, just in case. I have like 8 pair of Khakis, and two pair grey slacks. No jeans, but a few cargo pants (which I’d never wear on a date). I wear expensive but casual shoes- Clarkes, Mephistos, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/59 "2006-08-23T22:04:53Z")
How about [Guayabera shirts](http://www.theguayaberashirtcompany.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=34&osCsid=6836c8e0e47b15aae34f5b5c53a05a08) (assuming not the kind embroidered with martinis or dice)? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896/60 "2006-08-23T22:10:46Z")
[QUOTE=badbadrubberpiggy] I mean, it’s not like he showed up in a sweater with bunnies on it, or anything. 😃 [/QUOTE] And yet the article tells guys to wear sox with hearts or diamonds on them. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-dating-tips-for-the-sartorially-clueless/369896.md?page=4)