[Deluge]

I've noticed I've been spending a lot of time on RVF, in the chat and in private conversations with members giving style advice lately rehashing the same points over and over, so I figured it's time to drop a definitive style datasheet for guys who want to start dressing well. I promised a few of you a couple months back that I'd make this, apologies for wait.

What this datasheet will cover:
1. The three key elements of all stylish men's wardrobe's
2. A run down of items that all men should own
3. Fit, and how to assess whether an item actually fits you well
4. General style tips
5. Free men's style resources for you to continue your style education

What this datasheet will NOT cover:
1. Suits, which are not my area of expertise, I only own one and at my age only get to wear it a few times a year. This datasheet will only cover what is broadly called men's street wear. If you want suit help you'll have to consult one of the resources I'll talk about at the end of the sheet.
2. Shirts t-shirts (in detail). Items like this come down to individual variance too much. I could post dozens of pictures and shirts and tee's I own and like, but what I wear is going to be very different to what you'll wear simply because of our different ages, sub-cultures, personal preferences and the types of places we live in. Leaving explicit discussions of what shirts and tees to buy out of this datasheet isn't a big deal though, I'll explain why soon.
3. Higher-end items (over $200) and selvedge denim. While I wouldn't mind talking all day about how much I love $300 Allen Edmond Neumok's, it is neither appropriate for me to give advice on them nor appropriate to be discussed in a beginner's guide to style. If you want specialist advice on these topics, checkout some of the resources I've linked at the end.

It's worth noting that I'm a young guy but living in a major city that consider's itself to be a cultural capital. The older you are and the larger and more fashionable where you live is, the more formally you can dress. I would not walk around as a college age dude in Zanesville, Ohio or Bumfuck, Alabama wearing khaki chino's and brogue shoes and neither should you.

It's also worth noting that even in the city I live, the vast majority of guys aren't dressing well in my opinion. Unless you live somewhere like Paris, Milan or Tokyo, you don't need to be a style expert or spend stacks of cash on clothes to blow your competition out of the water.



The three key elements of all stylish men's wardrobes are: Good pants, good shoes and good fits. Once you have these three principles on lock, all you need is to develop a good eye/taste for what's appropriate to wear top wise and everything will fall into place. Once you have the three key elements down and have spent time observing other people's style and being aware of your own style, you will learn how to spot and avoid ugly and/or inappropriate tops and learn how to choose what's right for your own look. You won't need to memorize a fuck ton of rules about what kind of types aren't okay to wear and what exceptions they're are too those rules. You will develop a discerning eye soon enough, and that + basic social awareness is all you need. As a rule though, avoid any tops that give the trashy vibe, like say Ed Hardy.

Pants
There are four things to consider when buying a pair of pants or jeans. The fit, the cut, the colour and the quality of the material.

Cut and fit:
You want a pair of pants to be fit and streamlined as possible in proportion to the shape of your legs. The cut of your pants depends on how skinny and/or hipster you are. From the most to least, skinny, slim, slim-straight and straight leg cut pants/jeans are your options. Notice I left out skin tight jeans. Despite living in a hipster mecca, I have never once seen skin tight jeans being sold while out shopping. This tells me that the mega hipster dudes I see rocking such jeans from time to time are actually wearing women's jeans, suffice to say you should not be wearing them unless you're Russel Brand or in a popular indie rock band. For the love of god, please don't mix up skin tight and skinny jeans on the forum, or I will verbally rape you. Clueless guys often can't tell which cut is which. The easiest way to figure it out is to Google the name of the jean. Levi 511's for example, are slim jeans. The names of the cuts are technical terms, it's important to be very precise about what cut you're talking about when discussing jeans.

No matter cut your choose, you need to enough space around your thighs and seat (your booty) to be comfortable. Avoid pleated plants and pants that flare out at your legs. The rise of your pants (the length between the crotch seam and the top of the waistband) should be low to medium. Generally, short guys are better off with lower rises (at the hips), and tall guys with higher rises (up to right below the waist) in order to create a balanced, proportional look.


6'4 Michael Phelps looking like a fucking chode with low rise pants worn at the hips despite his height

The bottom of your pants should touch the top of your shoes. The length of your pants should have a half-no break at your shoes, i.e there should not be a puddle of material pooling around your shoes. A shorter hem allows your pants to drape cleanly, which creates a more streamlined silhouette, while also giving the appearance of elongated height. As such tailor your pants to hit the top of your shoes rather than tailoring them to the heel.



Colour and quality:
The standard colour for jeans is blue which is fine. The reason everyone wears blue jeans so much is because blue is most versatile colour by far when it comes to matching with shoes. Except for wearing black shoes with a blue suit, you can pretty much wear any colour of shoe with blue jeans/pants. However, you should only ever wear dark blue jeans. Every man should own a pair of well-fitting, decent quality slim dark blue jeans, they are the number one staple in a man's wardrobe. Wearing light or even medium blue jeans will get you pegged as lame. Jeans should not come pre-distressed which looks tacky, but rather should fade and be naturally distressed by your wear. After dark blue jeans, I'd also get black jeans, khaki chinos and maybe burgundy pants to handle all your street wear needs. In terms of quality, Levi's are a great entry point for beginners in terms of jeans. Pants are items you'll be wearing all the time so it's worth it to spend more for them. If you want to checkout high quality but expensive selvedge denim, brands like A.P.C are Naked and Famous are worth checking out.

The following are examples of the jeans and pants that I own and wear almost every day.


Levi 511's in Muse. Blue jeans should be no lighter then this. Something like this colour (Rigid Dragon) is also good


It's hard to go wrong with black jeans. While dark blue is more versatile, I personally think black looks more aesthetic. Note the desert boots


Khaki chino's are great for summer days and classier or preppy ensembles


Want more? Burgundy is your best bet to add more colour and variety to your wardrobe. Note the brogue shoes

[Deluge]

Shoes
My favourite style topic, I could talk about men's shoes all day. There's plenty more types of shoes where these came from, but I'm only going to talk about stuff I actually own and wear myself. My collection covers all different kinds of men, weather and levels of formality. Shoes are the most important single item in an outfit, as they set the tone for entire and can make it or break it. Shoes are the first things girls notice in a guys outfit, and serve as a window into his character and level of fashion sense. Pairing jeans and a t-shirt with Converse or Vans sneakers would make me look like every other schmuck, but throwing on a pair of any of the shoes discussed below instead instantly makes it seem like I know what I'm doing with my style. If I was new to dressing well, good shoes would be the first thing I'd spend my money on.

Desert Boots:
Also known as Chukka Boots (although technically desert boots are but a form of chukka boots), desert boots are the no. 1 pair of shoes must guys should own and a perfect replacement and upgrade for your pair of sneakers. They're a great way to dress up an outfit, and can be form with anything from jeans and a t-shirt up to anything that doesn't involve a suit, making them extremely versatile. Not only that, but they look good and girls love them. Desert boots have their origins in the boots worn by the British army in the Middle Eastern desert campaigns of World War 2. Desert boots traditionally come with suede uppers but leather uppers are also popular. The classic Desert Boots brand is Clarks, who make high quality, quintessential desert boots true to their World War 2 era design for US$120, which is quite reasonable for entry level dressier shoes. While I personally don't rock this look, one interesting feature of Clarks brand desert boots is that their design fits snugly around the ankle, allowing you to pull-off wearing them without (visible) socks to show off some skin with rolled up jeans and still have it look good. Desert boots are traditionally worn in the Fall and Spring as rain causes water damage to suede. If you want to wear desert boots in the rain get a leather pair instead. You can't go wrong with buying a pair in any shade of brown, beige or grey. My personal pair look like this and this.

A few examples of sexy desert boots, all of which happen to be Clarks. Examples of non-Clarks boots are linked above and shown in the black jeans pic.




Boat Shoes:
Originating in New England's preppy summer scene, boat shoes are best way to look good whole rocking a casual summer style, and are an essential part of every man's summer wardrobe. Boat shoes are meant to be worn sockless with either shorts or (perhaps rolled up) slim pants. Boat shoes come in leather and canvas, although I would strongly advise you to stick to leather. The Sperry Top-Sider is the flagship boat shoe brand, and you can get a good pair for US$85. They are traditionally are worn in navy or brown, but feel free to indulge in whatever colourful look you desire except perhaps all black, which is too dark for such a summery shoe.

Examples of Sperry Top-Sider Boat shoes, I have the one in brown, but I'd swap it for the navy if I could




Doc Martens
Dr. Martens are an iconic British boot and shoe brand with strong associations with the working class, punk rock and the skinhead movement. They are a distinctly masculine brand, which is why their popularity with young women in recent years is a bad women for the state of femininity in the West... Nonetheless though, they're a great way to add some alternative/grungey vibes to an outfit. Part of the reasons for Doc's popularity is that they're extremely comfortable to wear. Mine are hands down the most comfy pair of shoes I own, with them on it literally feels like I'm walking on air and I could walk around in them all day. For shorter guys their tall soles also offer quite a height increase (well over an inch). The two most popular types of Docs are the classic 1460 8-eye boots which are no doubt the bestselling pair of boots in the world (US$120) and the 1461 Derby shoe (US$100). They are most commonly sold in black or cherry red, which are the colours I recommend. They come in a lot of other colours as well but I've only ever seen girls wear them so I'd stay away. Docs are best paired with black jeans. If you're into showing off cool socks the 1461's are perfect for that.

Examples of Doc Martens. I have the 1461's at the bottom in black

[Deluge]

Wingtipped Brogues
According to Wikipedia, a Brogue shoe is "a style of low-heeled shoe or boot traditionally characterised by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (or "broguing") and serration along the pieces' visible edges". Broguing originates in Ireland, and technically any shoe with even minimal decorations like this is considered a brogue shoe. The type of Brogues I'm talking about however, are more accurately called wingtips, although it can be assumed that any mention of a "brogue shoe" outside of the context of suits is a wingtipped or "full" brogue. A pair of full brogue shoes or boots belong in the wardrobe of every man whose gotten past high school, and can be worn with anything above just a t-shirt up to and including a full suit ensemble. Despite all the fancy decorations, full brogues are the most casual dress shoe there is, which will seem counter-intuitive to style unaware men. This is because the more decorations a dress shoe has, the less formal it is. As such, I don't think it's a good idea to wear full brogue shoes to a business meeting or a funeral, because full brogue's are fun and playful. Brogue shoes are a perfect way to round out a casual street wear outfit with a dressy touch. My pair of brogue's are my favourite pair of shoes, and I wear them more than any other shoe when I'm on campus, on a date or any social occasion in general really. Girls fucking love brogues, stylish girls wear them all the time, particularly ones whose patterning into the shoe is more shallow and subtle which makes for a more feminine look. Almost every time I wear brogue shoes (which is very often), girls, sometimes completely random girls just standing around near me, will compliment them, usually though they just stare, making for a very easy indirect approach...

It's hard to recommend specific brand for brogue shoes, the ones who are famous for making them all charge well over $200 for them as they are proper dress shoes. Your best bet for an entry level brogue shoe is to go to your nearest men's shoe store, any good shopping complex should have one. I got my pair at an Australian shoe store chain on sale off a regular price of AUS$165, but clothing is much cheaper in America so keep that in mind. I'd recommend getting a pair of brogue's in a honey tan colour such as in the first two pictures if you're using it for "street wear", but if you mainly want to rock them with suits feel free to experiment with darker colours and collecting numerous pairs to serve as playful finishes to your suit collection. Whether you choose to get a pair of shoes or boots is up to you, but I'd go for a shoe as a default choice. My pair are similar to the ones in the first pic.






Shirts
I said I wouldn't cover tops much since there's millions of different looks out there and what's right for you comes down to a host of individual factors and your own sense of style, but I'll leave a few examples here for you to get you started. This sheet is starting to look unyieldingly big now so I'll try to get through the rest as quickly as possible.

A basic rule for shirts (unless you're wearing a suit/tie etc.) is to never have only the top button undone. Always leave two undone instead. You need to show off a little bit of chest to properly frame your face. If you only leave one button undone, peoples eyes will naturally be drawn to your neck instead. Plus you'll look like a dork. This is one of the most common style mistakes I see on men. The only exception to the two buttons undone rule is if you're going all out for a hipster look and do up all the buttons instead, but that is the only exception to this style rule.

Fit:

You should be able to fit two fingers inbetween the collar when its buttoned to the top. If you hold up your arm to the side, you want to be able to pinch 2-4 inches of fabric from the side of your shirt, no more no less. The shoulder seams should run at the edge of your shoulders, not over them or on top of them.



Your sleeves should end around the bony indent on the thumb side of your wrist.



If you're wearing it tucked, you should be able to bend down to tie your shoe laces and put both hands in the air without it coming untucked. If you're wearing an untucked shirt or a t-shirt, you should be able to raise your arms without your belly button becoming exposed, but it shouldn't cover your entire crotch.



Gingham Shirts
A great way to add some classy/preppy vibes to your wardrobe. Stick to blue and red. The smaller the squares are the bigger the rest of you body will be perceived.




Mostly though I stick to plain blue/red/yellow button downs and more alternative patterned shirts, especially for short sleeves (which show off my physique better). V-neck t-shirts are obviously another great option to show off your muscle.

[Deluge]

Coats and Jackets

Every man needs to stay warm when it's chilly. Here's how I do it.

My peacoat, remember just like a suit: never do up the bottom button


My cardigan


My future Army Surplus coat


Further Resources:
There's only so much one datasheet can cover, and alas I've reached my limit. If you want to continue your style education, start with these:

• The G Manifesto: Without this man, this sheet would not exist. When I grow up, I want to dress Michael Porfirio Mason. Pour one out for the G.
• Christian McQueen's "The Ultimate Sunglasses Guide For Men" (I rock knock off gold Wayfarers) and "The Most Popular Men’s Hairstyles For 2014" (I rock an undercut). All his style posts are money but those two in particular are essential reading for all men.
• Here are two selvedge denim guides for those who are interested in stepping up their denim game.
• Masculine Style has great practical style advice and is well known as the Manosphere's go to style guru, his services have tested and reviewed by more RVF members then any other men's style authority. His Staples series in particular is excellent. If you want suit advice, start with this blog.
• He Spoke Style is my favourite "inspo" blog. The guy who runs it (pic below) is one of the best-dressed dudes I have ever seen.
• Kinowear: great all-round style advice
• Well Built Style: A style blog dedicated to guys with muscular physiques
• The Style Blogger: Endless inspo
• 4chan's /fa/: A lot of these guys are into weird shit like "goth ninja" and overly obsessed with high end brands. These guys are the straight fashion nerds, and their advice should be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to what women and people in general actually thinks looks good. Nonetheless if you can sort out the weird shit there's a lot of great inspiration and discussion going on here.
  

If you're a guy whose never put a lot of effort into his style (90%+ of guys) it's time for that to change. Considering that this is RVF, I don't think I need to spend a lot of time talking about the virtues of self-improvement, but speaking from my own experience, dressing well is like having muscles. I feel more confident and more boss because of it, and it straight out attracts women. If you're new to dressing well, heed this advice.

1. Start off by upgrading your shoes, then your pants
2. Collect new items slowly, so you have time to settle them into your wardrobe. If you buy too fast and up wearing too much new stuff you'll feel like you're wearing a costume instead of an outfit.
3. Most importantly, pay attention to the style you see around you. Be hyper aware of it. Start observing and judging every person you meet on their style. Over time you will develop a keen taste eye for what looks good and what doesn't, and this eye will serve you far better when it comes to your own wardrobe then any datasheet or set of style rules ever will.
   

To borrow a phrase: The Rest is Up to You.

[rottenapple]

Good post, lots of valuable info. In which part of the world do you live though? I find most of this info to be similar to what the experts believe in W.Europe. Some things might vary according to region though, fi the boat shoes, but thats also more weather dependent.

Btw the last guy looks best.

[Deluge]

(07-14-2014 09:40 AM)rottenapple Wrote:  

Good post, lots of valuable info. In which part of the world do you live though? I find most of this info to be similar to what the experts believe in W.Europe.

In a land down under.

[Rutting Elephant]

The guy in the fedora looks awful, in part because his pant legs are several inches too short.

[JustJay]

(07-14-2014 09:25 AM)Deluge Wrote:  


6'4 Michael Phelps looking like a fucking chode with low rise pants worn at the hips despite his height

I'm sorry, I lost it when i read that comment.

[LeightonBlackstock]

Lots of great stuff here.

Particularly good for younger/skinnier guys

Peacoat blasted open, gingham shirt (top-button done up), black skinny jeans and boots/hi-tops is an absolutely BOSS look IMO.

One of the only things I dislike about Thailand is that it's too hot to dress really well. Winter climates are so much better for becoming the big fish in the style pond.

I usually employ the short-sleeved button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves for the blazing heat (as in the picture). The critics may say it's a bit hipster, but its a great way of looking smart whilst wearing shorts. Boat shoes are great for hot weather too.

Also, I really don't want to get into a debate about the controversy surrounding the following band. But, I think 'Lostprophets' had it absolutely down when it came to cold-climate fashion:

[Cr33pin]

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, different strokes for different folks. But I will never dress like this. I don't care if it cost me some notches here and there. The guy on the left looks like he is wearing his baby sisters pants. I don't think any of those "guys" look any kind of masculine.... Again it take all types to make the world go round.

[Deluge]

^Yes dude on the left looks like a homo. I posted pics to show what the item in question looks like in an outfit, not as an endorsement of the "models" particular look. I tried my best to find the best looks overall, but unfortunately most male "fit" pics on Google Images and the internet in general are of gay men.

[Cr33pin]

(07-14-2014 11:01 AM)Deluge Wrote:  

^Yes dude on the left looks like a homo. I posted pics to show what the item in question looks like in an outfit, not as an endorsement of the "models" particular looks. I tried my best to find the best outfits overall, but unfortunately most male "fit" posts on Google Images and the internet in general are of gay men.

You did a good job over all theres some solid tips in this thread for sure. That picture just really struck me as guys I see out and about and shake my head and tell the girl I am with she will never see me dressing like that, every girl says "Good".

I'm not sure I will ever grow out of my slim fitting v-neck or t-shirt an decent fitting jeans faze. Its just what I like and how I feel comfortable.

[rottenapple]

(07-14-2014 11:05 AM)Cr33pin Wrote:  

(07-14-2014 11:01 AM)Deluge Wrote:  

^Yes dude on the left looks like a homo. I posted pics to show what the item in question looks like in an outfit, not as an endorsement of the "models" particular looks. I tried my best to find the best outfits overall, but unfortunately most male "fit" posts on Google Images and the internet in general are of gay men.

You did a good job over all theres some solid tips in this thread for sure. That picture just really struck me as guys I see out and about and shake my head and tell the girl I am with she will never see me dressing like that, every girl says "Good".

I'm not sure I will ever grow out of my slim fitting v-neck or t-shirt an decent fitting jeans faze. Its just what I like and how I feel comfortable.

Had the exact same thought seeing that picture and here also: fitted dark blue jeans, Nice classical shoes and slim fitted black shirts which show the muscles always seem to do the trick. If you dont want to spend too much time thinking about clothing etc or if you are in a place which lacks access to many things this is the standard look that works.

Ps. as stated summer looks are a lot harder, what is the consensus on tank tops if you have muscles paired with nice jeans/shoes, too macho or girls dig it?

[HankRearden]

Terrific post. I agree with everything except the Doc Martens -- I fucking hate those boots.

In terms of shoes I currently own too many. I own a beautiful pair of Ted Baker brogues that I'm too scared of wearing when I go out; a pair of navy blue Lacoste shoes for every day; Nike running shoes; Timberland winter boots; black Florsheim dress shoes that need replacing; Birkenstock sandals (don't worry, I never wear these things out in a serious way); Fred Perry slip ons; and a pair of 25 Euro fake leather dress shoes I picked up in Paris and wear out.

That being said, I could really use a pair of boat shoes and Topman sells these great desert boot/brogue mixes for £40 pounds here. Think it's worth investing? I might save the boat shoes until next season as I don't want to be that fag with 10 pairs of shoes.

Also, a question: my cheap Parisian shoes are starting to wear at the toe, probably because they're shit. What shoes would you recommend for going out? If I'm going to a casual bar or on a date I could see myself busting out my nice shoes, but I would never dream of wearing them to a club. That's really the crux of it for me: how does one wear great shoes to a club that get noticed, but which won't get destroyed after the first weekend?

+1 for the great sheet by the way.

[General Stalin]

Boat shoes, chukkas, wingtips, and doc martens. Lot's of hipster/yuppie stuff here. Nothing wrong with a nice pair of low-profile sneakers. Adidas sambas, vintage Converse all-stars, Asics Tigers, Pumas, etc. A slick pair of casual sneakers are great if rocking boots or boat shoes isn't your style (I know it's certainly not mine).

[R Smoov]

i will pull by the end of the summer thanks 2 you.

[Jazzman92]

Great info.

Personally I think different people have different styles though. With the exception of the army surplus coat and the Peacoat pictures, I could never see myself dressing like any of those guys. Especially that group of the three hipsters.


This is more along the lines of how I would dress.










But you make very good points in your post and I really liked the shoes you mentioned

[Espresso]

Writing a style datasheet is always going to be pretty difficult because there are many good (but very different) styles available, and even people who have a good sense of fashion will often disagree on what they would personally wear or never wear.

Good effort though OP! Lots of good info here, and people can lean towards what they resonate with most, and build it from there.

[game_ethic]

Yeah, style is pretty subjective. I personally don't wear custom suits like some guys advocate here. I'm still young and I'd look pretty stupid in one. My style falls in line with what Jazzman92 posted. Great datasheet nonetheless, though.

[Benoit]

Isn't that blazer very long in the body? That's more like the length I'd have a suit jacket.

(07-14-2014 01:58 PM)Jazzman92 Wrote:  

[Carlos100]

(07-14-2014 12:01 PM)HankRearden Wrote:  

Also, a question: my cheap Parisian shoes are starting to wear at the toe, probably because they're shit. What shoes would you recommend for going out? If I'm going to a casual bar or on a date I could see myself busting out my nice shoes, but I would never dream of wearing them to a club. That's really the crux of it for me: how does one wear great shoes to a club that get noticed, but which won't get destroyed after the first weekend?

Packed dance floors can be rough on shoes. Perhaps sturdy, high-end boots would endure better? Wingtip or brogued boots would make you stand out.

[RexImperator]

I really don't like sleeves and pants that are too short yet I've noticed for the past few years that this seems to be the style now. The clothes look slightly too small.

[WestIndianArchie]

Great post.

Break down summer style

WIA

[Espresso]

(07-14-2014 12:01 PM)HankRearden Wrote:  

If I'm going to a casual bar or on a date I could see myself busting out my nice shoes, but I would never dream of wearing them to a club. That's really the crux of it for me: how does one wear great shoes to a club that get noticed, but which won't get destroyed after the first weekend?

Indeed, I'm sure a lot of us here considered this problem haha.

I think the answer is two separate pairs of nice shoes.

1) One pair is for dates, and things like happy-hour game.

2) Another pair, also nice, for clubs. This pair, you'd need to clean basically after every night out, and then shine up so they look good. Regular maintenance is crucial, otherwise even a top-end shoe will look like you pulled it out of a trash can on the way to the club. That being said, one you are prepared to sacrifice this pair of shoes for a good cause, they will actually last a long time and still look good.

[Deluge]

(07-14-2014 11:46 AM)rottenapple Wrote:  

Ps. as stated summer looks are a lot harder, what is the consensus on tank tops if you have muscles paired with nice jeans/shoes, too macho or girls dig it?

Nice pants and shoes with a tanktop is the best way to rock one in my opinion. There's a Youtube PUA where I live whose go to outfit when daygaming is a tanktop with nice pants and very fancy dress shoes, it creates a very interesting high/low contrast.

(07-14-2014 01:06 PM)General Stalin Wrote:  

Boat shoes, chukkas, wingtips, and doc martens. Lot's of hipster/yuppie stuff here. Nothing wrong with a nice pair of low-profile sneakers. Adidas sambas, vintage Converse all-stars, Asics Tigers, Pumas, etc. A slick pair of casual sneakers are great if rocking boots or boat shoes isn't your style (I know it's certainly not mine).

None of those things are "hipster" or "yuppie". Boat shoes are preppy, docs are punk/skinhead, and chukka's and wingtip's are menswear classics. You'll just see hipsters and yuppie's wearing them because they dress better and are more likely to have the cash to afford them on average.

The problem with the casual sneakers you listed is that every single dude from the age of 14 and above is wearing them. Some casual sneakers look better then other's (I'm partial to vintage Vans Sk8 shoes and Supra's stuff though I don't own any), but they're best avoided in general. Your shoes set the tone for your entire outfit, when you wear shoes like that you're going to signal to the world that you're a run of the mill average chode. This is why I recommended replacing your sneakers with desert boots, they look great and are an easy way to ease guys into dressing well.

(07-14-2014 06:03 PM)Carlos100 Wrote:  

(07-14-2014 12:01 PM)HankRearden Wrote:  

Also, a question: my cheap Parisian shoes are starting to wear at the toe, probably because they're shit. What shoes would you recommend for going out? If I'm going to a casual bar or on a date I could see myself busting out my nice shoes, but I would never dream of wearing them to a club. That's really the crux of it for me: how does one wear great shoes to a club that get noticed, but which won't get destroyed after the first weekend?

Packed dance floors can be rough on shoes. Perhaps sturdy, high-end boots would endure better? Wingtip or brogued boots would make you stand out.

This is a big issue. Suede desert boots are perfect for a club because it's not like it has any leather to be destroyed, but they're not super sturdy. Wingtips look amazing and are sturdy but you don't want to get the leather fucked up by other people's shoes. I try my best to avoid getting them dirty and always clean them afterwards but it's a worry. The answer (for me at least) is the Doc Martens 1461 Derby shoes in black that I posted on the sheet. They're incredibly durable and won't look like shit after a night clubbing.

(07-14-2014 08:22 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  

Great post.

Break down summer style

WIA

Summer style's a tough one. Especially because I rarely wear shorts. I personally rock a tight fitting t-shirt or a short sleeve shirt with my khaki/burgundy chinos and either my boat shoes or wingtips.