The Male 'Fashion' Thread II

Starting at one of the big 4 in september and the dress code is business casual - naturally I will be wearing a suit etc when needs be but the definition of business casual itself seems confusing. I did an internship in the same office, and admittedly most weren't very stylish, and they wore anything from an unbuttoned and rolled sleeve shirt with suit trousers to a full suit.

Do you think an outfit such as a tweedy jacket, button down oxford, smart dark chinos and loafers/brogues would constitute business casual?

http://store.americanapparel.co.uk/rsa0406c.html?cid=172-364

What do people think of these?

Haha that's true, I just liked the design on the trousers - I'm sure they could be worn lower?

Don't go near a Hugo Boss suit, they are amongst the worst suits for their price out there and are usually used as a barometer of what not to get.

What is it you need a suit for?

As for the suit you posted, in real life it is light grey with a dark navy windowpane. It is an incredibly nice suit, far and away my favourite of the season, however the cloth is incredibly light so if it is the only suit you are going to have/going to use it a lot/are heavily built especially in the thighs then I would avoid it as you will wear through it rapidly.

On the subject of suits for interviews, a young guy came in today for an interview wearing a pocket square and the manager interviewing him was like "What a tosser, who does he think he is with that hankie" I loled and said he's talking to the wrong guy (I was wearing one myself). Never really thought about how it might look to an interviewer, don't think i'd care personally. So, is it pretentious to wear to an interview? Best to stick a basic suit, nothing too flashy?

On the subject of suits for interviews, a young guy came in today for an interview wearing a pocket square and the manager interviewing him was like "What a tosser, who does he think he is with that hankie" I loled and said he's talking to the wrong guy (I was wearing one myself). Never really thought about how it might look to an interviewer, don't think i'd care personally. So, is it pretentious to wear to an interview? Best to stick a basic suit, nothing too flashy?

I'd say that it's best not to risk appearing too flash in an interview, as you don't know what your interviewer's attitude is towards sartorial style. So pocket squares, power ties, shirts with contrast collar and cuffs, flashy cufflinks and braces are all off limits imo. You only get one chance to make a first impression and dressing like Gordon Gekko for a graduate job certainly wouldn't get you far :P.

You wouldn't care what your potential employer's first impression of you was? I wouldn't think anything of it but it is completely unnecessary in an interview.

Unfortunately, these kind of things do make a difference. How you dress is not relative to a fixed moment in time, and does relate to current fashions and also your age - as well as the job. Although you might think you are looking smart, the person employing you might think there is a problem.

Current trends:

This is the most important one. Time was where all men wore hats. They don't anymore. If you went to an interview with a fedora on, it doesn't matter that no-one would have given you a second glance in 1950. They will now, and will probably not think that you have a problem with attention-seeking or are just odd. Bracers are another one. Once they were ok, now they're all about the 1980s. This is much easier to explain in context of womens' fashion. Not so very long ago, women would go to work wearing seamed stockings. Today, what used to be absolutely normal is for a variety of reasons considered more akin to a sex uniform, and interviewing wearing seams will probably get you a big X from HR.

Age:

Like it or not, some things do vary with your age. It's perfectly normal to see an 18 year old in a suit. But it's not normal to see an 18 year old with an elaborately folded pocket square. Can you see how a 20 year old and a 40 year old applying for the same job might be viewed completely differently for having that same embellishment? On pocket squares at interviews, I would say - if you are under 25, tread with extreme caution. If you must must do it - do it plain white and folded minimally with one point or horizontal.


Job:

If wearing a suit is not part of the job, then I would say there's much less problem. However, if it is - the employer might believe that you will eventually start coming to work dressed like Roger Moore in a velvet smoking jacket.

REMEMBER WHAT BEAU BRUMMEL SAID:
Friend: "I know a man that is so well dressed that when he passes in the street, people turn to look at him,"
Beau Brummel : "Then he, sir, is not well dressed,"

If an interviewer is wondering why a 21 year old graduate has a Patek Philippe or a five-pointed pocket square, then you've done something wrong.

Anyone wearing shorts today ? , I didn't actually feel all that out of place given the awesome weather

I didn't know that! I thought they were nice but I've never tried them.

For very different kind of stuff but to make an estimation, I'll need it about 3 times a month. I would love to have it but I can't afford it.. and yes I'm only going to have one suit. What would you advice me? (dark blue, grey) Your tips are useful.

On the subject of suits for interviews, a young guy came in today for an interview wearing a pocket square and the manager interviewing him was like "What a tosser, who does he think he is with that hankie" I loled and said he's talking to the wrong guy (I was wearing one myself). Never really thought about how it might look to an interviewer, don't think i'd care personally. So, is it pretentious to wear to an interview? Best to stick a basic suit, nothing too flashy?

Unfortunately, these kind of things do make a difference. How you dress is not relative to a fixed moment in time, and does relate to current fashions and also your age - as well as the job. Although you might think you are looking smart, the person employing you might think there is a problem.

Current trends:

This is the most important one. Time was where all men wore hats. They don't anymore. If you went to an interview with a fedora on, it doesn't matter that no-one would have given you a second glance in 1950. They will now, and will probably not think that you have a problem with attention-seeking or are just odd. Bracers are another one. Once they were ok, now they're all about the 1980s. This is much easier to explain in context of womens' fashion. Not so very long ago, women would go to work wearing seamed stockings. Today, what used to be absolutely normal is for a variety of reasons considered more akin to a sex uniform, and interviewing wearing seams will probably get you a big X from HR.

Age:

Like it or not, some things do vary with your age. It's perfectly normal to see an 18 year old in a suit. But it's not normal to see an 18 year old with an elaborately folded pocket square. Can you see how a 20 year old and a 40 year old applying for the same job might be viewed completely differently for having that same embellishment? On pocket squares at interviews, I would say - if you are under 25, tread with extreme caution. If you must must do it - do it plain white and folded minimally with one point or horizontal.


Job:

If wearing a suit is not part of the job, then I would say there's much less problem. However, if it is - the employer might believe that you will eventually start coming to work dressed like Roger Moore in a velvet smoking jacket.

REMEMBER WHAT BEAU BRUMMEL SAID:
Friend: "I know a man that is so well dressed that when he passes in the street, people turn to look at him,"
Beau Brummel : "Then he, sir, is not well dressed,"

If an interviewer is wondering why a 21 year old graduate has a Patek Philippe or a five-pointed pocket square, then you've done something wrong.