Rules of Men’s Dress

Rules of Men’s Dress

All style is relative.  Some people will disagree with what this blog dictates is good style, and this blog would most likely disagree with them on what they think is good style.  As you can imagine, this results in a situation in which there is no single list of men’s dress rules that are comprehensive and absolute.  The following are a set of rules that The Fine Young Gentleman stands by.  There are some rules that are immutable, such as the one that a man should match the metal of the bit on his loafer with the buckle on his belt with the metal on his suspenders with the buttons on his blazer with the metal of his cufflinks.  Then there are some rules that have exceptions, such as the rule that a man’s socks should match the color of his pants.  The Fine Young Gentleman’s rules are derived from a variety of sources including tradition, classic rules of men’s dress, common sense and personal taste.

1.      Thou shall match the metal of the bit on his loafers, belt buckle, suspenders, blazer buttons and cufflinks.

2.      Thou need not match the metal on his watch with the other metals he is wearing, however, it is preferable.

3.      Thou can wear black shoes with a navy suit/pants.

4.      Thou shall only wear black, brown or oxblood (burgundy) leather shoes for business dress.  The only exceptions allowed are white bucks.  Blue, green or any other colored shoes are inappropriate.

5.     White bucks are badass.

6.     Thou shall match the color of his socks with the color of his pants.  As an exception, socks can be matched to something worn above the waist such as a man’s shirt, tie, pocket square or suspenders (braces in the UK).

7.     Thou shall match the color of his belt to that of his shoes.  This holds true in all situations except when wearing white bucks.

8.     Thou need not match the leather on his watchband with that of his shoes and belt, however, it is preferable.

9.     Thou shall wear a belt when wearing pants with belt loops.

10.  Thou shall never, ever, ever use their belt to hold accessories like beepers, phones, Blackberrys, ID tags and/or keys.

11.  If pants do not have belt loops they should have side tabs and/or  buttons for use with suspenders (braces).

12.  Thou shall never wear a tie and pocket square of the same pattern.  The sports commentators who do so look like fools.

13.  Thou shall not wear a French cuff (double cuff) shirt without a jacket.

14.  Thou shall always doubt salespeople and in-store tailors opinions on fashion, style and fit. The stores they work for pay them, not you.  Their motives are to sell products to who will buy them, not necessarily to who will look best in them.

15.  Thou shall not wear slip on shoes with a suit.  In fact, they should be avoided.

16.  Thou can wear loafers with a suit, however, this is mostly practiced in America.

17.  Loafers are badass, especially those with bits or tassels.

18.  Thou shall not wear flat toe/square toe shoes.  They should be avoided like the plague.  They are cancerous to a man’s wardrobe.  They are aesthetically offensive.  Their sole purpose lies in showing men what not to wear.  Money spent on these would have been better spent on Enron stock circa June 2000.

19.  Thou shall only wear patent leather shoes for black tie (semi-formal) and white-tie (formal) occasions.  Patent leather is never acceptable to be worn in a dress or causal setting.

20.  Thou shall never wear a long necktie for a semi-formal (black tie) affair, even if that tie is solid black.

21.  Thou can wear brown suede shoes for business dress.  They are elegant and gentlemanly.

22.  Brown suede shoes are badass.

23.  Thou shall not wear Chesterfield coats, which are typically signified by a velvet collar, with anything of less formality than a suit.  They should not be worn with business casual attire.

24.  Thou shall not wear a tie without a jacket.  If done so, he will run the risk of looking like a waiter at TGI Fridays.

25.  Thou shall not wear suspenders (braces) without a jacket.  Sorry hipsters.

26.  Thou shall only wear suspenders (braces) that utilize buttons, not clips.  Again, sorry hipsters.

27.  Thou shall not wear a crew neck undershirt when the top button of a shirt is left unbuttoned.  When leaving the top button unbuttoned thou shall wear a v-neck undershirt as The Dude does.  The Dude abides.

28.  Thou can wear brown suits for business dress.

29.  Thou shall only wear shirts with white collars and white cuffs with a jacket.  These shirts should not be part of a business casual wardrobe, that is, one where suits are not utilized.

30.  Thou shall leave the bottom button of vest (waistcoat) unbuttoned.  Except when wearing a double breasted or flat bottomed vest, in which case the bottom button should remain buttoned.

31.  Thou should iron the collar of a shirt before wearing it.  Creased collars caused by dry cleaning and hanging do not follow the natural circularity of one’s neck.

32.  Thou shall utilize a pocket square when wearing a jacket.

33.  Pocket squares are underrated, underutilized and most importantly they are badass.

34.  Thou shall not wear a back pack/book bag when in business dress, especially when in a suit.  Book bags are reserved for casual wear and students.

35.  Thou shall not wear a shirt with any type of logo on it in a business setting, including when in business casual dress.  These shirts should be reserved for casual wear.

36.  Thou shall wear a tie bar at a slant, not horizontal.

37.  Off color shirts with a white collar should have French (double) cuffs, regardless of whether of not the cuffs are white or the same color or pattern as the shirt.

38.  Life is more fun in a tuxedo (dinner jacket).

39. Thou shall never button all three buttons of a three button jacket. Sometimes the top, always the middle and never ever ever the bottom.

40.  Thou shall wear over the calf socks as opposed to crew socks whenever possible.  For they are far superior in both form and function.

41.  Thou shall not wear a solid black suit for business or professional activities.  Save it for formal events and funerals.

42.  Style is a state of mind.

43.  It is impossible for a man to be considered well dressed if his shoes are in poor taste or of noticeably poor quality.  For any good ensemble is built on a fine pair of shoes.

44.  Thou shall not wear sport sunglasses with a suit.  It’s like wearing socks with sandals; everyone else knows its wrong, why don’t you?

45.  Thou shall not wear a sports watch with a suit.  It would be like playing lacrosse in dress shoes, and no one wants to see that.

46.  There should be no presence of logo or branding when wearing a suit.  For example, do not wear a Polo shirt with the Polo logo on it under a suit jacket or a Burberry tie with the Burberry tartan (although the scarfs are fine).  The emphasis of a suit should be the fit, not the brands it is worn with.

47.  It is better to be overdressed than underdressed.

48.  A man need not an excuse to wear a tie or jacket.  In other words, a man need not an excuse to dress up.  Despite the fact that in today’s society it seems he does need one.

49.  Never, ever, ever wear a black dress shirt with a suit (or a dinner jacket/tuxedo for that matter).  Just because they may be or may have been ‘on trend’ does not mean one will ever look good on you.

50.  Thou shall take off his sunglasses when talking to someone else who is not wearing sunglasses.  Unless thou is at the beach or pool.

51.  Thou shall take off his sunglasses when inside.  Even if thou art Bono.

379 COMMENTS

    • Have to say no to the “Slanted Tie Bar”. It’s fine for parties, but not in a professional setting. Reminds me of the car salesman who would wear his jacket lapels up and say “It’s cool”. Like the comment on the website you used to validate “It looks retarded”.

      • Bill,
        Interesting image of car salesman, cant say that’s an ideal way to wear ones lapels. I think a slanted tie bar is fine for professional setting, I used to wear one as a big 4 auditor regularly.
        -Justin

        • The horizontal tie bar is both more traditional and conservative. I understand if you prefer a slanted tie bar but to put it on a list of rules,written in the style of the ten commandments, is a bit much. People with no experience will come here and take that statement as law, when it is a style of the minority. “slanted tiebars look badass” would have been more appropriate than saying they should not be horizontal.

          Thank you,
          KK Dean

          • I don’t like tie bars at all. I prefer (they are considered vintage now) the tie clips that look like a coin or similar object like we wore in the 1960’s. Since ties have gotten narrower, clips are fine in my opinion . I saved some from the sixties and then added a few sold as vintage. However, I do not like ties that are less than 3-1/2″ at the widest part. That is most traditional width. It will always be in style. Most Brooks Bros., Ben Silver, Polo, and Robert Talbot ties were made that way.

      • Agree, I’ve never seen or heard of wearing a tie bar slanted before I read this article. And I’ve seen Sean Connery as James Bond and Frank Sinatra both wearing their tie bars horizontal, always.

  1. 13. My father still points to this rule, but I find it to be a little dated. The practice of wearing FC shirts without a jacket is very common amongst well-dressed gentlemen these days, especially in Europe. When subtle links are used, it seems to work, when someone douche is wearing large cufflinks, a gold chain and has two top buttons unbuttoned, it is a different story.
    16. I don’t agree with this at all. Loafers are casual shoes, even Gucci bits, etc. are not appropriate with suits. This is an unfortunate trend that was uber popular in the late 80’s on wall street.

      • I am in total agreement with PE and PicStiched. Never any loafers or jewelry on shoes with a suit. Save it for Saturday night dinner in the summer

        • I think loafers look best with blazers and sportcoats. I rarely wear them with suits. I also like the old style blazers with the patch pockets. You can put a cool logo patch on the pocket and look really classy. I don’t like silver buttons or suit type buttons on a blazer. I think they should be brass. Suit type buttons are more for sportcoats.

  2. I’m trying to make the switch from belts to suspenders. However, buying a different set of suspenders for every color tie I have seems like an exceedingly expensive proposition. I’m wondering if black suspenders (worn with a black suit) can be worn with any color tie?

  3. Joe,
    First, an admirable thing switching from belts to suspenders, an understandable dilemma you ask about. A different set of suspenders is not needed for each color tie, you should be able to get by safely with a few basic colors. I would recommend starting with navy and burgundy; between the two of them you can match or compliment most color ties, they will also mesh well with almost any color suit. I would shy away from black, as I am of the belief that black suspenders should be reserved for semi formal and formal wear; but obviously it is up to you.
    Regards,
    FYG

    • Actually, black suspenders are fine, as they are a subdued color. Suspenders are like sock garters, they are an undergarment that is never meant to be seen, which is why there is the rule never to wear them without a jacket. Just like there is no such thing as “formal underwear”, black suspenders are not “too formal” for business wear. So as long as suspenders aren’t a bright color that catches someone’s eye if you happen to move in such a way that they get briefly partially exposed, the color is immaterial.

  4. Thou shall not button all 3 buttons on a 3 button suit jacket or sport coat . The top button alone is fashionable if not a bit fashion forward. Buttoning the first and second buttons are fashionable yet conservative. Buttoning the middle button is always in conservatively good taste, especially in a mixed group of fashion frustrated folks.
    Fastening all three buttons is a fashion fatality on the order of a bald man attempting to hide the obvious with a comb over. No one is fooled and everyone but the blind or ignorant notice the tasteless error.

    • Touche. Not sure how I let this one slip through for so long… I get legitimately irritated when I see guys with all three buttons buttoned. For some reason it seems security guards at office buildings and retail establishments are particularly prone to this offense.

          • I agree. If I see someone who buttons all 3 buttons of his jacket, I think he doesn’t know what he is doing.
            What I want to know is if it O.K. to wear braces with flat front pants. I think some men do; but they seem to look best with pleated pants. What do the rest of you think.

      • Uniforms coats are an exception in that they require all buttons to be buttoned, which may explain your security guard observation.

        • You are correct on that one Sir. While in uniform, ALL buttons shall be buttoned. unless of course one is sitting in which case unbuttoning is OK, but removing ones jacket is preferred.

          • Gentlemen,
            I would add: some uniforms are required to remain buttoned, even while sitting.

    • I know it’s late but it had to be said. If there is a screw hole put a screw in it, if there is a button hole put a button in it. the only reason the bottom button became unbuttoned is because King Edward VII got too fat to button his and all of his flunkies left theirs unbuttoned is to kiss his ass. remember the children’s story ” The Emperor’s New Clothes”. If one feels comfortable buttoning it then do so. If not then don’t. Wear your clothes for you and not for others. Yes, wear appropriate clothing for the occasion, but to look down upon those who break ” the rules” seems snobbish. If anyone was to approach me and point out my fashion faux pas, I would remind them of the afore mentioned story, call them a kiss ass and walk away.

        • Depend on the definition we give to it, I use to make a difference with fashion and style. Style is personal expression, of course you do it for others, in part, but you express yourself and make you fashion, instead of passively follow a trend. And fashion is not pointless just because one doesn’t look down those who don’t follow the rules. Imho snobism in untasty, unless you express it with extreme elegance and respect, without being holier than thou.

        • Well said. If Jim tried to “get” me with his Edward VII story, I would tell him wearing a coat and a piece of cloth tied around one’s throat no matter the weather in order to be “approrpriately dressed” for a particular occasion is ultimately completely arbitrary, too, but it has become the accepted dress code, as has leaving the bottom button unbuttoned. So if Jim doesn’t care about “fashion rules”, why is he bothering to wear a jacket inside a climate controlled building anyway?

      • Most jackets are cut to hang at their best with the bottom button undisturbed. Try it yourself, see which looks best.

        • A well fitting jacket will outline the body with an “X” shape, thus achieving the best look for the jacket and the gentleman wearing it.

  5. Is it common to wear a tie bar at a slant? I have never seen anyone wear a tie bar at a slant. I think it would look rather odd to wear a tie bar like this. Thoughts?

    • Kim,
      I don’t find it to be common at all, most men do wear theirs flat (not on a slant). I am guessing the reason is that that is how they see their peers wearing tie bars, but the masses are not always right. I also think rationality would make one think to wear it flat. But, style is not always rational…
      One of the ideas behind wearing it at a slant is to create a more vertical, not a horizontal line. For horizontal lines (tie bar worn flat) tend to visually widen things whereas in contrast diagonal (tie bar at a slant) and vertical lines tend to heighten. Flatly placed tie bars also seem to clash more with necktie designs, as most seem to have some type of diagonal, as opposed to horizontal, line in them.

  6. Your statements are often mis-directed. The fact that you have so many rules means none of this is second nature to you and you try far too hard.

    No gentleman uses the term ‘badass’ either. You are a little too jumped up and eager to be a gentleman.

    Ben,

    London

    • Ben,

      Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion. The rules I put forth are meant as safe guidelines on how to dress well. The rules are not necessarily for me or the blog, but for the readers, such as yourself. But my intent is not to insult readers by listing a set of rules. For some readers may have little knowledge of men’s dress, whereas others may have much more knowledge. But as they say, rules are made to be broken. And I often break some of these rules and at times try to get others to do so with me.

      And regarding my usage of ‘badass.’ It will continue even though it may not be the most gentlemanly word (but then again, I am not professing to be the ideal gentleman, only how to dress well). Lastly, London is a great city, I envy you for living there.

      Regards.

      • I strongly believe the use of the word badass doesn’t say you are not a gentleman. Thoigh I was taken aback the 1st time I saw it but then 2 things (1) the audience you are going 2 capture which is mainly not the gentleman 4 he should already know these rules so it must appeal to them & (2) even a gentleman needs to express himself well enough to drive home a point succintly. Overall, eventhough I had 1 or 2 issues, very fantastic job. Well done

      • No gentleman would ever use the word “badass” or any other rude and immature language. Such vulgar language says more about a man than how he dresses.

    • But if you were raised properly these rules should be second nature. I grew up with them over 50 years ago. It seems today parents are to relaxed with dress attire and this attitude is, unfortunately, passed onto their children.

      • Gary,

        It is sometimes the socio-economic standing that hinders that- not necessarily poor breeding. My father was a diplomat and yet I learned most of my queues from magazines and watching TV. If you have no need to dress well- why bother learning the rules. My future profession will require some degree of that so I have slowly been educating myself and acquiring the staples of a classic/fashion forward wardrobe.

        Regards,
        Johann

      • A gentleman is one who dresses appropriately as the occasion calls for and does not offend with his choice of clothing. There are many gentlemen in the world not only London and to be appropriately dressed in whatever society you reside in says more about you than the clothes you wear. Every culture has a dress code and those who can adept and knowing what is proper and what is not are considered gentlemen. The man makes the clothes not the clothes the man! Great article thiugh

    • true. the worstdressed and obnoxious people are those who follow a plethora of fashion rules. some try to copy GQ and other fashion mags.

      only one rule of clothing:
      it should FIT WELL.

    • Eventhough, I belief the blog is a good attempt to keep gentlemen honest or to inform those who so wish to dress like one. We must first keep in mind the key to being a gentlemen is first in the mind and attitude dress is second priority. Now,I have to slightly concure with Mr. Ben here from London. Yes, great shoes are always important. It’s one of the first things people look at when meeting you and most often judge you by. Especially, ladies. But let’s not get too carried away with a plethora of conforming rules. It crushes the inspiration to be creative and unique. As long as a gentlemen owns a pair of fine shoes, wears bow ties to formals. Never button the last button on a suit. Wear clothing that fits not to loosly and not too tightly. Get educate by a smart tailor on how to properly wear a suit. I think the rest can be waived.
      All the best and good luck on dressing like a gentlemen.

      Lewis,
      Abu Dhabi

    • This is simply not true. I myself have often been described as a gentleman, and I use the term badass quite frequently.

      There is simply no other term that expresses the badassedness of the term badass.

  7. Arguing on the internet is like racing in the Special Olympics. Even if you win, you’re still retarded. UNFOLLOW.

    • Did I seriously just read this? On a website intended to help gentleman dress well? I, personally, am here to learn about how to better guide my husband on his dress choice in a world where he (now) advocates for our special needs son. Wow! I can honestly say that you, good sir, are an embarrassment to the word gentleman.

      • I relize I’m responding to a very old comment, but I must say that your humor is offensive and certainly not befitting a gentleman.

    • Joe: Thanks for the laugh. Sometimes the truth is offensive. For others that want to take a joke on a men’s blog personnaly, lighten up. It was just a joke. Much like the issue with using the term “badass.”

  8. Yes, and you know how relatives can be. But some rules do rule more then other rules. And, one of those is in regard to what should be the proper length of a man’s pants.

  9. What does it mean by “Thou shall only wear shirts with white collars and white cuffs with a jacket. These shirts should not be part of a business casual wardrobe.” – Rule 29

    Sounds to me like I’m only allowed to wear white shirts.

    • Oh never mind I just figured it out. If your shirt has a white collar and white cuffs – wear a jacket.

      • Does this same rule apply is the shirt is entire white? Or only if the shirts has contrasting white collar/cuffs?

        • Andrew,
          This rule only applies when the collar and cuffs are of a contrasting white. ie, the body of the shirt is not white. The reason being the formality of a contrasting collar/cuff shirt is only appropriate when worn with a jacket, it is to formal of a shirt to be worn without one. Hope this helps.
          Justin

    • Yeah, first time I read that rule, I was thinking “what, no light blue dress shirts with suits?!?” then reread and understood what FYG meant.

    • Eric,
      I think a few safe bets are surcingle, grosgrain ribbon or needlepoint belts for a more casual look. I have also found success in matching the color of my belt with the sole of my white bucks, which is a tan; it seems to tie things together well. I would not however, recommend wearing a white suede belt to match the shoes.
      -Justin

      • My white bucks have a traditional brick red sole. I generally wear more fun “motif” belts with them, usually related to my nautical hobbies, even with my Brooks Brothers stone-colored poplin summer suit. I’m thinking brick red wouldn’t be a great belt look, what’s your take on the motif belts?

    • A common yacht club dress code was white bucks and white web belt with brass buckle.

      Navy blue blazer, white button-down, white khakis.

      • I know I’m responding to an old post but I* think I know why a Yacht club may specify a white web belt. They are probably copying it from Navy dress Whites. All military uniforms use web belts because they can serve as a tourniquet in an emergency. Actually web belts can serve lots of emergency purposes since they can adjust any length.

    • “Slacks” are what women wear. Maybe you are a female, and that is fine, of course. I just assumed that you are male. Men wear trousers. Yes, men also wear hosiery. Some are not aware of this, but in fine men’s stores, “socks” do not exist. (they are sold in sporting goods stores.) I worked at Brooks on Madison Ave in the 80’s while in college. (yes, back when Brooks was actually high quality.)

      • And a woman who flies an airplane must be called an “aviatrix.”

        Seriously, the English language evolves, and regional differences exist. “Slacks” is a perfectly acceptable synonym for “trousers”. So, on this side of the pond, is “pants”, And if you want to call the undergarment you wear on your feet under your shoes “hosiery”, go right ahead, and we’ll do our best to conceal our snickering when you do so. But other than what is worn formally (white tie), we’ll continue calling ours the perfectly acceptable “socks”.

  10. Some definitions would be helpful. Also cuffs on pants when, only on double pleats? Single pleats, plain front pants? What about button down collars, only with a sport coat, never with a suit? Wingtip shoes? What can one wear them with? Plain front suit pants? No cuffs, what about those specifics? Are you saying you are only to wear a white shirt with a suit while you wear a jacket? Compare business attire with lawyer attire, this is why I need some definitions, are they the same? And those loafers with tassels are almost as bad as the flat square toed shoes you dislike. Tassels are not kick ass but The Dude is. Thanks I like your site.

  11. I was wondering, would it be a completely bad thing to wear burgundy wingtips with a tuxedo? I have a pair of drab SAS black work shoes I can polish up, but I think the wingtips are much nicer.

    • Chris,
      My thoughts are that burgundy wingtips would be quite inappropriate to wear with a tux (and I love burgundy wingtips). Actually, the wingtip part may be more of a faux pas then the burgundy part.
      -JLJ

    • White bucks are for men who are confident enough in who they are not to allow insecure homophobic a-holes to dissuade them from wearing a classic and time-tested piece of footwear that looks fantastic for summer dress.

  12. Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your
    articles? I mean, what you say is important and all.
    But imagine if you added some great photos or video clips to give
    your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this blog could definitely be one of the greatest in its niche.
    Superb blog!

  13. Hello there,FyG,i’m Kenneth,and i’m new to your site;however,i would like to know the guide to a man carrying keys,and cell phones since the rules don’t permit to carry on the belt? I do have a small set of keys on a brass swivel bolt snap that i clip it on my belt loop with the leather strap attached to the keys inside the rear pocket.Is there any other suggestions? How to better carry keys on a bolt snap,and a cell phone,even without a jacket?

    • Obviously, Mr. Jeffers is not threatened by loss of keys. I have a brass snap with bridle leather for my keys which I attach to my belt.

  14. Mr. Fine Young Gentleman…
    What is your viewpoint on wearing western boots with a suit?..The black, dressy and fully polished kind, not the brown suede and matted kind…

    • Chris,
      Personally, it is not something that is part of my style, however, I have seen some men do it quite well. I think the key is for the right man to do it at the right time.
      -JLJ

  15. Is it okay to wear my red vivienne westwood plastic orb tuxedo slippers with my tux if my pocket square is a matching shade of red or how would I go about arranging this, this is killing me…my collar is winged and my lapel is shawled, no cummerbund instead I use a vest under my jacket the suit is completely black including the tie and shirt for a black out look. The red shoes and pocket square are meant to make a contrasting effect.

  16. And so.. I’ll be attending an “old timey” 4th of July party at the empire hotel, the dress code is 20s or 50s (the girlfriend and I both agreed on 20s) so I found a summer-weight tweet vest which I think I’ll pair up with Oxford blue shirt, white pants and a blue dinner jacket with bowtie/or tie and pocket sq.. My question is: can I wear suspenders under the vest? Or would that be too much? Love the rules, and if any suggestions please do tell! Best, Carlos.

  17. I like your stuff. Sounds like something out of State Department school trying to teach Young Marines how to wear civilian clothes. Semper Fi

  18. Two Items:
    Does the rule of fedora’s & vests still apply – not to be worn between the holidays of Memorial & Labor day?

    The bottom button rule to include all sport coats, suit jackets, vests & overcoats – Never, ever button the bottom button.

    • Tony,
      To be honest, I have never heard of the fedora and vest rule you speak of. After a very brief search I couldn’t find anything on the topic. If I can find anything on it I’ll respond accordingly.
      -JLJ

  19. Trousers are the pants to a suit. Slacks are pants to wear with a blazer or sport coat. You stated “slacks” are what women wear. I’m not sure if you know this; what I stated. Overall, I think you have a very good and very informative post. Wish more people would follow. We are in a time where people don’t know or don’t care to know.

  20. Hi there !

    Very great job. But, I can’t agree with some of your rules :

    15. Thou shall not wear slip on shoes with a suit. In fact, they should be avoided.

    I don’t get why?

    21. Thou can wear brown suede shoes for business dress. They are elegant and gentlemanly.

    22. Brown suede shoes are badass.

    So, brown suede shoes are elegant and gentlemanly, but badass ? Are you nuts ?

    29. Thou shall only wear shirts with white collars and white cuffs with a jacket.

    Really ? I’ve gott the answer : you are nuts.

    32. Thou shall utilize a pocket square when wearing a jacket.

    33. Pocket squares are underrated, underutilized and most importantly they are badass.

    I would say “definitely nuts”.

    37. Off color shirts with a white collar should have French (double) cuffs, regardless of whether of not the cuffs are white or the same color or pattern as the shirt.

    Absolutely nuts ?

    Regards,

    Narcisse

  21. Im wearing a white shirt, white pants and a plue blue blazer with brown shoes…can I wear a white belt with outfit? Or it should be brown?

  22. Why are square toed shoes to be avoided? That is my preferred shoe for business casual at work. The preference is purely looks, not fit. I find that the blunt front of the toe is more masculine than the tapering toe box which is more similar to women’s shoes. Many others in my office have the same preference. Is this just your own preference, or is there some etiquette reason for #18?

    Just started wearing a pair of Rockport Evander.

    • Briago,
      There are a few reasons. But mostly they are just a signifier of bad taste. From a more technical perspective, they cut off the foot and create an unflattering line for the shoe; they create a horizontal line, whereas you want more vertical lines (lines that run the length of the foot). Furthermore, I have never seen a nice upper pattern dress a square toed last.
      -JLJ

  23. I’m going to an outdoor wedding at the end of this month.
    I have a pair of Express Photographer suit pants, in black, but cannot find a vest in black to match the fabric on the pants… would it be acceptable to wear a chalk white vest instead? also from Express?

  24. Wow, everyone here agrees, what a boring pointless waist of time. First rule, there are no rules. Do as you please, otherwise you will be another puppet/muppet who spends a whole life attending corporate black tie events and family events. Let loose man, indigo denim jeans, brown beat up brogues and a nice fitted shirt with top button undone. Gets the ladies everytime whilst the blazers are complementing each other on joining their exclusive club of banality.

  25. Thou shalt learn the proper usage of the second person singular pronoun before attempting to employ it. Your list is the grammatical equivalent of wearing a tuxedo with sneakers.

    • Robert:
      Though too, a stickler for proper English; remember that this is a blog about fashion, and thus an English nanny adds little.

  26. Chris, of August 14, you are rude. The guy is just listing some things that most well dressed men would wear for business. Maybe you’re one of those beer drinkers who can’t afford champagne or any of the finer things in life. Do you know what I mean?

  27. I realize this is an old post, but I was browsing around and found it, and feel compelled make a comment about those complaining about Rule 16, claiming that loafers are casual wear and therefore unacceptable to wear with suits. I can vividly remember going shopping with my father back in the 80s where I learned more about classic, American style business suits and shoes than any 12 year old girl probably needed to know. But I have to say that it really stuck in my brain, that image of my father going off to work in his Hickey Freeman suit, oftentimes with a pair of Johnston and Murphy loafers (as you know, back then, J&Ms were quality, American-made shoes). Not low-cut slip-ons, but shoes that he used a shoe horn for. With maybe a little brouge detailing and tassels. No one would have said that my father was the trendiest guy at his L.A. office, but he was always – always! – appropriately dressed for his position and his means. And he wore loafers.

    • Luke,
      No, especially if it is a darker brown. If it is more of a tan color jacket then I suppose you could get away with it, although I don’t think it would look good at all.
      -JLJ

  28. Only White shirts should be worn under a suit? That’s depressing. I love when guys mix shirt patterns with tie patterns.

  29. 18 is my favorite rule. I find nothing sadder than the current trend of guys wearing flat toed shoes. How did this happen? Who is responsible? I think it actually started in the UK. Do you think congress would consider economic sanctions?

    • Dave,
      No I am not saying only white shirts should be worn. Only shirts that have a white collar and cuffs (and have some type of pattern, color or otherwise for the body and arms of the shirt, sometimes called banker shirts) require a jacket. I am not sure what exactly started the square toed shoe disaster, however, I would gladly publish a piece on the history of how they came to be if someone wanted to write it.
      -JLJ

  30. “Thou shallt…”
    Always with a ‘t’.

    A well groomed young man should be able to correctly conjugate verbs in early modern English.

    Great post though!!!

    • Actually, “thou shalt” with only one ‘l’. The more glaring grammatical issue, as I alluded to rather snarkily in my previous reply, is the mixing of second and third person pronouns. One simply cannot use “thou” and “his” to refer to the subject of a single sentence.

  31. I will right away clutch your rss as I can’t find your e-mail
    subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any?
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  32. I’m going to a formal event and my date will be wearing a black dress with gold accents. I’m leaning towards wearing a black suit and tie to along with it. However, I was curious about whether or not wearing a brown belt along with brown shoes (matching/ of varying shades) would be possible. Thanks

    • Nick,
      I would advise against pairing a black suit (whether solid or striped) with brown shoes. Brown can work with many shades of gray but I don’t find it it ever looks good with black suits.
      -JLJ

      • It really depends on the suit. If the suit is a solid black no striping or plaid in it then no on the brown shoes. However I find that wearing a pair of Tyndall Brown Monkstraps from J&M with my Black suit with a slight very fine line blue stripe looks great along with my black Self Plaid suit.

  33. Let’s say I’m going to a formal event with a girl wearing a black dress with not super noticeable gold accents. I was planning on wearing a black suit and tie. However, I was ic spidering wearing some shade of a brown/tan tweed jacket. Thoughts

  34. whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are searching around for this information, you could help them greatly.

  35. Excellent set of rules.

    Only grip I have is rule 28 (‘Thou can wear brown suits for business dress.’) – I have never seen this pulled off effectively.

    • a gray suit and brown shoes? I see it daily done right. Or a blue suit if the brown is dark enough.

  36. Well, I didn’t get to read all the comments, so I’m not sure if this has been addressed. The Rule about matching colors of belt and shoe, what do you say about a dark blue suede Brogues shoe? A blue belt?

    Besides what’s the best way to wear a blue shoe? By that I mean hat colors of pant should you wear?

  37. You guys have lot of times on your hands. Wear whatever you feel confortable wearing. This is all mambo jumbo to me. I hand my cell phone to my belt because it is convenient and give me easy access to answer calls. If you want to button all the buttons on your suit, go ahead, it is yours and yours alone. Why else will there be a 3rd button? By the way, I never liked 3 button suits. Likewise flat front pants, I hate those. I hate pointed head shoes the most. Poor you snobs.

      • Expressing a different view, things change and mainstream tastes change because people have the courage to stick out, trusting they don’t get singled out.

    • People like you are the reason sites like this are made, to tell you that you are doing it wrong.
      PS rule 28 brown suits, no go zone, no one looks good in a brown suit

  38. There is a lot of commentary here. First, @connie, this is a pretty good list of very basic rules one could follow when wanting to look groomed…this comes from a person raised in the Country Club who still wears a suit and tie to work everyday. You’re too quick to dismiss the advice for someone that is..well…looking for advice (which would indicate that you’re not an expert)

    Now, there is common sentiment that too many rules is a bad thing, makes one look like they try too hard, etc, with the common theme being…make sure your clothes fit well. I have an opinion on that. Fit well and ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. Nothing destroys a look, or makes one look like someone TRYING to look like a guy in a suit than a pilfy or faded tie, unsigned shoes, a shirt color that has those tell tell whitened edges on the collar that suggests the shirt has seen and passed its prime. Make sure your clothes are in good condition, as well, and never, ever buy those ties that are patterned like modern art.

    As for white bucks, I must absolutely disagree that they are for any occasion other than casual. I think the author has claimed white bucks as his personal trademark…as I have done with loud socks. Now, while my loud socks are a stamp on my fashion choice and I think they are awesome, I would not suggest that everyone try the trend as, truthfully, it is not correct. However, once a gentleman dresses up and gets comfortable with the rules, they begin to break certain rules as to not look like…they read a set of rules.

    I honestly think this: There are hard fast rules. Match your shoes and belt. Don’t wear brown shoes with a light grey suit. Don’t match your pocket square with your tie. If combining patterns, make sure there are a different weight (for instance, a thin striped tie with a large check shirt, a thick striped tie with a pin stripe shirt…but great caution must be used) make sure all of your clothes are in decent condition INCLUDING YOUR SHOES! And, yes, square toe shoes should be avoided. But, most of all, BE COMFORTABLE. When you begin breaking the rules, there are times when you will, all day, feel like you hope no-one notices how hard you’ve tried. DO NOT wear that outfit. When you feel like you look right, when you feel like you haven’t tried too hard, you’re golden! (Provided you’ve followed the very basic rules). You will begin to play with the rules. YOu will buy a patterned tie you’d normally never try, and every time you put it on, you will worry all day that people will think it looks funny. You will try a loud striped pink shirt and, again, worry all day that people will notice you’re impostering. Then, one day, you will find your equivalent to loud socks. YOu will find that one thing that attracts attention, but you feel confident about it…and interestingly…people will comment favorably. Let’s say you’re just the kind of guy that can pull of very bold ties…when you discover that, people will say, “Great tie!”

    Follow the basics. Your individual stamps will follow.

  39. Meant “unsigned shoes,” and forgot one thing. Cheap shirts look just like that. Like a cheap shirt. Don’t buy them. I know it sounds crazy to spend a couple hundred buck on three shirts, but wait for the Brooks Brothers buy three sales and snatch them up! Get two whites and an oxford blue. Then, as soon as you can do it again, do it. Get another oxford blue, a pink, and one pattern. When wearing suits and ties everyday, you can get away with wearing the same five suits with the same five shirts week after week….it’s the accessories that you can change out and no one will every realize you’re recycling the same shirts and suits. Don’t have a steady rotation for your ties and shoes. Mix them up, have a good assortment. Just don’t buy cheap shirts. You can spot that from a mile away.

    • You can spend a couple hundred bucks and more on just one quality dress shirt at Neiman Marcus and other high end stores. And that’s just for off the shelf ones. For a perfect fit, you can get bespoke shirts (especially from London) that go up from there.

      If your resources permit bespoke clothing, and you have a highly refined taste in clothing, you are reading the wrong the web site and should be reading the A Suitable Wardrobe web site.

  40. JLJ,

    Would be curious what you would have to say about a ventless, double breasted, bespoke, suit jacket. Opine please. You seem qualified to say.

  41. Mr. Fine Young Gentleman,

    What’s your opinion on a ventless suit jacket vs. a suit jacket with sidevents, mainly in double-breasted and bespoke.

    Would appreciate you input.

  42. I enjoyed the post, but really disagree with the no square toe shoe rule. I find they give a nice clean cut end to your suit, and most of the shoes now are pretty narrow with a slimmer squared-off tip.

  43. Excellent site. Thank you for the advice. I wish my son who just graduated college would sit and read the site. He does not believe what the old man suggests. Thank you once again !

  44. Overall, I’m not sure how I feel about this list. It has its high points, but it also has plenty of points with which I disagree, with varying intensity:

    12. Thou shall never wear a tie and pocket square of the same pattern. The sports commentators who do so look like fools.
    -I have found this to simply be untrue.

    15. Thou shall not wear slip on shoes with a suit. In fact, they should be avoided.
    -I very strongly disagree. With the right slip on shoe, it works just fine.

    18. Thou shall not wear flat toe/square toe shoes….
    -Once more, not true. In the case of shoes, I believe the horizontal created by the toe works quite well.

    24. Thou shall not wear a tie without a jacket….
    -In fact, this can be done quite tastefully.

    30. Thou shall leave the bottom button of vest (waistcoat) unbuttoned….
    -My biggest issue with this list. One should always button that bottom button, as not doing so looks sloppy.

    32-33. Concerning pocket squares.
    -It isn’t absolutely necessary to wear a pocket square with a jacket; however, I do agree that they are underutilized.

    36. Thou shall wear a tie bar at a slant, not horizontal.
    -As with #30, following this rule results in a sloppy look.

    41. Thou shall not wear a solid black suit for business or professional activities….
    -Not necessary. Black can easily be worn for business or professional activities, and need not be reserved for funerals and formal events.

    All criticisms aside, the many points with which I do agree are very solid. But I do have one question: Could you clarify the difference between “business,” “formal,” “semi-formal” and “casual”?

    • Skoogle-
      Business is a dark suit. Formal is black or white tie (tuxedo or evening jacket), or morning coats if before noon. Casual is anything in your closet except jeans and t-shirts. There is no such thing as semi-formal. You can wear a jacket and tie in casual settings.
      You are wrong about square shoes= they are hideous; and never button the bottom button of a vest-you’ll look like a maître’d.

  45. My my ole chats. Quite an astonishing bit of wisdom I do must say. One must be properly attired and catered to with impeccable taste, mind you, and the fellowship of his heritage I might bit want to add here. Nobility is keen, and thus I require my personal staff to render the best attire, as it is a must, for myself, and those whom frequent these palace grounds. Sir James has informed me of what has been said here and I see merit in much of your commentary. Cheerio good chap…God save the Queen.

    • Was that comment generated by a computer? If so, the program needs a lot more tuning. If not, you might want to consider reading your posts aloud before submitting them.

  46. Mostly a correct list, save the overdressed rule. It is far better to be underdressed if unsure. You can blend in if underdressed; you will stick out if overdressed and people will wonder where you are going/came from. It is best to call the host/ess if unsure about the dress expectations.

    • Can say the exact same in the opposite scenario. Come underdressed when everyone else is dressed, you’ll stick out. Always better to be overdressed

      • Not so bad to stick out instead of humbly pretending to minimize personal difference.
        Groups are known to minimize internal difference to single out the different, hence the fear of sticking out, because it show that you (as everyone) are as different each other, among your group, as are those outside the group.

    • Far easier to adjust downward an overdressed situation than adjusting upward an underdressed state.

  47. Hii…..can u pllzzz snd me sme of d best tuxedo pics….or u can snd me sme links wer myslf could find it….I wanna wear it at my weddn…thnx wtng 4 ur rply..

    • Why would anyone that spells like they are 13 years old and texting be asking about tuxedo? For you it should be a nike shell suit and a pair of kswiss trainers….loser

      • Wow!…Anger issues? Might want to get those checked. BTW, is should be “who spells.” Point being, judge not.

    • I much prefer braces to a belt, but do not feel comfortable showing them in public. Do others feel the same, or am I too self-conscious?

      • Braces can be one of the most attractive and stylish accessories, and proudly shown. Not boring ones (almost all the ones you find in stores). Wearing a black and gray ensemble, and white shirt, a pair of high quality silk (buttoned, of course) braces in a solid red or blue hue are an attractive accent and should be seen. If you have an elegant patterned pair, say Italian and probably rather expensive, with appropriate matching and contrasting colors for your outfit, they too are made and worn to be seen.

  48. Anybody still reading these comments? Really old post, but does anyone else find it offensive to see so many striped shirts worn with a pattern tie? I was always taught to avoid that like the plague.

    Fun post. I don’t follow some of the rules, but most are in good taste. Alas, I live in California where people don’t dress up for funerals, let alone a night out. Such slobs.

  49. 47: why not just be dressed for the occasion? I don’t believe that you can be overdressed, but just underdressed.

  50. I still follow these comments. Pattern on pattern is a no-no for me just because of my look. I can’t pull it off. My friend was just named as a “trend-setter” by some fashion blog. He works as a fashion editor for GQ. He can wear whatever he wants, including pattern on pattern, and he looks great. I need to stick to classic, Mad Men style fashion.

  51. And I forgot to ask my question…I just notice the rule about ironing the collar. Can anyone elaborate about this? Does Justin mean the creased is too stiff?

  52. Does the suit is strictly needed when wearing a tie and cufflinks?

    I work at a very casual workplace, people tend to bend his shirts, and i try to mantain the standard of proper dress for the business. Can I still usimg the tie and the cufflinks under that enviroment or should I start using the jacket, even thought it will be overdressed?

    Thanks

    • JC,
      Cufflinks are fine in a casual environment as far as I am concerned. But your co workers may not care for them. Either way, you should wear a jacket if you are wearing cufflinks.
      -JLJ

  53. Unbelievably awesome list. I see middle aged men dressed as if they are still in middle school, wearing cargo shorts and t-shirts; putting on an ill-fitting tj maxx bought polo when they “dress up”. I cant tell you how many times ive tried to explain rule #48 to my friends. Well done fyg. Well done.

  54. For the most part I agree with your rules. The belt and shoe matching has relaxed somewhat over the last few years, and white bucks are not badass……..maybe in 1982. I think black suits are a must in a man’s waddrobe, not for only funerals and weddings. Overall, your rules apply, but you seem somewhat stiff.

  55. A few comments in regards to the rules and the posts. The first rule should be “Thou shall keep your shoes looking like new”. Don’t believe for a second that wearing “well scuffed” shoes” is cool or “hip”. It’s stupid, plain and simple and a lack of good taste. Makes you wonder whether the teeth are brushed or the underwear is washed. The image of a well dressed man is viewed from the bottom up. Don’t know about the rest of the readers, but when I spend $300 to $900 on a pair of shoes I want them to last… and by polishing and hydrating them they WILL last. Do I have to mention that shoes trees are a must? … And that wearing the same shoes multiple days in a row is bad for the shoes? In regards to style, rounded toe shoes will stand the test of time if you consider your shoes as an investment, square toes are a “fashion risk” with a suit and long pointed shoes are best used if you bend the toe of the shoe upwards and attach a little bell on the end….. Unless your 6’1″ tall and your shoes size is actually a 5 or 6…the pointed toe shoe will give the “appearance” of a longer foot. Just my opinion…..

  56. Thou should take all this with a grain of salt, break rules and create your own look and style.

  57. I agree with the other person who alluded to this list being very conservative. I have over 30 pairs of dress shoes all different colors. I love mixing it up and creating my own style. I have over 50 dress shirts and 100 ties, and 15 blazers in the rotation right now. To anyone just starting out this may be a really nice way to start off, but as you continue buying dress clothes let your imagination take control. Look up the color wheel and learn to match hues.

    • Mike,
      I certainly agree with you. The list is intended to be very conservative, foolproof if anything. Once a guy has got the basics down then it’s time to experiment and venture off the beaten path a little. Sounds like you have a well built wardrobe.
      -Justin

  58. Can you just wear a tie with just a waistcoat or does it have to be jacket? Also I can’t find a site that sells trousers for button suspenders, at a reasonable price, do you know one?

    • Evan,
      A lot of men wear a vest or waistcoat without a jacket. But that is not a look I like or really support. Any pair of trousers can have suspender buttons attached to them, any tailor should be able to do it for a few dollars or you can do it yourself pretty easily. Just make sure the pants have a longer rise and sit higher on the waist so that they look better with suspenders. Low hanging pants don’t look great with suspenders.
      -Justin

      • Your pants waist (the top where a belt would go) should be horizontal, even if you have a beer belly. Nothing looks more slovenly than pants at a 40 degree downward angle, hanging over (maybe hiding) a belt at the same or lower angle. A belt can’t keep your pants horizontal unless you have an admirable torso build. Suspenders can.

  59. I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading very slow for me.

    Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end?

    I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

  60. Rule 19. Patent leather shoes. Oh dear, dear me. These should never be worn – ever. They shouldn’t be bought, they shouldn’t be made. Any that exist should be melted down as the plastic waste they are and recycled into something with more appeal and style. Something like joke dog turd or a plastic wart.

    Beeswax, spit, polish. This trio of ingredients is all that is necessary for awesome shoes or boots. My burgundy Monks shine like rubys. They take time and patience but the effect is worth the wait.

  61. Is it acceptable to wear a pocket square with a red and white pattern, and a bow tie that is solid burgundy together?

    • Charlie,
      It’s not really a matter of what is acceptable, but more whether it would look good. And I typically don’t think red and burgundy work well together, they are too close in color and end up clashing.
      -Justin

  62. Could you recommend a tie and pocket square combination for a navy suit, white shirt and brown gucci loafers? Thanks!

    • Robert,
      It all depends on how classic or not classic you want to go. If you want to keep it simple just go with a white pocket square and a solid navy or burgundy tie. The good news is that you can pair almost any color with white and navy – you could do anything from a pink paisley tie to a purple silk knit tie.
      -Justin

  63. Colored socks are a no no!! too faggy and queer to be taken seriously. Real men wear dark socks to match their dark suit pant.

    • Colored socks can be one of the few interesting options for a touch of style in a conservative outfit. Check out A Suitable Wardrobe web site, which is an extremely high end clothing adviser and purveyor, and which one would expect to be ultra-conservative (and it is). There you will find the proprietor wearing a bespoke dark suit, bespoke shoes, and….bright red hose–and recommending that men consider broadening their outlook. There is a very famous concert pianist noted for wearing patterned hose in bright colors during concerts, and such hose are popular with church and concert organists. Properly chosen patterns and colors (e.g., thin red horizontal stripes on black hose, not hose with Mickey Mouse figures etc.) add a dash of color as well as style. (BTW, I believe this web site is a no-haters zone, so you may be happier at a KKK web site).

  64. When wearing a patterned bow tie and brightly colored pocket square, does a loafer with a bit and striped band become to distracting from the rest of the ensemble?

    • Jake,
      I assume you are referring to the Gucci bits with green and red stripe behind the bit. The shoes themselves will not distract. However, if you have a lot of other stuff going on like a patterned shirt, jacket or pants that could easily tip things over.
      -JLJ

  65. I need serious help lads,

    Just purchased a navy suit with the perfect fit however I want a matching waistcoat. Realistically I want navy suit with the waistcoat crisp white shirt & pocket square brown belt brown loafers navy tie.

    I know the waistcoat should always be the same thread and colour but if not is there any other colour that may look the part? Possibly grey waistcoat? Wedding is in 2 weeks appreciate the help

    • I have several waistcoats that don’t match any of my suits in fact I have purchased several from my tailor that contrasted my suit. I wear these on “casual” days but would never consider wearing one like that to a formal “black tie” wedding (I would though for a outdoor or informal wedding). Definitely a reception for a more dressed down look and I even wore one to my sons high school graduation with a sporty thin bow tie. I like a black/dark waist coat with a medium tone suit, I would never mix and match colors eg. red/blue but I would consider a maroon/burgundy combo If I was bold enough to own either. Black/grey blue/navy I even have a couple wherein the colour is the same but the pattern in the fabric is different and I wear those in more formal settings. My favorite is a navy pinstripe suit with a solid matching fabric waistcoat. a part of wearing a waistcoat is to cover the braces and I always recommend a pair to anyone looking for a more traditional look, everyone likes the look but few are willing. Once you wear a pair of proper braces you will hate the confines of a belt and buckle, I don’t even order my suits with loops anymore. These are my own opinions and some consider me old fashioned but I like it that way. Find out the dress for the wedding before settling. Its always okay to be the best dressed man in the room (you can loosen a tie) but I hate being under dressed you can’t do anything.

  66. A Black Dress Shirt matching one’s Black Suit and then wearing a completely opposite bright colored print tie is an absolutely awesome look and a good alternate to wearing a white dress shirt with the Black Suit and different color tie.
    You still have the contrast of the expensive tie against the suit. The only difference is that you are now extending the Color of the Black suit by wearing the Black Dress Shirt. Same can be done with Navy, Charcoal, Brown & Olive suits.

  67. What’s wrong with wearing a Black Dress shirt to match your Black suit? Then you wear a bright colored tie in contrast to it.
    You can also wear a Charcoal Dress Shirt that matches your Charcoal suit and wear a different color tie in contrast. Works best with dark or dark medium colored suits.

    • I’m no fashion expert but that look was extremely popular in the late 90’s and I even remember it to a degree in the late 70’s I guess it could be coming around for a revival with the glossy skinny tie or even better the monster 6″ wide short tie (I am just aching to wear one of those)

  68. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but
    after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say fantastic blog!

  69. I do not agree with this statement – 35. Thou shall not wear a shirt with any type of logo on it in a business setting, including when in business casual dress. These shirts should be reserved for casual wear.

    Ralph Lauren makes some awesome pinpoint oxford shirts that make suit. A nicely colored shirt with the polo logo looks great when
    the jackets come off especially in extended meetings. I have always received compliments. So please lighten up.

    • Lorenzo,
      Ralph Lauren (and even some other brands that feature their logo on the shirt) does make some great off the rack dress shirts. But I cannot disagree with you more on your insistence that wearing a logoed dress shirt is at all appropriate for a business setting, especially with a suit. A logo is the last thing someone should see on a man when he is wearing a suit. A suit and the man wearing it are supposed to speak for themselves, not have the logo of a brand speak for them.
      -Justin

  70. Rule #50. When wearing a vest or waistcoat, it is always high fashion to complement the attire with a pocket watch w/chain and fob (single or double Albert is fine). The watch chain, watch and fob should be of the same color metal (gold r silver). The chain should appropriate in length as so not to be too long to liberally dangle about the frontage of the body. A man’s weight, size and proportion will determine the optimal chain length (approx 12″ is normal). Additionally, for a business suit with a lapel hole, a pocket watch with chain and fob may be used. A pocket watch and wristwatch should never be used in conjunction with one another (although the Prince of Wales was once photographed doing so).

  71. Rule #51. Hats may be worn with either tux or business suit to complete the wardrobe ensemble. When wearing hats, accompanying gloves are to be worn. Hats need to ‘fit the given mens wear, so if wearing a suite, a bowler or fedora hat is appropriate; for a tux or formal wear, a top-hat can be worn with white or gray gloves.

  72. Rule #52. Top coats and outer wear are optional, given the preference of the man, the occasion and naturally the weather. Top coats of a Navy blue or black material, preferably wool, are most acceptable. Trench Coats with a brim hat are also acceptable especially in temperate, rainy weather, however, trench coats are not to be worn with formal wear.

  73. Rule #53. Writing instruments and other ancillary business apparatus are not to be openly seen, carried or worn in such a manner as to present themselves with an obvious attraction to others. This only distracts from the appearance of the attire and brings unwanted attention to one’s objects instead of one’s personage.

  74. Rule #54. Always, always – discretely carry a clean white handkerchief in one’s pants pocket and readily offer it to another should the occasion so arise. Always use a handkerchief whenever possible out of the sight of others; otherwise, excuse yourself and quickly turn around and use the handkerchief, then immediately take the opportunity to excuse oneself to the mens room or bathroom.

  75. Rule #55. Avoid overly bulging wallets, noisy keys and other personal items that may cause irritable noises or wardrobe anomalies. Before an event, empty your wallet of all frivolous items, this will maker both your wallet and appearance slimmer, in addition being being more comfortable to carry. Pair your keys down to only those that you will need to access your vehicle or office, your other keys you can keep locked up in your desk drawer or automobile.

    • I agree. For years, I resisted my wife’s gentle but repeated admonitions to lighten up my triple-folded wallet because it was creating wear marks in my trouser pocket and to trim what she called my ‘key tumor’, which had reached unsightly-bulge size. When at last I rationalized the number of keys, lost their chunky fob, and slimmed down to a two-fold Belroy wallet, my lines became much smoother.

  76. I was wondering if you ever considered changing
    the layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect
    with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having
    1 or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?

  77. Don’t let people tell you how to dress or how you look these rules are good but i bet the person who wrote them has another set of rules that he/she lives by and everyone else is trying to catch up. Set trends and be brave in your dress sense and !@#$ anyone who tells you how bad you look when you feel a million bucks

  78. As the webpage say… fine young gentleman.
    I saw a man with light blue straight laced up shoes.
    I think was patent cuz shine as sun, but could be just nice leather.
    With… light blue shirt and tie, shine also, maybe silk or polyester mix.
    And a light grey suit. Pants and nice jacket with pointy lapels.
    Also handkerchief light blue like the tie and shirt, in the jackets upper pocket.

    Well. So far looks like a school boy. Right? all light blue and light grey.
    Bulls… details: i saw (I can recognize) a pure gold watch! maybe rolex or some, but was pure gold in deed!
    And the man got like 50 or 55 years old!
    His face… hairstyle… shittt… forget the color, that guy was a fine badass for sure.
    Summer badass, we can tell. Hahaha.

    Peace! 🙂

  79. golf magazine had a great rule in this month’s issue. if your age or waist size are greater than 36 you’re not allowed to wear a white belt.

  80. I get married in 5 days. I have a grey morning suit but I only ever wear brown shoes and I want to buy a new pair of brown shoes for my wedding. However, oldies and traditionalists are saying that I should wear black. Any thoughts??

    • Darren,
      Congrats on getting married. With a morning suit I would also recommend going with black shoes. In addition to the ‘rules’ and the reasons the ‘oldies and traditionalists’ would say, black would just look more at home with a morning suit and on a groom’s feet.
      -Justin

  81. This is all good stuff, especially for a commoner like myself. However, I find it hard to take seriously, even if I came into money, because the language and grammar are ridiculous.

  82. Whewwwww! Rule 6 saves the day! I like wearing thick socks for comfort and my favorite socks are white (so I can “boil” them at washing machine high temperature). According to this rule, I can wear white socks with a dark suit as long as I also wear a white shirt! Yayyyy!

  83. I am attending a wedding reception this week (only the evening, party type event). I am considering dark blue, very smart jeans, brown brogues, brown belt, blue formal shirt and a blazer with a patterned pocket square. Do you think this will pass, or is it necessary to put on a suit. After five days a week in suit, shirt and tie, its good to get a change!! However do not wish to look out of place. Thanks

    • Cful,
      It all depends on what the requested dress is. Personally, I don’t wear jeans or denim, ever. Nor would I ever advise anyone to wear them to a wedding reception, no matter what the dress. I would say just suck it up and wear a suit or at least some dress trousers.
      -Justin

  84. Hey mate. great stuff! The only one i’m not 100% on is #39:
    “Thou shall never button all three buttons of a three button jacket. Sometimes the top, always the middle and never ever ever the bottom.”

    Are we just talking typical business suit jackets here? Id agree if so, however on a casual jacket .. im not so sure. doesnt it depend on the length and fit of the jacket, and also what the bottom trouser is. I think this rule is open for breaking depending on these factors (but in casual terms only!)

  85. Please for the love God, whoever she may be, NEVER EVER wear shoes with a square toe. There is no disputing that fact.

  86. Can you wear a brown waistcoat with a black overcoat, or is that too bizarre? If you can, what colour must the tie be?

    • Joe,
      You don’t have to match your overcoat with anything really, since it is taken off once inside. But I would not wear a brown waistcoat with a black jacket (blazer, sport jacket or other).
      -Justin

  87. I applaud the effort put forth to transcribe these rules from the original stone tablets and look forward to future post industrial revolution rules.

    #livinginthepast

  88. I wonder, does the current over utilization of pocket squares, make you reconsider rules 32, and 33?

    I personally have shied away for some time now.

    • Mr Crusher,
      Great question/point. I wouldn’t say there is an over utilization of pocket squares these days. I would say that the way some men wear them is over done, however. Which, as you note, can give the whole thing a bad name.
      -Justin

  89. If wearing a top hat to an event, does the color of the top hat need to match the trousers? Or does a black top hat go with any formal dress? Thank you!

  90. I am getting married this December and I will be wearing a navy blue suit with a black lapel, navy blue matching pants n waist coat and a white shirt….I will be wearing burgundy shoes or brown shoes, I also intend wearing brown belt or burgundy belt…my question is this… What color of socks, and bow tie would complement my dressing?
    pls reply using both shoe colors as examples…

  91. I am in the process of choosing a suit for my high school prom, and would like to wear a 2 piece blue sharkskin suit with a light charcoal vest. Is this a good combination? Thanks.

  92. I’ve got a 30’s themed party to attend and my girlfriend wants to wear a black dress. Is anything other than black acceptable? I was originally going for a dark blue dress pant with a light bright cardigan type look or light grey dress pants with brown belt and shoes with a simple paisley designed bow tie. But I now I think it will just look tacky. Should I scratch the idea and go for black? A little help would be appreciated!

    • Jason,
      Yes, many other things are acceptable. I don’t know a ton about 30s mens fashion, but I know they did work a good bit of color into things. They also used a lot of heavy fabrics like tweed, I think.
      -Justin

  93. Dear God, I sincerely hope the commenters extolling the virtues of a black suit, black shirt and colored tie are joking. That combination is indicative of three things: terrible taste (obviously), nouveau riche, and/ or membership in the Russian mob. They are not mutually exclusive.

    Black suits are horrific. Buy a tuxedo.

    As for the square toed shoes – if you were to examine the offerings of a high quality shoe maker you will not find a square toed shoe in their collection. Go to John Lobb’s, Church’s or any of the other top men’s shoe makers and see. It’s not an opinion, just fact.

    • Dress appropriately for your context. If you are doing business in Japan, a black suit is not horrific, it is mandatory.

  94. The term ‘badass’ used in conversation evokes an image of a crewcutted
    tattooed sunglass and backwards cap wearing young man of very little discernment.A gentleman even of the American persuasion would be loathe to use it.

  95. Justin,

    I think there needs to be an addition to the rules regarding – collar stays. Most respectable dress shirts now have the slots for it and some even provide you with a set. They keep the collars crisp and straight and give the dress shirt a sharper and more professional look. You can’t see them, but you can see the difference they make. (Tip: If you forget to insert them in the morning and notice it in the office, use a paper clip. Just don’t forget to remove them before washing)

    A big no-no for me is to buy a shirt without the collar slot or a sewn-in collar stays.

  96. Horsebits with a suit? a stick on red nose to complement is a given,
    i suggest a revolving bowtie to complete the look.

  97. I have a pair of light grey suede shoes, would it be acceptable to wear with a tie, vest and dress pants (vest and pants black)?

  98. Three points:

    1. Traditionally, one wore a tie only with a full-sleeved shirt. For some years now, and mainly due to weather conditions, ties with half-sleeved shirts are acceptable, so long as one does not wear a jacket. i have seen this trend not only in America, but in many other countries too.

    2. While striped suits, or striped trousers with a plain shirt look good, avoid checked trousers. They do not look as elegant.

    3. The tip of the larger, outer blade of the long tie should sit on the middle of the belt buckle, not middle of the stomach!

  99. A nice guide that at the showed me some things I have been doing wrong, but even better it showed me what I have been doing correct. That said there is still some things I am somewhat unsure about and that is when it comes to shoes. Other than hearing that many make mistakes when wearing brown shoes I never actually know what those misstakes are, so I always find myself second guessing my choices in wearing brown shoes. Then there is the issue of shoes with several colours, like a pair of oxfords that I own that has black leather for the main part of the shoe and a natural brown finish for the sole and the “rim” around the sole. Never really know what to treat them as but they look great either way.

    anyways, thanks for sharing this list.

    best. Andreas

  100. Firstly, I find even the thought of white bucks as midly insulting. Whoever wrote this article needs to take a long hard look in the mirror before handing out advice so easily. It is absolutely preposterous that one thinks black shoes and brown is not acceptable – who are you? You dont deserve to be associated with a site like ‘the fine young gentleman’ when you are anything but. One more thing, when is it appropriate to use the phrase ‘badass’ when talking about gentlemen? And horizontal ties…are you kidding me.

  101. I started reading this expecting to disagree with most of the rules. I agreed with them all. They all seem like they should just be intuitive, I guess that’s why you have to write them down. I’m enjoying the articles, keep them coming.

  102. Thank you for the very informative post. Believe me on this, I follow all of your 51 rules already and it does make a difference. People ask me where I buy my clothes and accessories from but little do most know that it’s not all about brands like you pointed out (even though I am a stickler for that), it’s really having the sense to match the color of your outfits and accessories and knowing what goes with what. Thank you again.

  103. I’ve got a small problem with Rule 29 – which is ambiguously (and therefore poorly) written. The largest ambiguity is, however, cleared up in the conversation above. I do NOT think that Rule 29 should be interpreted to mean that one shall not wear a white shirt with anything but a suit and tie (another ambiguity that emerges from how poorly it is written). The all-white shirt with no tie and a sweater or jacket is very IN right now. Ever watch The Profit on CNBC? Marcus Lamonis almost ALWAYS wears an all-white button down shirt with a sweater or jacket – and never a tie. That look is quite common today among well-dressed gentlemen. We are in a real “ties are out” phase. (Don’t worry. They’ll come back.) BTW: That shirt Lamonis wears is available on-line. Forgot who makes it. Price: $850. Whew.
    Here is a rule for the gentleman who writes well: Thou shalt never use the word “utilize” – a word one finds throughout the rules. People who use “utilize” are trying to sound more impressive by substituting an abstract latinate word for “use” – a perfectly fine concrete, anglo-saxon word. Doing this actually advertises your insecurity. Be secure. Don’t utilize. (One might excuse “utilize” in the rules in the sense that the voice used is one purposely meant to sound over-wrought. Thus the use of “thou” etc.)

  104. Rule 13 should be seen as one for America only. Go to Japan or Europe or Singapore or Hong Kong and you will see guys in business casual dress with cuffed shirts and cufflinks with no jacket. One I recall that looked particularly good on a guy I know is a real “clothes horse” was a medium-striped shirt of tan and purple with light blue glass cufflinks and a hidden button-down collar. He looked – and is – totally sharp, and definitely not a hipster. I predict we will see more of this in America over the next few years. Rule 13 is weak and may fade away altogether.

  105. I question the credibility of any style guide that references “The Dude” as doing something positive 🙂

    Really though…why does no one ever say what to do with a *single* button jacket? Technically, it’s both bottom and top…

  106. Honestly, I disagree with more than half this list. Largely it lacks imagination that usually comes with the snobbery lists like this almost invariably have. However, instead going point-by-point in all the ways I think you’re wrong, I’ll stick with the big ones.

    1. You place far too much importance on jackets. They’re great, but life goes on without them. You can wear ties and braces just find without them. Particularly ties. Braces, too, are for utility as much as style. Don’t sacrifice that utility for some misguided sense of “style”. (On that note, braces with with clips are preferable to ones with buttons.)

    2. Anyone who places too focus on shoes is a fool and shallow one on that. Yes, they should be appropriate for the outfit and they should match, but beyond that they should be an after thought. Anyone who cares too much about shoes needs a hobby to occupy their excess time. Again, utility and comfort are as (if not more) important than fashion. If square toe shoes are more comfortable for the wearer, they are preferable.

    Also, a person who thinks white bucks are anything but hideous loses the right to dictate fashion.

    3. “Thou shall not wear a solid black suit for business or professional activities. Save it for formal events and funerals.”

    …Wrong. Just…no.

    4. In regards to buttoning the bottom button, be it waistcoats or suit jackets, is matter of the image you want to project. Buttoning them all is fine, if you’re going for a more reserved look. Leaving the bottom unbuttoned is fine if you’re more traditional. Leaving them all unbuttoned is fine, if you’re projecting relaxedness.

    5. I’ll make you a deal. I won’t say anything more about your white bucks, if you lay off my black dress shirts.

    6. “Style is a state of mind.”

    That’s the truest thing you’ve said. The problem is, you don’t practice what you preach. None of your “rules” are actually wrong, just short-sighted. They’re not rules, just trends that many people follow without question.

    Anyone can look great in anything if they own it.

  107. You lost all credibility the moment you said that loafers with tassels are bad-ass. what a joke. lmao.

  108. Excellent article. I agree with most points. Thank you.

    I think you should re-consider your position on square-toed shoes. Just because they are a newer development does not mean they are wrong. I have slender shoulders and I’m very tall, 6’4″, and I find that the square toe helps me look more masculine, and de-emphasizes my height.

    Perhaps they do not work for most men, but I think a blanket statement saying that they are always terrible, is simply unjustified.

  109. Perhaps not specific to the enumerated Rules of Dress, but I will comment on the common combination of khaki pants and the solid light blue shirt; typically a button-down oxford shirt. I have no idea why these two came to match. The look is frumpy, boring, and unimaginative. To me the color combination just does not look good. Least of all, is not a style, as in: Style.

  110. Some of these tips make sense, but since when does a “Fine Young Gentleman” refer to things as “Bad Ass?” If you ask me you sound like a very strange sixteen year old that tries to dress well. I came to this page trying to find tips written in a serious and mature manor. Disappointed…

    Better luck next time,

    -James E. Witholfree

  111. I wanted to know if a navy blue shirt on a camel colour pants with light tan shoes and dark green suspenders would match…

  112. I never heard of your tie should coordinate with your trousers. A tie should coordinate with
    a man’s socks not his pants.

  113. I never heard a tie should coordinate with your trousers. A tie should coordinate with your socks.
    They should not match, but pick up a color or coordinate with a color. Your trousers should match your suit coat unless you are wearing odd trousers and a blazer or sport jacket.

  114. Regarding the question from Alex: black and tan is fine for beer, but a tan jacket, which to me just sounds casual, is not a dressy companion with black dress pants.

  115. Please consider the following revision to rule 29 to enhance it’s clarity. I would not be surprised if much of the negative feedback to this rule comes from a misunderstanding of your intent, rather than the spirit of the rule itself. You do explain the rule in at least one of the comments, but there are several and they can be difficult to wade through.

    (Original) 29. Thou shall only wear shirts with white collars and white cuffs with a jacket. These shirts should not be part of a business casual wardrobe, that is, one where suits are not utilized.

    (Revised #1) 29. Thou shall always wear a jacket when wearing shirts with both a white collar and white cuffs. These shirts should not be part of a business casual wardrobe, that is, one where suits are not utilized.

    (Revised #2) 29. Thou shall always wear a jacket with shirts of both a white collar and white cuffs. These shirts should not be part of a business casual wardrobe, that is, one where suits are not utilized.

  116. A small point but as this is a website about style; ” thou” can not be followed by “his”, as “thou” is the second person and his is the third person singular. Thou should normally take “thine” as a possessive. The above rules such as: “Thou shall match the color of his socks with the color of his pants.” actually implies that the reader will be dressing ( as in the role of valet) somebody else, but I doubt that this was the intention.

  117. Was all the “thou shall” really necessary? It’s really hard to finish reading this. It’s kind of annoying.

  118. Gents,

    Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all the rules on this list and comments on this page, and can see where you are coming from. Folks comments regarding the usage of the term “bad ass” are thoroughly misinformed. “Bad ass” is a superb turn of phrase and one which is utilised by only the gentlemen willing to not take himself too seriously. I, for one, have attended the finest boarding school in England, whereby most of these rules become second nature, and never once been told to curb my usage of such term. To those questioning it’s relevance, I say, stop being such a pretentious douche and grow up!

    Rule 34, however, I must disagree with. A bagpack (backpack), is entirely suitable with a suit. Having been a lawyer now for these past few years, nothing comes close to it’s practicality. Although, I must add, it is a designer bag and one designed to look at home next to my Gucci two piece.

    Love the blog though Gents, keep it up.

    Tobias
    Surrey

  119. Gents,

    I’ve just had a suit tailored, the jacket and pants are in a beautiful midnight blue (it’s quite dark). I have bought two options for the under-shirt, either a light blue or white both with a subtle pattern.
    Now, here is my dilemma.. I wanted to wear my brown shoes, brown belt and brown leather strapped watch with the suit. All the brown items are matched in colour.
    Please let me know what to do here?

    Brilliant article by the way.

    Regards, Haiden.

  120. at temple beth or for yom hashoahInvented by MIT trained nuclear engineer Greg Lambrecht, a Coravin and two argon capsules retail for $299. I consider it my favorite “genre” of music. I recently attended a piano recital for a young man in my neighborhood who studies music at a local university. “I l

  121. Suprised watch position was not addressed. You need to add the males watch should ONLY be worn on the left wrist. Period , no exceptions. ( unless missing a limb)

  122. […] need to balance out what a man is supposed to look like, you can start by learning the rules of looking dapper. Once you learn the rules to being fly, don’t be afraid to take a flick in it, throw it on […]

  123. What color suspenders and tie go with a somewhat brighter navy blue suit paired with a white and light pink checked dress shirt?

  124. Very sorry but i am not agree with your point 13 of Rules of men dress. which is below

    “14. Thou shall always doubt salespeople and in-store tailors opinions on fashion, style and fit. The stores they work for pay them, not you. Their motives are to sell products to who will buy them, not necessarily to who will look best in them.”

    As on our store we “Kahn Tailor always care the look of our clients and we try our level best to provide as best fit and as good look and matched clothes as possible, as it will Increase our business and we shall get more recommendation from them”.

    • Id say match the jacket. Granted im not a professional, I was just in Mens Wearhouse and most of the time they seemed to match both the jacket AND the pants, but for me personally I would rather have the vest match the jacket than the pants. I think it makes you look a little more neater and sharper. I guess it would also depend on the color as well.

  125. Looking for a comfortable pair of dress/business shoes (not Hush Puppies, Rockport, or Dockers) that won’t kill my feet walking 1/2 to 1 mile a day. I have Allen Edmonds, but consider them office shoes. Have traveled in then on business trips and a full day of wear through airports & meetings leaves my feet in rough shape. I’m looking at the Ecco NJ Oxfords as an option. Any other recommendations?

  126. “Never, ever, ever wear a black dress shirt with a suit (or a dinner jacket/tuxedo for that matter). Just because they may be or may have been ‘on trend’ does not mean one will ever look good on you.”

    Seriously? This is absurd. A guy wearing a black suit with a black dress shirt, especially with the top two buttons unbuttoned, is classically sexy. (And since when was that ever a “trend”?)

    Yes,

  127. I enjoy wearing suspenders (braces) with my suits. The issue is maintaining the proper placement of the waistband of the pant on my hips. A belt doesn’t always keep the pants at the right level, allowing them to drop down, causing a bunching of fabric at the shoes, and a constant lifting up of the pants. Arrrgh.

    But, not having tailor made clothes, my pants come automatically with belt loops. I never use them, but have my tailor add buttons for the braces. Should I have him remove the belt loops, per your rules which say that belt loops should always have a belt? Because for now, I just wear them empty. Certainly, I am not going to put a belt in them with suspenders. That is one of the biggest fashion faux pas I see. It always makes me laugh. But at least his pants won’t fall in case his braces fail.

  128. Little about cufflinks in these otherwise interesting ‘rules’. In Nicholas Antongiavanni’s The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men’s Style he says that French or double cuffs (plus links) should not only be worn only with a suit (not an odd jacket), but only with a wool suit and not with linen, silk or tweed etc. I’m inclined to agree. I’m also a big believer in only wearing double-sided cufflinks, not those swivel-back things, that spoil the inside of the wrist..

  129. I am going to an event this weekend and my date is wearing a black dress. Can I wear a blue jacket, white shirt, kahki pants, brown shoes and brown belt?

  130. Great article. Im a personal/private chef, writer, and event/home decorator and i need all the help i can get with this since i have to cobble my business, casual, and formal wear from thrift shops, goodwill, and salvation army. I am constantly hitting stumbling blocks when dressing for consultations, gigs, and presentations. I learned how to a press and clean a suit from a men’s warehouse video in college, but assembling outfits piecemeal is a nightmare. Im still trying to figure out the vest thing and should shoes be if similar color to the suit if the suit is anything other than black or white. Havent found the poor mans guide to looking professional yet.

  131. I am attending an outdoor beach wedding in 3 weeks – would grey pants be acceptable to wear? If so, what color(s) jacket would work? Thanks!

  132. A gentlemans tie should coordinate with his hosiery. It does not have anything to do with the color of ones trousers or anything else for that matter unless you are wearing a dark blue dinner jacket and black tie. If you really want to learn about men’s clothing, look at Esquire and Apparel Arts magazines
    from the 1930’s. How do you think menswear designer? Ralph Lauren made his billions. If your lucky, your Dad can be a big help. However, today this is highly unlikely because most of today’s Dad’s come from the hippy generation or latter who do not know a thing or care about clothing. These are the zombies walking around middle class malls wearing t shirts untucked with writing on them. Shorts with cargo pockets and either white leather running shoes or sandals without socks.

    • Those are some stereotypes about hippies. Actually some hippies were actually very dandy, depending on their philosophy and their clothing was quite researched although unconventional and of course far from formal :).

  133. While I agree with about 85% of these rules, THERE ARE TOO MANY FAMN RULES… The writer of this article comes across as a pompous ass. My whole take on men’s fashion is follow the rules, but throwing in broken a rule or two just to keep it interesting.

  134. Was having a conversation with some friends and some think it’s okay to wear suspenders under a waistcoat, some think it’s okay to wear it over and under a waistcoat, the rest think you should never wear both; it’s either one or the other. Is there a rule to this?

  135. Only a few I wouldn’t say wrong, but perplexing rules, but overall good, must be because there are too many of them, so some end up contraddicting or redundant :). I overall agree with dennes.
    So I only follow a few rules, the main ones.
    3. yeah, black leather shoes match almost anything.
    4. They’re the “natural” colors from black to burgundy. But never say never there might be some exceptions.
    6. Sure, with brown shoes or loafers I always match socks with pants or tie, with black or very dark shoes I prefer matching my socks with shirts, most of the time.
    15-16-17. “Thou shall not wear slip on shoes with a suit.”” Thou can wear loafers with a suit, however,” “Loafers are badass”, I guess the 3 statement somehow don’t contraddict, as if you don’t recomment them but recognize they look good and can be worn. Any way, yes, I alternate with penny loafers, the same ones I wear with shorts :D.

    29. “Thou shall only wear shirts with white collars” like white shirts or only white collars? I go for white shirts most of the time, but I like the other colors and some patterns too.
    Btw shirt patterns, can generally be reproduced with socks, but just the general tone and carefully.

    40. Thou shall wear over the calf socks as opposed to crew socks whenever possible.
    Almost always just under knee socks, with the exception of August maybe, then I’d risk the crew sock :D.

  136. If you take this seriously, or post an actual comment – your salary is bigger than your dick you bunch of wankers. You actually think you look good to ‘other people’? Do you know they’re all thinking you look like a twat no matter WHAT braces you wear, socks you wear? You should all join a club where you can match your socks and belts and wank each other off. Probably already do 😉

    • Jason, it might seem you are counterconformist and I agree, substance counts more than clothes (which still I consider a form of art, but anyway), but I think you are just a troll and unoriginally uneducated.

  137. I just broke a basic rule, got me a dark navy (marine) formal shoes with a matching belt, now i have no idea how to wear it.
    With navy suit it doesnt give enough contrast, with brown it looked weird, oddly it looked best with a grey suit or a lighter colored blue suit.
    What do u gents think?

  138. My son have a model extravaganza to attend dress code is Paris/French couture. What can he wear?
    Navy&white striped shirt
    Black, navy, white pants?
    What colour jacket?
    Shoes?
    Etc?
    Thx

  139. My son needs to attend a fashion extravaganza. Theme is paris/french smart casual.
    What can he wear.
    Navy and white striped shirt I know is a must.
    Any more ideas?
    When can men wear white pants?

  140. What if I’m wearing a white belt with black pants? I saw on your chart that you said NO to white shoes/black pants, but here you say that the shoes should match the belt? If it matters, the event is only a high school formal, but I’m wondering for now and for later.

  141. I just got me a new Versace Blue Seude Loafers, but i’m confused on how to rock it, can anyone please help me on the shirt, trousers, and blazer colors to rock it with, and if it will look good with Blazer or not

  142. Inappropriate comment about Bono, he must wear a special type of sunglasses. He has an eye defect. Otherwise, I like your information and have sent it to my three boys.

  143. I am attending an all white event.I am wearing an all white suit with a dark orange like shirt and brown shoes.What color belt should I wear,Brown or black?

  144. Need advice,

    I’m a college student preparing for the world of business (getting marketing degree, networking as much as possible, getting involved on campus, getting work experience, etcetera). For that reason, I am trying to improve my wardrobe to fit the events and other networking opportunities that I go to. What are the basic essentials that I should start to acquire considering I am on a “college student” budget and can’t buy everything that I would like right now?

  145. Hi. Talk about a hat for a casual ocassion, like going to a bar. How to match the hat: with the pants or the shoes?

    Thanks for your advice

    Mike

  146. I’m going to a Scandinavian Christmas concert at Orchestra Hall in Mpls Saturday, just bought some black dress pants,. I cant really afford the coat, so as far as button down shorts go, i am thinking the shirt, matching belt and shoes and black pants, my jacket is black leather… Would this be appropriate? Should or can my shirt have Christmas colors? I am a summer outfit guy with a closet full of Tommy Bahama shirts, so this formal dress confuses me a bit!!!

  147. […] Metals and leathers in your outfit should be properly matched. Accessories are meant to add something to your ensemble when they’re worn together, but they shouldn’t be the main focus. This means that belt metals, tie clips, and any other accessories with metal should remain in the same metal shade, while leathers work best when they’re also in the same color family — just make sure to go one shade darker or lighter when matching shoes and belts or even a briefcase. This approach is not meant for you too look matchy matchy, rather it will compliment your whole look. […]

  148. I don’t really see the point of suspenders with a jacket as you cannot see them whatsoever.. Call me a hipster but I think suspenders without a jacket is a good way to casual but still sophisticated

  149. Okay so need some advice please.
    Opinions on evening at the theater attire:

    Red Velvet Sports Coat (dark wine color actually)
    White Dress Shirt
    Black Slacks
    Black belt and Monk Straps

    or switch out the under garments for
    Solid Lt Grey Dress Shirt
    Med Grey Slacks
    Med Brown Belt and Brogues

  150. […] Metals and leathers in your outfit should be properly matched. Accessories are meant to add something to your ensemble when they’re worn together, but they shouldn’t be the main focus. This means that belt metals, tie clips, and any other accessory with metal should remain in the same metal shade, while leathers work best when they’re also in the same color family — just make sure to go one shade darker or lighter when matching shoes and belts or even a briefcase. This approach is not meant for you too look matchy-matchy, rather it will complement your whole look. […]

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  154. Just two comments. 1) Your aversion to “flat or square toed” shoes seems a bit odd. Apron-toed shoes, which are usually a bit squared, are entirely acceptable with or without a suit. I actually prefer apron-toed dress shoes and have seen them worn by many well-dressed gentlemen. 2) the suggestion of wearing a tie bar slanted is peculiar, or at least eccentric, and if I saw someone with their tie bar at a slant, I would want to straighten it for them, thinking it had gone askew. It just looks sloppy.

  155. Strongly disagree with wearing brown shoes for business. Nothing says “naive country boy taking his first step into the big city” like wearing brown shoes to a job interview.

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