Posts filed under 'Q&A'
Q: I want to wear my off-white puffer vest with my dark gray Earnest Sewn Jeans but I have no clue what to wear beneath the vest. Any suggestions, aside from black?
A: You’re on the right track–the key to wearing a puffer vest is layering. Since the puffer vest is, in fact, puffy, you’re going to want a thin layer (or two) underneath. Layering tees work well here, as do thin cable knit sweaters (for texture).
As for the color of the undershirt, off-white and grey does naturally pair well with black, as you suggested. But to spice up the look, combine the neutral off-white and grey with a bright color. My first choice would be orange, which looks lovely with grey jeans and whose warm hue will pair well with the off-white vest. Don’t like orange? A warm shade of bright green will also bring out the best in both neutrals.
Pictured: Puffer Vest | $59.50 at Gap.
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December 11th, 2007
Q: I am going to a wedding and would love to wear a black dress with gold detail. Would this be ok for daytime as well as evening?
A: Back in the day, it was never OK to wear black to a wedding. Nowadays, however, the wedding etiquette masters have declared black acceptable for evening. Even though black is OK for an evening wedding, it’s frowned upon for a daytime ceremony.
If the wedding is a daytime event, choose a dress in another color–anything but black, white/cream/off-white/etc (too bridal), and metallics (too evening). With bright colors in vogue this season, you’ll be sure to find a wedding-appropriate dress that you can repurpose (for a holiday party, perhaps).
Extra style tip? With minidresses exploding in popularity, take care to find a dress that is appropriate for the celebration. Knee-length or longer dresses are optimal, and just say no to hemlines that are higher than 2 or 3 inches above the knee.
Pictured: Donna Ricco Stretch Satin Sheath Dress | $158 at Nordstrom.
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December 7th, 2007
Q: While I love hats, do you have any good tips on how to keep hair looking good after taking the hat off? I always end up with flat, lifeless hair.
A: Hats are the ultimate in chic accessories, but they have the unfortunate side effect of giving you Hat Hair. Hat Hair comes in two strains (that aren’t mutually exclusive): Matted Hair and Static-y Hair. You can try to minimize Hat Hair’s effects by wearing hats of lighter weight or those that don’t have an extremely tight fit, but sometimes you just can’t prevent it. Here’s what to do if you have a case of Hat Hair:
Matted Hair: Apply a bit of volumizing spray to your roots and use your fingers to give your hair some oomph.
Static-y Hair: Spray a bit of Static Guard onto your hairbrush and run it through your hair. Don’t have Static Guard and a brush? In a pinch, you can apply a touch of hand lotion to your hair with your fingers to get rid of static.
Pictured: Static Guard Spray | $4.99 at Walgreens.
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December 6th, 2007
Q: I’m 18 years old and need a blazer. I’m about 120 lbs and 5′9â€, so I’m having trouble finding one that fits properly. Do you know of any good places I would be able to find something like that? And would it be easier if I just bought one that fit across the shoulders and had it taken in?
A: First of all, I applaud your desire to find a) a blazer and b) a blazer that fits properly, especially at age 18. You will really appreciate having this blazer when you go out for a nice dinner or a night on the town (read: lounges and clubs that have unspoken dress code policies) in college.
There really are two answers to you questions, both of which you touched on. The current trend is to sport slim fitting suits, not those boxy cuts you may be used to seeing older gentlemen wearing. Fortunately for people like us who favor slimmer silhouettes, designers across the board are making plenty of slim fitting jackets. As a result, most respectable department and retail stores will have the slimmer jackets you are looking for. Forbes.com even ran a feature on how the new Gorden Gekko business “power suit†is actually a slim fitting two or three-piece suit, not the boxy cuts that most execs seem to wear.
I myself wear a Paul Smith London suit and a Marc by Marc Jacobs blazer often; both jackets needed limited tailoring, so I would suggest checking them out first, if you are looking for specific designers.
The second part of the answer is yes, it is easier to buy one that fits across the shoulders and have it taken in. In fact, this is really the only way to buy any suit, tux, or blazer. Why? The shoulder is the one place that even great tailors will not touch. You should still go for designers that are slimmer fitting, however, since excessively slimming the sides can lead to all kinds of problems that may require more tailoring.
If this is your first blazer, I would strongly advise buying a wool navy blazer. It’s a staple in a man’s wardrobe and is quite versatile. Check out our article on the navy blazer. Read that article even if you aren’t getting a blue one; it will let you know the “right†way the blazer should fit and give you a few suggestions of what to wear with it. If this is your second blazer, opt for a gray blazer (go darker than lighter). If this is your 3rd or later, you have a few options here, not only with color, but with fabric – maybe you want a velvet blazer for the winter (especially if you live in the East) or a more casual canvas or cord blazer.
Pictured: Obey Corduroy Blazer | $199 at Ben Sherman.
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December 5th, 2007
Q: I work for a relatively hip, young firm and the annual corporate holiday party is coming up. I recently purchased a Herve Leger bandage outfit (very pink top paired with a very black skirt.) Would this be too over the top for a work function?
A: With work functions, the generally accepted wisdom is to err on the conservative side. You’ll be hanging out with people that you work with–and that, with any luck, you’ll continue to work with for some time. Sexy outfits can work for your best friend’s holiday party, but the office holiday party is still governed by professionalism.
That said, professional outfits don’t have to be unattractive. And since you work at a hip, young firm, you can safely push the boundaries a bit more.
Our rule of thumb? Choose one standout, boundary-pushing detail–and build your outfit around that. You can wear a form fitting dress–but not one that features a up-to-there miniskirt and/or one that is excessively low cut. Or you can get away with that minidress, but one that’s less form fitting. Alternatively, you could try a metallic dress for sparkle–but in a conservative cut (as pictured).
With the Herve Leger bandage outfit, we’re counting two boundary-pushing details: the extreme body-hugging fit and the very pink top. Our advice is to choose one or the other: wear a body-hugging dress OR one in a standout bright color. Remember, you want to be the talk of the office for your stylish fashion choices (and your top-of-the-line work)–not for crossing the don’t-go-there fashion line.
Pictured: Alice + Olivia Sequined Pencil Dress | $495 at Shopbop.
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November 29th, 2007
Q: What would be a good shirt and tie combination to wear with black pinstriped pants? I am fair skinned with blonde hair & blue eyes.
A: Some guys try to go stripe-happy (striped suit, striped shirt, striped tie) and end up looking like the result of a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy makeover. Now, it’s not impossible to do, but it’s very difficult. I myself avoid it, but if you want to try it, make sure your stripes are of different sizes. Most suits have relatively thin pinstripes, so this means finding a shirt and tie with thicker stripes. Honestly, I haven’t seen very many pull off the triple threat very well, with one exception being Isaac Ferry (rocker Bryan Ferry’s son) in the July 2007 GQ. But then again, he only looks good because he knows he looks good.
For a more subdued look, try a simple solid shirt and solid tie. You can try matching your tie and the pinstripes (unless they’re white). Silver tie with silver pinstripes and a blue shirt always looks good. Some check-patterned shirts look great here too. You can’t go wrong with a crisp white oxford here either. If your suit has a navy base, a purplish/blue tie will do well here. You can also try a houndstooth-patterned tie or a dark colored dotted tie. Or for something a little different, try a textured wool knit tie. You can also try wearing a suit without a tie, à la Tom Ford (although I’d suggest buttoning your shirt a bit higher than he does, unless you know you look good).
Long story short, you have a wealth of choices to wear with pinstripes, which is why the pinstriped suit is a classic and a staple of the well-dressed man’s wardrobe. Want more ideas? Go pick up any issue of GQ or Esquire. You’re guaranteed to find some great examples of pinstriped suits.
Pictured: Straight Black Pinstripe Dress Chino | $78 at Banana Republic.
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November 28th, 2007
Q: What are some essential pieces for a laid back, preppy girl look?
By Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant
A: First a bit of fashion history for you: preppy
fashion is derived from White Anglo Saxon College Preparatory School uniforms. Big in the 70s and the 80s, preppy fashion is still very much in style today. But instead of wearing preppy fashion head-to-toe, we generally recommend layering in other pieces for a more laid-back, modern look. To get you started though, here’s eleven staples for a preppy look:
The Navy Blazer
Wool Gabardine Single Button Jacket | $225 at J Crew
The Cable Knit Sweater
Cambridge Cable Crewneck Sweater | $74 at J Crew
The Basic Button Down Shirt
Sparkle Plaid Margaret Shirt | $78 at J Crew
The Polo Shirt
Kendall Polo Shirt | $39.50 at Abercrombie
The Corduroy Pant / The Khaki Pant
Modern Boot Cut Corduroy Pant | $54.60 (sale) at Banana Republic
The Lilly Pulitzer Dress
Lilly Pulitzer Cosette Printed Shirtdress | $195.90 (sale) at Nordstrom
The Pearl (or Diamond) Earrings
Pearl Stud Earrings | $55 at J Crew
The Cartier Tank Watch
Cartier Tank Francaise Watch | $3,800 at Saks Fifth Avenue
The Ribbon Belt
Striped Grosgrain Belt | $48 at J Crew
The Kate Spade Handbag
Kate Spade Classic Noel Metallic Griffin Tote | $216.90 (sale) at Nordstrom
The Penny Loafer
BP Paperclip Penny Loafer | $59.95 at Nordstrom
Lastly, here’s two pointers to make your preppy look more laid back:
(1) Play with color. We like darker and richer colors than the generally preferred kelly green and bright pink.
(2) Don’t look too perfect. Your cotton pinstriped button-down could, for example, be left unpressed. Or you can wear it slightly unbuttoned to show some skin.
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November 27th, 2007
Q: When wearing tights during winter, the static always make them stick to the skirt I have on and this creates a “scrunched-up†look that totally destroys the otherwise nice, formal look I’m trying to achieve. How do I stop the static?
A: Indeed, static can ruin many an outfit–from skirts sticking to tights to hair sticking to sweaters. Here’s how to stop static from forcing you into a fashion faux pas:
(1) Run to the store and pick up a can of Static Guard.
(2) Spray Static Guard on your tights.
(3) Put on your skirt, and enjoy a static-free, scrunch-free day!
Pictured: Static Guard Spray | $4.99 at Walgreens.
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November 21st, 2007
Q: I’m going to go meet my girlfriend’s family in New York for the first time this Thanksgiving. I want to make a good impression, but I also want to stay true to who I am (which can be described as casually offbeat). What should I wear?
A: A study conducted some time ago about the importance of first impressions in job interviews concluded that the interviewer passed judgment of the potential employee within 3 seconds, and more often than not, that judgment was right. No pressure, though, right?
The point of this story is to not only emphasize the importance of first impressions, but also to applaud your taking them so seriously.
That said, you don’t want to seem like you’re trying too hard to impress your girlfriend’s parents either. Look well dressed but not overdressed; look sophisticated, but not old (yes, you can still look sophisticated and casual at the same time). And try but make it seem effortless, which, admittedly, can be hard.
Since it is a special occasion, you probably want to dress up a little. A sweater would look a little stuffy, as would khakis or dress pants if not done right. I would go with either sporty chinos (flat fronts, unless you’re 35) or dressy jeans (dressy meaning dark with no fade). For a shirt, you can either wear an oxford (keep it conservative here, stick with white, blue or something with stripes) or a polo underneath a cotton or tweed blazer (wool would seem a little stuffy here).
Try the pictured polo from J. Lindeberg (I have one in burgundy and charcoal and it’s GREAT) with a charcoal cotton blazer over some dark denim and either lowtop white sneakers or brown penny loafers.
You could also try wearing this rugby shirt from Gap underneath a gray tweed blazer like this beauty from Ralph Lauren over some flat-front, sporty stone khakis and brown penny loafers.
It’s always hard to tell another person what to wear, so maybe the best thing to do is tell you what I would wear if I was visiting my girlfriend’s parents (with the caveat that we probably have different personal styles): gray tweed or cotton blazer over a light blue shirt and maybe a burgundy/gray cardigan over dark denim and simple white sneakers (have you seen those Common Projects lowtops?).
The second most important thing is fit. Bagginess is for kids. Wear your pants on your waist, not your hips. If you have any doubts or questions, visit your tailor.
So what’s the most important thing? Dinner Etiquette. Brush up on your manners with this guide and remember, the proper way to eat bread is to break the bread, butter the broken off piece, and gracefully eat it.
Pictured: J Lindeberg Polo Bold Stripe Pique Black | $95 at J Lindeberg.
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November 20th, 2007
Q: What colour should my suit be if I’m wearing it to a late afternoon wedding in a tropical country? Dress code is "coat and tie."
A:
“Coat and tie†is an unusual dress code. There are standard rules for black tie, black tie optional, etc., but “coat and tie†seems vague. It may sound silly, but you can judge the formality of the wedding based on the appearance of the invitation. Is the font and overall appearance of the card more casual? A suit will be just fine. Is the writing calligraphy and formal? You’ll probably need a tuxedo.
Still unsure? I would go so far as to even call the happy couple (or someone else that would know). I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the question and would probably appreciate your respecting the special nature of the event.
For the most part, it doesn’t matter where the wedding takes place, tropical or not. Wear what you would wear to a normal wedding. My guess is that “coat and tie†means black tie optional. What to wear to a black tie optional wedding? It’s pretty standard: a simple dark colored suit, crisp white shirt and your (tasteful) choice of tie. Since you’re going to be in a tropical climate, however, lighter colors (e.g. beige, white) are also acceptable. You could also consider wearing a cream tropical dinner jacket.
The only other thing to consider is footwear. If the wedding is on a beach, go barefoot and bring a towel to wipe the sand off your feet.
Pictured: Ben Sherman ‘Kensington’ Seersucker Suit | $595 at Nordstrom.
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November 16th, 2007
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