Shopping For Mens Suits

Guys don't wear wolf pelts anymore, but not much else has changed in the world of men's clothes: the right suit, or tie, or shirt, or shoes still projects mystery, erotic potential, and power. And to negotiate these hurdles with style and confidence, Men's Style is indispensable---a valuable source of practical advice for how to dress in a world of conflicting fashion imperatives, and a witty guide to the history, trends, codes, and conventions of men's attire. In chapters and amusing sidebars on shoes, suits, shirts and ties, formal and casual wear, underwear and swimsuits, cufflinks and watches, coats, hats, and scarves, Russell Smith steers a confident course between the twin hazards of blandness and vulgarity to articulate a philosophy of dress that can take you anywhere. Here you'll find the rules for looking the part at the office, a formal function, or the hippest party---and learn when you can toss those rules aside. And you'll find level answers to all of your questions. What color suit should a man buy first? Should socks match the belt, pants, or shoes? What tuxedos are always in, and which aren't ever? And what's required of ambiguous social situations like "dress casual" and "black-tie optional"? The answers are here, in a book that's full of trivia, history, and guidance---finally, the perfect guide for brothers, fathers, sons, and selves.

Everybody knows that first things come first but few men know what the first things are in men's clothing. Most men waste much of their time and effort buying the wrong articles of clothing because they are looking for the wrong things. Here are some examples. 1) Most consumers believe quality garments wear better and last longer, but they have no clear ideas concerning how to judge the quality of products. So, they buy expensive clothing or buy whatever famous designers make. 2)The vast majority of consumers want to buy a tie that looks sharp, beautiful or fun. They also want the tie to match their jacket, shirt and slacks. The tie looks sharp, but the wearer is not. Most men never realize that the primary goal of men's clothing is not to look pretty or handsome. 3)Many men buy fancy suits and have the suits altered incorrectly or send the suit to a dry-cleaner regularly to have the suits damaged by chemicals or by over-pressing. The mistakes can be avoided if consumers know how to put the first things first. If a man buys everything he wears according to his face, he will have less to worry about which articles of clothing coordinate well with other clothing items. If a man buys the right size clothing according to current standards in the industry instead of the brand name or price tag, he will have less to worry about whether his clothing items will wear better and last longer. This book lists a number of first things that consumers should know when shopping and wearing men's clothing. Once they set their priorities straight, they will find it difficult to buy and wear the wrong articles of clothing. They will also find it easier to buy what they need or want.

Clothes maketh the man--discover the fascinating history and evolution of the modern suit from the late 17th century to date. "A fascinating, richly illustrated history of suits." -- Esquire magazine "Few coffee-table books are so beautifully illustrated or as researched." -- GQ magazine For millions of men across the world the common denominator that identifies them is the suit. From eighteenth-century bespoke to the mass industrialization of the 20th-century, we see how the uniform of the ruling classes became the utilitarian outfit of the worker. A series of thematic chapters illustrates how the universal staple of a man's wardrobe can play many different roles and, chameleon-like, can mean different things in different situations. From the Duke of Windsor to The Thin White Duke, David Bowie, from James Brown to "The Godfather," movie stars, rock stars, heroes and villains, philanthropists, presidents, and gangsters have dressed to impress in a matching jacket and trousers, and have found that a suit will suit them very well.