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And more to the point how do we get them out of fashion? I detest suits yet once a month, or weddings am forced to wear one. How can one fashion remain for so many decades when my shorts will be dead next summer??!
Given the habits of the higher echelons of society, there is a strong likelihood that is where the blame originates...
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How can one fashion remain for so many decades
Decades? Centuries more like!
the modern suit is certainly British...
In clothing, a suit is a set of garments made from the same cloth, usually consisting of at least a jacket and trousers. Lounge suits (also known as business suits when sober in colour and style), which originated in Britain as country wear,[1] are the most common style of Western suit
The current styles were founded in the revolution during the early 19th century that sharply changed the elaborately embroidered and jewelled formal clothing into the simpler clothing of the British Regency period, which gradually evolved to the stark formality of the Victorian era.
all from wiki.
The suit is not a fashion, it's a style.
Fashions come and go, styles remain - if you detest a suit, it just means you've not worn a decent one 😉
am forced to wear one
What? Is it the law or something? You could always wear something else.
hilldodger - MemberThe suit is not a fashion, it's a style.
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if you detest a suit, it just means you've not worn a decent one
I've spent an absolute fortune on designer, bespoke suits and shoes to match. Ultimately I feel much more comfortable in a pair of jeans!
On a recent project we had two dutch partners. Both of them were rocking jeans and a well tailored jacket. Looked far smarter (IMO) than a suit.
OP - a good question as it is fairly universal now.
North Korea and a few African countries resist western business suits but everyone else joins in but it cant have been their natural garb? Turkey, Japan, China, South Africa? Why doesn't someone come up with another design and open it all up. Even jeans and a sports jacket is really the same old deal.
if you detest a suit, it just means you've not worn a decent one
I dislike the fact that smart clothing for men is nothing but a mass of stupid rules and protocols, and to get anything acceptable you are pressured to spend hundreds of pounds. Bollocks to it all.
Ultimately I feel much more comfortable in a pair of jeans!
What's wrong with looking smart? Which is never going to happen in jeans. Smart casual maybe, just never properly smart.
Love a suit me, can't beat a well cut and fitting number, comfortable and smart, being well dressed is not a crime
I don't own a pair of jeans, or North American work wear as I like to call it, you are of course aware that a T-shirt is underwear?
Suits civilised the world
@Flash
Suit you sir.
Well said.
The suit jacket is the most ridiculous item of clothing ever. Too warm when it's warm. No protection when it's cold. Stupid things.
I hate jeans too, if that's relevant.
A suit without a hat is just wrong - black suit with bowler is very cool (John Steed), suit with waistcoat and top hat also looks good.
But without a hat, you may as well wear a t-shirt under your suit jacket.
I love my tailored suit 😳
Suits are stylin' 😆
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woodlikesbeer - Member
On a recent project we had two dutch partners. Both of them were rocking jeans and a well tailored jacket. Looked far smarter (IMO) than a suit.
You are Jeremy Clarkson and I claim my £5.
A suit is a means to an end, stylish and well presented opens doors and helps smooth the way.
They are ridiculous
Like mackem says too hot when it's warm and no protection when it's cold
It's about time some other forms of clothing were deemed as smart for men
I wear a suit every day at work, and always have. TBH I've only ever worn jeans once for work, and that was when my Secretary had organised a 'Jeans for Genes' charity day.
'Smart Casual' is far worse, as this requires you to wear 'labels' and for me I always associate it with overweight Americans wearing Ralph Lauren - and what do those folk who wear 'smart casual' wear when they aren't at work?
I don't see the problem with wearing a suit for work, if that's part of the deal, because of what the job is.
But wearing a suit in your own time, like to a wedding, is down to you. I don't mind that either, but if you don't like it, wear something else.
On a recent project we had two dutch partners.
Let me guess - with very long pointy shoes?
Both of them were [b]rocking[/b] jeans and a well tailored jacket.
Aaarghh - mummy - make it stop!!
'Smart Casual' is far worse
This. It ends up with you looking like you bought all your clothes at an airport.
One of very few things I miss about not having a 'proper job' is the the lack of opportunities to wear a suit.
For the chaps that think suits are too hot in summer and too cold in winter. For information, like other forms of clothing they are available in different weights. A good heavyweight tweed for winter through to cotton/linen suits for the warmer days.
Jeans and a sports jacket is the work of the Devil. Only worn by style clueless architects (and perhaps the Dutch).
The chief suspect:
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[i]I don't own a pair of jeans, or North American work wear as I like to call it, you are of course aware that a T-shirt is underwear?[/i] 🙄
Sums up most men's attitude to clothes.
Scared of colour, scared of fashion, uniform at school, other clothes chosen by wives or mothers, everso slightly sad.
What's wrong with looking smart?
Nothing. I just don't like the way smart has been defined for us.
As for the concept of different weight suits - fine but how much f'in money do you think we have to spend on 'well tailored' clothes? Not a very inclusive concept this smartness thing, is it?
emsz - the attitude is self defining. Anything 'fashion' is for skinny young blokes with gelled hair. I'm too old for that even if I liked it. Got any good fashions for 38 year old men? Serious question btw, images preferred 🙂
Harsh.
Not "scared", emsz. Just couldn't be arsed.
We like to just pick our clothes "from a pile of stuff"...
Scared of colour, scared of fashion, uniform at school, other clothes chosen by wives or mothers, everso slightly sad.
Ouch. Not scared, just don't really see the point of fashion - I don't paint my nails either. FWIW, I didn't wear uniform at school, and my mother hasn't bought any of my clothes since I was about 8.
Clothes are for keeping warm and dry, and keeping bits hidden so I don't get arrested.
Hats on the other hand - a hat maketh the man, and I do look quite dapper in a hat:
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4122/4922461421_c999a27f1d_z.jp g" target="_blank">
😉
No colour here:
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I don't wear a suit for work so like to wear a decent suit when socialising if I can get away with it, but then i don't wear boring business suits with crap shoes and end up looking like I have just come from a days work selling insurance.
Got any good fashions for 38 year old men? Serious question btw, images preferred
Look at the pitti uomo images and dismiss the most outlandish ones and under 30's trying too hard, it's the middle aged Italian gents who have it locked down.
Stop shopping at next/supadry/gap/marks and spencer.
Quite like wearing a suit occasionally but wearing one for work every day would be a ballache.
No colour here:
See? Hats! 😀
Orange and Lemon are the SS14 colours for men's fashion. Dare you 😈
You don't have to be a skinny teenager, just don't be a drone. 🙄
but then i don't wear boring business suits with crap shoes and end up looking like I have just come from a days work selling insurance.
Lets have a look then
emsz, earlier...
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Scared of colour, scared of fashion, uniform at school, other clothes chosen by wives or mothers, everso slightly sad.
Very drole emsz, women suggesting that men's attitude (obsession ) with clothes is sad????! Very amusing. The idea that woman buy clothes idependently as opposed to being more salves to the fashion industry is an interesting one.
Suit is great - versatile, places in you jacket to put things, can be smart, semi-smart, causal to suit (sorry!). And they make life easy as you don't have to fart about chasing fashions or worrying about a new outfit, the DJ being the perfect example. Classic navy and grey English style suits last a lifetime.
Thank goodness dress down was a passing whim.
Lets have a look then
Is there a Nicole farhi, trickers, wolsey, Albam, folk, Edwin, private white shop near you? Just look in the window.
Cheap lambs wool and cotton jumpers from uniqlo though 8)
You don't have to be a skinny teenager, just don't be a drone.
emsz I choose my casual clothes carefully and I am happy with them. The problem is work. I might as well be wearing a uniform. Fwiw I wear a suit from John Lewis, usually without the jacket, and a lewin sshirt. I could spend 5x more easily enough and not be any happier cos I don't want to be wearing 'smart' stuff.
Nicole farhi, trickers, wolsey, Albam, folk, Edwin, private white
Hmmmm, nah. Pile of stuff.
Don't most people conform to the dress sense of the "community" in which they live and work?
Who determined that hard cotton, brass studied trousers would end up being considered casual and/or relaxed.
mmmm, nah. Pile of stuff.
pile of clothes actually, i rarely go out side without them.
The problem is work. I might as well be wearing a uniform
most people do wear some kind of uniform, doesn't mean you have to look like your mum dressed you though.
lets face it most people dress quite badly as they couldn't care less. nothing wrong with that if other things are more important to you.
it's not hard to dress better than average when the average standard is so low in this country.
Look at the pitti uomo images and dismiss the most outlandish ones and under 30's trying too hard, it's the middle aged Italian gents who have it locked down.
Locked down assuming what you're aiming for is boring boring boring.
Okay, a work-related style question for the fashionistas:
Leather workshop apron?
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doesn't mean you have to look like your mum dressed you though.
I don't. I do look pretty anonymous though.
Locked down assuming what you're aiming for is boring boring boring.
no just better than an ill fitting burtons suit and a pair of cheap black shoes or the 'dress down friday' frayed bottomed jeans, pointy scuffed brown shoes and sports jacket look. or the horrific 'middle aged' man with hair gel/superdry/ jeans with superfluous pockets and patches which seems to be quite popular.
this look isn't boring, can't see it being admired though
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I have my weddings and funeral suit.
I HATE IT. It's baggy and tight in all the wrong places. It's worn so that I can blend in with all the other poor blokes who would much rather be in something more comfy.
It looks like smoke break outside legal and general at most of the functions I go to.
I'm not saying wear jeans to a wedding but there just has to be an alternative that's acceptable.
I really like wearing a well fitted suit.
I especially like wearing a waistcoat although they're usually too warm to be worn at work.
I mean obviously Sean looked good in everything but look at this!
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As does beckham
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And of course, there's always the old meme, "A well tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men."
just remember about the bottom button 😉
[i]I have my weddings and funeral suit.
I HATE IT. It's baggy and tight in all the wrong places.[/i]
Er, buy one that fits? Or if you're an odd size, get one made/altered to fit.
I must say I'm surprised Corporal Cashfart hasn't been on here yet blathering on about Jerm street or whatever it is...
Love me a nice chalkstripe three-piece suit for work.
Two vents on the jacket.
Lapels on the waistcoat.
With a double cuff shirt (obviously)
Don't get me started on the choice of tie knot.
😀
I went all menswear the other day.
I was walking to a meeting across a city centre square and a young chap walking toward me dropped to his knees and took a photo of me with his DSLR before giving me the thumbs up and dashing off.
I later sat in the second row for some stand up comedy and the comic focused a lot of his attention on me but all he ended up doing was repeating 'cock' over and over again.
I'd rather not have the attention, thanks.
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samuri - MemberI especially like wearing a waistcoat
My boss recently took to wearing a waistcoat. I've not had the heart to tell him he looks like he should be in Mumford and Sons
My boss recently took to wearing a waistcoat. I've not had the heart to tell him he looks like he should be in Mumford and Sons
😆
I hate wearing a suit, I don't have to wear one enough to justify having a nice one, so they inevitably don't fit well, the trousers don't have good pockets, my shirt always feels clumpy, the jacket gets in the way, and, worst of all, I have to wear a tie. Why, oh why do we still wear ties?
How am I supposed to run or ride a bike or catch a wild boar in a suit? They're great for sitting around, drinking brandy and talking about the stock market, but they are far from practical for anything else.
Some great suits and jacket combinations [url= http://www.dinizecruz.pt/dinizcruz/pt/slideshows/dohomem.html ]here in Lisbon[/url]. I don't understand why it's considered heinous by some to dress smartly?
Even the little things make the difference such as having a suit, jacket or shirt made to measure. My local lady in the village does my shirts for a fiver.
Oh and suit jacket buttons- sometimes, always, never.
@andeh, you don't have to wear a long tie, you can wear a cravat, or a bow tie.
But the buttons on my shirt do a grand job of keeping my collar closed, why would i want add more fripperies? I don't think I could pull off a bow tie, I've never been asked be an expert on Bargain Hunt for one.
My problem isn't with looking smart, it's with the very limited band of available clothing that is classed as smart.
I have, so far, managed to get through nearly sixty years without ever having owned a suit, and still managed to turn up at weddings and dinner do's looking smart and presentable, even being complimented on looking smart. And that doesn't mean wearing anything with a 'label', or even worse, a bloody polo shirt, which always seems to be the last refuge of the scoundrel, in so-called 'smart-casual'.
Flash - Member
Love a suit me, can't beat a well cut and fitting number, comfortable and smart, being well dressed is not a crimeI don't own a pair of jeans, or North American work wear as I like to call it, you are of course aware that a T-shirt is underwear?
Suits civilised the world
I'll bet whenever you get out in 'the country' your only contact with it is the distance between the car door and the entrance to the hotel/pub/restaurant.
Heaven forfend your nice shiny brogues should get muddy, or the tiniest hint of cow shit should spoil your perfectly creased trouser cuff.
Only things I consider when clothes shopping is that its not this years fashion and that it fits right. If you are going to get a suit, try on as many as you can, different shops build to different proportions, so make sure it fits in the chest and trouser arse, tailor can do the rest
I am eternally grateful that I have reached a point in my life where I decide whether or not I wear a suit.
I don't particularly like wearing one, but have two and enjoy channelling James Bond while wearing either. This is of course dependent on Mr Bond being a squat Northerner.
Casino Royal, or the bookies..
I went from a job being able to wear what you like, to a job where it's apparently 'expected' you wear a suit in the office.
My team is non client facing, the only people they see, are each other.
I hate it. It's an utterly ridiculous policy. Everyone complains, and 75% of people can't buy a suit in the right size, tie a tie properly, iron a shirt properly or even get it cleaned on a regular basis.
I've already broached the subject of turning us casual and been told the age old b*llocks "casual clothes, casual mind" 🙄
Yet apparently we have dress down Fridays. So it's ok to have a casual work ethic for 20% of the working week...
I've already told them to stop wearing ties, been hauled up over that one. Ironically, then complimented about the positive attitude it's created.
Utterly pointless bit of clothing for most jobs.
my mother hasn't bought any of my clothes since I was about 8.
Having seen the pictures, could we ask that she starts again. Please?
Oh look - a thread on stw where middle-aged pseudo-rebellious men have a chunter about clothes they don't like. Why not just go your own way and hell- wear what you want? It might save you banging on about how impractical / uncomfortable / stupid it all is.
Other than molgrips, who is evidently a downtrodden prole.
I'm 25 and work in a warehouse, can I please be a prole too Mr TootAll, oh arbiter of the internets?
can I please be a prole too
If you have to ask permission, you are.
How come I'm arbiter? I'm suggesting that those who feel uncomfortable in certain clothes just wear something different. Seems reasonable enough.
I don't understand why it's considered heinous by some to dress smartly?
It's not that being smart is bad.
The problem is that other people have decided what constitutes smart, which means that we are forced to wear stuff we don't like.
which means that we are forced to wear stuff we don't like.
As I said - do your own thing then. Go skyclad if it feels good. You either conform a lot, a little or not at all. Pick the one that you can cope with.
If you don't like to wear a suit to work, you could always retrain as a tradesperson, I understand their dress code is far more abstract.
Technically I work in Sales but only wear a suit if visiting customers. If I'm in the office I just wear T-shirt, jeans and trainers. Much more practicle and considerably less ironing (ie none).