Spring Break
Incorporate classic elements of men's fashion
Issue date: 4/24/08
When it comes to soul-searching, love-seeking and dressing themselves, men should follow certain rules.
In the world of clothing, these rules range from simple issues, such as choosing the proper socks, to more complex things, like tailoring a suit.
Men of the older generations adhere to certain norms, but these are lost in translation as they are passed on to our generation.
These essential standards of style should be noted by all men, and so I present a simple series of rules and regulations for you to keep in mind.
The Suit
The suit is the starting point of a man's wardrobe. Buy yourself a two-button suit, placing emphasis on the two. The three-button days are long gone and will most definitely not return.
The two-button will give you a slimmer look while exposing more of your tie and shirt.
Make sure you know the difference between a notch lapel and a peak lapel, and which one suits you better (pun definitely intended).
The notch lapel is the standard style worn by men, and has a missing "notch" cut out where the lapel meets the collar.
The peak lapel is cut so that there is a sharp corner pointing upwards toward the shoulders where the lapel meets the collar.
In more formal attire, you might also encounter a shawl-collared jacket, usually worn with a bowtie, where the lapel is a continuous piece of cloth starting from the midriff and extending up to the collar, around, and down the other side.
Once you've bought the suit, the next important step is getting it tailored. This is essential to looking your best.
Since no ready-to-wear suit fits perfectly, ask your tailor to bring in the jacket and shoulders, narrow the sleeves and cut the pants so that it breaks only once.
Also ask the tailor to stop the jacket cuff right at the hinge of your wrist, so that your dress shirt shows just a bit of the cuff underneath. The central theme here is slim and narrow. The days of baggy pants and jackets are long gone.
In the world of clothing, these rules range from simple issues, such as choosing the proper socks, to more complex things, like tailoring a suit.
Men of the older generations adhere to certain norms, but these are lost in translation as they are passed on to our generation.
These essential standards of style should be noted by all men, and so I present a simple series of rules and regulations for you to keep in mind.
The Suit
The suit is the starting point of a man's wardrobe. Buy yourself a two-button suit, placing emphasis on the two. The three-button days are long gone and will most definitely not return.
The two-button will give you a slimmer look while exposing more of your tie and shirt.
Make sure you know the difference between a notch lapel and a peak lapel, and which one suits you better (pun definitely intended).
The notch lapel is the standard style worn by men, and has a missing "notch" cut out where the lapel meets the collar.
The peak lapel is cut so that there is a sharp corner pointing upwards toward the shoulders where the lapel meets the collar.
In more formal attire, you might also encounter a shawl-collared jacket, usually worn with a bowtie, where the lapel is a continuous piece of cloth starting from the midriff and extending up to the collar, around, and down the other side.
Once you've bought the suit, the next important step is getting it tailored. This is essential to looking your best.
Since no ready-to-wear suit fits perfectly, ask your tailor to bring in the jacket and shoulders, narrow the sleeves and cut the pants so that it breaks only once.
Also ask the tailor to stop the jacket cuff right at the hinge of your wrist, so that your dress shirt shows just a bit of the cuff underneath. The central theme here is slim and narrow. The days of baggy pants and jackets are long gone.
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