Formal Means Formal

Photo Credit: http://www.buzzle.com

Although winter and fall are my favorite seasons, this time when winter turns to spring is always quite charming.  There are those March days that are full of snow and others can be so sunny that you think you may have to put on sun block. Mostly, it is a great time for a road trip.  This past weekend I took a short road trip to New England and down memory lane.  I attended a reunion of sorts, had a blast and looked fabulous while doing it! I suppose all reunions whether family, work, or college have their dress codes.  The one I attended was pretty fancy.  I know I wrote a post regarding wedding attire already, (Please see my October 15^th post, “Formal Attire Requested”), but today’s post, although possibly redundant, is on the general topic of

FORMAL WEAR

When men go to weddings, proms, bar mitzvahs, christenings, funerals, and the like, they are a little more clued in concerning what to wear.  But when the only criteria for an event is  “formal”, men try to get away with the most horrible offense of all: under dressing.  Make no mistake about it; being under dressed is the worst!  I apologize if my hyperbole is jarring but under dressing should be deemed a sin.  At said reunion this weekend it was quite clear that it was to be a formal event, yet I still saw men wearing the wrong attire.  Here is a question I pose, “Why do men try to dress as casual as possible so often?”  For most men, dressing up is rare and fun

Photo Credit: http://www.edwardsmensshop.com

chance to radiate charisma.  Why dull yourself down when everyone else in the room is going to look like a shiny penny?  And I don’t tolerate the, “I want to be different excuse” that is absolute bullshit and pure laziness.  Below are some observations I caught this weekend that all men should never make:

1.  It really does not matter how nice, sexy, fancy, or expensive your jeans are.  You can not pair them with a shirt, tie, and jacket and call it formal.  (Please see my January 30^th post, “Change it up Cowboy”)
2. As far as jewelry is concerned: We’ve talked about this! (Please see my December 8^th Post, “The Power of Jewelry”)   Like most things, all in moderation.  But please, if you have a nice suit on, leave the ghetto chain at home!  You would not pair a rich Merlot with your Chilean Sea Bass would you?  NO! They clash…I hope you see my point here.
3. A sweater, (Cashmere or not) over a dress shirt and tie does not equal formal attire.  Don’t be such a hippy and put on a jacket.
4. To segue way into my next point, you must wear, or at least bring with you, a suit jacket.  Suit pants, a dress shirt, and a tie are not enough.  This would be  equivelant to a plate of food that consisted of fries, cole slaw and a pickle.  Incomplete to say the least.  Where’s the burger?
5. You know how I feel about funky sneakers with suits so do not even get me started.  It is time to put your grown up shoes on. (Please see  my September 17^th Post, “Weighing the Pros and Cons”)
6. Also, you are an under dressed fool if you do not wear a tie.

I know I sound harsh, but the world of fashion shows no mercy.  It is the smallest mistakes that are always the most detrimental, so for your own sake and the sake of the date that has to be seen with you, don’t make them!

“A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.”
– Oscar Wilde

2012 in Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,500 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 4 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

Today was one of those perfect New York City Sundays.  After I woke up late, I had brunch with friends and enjoyed the beautiful weather while walking down The Highline.  Not surprisingly it was very crowded, but that’s OK because I got a lot of people watching accomplished.  Everywhere I go I observe a lot of men from all walks of life wearing…

CONVERSE SNEAKERS

I have to say, these shoes are a bit of an enigma to me.  I read an article about these popular kicks that said 60% of all Americans own or have owned a pair of “Chuck Taylors” as they are lovingly called, in their lifetime.  Personally, I never owned pair and can say with much confidence I never will.  I know so many men who swear by them and I never understood why.  I am scared to even write this but I find them so unattractive.    There is something about them Americans love.   As every man has the right to express his individuality, there just have to be some guidelines.  Please do not be caught dead wearing Converse sneakers in anything other than work out gear or jeans.  One of my biggest pet peeves is when I see men in tuxedos at their weddings wearing Converse sneakers.  When did that become allowed or even cute for that matter?  It seems that Converse sneakers are not only here to stay, but are becoming as much a symbol of American culture as tailgate parties, Black Friday, and apple pie.  The “All Star Chuck Taylor Converse Sneakers” are unisex, come in several different shapes, colors, and are appropriate for all ages.  I suppose this is why they have stood the test of time.  If you are going to wear them; good luck.  All the same, before you decide to incorporate Chuck Taylors into your wardrobe, weigh the pros and cons.