Tag / how to wear a suit

by Beau H.

#OOTD: The Best Way to Suit Up This Winter

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

Maybe as we enter 2017, one of your New Year’s resolutions has been to suit up more  — but if you don’t quite have the right gear to do so in winter weather, that can be a difficult endeavor. So, if you need a sharp tailored suit and durable winter accessories for the season, today’s Style Guide post you all set. It’s a bit different than wearing a summer blazer  — the need for added layers, for one — but you’re also going to want to start out with a more textured shirt and tie, plus tougher shoes. Lest we forget, you’ll still need to stay warm with a  crisp topcoat, too. So there are certainly more variables at play than when dressing up in the spring, summer or fall. If some of the below pieces look familiar, well, that’s the point of a versatile wardrobe — right?? Bear with me as we step into winter with serious tailored style, and I’d love to get your thoughts via Twitter on this look. Happy shopping!

Winter textures and accessories make a fine cold-weather suiting combo.

Winter textures and accessories make a fine cold-weather suiting combo.

The Suit: Taylor Stitch Telegraph Jacket and Trousers in Grey Wool, $456 — The ever-reliable, durable and winter-appropriate Telegraph Suit is just the right mix of crisp and casual when it comes to suiting — the grey wool fabric is classic, the patch pockets are casual and the fit is on-point throughout. Oh, and don’t forget a crisp dress belt.

The Topcoat: JackThreads Tieman Topcoat in Charcoal Houndstooth, $104.30 — Told you a sharp topcoat would be of particular importance, right? This charcoal houndstooth number is all old-school cool.

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The Tie: The Tie Bar Scramble Knit Stripe Tie, $25 — Want to shake up your normal tie rotation? Try a textured knit with seasonally appropriate burgundy stripes.
 
The Pocket Square: Ties.com Galveston Pocket Square, $10 — Are we breaking out a cotton pocket square in the dead of winter? We sure are, because this pocket square breathes a bit of life into the blue, red and charcoal combo on your top half.
The Boots: Nisolo Emilio LE Chukka Boot, $149.98 — This limited-edition, five-eye chukka boot lends some hearty visual interest to the wool suit, and is fit for stepping through the occasional snowdrift (occasional being the operative word).

The Socks: American Trench Superfine Merino Herringbone Socks, $28.98 — Want a pair of sharp socks that’ll still keep you warm? American Trench is the way to go — this pair is dressy, sharp and comfortable.

The Watch: Orient Bambino 2nd Generation Watch, $198.98 — Is it possible to get a quality dress watch for under $200? It certainly is, particularly when you reach for something as sharp, simple and classic as the Orient Bambino.

 OK, are you all ready to suit up for winter? When you start with a spread-collar chambray shirt and build up with key accessories like a classic knit tie and textured pocket square, a suit as handsome as the Taylor Stitch Telegraph Suit  is really going to shine. Meanwhile, sturdy Nisolo leather chukka boots should be tough and durable, while American Trench socks won’t let you down in the comfort or looks department. And every man should own a simple, crisp black leather dress watch like the Orient Bambino 2nd Generation.  How will you be suiting up this winter? Let’s hear it in the comments below — thanks, as always, for reading!
-Beau

by Beau H.

#OOTD: How to Wear a Suit This Spring

Editor’s note: You’ve surely seen this hashtag lots of different places, including on Instagram. But how does that carry over to real life? The #OOTD series will take one great item and put together a versatile, stylish outfit around it. Look for past features here.

For every situation that calls for more casual, rugged wear — like how to dress for a spring bar crawl, for instance — there are situations that call for a bit something more: Say, a big presentation at the office, or a (very) fancy dinner date. That’s what we’re tackling today on The Style Guide, with an eye specifically toward how to do it right — after all, rocking a shirt and tie sans jacket just isn’t something that’s going to leave most of us looking our best. The thing with investing in a suit — even a budget-friendly option like the below — is that you can get a lot of wear out of it (yes, even casually).  But today’s post goes for a full-on, suited look. Shop away! And if you have suggestions for an #OOTD scenario you’d like covered, let me know on Facebook!
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Taking a few classics -- like the worsted wool suit -- and flipping them by incorporating unique texture and color.

Taking a few classics — like the worsted wool suit — and flipping them by incorporating unique texture and color.

The Suit: J. Crew Ludlow Harbor Blue Suit Jacket in Italian Worsted Wool, $425 — J. Crew just absolutely knows what works in terms of classic, affordable suiting — and the Harbor Blue color of this jacket is a terrific change of pace if you’ve already got a navy suit in your closet. As always, don’t forget the Ludlow suit pants (which should fit relatively slim and modern).

The Shirt: Taylor Stitch White Royal Oxford, $98 — Who knew that Taylor Stitch made dress shirts? This guy sure didn’t. You’re getting exceptional quality for an exceptionally classic piece that can go anywhere. If you want something more price-conscious, head this way.

The Pocket Square: SprezzaBox White & Tan Pocket Square, $16 — In addition to a neat monthly subscription service, SprezzaBox also makes its own line of essential ties & accessories — slightly more expensive than The Tie Bar, but with great styling potential.

The Tie: SprezzaBox Knit Charcoal Shifting Tie, $25 — A charcoal knit tie is virtually foolproof when it comes to rocking with all manner of suits across all seasons — that holds true for spring, as well.

The Shoes: Thursday Boots Brown Scout Boot, $149 –A pair of leather chukka boots with a suit? Heck yes. The heightened blue color of this suit, along with the more textured charcoal knit tie, pushes this look into more casual territory, so the boots just work.

The Belt: J. Crew Factory Reversible Brown Leather Belt, $27.50 — A tried-and-true leather belt that serves a double function is the way to go here — you get J. Crew quality for less, too.

The Socks: Mack Weldon Total Eclipse Blue Socks, $12.50 — For a brand that does basics like its slim merino long-sleeve tee so well, they sure do know how to make comfortable socks that are still slightly cheaper than what you’d find  at other retailers.

The Watch: Daniel Wellington Classic Bristol Silver Watch, $229 — A timeless watch from a brand that just gets how to do things right; it’s slim, minimal and tremendously stylish!

That brings us, once again, to the end of another #OOTD — taking pieces that you should probably already have in your wardrobe (the classic, four-season worsted wool suit, for one) and injecting some new color and texture helps shake things up nicely. The color combination of the tan tipped pocket square and the charcoal knit tie is another variation on the traditional silk tie, and the brown leather chukka boots are a heck of a deal for the quality. Other hardworking pieces, like breathable socks and a slim dress watch, just work regardless of the season. This ensemble will hopefully work for all kinds of dressy scenarios — be it a dressy summer wedding or a dressy day at the office. And on a more casual front: Coming up tomorrow, we’ll be tackling the best short-sleeve shirts to rock this summer.

Thanks for reading, and stay stylish!

Florsheim