Some tips to help those who are clueless about men's fashion

[Undertow]

The hips are supposed to be wider than the "waist"? I take it you don't live in the United States. Pass me the chicken-fried steak.

lol

 

[kyboots]

The hips are supposed to be wider than the "waist"? I take it you don't live in the United States. Pass me the chicken-fried steak.

Guys: this has really been a good thread, much to be learned and shared. I am very grateful to dog for starting this, a great forum! As a Southern boy who listened to his mother when growing up on how to dress, we really did have some good rules( some bad ones too ). Since I am a guy who still likes pleats, and a vegetarian ( strange in the South ); my hips continue to be wider than my waist and I dress that way. Double breasted suits were always considered more formal than single breasted, and most of my suits remains single breasted, The less formal the better. I always thought then a double breast suit was a carry over from tails, is this wrong? Vests would always vary with the style and the size of the lapels, so it was purely whether the current style was a 2 piece or a 3 piece for me. Same thing with suspenders, during the 80s I wore a suit every day, and I wore suspenders that I wanted people to see and take note . A lot of bright ugly suspenders still reside in my closet. The bow tie phase lasted about 2 years,just long enough for me to learn how to tie them. Bow ties are not the way to go "never trust a man..." ( opinion remember ). I really thought I was hot stuff. In the late 90s I had a major sporting accident with several broken bones and those people who witnessed it, thought I was dead. Needless my vintage became one of jeans, Wesco engineers, and an Aero Bootlegger. The Bootlegger is as close to double breast formal that I want to be sometimes. I do believe this has been a good discussion, and there have been no bad comments; Just good disagreement to the rules, which are meant to be broken when it looks good. Please keep it up!---John

 

[paul1889]

I wonder about waistcoat lapels. What are the rules (traditional/common ways) to wear vests that have lapels? Are there any?

 

[Tomasso]

I wonder about waistcoat lapels. What are the rules (traditional/common ways) to wear vests that have lapels? Are there any?

Only that the lapels should match the jacket's lapels.

 

[Yeps]

The hips are supposed to be wider than the "waist"? I take it you don't live in the United States. Pass me the chicken-fried steak.

Point taken. I am not sure how one flatters that body type. I think suspenders are involved.

 

[avedwards]

Point taken. I am not sure how one flatters that body type. I think suspenders are involved.

It would be difficult but a skilled tailor could probably make a suit to flatter such a physique. Sidney Greenstreet certainly looked quite sharp. High waisted trousers to give the appearance of a greater height to width ratio and padded shoulders on the jacket to make them appear broader than the waist would probably help.

 

[paul1889]

Only that the lapels should match the jacket's lapels.

thanks

 

[avedwards]

Only that the lapels should match the jacket's lapels.

Although that's a good rule it doesn't have to be religiously followed. I've seen a suit which had a shawl lapels on the waistcoat and notched lapels on the jacket and it looked fine.