SAIS Style

Graduation Fashion

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:40:19 -0400

We know you all want to impress Timmy so here you go…

General Pointers

The gown is not an excuse to forget about fashion…it’s what underneath that counts…
Think classy/elegant daywear vs. our advice for Cherry Blossom which was classy/elegant evening wear

Day Vs. Night

No Jeans under the gown under ANY circumstances
No laurels on your head…yes Bologna that’s for you (unless you have been selected for…

Womenswear

Nothing too casual..save your boho-chic sundresses for beach week

Accessorize where the gown sack permits some fashion flair: beck, ears, shoes, hands
Statement jewelry can make you stand out but make sure you don’t overload with bling
And stay away from….

Keep the outfit looking light..cream, white, lace are a good place to start

Understated goes a long way…and definitely no excessively low or short dresses…again save those for beach week ;)
Colour can work but we would recommend toning it down rather than up for this…total opposite for beach week of course, the brighter the better
Black is ok but maybe lighten it up with cream shoes or bold accessories

Heels are always good but make sure you can walk in them…tripping over even makes Louboutin’s look like a bad investment…well almost
Espadrilles can work as long as they are not some variant of TOM’S Shoes…

Bad Vs. Good

Keep the makeup to a natural look - too much and you risk looking like you never took it off from the night before
Clutch bags are ideal but if you have to wear one with a strap make sure its elegant
Hair down or half up half down…remember your hair will have to look good under the caps

Menswear

NO BIRTHDAY SUITS!
Wear long pants, otherwise you risk looking naked in front of Timmy
Wear a nice pair of dress shoes. Please go get them shined, and remember, NO SQUARE TOES!!!
Wear a shirt and a full tie underneath your gown — remember our neck-lines stick out so your tie knot will be visible.
Want to make a statement that sets you apart from the others? Wear a nice tie that stands out against the backdrop of your black cap and gown.
Don’t wear chinos of any kind — this includes colored chinos. Wear dress pants in the usual neutral colors — navy blue, grey, etc.
Suits are not suggested given the polyester fabric of our gowns. Make sure to wear a cotton shirt and cotton dress pants if you have them. Polyester tends to suffocate and trap heat, so you want something breathable underneath.
Give your suit jacket to your mom/dad/family/girlfriend to hold for pictures after you take the cap and gown off.
Military attire — As a team of two U.S. civilians and a Brit, we don’t know much about military attire, but believe that if you got it flaunt it..but it may be too hot..you have been warned…

Your Guide to Cherry Blossom Fashion

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:46:02 -0400

Life Lessons:

1) Everything in moderation, even moderation

2) Don’t match everything – it looks like you are trying too hard…

Women:

The Dress:

3) Formal wear should be formal..this is not Vegas (sigh)

4) Short or long dresses are both fine…as long as they don’t look like this:

5) No PVC…tight and stretchy at your discretion i.e. stay away from:

6) White is ok, but just remember you are not getting married..this is a happy medium

7) Let your dress speak for itself – don’t overload the bling – accessorize with rings or earrings

8) Fitted not tight, no one wants to see back cleavage

9) Understated goes a long way

10) Sequins in moderation…your dress should not shed – neither should your hair

Classy/Elegance …think ball in Mad Men:

11) Don’t need to see your hoo-hah

12) Short dresses are a public good but not an excuse to look like a prostitute, keep them elegant…

13) Some cleavage not too much

14) Project an image of class: think more Lady Di, less Lady Gaga

VS.

16) Not an excuse to wear too much makeup – no orange and go easy on the eyes if you have blonde hair (heroin addict anyone??)

17) Your makeup should not need to be touched up so bring a small bag, do not bring your bathroom with you

18) Only expose on yourself what you would like to see on others (but no going topless – guys that is for you)

19) Keep your shoes on – are you at the beach?

Look Polished:

20) Pedicure and manicure – or at least no chipped nail polish

21) Brush your hair/ get a blow out/ no wet look

22) Updos are not created using a ponytail holder – they need to be styled

23) No gum except in the bathroom

24) There is such a thing as too much perfume

25) No VPL – thongs and absolutely no granny pants

Accessories:

26) Only make 1 statement: either your dress or your accessories..oh and some dress statements should NEVER be made

27) Comfortable shoes but NO flip flops. In fact comfort in the shoe department only goes so far – if fashion were about comfort we would all be wearing sweatpants i.e. WEAR HEELS (not kitten heels)

28) No espadrilles – think elegant stilettos

29) Strapless dress no strap on your bag…actually just go with the clutch

30) Flats are acceptable for floor length dresses as long as they are NOT FLIP FLOPS and are ball worthy - think Cinderella slippers without the heel

Undergarments:

31) NO STOCKINGS WITH OPEN-TOED SHOES (sorry some of our resident sartorialists feel VERY strongly about this one)

32) No black stockings..only nude, ONLY

33) Strapless bras..even if your dress has straps (no see through bra straps!!!)

34) Just don’t let your bra show. Period.

Dates, thank us later…

35) Don’t take more than you can carry – the guys are not mules

36) If you think it will be cold, bring a boyfriend (or an elegant wrap)…just not a cardigan

Men:

The Outfit:

1) A neutral-color, well-tailored suit will go a long way both for the Cherry Blossom Ball and in life.

2) Your jacket should not 3x too big

3) Jacket should not look like your mom purchased it when you were 15 or something your dad wore 30 years ago

4) Back of suit jacket should not stretch – it should fit

5) Suit should not smell like it was rented – you know what I’m talking about

6) Sleeves and pants should of the correct length…ALWAYS

7) No ruffled shirts – it’s not 19th century Britain. You don’t want to end up looking like this guy:

8) Don’t wear a sweater or over-sized vest:

9) Kilts are only appropriate if you are Scottish or are willing to wear no underwear
10) When in doubt, let these gentlemen be your guide:

What NOT TO WEAR EVER:

Accessories:

11) Cufflinks are great, even necessary, but this not a time for dice or gold Vegas bling. It won’t even be funny, you’ll just look cheap.
12) Quality dress shocks – Ask Andrew Noh for a pair if you don’t have any.
13) Only a few people can wear slim ties and you’re probably not one of them
14) That doesn’t mean you should wear monster white fat ties
15) Top hat and tails are ok – only if they come from an expensive BRITISH tailor
16) Cummerbund – jury is out…actually jury is in and it says NO
17) Bow ties and Pocket Squares – if you can’t tie a bowtie youtube it or get a girl to do it
18) If your pants have belt loops, you need to wear a belt. You can only get away with the beltless look if your pants have tab closures on each side of your hips.

Shoes:
19) Converse do not look good. Put on a pair of dress shoes. NO SQUARE TOES!
20) You should shine your shoes so you can see your reflection. Go pay the $7 for a shoe shine. It’s worth it.

Style Points:
21) Quirky-ness — If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start.
22) Its spring, show some color
23) Hair should not look like you just woke up – it will be 6:30pm after all
24) Iron your shirt/jacket/pants – or get them dry cleaned
25) Men’s jackets are good for keeping your girlfriend/date warm and keeping hold of your belongings. Guys, we can be gentlemen for one night. Just one.
26) Cologne is under-rated but don’t overdo it

Finally, we all wish we could look like this model couple but at the end of the day just be yourselves. After all, that is what style is about…

Reposting from my facebook. It’s Spring. Don’t be...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:48:08 -0400

Reposting from my facebook.

It’s Spring. Don’t be afraid to wear some color.

One Trend You Will NEVER See on SAIS Style

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:36:26 -0500

One Trend You Will NEVER See on SAIS Style:

Your bloggers at SAIS Style believe certain laws of style are inviolable and immutable. Yet we know that from time to time we might be accused of advancing a fashion agenda that some may find disagreeable. However, we’d like to preempt some of you and make clear we will NEVER get behind “brosiery” or “mantyhose.” And if we ever do, you would do well to stop taking any of our advice.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2111246/Brosiery-mantyhose-men-seek-warmth-comfort—fashion-statement-patterned-tights.html

London Style for the International Staff Ride

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:32:24 -0500

General Advice

It’s not New York …colour (note spelling) is ok and grey is the new black.
Stiff collars so it still looks like you are wearing a collared shirt…
Fitted/tailored suits - refer to original blog post. PLEASE.

Men If You Want to Fit In:

No brown in town. Save that for a country jaunt on the weekend. This rule includes brown shoes anything tweed
Flashy suit lining — the brighter the better

Scarves flung over one shoulder with a suit
Avoid where possible the east coast syndrome of Brooks Brothers navy blazer and khakis. Unless you want to stand out as an American.
Ditto wearing red white and blue — it’s our flag too but we don’t feel the need to wear it.
Coloured chinos and a blazer can be fun for a dinner out.
Bright with grey — shirts ties etc.
Charcoal grey is the new black
Coloured socks – see Andrew Noh’s collection
French-cuff shirts
Bowties
Suede shoes — yes you might need to buy spray

Umbrella as a fashion accessory — drowned rats are out
Neither square nor pointy dress shoes
Colour!! At minimum a bright pocket square

Note: If you want to educate the Brits on how to dress…your resident British blogger wants nothing to do with this.

If all else fails, just try to look like Colin Firth:

Women If You Want to Fit In:

Don’t be afraid to mix and match — the more patterns the better except if it’s more than 2 and then you need sunglasses.
Absolutely no kitten heels — flats or HEELS
Jewelry — more than nothing, but less than a Christmas tree (the only rule is no dangly earrings and necklace)
Vintage — we invented everything pre-revolutionary war, and guess what, it still looks good

Finally, women…if you want to teach the Brits one thing…You have a waist, so use it. (Even the British blogger will acknowledge our penchant for over-sized border line ill-fitting attire).

If you want some inspiration we have mined the internet for some of the London-Looks right now..

The most common AND most egregious of all DC fashion crimes

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:28:00 -0500

Somebody call the International Criminal Court because male muffin tops are a crime against humanity.*

For those of you who don’t know, a “male muffin top” is a term for “the condition or appearance of volume and billowing of an ill-fitting shirt on an otherwise skinny, lean, or athletically built guy.” Visual depictions of such can be seen here:

http://malemuffintop.tumblr.com/

*SAIS Style would like to thank a former SAIS alum for pointing out this highly relevant and necessary blog and for inspiring this post.

Brady versus Manning

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:32:19 -0500

Brady versus Manning:

The Super Bowl isn’t just a battle of athleticism and skill on the field. Apparently Tom Brady and Eli Manning are bringing their rivalry to the realm of style. Brady is rocking an awesome suit, but Manning is just kind of effortlessly cool here.

Who do you guys favor?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/manning_brady_suit_up_for_battle_cPoFOIHDh6Rs6oTuJMZgrL

Female Fashion Sins

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:36:00 -0500

The moment you have all been waiting for…the first delve into women’s fashion*!! Just because we might be the fairer sex, we can be just as guilty as men of fashion faux pas. In light of this, we thought we would kick off the semester with some of SAIS women’s fashion pet peeves:

Accessories

Scrunchies – out unless it’s a 90s party

PVC anything – invest in real leather boots and bags, they are worth it

Roller backpacks to school– if you cant carry your possessions in a normal bag you are carrying too much

Too much jewelry – no need to look like a Christmas tree with giant necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings all at once

Silver and gold together – though some disagree on this one

Lanyards – just to clarify your keys or SAIS ID is NOT jewelry

HUGE sunglasses – not just large, but HUGE, people might actually want to see your face

Giant bows – you are not 5 anymore

Shoes:

Wearing sneakers to work – a DC disaster that is never EVER acceptable, invest in a decent pair of flats instead

Heels you cant walk in – it’s just painful to watch

Crocs - the definition of fashion faux pas

Uggs – the jury is out on these among the women but according to our resident male sartorialists they are apparently a big no-no, you have been warned

Velcro on ANYTHING – that was over in primary school

Clothing:

Wearing red and pink together – it just hurts the eyes

Stockings with open-toed shoes – enough said

Frumpy A-line skirts with flats – it just makes your legs look stumpy

Shirts that don’t fit a woman’s bust – no one needs to see your bra in an interview

Mom jeans – unless its your Mom

Cargo pants - unless you are currently an intrepid explorer in the Amazon/on active military service

Hemp – just no

White cotton socks with sandals – same goes for guys on that one

Spandex outside the gym/yoga studio – its just not attractive

Juicy sweatpants – these were NEVER cool Enough said.

*One of the resident male sartorialists maintains that the only thing he knows about women’s fashion is how to take it off.

Spring Fashion, Part I

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:15:00 -0500

Hey all, so now that we’ve returned from our glorious six-week break and are back to spending much, much too much time in Nitze, we thought we’d start off the new semester with an introduction to men’s spring fashion. We know we’ve been neglectful as of late, so we want to kick off with some basic ideas on how to stand out in a sea of pleated khakis and baggy oxford button downs come this spring. Yes, spring is still nearly two months away, but it isn’t too early to start planning for that perfect look. To inspire you, we are posting some pictures from some of the top stores 5th Avenue in New York has to offer. Sure, some of these outfits might break the bank, but you don’t have to spend a lot to get the same look and effect. Most everything you see here can be had at nearly any price point. Just shop around in stores or online, be creative, find yourself a good tailor, and you’ll immediately stand out from those staid, unoriginal Georgetown guys. And if you don’t know of a good tailor yet, don’t worry - we’ll help you out with that shortly.

This is the perfect spring outfit: slim trousers, crisp shirt, simple cardigan, and a fitted blazer. The shirt and blazer really stand out - the shirt has a simple but eye-catching print that highlights the unique color of the blazer. Try something other than a solid or striped shirt, but go for something muted and pair it with solid-color pieces. As for a blazer, there are more colors out there than navy blue. We aren’t saying go crazy, but look for something with a bit of flair and pair it with more conservative colors like in this outfit.

Classic look for spring. Safari jackets always reappear come springtime and pop up in most stores in colors like grey, beige, olive, and navy. Pair it with a t-shirt (other than a SAIS logo one, please), polo shirt, or casual plaid button down. Finish off with some well-cut jeans and you’re good to go.

When you are looking for something less formal than a blazer and lighter than a jacket, a toggle sweater is a great choice. Get a slim one like up top and pair it with a nice shirt and you have another alternative for a casual but professional look. White chinos can be tough, but they’re done perfectly here. If you decide to take the risk, make sure they are slim throughout the leg and roll them up for some cuff. Then pair them with a pair of drivers, loafers, boat shoes, or low top canvas sneakers. Whatever you choose though, no socks.

We know this may be a bit too preppy for most, but if you are willing to go for it this look does prep perfectly. We know most guys will eschew red chinos, but if you want to stand out and show a little personality, we’d take these any day over the baggy, pleated kind. And if you are willing to go all out with a pair of red chinos, do the rest of the look right - pair it with a plaid button down or polo. The sweater over the shoulder may be a bit much, we concede, but props to the guy who can pull it off.

Not much to be said here - just perfect fitting blazers and trousers. All the outfits here combine some unique patterns or colors - that’s key in spring. Whether it is a pocket square with a flash of color, or a shirt and tie combination with a muted pattern, spring is a great time to try something different. And definitely pay attention to the proportions here. Everything here is tailored to be slim, but not tight. Baggy clothes are never flattering, no matter what your size is.

Just Because It's Finals...

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:55:42 -0500

We know that you all have been living in Nitze for the past week eating takeout and slaving over your books and notes as you prepare for finals. And we know fashion is probably the last thing on your mind. But never underestimate the self confidence that comes from dressing to impress no matter how stressed you are. Just because you never leave Nitze doesn’t mean you can’t ditch the sweats for something more stylish. Your friendly SAIS fashion bloggers happen to find that fashion improves our productivity..and it seems other students agree.

uhhh…. mostexerent: HELL

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:49:43 -0500

uhhh….

mostexerent:

HELL

The Bunk knows what he’s talking about. If you...

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:14:27 -0500

The Bunk knows what he’s talking about. If you haven’t watched The Wire start doing so immediately.

Glad we got your attention.

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:59:00 -0500

We’d like to thank everyone for the positive response the blog has received. We’re honored and humbled by your generosity, but know that we have to step our game up if you’re going to stick around. With that, we’d like to establish a few guidelines about the blog – what we hope to achieve, how we’ll go about it, and provide a little color on your three humble bloggers.

Our ultimate goal is to have the entire city of Washington, DC dress better, starting with the future leaders of the world that walk through SAIS.[1]We know many before us have tried and failed, and we know that we probably will too. As delusional as we are, we know we aren’t going to change an entire city’s culture let alone most students. The point is to have fun while trying to do it and to grow closer with our brethren here at SAIS and in Washington, DC.

We’ll do this by educating, not lecturing, people. We don’t want to be the fashion police and critique your daily wardrobe because, to be honest, we really do have better things to do — like this final paper that’s not writing itself or scouring the internet for the best fashion deals out there or drinking. Our posts will point out some of the most egregious sartorial violations that most men make and offer our suggestions on how to fix them. We WILL NOT embarrass, satire or disparage any single person’s style. We’re not going to roll around campus stealthily taking pictures of people as an example of what-not-to-do.[2]We’re not in the business of demonizing anyone. That’s what talk radio is for.

Like international relations theory, style has no right answer, despite what some professors or editors may profess. As we mentioned in our first post, the style spectrum is wider and longer than the political spectrum. This is especially true for your three humble bloggers. We are three individuals with distinct tastes and preferences who do not agree on everything. This blog almost didn’t happen because of a major disagreement about lensless glasses.[3] The point is, the three of us won’t always agree with the advice we dispense, nor should you. It’s up to you, the reader, to decide what is right and what is wrong, and create your own style. We offer guidance, not edicts. We’re not here to tell you to buy certain items or spend thousands of dollars to remake your wardrobe. In fact, you probably have a few great pieces that may or may not require a little bit of tailoring,[4] but have yet to put it all together into a coherent outfit. That’s what we’re here for.

In order to achieve the best results, we need to have an interactive discussion with our audience. We’ve received a lot of feedback already and we thank you for it, but we need more. We’ll send weekly emails, without spamming you, to highlight the past week’s posts. If you have questions, we encourage you to email us at saisstylegroup@gmail.com. Your feedback helps us gauge what topics to cover, shed light on the highest sartorial sins and how to fix them, and quantify exactly how critical and full-of-ourselves we are. All you Stats and econometrics TAs, we’re really going to need your help on that last one.

With that said, here’s a list of what to expect in the coming weeks. We’ll also do our best to answer the many questions some of you have asked. We hope you’ll continue reading the blog throughout the holiday break and offer suggestions. Remember, we aren’t who we are without the sartorial sins you commit.

Female fashion/womenswear. We’ve gotten a lot of requests for a post on this. I’m not going to lie, but for all my sartorial knowledge, the only thing I know about female fashion is how to take it off. This post will be a major collaboration with the beautiful women of SAIS.
Holiday gifts for him and her. Sticking with our theme of “attainable style.” These gifts won’t break the bank and we’ll break them down into different groups for the different people in your life. For our readers of the fairer sex, getting your boyfriend something that only your grandfather will like doesn’t help you much. Guys, let’s be honest. We suck at shopping for our girlfriends, sisters, moms, and grandmothers. We need all the help we can get.
Why men should care about clothing. BIG, BIG post. This post will probably make or break the blog.
Tailoring. Just do it.
More PICTURES! We know, our blog is lacking in pictures. We hope to fix that soon.
Exposes of your humble bloggers and other willing participants. A few of you have expressed interest in volunteering as a model for the blog. We’ll roll this series out as soon as we can.
Traveling in style. We understand that traveling is a pain and you want to be as comfortable as possible on your flight home this winter break. However, cramming into those tiny seats with 300 other people does not excuse you from your sartorial responsibilities. Traveling is not an excuse to wear ugly sweatpants and Uggs while looking like you just got out of Dante’s 7^th circle of hell. We’ll have a few pictures of ourselves traveling this winter to demonstrate. Who knows, dressing well at the airport and on the plane just might score you that upgrade that you’ve always dreamed about. This has worked for us in the past, most notably on a flight from DC to Qatar. All it took was a nice pair of pants, a dress shirt and confidence.

Noh, Kutler & Segal.

[1] OK, we know some of you aspire to be faceless government bureaucrats….

[2] Instead, the three of us will take pictures of ourselves highlighting what-not-to-do.

[3] This is all Noh. The rest of us believe glasses should have lenses in them….

[4] Tailoring your clothes will instantly transform your wardrobe. INSTANTLY.

The Reason for our Existence II

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:15:31 -0500

As GW puts it: Grown Man Style (GMS)

The Reason for our Existence

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:59:00 -0500

I think that says it all…

Courtesy of Shanti Mahajan

Free Custom Shirt

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:37:00 -0500

Courtesy of the smart guys at putthison.

http://www.cottonwork.com/freeshirt

You’re welcome.

Launch of the SAIS Style Blog

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:48:37 -0500

SAIS = Students Actually Interested in Style

Washington, DC has long been known as “Hollywood for ugly people.” Although we were initially confused by the saying, we can now say that we understand why it sticks. With a few exceptions,[1] people dress TERRIBLY yet somehow manage to achieve some sort of fame, probably because they donated a lot of money to a presidential campaign or they happened to write an article in some obscure journal more than 25 years ago. We think we’re putting it nicely.

Having lived, studied and worked in DC for a combined 26 years, we feel that we can now make an accurate, unbiased assessment of this city’s fashion and sense of style. It sucks. Squared-toed shoes, scuffed shoes, unpolished shoes, white socks with shoes, ill-fitting suits, shapeless jackets, bland colors, ugly ties, sneakers with suits, and a whole list of other sartorial sins that make Washington, DC the sartorial Sodom and Gommorah of our time.

We don’t know about you, but we’re sick of seeing our poorly-dressed brethren make this city the laughingstock of American fashion that it is. Unlike our government, we intend to do something about it. We are three fashion-forward Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) students launching the Students Actually Interested in Style (SAIS) Blog to help greater Washington, DC dress better.

We’ll focus primarily on menswear as men seem to be the most egregious violators of sartorial law and are the primary driver of DC’s infamy. We don’t profess to be the foremost experts in our field like our professors, but we will research and collaborate with leaders in the field to bring you the best advice and improve your wardrobe. We’ll aggregate and cite the best menswear blogs out there including putthison, mostexerent, nicetrybro, the style forum and other reputable blogs. We’ll also run a few semi-original columns using current Johns Hopkins SAIS students to reinforce our points and hammer home a few others.

As graduate students taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans, we’re also painfully aware of budget constraints. Yet another painful truth about DC is that wages are violently depressed relative to other major East Coast cities. We know you’re broke and don’t want to spend a lot of money on your clothes. Almost all of our suggestions and rule will take cost into consideration, with the purpose of achieving “attainable style.”[2]

Style is, of course, what you make of it. The style spectrum is wider and longer than the political spectrum. Like politics, style is full of gaffes, ideologies, doctrines, and flipflops. Don’t be afraid of them. Taking your lumps, from yourself and from others, is part of your sartorial education. No matter what style you choose, you should own up to it. If you like skinny ties, you should proudly wear skinny ties. Lensless glasses? Wear them proud and tell all the haters to go f*ck themselves. Your style is not your style if you hide it from the public.

To totally contradict our last paragraph, here is a list of vital information that every man in DC needs to learn. The list was inspired by this post on putthison but tweaked by us to make it more DC-friendly. We hope this list starts a trend in our great city to get people to dress better, but we know that there’s a better chance Congress will actually pass a sensible debt reduction plan.

1. Unbutton the bottom button of your jacket. It’s not intended to be buttoned.

2. Same goes for your vest.

3. Remove the tags on the sleeves of your jacket before you wear it.

4. If your jacket/suit comes with white basting thread on their shoulders or holding closed their vents remove it before wearing.

5. Jacket pockets are intended to be opened. Use a small scissor or seam ripper.

6. More than three jacket buttons is never appropriate for anything.

7. If buttoning the top button on a three-button suit seems wrong, it is.

8. Brown shoes, brown belt. Black shoes, black belt.

9. When wearing a suit, your socks should match the color of your pants, not your shoes.

10. Belt or suspenders. No and.

11. Your jacket sleeve should be short enough to show some shirt cuff - about half an inch.

12. Your pants should end at your shoes without puddling. A slight or half break means that there is one modest inflection point in the front crease. If your pants break both front and back or if they break on the sides, they’re too long.

13. Your coat should follow and flatter the lines of your upper body, not pool around them. You should be able to slip a hand in to get to your inside breast pocket, but if the jacket’s closed and you can pound your heart with your fist, it’s too big.

14. When you buy a suit or sportcoat, it should be altered to fit by a tailor. This will cost between $25 and $100.

15. Your tie should reach your belt line - it shouldn’t end above your belt or below it.

16. Your tie knot should have a dimple.

17. Only wear a tie if you’re also wearing a suit or sportcoat (or, very casually, a sweater). Shirt, tie and no jacket is the wedding uniform of a nine-year-old.

18. The only men who should wear black suits during the day are priests, undertakers, secret agents, funerals attendees and yokels.

19. Cell phone holsters are horrible.

20. So are square-toed shoes.

21. Never wear visible socks with shorts.

22. Never wear white socks with dress shoes.

23. Never wear sneakers with a suit.

24. Or any socks with sandals.

25. If your shirt is tucked in, you should be wearing a belt (or suspenders, if you’re wearing a jacket as well, or your trousers should have side adjusters and no belt loops).

26. Flip flops are great for the pool and the beach and not great for anything else. (Some say this is a matter of taste. We agree. If you have any taste, you will only wear flip-flops at the beach or pool.)

27. Long ties are not appropriate with a tuxedo.

28. Never wear polyester outside of the gym or theme parties.

Noh, Kutler & Segal

[1] The guys at off the cuff and image granted come to mind.

[2]The Knottery’s slogan.http://theknottery.com/