More questions about business formal wardrobe

May 4, 2023 11:45 AM

I asked a previous question about men's business formal dress in a hot & humid climate, and now I'm back to ask about specific recommendations for socks and undershirts.

Undershirts: several folks said undershirts are necessary. I am only familiar with the type of basic white tee shirt that, for example, is sold by Hanes in a bag at Target. If that's not it, please point me to inexpensive undershirts that are the correct thing.

Socks: I'm assuming just a basic black sock because we are aiming for suits in dark blue and charcoal, with black belt and shoe. Please point me to inexpensive socks that are acceptable.

Bonus points given for links to Amazon or Target or similar, because I'd like to get at least these parts of the business formal wardrobe cheaply. (All of this is for a 20yo who has a summer internship but otherwise has no need for a business formal wardrobe, and also who is living in a changing body and might not fit these clothes by next summer.)

posted by BlahLaLa to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

Best answer: Yes, the undershirts in a bag are fine. I personally don't like them. I just buy regular white t-shirts and wear those, but that's a little more expensive (and also, the fabric is heavier, and I sometimes wish I had lighter undershirts when it's humid). If you want an easy upgrade, TJ Maxx/Marshalls usually has undershirts in a bag from more upscale brands like Nautica or Lacoste, sometimes even Ralph Lauren. There's no real benefit to upgrading; it's just that little thrill that some people get when they realize other people have seen the alligator logo. But nobody's ever going to see your kid's undershirt. Find something that he feels comfortable in. (Easier said than done, which is why I buy individual white shirts.) Be aware that there is a blog about this topic, the Undershirt Guy, if you really want to go down a rabbit hole.

Don't buy a bunch of black socks. Socks should match the pant, not the shoe. Buy some navy socks and some charcoal socks instead. Nearly any store should have these. If you have a Kohl's or a JCPenney, just go there. Gold Toe makes good socks and has outlet stores, if you've got an outlet mall near you.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:56 AM on May 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

Socks: Gold Toe
Undershirts: Hanes

Statement socks are kind of a Thing in men's fashion these days, but not one that I would recommend for a 20-year-old DC intern on a budget.
posted by box at 12:01 PM on May 4, 2023

Seconding box and kevinbelt. Personally, I prefer Fruit of the Loom undershirts, but it's all the same kind of thing - basic white crew neck (maybe V neck) shirts in a bag, enough to wear one a day between laundry trips.

Socks should at the most conservative and basic level just be sort of close to the pant color; patterns like argyle or stripes can give a little more pizzazz; contrasting color/loud pattern is an advanced technique that I haven't felt confident doing. You can generally get a 3-pack or 6-pack of basic sock colors (black, navy, khaki, etc) at places like Target.
posted by LionIndex at 12:12 PM on May 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Statement socks are a thing in environments where the wearer is trying to show off - tech companies, for example. Don't buy statement socks to wear in DC. Your kid will be seen as unserious. Solid blue or gray.
posted by kevinbelt at 12:19 PM on May 4, 2023 [5 favorites]

Plenty of people in DC wear "statement" socks, but I don't recommend that your 20 year old intern be one of them. Just go with a bunch of charcoal and navy socks to match the suit pants and you'll be good to go.
posted by fancypants at 12:28 PM on May 4, 2023 [4 favorites]

A couple other things to note on the undershirts: v-necks shouldn't show if he unbuttons the top button of his dress shirt, but crew necks will. Of course you can't predict now whether he'll be in the sort of environment where he can loosen his tie and unbutton that top button, but v-necks are probably the safer bet anyway. (I prefer crew necks for Reasons, but I also tend not to loosen my tie if I'm wearing one, because I'm committed to the bit at that point).

When I think about brands at all I tend to like Jockey better than Hanes, but any of the major brands should do. I think pretty much every brand has gone "tagless" (with all the tag information just screen printed directly onto the shirt), but if there are any brands still sewing old school tags in, they should be avoided.
posted by fedward at 12:58 PM on May 4, 2023 [9 favorites]

Mr. gudrun, who has spent many hot humid summers in DC wearing dress shirts, says you may want to go a tiny bit more upscale on the undershirts. He recommends J.Crew because they are really soft. Example of a 3 pack of the type he is talking about. These are V-neck, and their crewnecks are nice also. His older shirts get recycled as shirts for sleeping.
posted by gudrun at 6:55 PM on May 4, 2023

You might consider getting several pairs of dress socks in merino wool. They will cost more, but D.C. really is a hot and humid place, and lightweight wool will keep him from getting sticky and stinky -- and matching pairs are easier to sort!

Darn Tough socks and Smartwool both offer lifetime warranties, and my house favors Darn Tough; this warranty takes the sting out of paying more for socks because you just mail them in when they wear out and get new ones.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:52 AM on May 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank you for all the answers!
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:59 PM on June 3, 2023