Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with menswear

1. Buy used clothes 2. ???? 3. Profit!

bendy — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:55:25 -0800

Where (and how) do vintage clothing stores buy their merchandise? I'd like to buy a few types of items in bulk. I'd like to purchase 50-500 gently-used men's wool suit jackets, silk neckties and cotton button-down shirts. Is it even possible to be this specific? Can I inspect the merchandise first? I've googled clothing brokers and used clothing brokers and haven't found much information. Bonus points for resources in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I want to look good. No, really good. (Or: personal shopper?)

tellumo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:33:48 -0800

A few years ago, I had a girlfriend who (gently) took me to task about my wardrobe and made a few suggestions as to how I could look better. I could see the difference after I'd tried a few new outfits, but I'm not very good at coming up with them myself, and I'm not very good at knowing what looks good and what has to change. It recently popped into my head that I could hire someone to help me out with this, but I know absolutely nothing about how to do so--although I hope MeFi harbors someone who does. Can you help me? I understand that the usual job title is "personal shopper," but I understand they mostly work for high-end stores, and I want to be able to 1) have a wider range of options and 2) get a pair of jeans for less than $300. "Style consultant" also came to mind, but that makes me think of calling Deloitte and asking for the menswear department.

Essentially, I'm looking for someone who can work with me on how to deal with my appearance (hair, glasses, clothes, shoes, accessories, any other aspects I may have forgotten) in all situations, work and leisure. I'm mostly interested in buying new clothes because I think I can pick out a few real clunkers from my wardrobe and replace them, but ideally I'd like to have an expert opinion on what to keep and what to chuck, as well as what to buy.

Like I said, I'm worse than clueless here, so my questions will be many and fundamental:

What is this called? A "personal shopper," a "style consultant," a "wardrobe consultant," something else? What's the phrase to type into the search engines? (For clarity and brevity, I'll use "personal shopper" in the following.)

How do you qualify a personal shopper? What do you look for to determine whether a personal shopper is good at their job and will work well with you?

What's the going rate? I understand the in-store ones generally work on commission, but I'd prefer to hire someone independent. I'm in San Francisco.

How should I set this up? Should I plan on an initial consultation followed by a shopping trip, or some other structure?

What should I ask a personal shopper? What sort of things should I keep in mind when working with one?

If you've worked with a personal shopper, what was it like? Any tips?

If you are a personal shopper, is there any advice you'd have for me on how to work most effectively with you or one of your colleagues?

If you're in the Bay Area and know a personal shopper, would you care to recommend him or her?

Bonus Question: While I appreciate good design, I think I have a bit of a tin eye for my own stuff, and for almost anything involving dress. Is it possible for me to get better at this, and if so, how?

I've seen this question, but there were only a few responses relating to independent personal shoppers, I'm not in NYC, and my questions are a little broader.

Thanks!

Help Me Find Awesome Bertram Cooper Socks

rossination — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:32:01 -0800

Where can I buy awesome dress socks online? I am trying to find the perfect orange argyle (men's) dress socks for my June 2010 wedding. I've looked at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, J Crew, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, Macy's, Nordstrom, etc - no one has what I'm looking for. I was hoping that there would be some sort of online dress sock superstore like cheap-neckties.com is for ties. Sock Dreams is the only site I can find and they don't seem to have what I'm looking for.

I have size 14 feet, so while I do not need any sort of a special large size sock (those are always too big), I don't think I'll be able to squeeze my feet into a women's or kid's sock.

Any ideas? Since this is just one pair of socks, price isn't a huge issue - I'd be willing to spend up to $15 or $20, but I'd rather not if I don't need to.

Locally-made pants in San Francisco

hobbes — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:24:54 -0800

Besides Cordarounds, are there any other pants / trousers made in San Francisco? Roughly two years ago, someone wrote about amazing-fitting men's pants by a shop in SF. I remember thinking I'd buy a pair when I finally have enough money; and that I do, I've forgotten the shop.

It might actually be Lindland's, but I'd like to know other places as well.

Thanks a lot!

Calling menswear mavens

i_am_joe's_spleen — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:55:54 -0800

What kinds of style and cut in formal and semi-formal menswear will flatter someone my shape? I am trying to dress more like a grown up as befits someone who's almost 40, and get away from t-shirt and jeans all the time.

Unfortunately, my physique does not really seem to be flattered by lot of off-the-rack clothing. For my height (5'8") I have quite broad shoulders, deep chest (at least a 45 chest), and long arms, and big thighs. No gut to speak of. Sorta light-weight wrestler, I guess. In the wrong jacket, I look like a shaved gibbon, or a hired goon, contrary to my hopes of dapper and dandyish. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to break down what constitutes "wrong".

Aside from getting things made to measure, what should I be looking out for or avoiding?

Ties with casual striped collared shirts?

mindsound — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:03:55 -0800

I feel that I have terrible fashion sense but I am attached to a habitual wardrobe of jeans and untucked colorful-stripey-patterned cotton button-up shirts. Is it conventionally [_] okay or [_] not okay to wear some kind of necktie with this sort of shirt? If so, what tie parameters should I look for? Here's a photo of several of my shirts; my favorite is #1. I am a software engineer in suburban Maryland and the office vibe is generally cheerless business casual. I am probably the least polo-shirt-and-khakis person in our relatively small office. The only tie I actually own is a very formal Calvin Klein dark blue silk that absurdly outclasses these stripey shirts. I would probably rather go naked than wear a novelty tie of any kind. I'm just wondering whether I can add ties to the relaxed casual thing in a cool and coordinated way.

My wife has a sweet sewing machine so raw fabric choices and patterns are also totally doable.

Tie me up!

He can't go to work naked...

Meg_Murry — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:15:19 -0800

Can anyone recommend a tailor in Pittsburgh, preferably not downtown? My SO has a suit in need of some tailoring (he bought it at a discount place without an on-site tailor). We're living in Bloomfield and he works in Oakland, so the closer to home or work the better. We do have a car, but not a lot of free time, so a short drive would be fine. Thanks!

Cheap suit?! This suit was cut by Hawkes of Mogadishu.

greytape — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:46:28 -0800

I'm trying to find a cheap tailor made suit in London. So two years ago I went to Beijing and bought a tailor made suit for £50. Amazing. I've been wearing it non-stop for the past year or so and want another one. Trouble is, all tailor made suits cost silly amounts. What I'm really looking for is just for someone to take my measurements and then farm out production of the suit itself to the third world. There must be such a service. I've heard of Raja Fashions, but although this is more or less what I'm looking for, the prices seem higher than the sub £200 I'm looking for. Also I've seen some pretty negative online reviews. Short of taking a flight out to Beijing, what are my options?

Menswear bargains along the I-75?

kaudio — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:37:25 -0800

Shopping filter: Are there any factory outlets or good deals to be had along the I-75? We'll be driving from Port Charlotte, FL to Toronto, Canada this month, and my fiancé needs new work clothes. Usually he wears a shirt and tie to work, or sometimes a golf shirt, but when he's receiving stock or other physical work his clothes get ruined easily, so he never buys "nice" dress clothes.

Before we go to WalMart for his usual cheap dress shirts and pants, are there any places we should hit up along the I-75? King Frog comes to mind (because of all the billboards for 30 miles in each direction), but I don't remember if there were actually any good deals there. Any recommendations?

NB - he's a size small/ size 15 collar -- which can be hard to find. Costco, for example, usually only has mens sizes M-XXL.

Hello and welcome to QI, these are my whimsical cufflinks!

cowbellemoo — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:22:53 -0800

I'm a big guy and I'd like to get a dress shirt with French cuffs. Are there great online sellers for shirts like this, or perhaps you know of a better brick and mortar shop around Maryland/Washington, D.C. that can help me out? The local big guy store's French cuff selection is limited to Italian Mobster chic (striped lavender), while I'm going for more of a Stephen Fry look – a cream or white shirt to go with my dark gray corduroy jacket. I'd like it to be long, too, so it stays tucked into my pants without fuss.

No pressing deadline or budget, so maybe that opens up custom-made shirts from a tailor? Fit and comfort are much more important than style or formality, for this shirt.

Measurements, in case that's helpful:
20 neck, 36 sleeve, 60 chest

Men's Wearhouse house brand?

blueshammer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:28:08 -0800

Does anyone have any opinions of the Men's Wearhouse house brand of suits, Primo Uomo, as compared to any other off-the-rack sub-$500 department store suit (Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, etc.)? Primarily asking of about quality/construction/life as opposed to style.

Can you suggest places in NYC to get unique hoodies and long-sleeve shirts?

helios410 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:00:43 -0800

I'm looking to buy some new apparel for the colder months ahead. Can you suggest places in Manhattan and Brooklyn that sell unique hoodies and long-sleeve shirts for men?

Where can I buy tall sweaters?

rocks009 — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:18:48 -0800

Do trendy sweaters exist for tall skinny men? Ideally size Medium Tall, and woolen. Where can I get one? I'm 6'4", 150 lbs, and I like woolen sweaters, but have never found one that fits. Big & Tall stores do Big AND Tall, and even outdoor clothing outfitters only do sweaters in tall for large and XL sizes, which are too wide (droopy shoulders). Normal Mediums are way too short in the body and arms. I generally like Columbia styles (like this, this, and this), but they don't fit. I live in Vancouver, Canada, but am happy to buy online.

Interesting ties?

ninebelow — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:01:27 -0800

Interesting ties? I've got plenty of nice work ties that are plain, striped or have a small repeating pattern. Who makes more interesting, asymeterical, contemporary ties for non-work occasions though? UK, preferably London, stockists.

Note: "interesting" does not mean comedy, novelty or Disney.

Suit me up

klangklangston — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:56:41 -0800

Los Angeles Interview Suit— I need to find something cheap for interviews after finding my last suit had irreperable moth holes in the pants (yeah, you can tell that my last couple of jobs haven't really required dap to the tap sartorial sense). Where in the LA area can I get a cheap (nice) suit fairly quickly? In addition— what should I be looking for as flattering on a slightly chubby, taller man? What will hold up well for years? What kind of stitching and tailoring should I be looking for? How much should I expect to spend? How long will it take? I guess more salient than "cheap" is "deal" or "bargain," if you catch my drift. Value is ultimately more important than price, but the price should be as minimal as possible.

How do I find a wool overcoat in May?

po — Thu, 10 May 2007 06:08:59 -0800

I need help finding a men's wool overcoat . . . I'm looking for, specifically, a wool overcoat that is:

- long
- dark blue/navy or black/charcoal
- single-breasted
- not a trench, nor a pea-coat

I've found a couple likely-looking examples online - this one is gorgeous, but rather beyond my price range (I'm looking for up to about $250, though $300 is doable). This seems nice as well, but doesn't look quite long enough, and appears to be only available in larger sizes.

Which brings me to my next question - I know nothing about men's sizing (US or Australian). The gentleman in question is rather tall (6'4), and very much on the slim/lanky side (under 170 pounds). I'm concerned that what I get will either be too wide in the body or too short in the arms and total length. This is a gift, so ideally I want to get it right without having to send it back. What US and Australian sizes should I be looking for?

I'm in northern California, so I have San Francisco and most chain department stores (Mervyn's, Nordstrom, JCPenney, etc.) available to me, and will be checking them out - though at this time of year, coming up on summer fast, I'm doubting the prospects I'll find there. I'll also have a small window of opportunity to shop in Sydney, Australia at the beginning of June - a much more likely season for coat-shopping there, but I can't seem to find online catalogs for David Jones, Myer, or other obvious stores to preview what I might find there.

Please hope me, Metafilter!

Shopping for an inexpensive blazer in SF.

hobbes — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:23:20 -0800

SanFranciscoShoppingFilter: Where can I find a relatively inexpensive blazer (say under $200). Need something stylish, but not gonna break the bank. I was thinking H&M, but don't know how prices run there. Anyone have any other suggestions? Hesitant to check out thrift stores in the Mission as I hate perusing, but if there's a shop with a good hit ratio, I'll go that route. Also, I'm a skinny guy, so I'd want a slimmer cut. Thanks MeFi.

What do I wear to my evening wedding?

xenoworx — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:42:48 -0800

I'm a Brit getting married in San Francisco in September (outdoors). My fiancee will have her wedding dress, of course, but what should I wear? I'm not a fan of the traditional American Tuxedo-look - I'm not going to a ball. Where I come from, it's the traditional morning suit/top hat, but the event will be after 5pm so technically that's out and we're back to black tie. A lounge suit is out - It's not a business meeting
A white suit is definitely out - I'm not a pimp
A friend suggested white tie, but I'd look like an orchestra conductor (or about to be knighted by Her Majesty, some chance).
A nice dinner jacket/single stripe trouser with a straight tie in a pale blue or grey silk (and matching waistcoat) is the best I've found so far, but I'm still not totally happy with it.

Argh, I'm getting frustrated at my sartorial helplessness!

help me find a san francisco tailor.

sdn — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 18:38:58 -0800

i'm looking for a custom men's tailor in san francisco -- someone for suits -- also, good stores to get (perhaps bespoke) shirts and ties. advice, websites?

Fake leather jacket? In NYC?

logovisual — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 08:13:28 -0800

FashionFilter: Where can I buy an imitation leather men's jacket that doesn't look stupid? Do such things exist? I like leather a lot from the appearance standpoint, but while I eat meat, I don't see the consumption of leather or fur as particularly wholesome. Whenever I've tried Googling such things, the only jackets I ever find are bomber jackets, which are not my style -- I'd prefer something cleaner and more modern. Internet sites are fine, but serious bonus points for actual stores in New York City. And how much can I reasonably expect to pay for such a thing?

My short, solidly-built FTM friend needs office attire!

palmcorder_yajna — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:42:17 -0800

I've just been asked to help a friend shop for a business wardrobe, but it's going to be a bit tricky. My pal, a recent college grad, just quit a miserable job and is about to start looking for clerical temp gigs. For the past few years, nearly 100% of his clothing has come from Army Surplus stores, but BTUs and tank boots will not cut it in an office environment. He meeds to buy some decent threads, and has come to me for help with the shopping. Eek!

I am quite good at buying clothes for myself, but I have no idea where to start with him. Here are the issues, as I see them:

(1) He is transgendered (FTM), but he has had zero surgery and no hormones. Also, he doesn't like to bind his chest because it's unconfortable. This, coupled with the fact that he is fairly short (5'3"-ish) means that people tend to read him as a soft butch instead of as a guy. I would therefore like to find professional-looking clothes and shoes that signal maleness as clearly as possible. Any suggestions for brands, etc? The shopping will probably occur in Seattle, so mad bonus points for recommendations of local menswear stores.

(2) He is short, and rather solid. (I wouldn't say fat.) What features should I look for in pants? Obviously, we'll be avoiding the bejeezus out of pleats, but what else should I be watching out for? (Wider legs or narrower legs? What manner of pocket placement? What kind of fabric? Etc?) I have very, very little experience with buying mens' pants, so even basic, general guidance re: this would be helpful.

(3) His shoe size is 5 1/2. This is problematic. The majority of mens' shoes simply don't run this small. I imagine we'll probably end up using zappos.com, but what should we look for? Does anyone have suggestions re: brands and styles of businesslike, men's shoes that don't look like something a 50-year-old would wear?

Thanks, all!

SartorialFilter: keeping cool in men's business attire?

tellumo — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 12:32:28 -0800

It's interview season for me, which means suits and ties. I don't mind suits in cool weather, but it's been very warm here recently, and sweating all the way through an interview doesn't exactly scream "professionalism." How can I stay cool? I think part of the problem is that I have a fairly quick metabolism; I prefer to wear short sleeves whenever possible. But an undershirt, a shirt, a tie, and a suit jacket all combine to make me very warm indeed. I've heard people recommend linen for keeping cool in hot weather, but I don't think I can afford it and it wrinkles in a light breeze anyway.

Ideally I'd like some combination of undershirt, shirt, tie, and jacket that is fairly inexpensive, looks good, requires minimal maintenance, and is comfortable in outside temperatures around, say, 80-85 F with moderate-to-high humidity.

Thanks!

Shopping Menswear in Vancouver

stavrosthewonderchicken — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 21:05:07 -0800

Recommendations for places to buy good quality, reasonably-priced men's clothing in Vancouver? I haven't bought any clothes in Vancouver in about 15 years, but I'm hoping to be back for a visit later this month and need to pick up some clothing that is too hard to find in big enough sizes (well within normal size range in N.America, just bigger-than-Korean-standard) in Korea, where I live. I'm looking for business-casual type stuff, for the most part, that is well-made and not exorbitantly priced. Any tips or suggestions or warnings?

My Beau Wants to Design Menswear

ao4047 — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:17:22 -0800

My boyfriend wants to experiment with designing menswear - both casual and formal (he's had experience sewing wedding dresses). Looking for:

Standard books/design he should look at (incl pattern-making books) - what are the 'canon' books/ideas?
Online resources for menswear design and construction
Favorite fabric stores in Chicago (preferably not in the suburbs)

Loosening One's Tie

Saucy Intruder — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 18:18:30 -0800

Why do Briscoe, Logan, Sipowicz et. al loosen their ties and unbutton their collars when they talk to perps or walk the street? I can understand wanting to be comfortable working late or going out to the bar, but why would they do that while on the job? Doesn't it defeat the purpose of wearing a tie altogether? More to the point, do people do this in real life or just on TV?