What's new

New Job Wardrobe - WHAT DO I NEED?

Hi all,

I'm starting a new job next week and want to make sure I have the bare minimum of what I need. I'll be working in commercial real estate in a major metropolitan area. Dresscode is formal (slacks, sportcoat, tie, etc)

I'm set for pants and shirts BUT....

How many pairs of dress shoes do you think I should own? What colors would you recommend?

How many sport coats do you think I should own and in what colors?

I'm planning on wearing fun bow ties on Fridays, if anyone has 2 cents to add there it'd be appreciated!
 
Here is my first pass at your requests for minimal needs:

Shoes: 2 pairs, one black and one brown.

Sport coats: 3-5: blue blazer, tweed jackets in 2-3 different patterns, perhaps a black blazer

Stay with standard, and classic neck ties until you are well established in your position.

Just my $0.02!
 
I second this emotion. Bow ties are odd. They are hard to pull off for newbies. May brand you as kind of an odd person. I say this as a confirmed bow tie wearer. I have been wearing them for 25 years, but only do so for church and outside of work functions.

Here is my first pass at your requests for minimal needs:

Shoes: 2 pairs, one black and one brown.

Sport coats: 3-5: blue blazer, tweed jackets in 2-3 different patterns, perhaps a black blazer

Stay with standard, and classic neck ties until you are well established in your position.

Just my $0.02!
 
Thank you guys for the input. I guess I'll save Fridays for 'standard casual apparel'.


Any other insight on shoes and sport coats would be very much appreciated.


I second this emotion. Bow ties are odd. They are hard to pull off for newbies. May brand you as kind of an odd person. I say this as a confirmed bow tie wearer. I have been wearing them for 25 years, but only do so for church and outside of work functions.
 
I worked in hotels for 18 years, nearly 9 of which were spent as Night Manager of a 4* hotel in Surrey, England.
The most important thing I learned about being immaculately dressed is the difference between merely putting something on or actually wearing it.
A well pressed, well fitting shirt with a tastefully coordinated tie, clean and well pressed suit or coordinated jacket and trousers, and smart, well polished shoes are only the start.
Tasteful cufflinks, tie-clips and lapel pins add an individual touch, and very nice "retro" ones are often very inexpensive in antique or charity shops, so it is fairly quick and easy to build up a nice collection.
A well ironed handkerchief in the breast pocket of a jacket looks very smart too, either a white handkerchief when wearing a white shirt, or a handkerchief that either matches the tie or the lining of the jacket
(and I don't mean pulling the pocket lining up like some teenager in a nightclub)
Although "Sports" style digital watches are functional, IMHO they look ugly when worn with a suit or other formal clothing - whether you choose a designer watch, a dress watch or a "desk diver", analogue watches always look better than digital ones.
A waistcoat always looks good with any formal outfit, whether you choose a 3-piece suit or a contrasting, but tasteful pattern to go with a 2-piece suit or a jacket and trousers
It probably goes without saying to a member of B&B, but well groomed hair, neatly trimmed facial hair or a freshly shaved face with a tasteful amount of aftershave or cologne is almost obligatory !!

The most comfortable shoes that you own should be the ones you wear to work - 2 good pairs should suffice, invest in real leather - anything else is false economy, leather soles are the most comfortable thing to wear if you're walking on carpeted floors. Once you rough the undersides up by walking on concrete they grip like glue
Tip: buy shoes or boots a half size too large and invest in a good pair of leather insoles, when you're comfortable with them, buy some spares.
Black cap-toe Oxford shoes always look good, especially if the toecaps are well polished like glass, and as a contrast, the rest of the shoe is clean, but not shiny
For a 2nd pair, I'd choose black or dark burgundy Wingtip Brogues for a more traditional look
Both choices look especially good (and cool) if you choose zippered lace-up ankle boots with the Cap-toe Oxford or Wingtip Brogue pattern - your legs and feet will appreciate the extra support from boots, and your back will thank you for zipping up your boots instead of stooping to tie your laces !!
Always wear calf length socks thar are a conservative colour, there's nothing more gross than a flash of bare shin or calf when you sit down, and white or brightly coloured socks look like a throwback to the 1980s !!

You can't go far wrong with a Navy Blue, 2 button Single Breasted Blazer, either with plain "stay-brite" or antique brass buttons, but NEVER with regimental buttons or a regimental crest on the breast pocket unless you genuinely served that particular regiment or branch of the military.

A double breasted blazer looks good too, either in navy blue or charcoal grey, depending on your choice of trousers

A dark blue, dark grey or black blazer with subtle contrast piping always looks good, but be tasteful, otherwise you'll look like you're a Patrick McGoohan fan on your way to a "Six Of One" Prisoner convention !!

A grey or blue tweed jacket looks good, but make sure the pattern isn't too loud, Houndstooth can look too much like you're ready to play golf, loud check jackets can make you look like the stereotype of a used car salesman.
A Prince Of Wales check jacket looks smart, but a Prince Of Wales suit looks even smarter.

If it was me, I'd consider grey and mid-blue 3 button single breasted 3-piece suits with a spare pair each of matching trousers for a lot of extra mileage:
Blue suit/grey waistcoat, Grey suit/blue waistcoat
Blazer/grey trousers, Blazer/blue trousers
Tweed/grey trousers, Tweed/blue trousers

Pretty much any tie will look good with a white shirt
A plain tie looks best with a striped shirt
A plain coloured shirt looks good with either a patterned or plain tie that is one shade darker or one shade lighter, especially a diagonally striped "Club" tie
A white silk tie with a white shirt looks good at a wedding or formal dinner, but a matching coloured shirt and tie only looked good on Robert De Niro in Casino !!
A striped shirt with a striped tie looks like whoever sold them to you saw you coming and offloaded his oldest stock on you that nobody else wanted to buy !!
IMHO a tie doesn't look symmetrical unless it's tied properly with a Windsor knot
A true sign of self discipline is keeping your collar and cuffs fastened, and your tie done up - even when you take your jacket off and carefully hang it on the back of your chair

IMHO a patterned silk bow tie looks good when worn with a striped shirt with a button down collar, especially with a matching handkerchief in the breast pocket of the jacket, if you're wearing a waistcoat, best to keep your jacket on, otherwise people might think you're on your way to play in a snooker match !!
Plain coloured bow ties with a white shirt look like part of a barman's uniform
A plain coloured bow tie with a striped shirt and all you're missing is a straw boater hat to look like 25% of a Barbershop Quartet !!
A black bow tie with anything other than a Tuxedo looks wrong, at best you'll look like a waiter, or worse, you'll look like you're on your way to a fancy dress party dressed as Lurch !!


If you can tie your own bow tie, all the better


That's my 2c worth
 

Doc4

Stumpy in cold weather
Staff member
As you start your job, check out the typical "dress code" (formal or informal) of those you work with, and strive to meet a similar style, so as not to appear overdressed or underdressed. That said, one navy blazer will be very useful and take you a long way.
 
definitely get a pair each of black and brown (I prefer a lighter brown) oxfords... don't get brogues, they are often seen as less formal and may be more showy than you want in a new workplace
 
Executive summary:

Buy quality (thrift shops and ebay is ok)
Get it tailored
accessorize
Dress for the job you want, not the job you have

How many pairs of dress shoes do you think I should own? What colors would you recommend?
(2 black, 1 burgundy, 1 brown, repeat the cycle. Buy quality with leather uppers and soles. Always well shined. Great shoes can be had from thrift stores and off of e-bay at a fraction of retail )

How many sport coats do you think I should own and in what colors?
(Blue, Blue, Grey, herringbone, windowpane, tweed, black repeat the cycle.
Having said that, start thinking about the job you want v. the job you have and that means suits
Blue Solid, Grey Solid, Blue Pattern, Grey Pattern repeat the cycle, then black.)

With suits and sportcoats, as much wool as possible in the composition. Buy quality and get them tailored.
A well tailored wool (55% wool at least) Blue blazer from the thrift store than you have 40.00 ( all in with alterations) when paired with a laundered shirt and simple white hankie will have you looking much better than a something that is made from poly at 3x the price.


I'm planning on wearing fun bow ties on Fridays, if anyone has 2 cents to add there it'd be appreciated!
(big pass on this at this moment in time. Fun socks maybe?)
 

strop

Now half as wise
You'll get a lot of opinions on the bow tie. I wear them almost exclusively, so that probably biases me a bit! If you are in the South, you'll see them more frequently than the Northeast, for example.

If you go that route, you must wear it with confidence. Do not let it wear you. And above all, tie it yourself. Never, ever, ever wear a pre-tied bow tie.
 
I'm in the Seattle area, so people accept others with their own "unique" styles. Nonetheless, I'll wait a few weeks before doing anything too ballsy.


Thank you everyone!
 
Eventually you NEED three pair of dress shoes; two minimum to rotate and let the previous rest and dry; three for the day a pair need reheeling or resoling. Do not forget cedar shoe trees. If you desire cufflinks I can gift a pair if that is allowed as a new member. I have
a unmarked set of british marine brass oval double faced with chain links. Tradition holds yellow metal for daytime to reflect the sun and white metals after nightfall the moon.
Dressing well comes down to two rules: Don't look like you are trying to dress well and one cheap item ( especially shoes) will negate your best efforts.
 
I wouldn't wear a bow tie. When I was practicing law, some guys wore them. It was a putt off. Most people might not care but if you are trying to secure a client, why take a chance.
 
JMO, but bow ties work best with very formal attire, such as a tuxedo. Have a look at old Photos of Humphrey Bogart, who often tried wearing them with less than formal attire, and compare that with images of him with regular ties. The regular ties work better. Cary Grant seems to have only done bow ties with tuxedos.

If you are looking for a change-up, Ascots and Bolos are much easier to pull off than a bow.
 
No matter what you get to fill out your wardrobe,
always keep a complete change of clothes at the office.

You never know when you might spill coffee on yourself,
or step in something icky when you take clients out in the field.

These sort of things always happen right before an important meeting,
so you need to be prepared to freshen up your appearance on a moment's notice.
 
Top Bottom