Any interest in discussing men's fashion?

[Major Nikon]

One of the things that has interested me my entire adult life on the subject of how to "man" is basic men's fashion. By this I don't mean cutting edge trends on what is in and what is out, but rather the essential timeless elements that really haven't changed much in the last 100 years or so if not longer. Both my dad and grandfather knew how to dress and passed on much of that to me. What I find is many people younger and even the same age as me just don't even know the very basic things like how to tie a tie or shine your shoes or iron clothes, much less what to pair with what and how to build a versatile wardrobe that serves you for any occasion you might encounter. The other day I was asked about this subject and I realized there's so much information you could spend a lot of time discussing it and really not even scratch the surface about what things are really nice to know.

[Major Nikon]

1. Over 100 views, but no replies

It seems like there's some interest, but evidently not much.

Well, I'll try to revive this.

First off, footwear, the foundation both literally and figuratively of any man's wardrobe.

Right away I'm going to disregard athletic shoes, flip-flops, and other poorly made footwear that isn't made to last more than a few seasons, which isn't to say there isn't room for those things in a wardrobe, but just that they aren't something you're usually going to devote as much resources.

When it comes to things like boots, dress shoes, and most other casual footwear, the type I look for is genuine leather uppers with goodyear welt construction. Goodyear welt is the most common type of shoe construction which sews the upper to the sole. This type of footwear is both cheap and expensive depending on how you want to look at it. The initial cost of the footwear is going to be more expensive compared to cheaper construction methods, but the outcome is far more durable. It also allows the footwear to be resoled at a far lower cost than replacing the shoe or boot. Since the soles typically wear out far before the uppers, this greatly extends the service life of the footwear. I have shoes that are over 30 years old that are still going strong. That type of service life requires a good initial investment and proper care, but some shoes are literally made to last a lifetime and can possibly last even longer.

The topics of pairing shoes to outfits, shoe care, sizing, and selection is worthy of discussion if anyone has the interest.

[mythology]

2. Personally I have absolutely no interest in ever wearing a tie

I find them anachronistic at best. As such, I couldn't tie a tie to save my life. But I think in large part, it's unnecessary in this day and age. I've never had a job that required a tie and I've worked in professional environments.

[Major Nikon]

3. You have to make your way up the ladder a few rungs before they become expected

At least for most employers today and for some employers they aren't even expected at any level thanks to the Mark Zuckerberg era of the zip up hoodie. I think this is both a good and bad thing. Good in that most of the rules no longer apply or at least to the extent they once did which offers more room for self expression. Bad in that there's less appreciation for attention to details.

For many years I was indifferent to ties. I wore them because I had to. I appreciate them more today, perhaps because I see them more as an opportunity to express individuality than an obligation. Even the best business suits are rather boring and repetitive, but there's no limit to styles and designs when it comes to ties. I've developed a pretty good collection of vintage ties, and most of those are of a very high quality from the best designers of the past 50 years or so, almost all of them scored on ebay for less than $20.

The men's fashion of today pretty much has to include casual options, because that's the environment most men are going to find themselves in most of the time. As such unless you have a big budget and a lot of closet space, it pays to build a wardrobe that's going to offer a lot of versatility inside the spectrum of casual to formal.