Due to an event happening the Sunday after next, I decided to head out to Moores to possibly pick up either a blazer or a sport coat. I was originally considering going to the event with just a suit jacket and my dark jeans, but from what I was reading online doing so would have been a faux-pas. Apparently combining a suit jacket with casual clothes doesn’t look like you consciously dressed it down, rather that you just couldn’t find the right jacket, or perhaps accidentally stained the rest of your suit. Ouch! So, that’s why I decided to go to a specialty men’s clothing place.
As I walked in, immediately I was attended to. Nice job! If I ended up having to wander around pawing at the clothing on my own I’d probably be out of there within minutes. I suggested that I was looking for either a blazer or a sport jacket for the event and he immediately took the measuring tape to get my numbers. After that, he brought me to the jackets to try on a few items. After a few questions it was apparent that I really didn’t have much idea about dressing up. From what I was able to pick up, a blazer seems to look more formal. As such, you have more of an opportunity to dress it down without it looking like a mess. A sport jacket uses a slightly more casual fabric so you can’t dress it down too much. You really should wear dress pants with that. See! I had no clue.
The guy kept saying “these are essential pieces for a well-dressed man’s wardrobe.” I certainly couldn’t disagree there. I’ve really wanted jackets like that in my closet, but I just didn’t have a need. I lucked out in my timing because the place was having a buy one get one free deal going. As such, in the end instead of deciding on the sport jacket vs. the blazer I got both. As he kept asking me more questions, I really started thinking that I’m really missing some important things. He asked if I had dress pants. I had to really think about that. All of the pairs I had are now too big. So, I told him that I didn’t really. Imagine his shock. He asked me what shoes I was going to wear. I sheepishly told him that I was just planning on polishing the scuffed and salt stained casual brown Rockports I had on at the time. Really, I had no choice because those were my only non-sneaker type shoes. He told me that it’d be prudent to go with black shoes. Ugh. Well, I was planning on getting black shoes anyway, so I let him show me what they had. He also showed me a shirt which really was 100x better than any of my current shirts that I would have attempted to pair up with the jacket.
Ultimately, I ended up buying two jackets, a shirt, and a pair of shoes. The price wasn’t bad at all and within the mental budget I set up in anticipation. Maybe I can use these as a foundation of sorts. From now on, I can continue adding on pieces to things. One day, maybe I’ll be able to consider myself a well-dressed man. HAH! Not likely in the next little while, but I suppose I’m on my way.
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I used to be that shop assistant. Back when I was 16-18 I worked in a menswear shop selling mainly suites, sports jackets and blazers. Ironically I’ve not bought a new suit in years, and I currently don’t own a sports jacket or blazer. I do have some great jackets for snowboarding though….
Hahah. Well, these semi-formal jackets aren’t really something you actively think of getting unless there’s an occasion. We’re not really educated at all on how to use them, so it’s always an after thought. As long as you don’t need them, I guess there’s nothing to worry about. I suppose you could try wearing a tie and a dress shirt with a snowboarding jacket and call it avant-garde.