Sartorial Splendor

An admin in my office commented to me today that another guy in the office had a good eye for visual. "Conservative, but not too much. You know, he always dresses nice. Not as nice as you, but we're not used to your level."

My level. Hmm. Just what is my level? I've been reading men's fashion magazines for at least 20 years. Since I was a kid really. I've forgotten more about fashion than most men will ever know. Does this mean I'm a fashion plate? Hardly, but I do put together interesting combinations when I dress. I championed the chino pants with black shirt and shoes for Friday casual in one office. I quit wearing it when I realized both men and women had begun copying me. I moved to black slacks with french blue shirts.

I quit wearing ties when our corporate policy clearly states that men will wear ties and jackets. Yeah, right. I wear bright colors when warranted. I have clothes I only wear in the winter. Conversely, I have clothes I only wear in the summer. The same goes for shoes. I have pairs that are only for summer and a few winter only shoes. Yes, I'm a clothes whore. We've established that. Moving on...

Today for example, I was wearing a custom made shirt, in a beautiful gray/silver herringbone pattern and a gold/gray tie (yeah, I break my own rules sometimes too) with black slacks. I looked nice, but nothing special if you ask me. Oh, and before you get all bent about me getting custom made shirts, I have yet to find an off the rack shirt that fits right. If the neck and arms fit then it looks like Omar the Tentmaker made the shirt body. So, I don't have a lot of choice in the matter. It doesn't cost appreciably more than a good shirt off the rack either. Not to mention that with custom made shirts you don't get plastic buttons that shatter at the cleaners.