Tie the Knot

Ties, they're the perfect accent to any outfit, whether formal or casual. Here we'll outline some rules and suggestions for tie knots and which ones to use.

Four in Hand
The four in hand knot is one of the skinniest tie knots. It's best uses are on skinny ties, when in a more casual setting, or for ties worn with really skinny collars. The one setback is that it's not symmetrical.

Half Windsor
A half windsor is slightly larger than the four in hand and can be done for almost any tie and collar except for the thinnest ties and the widest collars. This is the smallest symmetrical knot.

Full Windsor
A full windsor is a slightly larger version of the half windsor and is a symbol of strength and power. Worn to businesses more often then not. This tie will surely put you ahead of the crowd.

Double Windsor (Balthus)
A double windsor is, that's right, an even bigger windsor knot! The only reasons someone might tie this knot are because their tie is too long or they have a very wide collar.

Novelty Knots
Novelty knots are simply knots which, when tied, show an interesting pattern in the knot rather than a flat knot. These ties are more modern than any others. Here are some popular novelty knots and how to tie them.

Eldredge: 
This knot creates a handsome and powerful multi-layered look. A more pristine look, but at the cost of a more difficult tie.

Trinity: 
This knot display's three separate parts coming together.

Van Wijk: 
This knot is similar to a four in hand with two loops below it.

Tie Clips
Usually worn more with formal and business attire, tie clips can hold the tie in place, and they look great with the correctly colored tie.

Instructions for all the knots we talked about here and more can be found on:
http://www.ties.com/how-to-tie-a-tie

Have any questions or concerns? Comment on this post or email us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Quinn and Mike

Suit Up

Suits are the height of men's fashion. Many people don't think there's much to them, but, in reality, they are a very complex and interesting aspect of style, so suit up, and let's dive in.

When to wear a suit
Suits can be worn to many occasions which include:
Weddings (Depends on season and how formal it is.)
Business meetings (Navy or charcoal two piece suit)
Interviews (Dark colored two piece suit.)
Dances (Dark colored suit.)
Gala's (Usually dark suit or tuxedo.)
Casually (Depending on how you like to dress.)

Types of suits
Most people think that suit's only come in one style, but inreality there is a wide vareity of suit styles to choose from. Here are some of the things that make suits unique

3-piece v.s. 2-piece. 
The difference between these two suit types is a single item. If a vest is worn, it is a 3-piece. If no vest is worn, it will be a 2-piece. The one thing that both of these styles have in common are usually the whole suit comes in corresponding colors and from the same company. Suits are rarely mixed and matched pieces, but a single company in one suit.

Double breasted v.s. Single breasted
The main difference between double and single breasted suits is the form of closure. Single breasted suits have a single row of buttons, while double breasted ones have, yup, you guessed it, two. This makes them seem more formal. In general, it's best to go with a single breasted jacket if you're not sure.

Peaked, notched, or shawl lapels
The lapels of the suit are the extension of the collar on either side of the opening, and there are three different types, as listed above. The most formal one is the peaked lapel, shown in the first picture. These are the only types of lapels found on double breasted jackets. Notched lapels, shown in the second picture, are the most common shape of lapel. It can be worn to most occasions and is a middleground between peaked and shawl lapels. The shawl lapel, shown in the third picture is most commonly found on tuxedos. It is an interesting style of lapel which is mostly put on evening wear.

Suit Jacket v.s. Sports Coat
There is no inherrent difference between suit jackets and sports coats. The only difference is in the pants. This may seem counterintuitive, but a suit jacket only qualifies as a suit jacket when worn with pants of the same color, otherwise it's a sports coat. This can be an interesting way to create more combinations with less clothes. By using the jacket for a suit and as a sports coat you can add some diversity to your style.

Tuxedos
Tuxedos are slightly different from suit jackets in a few ways. They have only one button, the lapels are wider, they are worn with a tuxedo shirt, and they are worn with a bowtie and cummerbund. These are the basic rules of tuxedos. The most common lapels for tuxedos are peaked and shawl.

Suit Etiquette
There are a few more rules you have to know before suiting up.
1. If your jacket has three buttons remember the mantra: Sometimes, always, never. If it has two buttons, start from "always".
2. When you sit down, unbutton your suit. There my be a crease if you sit.
3. Remember to always wear an button down and undershirt when wearing any suit.
4. Lint rolling is very important!
5. It is important to have a strong posture when wearing a suit, no slouching.
6. Always try to match pieces of the suit with the jacket if they do not come all in one color.

Now you're ready, so get on out there, and Suit Yourself!

Have any questions or concerns? Comment on this post or email us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Quinn and Mike

The Right Fit

Although wearing the correct clothing is important, it won't look good unless it fits right. The best way to make sure your clothes will fit is to get bespoke or tailored clothes, but for those of us who can't afford to get all our clothes bespoke or tailored, it's best to know how your clothes should fit in order to be able to make educated decisions on which sizes to buy. Remember, slim fit clothing is always an easy way out.

Dress Shirts
Your collar shouldn't constrict your neck and shouldnt move when you turn your head. The shoulder seams should be on the shoulder bone. The sleeves shouldn't be fitted enough to see the definition of your muscles, and the cuff shouldn't move up more than an inch when you bend your arm. The cuffs should stop where your palm begins and should not be higher than where you would wear a watch.

Pants
Your pants should fit snugly around the waist and have a slim fit along the legs. They should drape a little over your shoes, so they barely touch your shoes when you sit, but they shouldn't constrict your movement. Feel free to add on a belt if things don't fit completely.

Suit Jacket
The jacket collar should allow two inches of your shirt collar to show. When buttoned, the jacket should not pull into an "X" shape. The second button from the bottom should rest just above your belly button. The sleeves should just cover your wrists, allowing about an inch of your shirt cuff to show. Remember to never fully button up the jacket.

Shoes
The shoe should be fairly snug. You shouldn't be able to fit a finger behind your heel. The shoe should put little to no pressure on your foot. Remember dress shoes always are a little bit bigger then they are.

Ties
The bottom of the tie should just reach the middle of your belt. Also, it shouldn't tighten your collar, but sit just below it. Remember to have the tie tucked under your collar so it is not visible around your neck.

Belts
When wearing a belt, you should feel a snug squeeze. Nothing too tight that would cause pain throughout the day or when you sit down. Remember to tuck the remaining belt strand under the rest of the pant loops.

Have any questions or concerns? Comment on this post or email us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Quinn and Mike

Must Have Items

There are lots of items that can make your closet unique, but there are some items that everyone has to have.

Oxford Shirts
Oxfords are button down shirts. They are very diverse and can be worn in many colors and casually or to fancier occasions.

Oxford Shoes or Loafers
Oxford shoes, not to be confused with Oxford shirts, are any dress shoes with open lacing. Loafers, on the other hand, have no laces and are simply slipped on. Oftentimes the front is adorned with metal clip of some sort. Both are good choices for a dress shoe.

Slim Fit Jeans
Jeans are extremely important because of their ability to be worn with almost anything and almost anywhere. Note the word "almost". Don't try to wear them to a black tie event.

Slim Fit Chinos or Khakis
Chinos and khakis are important for the same reason as jeans, the difference is that they are fancier and should be fitted mire tightly.

Plain Tee/ V-neck
Not only can they be worn as undershirts, but a white/black tee is a classic look that never goes out of style. When in doubt you can always fall back on it.

Suits
We'll have a whole post about suits soon, but until then here's what you need to know. Everyone should own at least one. Take the time to get a bespoke suit or get your suit tailored. It's worth it, but before you dive into the world of suits here are some popular suit colors to consider:
Navy, Gray, Charcoal, Black,
Tan, Vertical Plaid.

Vests
Vests are a very popular piece of men's clothing. They can be worn in a variety of ways. There are Suit Vests, Sweater Vests, and Zip-up Vests. Suit vests and Sweater vests are usually associated with nicer events, while Zip-up vests can be worn to more casual events. However, unlike the sweater vest, a suit vest can be worn casually as well, making you look good at any occasion.

Three Piece Suits
Instead of a Sports Coat with dress pants, a three piece is a combination of a Suit Vest, A Sports Coat, and Dress Pants. A three piece comes in a single unified color/ design. Three pieces are very formal and are the superior suit combination.

Cardigans
A cardigan is a button up sweater. Cardigans come in varieties of colors and types. Depending on what your preference is, they can be thick or tight and well fitting. Slim fit cardigans can go on top of either a casual or formal button down.

Sweaters
Sweaters are commonly worn with formal or casual button downs underneath, along with a tie. Depending on your preference, it can be a V-neck or Crewneck sweater. Either sweater works well depending on the style you are going for.

Polos
Usually you will see these in the summer when a button down is too hot to wear. A polo is a regular T-shirt with a collar and three buttons on the top. A lot of the times, these come in brighter colors so you won't burn under the sun, and to match the bright colors of summer themes.

Flat-Faced Shorts
Commonly known as "Dress Shorts" Flat faced shorts usually have a button, and match to a polo, however they can also go very well with a dress shirt. These shorts often require a belt, since they do not have an elastic waist band. These type of shorts are very often seen in the summer.

Dress Socks
Meant to be worn with formal wear or suits, they come in a wide variety of materials and colors. Colors usually are black, charcoal grey, grey, navy blue, or brown. Lighter shades like tan match lighter clothing. Argyle patterns are the most common pattern on socks. Never wear dress socks with shorts.

Tie/ Bowtie
A tie can make anything look more formal, even casual wear. A tie usually goes together with suits and button downs. There are millions of designs and colors for ties. Darker, plainer ties are more formal then lighter, colorful ones. Bowties are the best choice to wear with tuxedos and are usually black. Ties can quickly change a casual outfit to a formal one.

Just as a reminder, these pieces of clothing are what we recommend you have in your closet, but feel free to adjust as you see fit. Not everyone is the same.

Have any question or concerns? Comment on this post or contact us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Quinn and Mike

Colors and Patterns

Hello all! In this post, we will be talking about colors and patterns.

To start off, you have to learn that anything goes with black. We're talking about, blue, yellow, green, neon, purple, anything. This color is the base when it comes to color coding. Can't find a right color? Choose the easy way out with black.

Colors in General-
Remember, try to have a variety of colors when it comes to your clothing, and avoid wearing a single solid color. We would suggest having at least three to four colors between your shirt, pants, shoes, ties, or sweaters, but keeping a theme between them to tie the outfit together. When choosing colors, your best bet would be to choose complementary colors on the color wheel.

Light Colors-
Especially when it comes to light colors, you can not wear just one color. If you are wear a light blue button down, you cannot wear light blue pants. Light colors on light colors will make you stand out of the crowd, yes, but not in a good way. We suggest a nice gray tone to match light colors, but if you must, dark colors will work well with a light mixture as well.

Dark Colors-
Dark colors can be difficult when it comes to shirt color, so let's start with the pants. For pants, it's easy to find a matching color. Dark pants will usually work well with both light shirts and dark shirts. Either color palette works very well. However, shirts that are dark do not work well with most light pants. It's a horrible color disaster and never matches well. The only light colors that can really work well with dark tops are white and khaki.

Patterns-
Patterns are some of the most difficult clothing styles to wear, and as such should be used carefully. Patterns can be a great way to add some personality to your outfit, but you have to be careful not to make it too busy. As such, we would recommend starting with one patterned piece of clothing per outfit. Also, it might be a good idea to start with smaller patterns rather than jumping right into bold, statement pieces.

Have any question or concerns? Comment on this post or contact us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Quinn and Mike

Back to Basics

I'm often surprised by the amount of men who are either negligent of simple fashion rules or don't think of them as important enough to matter. For those of you who are more experienced in the matter of fashion this may seem redundandt, but it never hurts to go back to basics.

Rule 1: Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, and that you think look good on you.
No matter how stylish your outfit is, if you're uncomfortable, you won't look good. Everyday when you get dressed pay attention to how you feel and how you look. Is the collar of your shirt too tight? Change the shirt. Don't like how wrinkled those pants are? Put on a new pair! It's as simple as that.

Rule 2: Wear clothes that fit you and flatter your figure.
As obvious as this may seem, lots of people wear things that don't fit them or fit them wrong. Baggy pants or too tight shirts are doing nothing to help you look good. Apart from being embarassing, clothing that constricts your bloodflow can make you uncomfortable and can be dangerous to your health. Wear something that hugs your body without choking you.

Rule 3: Make sure the colors of your clothes match.
We have a whole post dedicated to helping you with colors and patterns, but I'll outline the basics here. Your watch, belt, and shoes should all be the same color, and you should make sure that your outfit has a general theme of a few colors.

Have any question or concerns? Comment on this post or contact us at suityourselffashion@gmail.com

-Mike