Click bit.ly/4fUt7iZ and with code GENTZ get 20% OFF your entire order! Hurry though, this offer expires 1/31/25! Thank you, Straight Up Socks, for sponsoring today's video!
Fashion says very little about wealth. I absolutely agree with you about class, manners and respect. The fact is, wealthy people don’t give two ***** about wasting money on fashion. A true gentleman doesn’t display their wealth.
I’ve worn a pair of Crockett and jones Alex whole cut in chestnut brown with dark indigo fitted Jacob cohen jeans, both paired with a light pink casual shirt and mid blue linen jacket. I’ve had nothing but compliments from people. Sometimes it’s good to stand out from the crowd if you have the confidence. Subtle rule braking can be liberating! Love your content
Those silicone strips actually reacted with my skin causing blister like burns! They felt fine for a few hours but after a whole day….. BLISTERS like burns!
there's always room for a simple pocket square, in a presidential fold to complete the look - you weren't gonna 'overwhelm' any viewer with that addition - don't overthink it, just plug in a pocket square in there every time you wear a suit or a blazer - if you think the outfit's busy enough already, then just stick to a simple pattern n colour, coupled with a plain fold on the pocket square and off we go 👍🏼 cheers!
Well - I hate pocket squares - always make me feel silly instead of stylish- like “look at me how stylish I am” - and I don’t like that. I acknowledge that many men can wear them in a discrete natural way, but pocket squares are not for me 😌
Yes. This is the correct answer. If there is a pocket, there should be a pocket square in it. If there’s a lot going on in your outfit, go for neutral white folded one.
My wife accuses me of being a walking Christmas Tree. I call it smart flamboyant. What’s wrong with a smart suit,tie ,Stefano Ricci shirt, Kurt Geiger shoes, President bracelet gold Rolex, five rings distributed across 2 hands, gold wrist bracelets and 4 gold necklaces carefully arranged under the tie😁. Got mistaken for the Mayor at a restaurant in a castle. Great video anyway. I must remember to pull my socks up😃
Even if you wear expensive dress shoes ,make sure they're polished. All two often I've seen well dressed men letting themselves down with dull or scuffed shoes. It may be a chore, but shoe polishing is an art and should be treated as such. That means no using the liquid polish with the foam applicator, it's silicone-based and damages the leather.
A crisp tailored dress shirt perfectly fitted is the best feeling when worn with suits Seeing sneakers with suits completely ruins any suit. It could be $ 15,000 suit but without proper shoes suit will look like trash I would add always have polished shoes with bit of mirror shine
I'd add knowing what to wear for your height, especially if you're shorter. For example, wearing shoes that contrast with your pants (or legs if you're wearing shorts) will disrupt the vertical line and will make make you look shorter. Pants/legs + shoes look best when they're similar in tone if you're not tall.
James, what you are doing is teaching the ABCs of fashion to illiterates. Please don't call your examples "looking like a gentleman". You are merely showing the rubes how to look middle class. True gentlemen have always been a tiny percentage of the population. They are eccentric and they enjoy dressing as they please. The art of dressing like a gentleman cannot be taught. At best you can pull some suburbanites out of their nylon/polyester track suit/loungewear stupor for while. But until the boorish zeitgeist of the Western world is put to rest there will be no improvement.
Hey James, I believe that a tea out of tea bag is also kinda a style mistake. I guess that as a gentleman you need to fill your life with things of quality and style. And the tea bag just isn't that. Try puer tea for example, or some tieguanyin tea instead. I'm sure you'll find much more pleasure in those beverages. Don't take it as a criticism, bur rather a friendly advice. Great content by the way!
To further add to this, (In my humble opinion, of course) finding a fine teapot and cups can significantly elevate the experience. The shape and thickness of the cup, affect our sensory receptors on the tongue. A great example, is receiving a coffee served in a thin glass, typically designed for water. A rookie mistake, coffee establishments make, trying to appear sophisticated or Modern.
Re. Gordon Gekko. For those of us who were alive then, that blue shirt with contrasting white collar, the revival of suspender wearing, the tie bar... all that stuff was big then, a mix of elements that had been on the back burner during the '70s. GQ was pushing that look heavily, and prior to the internet, magazines actually had some cultural influence. Anyhow, great video.
Before I hear the style mistake, I'm going to guess it's either cheap novelty socks, or bad shoes. Edit: Eh, I was close, cheap socks, but for a different reason. First time I wore over the calf socks it felt unusual, but I got used to it within an hour and now there's no strange feeling, if they're well made then they're not uncomfortable at all, in fact they feel more comfortable than cheap socks bunching up around your ankles. The worst thing about the matching tie and pocket square faux pas, is that when regular stores contribute to that mistake with their tie/pocket square box set, it convinces the uninformed person that it's the correct way, rental suit places do it as well for ease of replacement and colour coordination, but it just cheapens the whole outfit when someone does it.
Yes theoretically I too see the point in mismatched shoes vis-a-vis garment. But I once saw a man wearing plain white shirt, jeans and formal black shoes. I liked that combination.
AWESOME !!!!!! haha You answered one of my questions I wondered about and didn't ask. The pocket-square does not need to be the same shade of same colour ! I had a different blue pocket-square than my tie, and I worried. It looked really good actually, better than if they were the same! I figured the same shade & colour are distracting one from the other, but still I wondered about that issue, if I was breaking the rules of style/etiquette, but your notes are great assurance I was right afterall
I'd have thought that the absolute biggest style mistakes men make these days is wearing sweat pants and baseball caps, everywhere. There's a fine line between looking cool and looking like a man-child, and these two items are the ones that often tilt the scales in favor of the latter.
Agree with all your "mistakes." #6: Don't wear a button-down collar shirt with a double breasted suit (or blazer) jacket. Spread or cutaway collars are best.
For Christ's sake, the guy was riding a bike, which involves constant up and down leg motion, give him a break. Probably no one else noticed and said "look at that guy on the bike, what a slob".
I wear cycling appropriate clothing on my bike when I’m commuting. It gives me Some exercise to keep me trim. I need proper zip pockets to keep my phone and work pass handy and secure. Feel free to join me in the pishing rain, on a freezing day in your lounge suit
I would love to hear your takes on boots. My feet are incredibly more comfortable with wide toe boots than any footwear, so unless they look really out of place, I use them all the time.
Those styles work best with rougher fabrics like corduroy, flannel, & tweed. I wear red wing iron rangers with those types of pants/suits often and it has a nice early 20th century feel to it.
As a watch guy, and upon seeing a watch in your splash page for this video, I was disappointed you did not mention what type of wat h to wear with suits. I see far too often people wearing dive watches or even GShock watches with suits. Wear a dress watch. A $150 Orient Bambino would be better than even a Rolex Submariner or Omega Seamaster. Not everyone is James Bond
Over-the-calf socks, ONLY. Static cling with wool trousers? When you're wearing the socks, apply a swipe of hand lotion, sun block, or something like that, to the socks. Or, before donning your socks, give them a quick spray of your deodorant or similar spray.
Hey James, lovd your videos!! I do have to respectfully disagree with you in this one though. I think a crisp while presidential fold pocket square would've made your outfit pop. It still looks good, but the pocket square would have definitely elevated it to another level!
I don't think there is anything wrong with over-dressing your shoes. I think closed-lace leather shoes can look great with a nice pair of jeans. But casual shoes, or shoes that are poorly maintained, will certainly ruin a dress ensemble. One lesson I have learned as a suit fitter is that not everyone needs the slimmest possible suit that will fit their body. Tall, muscular men look great in a classic-fitting suit, because a slim-fit suit will over exaggerate their proportions. This is also true for older men, even if they are in the best possible shape for their age. The right fit should drape gracefully from the shoulders and through the body.
Honestly I think if you offered some program or offered some personalized style advice, you could make good profit. For example I am ok with spending some money on style and outfits, however I cannot be bothered to go to stores, try on clothes, think about fashion etc., just don't have the time for that. I think many men feel the same way I do.
If your gf finds you attractive with a more significant beard, that’s a lucky thing. I really dislike shaving: doing it carefully takes CONSIDERABLE time, and my skin gets very red and irritated: sometimes even with a new blade. My covid beard was ZZ Top, and I looked VERY hillbilly, as you say. Even trimmed and groomed, that beard made me look like a crazy man, & not at all like a hipster. Cultural norms seem to shine a spotlight on our beards. In Taiwan and Japan, some artists and creative types will wear a beard, but EVERY single Taiwanese or Japanese woman I met said directly-to my bearded face-“Shave that. You’re absolutely RUINING any ‘handsome’ you have.” [Extended talk:] “Just by being a foreigner (Westerner), you attract people’s gaze. I’ll happily walk about with a handsome, clean-cut, foreigner on my arm. And that’s not nothing, because people in the neighborhood WILL wonder what I’m up to: they’ll think positive things, bad things, jealous things, racist things… I’ll put up with that because I know you’re a gentleman, and I legitimately like you. But with the beard ? Most of us East Asian girls just don’t like it. And it gives the ‘eccentric artist’ look, which isn’t a far cry from your Western ‘mad scientist’ look. So, please: shave off the beard.” A few days later at the airport in Istanbul, I noticed more than a few guys give me a respectful “chin tilt up” hello, and I got a few positive comments on my considerably full & long & naturally copper beard. Different culture. Istanbul was a layover. The beard got mixed reviews in South America. My date sent me to a fancy men’s spa in São Paulo. Ostensibly that was supposed to be a relaxing spa day; massage, mani + pedi, beer, a facial….and time with the barber. Me-thinks she wanted the beard removed. Cultural ?
3:24 shirt garters that attach to your socks can also do this. They were required for some uniforms while I was in the Marines, and I now understand why.
As Fabio Capello put it. “When a gentleman crosses his legs and the trouser leg rides up to show hairy shins at the top of the sock, it offends my eyes. It's like women wearing their stockings rolled down around their ankles Both would be a real turn-off."
I agree with your observation about the people dress in Paris conspired to people in the USA. Actually I think most people in Europe dress better than people in the USA. However, you fail to mention one major fashion mistake. That is wearing suspenders and a belt. Actually, I don’t think a man should wear a belt with a suite. A man should have either side adjusters or wear suspenders with a suit. A related fashion mistake is wearing a navy suite with a brown belt.
My personal opinion for a long time is that matching tie and pocket square is NOT a style mistake. It may be regarded as boring and non-creative, but I think it should be the obvious first style option. Not a popular opinion but who cares?
So does your ring keep your tie straight on a windy day or keep your tie out of your soup during a lunch meeting? Keep the tie bar...it has a practical purpose.
As for shoes, my father taught me early on, if you wear navy or blue suit or chino pants, do NOT wear brown shoes. Black shoes go with everything, but brown shoes go with any shade of brown, khaki, tan, etc.
I disagree with your father, a pair of high quality, well polished or suede brown shoes can look great with a grey or blue suit and certainly with chinos.
Fort Belvedere of the Gentlemen's Gazette offers over the calf sock. I've been using them daily for months. They don't slip down and they are soft to wear.
The only thing i wanna critique is the idea of tailored shirts. Idt its much of a big deal, and i look at it from the mentality that, let us figure a man has multiple shirts, from Tees to Dress shirts and everything in between. Say this man has also been dieting and even hitting the gym in an effort to try to lose weight, or hell, even on the opposite end, lets say he gains some weight from bulking up or something, stress, poor dieting, lack of exercise bc of some change in his routine and lifestyle. My point is, assuming his weight might fluctuate over time long term, tailoring is therefore not an option if he will own these garments for a long while, and even could cost more money in the long run as then he is tailoring something to specs and then having to either get it redone or throw it away, bc it now no longer fits properly and is either too lose or too tight. And, as a man myself who has both at times gained weight from stress and dietary changes, and currently has been toning up and losing weight this past year (down about 18 or so from October 2023 while at the same time building muscle), I dont think it is something i want to worry about. Now if u have the money to do it, do whatever u want, you are ultimately your own person, but with this more long term ideology in mind that our bodies can fluctuate over time, i disagree with that point and think as long as any outfit fits comfortably, assuming u know how to style yourself otherwise and it brings you confidence wearing it, u deserve to own it and strut ur stuff. if the shirt is visibly baggy, toss it. If the collar is too loose or too tight, toss it. But dont frivolously toss money out the window buying or tailoring your stuff if u are currently in the process of losing weight. Once u get to where u are happy, maybe consider a wardrobe update, but just be smart with ur money and dont stress yourself out over how u look and ur progress bc that will hinder your results.
Hi James. What’s your thoughts on a 70 year old (me) wearing a medium sized college ring on the right hand when dressed up as for a wedding etc. Similar colored watch is on the left arm. Thank you.
Love your style tips and flaws! 🫶🏻 These apply to women too! We over-accessorize, looking like vulgar Christmas trees, we wear sneakers with everything and our socks slip too. Coco Chanel is quoted to have said; “before leaving the house, look at yourself in the mirror and remove one accessory.”
Dear James, I enjoy your content and follow your channel with great interest. I’m French myself, but I live in Vienna, Austria, a beautiful European capital. If you ever visit Vienna, I’d be happy to show you some very stylish spots. Don’t hesitate to reach out-it would be a pleasure to meet you!
I was waiting to see if you would address footwear. I think a terrible faux pas is when a man looks stunning. Has the correct fitting suit, pocket square, tie, belt etc and as your gaze drops he is wearing an old pair of unpolished shoes. This is a huge mistake and one that I see very often. In my book a new suit requires a new pair of correct dress shoes and I totally agree about sneakers with a suit or no socks with a suit. Absolutely terrible.
It is hard to look at a matching tie and pocket square and be overcome by this fashion “violation.” The other errors that you point out evoke a response of noticeable discord. The tie and pocket square is just “meh.” A pocket square feels a bit pointless to me anyway.
I must admit that the mistake that floors me is men who wear braces AND a belt at the same time. A phobia that their pants are going to fall down? If you are that nervous, please stay home and definitely out of sight. And gentlemen, try to spell correctly. You can look ignorant. You do not "ware" clothing, you WEAR them.
Thank you, great advice as always. If I may add two suggestions don't show three or four fingers when you have three or four etc points to talk about. It's very corny and we're all big boys, we get it. Second (remember, no two fingers here!) don't have your tea bag tag dangling from your mug. It looks très gauche!
biggest mistake, wearing cloths for others. dress for your own taste and comfort, life is too short to care unless you are a follower needing to impress others.
Showing a naked leg caused by a short sock is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in Europe, especially in Italy. In the US, however, it is not perceived as an issue. With the as AskOkey example: I like the fit of his coat but I don't like the cut of his trousers.
I thought you were going to say bicycle clips. However, he should be wearing them, or he will have oil on his trousers. Good video but ruined by the crass advertisement for socks. Not what a gentleman would do.
I attended a wedding where the groom and groomsmen wore black tuxedos (good) with black hi-top Converse sneakers (bad!). I suppose the sneakers were a memento that can be worn long after the wedding. Also, I've noticed years ago that former pro athletics were wearing super tight suits trying to suggest that they are still in supreme fitness, rocking the Superman look with bulging muscles.
I kind of disagree with James. He models his look off of Cary Grant but I love Humphrey Bogart. When I ware a suit I alwase use a pocket square etc. The problem isn't the accessories that you ware. It's how the 'whole' outfit comes together. You can ware accessories but the tie, pocket square and cufflinks must be toned down allowing the suit itself to be the fashon statement. Your shirt must be pale and your suit darker. And your tie must be the focal point of the whole look. With the pocket square and cufflinks adding the extra flare.
Click bit.ly/4fUt7iZ and with code GENTZ get 20% OFF your entire order! Hurry though, this offer expires 1/31/25! Thank you, Straight Up Socks, for sponsoring today's video!
Your understated humor is most enjoyable. And your advice is well worth taking into account.
Fashion says very little about wealth. I absolutely agree with you about class, manners and respect. The fact is, wealthy people don’t give two ***** about wasting money on fashion. A true gentleman doesn’t display their wealth.
To me.The biggest style mistake are the skinny pants that are high waters.And no socks.Could never wrap my head around that look.I hope it goes away.
Avoid anything "trendy".
It will
Very well said
God awful!
The guys wearing those things today will feel embarrassed by their pictures.
I’ve worn a pair of Crockett and jones Alex whole cut in chestnut brown with dark indigo fitted Jacob cohen jeans, both paired with a light pink casual shirt and mid blue linen jacket. I’ve had nothing but compliments from people. Sometimes it’s good to stand out from the crowd if you have the confidence. Subtle rule braking can be liberating! Love your content
Those silicone strips actually reacted with my skin causing blister like burns! They felt fine for a few hours but after a whole day….. BLISTERS like burns!
there's always room for a simple pocket square, in a presidential fold to complete the look - you weren't gonna 'overwhelm' any viewer with that addition - don't overthink it, just plug in a pocket square in there every time you wear a suit or a blazer - if you think the outfit's busy enough already, then just stick to a simple pattern n colour, coupled with a plain fold on the pocket square and off we go 👍🏼 cheers!
Well - I hate pocket squares - always make me feel silly instead of stylish- like “look at me how stylish I am” - and I don’t like that. I acknowledge that many men can wear them in a discrete natural way, but pocket squares are not for me 😌
@@erikhn9331 cheers!
Yes. This is the correct answer. If there is a pocket, there should be a pocket square in it. If there’s a lot going on in your outfit, go for neutral white folded one.
My wife accuses me of being a walking Christmas Tree. I call it smart flamboyant. What’s wrong with a smart suit,tie ,Stefano Ricci shirt, Kurt Geiger shoes, President bracelet gold Rolex, five rings distributed across 2 hands, gold wrist bracelets and 4 gold necklaces carefully arranged under the tie😁. Got mistaken for the Mayor at a restaurant in a castle. Great video anyway. I must remember to pull my socks up😃
Even if you wear expensive dress shoes ,make sure they're polished. All two often I've seen well dressed men letting themselves down with dull or scuffed shoes.
It may be a chore, but shoe polishing is an art and should be treated as such. That means no using the liquid polish with the foam applicator, it's silicone-based and damages the leather.
I finally threw out some old shoes and got new ones that are shiny and neat. Love them!
A crisp tailored dress shirt perfectly fitted is the best feeling when worn with suits
Seeing sneakers with suits completely ruins any suit. It could be $ 15,000 suit but without proper shoes suit will look like trash
I would add always have polished shoes with bit of mirror shine
The sneakers with a suit worked for the Tenth Doctor, but we ain't him . . .
I always wear my bracelet, ring and watch, they are my everyday pieces no matter the outfit (unless it’s the gym)
Duct taping the top of your socks to your skin works well, after a few days there’s also little hair left so removing it hurts less.
Dude…he was riding a bike 😂
BONUS amateur style mistake: Drinking tea from a cheap stoneware Ikea coffee mug with the teabag still in it.
By the way - not even a Christmas tree looks well if it's "overdressed". And that can happen easily.
I'd add knowing what to wear for your height, especially if you're shorter. For example, wearing shoes that contrast with your pants (or legs if you're wearing shorts) will disrupt the vertical line and will make make you look shorter. Pants/legs + shoes look best when they're similar in tone if you're not tall.
That cup of tea must be awfully strong - it's been brewing for almost 10 minutes before you pick it up (but I notice you don't drink it).
James, what you are doing is teaching the ABCs of fashion to illiterates. Please don't call your examples "looking like a gentleman". You are merely showing the rubes how to look middle class. True gentlemen have always been a tiny percentage of the population. They are eccentric and they enjoy dressing as they please. The art of dressing like a gentleman cannot be taught. At best you can pull some suburbanites out of their nylon/polyester track suit/loungewear stupor for while. But until the boorish zeitgeist of the Western world is put to rest there will be no improvement.
Hey James, I believe that a tea out of tea bag is also kinda a style mistake. I guess that as a gentleman you need to fill your life with things of quality and style. And the tea bag just isn't that. Try puer tea for example, or some tieguanyin tea instead. I'm sure you'll find much more pleasure in those beverages. Don't take it as a criticism, bur rather a friendly advice. Great content by the way!
To further add to this, (In my humble opinion, of course) finding a fine teapot and cups can significantly elevate the experience. The shape and thickness of the cup, affect our sensory receptors on the tongue. A great example, is receiving a coffee served in a thin glass, typically designed for water. A rookie mistake, coffee establishments make, trying to appear sophisticated or Modern.
A strainer is more stylish than a tea bag.
Do you mean an infuser?
@@smacwhinnie No (an infuser is more stylish than a tea bag but less so than a strainer)
Re. Gordon Gekko. For those of us who were alive then, that blue shirt with contrasting white collar, the revival of suspender wearing, the tie bar... all that stuff was big then, a mix of elements that had been on the back burner during the '70s.
GQ was pushing that look heavily, and prior to the internet, magazines actually had some cultural influence.
Anyhow, great video.
Before I hear the style mistake, I'm going to guess it's either cheap novelty socks, or bad shoes.
Edit: Eh, I was close, cheap socks, but for a different reason.
First time I wore over the calf socks it felt unusual, but I got used to it within an hour and now there's no strange feeling, if they're well made then they're not uncomfortable at all, in fact they feel more comfortable than cheap socks bunching up around your ankles.
The worst thing about the matching tie and pocket square faux pas, is that when regular stores contribute to that mistake with their tie/pocket square box set, it convinces the uninformed person that it's the correct way, rental suit places do it as well for ease of replacement and colour coordination, but it just cheapens the whole outfit when someone does it.
Yes theoretically I too see the point in mismatched shoes vis-a-vis garment. But I once saw a man wearing plain white shirt, jeans and formal black shoes. I liked that combination.
Nice to see that none of these errors require a huge budget to overcome
AWESOME !!!!!! haha You answered one of my questions I wondered about and didn't ask. The pocket-square does not need to be the same shade of same colour ! I had a different blue pocket-square than my tie, and I worried. It looked really good actually, better than if they were the same! I figured the same shade & colour are distracting one from the other, but still I wondered about that issue, if I was breaking the rules of style/etiquette, but your notes are great assurance I was right afterall
I'd have thought that the absolute biggest style mistakes men make these days is wearing sweat pants and baseball caps, everywhere. There's a fine line between looking cool and looking like a man-child, and these two items are the ones that often tilt the scales in favor of the latter.
Agree with all your "mistakes." #6: Don't wear a button-down collar shirt with a double breasted suit (or blazer) jacket. Spread or cutaway collars are best.
The key to this is you don't pair a button down collar (casual) with a peak lapel (formal)
@@SundayHarbor Well said.
For Christ's sake, the guy was riding a bike, which involves constant up and down leg motion, give him a break. Probably no one else noticed and said "look at that guy on the bike, what a slob".
I thought for sure James was going to say -- wearing white socks w/a suit.
it was a clever (or so he thought) way to incorporate the video sponsor in to the narrative 🙂
It was only for the sponsor
I wear cycling appropriate clothing on my bike when I’m commuting. It gives me Some exercise to keep me trim. I need proper zip pockets to keep my phone and work pass handy and secure. Feel free to join me in the pishing rain, on a freezing day in your lounge suit
James, the fourth point. What are your feelings on Monk shoes?
Excellent video James! 👍🏾
That Fridge is a style mistake as well
I would love to hear your takes on boots. My feet are incredibly more comfortable with wide toe boots than any footwear, so unless they look really out of place, I use them all the time.
Those styles work best with rougher fabrics like corduroy, flannel, & tweed. I wear red wing iron rangers with those types of pants/suits often and it has a nice early 20th century feel to it.
As a watch guy, and upon seeing a watch in your splash page for this video, I was disappointed you did not mention what type of wat h to wear with suits. I see far too often people wearing dive watches or even GShock watches with suits. Wear a dress watch. A $150 Orient Bambino would be better than even a Rolex Submariner or Omega Seamaster. Not everyone is James Bond
Over-the-calf socks, ONLY. Static cling with wool trousers? When you're wearing the socks, apply a swipe of hand lotion, sun block, or something like that, to the socks. Or, before donning your socks, give them a quick spray of your deodorant or similar spray.
Can rub a dryer sheet on the socks, as well.
Hey James, lovd your videos!! I do have to respectfully disagree with you in this one though. I think a crisp while presidential fold pocket square would've made your outfit pop. It still looks good, but the pocket square would have definitely elevated it to another level!
it would make it way too formal
We'll agree to disagree.. I respect your opinion though!
Thanks for the videos. Keep up the grind! These videos help me.
A bicyclist peddling by wearing a "..dark, slim cut suit...nice white shirt" is a complete 'fashion mistake', never mind the soxs.
I don't think there is anything wrong with over-dressing your shoes. I think closed-lace leather shoes can look great with a nice pair of jeans. But casual shoes, or shoes that are poorly maintained, will certainly ruin a dress ensemble.
One lesson I have learned as a suit fitter is that not everyone needs the slimmest possible suit that will fit their body. Tall, muscular men look great in a classic-fitting suit, because a slim-fit suit will over exaggerate their proportions. This is also true for older men, even if they are in the best possible shape for their age. The right fit should drape gracefully from the shoulders and through the body.
Can I recommend wearing linen in the summer not polyester!
He was riding a bike. Jesus Christ.
Honestly I think if you offered some program or offered some personalized style advice, you could make good profit. For example I am ok with spending some money on style and outfits, however I cannot be bothered to go to stores, try on clothes, think about fashion etc., just don't have the time for that. I think many men feel the same way I do.
Large beards look really hillbilly
If your gf finds you attractive with a more significant beard, that’s a lucky thing. I really dislike shaving: doing it carefully takes CONSIDERABLE time, and my skin gets very red and irritated: sometimes even with a new blade. My covid beard was ZZ Top, and I looked VERY hillbilly, as you say. Even trimmed and groomed, that beard made me look like a crazy man, & not at all like a hipster. Cultural norms seem to shine a spotlight on our beards. In Taiwan and Japan, some artists and creative types will wear a beard, but EVERY single Taiwanese or Japanese woman I met said directly-to my bearded face-“Shave that. You’re absolutely RUINING any ‘handsome’ you have.” [Extended talk:] “Just by being a foreigner (Westerner), you attract people’s gaze. I’ll happily walk about with a handsome, clean-cut, foreigner on my arm. And that’s not nothing, because people in the neighborhood WILL wonder what I’m up to: they’ll think positive things, bad things, jealous things, racist things… I’ll put up with that because I know you’re a gentleman, and I legitimately like you. But with the beard ? Most of us East Asian girls just don’t like it. And it gives the ‘eccentric artist’ look, which isn’t a far cry from your Western ‘mad scientist’ look. So, please: shave off the beard.” A few days later at the airport in Istanbul, I noticed more than a few guys give me a respectful “chin tilt up” hello, and I got a few positive comments on my considerably full & long & naturally copper beard. Different culture. Istanbul was a layover. The beard got mixed reviews in South America. My date sent me to a fancy men’s spa in São Paulo. Ostensibly that was supposed to be a relaxing spa day; massage, mani + pedi, beer, a facial….and time with the barber. Me-thinks she wanted the beard removed. Cultural ?
3:24 shirt garters that attach to your socks can also do this. They were required for some uniforms while I was in the Marines, and I now understand why.
Lol Oakey will fight you for suggesting ANYONE can wear an Italian suit instead of his style
OKey's fabulous! Would love to see him in your podcast
He's great! His videos are so entertaining
James interviewed Proff.
It was great.
As Fabio Capello put it. “When a gentleman crosses his legs and the trouser leg rides up to show hairy shins at the top of the sock, it offends my eyes. It's like women wearing their stockings rolled down around their ankles Both would be a real turn-off."
I depend on close captions to understand. This video had none. Otherwise your channel is fantastic!
TH-cam has you covered; just turn on auto-generated ccs.
I agree with your observation about the people dress in Paris conspired to people in the USA. Actually I think most people in Europe dress better than people in the USA.
However, you fail to mention one major fashion mistake. That is wearing suspenders and a belt. Actually, I don’t think a man should wear a belt with a suite. A man should have either side adjusters or wear suspenders with a suit. A related fashion mistake is wearing a navy suite with a brown belt.
Great vibes ☺️
My personal opinion for a long time is that matching tie and pocket square is NOT a style mistake. It may be regarded as boring and non-creative, but I think it should be the obvious first style option. Not a popular opinion but who cares?
So does your ring keep your tie straight on a windy day or keep your tie out of your soup during a lunch meeting? Keep the tie bar...it has a practical purpose.
Keep it simple. Stick to classic combinations. Aim for 3 colors, 3 accessories (including your wedding ring, watch and glasses).
James needs to meet Nick Foulkes and debate accessories.
As for shoes, my father taught me early on, if you wear navy or blue suit or chino pants, do NOT wear brown shoes.
Black shoes go with everything, but brown shoes go with any shade of brown, khaki, tan, etc.
I disagree with your father, a pair of high quality, well polished or suede brown shoes can look great with a grey or blue suit and certainly with chinos.
Someone needs to expand and offer zero drop barefoot style shoes that are more appropriate for the smart casual look.
Fort Belvedere of the Gentlemen's Gazette offers over the calf sock. I've been using them daily for months. They don't slip down and they are soft to wear.
professor mentioned🗣 😅
Great as always.
The problem with long socks is that here in the UK they are impossible to find. I get mine in Italy.
I like seeing where the hair has worn off the legs in the sock location. Not seeing over the calf socks on the provided link.
So what I gather by your style is to wear Giorgio Armani suits, button down Calvin Klein shirts and some Italian leather shoes to look phenomenal 👌.
None of these rules work unless starting from the key foundation. A slim or average body shape. Fat or overly-muscular bodies just don’t work.
With regards to socks, I sometimes use a shirt-stay that anchors onto the socks.
Satorial Rookie is my new insult
Thank you for your videos!
The only thing i wanna critique is the idea of tailored shirts. Idt its much of a big deal, and i look at it from the mentality that, let us figure a man has multiple shirts, from Tees to Dress shirts and everything in between. Say this man has also been dieting and even hitting the gym in an effort to try to lose weight, or hell, even on the opposite end, lets say he gains some weight from bulking up or something, stress, poor dieting, lack of exercise bc of some change in his routine and lifestyle. My point is, assuming his weight might fluctuate over time long term, tailoring is therefore not an option if he will own these garments for a long while, and even could cost more money in the long run as then he is tailoring something to specs and then having to either get it redone or throw it away, bc it now no longer fits properly and is either too lose or too tight. And, as a man myself who has both at times gained weight from stress and dietary changes, and currently has been toning up and losing weight this past year (down about 18 or so from October 2023 while at the same time building muscle), I dont think it is something i want to worry about. Now if u have the money to do it, do whatever u want, you are ultimately your own person, but with this more long term ideology in mind that our bodies can fluctuate over time, i disagree with that point and think as long as any outfit fits comfortably, assuming u know how to style yourself otherwise and it brings you confidence wearing it, u deserve to own it and strut ur stuff. if the shirt is visibly baggy, toss it. If the collar is too loose or too tight, toss it. But dont frivolously toss money out the window buying or tailoring your stuff if u are currently in the process of losing weight. Once u get to where u are happy, maybe consider a wardrobe update, but just be smart with ur money and dont stress yourself out over how u look and ur progress bc that will hinder your results.
Great advice
And-- light tan shoes with a dark suit. Should be part of the flow from shoulders to pavement, not a bright contrast.
Hi James. What’s your thoughts on a 70 year old (me) wearing a medium sized college ring on the right hand when dressed up as for a wedding etc. Similar colored watch is on the left arm. Thank you.
Love your style tips and flaws! 🫶🏻 These apply to women too! We over-accessorize, looking like vulgar Christmas trees, we wear sneakers with everything and our socks slip too.
Coco Chanel is quoted to have said; “before leaving the house, look at yourself in the mirror and remove one accessory.”
Appreciate the tips James.
Dear James, I enjoy your content and follow your channel with great interest. I’m French myself, but I live in Vienna, Austria, a beautiful European capital. If you ever visit Vienna, I’d be happy to show you some very stylish spots. Don’t hesitate to reach out-it would be a pleasure to meet you!
I was waiting to see if you would address footwear. I think a terrible faux pas is when a man looks stunning. Has the correct fitting suit, pocket square, tie, belt etc and as your gaze drops he is wearing an old pair of unpolished shoes. This is a huge mistake and one that I see very often. In my book a new suit requires a new pair of correct dress shoes and I totally agree about sneakers with a suit or no socks with a suit. Absolutely terrible.
You forgot about the opera pump, the most formal shoe in this day and age:)
Fashion capital is Italy not France!
About the first "mistake" - you can see JFK to do the same, so I'm not sure that is a mistake when you're wearing a more casual look, like chinos.
I realise how google bots stalking me. When I change my FB profile into suits. youtube recommend me these channels I live in the Philippines 🙂
It is hard to look at a matching tie and pocket square and be overcome by this fashion “violation.” The other errors that you point out evoke a response of noticeable discord. The tie and pocket square is just “meh.” A pocket square feels a bit pointless to me anyway.
0:08 So that's why I always get mistaken for a frenchman! 😅
I must admit that the mistake that floors me is men who wear braces AND a belt at the same time. A phobia that their pants are going to fall down? If you are that nervous, please stay home and definitely out of sight.
And gentlemen, try to spell correctly. You can look ignorant. You do not "ware" clothing, you WEAR them.
I think that's an Irish thing... "to be sure, to be sure." 😆
I ware very high socks and I put a small hair tie just bellow my knee.....it works well enough😊
great channel but really do you think anyone beleives that you just happen to have a story that fits in with your sponsor
Never go outside without a pocketsquare while wearing a blazer, sportsjacket or a suit.
My two cents...
Otherwise 💪
You are wearing an amazing classic suit, where is it from please?
He always puts it in the video description
@@brock5946 I have seen the link but it is not the same suit.
I thought it was mandatory to wear a pocket square?
cataracts simulator
Thank you, great advice as always.
If I may add two suggestions don't show three or four fingers when you have three or four etc points to talk about. It's very corny and we're all big boys, we get it. Second (remember, no two fingers here!) don't have your tea bag tag dangling from your mug. It looks très gauche!
Come on. The shirt came with the tie and pocket square!
biggest mistake, wearing cloths for others. dress for your own taste and comfort, life is too short to care unless you are a follower needing to impress others.
The guy was riding a bike, I would be forgiving (and I’m hard on people)
6:38 is that your collection of ties? If so, where did you get the houndstooth you grabbed?
Showing a naked leg caused by a short sock is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in Europe, especially in Italy. In the US, however, it is not perceived as an issue. With the as AskOkey example: I like the fit of his coat but I don't like the cut of his trousers.
0:38 Matching bicycle clips?
I thought you were going to say bicycle clips.
However, he should be wearing them, or he will have oil on his trousers.
Good video but ruined by the crass advertisement for socks.
Not what a gentleman would do.
How about a fedora?
I attended a wedding where the groom and groomsmen wore black tuxedos (good) with black hi-top Converse sneakers (bad!). I suppose the sneakers were a memento that can be worn long after the wedding. Also, I've noticed years ago that former pro athletics were wearing super tight suits trying to suggest that they are still in supreme fitness, rocking the Superman look with bulging muscles.
Surprisingly leather shoes and loafers fit tracksuit pants and I don't know how, that should be heresy.
Soviet countries and 3rd world countries do have that. but people who wear them are getting fewer and fewer every generation
I kind of disagree with James. He models his look off of Cary Grant but I love Humphrey Bogart. When I ware a suit I alwase use a pocket square etc. The problem isn't the accessories that you ware. It's how the 'whole' outfit comes together. You can ware accessories but the tie, pocket square and cufflinks must be toned down allowing the suit itself to be the fashon statement.
Your shirt must be pale and your suit darker. And your tie must be the focal point of the whole look. With the pocket square and cufflinks adding the extra flare.
Wear
Good stuff
james did you try a new lighting style? your face looks pale, ignoring that awesome video