According to Mark Twain, "Clothes do make the man; naked people have very little effect on the world." If Twain was right, and he usually was, then gentlemen better choose very carefully. This men's clothing buying guide includes some basic information to help you wade through the available options, so you'll know what will best meet your needs.
Men's clothing falls into a few basic categories: Formalwear, semi-formal, business, casual, athletic and specialty (like uniforms, work clothes or sleepwear). While each type has a clear definition, the lines between them are not brick walls: Semi-formal and business are essentially the same -- business suit, dress shirts and ties. "Business casual" -- any shirt with slacks or khaki pants; blazers and ties optional -- is becoming acceptable in most workplaces. The athletic and specialty categories are also merging: Specific sports are using more specialized clothes. Many men now wear scrubs or hoodies and sweatpants in place of pajamas.
Half a century ago, more formal wear was the rule: A tuxedo is also called a dinner jacket because gentlemen didn't go out to dinner without one. A man wore his three-piece business suit to the baseball or football stadium because it was a status symbol -- wearing suits was a right to be earned, and those who did it showed off their accomplishment. Currently, casual is more often the rule, so it is that much more important to know what to wear and how to wear it.
If you don't care what people think, wear anything. If a restaurant refuses you service because you're in denim jeans, leather jackets or a pullover, you probably wouldn't enjoy eating there anyway.
If you want a career as a lawyer, banker or politician, pick up several men's suits, some silk ties and a closet full of dress shirts. You won't get far without them.
The basic rules are simple: Dress to the event, dress to the location, follow the leader (your host or employer, for example). It is not about "the right" clothes; it's about courtesy and the group dynamic, both of which are important. Being properly dressed is a statement that you know what is going on, that you are part of the group, and that you want to be taken seriously.
There are many clothing fabric and weave options:
Cotton: A natural fiber which, overall, makes the best shirts; used for all types of men's clothing from boxer shorts to robes to cargo pants.
Denim: A heavy cotton twill, traditionally indigo blue; tee shirts, denim jackets and blue jeans are the official uniform of many Americans.
Flannel: A twill weave, slightly napped for softenss; wool flannel makes an excellent business suit; cotton flannels (traditionally plaid) make good, sturdy work or casual shirts.
Gabardine: A tightly woven, nearly waterproof fabric in wool or cotton used for all types of men's clothing.
Khaki: A light shade of brown or a durable cloth of cotton twill; originally used in uniform pants, the term is now synonymous with chino.
Leather (and suede): Animal skins treated to resist rot and shrinkage, leather jackets range from patriotic to rebellious; motorcycling in leather clothing is a smart choice.
Linen: A natural fiber from the flax plant; stronger, stiffer and more lustrous than cotton; traditional in tropical weight business suits; worn mostly by people who want a long-term relationship with an ironing board.
Seersucker: A textured cotton fabric with stripes used often in men's suits, especially for summer.
Silk: The finest natural fabric, nothing comes close in luster, warmth, strength or durability; it is an excellent material for ties.
Spandex: A synthetic fiber most known for its elastic quality; very popular in men's fitness clothing.
Tropical: A plain weave, worsted wool; sturdy but lightweight and airy, used for summer clothing; also called summer-weight wool.
Twill: A fabric with diagonal parallel ribs, such as denim.
Wool: The hair of certain animals; varies in grade from good to heavenly; some wools are of such quality they are never just called wool--alpaca from the South American alpaca, angora from the Angora rabbit, camel hair (every man's wardrobe should include a camel hair jacket) from the Bactrian (two-hump) camel, cashmere from the Kashmir sheep and mohair from the Angora goat.
Worsted: A general term, any smooth surfaced, combed wool fabric spun from long staple and woven tightly with a smooth hard surface, such as gabardine.
How do I know it will fit?
Know your size before you make any purchases. Read Overstock.com's Men's Measurement Guide for all the information you need to find your size, so you can buy with confidence. Since very few people are "average," you may need slight alterations with some pieces due to your individual body measurements. A good tailor can make you look like all of your clothes were custom made.
What colors go together?
That depends on taste. Black, white and grey match everything. Some men won't wear suits at all unless they are black, grey or dark blue. The more casual the style, the more freedom you have with colors.
What never looks good?
Clothes that don't fit: too tight or too baggy, long sleeves that don't reach the wrist, long pants that don't reach the shoes.
Colors that clash.
White socks with dress shoes.
Dress shoes, black socks and shorts (except in Bermuda).
If you've graduated from college, anything you wore in high school.
Spend once, save much
many men needlessly stress over the great fashion question: "Does it go together?" If you buy it all at the same time, the answer is, "Absolutely!" You are going to buy it anyway, so you might as well buy it all from Overstock.com and save more money with our low, flat shipping rate.
Little things make a big difference
Don't forget the accessories. French-cuff dress shirts need cufflinks (available from the Overstock.com jewelry store). Almost everybody needs belts and shoes. Watches, wallets and sunglasses make great gifts as well as great fashion statements.
Every man needs one best suit
You'll find everything you need for a complete suit -- including shirt and tie -- when you are shopping on Overstock.com. Wear it for weddings, funerals, executive interviews, court appearances, IRS audits and other serious occasions, then get it professionally cleaned and put in a garment bag until the next event. These are the times when you get the best to look your best without worrying about price, and at Overstock.com, you never have to worry about the price because you know it will always be low.
