Jason Samuel as Judge Poser

Men's Footwear

I went shopping for some formal footwear with a friend recently.  He didn't know the difference between open-laced and closed-laced shoes.  I found this article, which sums the difference up nicely.

Open-laced (Bluchers) oxfords have the sides of the shoe sewn on top of the front part. When laced, the shoe looks like it's built out in segments. Front, top, side, back, etc.

Close-laced (Balmorals) oxfords are drawn together by laces sewn under the front part of the shoe and then closed over its tongue. The result is a shoe that looks as if it's made from one piece of leather.

While open-laced shoes are not informal, they're not formal enough to wear with a suit.  This, like most other fashion rules, may seem arbitrary, but that's how things "are." 

Men's Fine Dress

Over the summer at my internship, I got to witness men in suits.  My uniform nearly everyday was a suit.  I understand that each man has his own style, even if that style were to be indifferent to style.  But what men must realize, as women I believe already have, is that there are certain principles of fashion adherence to ensures the placard of well-dressed. 

Any (young) man should buy and read:

1. Alan Flusser's Dressing the Man (Overstock; Amazon).  In the world of men's fine dress, Alan Flusser's name is inescapable.  Perhaps because he's one of the few who've taken to writing books on the topic.
2. Bernhard Roetzel's Gentleman's Guide to Grooming and Style, which has gone the way of the bargain book, unfortunately.

September's Esquire Magazine features their "The Best Dressed List," if you're interested.  A list topper has spawned a debate over at the Hot Abercrombie Chick blog. 

[Comments Open]

Bowties are back?

What'd you think?  I read in a recent edition of men's magazine that bow ties are making a (slow) comeback.  Will you participate?