Getting dressed with SwordsMaster

[SwordsMaster]

Now that we're fit, and keeping up the daily workout, a hot babe can't keep away from you, and having had your pick, you settle down with one. You need to attend a family wedding, bring her along. But what do you wear?

To the rescue, SwordsMaster's Formal dress for men advice thread!

Does the manbag go with the shoes? My tiki towel with the leather waistcoat? My feathered had with my purple speedos? Wonder no more!

How we will work this is:

You can either post on the thread or PM me with advice for specific events. What jacket to wear? What tie? Dog's funeral? Reception with the King of Metal?

Otherwise, I will update this semi-regularly with general concepts on dressing for men (sorry ladies, years of maleness have not prepared me to advice on dresses...)

Today's topic is:
Does my belt have to match my shoes?

YES!

However - If you're not bothering with shoes, and you're wearing sneakers, mountain boots, ski boots, etc, it makes no difference. We're talking about wearing shoes. Also, the colours need not match 'exactly'. but they should always match approximately. Example: chestnut and chocolate are usually close enough, but reddish brown and light tan are not. Neither are blacks and browns! Unless they're so dark you can only tell the difference by what it says on the box.

[Hooahguy]

I always though that the shoes should match the outfit, hence, match the belt. Brown shoes goes with khaki pants, light-ish blue shirt, and a navy blazer with a light brown belt. Black shoes goes with black/navy pants and whatever shirt you want, and a black belt.

But then again Im not exactly known for being a fancy person so I could be way off.

[SwordsMaster]

I always though that the shoes should match the outfit, hence, match the belt. Brown shoes goes with khaki pants, light-ish blue shirt, and a navy blazer with a light brown belt. Black shoes goes with black/navy pants and whatever shirt you want, and a black belt.

But then again Im not exactly known for being a fancy person so I could be way off.

You're right, but as I said, the restriction is mostly on belt and shoes. I like the navy suit, light brown shoes/belt combination, personally. However, I would stay away from light browns on funerals, or black tie events...

[Vladimir]

Dance lessons at the French embassy. "Cocktail and business" attire is requested but it's dancing, not a fundraiser, and I'm certainly not James Bond.

Date is a half-Egyptian, half-Greek 20-something year old who works for a lobbying firm on the hill.

Suggestions?

[SwordsMaster]

Well, Vlad, cocktail is for her - you'll like it.

Considering it is an embassy (they tend to be a little more conservative) business means tie for you, at least at the door.
Suits:
I would go with either light grey or navy suit, black(grey), navy(grey)/light grey(navy) or light blue(navy) (think a bit greyer than a light blue sky) waistcoat, brown(navy)/black(grey) belt/shoes, and white shirt. Pick the tie to either match the suit, or the waistcoat, and then the pocket square to go with either shirt, waistcoat, or tie (if it doesn't match the suit already, that would be silly). Or go with white shirt, white pocket square.

If it's too hot for a waistcoat, go more creative on the shirt/tie. It's dancing, so you need not to be stuck on pastels/whites, go for bright red, dark grey, black, or even navy (and then get a contrasting tie). Stay away from green, and yellow (unless those are national colours or something. It isn't Paddy's day until March though!)

Or you can do what a friend of mine did - he made a suit out of yellow flip-flops (he's an ozzie, and was going to an embassy reception) and wore that. Depends on what you're going for. His date was his mate who was wearing a suit made out of green flip-flops...

Let me know if you have some more limited ideas in mind so we can work with something more specific.

[edyzmedieval]

I honestly would go for the sharp jacket and trousers without any tie. A navy blue suit/jacket would go really well, along with a crisp white shirt. It makes you feel comfortable and not relaxed but looking proper.

If they do require a tie, just put it on and ditch it after.