Because, You will inevitably have occasions where you need a suit. The man who turns up in a good suit, that fits him well - as your own suit should - will outshine every jive-ass motherfucker in the room with their shiny, ill-fitting rented suit. A good suit is a fine garment that practically pays for itself, and will last you a lifetime if you take care of it, on top of making you look really, really goddamn good. A cheap suit makes you look like a cheap bastard who just tries too hard to be fancy - and rental suits are always cheap suits, because who wants to spend that much money on a few hours of wear, except on their wedding?
If you want to know, I can give you my guide to the art of the suit. It's very informative.
Maybe it's just because SoCal is supposdly all "laid-back" and casual and shit, but I really can think of very few situations I'd be in to wear a suit where a nice collared shirt/pants/shoes wouldn't also be acceptable. And I really don't foresee myself going to enough funerals and and weddings in the next couple of years for it to be worth buying one now. At least for me, a suit doesn't seem like a very necessary purchase until post-college, and even then it'll be circumstantial based on what I happen to end up doing, since the field I'm going into isn't exactly known for having a formal dress code.
Maybe it's just because SoCal is supposdly all "laid-back" and casual and shit, but I really can think of very few situations I'd be in to wear a suit where a nice collared shirt/pants/shoes wouldn't also be acceptable.
Acceptable and Good are two different standards. There is rarely a loss in being the best dressed dude in the room, especially if the situation was requiring dress clothes to begin with. I'd have trouble even thinking of a situation where it's not a net benefit, in fact.
Maybe it's just because SoCal is supposdly all "laid-back" and casual and shit, but I really can think of very few situations I'd be in to wear a suit where a nice collared shirt/pants/shoes wouldn't also be acceptable.
Acceptable and Good are two different standards. There is rarely a loss in being the best dressed dude in the room, especially if the situation was requiring dress clothes to begin with. I'd have trouble even thinking of a situation where it's not a net benefit, in fact.
This has been my biggest conundrum with living in SoCal. I get invited to a graduation party or something and, in my effort to wear the appropriate attire, I end up showing up over dressed compared to everyone else in the room.
Here's a real life example. Alex Leavitt hosted a board gaming night at his place about a month back. It was my first time going to his place so, as a matter of custom, I bring a gift of beer (it was BYOB, but I wasn't going to be drinking) and I wore a pair of pressed black jeans and a white button-up shirt. I walk through the door and the first thing one of the other guests said was "Whoa, looking fancy..." (or something of that ilk).
This has been my biggest conundrum with living in SoCal. I get invited to a graduation party or something and, in my effort to wear the appropriate attire, I end up showing up over dressed compared to everyone else in the room.
Here's a real life example. Alex Leavitt hosted a board gaming night at his place about a month back. It was my first time going to his place so, as a matter of custom, I bring a gift of beer (it was BYOB, but I wasn't going to be drinking) and I wore a pair of pressed black jeans and a white button-up shirt. I walk through the door and the first thing one of the other guests said was "Whoa, looking fancy..." (or something of that ilk).
Ah, but that's simply a matter of figuring out your style and how to wear your suit, and knowing when to deploy that part of your sartorial arsenal for maximum effect.
My biggest pro-tip - no matter if you get an expensive, super nice suit, or an inexpensive but decent off-the-rack job, spend the coin, get a good tailor and get it tailored to fit you well. It is an expense, sure, but believe me, it turns a decent-to-good suit into a bloody great suit.
I am a big fan of suits. I own four myself (two of which I'd never wear again though due to age and size). I love wearing them every opportunity I get. One could argue that one of my suits got me my current girlfriend.
That being said, I kind of agree with Sail that for the most part, you don't really need a suit until after college. I would recommend getting one senior year though. There were at least half a dozen occasions during my senior year that wearing a suit (or slacks and blazer) were required. Also, if you want to get a job right out of college, having one for interviews helps.
I own a tailored black pinstripe suit. It is by far the greatest piece of clothing I own. I'd wear it all the time if I could.
Also, I'd argue that it depends highly on who you are and what you do during college as to whether or not you need a suit before senior year. I know I use mine.
Also, I'd argue that it depends highly on who you are and what you do during college as to whether or not you need a suit before senior year.
I definitely agree with this. My Poli-Sci majoring friend who is working in campaign offices and interning with the State Controller certainly needs a suit. It's just that owning one doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense for me [right now].
Also, I'd argue that it depends highly on who you are and what you do during college as to whether or not you need a suit before senior year.
I definitely agree with this. My Poli-Sci majoring friend who is working in campaign offices and interning with the State Controller certainly needs a suit. It's just that owning one doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense for me.
Someday, you'll wanna take a girl to a fancy restaurant...
A guy came into work yesterday with his very pregnant (I would guess 6mos) partner. I think they were both around 20. He was wearing jorts and a tuxedo t-shirt, and she had a ill-fitting tank and cut-off hotpants. They both had a few facial piercings.
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If you want to know, I can give you my guide to the art of the suit. It's very informative.
Here's a real life example. Alex Leavitt hosted a board gaming night at his place about a month back. It was my first time going to his place so, as a matter of custom, I bring a gift of beer (it was BYOB, but I wasn't going to be drinking) and I wore a pair of pressed black jeans and a white button-up shirt. I walk through the door and the first thing one of the other guests said was "Whoa, looking fancy..." (or something of that ilk).
Regardless, every man should own a good suit. I have one and I'm actually looking to get another one; either white or black pinstripe.
That being said, I kind of agree with Sail that for the most part, you don't really need a suit until after college. I would recommend getting one senior year though. There were at least half a dozen occasions during my senior year that wearing a suit (or slacks and blazer) were required. Also, if you want to get a job right out of college, having one for interviews helps.
EDIT: Also, never ever get a suit with pleats.
Also, I'd argue that it depends highly on who you are and what you do during college as to whether or not you need a suit before senior year. I know I use mine.
If my boyfriend wore a tuxedo t-shirt -- ever -- I would punch him in the face.
I weep for America.