Financial Priorities for Men's Clothing

John Daniel Erickson's The Materialist has an article on the priorities of building a men's wardrobe.  It's good stuff. Unless, of course, you have so much money you don't have to worry about it.

Knowing how to dress like an adult is important, believe it or not. Or at least a lot more important than the late 1990s when the dress casual boom was, well, booming.

Even if your job doesn't require you to wear a suit and tie or sports jacket and tie every day, there are those times when you need to have a suit -- weddings, funerals, anniversary dinners and the like.  Someone like Sam Zell or whoever can show up in jeans and biker boots and come across as an eccentric. You or I would just look like a fool and embarrass ourselves. Not to mention the people we're with. Trust me.

What's more, dressing appropriately needn't cost a fortune. I slightly disagree with Erickson's article in that I say to make the suit and shoes your priority, then stock up on things like shirts, ties and other accessories if your budget is an issue.

And remember, no matter where you buy your suit, or how much or little you spend, take it to a good tailor to get fitted properly. That point cannot be overstated. If you don't know one, ask around. If you're anywhere near Richmond, Virginia, take it to Franco Ambrogi -- the man's an institution and treats customers like gold. But every town has at least one reputable tailor. And those of you in bigger cities will have a wealth of options.

One last thought.

Us gents are lucky -- a good suit or sports jacket can last for years. After all, a navy or charcoal gray suit in a traditional cut never goes out of style. Ditto for a navy blazer. Some suits and sports jackets, if taken care of, could last you the rest of your life. You might have to get the lining replaced -- again, a good tailor is the person to call -- but we're talking excellent value. :-)

Comments

[nick]

Thanks for the Franco's recommendation. I'll keep them in mind the next time I need a suit or something tailored.

[chris]

Hmmmm.....I visited this site for the first time today thinking it had some connection to Warren Buffett, but there's an article about men's clothing. Not sure what to make of this.

[John]

nick: You're welcome. Call ahead to find out which location he'll be at on which day.

chris: My advice is to read through the archives and see if this blog is your cup of tea. To give you the heads up, sometimes on Saturdays I'll post about things that interest me, but aren't related to stocks. And while the title of this blog was inspired by something Warren Buffett said, it's not a "Buffett blog."

I hope you'll look around and find this site worthy of your continued readership. Thanks for stopping by.

[David]

I think the common thread running through the posts at Controlled Greed is "value".

With that in mind, it's not hard to see why this post on building a men's wardrobe fits right in.

Wardrobe/appearance is an important consideration for most men, but one that is often confusing, especially when faced with common budget constraints.

I'm not very knowledgeable in this area, but there is one web site/forum on this topic that some of you might find worthwhile. It's a site I look in from time to time called, "Ask Andy About Clothes".

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Index.htm

You might find some useful info here. Check the forums!

[John]

David: Thanks, and I am familiar with Ask Andy About Clothes. It's been a while since I've visited, but I should have linked to it. I appreciate you bringing it to everyone's attention. Another site is called Style Forum.

[David]

Style Forum, I will check that out. Thanks.

[Floyd]

I like to wear suits and look gooood