I’m going to veer slightly off course today from our normally serious and thought-provoking WorkPuzzle content and talk about something different: Men’s fashion.
Ok, maybe that’s a hard right turn, but it does have something to do with performing at a high level during the next few weeks. Even if you’re one of our female readers, I promise we’ll have some fun with this topic and you’ll learn something too.
Here’s the topic: How does a guy successfully wear a sports jacket with jeans?
Of course, if you’re a guy you can immediately see why this is an important topic. Dressing to look your best for a holiday party often means balancing a casual look with something that still looks sharp. If you can learn how to master the jeans and sports jacket combination, you’ll be well on your way to making a great impression. If you look good and feel good, you’ll be well-equipped to do some of your best networking.
What about the ladies? Well, I would never be so foolish as to try to give you fashion advice, but many of you have guys that you coach on what to wear (or what not to wear). Truth be told–if my wife did not coach me on fashion issues, I'd be lost. Perhaps you can pick up a few pointers for the guy you're coaching from this discussion as well.
Our expert on this topic is Antonio Centeno, the founder for Real Men, Real Style. Earlier this fall, wrote a very detailed article on the pairing of jeans and a sports coat.
There are two ways to digest the information, a great 11-minute video that outlines some of the highpoints of this topic:
If you’re more of a reader, I’d suggest taking a look at his complete article. It has lots of pictures and examples. Here are some of the high points I found helpful:
Selecting The Right Jeans
“The jeans you wear with a jacket need to look dressier (if there is such a thing!) than your basic worn out work jeans for this to be a good combination.
‘Dress jeans’ is something of a contradiction in terms, but people should be able to tell at a glance that you don’t wear these pants for working on your car or hiking in the woods.
A good pair of jeans to wear with a sports jacket should have the following “dressy” features:
Close fit. They don’t have to be skinny jeans, especially down below the knees, but there shouldn’t be any sag up around the thighs and crotch. You want a smooth outline of your body, not a drape of loose cloth that you can wave back and forth.
Dark color. Deep indigo is most common, but grays and black are also typical choices for nice jeans. More fashion-forward men may also experiment with white or very light gray jeans, or even brighter colors, but beginners should stick to jeans that are darker than the jacket.
Proper length. You’re going to be wearing nice-looking shoes with most of these outfits, and the cuff of the jeans should rest very lightly on the tops of the shoes when you stand straight.
You want to stay away from fashion details that make the jeans look more worn, even if it’s a deliberate fashion statement:
Severe fading or “acid wash” patches, rips or tears of any kind, fraying at the cuffs and pockets, cargo pockets or gear loops.
That’s not to say that some men don’t wear deliberately distressed jeans with jackets, but it’s a fashion-plate look — affected and a little over-the-top. Don’t experiment with it if you’re just trying to look a little sharper.”
Selecting the Right Jacket
“The other half of the equation is your jacket. There’s a huge range out there to choose from, and no one ‘right’ style. But think about a couple important factors when you choose one:
Casual Jacket Fabric – This is more important than a lot of guys realize. A very fine, worsted wool jacket pretty much screams “suit jacket” to a practiced eye. It can work with jeans, but it’s not the unthinking casual ease of something more relaxed like corduroy or a visible twill weave.
Relaxed Jacket Cut – The advantage of any men’s jacket is the added definition, but don’t overdo it. You don’t want a razor-edged Italian suit here. A little softness in the shoulder is good, and the taper at the waist shouldn’t be too extreme. For tightness, remember the name of the garment — it should be loose enough that you could do “sport,” i.e. hunting and hiking in the countryside, comfortably.
Bold Jacket Color & Pattern – A solid jacket is fine, but you’re not going to be wearing it to any business meetings. Have a little fun. Colors like browns and grays work well, as do patterns like windowpane checks and plaids. In general, keep the dominant color lighter than your jeans, and if you’re wearing blue jeans steer away from navy blue jackets.
A jacket that you’re buying to wear with jeans is also a great place to play around with unusual decorations you don’t wear on your other jackets. Ever wanted to see how you look with leather elbow patches, or with big, square, accordion-style pockets? This is the place to try them out.”
I know that some of our clients (especially our East Coast clients) have accused me of being a little more casual in my attire than is sometimes appropriate for the real estate industry. Hopefully, this is some middle ground that will help you feel confortable at your holiday parties, but also sharp enough to feel confident. If it doesn’t work…just blame it on the guy you know from Seattle!
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Editor's Note: This article was written by Ben Hess. Ben is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Tidemark, Inc. and a regular contributor to WorkPuzzle.
