LA Unwritten Rules for Men's Dress (Los Angeles, Glendale: school, professionals, trendy)

[Ceece]

As a CA native I wouldn't think twice about any of those "looks" if I saw them on a guy. I don't think there is a normal look, it all depends on the group you hang out with and the occasions or reasons for wearing something specific. And there are tons of different groups in and around LA.

[JKHOSU]

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

You will find, if and when you move to L.A. and hang out with anyone who is half-way together and awake, that people are sharp, quick-minded and media-aware. They WILL be talking about the people in the photos.

Just think about that because you're going to have to pick up your game several notches.

And don't go flashing photos of a Republican in Packers gear to anyone in WeHo. Just don't. Free advice.

With all due respect, how is this relevant at all to my primary question (how close can I get to 1950s/1960s style before jaws start dropping)? For the casual pic, that was obviously a picture of Paul Ryan- his name is at the top of the webpage. Again, the question was about the clothing and not the people pictured. How do I need to pick up my game? Based on everything I'm reading I have to downgrade my game.

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

I have not found the people in LA to be as quick minded as people from NYC or Boston.

It's true that in the northeast people talk very quickly about lots of things. We are plenty aware of the world around us and will cover a wide gamut of topics in a conversation.

Originally Posted by Ceece

As a CA native I wouldn't think twice about any of those "looks" if I saw them on a guy. I don't think there is a normal look, it all depends on the group you hang out with and the occasions or reasons for wearing something specific. And there are tons of different groups in and around LA.

...And this is the kind of guy that I'd be friends with. Thanks man. That is good to hear.

[BarcelonaFan]

It's true that in the northeast people talk very quickly about lots of things. We are plenty aware of the world around us and will cover a wide gamut of topics in a conversation.

Well in East or Central LA you'll find a lot of interesting ppl you can have a good Convo on just about everything. But in West LA and further East of Hollywood the topics change to more pop culture puns, references and who can be the most sarcastically hilarious. I mean I literally feel like I'm in a mainstream movie when I'm out in West LA. I don't know if it life immitating art or vice versa but I finally see where these movies get their inspiration about people and their conversations.

[smokingGun]

My quick comment would be that LA (and SoCal) style in general tends to be very relaxed & casual. You rarely have to suit up or even put on a blazer unless you're going to court or weddings. Even for bar mitvah's & funerals suits are no longer de rigueur. I know the neo-"preppy" Madmen style is hot right now in places like Chicago and Manhattan, but it really hasn't taken a hold here. Baggy tees and slouchy jeans/cargos are still the order of the day, especially for guys over 30. In their minds it's still 1999 & Foo Fighters is blaring on the radio. I'll just give my 2 cents on the outfits you posted, disregarding the celebs themselves:

1. LA weather is too hot for bulky sweatshirts. And no one is gonna rep the Packers, sorry. You might see teens & 20somethings (and some older Latinos) with Lakers jerseys, Trojan or Raiders wear but that's about it. Reserve that look for game day unless you want to look ghetto fab.

2. No problem. It's very business casual and my CPA dresses like that. That ratty pilled REI-style pullover is very LA dgaf when paired with a button-up.

3. Totally Westside/Venice/Santa Monica. You see lots of aging screenwriters sitting out at Starbucks dressed in their overpriced eco-friendly Patagonia garb trying to act casually important.

4. Not LA law at all. Even my friend who works for Paul Hastings says there are only a handful of firms here that require a tie everyday.

5. That dude is dressed for a funeral and his style is dated as hell with the boxy jacket, wide wide tie & 3-button jacket. Plus his jacket doesn't even fit him through the shoulders. You can tell he's uncomfortable in that suit and never wears one. Don't copy! especially if you're working for McKinsey in DC!

6. Fine for Century City or Downtown. Standard biz casual. Tacky ugly belt buckle though.

7. No one wear patterned jackets like that unless you're European. Plus it's a Roman square-shouldered cut. Avoid unless you're Donald Trump or Harry Connick Jr.

8. That guayabera is more of a Miami/South Beach kind of thing. Fat old guys here rock the Tommy Bahama Hawaiian print shirts. Very similar since it's baggy & hides the gut.

9. Standard look for 30-something's who want to dress up for date nights or go to lounges. It's very 2004 American Jackass though, especially when paired with bootleg jeans in bad fades and frayed hem.

10. Save that look for your interview. Even when i drop in to the Standard Rooftop bar downtown after hours i don't see guys in coat & tie.

11. I've never seen anyone in LA wear an overcoat. It's simply unnecessary, not only because we don't wear suits underneath but our cold weather is in the 50's not 30's.

12. The only lettermen jackets are worn by teen & 20-something's into streetwear, i.e. those kids who covet & fetishize expensive limited edition apparel you find on HypeBeast or SuperFuture or at the Wolfgang pop-up.

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by JKHOSU

With all due respect, how is this relevant at all to my primary question (how close can I get to 1950s/1960s style before jaws start dropping)?

That was your primary question?

Why didn't you just post that? I'm already advising another CD poster on his wardrobe. Height? Weight? Blue/white collar? Clothing allowance?

Skinny ties are good. A great watch and wonderful shoes are better. And hem your pants so the ladies can see your shoes. (Though I prefer the classic Sinatra hem.) Jaws are NOT going to drop if you're the type that can pull of Dean in Palm Springs in 1965. Attitude is everything in LA.

And read SmokingGun's post twice. Especially #8. Unless you're over 60 and don't have anything to prove leave that behind when you move. Buy your sunglasses after you've arrived. Don't be afraid to go Deano with your shades.

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

If by quick minded you mean quick to throw sardonic quips around and literally talk like they do in mainstream movies, then yes, LA is that and more.

Native Angelinos don't talk like mainstream movies. We invented what you hear sitting out there in the dark. (You forgot the endless stealing of classic dialog. Which is before sardonic quips but after references only we get.)

[Fontucky]

He's new here. He'll learn.

[BarcelonaFan]

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

Native Angelinos don't talk like mainstream movies. We invented what you hear sitting out there in the dark. (You forgot the endless stealing of classic dialog. Which is before sardonic quips but after references only we get.)

I wouldn't think so, no. But yes, transplants and the folks I've heard out in West LA certainly do (could be the folks out in West LA I saw were also transplants). I meant the conversations yuppies have with each other.

[JKHOSU]

Thank you very much SmokingGun, those were the types of gut reactions I was looking for. I think I'm getting a sense of things now. Good to know that the fleece is acceptable there too- that's an old standby.

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

That was your primary question?

Why didn't you just post that? I'm already advising another CD poster on his wardrobe. Height? Weight? Blue/white collar? Clothing allowance?

Skinny ties are good. A great watch and wonderful shoes are better. And hem your pants so the ladies can see your shoes. (Though I prefer the classic Sinatra hem.) Jaws are NOT going to drop if you're the type that can pull of Dean in Palm Springs in 1965. Attitude is everything in LA.

And read SmokingGun's post twice. Especially #8. Unless you're over 60 and don't have anything to prove leave that behind when you move. Buy your sunglasses after you've arrived. Don't be afraid to go Deano with your shades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCA3sRWl3ks

You nailed me in the sense that Dino is one of my role models and he dresses similar to my grandfather in New York- it all starts with the white shirt IMO. My attitude is probably similar to Dino too in the sense that I'm not trying to be ostentatious with how I dress or "hipster" (hate that word!)- it just reflects (hopefully) the fact that I have a little bit of dignity, anyway.

I like good shoes. I like good dress slacks that are hemmed at the correct height and pleated in the front. I like a nice watch. And it doesn't make much difference to me whether the tie is skinny or wide because tie fashion has kind of died out (it used to fluctuate over the years as a matter of style- 60s was skinny and 70s was wide)

It seems to me that since LA is more of a summer-like place all the time, if you're wearing a sports jacket it should be white or some other brighter color.

Anyway, thank you for the advice everyone. This definitely gives me a better idea of what is going on here.

[jaypee]

Now that we have that settled: can I wear flipflops with a white shirt after September in LA?