Is a guy in a sportcoat ever "too dressed up"? (light, European)
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In general I think it is a good look for a man. As noted above, a lot of Americans dress like slobs and don't think anything of wearing pajamas and slippers to go grocery shopping.
As a guy, I like to dress nicely and do spend money on quality, tailored clothing etc.
That being said, I have a couple comments here. A sportcoat as regular attire is a classic look as long as it is tailored well and fits the mood of the event. It's more preppy than I tend to lean, though I do occasionally wear one casually to the office in the spring/fall. In most situations I do not believe you would be 'overdressed', you would just be sporting a preppier look for the occasion - a style, not a level of dress.
Now, at the beach, a concert, the local dive bar, on a bike ride, your kids t ball game...yes, there are lots of places that a sportcoat might be a little out of place or a couple notches above normal attire and some people might view it as stuffy. Doesn't necessarily make it bad. We're not talking about a suit here.
As a guy who appreciates fashion, I will say this though: I don't automatically equate a sportcoat to dressing 'nice' or 'nicer' than others. It comes down to the full outfit, the fit, and the occasion. I don't necessarily consider a guy who wears a sportcoat to EVERYTHING to be that stylish, because they have one mode. I certainly wouldn't put them in the slob category, but I wouldn't also automatically say they dress 'nice'. I think a lot of people think that the level of dress makes someone dressed nicer / better than other people but I think fashionable and formality are 2 different scales that are both important but independent factors.
IE: The guy wearing an ill-fitting suit and patent leather dress shoes to the fairly casual business meeting vs the guy wearing a tailored tweed sport coat, a nice oxford, chinos, and nice dress shoes to the same meeting. I'd say the latter is more nicely dressed.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunbather
As a guy, I like to dress nicely and do spend money on quality, tailored clothing etc.
That being said, I have a couple comments here. A sportcoat as regular attire is a classic look as long as it is tailored well and fits the mood of the event. It's more preppy than I tend to lean, though I do occasionally wear one casually to the office in the spring/fall. In most situations I do not believe you would be 'overdressed', you would just be sporting a preppier look for the occasion - a style, not a level of dress.
Now, at the beach, a concert, the local dive bar, on a bike ride, your kids t ball game...yes, there are lots of places that a sportcoat might be a little out of place or a couple notches above normal attire and some people might view it as stuffy. Doesn't necessarily make it bad. We're not talking about a suit here.
As a guy who appreciates fashion, I will say this though: I don't automatically equate a sportcoat to dressing 'nice' or 'nicer' than others. It comes down to the full outfit, the fit, and the occasion. I don't necessarily consider a guy who wears a sportcoat to EVERYTHING to be that stylish, because they have one mode. I certainly wouldn't put them in the slob category, but I wouldn't also automatically say they dress 'nice'. I think a lot of people think that the level of dress makes someone dressed nicer / better than other people but I think fashionable and formality are 2 different scales that are both important but independent factors.
IE: The guy wearing an ill-fitting suit and patent leather dress shoes to the fairly casual business meeting vs the guy wearing a tailored tweed sport coat, a nice oxford, chinos, and nice dress shoes to the same meeting. I'd say the latter is more nicely dressed.
There's a L O T more to fashion & style than being preppy IMO ........A N D updated & reinvented preppy styles have changed..........
O.P. is comfortable in a sport coat at a soccer game.....BUT that's not fashionable or the new preppy style either IMO. It's just somebody dresssing the way they want to dress because of older styles they have hung on to....A N D there is nothing wrong with it. Not everybody cares about fashion.....& IMO that's what he is saying.............
I remember first noticing this look in the early 2000's, it looks like a person knows what to do, but not know how to do it. I think it is not even close to being pretentious. It is a look I will never understand, reminds me of an elderly guy thinking they are under society pressure to look somewhat formal every time they step out of the bedroom, but reality is they do not want to, so this look is a compromise. combined with tucking the front of your shirt in so everyone can see your belt buckle, you will be rocking it, lol.
There's a L O T more to fashion & style than being preppy IMO ........A N D updated & reinvented preppy styles have changed..........
O.P. is comfortable in a sport coat at a soccer game.....BUT that's not fashionable or the new preppy style either IMO. It's just somebody dresssing the way they want to dress because of older styles they have hung on to....A N D there is nothing wrong with it. Not everybody cares about fashion.....& IMO that's what he is saying.............
Understood. I don't think there is anything wrong with someone dressing how they want and wearing a sportcoat.
Why should every man? I am a 40-year-old man and I have never owned a sport coat. I have gotten to age 40 without one so I do not ever see myself wearing one. I would laugh at myself the entire time.
I am a flip flop, shorts, and t shirt guy from April - October and jeans, flannel shirt, and sneakers guy from November - March. My work has no dress code so I never have to change what I am wearing for work or for pleasure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_n_Tenn
Every man should own a blue sport coat. I wear jackets a lot since it covers a multitude of sins. I prefer a western cut since I wear boots often.
A sport coat, especially one with texture (e.g., tweed and corduroy), looks good on any man. If the objective is to avoid looking contrived in a casual setting, then buy a sport coat that doesn't look tailored (sack style - no pinched waist), has soft lines (no shoulder pads) and has patch pockets. The earthly tones of tweed works well.
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