Lookin' spiffy at work

I believe in the fact that the manner in which you dress on the job shows your attitude toward the job.
I'm not a super-natty dresser but I like to have a neat appearance in sweaters, khakis, v-necks, blue jeans ... without skin showing or messiness. I find that if I'm comfortable in good clothing, I'm more productive.
If it's a big event - high school state championship, college or pro game - I'll get dressed up in a suit with slacks or a long skirt.

 

Only recently have I found employment that affords me the opportunity to afford clothes. I think I've bought more clothing the past year than I have the past ten years. I love making an upgrade.

That said, I enjoy keeping people on their toes. So I may show up at the office several times over in just plain jeans and a wrinkled work-shirt, but then suddenly fancy myself up just 'cause.

If it's a big college game or some other similar deal, I want to look sharp and professional. I hate to say it, but I sometimes dress according to the event at hand.

Also, if I'm driving a long ways, I usually wear a windsuit, kind of like what basketball teams wear on the road. Then, when I get where I'm going, I'll change. Changing is sometimes a pain in the ass, but not as much as driving four hours both ways in slacks, dress shirt and fancy shoes.

Just don't wear the damn windsuit to the game. I've seen guys do that, and it looks like they're trying to show the rest of us what awesome weekend warriors they are or something.

 

I wear a shirt and a tie just about every day, along with a nice executive wool coal I recently splurged on at Macy's. If it's a weekend, I'll toss on a V-neck sweater with dress pants. Who cares if the other guys are wearing jeans and sweaters?

 

I used to take that advice till the time I showed up to work in a terrible mustache and naked.

By the way, I'm not huge on dressing up ... mostly, I can't take paying $20 for a tie, such is my epic caution with money. BUT I love finding a nice pair of pants and second-hand shoes at Plato's Closet. Found a couple pairs of Steve Maddens (my favorite) that way.

That's right. Secondhand shoes. Someone pass Frank the defibulator.

 

Clothes are for people who aren't good enough to get away without wearing clothes.

 

For the most part, I can't take paying $20 for a tie, either. A cheap tie is worse than no tie. You can cut corners on shirts -- a $19 shirt from Land's End is not appreciably different from a $60 shirt at Brooks Brothers. But a cheap tie screams CHEAP!

Unless you are buying good ties at thrift stores for $20.

I buy stuff at thrift stores, too. Recently bought a USA-made camel-hair blazer for $5. But you can really screw up your feet buying used shoes. They mold to the feet of the first owner.

 

On the BrooksBrothers.com winter sale or elsewhere?

 

One thing about Brooks Brothers -- like Polo and a lot of others, they have a crappier line manufactured specifically for sale at outlet stores. So if you buy from a third party online, you might not get the good stuff. However, the regular stores have frequent 25 percent off sales, as well as some great deals on the clearance section online. If you are patient, great deals can be had.

 

It's pretty picked over right now. But long-sleeve, wrinkle-free Oxford shirts were going for $37 each, down from $75.