Dapper or Crapper: Today’s Outfit
33 Comments Published by Joel December 11th, 2006 in Clothes. Share This
Ignore that I took this picture before I left town, that I have a proudly protuberant crotch bulge, and the too-light jeans: this is the outfit I’m wearing into the office today. I picked up a pair of darker, nearly black jeans that are a little tighter in the thighs and complement the obviously synthetic texture of the jacket and vest (picked up on eBay, along with matching pants, for $40). (For a standing shot with shoes and faux ponderous look, go here.)
This is closer to what I’m going for when I have to dress up—something that looks classy, but also sort of stands out. It’s also been a nice reminder of how happy I’ll be if I can just shed these last 15-20 pounds. The vest fits, but barely.
Oh god, I keep looking at the picture. So smug! I want to slap the shit out of myself. (Mission accomplished?)
It would look sharp if it weren’t for the jeans. I’ve got a friend that dresses this way (sans Vest and Jacket.) If you’re going to go to all the trouble of tying a tie so you can look professional, then why ruin it with the jeans? That being said, nice deal you got on the suit! The top half looks sharp.
My pops says “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” I try to look sharper than my coworkers every day!
so which civil war soldier did you steal that outfit from?
andrew, you read my mind.
I also agree w/ JF, jeans don’t really work here. Maybe some kind of dark chinos.
and for god sakes SHAVE YOUR FACE!
its not cool, its dorky, im sorry.
It’s a little crapper now, but the idea’s sound.
The suit part doesn’t look like it fits well, and I think it falls apart where vest meets jeans. It’s not so much the fact that they’re jeans, but looking at the photo, that intersection looks like it’s missing something – a belt buckle, maybe?
But Problem A is the fit.
Smug? Not really. More like in pain, but how can you not be seated in a vest that tight and be uncomfortable?
I agree with those above, with the jeans I’d say the only way you can pull this off is if you use a vest that’s a different color. But if you do that, you sure as hell better be in a rock band.
However, with the jeans and if the vest fit more comfortably I’d say ditch the jacket and you’d have a pretty kicky spring look. Particularly with the sleeves on the shirt rolled up.
Just my opinion, and as such I just realized that I look pretty shlubby today, so I’ll be locking the office door until 5.
Yes, Joel, I must agree: you need some slacks.
If I saw you on the street I’d think “Poser.”
What’s the line from Amadeus? “Too many notes.”
I can see where you’re going, but the jeans do seem too casual. Maybe if you just took off the vest? Make the less formal? Has potential thought.
If you need anything “new” to go with it, seems like the Original Penguin store has your name all over it.
by no means was my comment an attack. it just seems like your trying way to hard.
I concure with your need to adjust the facial hair. Jeans and a tie are okay I’d say, just maybe not with a jacket and vest.
The jeans are no good, I’d like to see the new ones you bought. The tie and the shirt go great with either the jacket or the vest, but I don’t think both, at least not with both the same color. I like the facial hair. You’re close.
I think it would’ve been perfect if you’d gone with the matching trousers.
Smile, baby, because that shit is dapper as hell. The less seriously you take that look, the better you pull it off. Nothing wrong with dark jeans with that. Does the suit fit well? or will the next -20 lbs determine that?
Jeans with a jacket+tie is fine, in my opinion. The vest maybe pushes it over the edge, unless you’re intentionally going for “wacky eccentric college professor” but I don’t think it looks bad. The jacket, shirt, and tie color combo is super retro, totally 1976. But Civil War? I realize we’re not real educated in historical fashion these days, but if you were dressing up in the mid-19th Century, you were wearing some manner of bowtie.
My only problem with this ensemble is the color of the jeans. The shoes look great color-wise, but the jeans don’t seem to match. Good thing you got new ones.
I gotta say thumbs down there’s not much in that outfit that does it for me. And I have to agree shave if you’re going to go with the Faux hawk. you look like like you’re trying to hard.
Oh yeah it doesn’t look like you have 15 lbs to loose you’re kinda thing as it is.
My beard rules, freaks. Quiet your yapping! Also, you guys seem to have missed the part where I said I got a new pair of black, slack-like jeans. I was thinking a nice blended brown something would look really good, too.
Also, you fuckers convinced me to shave my hair. I’d be angry if I didn’t feel so much better about it.
No, leave the hair, facial and otherwise. I agree with Ryan you’ve got the eccentric college prof look rocking and I say it’s ++
I like a really well fitted jacket, but unfortunately this one looks like it is just a little short in the arms. I hate to have that realization, so I didn’t want to be the one to bring it up, but about a 1/2 inch of shirt is all that is usually acceptable to show at the cuff.
The vest does look a little snug. If you had matching pants (from the original suit) this would be awesome because then the snugness would pull off the entire look of the slim suit, and I could maybe overlooks some of the other issues.
Since we both get to be lazy slobs if we WANT to…. I just have to wonder how uncomfortable you’ve been all day. My guess is that the vest stayed buttoned for about 30 seconds to take some pictures, and then you either took it off or just unbuttoned and at that point if you glanced in a mirror you’d probably be wishing you just went with the cum-stained pajama pants from last night.
i think this is almost there.. but sort of an either/or thing w/ the jeans. It would work with the vest and not the coat, or with the coat and not the vest, but doesn’t seem right w/ both. Dr Marv has a good potential suggestion (lose the coat, roll up the sleeves), but you should do whatever works for you
I think one key thing to remember in all of this is the man makes the clothes, and not vice versa. A huge chunk of how any outfit will “look” is determined by how confident you feel while youre in it. If you feel like a shlub you’ll look like a shlub. Confidence won’t save a ridiculous outfit, of course, but lack of confidence can certainly kill a decent one.
Oh, and if you’re adamant to preserve your facial hair, please be ready to either sing Ace of Spades or spit water into the air and shout “I am the Game!” at a moments notice. Then all is forgiven.
rob: I’m actually sitting in the office right now in the vest. It’s not uncomfortable at all.
Im dubious about the cut of that collar as well. post a picture of you where the collar isn’t so wide and flat or stop using the fish-eye porn lens.
Shave the beard, Eat a steak, Grow your hair, the business mullet is back in style. Sorry for the mispellings.
Shave. I am not goddamned kidding. Why do otherwise okay-looking young men insist on fucking themselves over with facial hair? Also, ditch either the tie or the jeans. Right now you look like some Frankensteinian gestalt of frat legs and Rockefeller torso. And sweater-humping emo queer head.
My beard is a lovely homage to the power of rock. Also, ‘Frankensteinian gestalt’ was what I was going for. By replacing those jeans with another, darker pair, the “frat legs” are now “cattle rancher” legs. I have arrived!
A) I agree with nowhereman about having confidence in an outfit. Granted this can be killed or lifted by a quip by a coworker or a complement by a young lady.
B) I don’t think yellow is your color. That stands out to me immediately and I can’t get past it.
I find it to be a powerful statement. Every good look starts with breaking a few rules and thankfully the one broken here was broken years and years ago by Warren “I probably *did* fuck your mother, actually” Beatty, and forevermore is it okay in my book – the vest/jacket/tie + jeans thing. Those knobs who would detract you for it, I can’t fault them for having no style – we’ve only begun to address style here at Dethroner. Give them time. They will learn.
As for your beard, trust yourself on this one – it’s totally yours. Pretty soon folks will stop talking about it and try rocking it themselves, but no, it won’t work.
On you, it’s becoming effortless.
My .02 : loosen the tie, undo the top button, and – voila! – more cowbell.
1. I disagree with everyone about shaving your beard… I think you should grow the chin out to a normal full beard. You’ll have your beard, but without the redneck look.
2. Definitely showing too much cuff. I like that you’re showing cuff, but 1/2 inch is the correct amount.
3. You know this, but change up the pants. Try it with dark brown cords (also gives it more of the aforementioned eccentric prof look)… or maybe tan chinos but change up the shirt then.
4. I think this look with be great without the vest and with blue jeans (not the crazy dark blue ones, just standard blue). More casual to be sure, but it’d be a good casual.
5. Your collar has a crazy amount of spread. A big knot (like you have) mitigates this.
6. Read anything by Alan Flusser. Great stuff, and can probably find Dressing the Man at your library.
I for one just can’t figure out why so many people say to lose the vest. Without the vest there’s not much making it unique. I for one know nothing about style, but it seems you’re going for a bold look and you’ve accomplished it with the vest. Anyone can do a jacket with a dress shirt (everyone already does) and I’ve seen plenty of people just do a vest with no jacket. I think your look has a lot of personality and uniqueness to it, which seems more important than just being “correct style.”
Joel, and I thought the bad mojo about my fleece vest was harsh… this is really comin’ down hard, man.
For all those folks who are waxing poetic about Joel’s outfit, I think it’s time you put yourself up for the dapper or crapper test. Submit your photo to the man for your 15 minutes…
when ever i get a picture of myself that isn’t at a concert i will do just that
1. Lose the jeans.
2. If you wear a vest the last button (from top to bottom)ALWAYS staus undone.