MARIO ANSWERS YOUR PRESSING STYLE QUESTIONS.
Q: My suits still fit and they don’t look worn: why do I need to buy new ones?
There are several barometers that indicate whether or not a suit is up-to-date: the shape and length of the jacket, the width of the lapels, the jacket’s button stance and back vents, the pleats in the trousers. Although change in men’s clothing is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, after a few years your old suits will start to look dated. For example, the length of a suit coat today is three to four centimeters shorter than it was just three years ago. (Our most fashion forward models are even shorter!) For fall 2011, the go-to suit is a trimmer, two-button, side-vented model with a somewhat shorter jacket, narrower lapel and flat-front trousers. (Of course there are fashion alternatives, e.g. peak lapels, three-button rolled to two…) If this isn’t what’s in your closet, come into the store and we’ll help update your look.
Q: I just bought brown shoes. Can I wear them with my gray and navy suits?
We love brown shoes, whether leather or suede, oxfords or loafers, worn with almost any color suit or trouser, be it navy, gray or even black. (With black, choose a lighter shade of brown for the shoes.) Of course, black shoes are always appropriate for formalwear and with ultra-modern black suits, but other than that, brown shoes are a good match for almost everything you wear.
Although it need not match exactly, your belt should generally be the same tone as your shoes. As for socks, the rule is they should match the tone of your trousers (but we say that certain rules can be broken). For less serious occasions, your socks can be colorful, whimsical, even conversational. It’s one of the few categories with which you can have some fun!
Q: Why buy men’s clothing in a specialty store when so much is available online?
While shopping online can be tempting with all the so-called discounts, free shipping, etc., there are numerous caveats. First of all, not all designers produce the same quality goods for all accounts. So sometimes a designer shirt on a flash sale site or in an off-price outlet might be a different weight or last season’s color or a discontinued pattern vs. the “same” designer shirt in an upscale store. Second, in an independent specialty store, you’re dealing with not just sellers, but owners and wardrobe consultants and expert tailors whose reputation depends on making you look terrific. Third, we will always stand behind the brands and designers we carry so you’ll never get stuck with an impulse-purchase-gone-wrong. Finally, our talented buyers scout out fashion from around the globe, so in addition to a curated assortment featuring top designers and brands, you’re sure to find unique items you won’t see elsewhere. Come in and check it out!
