(Part 3) Best products from r/malefashionadvice

Alrighty, lets give this a go.

> What colours look good with what?

It depends. You can't go wrong with a black or navy watch face, with a steel case. Stay away from anything gold since it can look super tacky if not done exactly right. If you want a more casual/military look you can get a watch with a PVD (black) case, but these don't age very well in my experience.

If you want something that is sporty, orange watches can look amazing, such as the cult-favourite Seiko Orange Monster.

>Should my watch match my pants?

Doesn't matter, sorta. For 99% of what you will be wearing, as long as you match the watch (in particular the strap, more on that later) to the occasion everything will be just fine. You don't wear an Orange Monster to a funeral, nor do you wear a dress watch to the beach.

Changing the strap on a watch can totally change the looks. You can take a sporty Fleiger style watch on a bright NATO strap and put it on an ostrich leather strap. It can now be worn at pretty much any formal event including weddings and funerals.

> Hair?

That's a new one. I honestly have no idea how one would match a watch to their hair, but seeing as I am currently wearing my watch on a bright orange NATO and have a mohawk (long story) I guess it is sorta possible.

Serious answer: Don't worry.

>When should I go for simplicity and when should I go for elegance?

It is personal preference. I like watches that are as mechanically complex as possible, since it appeals to the engineer side of me. I also like my watches to be extremely readable, since I use them for flying at night, where I NEED to be able to read them in the dark with a quick glance.

Others like their pieces to be as minimal as possible. It is up to whatever you like. On the other hand, you need to make sure your watch fits the occasion. No massive dive watches while meeting The Queen.

Now that we have your questions out of they way, here are my suggestions for some quality watches on a reasonable price point.

If you are looking for a good-for-everything watch, you have a few options. If you are looking for an automaitc watch (no battery, purely mechanical) you really can't beat the SKX007. It has excellent durability, classic looks, and the lume (glow stuff on the dial) is excellent. There is no battery to die, although you may need to get it services in a decade (or get a new one). Leave it on the bracelet for a sporty everyday look that can go with a suit, to a wedding, or a funeral. Throw it on a NATO strap (how I wear my watch every day) for comfortable everyday wearing. Get different coloured straps for different things, and change it up. A new strap can make it look like a totally different watch.

If you want something that will do almost any occasion without a mechanical movement, basically any Citizen Eco-drive will do the job. I myself like the Citizen Nighthawk, although it might be because I'm a pilot. The slide rule on the outside is great for addition/division (how much to tip, how much tax, etc.) and it will tell a second time zone.

If you are looking to make a statement, there is nothing that tops the Seiko "Orange Monster". This thing is built like a tank, the utomatic movement is proven, and the lume is out of this world. It also comes as the "Black Monster" if you want to be a bit more subtle.

If you are looking for a dress watch, I would recommend the Orient "Union" as it has a durable, in-house movement and great looks.

If you are looking for something badass that will be great for nighttime, there is the Traser Code Blue. It is a very durable quartz watch designed for military operations. It has vials of tritium (hydrogen with two neutrons) and will glow without any exposure to light for at least a decade.

If you are looking for a digital watch, I would recommend either the Casio Mudman if you are looking for a large, indestructable watch (That is also allowed for space travel by NASA) or the Casio F91W which is much slimmer, but less durable.



Possibly one of the best deals in "stylish" watches is the Timex Weekender. The come in a million different colours, have an electric illumination, and are very stylish and durable.

STAY AWAY FROM FASHION WATCHES!!! These include brands like Fossil, Nixon, etc. They are basically the same movement out of a $5 Wal-Mart special in a shiny case. Stick to reputable brands such as Casio, Seiko, Citizen, Timex, etc. If you are unsure about a brand, find a thread on the Watchuseek forums about that brand and that thread will probably tell you all you need to know. Also, stay away from Invicta. That company has shitty quality control and makes sub-standard products.

My advice would be to get the SKX007 on the bracelet, and then grab a few NATO straps. I have had great customer service interactions with Clockwork Synergy. Their straps are of decent quality, and their service is second-to-none. If you have a little cash left over, grab the F91W for chores are hiking, or anywhere you may need a stopwatch and illuminated face (i.e. Flying).

Can't help you with the pants thing, but the shoes I can.
Business shoes:

• First option would be the classic business penny loafer: http://www.brassboot.com/shop/style/93391-222.html These will go with just about any business/casual look you can think of, from formal to denim. Certainly one of the most versatile types of shoes in and out of the business world, anything this style will suit your needs. Brassboot is one of my personal favorites, but any penny loafers will be a definite good bet.
  
  
• If you prefer something that many think is more casual, you can try the driving shoe (also known as frat cleats due to their prevalence in southern frat style): http://www.amazon.com/Polo-Ralph-Lauren-Up-Leather/dp/B003PGQ8UW%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-z-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB003PGQ8UW Very similar to the penny loafers, but without the heel and with a cleated underside. They are more comfortable for a lot of people because they are much less rigid, but this also means that they will not keep their shape long. I had the pair I linked to, and got about a year of use from them before the toes started to tear. The most popular driving loafers are Cole Haans:
  http://www.amazon.com/Cole-Haan-Grant-Loafer-Grain/dp/B00427E5W6%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-z-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00427E5W6
  
  
• I would suggest keeping Sperry's or boat shoes as far away from your business casual wardrobe as you can. If you really like the look of boat shoes, camp mocs are their slightly-more-dressed-up cousin: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ralph-lauren-footwear-henley-camp-mocs-for-men~p~64004/
  
  
• Of course, this being MFA, I think it's necessary that I recommend CDB at some point: http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Originals-Desert-Taupe-Suede/dp/B000VWDZHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328190823&sr=8-1 You know what they are, they'll work in just about any scenario. They may not be the most comfortable shoe in the world, though, and depending on the office, they may be too casual.
  
  
• If you want to get a little dressier, or you like the look of laces, try wingtips oxfords: http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SF6105_1_40000000001_-1
  
  
• And finally, some nice suede bucks never go out of style, especially during s/s: http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=06L0&adv=127748&cm_mmc=plas-_-MensClothing-_-06L0-_-127748&kpid=06L0-02-07%26catargetid=1796447680&cagpspn=pla
  
  If comfort is really one of your main concerns, you will probably want to pick up some kind of gel sole to put in whatever shoe you want to wear. Also, loafers will need to be broken in to your foot. The best way to do this without hurting your feet is to get loafer socks, which shouldn't show at all.
  Also, check out the sidebar links about shoes.
  If you need anything else, feel free to ask
  (And if this answer looks familiar, I wrote it up three days ago and copied and pasted it here because you asked the same question).

I have always used either Chelsea Leather Food or Lexol Leather Conditioner for my leather goods.

The Chelsea is really popular among soccer players for use on their cleats so it can be found in a reasonable number of sports stores that sell them for around 10 bucks. Make sure you get the clear stuff though.

The Lexol looks like a car care product but it was recommended to me for use on my riding boots and is extensively to keep horse tack from drying out and wearing down. Amazon is selling a liter of the stuff for 12 bucks. Because it is meant to soak in to the leather a bit, it may darken the JCP boots up some, so go with a few even, light coats first rather than just pouring the stuff on.

The Kiwi polish that you can find in drugstores everywhere is plenty good and is pretty cheap at around 3 bucks a tin. I am currently using some Brooks Brothers Shoe Cream which I got as a gift a bit ago and i love the stuff. It is a bit on the 'pricey' side at 9 bucks a jar so it is up to you.

As a last note, I would recommend getting some Saddle Soap for use after youve gone slogging through some less than clean streets and perhaps forgotten to clean your shoes for a bit. It is a great 'once and a while' product to get your shoes clean again and helps to make sure you arent polishing any dirt or grime into the shoe the next time you give them a shine.

Hello all, I have been wearing faux leather all my life from Zara and I just got my 1st real leather jacket, Koopes Leather Bomber Jacket!

Need some advice on leather cleaner and conditioner since I never cleaned or conditioned my faux leather jackets before. There didn't seem to be a good search results on leather cleaning and conditioning or I must have missed it. From most of the threads I read, it seems like the brand name doesn't matter as much for cleaner and conditioner, but sounds like it is important to NOT use my boots conditioner due to silicone.

My lamb skin jacket did not feel as stiff as my faux leather which I really liked since I want something comfortable for usual wear rather than a stiff jacket with a bit more durability.

My research shows Saddle soap may be a great cleaner and Lexol cleaner and conditioner seem to be a great option too. I read Leather Honey is a great conditioner, albeit the premium price!

I wanted to ask the experts at r/MFA what they personally recommend for lamb skin leather:

1. cleaner
   
2. conditioner! I hear different conditioners can leave a different amount of oils and can even change colors a bit.
   
3. waterproofing, is this worth it?
   
   Edit: Also, I just wanted to confirm that Dry Cleaning leather jackets is NOT okay. I read it may dry and/or crack the leather. Is this true? Sounds like I should just use the cleaner and conditioner once or twice a year?

I decided to just go with lexol leather conditioner and it's working perfectly. It came highly recommmend in /r/goodyearwelt. Don't use Obernauf's LP unless you want to ruin your boots. Don't use waxes. Oil works well but can be a little harder to work with because of how easily it saturates the leather. If you look around this subreddit you'll see a lot of boots that are drenched when they are oiled. You don't want that. You want a healthy leather.

• Make sure your boots are dry inside and out. Don't start conditioning our boots if they are sweaty inside from you wearing them. Do it the next day after they were able to sit with cedar shoe trees in them. Also, ALWAYS USE CEDAR SHOE TREES IN YOUR BOOTS.
  
  
• Remove the laces.
  
  
• Brush out all of the dirt and dust with a horse hair brush. Any brand will do.
  
  
• Take a slightly-damp paper tower and do a once over to grab any dirt or dust hanging out. Use a damp Q-Tip and go over the welt. Do not saturate the leather with water, you are just trying to pick up the specks of dirt.
  
  
• Take a tiny bit of lexol and put it only a dry washcloth. Work it into the piece of fabric you are using. You don't want to use it like a paint brush, you want the cloth to just allow a super thin layer of conditioner to be left behind as you wipe your boots. Think like a snail-trail or something ..idk. You're not slathering the conditioner on, you're just putting a super thin coat. Like how you would season a cast-iron skillet (the right way).
  
  
• Slowly apply a thin layer over the boots, making sure to get every nook and cranny. Don't over-condition the boots. They won't be damaged, but it can weaken the leather too much and is unfavorable. Get everywhere including the tongue. Don't bother conditioning the inside, but I like to do the collar.
  
  
• I like to put them on and walk a short lap around the room to help the conditioner settle a bit. I'm not running around, just walking naturally. You'll notice that the creases created from you walking might look unconditioned now. Take the boots off. not hit that spot with a little conditioner in the same manner you've been doing.
  
  
• Take your brush and just gently go over the boot.
  
  
• Put your cedar shoe trees into them and let them sit for at least 12 hours. Don't wear them in the rain for at least 24.
  
  
• If this is your first conditioning, I would do it a month or so after you started wearing your boots. There is a lot of conversation over the frequency of conditioning, but the best thing is to do is use your judgement. If the leather looks like it is getting too dry, re-condition with a tiny bit of lexol. If they get dirty, brush off the dirt thoroughly and maybe go over with a slightly-damp paper towel and consider that dirt dries leather out. You won't need to condition weekly. Some people do it monthly. Some only twice a year. And some neglectful boot-owners never condition them. I think every other month might be a good time frame, but like I said, use your judgement.

So, both of the watches you linked are described as "fashion brand" watches. This means that a popular clothing company has taken a pre-existing quartz movement (usually) then put it into a casing of their choosing and branded it. These watches generally won't break, but they are usually poorer quality than watches made by genuine watch brands at approximately the same price point.

Timex is a good starting point for watches. They look good, hold up well, and generally have very few issues. They're also fairly inexpensive. They typically use quartz movements. Quartz movements use circuit boards and batteries to operate the watch. They're accurate, but the cheapest method for creating a watch.

The second primary method for a operating a watch is automatic movements. These can either be hand-wound by the dial on the side of the watch, or they use a small weight in the watch to automatically (see: name) wind the watch as you move. As your arm moves, the weight spins around and winds up the watch. Automatic watches are more expensive generally, but usually also higher quality.

A good brand for automatic starter watches is Orient. They have a number of offerings in the ~$100-$150 price range that are very very good quality for the money you're paying.

Here are some specific recommendations for watches that are a great bang-for-buck ratio:

1. Orient Mako II (automatic, $169, "dive watch" style).
   
   
2. Orient Bambino (automatic, $159, "formal" style).
   
3. Timex Weekender (quartz, $37, casual)
   
   
4. Seiko 5 Automatic (automatic, $70, "formal" style).
   
   Generally speaking, most watches from Timex, Seiko, and Orient are all great, quality starter watches. I personally own an Orient Mako II in pepsi, which I love. Feel free to PM or check out /r/watches for more information.

http://amzn.com/B000UN267C

• 1. Leather! Like a few others have said, leather feels more mature. While I'm a student right now, hopefully this bag lasts me awhile and I can use it once I become a professional.
     
• 2. It was a gift, but at the time it was about $200-$220.
     
• 3. They sell it a The Bay (Canada), Kenneth Cole, or online.
     
• 4. It's approaching a year and still going strong! It doesn't have any weak points, but the back isn't as firm as it used to be. BUT I previously had a canvas bag. I wore it really tight to my hip, so over the 2.5 years I had it, the bottom and side that rubbed against my leg eventually wore out and completely came apart.
     
• 5. Awesome. It's retained the colour and quality of the original leather. I need to clean it/reseal it, but otherwise it's looking good!
     
• 6. It has strong magnetic snap buttons. A lot of them either have straps, buttons, or a weird combination. They make it super convenient for throwing the top back on quickly without having to align any parts or worry about contents flying out.
     
• 7. There could be more specific, compartmented storage I suppose. Johnston & Murphy sells some nice briefcase organizers that can help with that - they're just overpriced for the quality I'm looking at.

I definitely second checking the buying guide in /r/Watches

As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, you need to decide what you are looking for in a bit more detail. Is it a particular look or style? Is it an automatic or quartz movement? There are a lot of options even once you get these two aspects narrowed down. You can always buy the watch and strap separate as well, to get the combination you are looking for.

I personally have a Citizen Nighthawk on a black Hirsch Liberty strap and a Citizen Eco-Drive with blue hands on a brown Hirsch Liberty strap. These are very likely much cheaper than you are looking for as a grad gift, given the $700 limit listed, but the Citizen Skyhawk is closer to your limit and is really nice too.

When it comes to automatic movements, it will be quite easy to get to the $700 limit. Hamilton is a favorite, with both the Khaki Field and the Jazzmaster being good possibilities.

My only advice is to stay away from "fashion" brand watches. A little reading in /r/watches, particularly the buying guide and sidebar, should help you a lot.

Good luck!

That sweater looks good and the price is good. Go for it.

The socks look okay, but the reviews are rather mixed. Apparently Costco brand wool socks are supposed to be of good quality and receive much praise from frugalmalefashion. As another option, these People Socks are on a great sale and have great reviews. I own 4 pair personally and they are quite thick and warm. Seem like they are going to hold up well through the winter.

Excellent, let me nerd out for a second about suits. Also, that documentary is a GREAT starting point. Personally, it makes me want to become a tailor, and it makes me sad that tailoring is becoming a dying breed of old people who have no younger people to take up their mantle.

---

So, before you get into the process of suit making and all of that, and the art that is tailoring. I encourage you to read up on what makes a suit, a suit. But, I'll cut it down real simply for you and leave some links so that you can read up on in depth if it suits you (hodor).

Let's start with the most basic question. What is the foundation of the suit? Strangely, the foundation of the suit, is the shoulder. The drape of your suit and the cut of your suit starts from the shoulder and moves downward. So like we always say, if it doesn't fit on the shoulder, put it back on the rack. There are tons of different types of cuts for shoulders, and how it's padding, and how the sleeve is attached to the shoulder that is all unique to each cut, although it is becoming more homogenized (Personally, I'm an italian cut kinda guy, Neapolitan in specific). How do you like your shoulders? Straight across? Narrower? No padding at all? Extreme sloping? These are the questions you should consider when bespoking your suit, or purchasing your suit in general. How do you like your shoulder to sing?

Next, lets move onto the beauty that is the lapel roll, the flower of the suit, the thing that blooms, the detail that gives your suit depth. A detail that simply resonates with the rest of your suit, don't be flat (jos. a bank), the lapel roll is a piece of art of itself, and a good dry cleaner will not press the life out of the lapel. Of course, you could just do it yourself.

So now that we have touched the outside of the suit. Let's dig a little deeper, how about the inside of the suit? Perhaps as important as the shoulder, is your canvassing. Why is it important? Because canvas is what gives your suit a shape, it's the thing that slowly molds to your body, a quality suit will slowly mold to your body and drape better and better with each wear. A suit with the proper insides need's no hanger to give it shape (put it on a hanger). It almost wears itself (ignore the fact that they are trying to sell something).

Here is some more reading on canvassing

In closing, how about some master tailors talking about their art?

Rudolph Popradi

Martin Greenfield

Multiple tailors from naples discuss their life of tailoring

And now, some books.

A menswear book, a little more for the older gents and those more intersted in history. But very much a classic book that is highly praised for being all encompassing.

How about a book that teaches you to make your own garments?


And a machiavallian approach to the suit. Maybe not as highly praised, but more reading can't hurt that much.

Let's ask some people about their thoughts on the suit and it's changes through the years.

1, 2, 3, 4.

And let's touch on the tuxedo for a bit, probably a little pretentious (especially that esquire guy), but for some reason I like watching people dress up while giving their thoughts..

And finally, a series of videos on a class about suit construction (mainly for women).

Probably doesn't entirely answer your questions, but hey, suits are awesome. If I had enough money to wear a suit everyday for every situation (james bond) I would. If you have the opportunity to apprentice under a tailor, I highly suggest it, maybe you won't become a master tailor, and you most likely will not get paid, but it would be an awesome experience to be under a master craftsman.

For watches, I've owned smart watches (pebble and a moto 360) and own many analog watches. I prefer analog to a fitness or smart watch any day of the week if your primary purpose is to have a watch on your wrist (and not an extension of your smart phone).

For watches, I have 3 recommendations, all under $100:

1. Timex Weekender: This is a cheap, <$40 watch. Nothing too fancy but it's become somewhat of a staple. [Here's a link.](http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T2P4959J-Weekender-Display-Leather/dp/B00LW3RCW8/ref=sr_1_1?
   s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1464118386&sr=1-1&nodeID=6358539011&keywords=timex+weekender)
   

2. Seiko SNK809: This is a fantastic automatic watch. I have one on my wrist right now. It's a great intro to automatic watches. Link Here.
   
3. MVMT watches. I've read a lot of good things about these. They have a very minimalist design which a lot of people like. Link here.
   
   Watches are extremely personal. The colour of dial, bezel, and strap can be endlessly customized. Gold tones are very popular right now though a black strap/silver or white dial will always be a classic.
   Another thing to consider is the size of the bezel. You'll want to pick the right size of watch depending on your wrist size.

For young people, certain things just look like you’re trying too damn hard: bowties, pocket squares, French cuffs, white collars on a colored shirt, suspenders, wide-spread collars, vested suit (sometimes), etc.

It’s easy to blame other people, but your clothes are prompting their reaction. I don’t know you and I don’t know the way you dress. But perhaps you should think about trying to be more subtle: buying nice clothes that aren’t at all ostentatious. Don’t wear bowties if, when you wear one, people make comments.

In my opinion, the majority of advice on MFA will make a high school or college students look good for other high school or college students. If I wore my pants below my natural waste or if I wore wingtips or a bow tie, the men at my work would think I was an immature, insecure, hipster douche bag. There is nothing wrong with those things, but dress to your audience. Being stylish, being able to express your own, personal style, within the bounds of what’s acceptable to your peers is a true and worthy challenge. An artist is limited by the artistic media he chooses to work with. So to, you are limited by your lifestyle, income, peer group, profession, region, etc. Strive to be stylish and express yourself within you lifestyle’s bounds. Then you will look good without looking like you’re wearing a costume to try to look good.

If following the advice on this forum is getting criticism, I’d like to suggest some alternative sources for advice:

http://www.amazon.com/Dressing-Man-Mastering-Permanent-Fashion/dp/0060191449/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344004043&sr=8-1&keywords=allan+flusser

http://www.amazon.com/Clothes-Man-Principles-Fine-Dress/dp/0394546237/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344004043&sr=8-2&keywords=allan+flusser

http://www.amazon.com/GENTLEMAN-TIMELESS-GUIDE-FASHION-Ullmann/dp/3833152702/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

http://www.amazon.com/The-Suit-Machiavellian-Approach-Style/dp/0060891866/ref=pd_sim_b_7 (especially the chapter for “young” persons)

http://www.amazon.com/Elegance-Menswear-G-Bruce-Boyer/dp/0393304388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344004086&sr=1-1&keywords=bruce+boyer

http://www.amazon.com/Eminently-Suitable-G-Bruce-Boyer/dp/0393028771/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344004086&sr=1-3&keywords=bruce+boyer

Your library should have these, as they are menswear “classics.” The books are well-written and, though older than something like “Esquire The Handbook of Style,” the advice is better. How to dress well is a timeless art.

It's mostly a rule, but here is the reasoning:

A) It's not something you will be able to pass down to your children or grandchildren. They wouldn't want it if did make it that long. It will be such an old technology that it wont interface with anything they might have. It's would be like your dad giving you a bunch of 8-tracks.

B) It's made of plastic and will get scratched and eventually destroyed. It wont even make it through your lifetime, which means you are plopping down $300 (give or take) on something that will last 3 years... maybe 4 if you are lucky. Lets be generous and say it loses about $50 in value each year before you have to replace/upgrade it. That's a lot of diminished value. A bottom of the line respected mechanical watch can last you 10 years easy, and a lifetime if you take care of it. You can get it for $140.

C) Watches have souls. Listen to [John Meyer talk] (http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/video-talking-watches-with-john-mayer) about his watches. The all-time top post on /r/Watches has meaning. Its 70 years in the making. A watch from a company not yet in the lexicon of culture passed on from a man to his heirs. My bet is that he never heard his Great-Grandfathers voice, but they both heard the ticking of that watch on their wrist.

D) As far as fashion goes... all I see here is the 5th all time top-post

E) Would you rather wear this or this

F) I would never hide a pebble in my ass.

hey! 1st of all, I would suggest giving it a look at this guy!. He regularly posts here and I think in /r/frugalmalefashion. Great tips and looks!

I have had very good luck for all my outfits buying the Timex Chronograph which I wear almost every day and also this watch from So&Co which I saw previously recommended and I really liked. But that is just my style.

However, what really has changed my game has been straps. Just a couple of watches and a diverse set of straps and you are pretty much set! I cannot believe how easy it is to adapt my watch to any circumstance! Just mix and match! I remember I started with this basic set and just worked my way up from there.

Good luck!

Mink Oil is alright, but you should really check out Obenaufs leather cleaner. It's probably the best leather restorer out there right now. It will turn the leather a darker colour than the mink oil, but it won't leave a nasty white film on top like the mink oil tends to leave.
Honestly, unless you live in a very arid climate, the chances are your crepe sole will need to be replaced before you ever really even need to treat the leather.

You look like a tall guy, so you might want to look for jeans with a higher rise. Short-rise jeans make your torso look long and your waist too short, but pulling short-rise jeans up too high is going to be uncomfortable (obviously). Something like Levis 501s (or the more expensive Japanese repros, if you want higher-end denim) is going to be a much better choice.

I'd definitely recommend brown leather shoes and a brown belt with that. For more casual, a pair of tan suede bucks would be a classic choice. If you want something you can dress up a little more, a pair of wingtips or longwings would look great.

5'7" here. I've read a lot of these guides over the years, and this is easily one of the best. Well done.

On suits, I'm going to have to disagree with this:

> Unlike most people, you don’t want your suit jacket to cover your rear completely.

This works for short and slim (and young), but if you've got some, erm, shape to your rear, you'll want to cover it. Cropped jackets also won't fly in most workplaces that require suits.

I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately, and I think a better guide is something like this:

> Jackets should be just long enough to fall straight.

There's probably a better way to word it, but basically, you want the jacket to not flare out at the bottom.

I've also dug into the oft-repeated "rule" about short guys not wearing double-breasted suit jackets, and after going back to sources like The Suit, I've found there's an exception: unless you can have it custom-made.

Couple examples of short guys in double-breasted suits: 1 2

Be careful when using oil on shoes and boots. Most of them will darken the leather. If you plan on repeatedly using the boots in heavy snow or rain oil will help weather proof them. Otherwise there isn't any real reason to. Every couple months give the boots a good rub down with a leather conditioner. It'll help keep the leather from drying out and restore some luster.

I like Lexol; it's cheap, it works and it doesn't darken the leather. A jug this size will last you years. Of course there are plenty of options out there, feel free to do the research. There's a lot to learn. Just keep in mind that products containing oil (especially mink) or wax will darken the leather.

Equally important is to get a shoe brush if you haven't already. With five minutes, a brush and a little elbow grease you can get your boots looking great without having to use any product. You don't want to over condition leather as it can weaken it over time.

Obenauf makes a leather oil that is better for treating/conditioning dry leather.

Saddle Soap is a great product to clean and maintain boots without drying them out.

Red Wing also makes Mink Oil and a number of other leather treatments to weatherproof boots.

You could get him 1 of each, and a cleaning brush and put it all in a wooden cigar box. ($1-5 at a tobacco store) and it would be a great gift.

Of course it isn't necessary. You can get an OK looking briefcase for $100. And, honestly, it'll probably last a decade just fine.

So why pay for high-end stuff? Well, as you mentioned there are durability issues. That consists in more than just whether the seams will burst open. It has to do with things like the way the leather will wear (corrected leather shows dull spots; that Samsonite I linked will start to have discolored patches and look ratty). Mostly, though, you're paying for attention to detail. Even stitching, nicely finished edges, smooth surfaces inside and out.

Maybe that seems frivolous. But then ask: why get a leather case at all? Why not just get an LL Bean backpack? They're cheap, and last a lifetime. Obviously, the answer is that you want a certain sort of look. That's a choice to go beyond raw functional considerations. So too with wanting something well-made. The reason I suggested canvas bags is because at the OP's price point she could get a flawlessly crafted bag. I think that's something worth valuing.

I have and love my Fidelis Co ALCON. i work in the city but am active so walk or ride a bike about 1/2 the time and I find the bag works perfect for both professional and active settings.

Might I suggest an SKX007? They're beautiful watches and they pay homage to the submariner, but don't come off as a carbon copy or a replica/fake. Might I also suggest getting the skx007 and a metal bracelet with some straps? He can swap out the straps to match outfits on the fly. Really convenient.

Here's the watch
Seiko Men's SKX007K Diver's Automatic Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B5MI3Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_3ckiybJKA8R3F

This bracelet is awesome
22mm Super Oyster Type II watch band for SEIKO Diver SKX007/009/011 Curved End https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005K64ZXW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wdkiybDHWPP1W

Most mink oil will do. I have had great success with this, and this, it also helps that it is free shipping with amazon prime.

I have a feeling a lot of people will suggest a weekender. it's cheap, clean, and thanks to nato straps you can mix and match it with a lot of different outfits.

I personally don't like the weekender because of how small it is on my wrist. If you want something that's pretty clean and classic looking, yet is still relatively flexible I recommend an Invicta.

It's a blatant ripoff of a Rolex Submariner but I've gotten several compliments on it. It's a nice intro watch

http://www.amazon.com/Invicta-Collection-Stainless-Coin-Edge-Automatic/dp/B000JQFX1G/ref=sr_1_3?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1411955275&sr=1-3

*edit: words

Please don't sno-seal them, it will dull the colour so much and not be worth it at all.

I don't know where you reside, but unless you're literally walking through ankle deep wet-slush every day for kilometers, sno-seal is not needed. Just keep them well oiled with Obanauf's Leather Oil, repeating every couple weeks or so, and the leather will take care of itself. Clean salt off them with a damp paper towel as needed.

I have two pairs of Wolverine 1000 Mile boots, and it's winter/wet/slushy for 6 months of the year where I live. If the boots are conditioned with normal boot oil as above, the chromexcel has pretty good water-resisting properties already. I've walked through bouts of ankle deep water, slush, mud and snow, and never have had a problem with getting my feet wet.

Sno-Seal and Obanauf's HDLP will completely dull the colour of your boots, and obscure most of the "pull-up" and patina that makes those 1k miles you have right now look so great. It took me 2 years to wear off most of the HDLP I soaked my rust coloured 1k's in, and they look far better now that the coating has worn off and are no less water resistant.

This may not be of much help, but if I were in a position where I had to wear scrubs I'd probably opt for something tough and technical that I need not worry about. A G-Shock DW5600 is 45 bucks and tough as nails and will probably do everything you need it to. If you chafe at the idea of something technical, perhaps a Citizen Eco Drive such as this one. They're extraordinarily accurate quartz watches and highly regarded in just about every aspect I can think of, you'd probably get great mileage out of something like this one. It's even got a nice blue dial.

edit: And if either of those feel too expensive to you, a Casio F-91W is ten bucks and notoriously (at least in the hands of terrorists) reliable.

http://www.amazon.com/Suit-Machiavellian-Approach-Mens-Style/dp/0060891866

If you've ever been on SF you might be familiar with power user Manton. This is his book. It is pretty good. reads like an ego trip, but definitely provides a lot of insight into tailoring styles and techniques and suits in general. I would strongly suggest this book if you are better than everyone else.

I feel like you should invest in 100-150 dollars and get a reasonably good quality watch. You will use it for longer and be overall more confident. I have always favour automatic watches over quartz so therefore I feel like this is a great diver watch to start a collection at a reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.ca/Invicta-8926C-Collection-Coin-Edge-Automatic/dp/B000JQFX1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=watch&ie=UTF8&qid=1310889740&sr=1-1

Layering is really important. I don't know what you already have in your wardrobe but a few warm sweaters, a decent coat would be nice (from Uniqlo, Jcrew/JCrew Factory, Gap...). A good pair of boots and socks are also a must. Not too familiar with Chicago but you might also want long underwear. Finally, you'll want to grab gloves, a beanie and a scarf.

Bass is recommended here all the time. For the price, the quality is good and is a great starter for most people. I've had mine for about 6 months and I love them.

Looks to me like they're probably a pair of navy bucks. You can find them pretty much anywhere. Bass Buckinghams are pretty well regarded around here, and they come in navy, albeit with a much lighter sole. Their Pasadenas have a darker brown sole. The ones in the picture seem to be someplace in the middle, or maybe a red brick, though they look more brown to me.

Also, just for future reference, questions like this are the reason we have a Simple Questions thread four times a week, including one today!

I don't think I am there yet. There are quite a few outfits I have, where I have no idea objectively if they look good or not. I am pretty good at seeing whether something fit's properly, but not very good with color and style matching. That said there are certain items I do know go well together, and this is one of them

The outfit:


Waxed Olive

Canvas in black

Express Crew Neck (Small) in Black

Gustin Brass Roller - Saddle Brown Belt (Second notch) Size 32

Redwing Beckman 9016 Size 9 (Probably a half size too large, but made better by thick merino wool socks)


Levi 511 Rigid Dragon 29x32

People Socks - Merino Wool Blend

All in all it's a super simple outfit, and not very hard to pull off. The belt is not naturally the right color to match the shoes. It's a much lighter shade of brown, and with all of the other dark pieces does not work well. I darken the belt by massaging cocnut oil into it, letting it sit for 24 hours, and then polishing with Red Wings Dusky Brown polish (same polish I use on the shoes). I do this whenever I notice the color getting a bit too light.

Looking for feedback to compare the LL Bean katahdin plain toe with the Red Wing Beckmon.

I have a pair of Iron rangers and a pair of the LL Bean katahdin cap toe boots so I'm familiar with each. Basically what I'm looking for is a both that can take some snow, slush, rain and still be dressed up enough to wear in a more business casual environment.

I actually prefer the fit of the katahdins to the red wings but am concerned that they will be too casual for my needs.

Other boot recommendations are also welcome.

Thanks.

Well, the person I quoted--who explained that black is traditionally considered an inappropriate color for suits--is the author of The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style, which has been reviewed by the WSJ (where he has also been published), and he has also been interviewed by Forbes. As far as internet strangers go, he's a pretty authoritative one.

Ultimately, it's like any other "rule" or tradition. You can wear a suit jacket with a center vent, a tuxedo with notch lapels, or french cuffs without a jacket. I'm sure there are people who would find no problem with these things--including wearing a black suit. But as Manton said, "it is still against the rules." The fact that you've observed many people wearing black suits--even (perhaps especially) adults--is not surprising. This is a very common menswear misconception. But that doesn't mean that they're not still flouting tradition and committing a fashion faux pas. Many people wear square-toed shoes. I bet your career center wouldn't stop you at the door if you wore them to a job fair. That doesn't mean that they are appropriate as a matter of tradition or the "rules" of menswear. Same thing for brightly-colored matching vests at weddings.

With respect to your career center's advice, their goal is to make sure that the students don't embarrass themselves or the school by showing up to a career fair in seersucker (apologies if you're south of the Mason Dixon line). Unlike that robin's egg blue tux lurking in the back of the closet, a black suit won't offend anyone or get you dinged during an interview (unless your interviewer is a sartorial enthusiast), and black is such a common choice for a first suit that of course a career center making a list of acceptable suit colors is going to approve that. That has nothing to do with whether black is a correct choice as a matter of tradition or fashion.

You mentioned you've never before heard of this convention. Like I said, neither had I when I was in college. But spend a little time looking into this topic, and you'll find that it's fairly widely known and generally agreed upon--as far as fashion "rules" go. Not to toot my own karma horn, but there's a reason my post got upvoted 100 times and the posts recommending that OP buy a black suit ended up getting buried. It's not that I'm the first person to say any of those things, but rather that the tips I gave him--including not to wear black--are based on the prevailing rules of good menswear.

I'm starting grad school and got a leather Samsonite messenger bag for Christmas, I love it! Lots of space + pockets and it looks pretty sweet too. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XAVT8K/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_GOazybCCHD418

Glad I never spent any nominal amount of money on watches. I'm perfectly contented with a nice Casio A158W or F91W-1, no need for me to go over that.

A dive watch sounds like it would be the way to go for you. They are not meant to take absue in water and just keep going. I have some pretty small wrists too but the 38-42mm range is usually a good place to start. I would check out Part 1 or if you want more specific models you can't go wrong with an Invicta 8926OB if you want to stay under $75, Seiko SKX007 or Orient Ray if you want to stay under $200. The Invicta is a bit smaller at 40mm while the Seiko and Orient are 42mm.

Does it snow/rain a lot in your area or is it just cold?

MFA has its own boot guide, look here

Popular boots on MFA are: RW IR, RW Beckman, My current winter boot is the RW 875, Thorogood Moc, Thorogood Plain, Chippewa GQ, Bean Boots.

All of these boots can be found in your price range through sales and coupon codes. All would be good for light snow except for the first and the Chippewa GQ. Bean boots are the best for heavy snow.

I'm looking for a nice pair of boots for winter/fall. I've had my eye on the Red Wing Beckman in either cigar or I'm leaning towards black cherry featherstone. Any opinions on one color or the other? The other thing I'm wondering about is how well these boots would hold up in ice and slush (and snow, of course). I don't need something super warm but I want something with a bit of traction so I'm not slipping on ice like I imagine you would with Iron Rangers. I would really appreciate it if anyone could chime in.

I love cheap watches with nice looking bands. My main watches are this "Sinobi" low profile watch with a black band from Lakehouse Leathers and this Timex Expedition Chronograph. Both are cheap and I love them.

$98 w/ shipping?

http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Originals-Desert-Taupe-Suede/dp/B000VWDZHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328190823&sr=8-1

Depending on your size, with the 20% off coupon, Amazon is cheaper.

So yeah, sounds legit and fine for the price. I'm sure the Paypal/Ebay process for getting a refund on fake/fault products is good too, though never dealt with that.

Better. The top looks good. Now for the rest.

Get some new jeans and some new shoes. Generally, you wanna get shoes that aren't too flashy. Avoid stuff with too many colors and overdetailing. Stick to classics. I'd recommend either vans or SIMPLE nikes for sneakers. Get some Clarks:

(http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Originals-Desert-Taupe-Suede/dp/B000VWDZHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328190823&sr=8-1)

or some boat shoes if you're older or going for a business-casual kind of thing.

I got a Kenneth Cole Reaction Messenger that wasn't too ostentatious, and still fit everything I needed it to fit. Been working great for over a year now!

I was wondering about this myself. In a user posted image on amazon it looks a little more true to itself and still I don't mind the way it looks. I'm also using this as my first bag and am hoping it will hold me over until I'm well established and have a little more cash flow to run with. Appreciate the input.

Don't know exactly what you are looking for in terms of style but here are a few links with different style and different price points:) Hope it helps.
http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=12052&langId=-1&catalogId=25005&categoryId=341113&productId=22444516&imagePath=
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/burberry-watch-mens-swiss-chronograph-black-leather-strap-40mm-bu1361?ID=309267&CategoryID=57386#fn=sp%3D1%26s
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/diesel-nsbb-round-bracelet-watch-44mm/3527668?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback
http://www.amazon.com/Invicta-8926OB-Collection-Coin-Edge-Automatic/dp/B000JQFX1G/ref=sr_1_31?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1374612761&sr=1-31

Something like the Chevalier Cap-Toe could be up your alley, though the ordering process is a bit annoying. L.L.Bean's Katahdin is another, more rugged option.

Some people here like Timberland Earthkeepers, but I think they're pretty tacky too.

More into the mid-range, you have offerings like the Red Wing Beckman and AE Dalton.

I've carried this bag for three years now and I love it. Depends on the size of your laptop though--it comfortably holds my 13" MBA (what doesn't?), but a 15"+ PC would be pretty tight.

Here's a few to get you started:

http://www.amazon.com/Mondaine-A660-30314-16SBB-Quartz-Classic-Leather/dp/B000ODISL6/ref=sr_1_16?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1334849885&sr=1-16

http://www.amazon.com/BRAUN-Gents-Wristwatch-Classic-Simple/dp/B005FHM7AO/ref=sr_1_39?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1334849930&sr=1-39

http://www.amazon.com/Skagen-Denmark-Watch-Chrome-858XLSLC/dp/B003ZUMB5E

All of them are probably comparable quality to the UW ones posted. Personally, if I wanted to spend more than $150 on a watch in that style, I'd save up a little and try to get one of these. They are probably considered more "investment quality" with mechanical ETA movements and German assembly. Hope that helps.

I'm searching for a good messenger/laptop bag for a 15" Macbook Pro for use in school, any suggestions of good bags that you are aware of? Currently looking at this bag in brown, but I'm not too sure on it. Open to a leather or canvas bag, with a flap over the top preferably.
Cheers.

Take a look at the Timex Expedition!

Other than that, you really can't go wrong with any Timex or Seiko. Fossil is a fashion brand, I'm pretty sure they just use the cheapest movements they can find and concentrate on the watch's appearance. If you like the look of them though, then go for it :D

Depending on how much snow is in your area, I would recommend these or maybe these. I think Amazon has a 20% off coupon FALSHOES. Not sure if it applies to both of these boots, I have not tried.

In addition to these boots, for warmth, get some wool socks like these or these. The costco socks are half the price, but owning both, I can say personally that the People Socks are thicker and nicer quality.

Yeah, you probably need a good cleaning with saddle soap. You can get it on Amazon.

Then get a good polishing in with obenauf.


http://www.amazon.com/Obenaufs-Leather-Oil-16oz-Restores/dp/B003EAW57E

I don't know what your looking at. Here is the first hit on google and I know they can be found for less. Also, it's one of the bet selling watch designs out there, clearly some people think it looks good.
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SKX007K-Divers-Automatic-Watch/dp/B000B5MI3Q

What do YOU think looks good?

That is amazing if you are. They unfortunately look like bowling shoes. If you want some nice leather casual shoes, look at chukkas , blucher mocs, bucks, work boots or alternatively some canvas sneakers (vans, converse, pf flyers, superga). Normally when a shoe tries to be both a sneaker and a "dress shoe," it does not end up well.

Just ordered my first nice suit yesterday from suit supply, and now I'm trying to get a watch to go with it. The suit is Navy blue, and so I've been trying to find a simple budget watch (for under $150) to go with it. Some of the watches I've been looking at online are

• Seiko Men's Blue Dial Blue Nylon Strap Solar Watch ($88), I would get a matching leather band for this since I'll be wearing brown shoes
  
  
• Timex Easy Reader Day-Date Leather Strap Watch ($29)
  
  
• Tissot Unisex Everytime Large NATO ($140) again I would get a matching band for this
  
  
• Timex Unisex Weekender 38mm ($30)
  
  
• Timex Men's Weekender 40mm ($37)
  
  What do you guys think? I'm leaning more towards a white face, but I really like that blue Seiko watch, too

I'm a fan of Obenauf's Leather Oil, doesn't wax the pores like the LP (too heavy for even most footwear, IMO) but will soak in nicely. Wipe down your jacket of excess, and leave to proof somewhere warm for a while.

Honestly, I think these shoes are pretty ugly - I don't think the patch on the sides works very well and I think you could get a much more versatile shoe than these.

I'd personally recommend you look at some brown chukkas (CDBs etc), some plain tan bucks (eg Bass Buckinghams) or possibly some camp mocs (eg LL Bean camp mocs)?

These are all a lot cleaner and versatile than the Florsheim; and more often than not simpler looks nicer.

Holy sweet baby jesus this is the best looking watch I've ever seen.

Can I get a good, concises overview of leather shoe care?

As I understand, it's along the lines of:

• Use cedar shoe trees when not wearing, to help dry them out
  
• Every couple weeks (or however often the shoe needs it) apply some shoe polish
  
• Every month or so apply shoe conditioner
  
  Would this be a good choice for the shoe polish and brush/rag? Then this for the conditioner?
  
  Also, some sites mention applying waterproof paste every year or so. Is that necessary for shoes that don't aren't expected to withstand rain (such as a pair of oxfords, which will readily leak water by the lacing regardless if the rest of the shoe is water proof or not)? If so, what's a good product to use?

You're kinda of blending two separate looks here by wanting a casual and rubber strap, but neat dress style. To me, rubber strap + casual = diving watch.


What about these Seiko divers:

SKX173

SKX007

Copper River bags and Far Horizon Trader bags are just as good, if not better looking. I haven't seen that specific Kenneth Cole bag, so I can't comment on quality, but I have seen this one in person, and the quality was a meh at best.

I've used this one from Samsonite for two years. It has held up great and looks MUCH better than your standard issue nylon bag or backpack.

Samsonite Colombian Leather Flapover Case, Brown, One Size

I bought the Timex Easy Reader which looks like THIS on my arm, and I have skinny wrists. 37.5 mm face if I understand Amazon correctly, so there might be some even smaller. But I think this looks nice, not stupid big and not too small either.

I looked around but I couldn't one with a white dial color.
This is the closest I could find. http://www.amazon.com/Skagen-858XLSLC-Denmark-Super-Chrome/dp/B003ZUMB5E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1375239150&sr=8-12&keywords=skagen

If anyone could find one with a white dial that would be awesome.

Ok, so interesting thing about Invicta, is that even they don't think their watches are worth MRSP. The high MRSP is just to trick people into thinking they're getting a deal.

Consider the 8926OB Pro Diver: https://www.invictawatch.com/watches/detail/8926ob-invicta-pro-diver-men-40mm-stainless-steel-stainless-steel-black-dial-nh35a-automatic

MRSP is $495, which is absurdly overpriced for that thing. However, even Invicta's official store only sells it for $122.85:
https://invictastores.com/invicta-pro-diver-automatic-watch-stainless-steel-case-stainless-steel-band-model-8926ob

Now if you're going onto the gray market, the watch is, $91: https://www.amazon.com/Invicta-8926OB-Stainless-Automatic-Bracelet/dp/B000JQFX1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536700626&sr=8-1&keywords=8926OB

At the gray market price, it is actually a pretty damned good deal. I mean, it has a Seiko NH35 movement, which you can't even get on actual seikos at that price point.

A watch. One of the few true 'deals' I've seen on Black Friday / Cyber Monday is for Timex watches on Amazon. Last year, I purchased the Expedition Chronograph for <$25. You can also opt for a Timex Weekender or a Seiko like this one.

Hi, I'm planning on getting a very classic pair of Clarks from:
http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Originals-Desert-Taupe-Suede/dp/B000VWDZHM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328190823&sr=8-1
I want to get the first color: Taupe Suede
Is that color a good choice, and would it be an acceptable item to wear in high school?
Just wondering how would you wear jeans with it? tuck it into, or hanging over or cuffed?
Also, how do you cuff your jeans?
Sorry, I'm a beginner at this.

Newbie here, I've been in the process of re-inventing my wardrobe and one thing I'm severely lacking is shoe variety. What I have now are some Grey Vans Authentics, some Clark's Beeswax DBs (awaiting arrival), and some black Allen Edmond's Park Avenues.
What I'm looking to get next:

1. FRYE Arkansas in Redwood, 2. [Red Wing Heritage in Cigar] (http://www.amazon.com/Red-Wing-Heritage-6-Inch-Beckman/dp/B0039814TQ), or 3. [Iron Ranger in Amber Harness] (http://www.amazon.com/Red-Wing-Heritage-Iron-Ranger/dp/B007XOPTHA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375559648&sr=8-1&keywords=red+wing+iron+ranger)
   
   Personally, I'm leaning towards the Arkansas, but I want to be certain. Do I need them? Should I get a darker color, because I'll have Clark's as well? Which boot/color are most versatile?
   
   (Pants selection includes: indigo, dark blue, black and black washed denim, and tan, khaki, grey and navy chinos.)

What looks perfect? The Carhartt? Because they are still readily available.

The beanie you linked looks alright. Don't know much about the brand.

So should I use mink oil, or not? Is it for something completely different?

So far, it looks like I'm getting this, this, and this. Should I get a shoe conditioner like this, too?

I've had good luck with Lexol and there is a lot of info about it all over the web.

http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM

Want to purchase a watch and I've decided on the Timex Easy Reader. I can't decide which strap would be more versatile/work better. For reference, I currently own dark brown suede Sperry Topsiders and plan on purchasing the Eastland Yarmouth Camp Moc.

Dark brown: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QFZZRO/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p241_d13_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1MBQ0KF6W5ZWYW2ZSZY4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

Light Brown: http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T20011-Reader-Brown-Leather/dp/B0000TII00/ref=pd_sbs_watch_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1JHDPS08CJ19078FVBRE

Camp Moc (any advice on fit? I wear size 12 sneaker but probably get 11.5): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HTABMA/ref=gno_cart_title_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Good to know, thanks. So if I used this one the shoes maybe twice a year:
https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Honey-Conditioner-Since-Half-Pint/dp/B003IS3HV0

They could last for 3-4 years?

Has anyone compared Navali Leather Mainstay to the Canvas Boatswain?

Do you think the leather is good enough to be worth the extra ~50 bucks compared to the waxed canvas of the boatswain?

Or should I go for this Samsonite instead of the other 2?

Check out the Timex Weekender. I've had several compliments about this $30 watch and there's a seemingly infinite number of alternate bands which are easily changeable.

I like this Skagen I've been told that they're not great quality or will last a long time, but I enjoy mine a lot.

I've used this as a cure-all so far, and it has never let me down. Perfect on all smooth or rugged leather (although careful with the raw leather, it will become smooth after 2 coats!).

http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Honey-Conditioner-Best-Bottle/dp/B003IS3HV0

I've had one of these Carhartt beanies for almost 2 years and it's been pretty close to perfect. Very warm and very much a steal

Leather Honey is pretty well reviewed as a leather conditioner: http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Honey-Conditioner-Since-Bottle/dp/B003IS3HV0

1. buy leather cleaner, example http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1115-Leather-Cleaner-Spray/dp/B0002F9YIC/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1346195211&sr=1-1&keywords=leather+cleaner
   
   
2. buy conditioner, I like this http://www.amazon.com/Obenaufs-16Fl-Oz-Leather-16oz/dp/B003EAW57E/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1346195322&sr=1-5&keywords=mink+oil
   
   
3. apply leather cleaner according to directions
   
   
4. let dry
   
   
5. apply conditioner according to directions

Peoplesocks are the best deal in socks right now.

I'm trying to decide on a Timex Weekender to be paired mainly with casual/denim clothing. The more versatile, the better. It appears the main things to decide on are 1. case size (40mm or 38mm), 2. face style (chronograph or standard), 3. face color, and 4. strap color. Below are a few of the options I've been looking at; I'm open to other ideas also.

40mm

• Chronograph 40mm - Brown/Silver/Blue
  
• Chronograph 40mm - Tan/Blue
  
• Standard Face 40mm - Brown/Blue
  
• Standard Face 40mm - Brown
  
• Standard Face 40mm - Tan/Cream/Olive
  
  38mm
  
  
• Standard Face 38mm - Brown/?

If brown, wear w/ a white v neck t shirt and slim fit olive chinos. My go-to.

Edit: Add in a brown watch, like a Timex Weekender or something.

when i went to my interview most of the IT guys were wearing slacks / chinos and button downs with sweaters. some with a tie, some without. That's a far nicer dress code than anywhere else I've ever worked. This is uncharted territory for me.

I wasn't really thinking of a traditional dress watch. just something simple. like This Timex honestly.

Might I recommend this one?

It's 39mm though. Close enough yeah?

or this one

This one is 40mm. Not sure when you'd be able to receive it though.

Not OP, but I have some. I recently picked up a Carhartt watch cap, and it's killer for the price. The material is very substantial and the branding is cool. You can't go wrong with them.

Target also has some great beanies for $5 each, so if you have one near you you may want to stop by to check them out.

I used to have a Timex Weekender, which I've commonly seen referred to as the Timex Noisemaker. On the other hand I just bought this Timex and I haven't had any problems with it.

Just got a 4 pack of these. They were just like 17.99 and they're very warm so far.

It's funny a lot of the upvoted reviews on amazon are negative in that that watch is of poor quality and stops working after 6 months. I admit it looks great.

I like this watch and thinking of buying it as a dress watch

MFA typical recommendations:

Timex Easy Reader:
http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T2N3699J-Classic-Analog-Leather/dp/B003QFZZRO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1335031828&sr=8-6

Timex Weekender:
http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T2N654KW-Weekender-Through-Strap/dp/B004VR9J0A/ref=sr_1_2?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1335031878&sr=1-2

Seiko 5
http://www.amazon.com/Seiko-SNK809-Automatic-Black-Canvas/dp/B002SSUQFG/ref=sr_1_1?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1335031897&sr=1-1

Swap out bands to suit.
http://strappedfortime.com/shop/

Simplicity and functionality is king. Personally, I prefer a leather band to a metal band.
I would reserve a digital watch for workouts and sport related activities. Analog faces are much classier.

Just bought a nice timex expedition field watch and was wondering how to wear it? any inspo?

Why would you buy a Timex for $150? I'd probably go for a Citizen, a Bulova, or a Skagen (which are 1000x better watches at 1/2 the cost) and then spend the remaining on a cool little wallet or one of these badass key fobs.

I can't speak for it's quality because I don't own it, but I like the look of this. It's an homage to the Rolex Submariner.

I recently purchased a Skagen Men's 858XLSLC off Amazon. I thought it would be too big since my wrists are under 6", but I like it. Here's a picture of me wearing it.

you might be right...
since you have the beckmans in cigar featherstone you can help me out, the cigar featherstone is suposed to be [this one](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Wing-Beckman-09016-Leather/dp/B005PEOUXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410037186&sr=8-1&keywords=BECKMAN+ROUND+STYLE+NO.+9016] or this one ?

Red Wing Beckman
and Wolverine 1000 mile
are two of the popular choices, any reason you aren't considering them?

A budget would be very helpful.

You could buy a handful of cheap aliexpress watches and rotate as needed, or do the same thing with Casio watches.

Depending on how slim your wrists are, you could consider a G-Shock (maybe something from the Baby-G range).

Hard to find black these days. Brown is way more popular.

http://www.amazon.com/MOLLYGAN-Schoolbag-Crossbody-Shoulder-Messenger/dp/B011J4C7T2/ref=sr_1_1

http://www.amazon.com/Sechunk-Shoulder-Canvas-Messenger-Leisure/dp/B00RLEJCCA/ref=sr_1_4

http://www.amazon.com/Ibagbar-Military-Messenger-Shoulder-Crossbody/dp/B019GQSC4Y/ref=sr_1_11

http://www.amazon.com/Moore-Carden-Multifunction-Shoulder-Messenger/dp/B010WOH1WS/ref=sr_1_74

http://www.amazon.com/Messenger-Vintage-Classic-Shoulder-backpack/dp/B011ZOZLLW/ref=sr_1_94

http://www.amazon.com/Texbo-Genuine-Leather-Briefcase-Messenger/dp/B00XN3RKQ8/ref=sr_1_120

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-military-canvas-messenger-black/dp/B00J8KVJEE/ref=sr_1_164

http://www.amazon.com/Eshow-Casual-Canvas-Crossbody-Messenger/dp/B00GWYTC2A/ref=sr_1_272

https://www.fossil.com/us/en/men/bags/messenger/edison-courier-sku-mbg9256001c.html

http://www.thebay.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/thebay/brands/MENS-Accessories-BagsCases/single-gusset-flapover-messenger-0080-524545--24

http://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Colombian-Leather-Flapover-Brown/dp/B004XAVT8K/ref=sr_1_2

http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-Reaction-Come-Soon/dp/B0081X0IDC/ref=sr_1_25

http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-Business-Messenger-Size/dp/B002E1RSE4/ref=sr_1_27

http://www.danier.com/antoine-leather-briefcase/d/1581_c_360_cl_6336

http://www.danier.com/aiden-smooth-leather-messenger/d/2795_c_360_cl_13099

http://www.asos.com/Tommy-Hilfiger/Tommy-Hilfiger-Story-Messenger-Bag/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5901253&cid=9265&Rf989=6588&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Black&totalstyles=24&gridsize=3

http://int.debenhams.com/ca/product/designer-brown-leather-despatch-bag/083010317773/?categoryId=839618

https://www.wilsonsleather.com/product/kenneth+cole+split+leather+messenger+bag.do

https://www.wilsonsleather.com/product/marc+new+york+vacqueta+leather+porthole-handle+briefcase+w-+double+buckles.do

For all circlejerk needs use Lexol leather conditioner. 1LTR of lubricating goodness.

If you're thinking of branching out from sneakers, you might want to consider bucks, camp mocs, or desert boots. They all can we worn pretty casually, probably with most of the outfits I imagine you're already wearing with those sneakers.

From AE;

2x creams = $15.30

2x brushes = $17

2x dauber = $8.50

1x heel and edge dressing = $4.68

Lexol conditioner = $8.50 http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1013-Leather-Conditioner-Liter/dp/B000637TNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416599681&sr=8-1&keywords=lexol

Lexol cleaner = $7 http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-430033-Leather-Cleaner/dp/B0002F9YIC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416599766&sr=8-3&keywords=lexol

$61, and arguably better.

no? it's ugly but why do you idiots care if something's "too feminine"?

Just shut up and buy this

You could go to Sebago for boat shoes. Docksides
They're unlined.
For suede bucks I would look towards Bass Buckinghams, leather lined. I think it's cowhide.
Both should be good examples of what you're looking for.

Oh you bet it is. It's a timex easy reader. This one to be exact. I'll try rolling up the sleeves the next time I wear this outfit.

Timex Easy Reader.

Hoping to pick up these Red Wing Beckmans in the Nordstrom sale.

Frugal alternative: Seiko SKX007

lots of mods available to make it look more like a submariner

Bought this:
Timex Men's T499059J Expedition Field Chronograph Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083XFHIG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_x601xbHKHD960

And really like the size and look, might go with a lighter brown if I had to redo the order though.

This watch is technically water resistant to 30 meters. Personally I would suggest just taking it off when you need to put your hands in salt water, or not wearing it to work. If you want a do-all watch you could get a diver like the Seiko SNK007: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B5MI3Q

That one will have no problem with submersion in fish tanks, but it's also twice your budget and sized a little larger at 42mm.

Alternatively you could get something digital like this as a beater - classic in its own way: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GAYQKY

I just came across these listings for some Redwing, and Wolverine 1k's that I'm interested in, even if they aren't the cap-toes.

Edit and these Iron Ranger Heritage

Sure thing! People Socks Made from Real People

1. Get a horsehair brush and brush them down after you wear them.
   
   
2. Put shoe trees in them after you're done brushing them down.
   
   
3. Condition every 6 months with something like Lexol Leather Conditioner.
   
   
4. Don't use "waterproofing" conditioners / mink oil / absurd amounts of polish.

I like the Kenneth Cole messenger bag: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000UN267C/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1372817402&sr=1-4&pi=SL75

Fits a large book and a laptop

I only wear "hats" in the winter. I wear things like This Carhartt one

I just use lexol. I'm sure MFA will have a million different things they recommend but it works for me.

Not sure if this should be it's own thread but...

Black and white watches, I want one, but not sure which to buy.

4 Choices I've stumbled upon are:

1. Timex T20501
   
2. Stuhrling Ascot
   
3. Skagen 858XLSLC
   
4. Skagen 355LSLW
   
   Which of these 4 would you pick? or are there any other good watches in a similar style I'm missing (preferably below £100/$150, student budget)?

What about some taupe bucks? The taupe colour over brown makes it more passable with black pants, and still looks good with navy. No brouguing, and they're not boots. A question though: why would you not want them to be "too formal", yet want to wear them with dress trousers, a more formal piece of clothing?

Yeah that’s it. I’ve only ever bought it from Amazon.

yeah it's this one.

This is the bag I own: http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-Cole-Risky-Business-Messenger/dp/B000UN267C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1ADDU7U0S0K3C&coliid=I139Z72F7MHKTF&psc=1

I've got the brown. The color is still strong, 1 year later. No issues w/ tears/rips/etc... I use it for school (grad), and don't really have a need for it w/ work.

I wear these pretty much exclusively. They might be a little thick, but they don't get too hot.

A lot of people also suggest smartwool or the costco brand wool socks.

Don't like neff. I would recommend http://www.amazon.com/Carhartt-Acrylic-Watch-Black-Size/dp/B002G9UDYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416113735&sr=8-1&keywords=carhartt+beanie

Unless you're wearing shirts with very wide spread collars and long collar points, you should be fine. Some of the most conservative sources will say you should only wear button-down collars without a tie, but general consensus seems to be that any type of collar looks fine without a tie and with the top button undone, as long as it isn't so widely-spread so as to hang strangely.

Is there a big difference between the Carhartt Acrylic Watch hat and the WIP version?

As in a $12.99 vs. $39.99 difference?

I live in Canada where its reaching freezing temps soon and could use a new black one.

Well, you could just get this instead. Or both! At that price, it doesn't seem unreasonable. Nice choice on the boots, by the way.

I was actually about to pick up this Timex before I saw the Citizen. However there were more than a few reviews stating that the watch was excessively loud, something that I'd really like to avoid.

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Link: F91W-1


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|




This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting).

Lexol

Citizen Nighthawk may be a decent option:

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-BJ7000-52E-Nighthawk-Stainless-Eco-Drive/dp/B00074KYC8/

Invicta sells replicas: i.e. watches that copy the design of genuine, actual watches. In Invicta's case, exhibit A.

definately this
I feel it's the right price range and will last you a while.

I would focus on shoes/boots, a hat, gloves, and a scarf. If you don't already have a couple of long-sleeve shirts and sweaters/sweatshirts then you should get some of those too.


Some ideas:


Boots


Hat


Gloves


Scarf

I just picked up a red Carhartt watch hat.

Inspo

This.

http://www.amazon.com/Bass-Mens-Buckingham-Classic-Buc/dp/B002LZTGI4

Term you're looking for is bucks I believe.

Iron Rangers or Beckmans

Is this the same as neatsfoot oil for CXM upkeep?

can i use this to care for by Clarks db beewax? Anything else besides applying this once in a while?

http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Honey-Conditioner-Since-Bottle/dp/B003IS3HV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396921175&sr=8-1&keywords=leather+oil

http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T2N3699J-Classic-Analog-Leather/dp/B003QFZZRO/ref=pd_sbs_watch_2 ?

http://www.amazon.com/Skagen-858XLSLC-Denmark-Super-Chrome/dp/B003ZUMB5E/ref=sr_1_55?s=watches&ie=UTF8&qid=1342588091&sr=1-55

Skagen

I am always more on the cheap side of style.

I am thinking of getting this watch.

I also am thinking of getting these boots.

+1 for people socks. $26 dollars right now on amazon and I just snagged my second set.

I'd probably go with these shoes then. I didn't particularly want to spend that much, but I couldn't find a decent color for any cheaper.

Bass

Banana Republic has some in blue.

Nordstrom has their house brand of suede bucks but I'm not sure if they come in blue.

Trying to decide between two messenger bags:

Kenneth Cole Risky Business

Kattee Men's Leather Satchel Briefcase

Any advice?

What you are looking for is Leather Honey. I do mine about once every four months. Before conditioning, brush off dirt and then wipe with damp cloth until the leather darkens just a bit. A little goes a long way.

Link for the lazy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IS3HV0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003IS3HV0&linkCode=as2&tag=amaznile-20