That's better, but still expensive....Maybe my wife was right I am a cheap SOB.

Learning how to identify quality in clothing is not difficult.

1st lesson
Start with examining two of the same items (your size) widely separated in price (a suit at Macy's or Nordstrom is ideal). Look at the seams, reinforcements, button attaching stitches, button holes stitching, feel the different fabrics used. Now try them on. Do the buttons and holes match up (unless you have a damaged shoulder they should)? Is it comfortable? Does it "hang" calmly on you, or are there wrinkles? Any sagging? You should be able to clearly see a difference.

2nd lesson
Go to a good tailor. tell him you want to learn about clothing craftsmanship. Tell him you are willing to pay for his time to learn. I have never met a true craftsman who does not enjoy speaking and teaching someone about his craft. Don't be surprised if he refuses to accept any payment.

I was in the same camp. I got my shoes at Costco for $20 or so, and they'd last six months or so. They'd start to look pretty beat up before that, so I could expect to get a few months out of them before I started looking like a ragamuffin.

With these Eccos, they look good new, they look good old. I probably didn't get the same bang for the buck as far as actually covering my feet, but I surely got a better deal as far as appearance goes.

It really opened my eyes to the world of shoes. That reminds me, I haven't received my man-card renewal in the mail yet. Gotta check on that.

Todds, John Lobbs, Church's, Loake Brothers, Ecco, Sperry, Timberline

Thanks, I'm going to take the wife shopping this weekend. For me!

Damn! you can spend a lot of money on a pair of John Lobb shoes!! :eek:

John Lobb shoes

But they are the best. They will last for decades and can be rebuildt. I have a pair that are 30 years old. Look and work as new. Also they custom carve a last to fit you and keep it in stock so you can order a pair from anywhere, anytime.

Wow, that's a lot of scratch! I may work my way up to that...

Yea, I heard Bruno Magli wears John Lobbs!

I didn't know there was such a thing as a pair of $6,000 shoes.

Allen Edmonds makes a pretty good shoe. I wear them daily. They can be rebuilt. They have both higher and lower end. Lower end tends to have plastic sole. Higher end has leather sole. I buy leather sole and get it covered with a rubber piece. This wears FOREVER. Keep the topside polished (somewhat) and you look great. The pair I am currently wearing are at least a decade old. I wear them minimum 2-3 days a week.

Larry

Tailor for shirts, slacks, suits.
Levis for jeans, Dockers for kahkis, REI/NorthFace for active wear.
Allen Edmonds or Johnston&Murphy for dress shoes. Typically Italian or US made shoes last longer.

You generally get what you pay.

Lands End is Sears and Sears is K mart.

I have my shirts custom made in Thailand. The minimum order is 5 shirts and with shipping it works out to be about $37 US per shirt to get to the east coast. The quality is so good my dry cleaner has commented on the finish and structure. Mongramming is included. The website below has a measurement chart to complete and email in. Once they have your measurements, just email the next order. They will also send you the swatches also for there specialized fabrics.

http://www.dress-for-success.com/

The website shows the customer base and reviews this guy has. I was skeptical on the first order but when I got the shirts I was amazed at the fit and finish. I have since order 12 more shirts 6 with French cuff 6 with regular. They came exactly as the first five, perfect, with initials on the cuff. Just writing this makes me want to order 5 more...

Other than a small wait, 2-5 weeks, its worth it to forecast your business needs and have them tailored.

D.Brisson
83 SC.

You can get some sweet stuff in consignment stores, goodwill, salvation army

I have several ties that I get comments on every time I wear them, all under a buck. My wife got an arctic weather 49er jacket, some championship or 50th anniversary, something like that $5 at a yard sale. She has these shoes she got for $20 that I had to fix the heel, $1200 Pradas. I have a pretty sweet Yves St Laurent suit she got me as part of a $5 for a bag.

I have a couple suits this little Italian guy made for me, he was Willie Brown's, the shady State Senator, Mayor guy. He is dead though.

Hong Kong was a good place to get a reasonable, tailored suit about 30 years ago, but that may have changed.

Yeah, let the gals do the clothes shopping, then are pretty good at it.

Now you're talking.

I'm originally from Northampton in England, famous for it's boot and shoe industry and home of Church's and Loake's shoes.

Before I moved to the USA, the company I worked for had a deal with the Loake factory and we could get their shoes at cost. Consequently I have half a dozen pairs. These are very good quality, nicely crafted, hand stitched shoes. They will pretty much last forever as you can get them repaired. The initial cost is easily recovered after having them resoled a few times. What's more they get more comfortable the more you wear them as they form to your feet.

I'll probably never have to buy a pair of quality shoes ever again.

A thread like this makes me glad I like in Los Angeles... where millionaire CEO's wear Hawaiian shirts and flip flops :cool:

But they have no style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

And they all look like old frat boys on vacation in Tijuana.

You say that like it is a bad thing! :D

All a matter of opinion... some people may not be impressed by your expensive dudes.

What is "style" anyway? All relative if you ask me... what is in style in one part of the world is considered silly in another... what was in style ten years ago is freakish today.

SmileWavy

My "dudes" have opened a lot of doors for me. And that goes for my duds as well.

Classic styles live on for a very long time, they are not the "in" thing of the moment. Quality never goes out of style. Style does not depend on money, just good taste. Quality depends on knowledge, not money. SmileWavy

Knowledge and money, mon ami. Quality materials cost, even if labor is cheap.

I got some Izod shirts that are nice material, high thread count I guess, don't know where she got those, but they were $12 each, which is not bad. I am average size and shape I guess, because stuff always seems to fit me well off the rack. I have a linen suit my cousin gave me because he got too fat. My wife hates it; been pondering going tie died, would be perfect for a Phish concert.

You need the whole gamut, California Casual to Black Tie. Speaking of which, I still need a tux