Q: “What do you think of people who put their ties inside their shirts while eating? I get that they don’t want to accidentally stain their ties, but I think it looks weird.”
- James, Antipolo
A: In all my tie-wearing years, I’ve never had to resort to this practice to “protect” my tie from getting soiled. If you’re going to wear a tie you have to know how to behave in one. We’ve all seen comedies where a guy’s tie gets eating up by an office shredder or gets trapped in a car door. In both cases, the accident happens because the wearers forget that they’re wearing ties. Same goes for eating. If you are aware and careful enough, your shirt and your tie should be spared from any eating disorders. You wouldn’t wear a jacket just to protect your white shirt from getting stained, would you?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Q: “Johnny Depp looks so cool in his fedora. Can I pull that look off here (in Manila)?”
- Lester, Sucat
A: I’m not going to give you any hope that you can pull this off without looking T.H. (trying hard) so just forget about it. I know, I know, it looks so good on magazines and on Capt. Jack Sparrow, but please… Some self-proclaimed fashionistas may think there’s nothing wrong with wearing a fedora, but you see, these are the same people who wear scarves when Ayala Ave. starts putting up its traditional Christmas decors.
If you’ve already bought yourself a fedora and are looking for when you can wear it, go to Intramuros, wear a barong Tagalog, and bring a cane.
- Lester, Sucat
A: I’m not going to give you any hope that you can pull this off without looking T.H. (trying hard) so just forget about it. I know, I know, it looks so good on magazines and on Capt. Jack Sparrow, but please… Some self-proclaimed fashionistas may think there’s nothing wrong with wearing a fedora, but you see, these are the same people who wear scarves when Ayala Ave. starts putting up its traditional Christmas decors.
If you’ve already bought yourself a fedora and are looking for when you can wear it, go to Intramuros, wear a barong Tagalog, and bring a cane.
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I promise to be more vigilant with my posts this coming year. 2007 was just so hectic!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Dr. White
Q: “I’m a doctor and I have to wear a white coat while I’m on duty. Is there a way I can be more stylish or are doctors doomed to look like clones?”
- Dennis, Makati City
A: Treat your doctor’s coat like a white sport coat. For starters, nobody said that your coat should be made of gabardine or those cheap polyester blends. Consider light wool or a cotton-linen fabric and have your tailor cut it like a sport coat. White has made a real come back and there’s no reason why you can’t use this to your advantage. Like black, it is a versatile color that can pair with almost anything. “Almost” means staying away from pastel colored shirts (like yellow, pale green, etc.) so you don’t end up looking like a popsicle – could work well on kids though, if you’re a pediatrician.
- Dennis, Makati City
A: Treat your doctor’s coat like a white sport coat. For starters, nobody said that your coat should be made of gabardine or those cheap polyester blends. Consider light wool or a cotton-linen fabric and have your tailor cut it like a sport coat. White has made a real come back and there’s no reason why you can’t use this to your advantage. Like black, it is a versatile color that can pair with almost anything. “Almost” means staying away from pastel colored shirts (like yellow, pale green, etc.) so you don’t end up looking like a popsicle – could work well on kids though, if you’re a pediatrician.
Barong or Suit?
Q: “I’m going to get married this year and have not decided on whether I should wear a barong or a suit. What do you think?”
- Vince, Pasig City
A: I’ve always liked the elegance of a well tailored piña barong Tagalog and how it pairs perfectly with any bride’s wedding gown. The barong tagalong is also better on pictures because the style is more timeless and less trendy vs. suits or tuxedos. If you don’t believe me, look at your Dad’s wedding picture. He was most likely wearing a suit and see how obviously old the picture looks just by the style of the suit (not to mention the hair). That’s how your wedding picture will look like 10 years down the road. On the practical side, a really nice barong tagalong will still cost much less than a suit. It will also make it easier for the rest of your male entourage to stay in theme.
- Vince, Pasig City
A: I’ve always liked the elegance of a well tailored piña barong Tagalog and how it pairs perfectly with any bride’s wedding gown. The barong tagalong is also better on pictures because the style is more timeless and less trendy vs. suits or tuxedos. If you don’t believe me, look at your Dad’s wedding picture. He was most likely wearing a suit and see how obviously old the picture looks just by the style of the suit (not to mention the hair). That’s how your wedding picture will look like 10 years down the road. On the practical side, a really nice barong tagalong will still cost much less than a suit. It will also make it easier for the rest of your male entourage to stay in theme.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tucking Properly
Q: “What’s the best way to tuck your shirt in? I always get that blousy, frumpy effect when I tuck mine in. My Dad tucks his shirts in his briefs, would you suggest I do the same?”
- Eric, Quezon City
A: There are several reasons why you can’t tuck your shirt in neatly:
1) It could be too big for you. I’m guessing that this is likely the reason why your shirt is billowing out of your pants. The best solution is to have some tailor made. If that’s too much for you, then at least have your off-the-rack shirts altered exactly to your body proportions before you wear them. This solves 90% of tucking-in problems.
2) It’s probably not designed to be tucked in. How do you know? Look at the hem. Shirts that have a straight hem are designed to be worn untucked (for those still saying “tuck out”, for God’s sake, please realize that “to tuck” necessarily means an inward cramming movement – sorry pet peeve moment there). Shirts with a u-shaped hem are meant to be tucked.
As for using your briefs to hold your shirt in, you better be sure you won’t be taking your pants off because that’s just plain nasty.
- Eric, Quezon City
A: There are several reasons why you can’t tuck your shirt in neatly:
1) It could be too big for you. I’m guessing that this is likely the reason why your shirt is billowing out of your pants. The best solution is to have some tailor made. If that’s too much for you, then at least have your off-the-rack shirts altered exactly to your body proportions before you wear them. This solves 90% of tucking-in problems.
2) It’s probably not designed to be tucked in. How do you know? Look at the hem. Shirts that have a straight hem are designed to be worn untucked (for those still saying “tuck out”, for God’s sake, please realize that “to tuck” necessarily means an inward cramming movement – sorry pet peeve moment there). Shirts with a u-shaped hem are meant to be tucked.
As for using your briefs to hold your shirt in, you better be sure you won’t be taking your pants off because that’s just plain nasty.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
White Collared Worker
Q: “What do you call those dress shirts where the cuffs and collar are white while the rest of the shirt is a different color/fabric?”
- Lito, Quezon City
A: I don’t know if there’s a real name for them, but I just refer to them as white collared dress shirts. I’ve heard other people come to my shop and refer to this shirt as a banker’s shirt, probably because it is mostly worn by people who work in conservative corporate attire environments like banks, consulting firms and law offices. It’s also a popular dress shirt among CEOs because it has a very top brassy, old rich kind of feel and looks best under a well tailored suit and typically with French cuffs. I wouldn’t suggest this shirt for very young upstarts because, for me, this is the kind of shirt you have to earn to wear.
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