Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Summary:
The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing answers hundreds of questions on every article in a man's wardrobe, from ascots to wing-tips. It explains, in practical language and through over 60 illustrations, the rules of attire that every man should know for all occasions, from Black Tie to Casual Fridays. The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing addresses vexing questions such as:
Which classic suits belong in every man's closet? What's the proper way to tie a Windsor knot? What are the classic neck tie patterns? What kind of shirt collar is best for me? When should I wear cuff links? What's the most versatile overcoat? What's the most traditional style of tuxedo? Which shoe is dressier, a balmoral or blucher? What's the history of the navy blue blazer?
In the last few years, there has been a resurgence of classicly-styled men's clothing... Brooks Brothers has seen boosted sales in its classic, made-to-measure suits... Cuff links have made a comeback....Spectator shoes are being worn by Swing dance enthusiasts.
In their book, The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing, journalists Josh Karlen and Christopher Sulavik, describe classic styles of men's clothing which have endured fashion cycles and are now as popular as ever. They interviewed dozens of the leading experts on men's clothing from American clothiers-such as Brooks Brothers and Paul Stuart, to Britain's famed Turnbull & Asser and France's shoemaker J.M. Weston. The result is an exhaustive, yet concise volume which offers these experts' advice on how to put together a wardrobe of timeless, impeccable style and tips on how to recognize quality clothing. Plus, the finest custom shoemakers, suitmakers and shirtmakers and others describe the fine points of their craft.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
The title says everything about this book
Customer Rating:
This book answers all the nagging questions about classic men's fashion that you have had. This should be standard issue for all boys so that when they become men they know that wearing sneakers with slacks is not actually the height of fashion but rather something that will kill any serious interview faster than dropping an f-bomb. It is amazing how little sartorial knowledge exists in society today, and I am thankful for this book as it has given me a lot of knowledge and insight into a topic I had given little though to in the past and that no one had ever bothered to teach me as I was growing up.
This book will teach you how to dress yourself properly for all occassions.
Never EVER Look "casual"
Customer Rating:
The "Classic" style of wearing clothes may not be as hip today as the many ways to dress down for formal occasions. I see many people who show up for job interviews, and I mean entry-level positions, who have make the mistake of having the ingredients right (shirt, pants, ties, shoes), but put to together oh so wrongly (ties past the buckle, color clashes, etc.) This book does more than tell you how to style yourself right, but the right attitude to have when you are carrying your fine clothing around. I really appreciate what this book has done for me in my young life.
One of two indispensable titles for a menswear library
Customer Rating:
After reading other reviews of this book, I requested it for the 2006 holidays and received it. I have read it cover to cover and am highly pleased overall. I offer the following plusses and minuses:
+ This book's advice is direct and concise without losing completeness. In a short paperback, the authors give advice on suits, sport coats, shirts, socks, shoes, outerwear, accessories, business casual, and personal style.
+ Closely related, the authors offer salient historical details without lapsing into narration of major style arcs through the evolution of menswear. The rest of their writing offers advice and rules. Lest you be frightened by rules, know that the authors presents rules that you should follow first, understand second, and break creatively third.
+ The authors present opinions of many fine men's clothiers, including Burberry, J. Press, and more.
- There are precious few photographs in this volume, and most photos are of poor reproduction quality. The next best are the drawings and sketches that, while competent to good, do not substitute for photography of men's style icons.
The other indispensable title for a menswear library is "Dressing the Man" by Flusser. It solves the minus above and is the perfect companion to this title.
For the small price of this paperback, you cannot go wrong in adding it to your cart.
The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing
Customer Rating:
A must read for anyone who regards their business clothing as an investment. Also an excellent guide for men who do not have a firm understanding of what classic/traditional business clothing is due to their female companions taking care of their clothes shopping needs.
Good Menswear Addition
Customer Rating:
Great book and a must have for any man that has even the slightest interest in what he is wearing (whether an expert or not). The book is written in question and answer form with the topics ranging from neckwear / collars to shoes. An excellent place to start if a man is interested on dressing better (or if one is already experienced with menswear)
The book goes into depth on all aspects of men's clothing and is a great resource. It leans towards traditional wear (one won't find a discussion on premium denim / hip hop styles / mixing denim jeans with sport coats) but this book still covers the basics. And, if one doesn't know the basics of style, one can't be advanced, no matter what style of clothing one wears.
There are no pics, just drawings (which worked fine for me). All of the drawings accurately described the topic being discussed.
However, if one wants a truely beautiful book with illustrations and a very deep, rich history of men's clothing, Flusser's "Dressing the Man" is the way to go.
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