Travel In Style

I have strong opinions regarding travel and how to dress for travel. I don't care how someone dresses if they're in their own vehicle, but for corn's sake, if you're on a plane or even a train, at least try not to look like you just rolled out of bed. 

I understand that traveling by air has lost the allure it was once commanded. Travel used to be an event and people dressed and acted appropriately.  I'm going to take this a step further and say that if you're in a nice hotel you should dress appropriately.

Okay, I get it, the airlines have made travel unattractive, but why cater to the lowest common denominator?

Hotels:  A few years back, my wife and I were in New York City and stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria for one night. We went down to the lobby and ate a light dinner at the restaurant inside the hotel that provides a great view of the entire lobby area. Now, most people were dressed casual, but neat casual. I have no problem with that, but what I do have a problem with is people coming into a nice hotel and restaurant wearing football jerseys and long shorts (you know the kind of shorts I'm talking about: the type heavier set (okay, fat, there I said it) guys wear that go almost all the way down their legs and might as well just be pants).

Well, these two clowns come into a nice restaurant wearing their jerseys and shorts and high top sneakers. Classy. I was not expecting that at the Waldorf-Astoria, and I have to say, both my wife and I were disappointed by that. There really are times when a dress code should be enforced. You want to go to McDonald's or a sports bar wearing that crap be my guest, but don't do it at nice restaurant in a nice hotel.

Air travel:  First off, I believe in dressing comfortably for travel, but so many people look like hobos on the plane that it feels like I'm in that movie with Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, what was it, Emperor of the North?  ***I know that was a movie with trains, but it doesn't change the point I'm making: hobos.

The plane is not your bedroom or living room or bathroom. Don't act like you own the place and you can kick back. Have some pride in your appearance and in the way you carry yourself.  Don't sit in the seat and let your legs flop open. No one wants to see your crotch display.

Here is what not to wear on the plane: 

• track suit
• sweat pants
• anything that has the word "juicy" on the backside
• slippers
• pajamas
• stained t-shirts
• spandex (or any variation of stretchy material)
• halter top, bikini top, etc. (I don't care if you have a rockin' body and can pull it off--by the way, you're probably not pulling it off)
• belly shirt (see above)
• a shirt that is too small that creeps up and displays a hairy midsection with a giant belly button in the middle that may or may not have a lint inhabitant ( just plain gross)
• open-toed shoes (women yes, men NO). **guys: no one, and I mean no one wants to see your hairy, disgusting feet with jagged, yellow toe nails (again--gross)
• sneakers that smell like you've run ten marathons without socks. I've nearly succumbed to the toxic fumes from some jackwagon that decided to take off his nasty running shoes on a long flight to wiggle his toes and rub them into the plane's bacteria-ridden carpeting adding athlete's foot to the mix

There are probably more exmples of what not to wear on the plane, but you get the idea.

Now, what should you wear? 

I'm not a fan of jeans on a plane. Why? Well, it has nothing to do with how they look, but if they're ratty looking, or have more holes and rips than fabric, well, don't wear them on the plane. I don't like wearing jeans on the plane because they are restrictive and not at all forgiving. Go ahead and wear them, but you can make jeans look nice with the right shirt and shoes.

I believe in dressing like I belong in Business or First Class. You don't need to wear a suit to achieve this, but there is an art to dressing for travel. For men: think about how Cary Grant would dress to get on a plane. Too much of a stretch for you? Then consider how someone like George Clooney would attire himself for air travel. For women: think of Grace Kelly, and if you can't imagine that, well, try Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, or Jennifer Aniston. If you're younger maybe look to Emma Watson. I'm pretty sure they know how to dress appropriately.

I wear trousers and dress shirts. Why? Because they fit in all the right ways. The trousers provide room in the legs and overall breathability. With the dress shirt you don't have to wear a tie, and underneath the dress shirt you wear a t-shirt. Why? The t-shirt acts as a barrier for your nice shirt so you don't stain it with sweat. Who doesn't sweat a little either trying to get through security and then just trying to get to the gate? And then on the plane it can get warm and then cold, and then hot, and cold.  Wear a t-shirt under the dress shirt. One other bonus for everyone else if you wear a t-shirt beneath: we can't see all that matted body hair of yours.

For shoes I'd recommend loafers. They're comfortable--but you better be wearing socks or I'll beat you with that once nice loafer turned rancid from your sockless feet.

This is all simple stuff here. It isn't rocket science, but so  many people hop on a plane and become twice as gross and rude as they normally are. 

And don't just hop out of bed and then roll onto the plane. Take a shower. Use deodorant. Brush your teeth. Carry breath mints. Don't just dump cologne or perfume on your fuming body thinking that'll do the trick--all that does is dump a layer of a nice scent on top of a body odor scent that we can still smell. Yes we can. 

I could go on and on, but it's really easy to travel in style. I'm not asking you to be a supermodel or Cary Grant, but attempt some decorum. Don't be like all the others. Don't be a lemming. Be polite and have a sense of personal space and stay within it. And don't you want to look nice while traveling?

Air travel used to be an event, why not help in taking that back? For crying out loud people used to dress in nice clothing to go to a ballgame back in the day. We can't manage it to get on an airplane? 

Making The Wardrobe Your Own (and a bonus classic drink)

The basic wardrobe I posted last week is somewhat bland, and it's that way on purpose. The components I advised purchasing allow for a variety of configurations and the option to make the wardrobe your own by adding individual touches.

So, what are those personal touches? 

But before I go on with those touches, allow me to suggest a classic drink:

Let's go with a Sidecar. The Sidecar is one of my favorite drinks and a true classic. Like many of the libations I'm partial to, the Sidecar was created in the early 1920s.  Many recipes call for a cocktail glass or martini glass for this drink, but I prefer a rocks glass, also known as an Old Fashioned glass (yep, the glass was named for the drink in which it was served).  The Old Fashioned glass is a type of tumbler. Why do I prefer this type of glass for this drink? Well, it's easier to hold and sip from in my opinion. Yes, certain drinks look better in a cocktail glass, but this isn't one of them.

There are a few variations, but they usually mess with the ratio of ingredients.  Below is how I prefer the drink. Oh, and don't rim the glass with sugar--there is no need, the drink is sweet enough already.

Recipe:

• 2 parts Brandy or Cognac
• 1 part Cointreau (or Triple-Sec) 
• 1 part lemon juice

Dump all those ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake with vigor. Pour the mixture in an Old Fashioned glass (don't put ice in the glass).  Enjoy.

Okay, time to discuss the personal touches you can add to your basic wardrobe. This is quite a list, and allows you to add color and texture and put your mark on the ensemble. What exactly are these accessories?  

• Tie
• Pocket Square
• Cuff Links
• Watch
• Belt
• Socks

Depending on weather and other situations you could add the following as accessories, but I won't deal with these in this article: 

• Wallet
• Hat (not a ball cap--a real  hat like a Fedora--I'll cover this in another post).
• Sunglasses
• Glasses
• Gloves
• Scarf

Tie:  I'm still going to have you hold off on getting crazy with ties. You should really keep them simple at this stage. A horrid tie will ruin your ensemble. You'd almost be better off without a tie if you can't go simple and seem drawn to crazy colors and patterns.

Pocket Square:   Be careful here--simple is better. You can go silk or cotton. Cotton allows for intricate folds (you should learn a few--they're sharp and you'll have people commenting on them), while the silk variety allow you to basically go for a more carefree look.  Whatever you do though, do not buy a pre-folded pocket square that has a cardboard insert. That is embarrassing and in poor taste. It's like wearing a clip-on tie or keeping your tie knotted because you don't know how to tie it properly.  I'd keep the colors on the silk pocket squares  simple--you can do a pattern, but realize that you're limiting your options for usage. I actually prefer white cotton folded with precision. It'd be a great idea to keep a spare handkerchief folded neatly inside your suit jacket.

Cuff Links:   I didn't tell you to buy French Cuff shirts, but if you happen to have one already, or went out and bought one, cuff links will raise your style a couple of levels, but with caveats I'm afraid.

Again, and I'm going to keep writing this: keep them simple. Try plain swivel bar types that are squares/rectangles or circular. If you stick with plain metal, like sterling silver, they will be functional and go with the wardrobe I suggested last week. 

A few caveats:

• stay away from the cloth braid/knot type cuff links
• do not buy a package that has cuff links that match a tie and a shirt. DO NOT DO THAT.
• match the cuff links with the watch.  If you have a white metal watch, you HAVE to wear white metal cuff links.

Watch:   I find it's easier to match with a white metal type watch. I don't care if you go with a quartz movement or mechanical movement, but whatever you do, do not wear a digital watch with the wardrobe I've suggested. In fact, unless you're working out or running a marathon or something similar, stay away from the digital watch.

Make sure you have the watch adjusted. Meaning: the watch should fit snugly around your wrist, not dangling and able to spin around because it's so loose.  The face of the watch doesn't have to be enormous: it isn't a contest.

My day-to-day watch is a Swiss made Burberry watch:

Belt:   Fine leather. And you have to have a black one as well as a brown one. Do not wear one with a huge buckle emblazoned with some emblem or logo on it (this isn't the rodeo). You have to go plain here. And again, the belt buckle needs to match the rest of the accessories. If you're wearing white metal cuff links and a watch, well, you have to do the same with the belt buckle.

Socks:   You could make a statement here, but don't. Stay plain. You have to match the socks with the slacks as best as possible, and when in doubt go with a darker shade of sock than the slacks.

I've rambled on enough. I have a lot more to say about how to wear this stuff and what to buy, and I'll save those comments for a future post.

As always, my posts are meant to convey a classic style. If you're a nutty professor then go for that look. If you're a cowboy then go ahead and dress like one. But don't be a poser. 

Go have a Sidecar today, it's a classic drink and not difficult to mix.

Build A Wardrobe That Won't Embarrass You Or Your Significant Other

You Don't Even Realize You're Embarrassing Yourself (but don't feel bad, you're not alone): 

Building a wardrobe sounds like a dull topic, but assembling a few key components is important. I don't want to hear about the latest trends and how so-and-so looks great in his sloppy attire. You probably aren't that hip guy who knows how to put together random items and pull off a new look. This post is aimed at making you look respectable and going for a classic look that never goes out of style.  What I propose below will not embarrass you or your significant other.

I have to be honest here, most men today think a great wardrobe consists of t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. Now, I'm not saying you can't wear those things, but if you're ever put in certain social situations it's nice to have options. Now, if the social situation is simply a bunch of guys hanging out at home (playing poker, video games, etc) then go ahead and wear that beat up t-shirt and jeans and sneakers (but please, I beg of you, make sure the sneakers don't stink). 

Any situation where you are in public and there will be women, well, you really need to step it up a notch (and for most men, I think stepping it up a few notches is more accurate). And no, by simply putting on a hat (I don't mean ball cap, I mean fedora) to wear with the t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers (sneakers rarely work, women aren't impressed with that, but that is another topic entirely), well, you look like a hobo from the 1930s. I'm tired of guys doing that:  no, you don't look cool, you look like you're trying to hard to be cool and end up looking like a total douche.

Okay, I'm sure I'll elaborate on the above at some point, but the point of this specific post is how to build a respectable wardrobe. 

I am basing this on my own experience as well as a few of the finer points from this book:  

A Must Have For ALL Men

I will be referencing this book quite a bit as most of the advice given within is sound. I simply cannot believe how much information is packed between the covers of this book.

Here are the absolute basics: 

• 5 shirts (that'd be dress shirts, you know, the button down variety?)
• 4 ties
• 3 pairs of shoes

Not much help, huh? Left to your own devices I can only imagine what you'd pick. But you're in luck, I'm going to help you out. 

The dress shirt, believe it or not, is simply a bit player in this, but really important as the wrong choice can ruin your entire ensemble. It's best to keep this simple. Most men can't figure out how to match colors and certainly don't know how to match patterns (those will both be future blog posts).  For now I'm going to let you off the hook on the French-cuffs (because that would require you to drop some cash on cufflinks).

The 5 shirts:  

• 2 plain white button-downs with button-cuffs
• 2 plain blue button-down with button-cuffs
• 1 striped shirt (keep the stripes thin (they better be vertical), and you're better off doing stripes of the same color, say dark and light blue stripes versus two different colors).

A quick note: stick with standard width collars on those shirts since a Half-Windsor knot for the tie will work most of the time. Yes, the size of the knot matters depending on how spread your collar is.

The 4 ties: 

• 1 plain dark blue -- go navy.  ;)

Brooks Brothers regimental stripe. 

• 1 regimental stripe -- these are the diagonal wide-striped ties that many men wear--especially those in middle management. But if you're just starting out, you can't go wrong with this choice. Just be sure the colors are not obnoxious. Here, this is a regimental stripe from Brooks Brothers:

• 1 paisley - keep it sane, please. Subtle is better.
• 1 patterned tie - again, keep it subtle. A light, small houndstooth or check pattern perhaps. 

A note on ties:  you can always ditch the tie when it's time to hit happy hour or have dinner at a mid-range restaurant. In fact, quite a few ensembles look smart without the tie, especially if you go with a nice hat (yet more topics to discuss in the future). 

The 3 suits: 

• 1 navy blue two or three button wool suit. I prefer 3 button myself. This is a versatile suit and can be worn in most situations. Stay away from the blue blazer and khaki pants--it's been overdone and looks amateurish--and too middle-management.
• 1 dark gray flannel suit. Try to stick with single-breasted suits, and again, I prefer 3 button. You can go herring-bone pattern, but keep it subtle and fine.
• Now, we're going to get a little crazy: look for a mid-gray glen plaid (short for glenurquhart) or pinstripe suit in lightweight wool. Glen plaid is comprised of a criss-crossing pattern of different sized checks. Try not to get a loud, brash color combo--like I said, look for gray. Many traditional glen plaid suits are simply black and white vari-sized checks. Look it up. If you go pinstripe, please go thin, and subdued, otherwise you may look like some cheap gangster.

The 3 pairs of shoes :

Don't skimp here. Why? Because women notice shoes. They notice the quality and they also notice when they don't work with the outfit you're wearing.

Again, no sneakers. No open-toed shoes. And wear socks for heavens sake--you're not George Clooney who can get away with a pair of dress shoes and slacks.

• 1 pair of plain black cap-toe oxfords.
• 1 pair of dark brown or chestnut-brown wing tips. These go with everything except a black suit (which I didn't tell you to buy anyway). 
• 1 pair of brown plain-toe dress loafers. You can try black if you like, but the brown is more versatile.  By the way, loafers are great for airport security.

Buy quality shoes for crying out loud. Cary Grant owned a couple of pairs of shoes--but they were of high quality and lasted a long, long time. Need a brand suggestion?  Try Allen Edmonds--they aren't cheap, but they're high quality and one of the few American shoemakers still producing shoes in the United States.

A few more words:  

Okay. So there you have it. If you're purchasing reputable merchants, don't be afraid to ask for their help. They can match things up for you and point you in the right direction. They'll even take your measurements (you should know all of your measurements by the way--that'll have to be another post I suppose). Your clothes must fit properly, or you'll like like a hobo, or Charlie Chaplin's tramp character (you're not going for comedy are you?).

Did you get the whole subtle theme throughout the article? Keep it subtle and simple. Nothing loud and brash. 

Now, go reward yourself with a drink. Why not try the one I suggested last week, the 20th Century?  As for me, well, tonight I'll be sipping Champagne (likely Veuve Cliquot) with my beautiful wife while watching Casablanca.