To answer people's questions in this thread: the reason why belts and shoes should generally match, especially in tailored outfits, is because no single item should be distracting. 🧵
The focus of a tailored outfit should be the V-shaped section formed by the shirt, jacket, and tie. This was as true generations ago as it is today. This area should lead the viewer's eye up to your face, so the focus is on you, not some random thing in your outfit.
This is why it's hard to wear things such as unusually colored shoes or patterned trousers (in the context of tailored clothing). Such items drag the eye downward.
This is also why tan shoes shouldn't be worn with dark suits. They shine out like flashlights from under your trousers. Tan shoes should be kept to light-colored suits and sport coats, or certain summer outfits.
When tan shoes are worn well, the belt should match.
A belt occupies the center of our body, so it can be very conspicuous if it doesn't harmonize with the rest of your outfit.
As a general rule of thumb, the color of your belt should be roughly in the neighborhood of your shoes. That means black with black, mid-brown with mid-brown, light brown with light brown, and so forth.
This is also generally true of casual clothing.
Compare these two outfits. The outfit on the right is more harmonious, so you end up focusing on the person. Eric's outfit combines non-matching shoes and belt (and tan shoes with a dark suit). It feels like he plucked things at random.
Similarly, compare Trump with his sons. Trump's outfit is harmonious. Don Jr is wearing tan shoes with a dark suit, so his feet make him look like Donald Duck. Eric is again looking like he plucked things at random, as there's no harmony between the belt and shoes.
The concept of harmony extends to other things. A dressy outfit calls for a thinner belt (1.25" inches or thinner), often finished with a thin buckle. A workwear outfit calls for wider belt (1.5") finished with a thicker buckle.
Or maybe you have a Westernwear outfit. In which case, you will want a Westernwear belt.
Sometimes, the belt doesn't need to match the shoes, such as when you're wearing sneakers. In that case, go off the other dimensions of the outfit: a casual belt paired with a casual outfit. Or a leather color that picks up some other leather item.
Choosing a belt requires being able to coordinate color, formality, and style. The casual outfit on the left has a wider 1.5" O-ring belt with a Southwestern cardigan, five-pocket pants, and roper boots. Dressy outfit on the right has a thin 1.25" belt. Belt/ shoe colors match.
By coincidence, my friend Mark at The Armoury recently filmed a video on how to choose a good belt (it was filmed on Chinese New Year, so he's wearing a red sport coat). My only quibble is that I think fine dress belts are dressier with stitched edges.
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If someone has died, consider attending the funeral in black tie (also known as a tuxedo in American vernacular). Black, as we know, is the color of mourning, so black tie shows respect for the deceased and their family.
Do a little jump and dance at the funeral, so people can admire how your jacket collar hugs your neck. This demonstrates that you took the time to make sure your tuxedo is well-tailored for this somber occasion. Carry a martini around and toast during the eulogy.
When you buy ready-made tailoring, the pockets and vents are often tacked down with stitching—usually white, but not always. This stitching, known as basting, is done so that the garment moves from the factory to your closet while holding its shape.
Before wearing the garment, you'll want to remove this stitching. Especially if there's a label on the sleeve. This label is only there so that people working in the distribution and sales process can easily identify the garment. It's not meant to be worn.
Rumors are going around that Pete Hegseth might be on his way out. I don’t know if that’s true, but just in case, I want to do a thread on his style. To me, Hegseth’s wardrobe reflects a common pitfall guys fall into when they first start caring about clothes. 🧵
When men start dressing with more intention, they often fall into the trap of cranking every knob to 11—volume, gain, treble, bass. The thinking is: more = better. But like in music, maxing out every setting doesn’t lead to clarity—it leads to noise.
We see this in how Hegseth dresses. His belt buckle is USA. Pocket square is USA. Socks are USA. Open up his jacket and what do you see? USA.
Someone asked me why there aren't any high-end Chinese clothing brands. They are many! In this thread, I'll name a few, as well as answer the question why you may not have heard of them. 🧵
This thread will cover a wide range of aesthetics and business sizes, so that there's something for everyone. The first is Zhu Chongyun, a chic womenswear label that combines traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary design.
Their ad campaigns are highly stylized for marketing purposes, but when you look at their runway presentations, you can see how their clothes are very wearable. A bit minimalist in tone and sculptural in terms of silhouette. Very refined and chic.
I try to live by the rule that what may be obvious to one person may not be obvious to another, as people are getting into hobbies at different points. So for those who are just starting to build a better wardrobe, here's how to shop for clothes online. 🧵
Go to your closet and pull out your best fitting clothes—best button-up shirt, best sweater, best pair of tailored trousers, and best pair of jeans. Lay these flat on a hard surface and measure them with a flexible measuring tape (available online or local craft stores)
For button-up shirts and sweaters, you'll want to take four basic measurements:
— Chest: measure across the front from armpit to armpit. Make sure shirt is buttoned
— Shoulder: measure across the back from shoulder joint to shoulder joint. Use the shoulder seam to guide you.
Not true. There are skilled craftspeople of every ethnic background (also hucksters who pose as real craftsman, but are not). Here are some artisans of Vietnamese and Filipino heritage. 🧵
I'll start with one I named in an earlier thread. Bellanie Salcedo is a Vietnamese-American and one-half of Chester Mox, based in the US. She trained for years under a former Hermès artisan, learning the skill of saddle stitching. Everything she makes is completely handmade.
Over the last 15 years, I've gotten all sorts of things from her: folios, belts, coat wallets, and card cases. The stitching is fine and precise; the edge finishing is immaculate. She sources leather from Hermès-owned tanneries. I think her work is world-class.