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Q. What should I wear when an invitation requests that the attire is "black tie optional"?
A. Many hosts want to offer the option to wear either a tuxedo to their event or a formal dark suit. My advice is to select a suit or tuxedo that you feel most comfortable in and that looks the best on you. Most people will be wearing a darker suit with either a neck tie or bow tie.
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Q. What's the best approach to matching an expensive sport coat to a pair of slacks?
A. It makes the most sense to focus on the threads or colors in the sport coat that are not so prominent and match those colors to a pant. A sport coat looks best with a contrasting but coordinating slack.
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Q. My office has recently announced that we should dress in business casual. Which clothing is considered appropriate under this dress code?
A. As companies want to make their offices more comfortable for their employees, they allow men to go without a tie but still dress professionally. My suggestion is to select high quality jackets, slacks, shirts and belts. If you are not comfortable making these decisions on your own, then ask an experienced sales associate to help put the outfits together. You may have to invest in several items at first. But with proper guidance, you can create enough acceptable options to cover you for weeks.
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Q. I am taking my wife on a cruise and not sure what to pack for clothing. Can you make some suggestions?
A. Most cruise ships today include both casual and formal restaurants. In order to keep your dining options open, I suggest you bring at least one tuxedo or a dark suit complete with shirt and tie. In addition, two sport coats, two pairs of slacks, two button-down shirts and two collar polo shirts. Don't forget about a nice pair of shoes and your bathing suit.
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Q. I am a slender man and have trouble finding clothing that fits. What's the best approach for buying slacks and sports coats?
A. There are many designers that tailor their styles toward trim men. Italian made suits, for example, are made narrower in the legs and seat as compared with other lines. Fine quality retailers such as Giblees carry a full-line of men's quality clothing and have fashion experts who know how to match brands to body types. Even if your selections do not fit perfectly, Giblees include alterations with purchases.
