please help my dad!

cyan45

my dad is starting a new job at a bay area computer company. he mentioned he has to dress 'business casual' during the week, with denim fridays. he proudly modeled his outfit: khaki pants, long sleeve burgandy cotton shirt, black belt and black dress shoes.

'um, dad, don't men who wear button-down shirts need to wear a shirt underneath?'

'of course not! engineers wear undershirts! marketers do not!'

huh? lol...

i wasn't about to bruise his ego, since he has been very successful so far. but, i somehow want to bump up his polish in small doses! so, what should i focus on first?

btw, he is rather picky:
1) long shirts to keep him warm
2) no watch (he hates wearing anything on his wrist)
3) nothing high-maintenance
4) doesn't want to wear suits

thanks for your tips! fashion is the least of his concerns, but i'd like him to look sharp
at his age and stature in the company

16 years ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

rute

Veteran

I'm not and expert in men's wear but I just want to say that loved your post, so fun!
I don't wear a watch also, don't like.. so I see no problem in that.
As to the suit, try to convince him to wear separates, for exemple, nice dark denin pants and a velvet blazer, like

http://www.tommyhilfiger.co.uk.....5617112064

It's comfy and stylish

16 years ago

Lee Hovey

Active Member

Oh I love dressing men because most of them cling to the "it's comfortable" mantra as an excuse to dress poorly, and most care about how they look more than they would admit. So if you find them stylish yet comfortable and varsatile pieces and show them how good they look in it, they usually enjoy it!

How about a great pair of good quality brown oxfords. They could be worn in all seasons, and make the perfect smart casual shoe. Nothing too dressy or shiny. Like these,
http://piperlime.gap.com/brows.....=705148002
http://piperlime.gap.com/brows.....=698789002

I second the tip of getting him a great blazer. A blazer can be thrown on top of anything from a T-shirt, to a button down and everything in between.
Also, half-zip sweaters make great layering pieces in the winter over all of the same shirts. They look especially great over a button down.
http://www.bluefly.com/Vineyar.....detail.fly
http://www.bluefly.com/Marc-by.....detail.fly

Lastly, if he lives someplace where you get a true, cold winter, I would suggest a nice smart casual jacket. Outerwear is another place that men easily forget how much impact it can have. A nice basic single breasted, or even zip up wool jacket can be dressed up or down.
http://www.bluefly.com/Marc-Ne.....detail.fly
http://www.bluefly.com/Marc-Ne.....detail.fly

16 years ago

cyan45

Active Member

thanks so much rute and leehovey! this is such a foreign fashion terrain, lol.

rute--great blazer! i might need to do some corporate culture digging to see if this will fly (or rather, if he'll agree to wear it), but if so, i can't wait!

leehovey--oxfords are great, he has a black pair. however, we have a little problem:
due to a motorcycle accident in college, one of his legs had to be shortened, he has a limp, and needs cobbler-inserted thick soles added to his shoes to make-up for it it doesn't really bother him anymore, but buying good quality shoes is kind of an ordeal...yet, considering he almost died, it isn't really that bad in the grand scheme of things!

also, he has nice enough outerwear, ie long khaki trench and sleek zip-up jacket.
i think he's had them for decades, but hey, it still works so why fix it, lol.

16 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Lisa, you're the sweetest daughter ever! Is his pant collection up to snuff, i.e. free of pleats and containing a decent mix of wool and cotton pairs?
If he's not down with blazers, or if they have no place in his office, I'd suggest a couple of really sharp sweaters, maybe one zip-cardigan and one pullover? I love half-zips for guys too, as Kendra suggested.
But I'm with the others, a blazer really might be the best way to elevate things a knotch. In fact your post inspired me to investigate blazers as a Xmas present for Corey!

16 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Aw, you're so sweet! Is he a marketer then, not a computer engineer? Because I can tell you, my husband would get laaauuuughed out of his company if he showed up in the engineering department in a velvet blazer. Marketers? Different breed, and I can't comment on that.

I will say that an up to date hair style is key as well - you think it doesn't matter with guys, but the fact is that even guys can have dated hair styles, even if they don't have much left. hee.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa you are cute :0)

*spanner* wearing an undershirt is VERY hip and cool.

16 years ago

cyan45

Active Member

michelle--i think his pant collection is up to snuff...if by that you mean, wow! 2 pairs! lol. a pullover sweater is a great idea, thanks!

mamapicklejuice--i haven't a clue of his profession actually! he is trained as an engineer, but has worked as both engineer AND marketer before. i guess he'd
like to THINK of himself as a marketer. after all, aren't they the cool & hip ones
of the company?

my dad gets the standard hair cut, no frills. i doubt he has ever used any gel product in his LIFE. old spice after shave however, is forever embedded in my olfactory memory. does anyone wear old spice anymore?!!

angie--thanks! i'll try to graciously update him of the fashion times...

16 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Hehehe - yes, marketers are definitely the hip and cool ones.

re hair style: not suggesting product or anything, just thinking of my own handsome father, who cut his own hair for a million years until he finally got it updated and had the standard layers put in (maybe they don't call it layers when you're a guy). HUGE difference, and even more handsome.

re undershirt: So odd your father doesn't wear one - I thought that was old school as my father does and my husband doesn't unless it's winter.

Good luck with your stealth makeover, you sound like a wonderful daughter.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

His outfit actually sounds fine for his profession (good on him to prefer long sleeves - short sleeves would definitely be an engineer look). However, there has been a trend over the past 5 years or so where people in the Bay area are dressing up a lot more. Even if the dress code is casual, people are routinely wearing suits to work, or blazers with dark denim. If he hasn't started the job yet, I'd advise him to dress up a bit his first week, to be on the safe side, get the lay of the land, and THEN go shopping.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*chuckle*

The impression of what engineers typically wear is interesting. Engineers can look fabulous actually! I happen to be married to one who has always had an incredible sense of style. Perhaps I just got lucky.

As much as I prefer L/S shirts on men (with rolled up sleeves too), a S/S shirt can look KILLER in a Ben Sherman type of a way. It's all about HOW you wear the items :0)

16 years ago

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