What to Wear to an Interview: The Be Dapper Way

The interview: one of the most dreaded and intimidating moments in most men's professional careers.  Whether you're out of work and trying to immediately find a new job or are just exploring options, the interview is most likely the only face time you will get with a hiring manager before they decide on who will get a position.  Generally you're going to get between a half hour to an hour of time to speak with a prospective employer, which is why this first impression will be so important.  In my experience, I've known whether or not I wanted to hire someone within 5 minutes of speaking with them.  My guess is that most hiring managers would agree.  As such, it is incredibly important that the person you are interviewing with has a good first impression of you.  That first impression will be how you look, for better or worse.  And believe me, if you show up underdressed or look like you just bought a suit off the $99 rack, your chances of landing that job will drop like a rock.  Today I'm going to go over what you should be wearing to an interview to give a stunning first impression.

Leave the Black Suit at Home

First off, always wear a suit.  Always.  Even if the workplace is casual or the job is not in an office environment, no interviewer is going to look down on the fact that you dressed well.  However, showing up in slacks and a button up with no tie might send the wrong impression or not be appropriate for that position.  Moving on: black suits are great, they are bold without even expressly being so and work with a variety of colors and patterns.  However, your black suit is not your interview suit, not even your business suit.  Save your black suit for evenings out or dinner parties.  For an interview, you should be wearing a navy or charcoal suit.  I recommend navy, as it displays a refined level of style sense and professionalism.  Keep it single breasted, with a notch lapel and preferably two buttons. Patterns, if any, should be subtle.

Navy Suit with Brown Shoes | Freshly Educated Men

This is an Interview, Not a Fashion Show

You may have a very extensive wardrobe with many fashion-forward pieces and accessories, however this is not the time to wear your lime green knit tie and boat shoes.  If what you're wearing is getting noticed by an interviewer more than what you are saying, there is a huge problem.  For your shirt, go with white or light blue and no french cuffs, you're not an exec (yet.)  Your tie should be dark and muted, no bold patterns or colors, and include a tie bar.  Wear simple lace-up oxfords, preferably brown if you're wearing a charcoal or navy suit.  No accessories beyond a leather strapped watch, if even that.

The Perfect, Simple Accessories

Fail to Prepare and You Can Prepare to Fail

Just as you would research a company, their history, look at their website and prepare otherwise for a job interview, you should be preparing your wardrobe the day before as well.  Prepare your outfit, make sure it is what you want so you're not scrambling for a new tie in the morning.  Shine your shoes, there is a lot you can tell about a man by his shoes.  Remove any stray strings or thread from your suit and use a lint roller to remove any hair, dust or other debris.  Looking your best takes preparation, and there are few days more important than an interview to do so.

Charcoal Topman Suit | City Society

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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Traveling in Style: No More Sweatpants!

I hear stories every once in a while from my father and grandfather about the long lost days of airplane travel, rolling off their tongue as if it was a myth passed down through generations of travelling businessmen. Gone are the comfortable seats, friendly staff and free food. Now we are packed like sardines into a tin can and forced to pay $5 for a pack of peanuts after begging for a pillow. Sure, the airlines are to blame for part of this decline in luxury but I believe travelers need to accept some responsibility as well. How many people do you see wander onto a plane in sweats or, dear God, pajamas? Does anyone honestly expect to be treated well if you can't even manage to pull on a pair of clean jeans?  I've seen my fair share of this and I think it's time to take note of how to fly in style. And yes, you can be comfortable doing so.


Take your Jacket for a Ride
If you're traveling with your suit, pack up your pants so you can keep the crease but don't throw your jacket in that suitcase to get wrinkled. Wear it with you to the airport, you can take it off when you get on the plane to have hung up and it will still be fresh by the time you land. Pair it up with some jeans and a polo or oxford and you'll have plenty of comfort and style, even if you're heading overseas.

Suit Jacket with Jeans and Shirt | GQ.com

Layer Up
When traveling for pleasure, or if you simply don't pack a suit for whatever reason, the v-neck sweater is your best friend. Not only can you find one in any thickness from nearly paper-thin to braving-an-arctic-storm thick, a v-neck sweater looks great on almost everyone. If the plane gets too muggy, peel it off and toss it in the overhead.

J.Crew Cotton-cashmere V-neck sweater

Lose the Laces
No one enjoys getting caught in airport security, I seem to be notorious at it though. I've learned through many instances of having to get scanned and questioned that it's best to be able to slip those shoes on and off with ease. Believe me, your beautiful lace-ups will slow you down. Slip on a pair of loafers when you head out and you don't have to find a spot to sit or bend over to re-tie your shoes after getting questioned over a bottle of mouthwash.  Driving shoes are a great choice if you'd like something a little less formal.

G Brown 'Tobago' Driving Shoe

I think we all understand the pains of airline travel, however it's no excuse to dress like a slob. Maybe if we all took a moment to look a little better when we hit the skies we would get a little better treatment. Probably not, but a man can dream right?

Thanks for reading. As always, be dapper.

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Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale for Men: This is the Weekend to Upgrade Your Style!

We all know Nordstrom's carries some of the top brands in the world, but it seems like they also usually have the highest prices in the world as well.  Good news: the Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale for Men is going on from June 17-19, so this weekend is the time to upgrade your style.  I'm going to highlight 5 picks from this sale for you to consider because they are nearly impossible to pass up.

1901 Saddle Up Oxford

I love saddle shoes and these are the definitive style of these bold shoes.  Made from geniune suede, these are a steal at $65 and are a perfect look for the summer (especially when going sockless.)

1901 'Saddle Up' Oxford - $64.90

Salvatore Ferragamo 'Loris' Oxford

Still pricey, coming in at $329.90, but these lace ups are a master made pair of full leather shoes.  If you've been looking for a pair of shoes that will last you a decade or more (like I talked about in this article) you should be picking these up.

Salvatore Ferragamo 'Loris' Oxford - $329.90

Ibiza Collection Grey Strip Linen Blend Sportcoat

I love this jacket, but don't wear it if you're looking to blend in.  This jacket is bold and makes a statement, perfect for the summertime as a linen cotton blend that you can keep cool in.  You're going to need to get it tailored, most likely, so don't expect it to fit perfectly off the rack.

Ibiza Collection Grey Stripe Linen Blend Sportcoat - $229.90

Boss Black 'Slim Fit' Dress Shirt

You're getting a high quality dress shirt for under $100, so count yourself lucky.  There are a smattering of other brand, color and pattern options available, just make sure that you are looking for "slim fit" or "trim fit" in the title.

BOSS Black 'Slim Fit' Dress Shirt - $62.90

1901 Stripe Skinny Knit Tie

It's no secret that I have a thing for knit ties, I talked about them in this article, and this one is no exception.  Classic prep style and colors, this is a great pick to match up with chinos or lighter slacks.  Even jeans will look great with this tie, it's so versatile that it works for most any situation beyond formal and uber-professional.

1901 Stripe Skinny Knit Tie - $32.90

You're going to have to move fast if you want some of these deals, the sale only runs til Sunday so make sure you make it to a Nordstrom store or to their online store this weekend. If you're looking for a great father's day gift this would also be the perfect time!

Thanks for reading. As always, be dapper.

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Buying Fashionable Men's Shoes - 3 Tips to Find Great Dress Shoes

So you've bought that great suit, had it tailored perfectly, bought some slim fit shirts (as discussed in this post Buying a Slim Fit Shirt) and now you are wearing a pair of clunky, square-toed shoes you found at Payless.  Shame on you!  Once you've got a tailored look, you need to translate that across your entire wardrobe.  Shoes are the anchor of your style and need to reflect the choices you've made in the other elements of your look.  Today I'd like to talk about some basics you should know before you go out and find your next pair of dress shoes. I'll be comparing what you should and should not do as well as how to keep your footwear fashionable by buying classic looks.

Shoe Soles: Go Slim, Go Leather.

Chunky, square-toed shoes were in style for a while but that fashion has (finally) gone away.  When shopping for your next pair of dress shoes, check out the soles.  They should not extend out too far from the shoe and should not be too thick.  Also, invest in a pair of shoes with leather soles.  There is a common misconception that rubber soled shoes are more comfortable, however leather will breathe more and if the leather sole is too slippery, simply score it with a knife.  Below you can see the difference between a shoe with soles that are too large and rubber compared with a classic slim profile shoe with a leather sole.  The shoes on the right can be found at Brooks Brothers.

Lace-up Oxfords: The Style You Need First

There's no way around it, if you want one pair of great shoes that will work in almost any setting the lace-up oxford is your only choice.  Luckily there are many variations that you can choose from:  wingtips, cap toe, plain toe and so on.  Though black shoes are a staple, if you are just starting your shoe collection I would recommend going with a brown shoe first.  They will go with almost any suit you have besides black (which should not be one of your first suit colors, see why navy should be your first choice in this article on Navy Suits.)  Dark brown will be a bit more versatile but you can go for something lighter if you want a shoe that will make a statement.  Below are two great examples of brown shoes, both dark and light, that are a great beginning to any man's shoe collection.  The wingtips on the left can be found at To Boot New York, while the cap toes on the right can be found at Maganni.

Sticker Shock: Calm down, it's going to be ok

If you're like most men out there, you're probably going to have to take a moment to calm down and regroup once you see the price on a pair of quality made, leather soled shoes. Let's take a moment and take about being penny wise but dollar foolish. Think about the last time you bought a pair of $30 dress shoes. How often did you wear them? How long did they last before they were uncomfortable or had worn through?  The longest you can expect a pair of shoes like that to last is 6 months if you wear them even moderately often.  So let's look at the cost of those shoes over 5 years, by the end of that time you would've paid $300 for 10 pairs of uncomfortable, ugly shoes. Rather, if you spend that money upfront on a pair of well made shoes they will not only last you longer than 5 years and you will look great the whole time. Not to mention that your feet will be more comfortable and your back will probably have less strain on it.  So take some time and invest into some well made shoes that will last years rather than months on your next purchase.  While you're at it, check out this dapper pair of shoes from Allen Edmonds.  The clean lines on these are such a classic example of timeless style.

So now you're ready to buy some fashionable, well made shoes that will last for years.  Don't forget that you need to look at material labels on shoes to determine exactly what they are made of, many shoe store associates will tell you that you are buying a leather shoe when it is actually a leather blend which will not last nearly as long.  Do you already own some great shoes?  Let me know where you got them and post some pictures, I'd love to see them.

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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Navy Suits - Why Don't You Own One Yet?

This is my first blog post and rather than make a long intro or take some time to wade into this, I'm going to jump right in.

The navy suit is the most essential addition to any man's wardrobe, whether you are a working professional, a recent college graduate, a starving student, or anything in between. There are few suits that display a more mature, understated taste than the navy blue suit does. However, you can still manage to not pull it off if you don't pay attention to the details. Here are a few tips to make sure that you look your best in a navy suit.

Get it tailored

There are plenty of places to get a great, cheap navy suit. However don't be surprised if you end up looking less than amazing if you don't get it tailored. No matter where you buy your navy blue suit, or how much you spend, go to a tailor who you know or who someone can refer you to. And have an opinion before you walk in the door, don't let them convince you to "let it out a little more." Tell them you want it to be snug around your waist and pull a little bit. Let them know you want little to no break on the pants. Also, your sleeves should show about 1-inch of cuff. Check out the before and after picture below and you'll understand why it's critical to get your suit tailored.



Pair up with the Right Accessories

Nothing shows off a level of style sophistication like brown shoes paired with a navy suit. Straight from the mouth of one of the world's most renowned shoe experts: "Put on a pair of bad shoes and it doesn't matter how nice your suit is." That said, this color of brown below goes great with almost any color, but certainly complements navy and displays an extra level of thought and consideration in your wardrobe. Not to mention that brown is my favorite color for wingtip shoes.



Go Beyond White

Sure we've all had our forays into the world of light blue shirts, but a navy blue suit is one of the best chances you have to grab some colors that will set you apart from the white shirt pedestrians you walk among. Lavendar, khaki and pink are all on display in the image below. Just be sure to tie up with a dark tie so you look more Don Draper than Craig Sager.





Thanks for reading everyone. As always, be dapper.

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