Q: I am pretty good about dressing well for work. I wear a suit everyday so it’s easy. But when it comes to the weekend I turn into a total slob. I throw on the same faded pair of jeans, sneakers and an old tee-shirt because it’s comfy. My wife said she’s had enough of looking at me in the same, slouchy clothes every weekend. Where do I start with upgrading my weekend wardrobe without feeling too buttoned up?
A: I know it may seem that the workweek is for dressing up and the weekend is for relaxing but you can still chill out and look good at the same time. After all, why would you save your best-dressed days for your colleagues alone? It’s not exactly fair if your spouse – the one who has to look at you day and day out from now until forever – gets the least of your sartorial effort.
Here are some things to keep in mind for sharpening up your weekend wardrobe:
Upgrade Your Denim
Everyone needs a good pair of dark denim jeans that fit right. They should be slim but not necessarily skinny and definitely not baggy. Be sure they have a slight stretch and they’ll be just as comfy as the ones you’ve been wearing for the last ten years. I love Seven for All Mankind, Standard, or J. Brand, Kane, although there are number of brands out there with a slim straight leg, you just have to try a few on to get the fit that’s right for you.
Wear Your New Jeans!
I find that many men save their dark denim for “going out” or dates. Don’t do that. Wear them to get coffee, to walk the dog, to go to brunch with your wife and kids. They instantly upgrade your look from those faded old jeans you’ve been wearing religiously for the past few years.
Don’t Sweat It
There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite sweatshirt or hoodie – just make sure it’s modern, flattering and fits well. Vince and Theory have some great options that are still casual but are more streamlined than that balloon-like sweatshirt you’ve been holding onto from your college days.
Get Sneaker Smart
Never wear your gym sneakers unless you’re going to the gym. Instead get a pair of what I call “street sneakers” to wear with jeans and casual pants. Converse and Adidas have various “cleaned up” versions, as do more designer lines such as Common Projects.
Invest in a Vest
Buy a thin vest (not the puffy kind) to layer under a sportcoat when it’s chilly and to wear over a shirt or a sweater as the weather warms up. (It will also give you more pockets to store your keys and wallet so your pants don’t look bulky). You can’t go wrong with Barbour or Salence.
Ditch the Dress Shirts
Keep your dress shirts for the workweek. Get some great sport shirts to wear for date night. You can’t go wrong with John Varvatos or my new favorite line UNTUCKit, designed to be worn untucked.
So go ahead, look sharp – it’s the weekend!
If you have a men’s style question that you want answered then email me at Nicola@dtnycmag.com
-Nicola Harrison Ruiz*
*Nicola Harrison Ruiz is DOWNTOWN Magazine’s Men’s Fashion and Lifestyle editor. She is also a men’s style consultant and founder of Harrison Style. She gets asked a lot of questions from men about what to wear and how to wear it, and she’s always up for the challenge. Got a style question? Don’t be shy, ask.
Photo credit:
From top left clockwise: JBrand, John Varvatos, Salence, AG, UNTUCKit, Common Projects.
