Monday, December 26, 2011

Dressing For Men: Outerwear Counts

It is so sad to see a man in a bad coat. 

You know those bad coats. The one's with excess fabric around the waist and hips, so cinching the belt just results in flariness that make the wearer look like a distorted pear. 

Or when they show up to shul on Shabbos in a waist-length thin windbreaker, all blue in the face. 

Oy. 

During the winter months, one is mostly seen in a coat. So feel free to upgrade it.

Guidelines:

  • Shabbos coats should be between 3/4- and knee-length. When I say knee-length, I mean no longer than the knee. It should be shorter rather than longer. 
  • Opt for a beltless model. Keep an uncluttered, clean look. 
http://www.baronboutique.com/mens_suit/flannel/mens_cubana_coat.jpg
  • For Shabbos, no weatherproof parka. But no one wants to be chilly, so be sure to check the fabric. Shabbos deserves wool and/or cashmere, but fabric content isn't proof enough.Walk around a bit in the store, or take it home if one can return, and wear it around the house. Feeling overheated? It's a keeper. 

20 comments:

  1. I thought 3/4 was the same as knee. Shows how much I know about coats, but can you blame me? I've never owned a winter coat in my life :) What do you think about a pea coat on a guy? That's about the most coat I can wear around here.

    Also, I know this isn't exactly the post for it but I thought I'd share this little tidbit I came across on a (non-jewish) political blog. This is part of a comment made on a post announcing the engagement of one of the mods/contributors.
    "I’m over 35, and I have never married (would like to be married, but can never meet eligible single guys my age, it is especially bad for female Christian singles – the older you get, the fewer single Christian guys there are)."
    You(we)'re not alone!
    Happy Chanukah Everyone!

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  2. 3/4 length is mid-thigh; of course you don't have a winter coat, you're in LA! I like pea coats. Very classy.

    However, you know I would object to that - I don't believe there are less men as one gets older. Like my other post about single black women - there are more available men then women. It's just a misconception that all the males have disappeared.

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  3. You forgot to mention about getting the coat cleaned OFTEN.

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  4. Or at least make sure not to eat a falafel while wearing it.

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  5. Or at least learn how to eat a falafel without the hummus and tehinah falling out all over yourself.

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  6. Toggles? Duuude. No. That's an unnecessary accessory.
    I wear 3/4 length until it gets cold. Then I bust out my old full length cashmere blend I got at the Garage for $200 10 years ago. I love that coat. I'd marry it if I lived in CA or MA. I'm super gay for my coat.

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  7. Is loving a coat "gay"? Having a thing for animals is bestiality, so I suppose clothing-love is . . . attireilia?

    May the state of NY soon recognize your union. I wish you much joy.

    Toggles are OK, since they are functional. A strip of fur around a hood doesn't do much.

    $200 at a garage sale a decade ago? Who's the designer, Loro Piana?

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  8. Sorry- the Garage is a small men's shop in Brooklyn. When I was in Yeshiva it was cool to shop there because it was Italian and we thought the owners were Mafia (looking back...yeah, probably mafia).

    And it has to be a gay relationship bec my coat is cooler, richer, and manlier than me.

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  9. If they were mafia, I hope you got a good deal. After all, they are the mafia.

    Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure you have some personable qualities. Unless, on dates, your coat does all the talking?

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  10. Haha! Maybe it should...

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  11. Since when are toggles useful? They're extremely impractical.

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  12. They have a function, rather than being useful. It is flamboyantly functional.

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  13. Shabbos coats should be between 3/4- and knee-length

    My weekday coat is also near-knee-length. I never understood why one needs more protection from the cold on Shabbos than during the week, but that's just me.

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  14. Weekday coats of course can be knee length. A waist length jacket is not exactly formal, and Shabbos clothing should be formal-ish. In my view.

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  15. Nope. In the winter, Israeli dubon.

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  16. I'm afraid I cannot recall. It was courtesy of a basic google search.

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  17. haha I purposely wear a half decent coat to make sure I fly under the radar...still find it funny how that doesn't stop the self-proclaimed 'professionals' from convincing themselves they know anything about me to set me up...yawn.

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  18. Did we get into shidduch conversation somehow?

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