Different climates, different clothes — the
best cut in the world won’t make a thick wool suit useful in Miami.
Social climate plays just as important a role in determining dress as
well, with a man’s profession and leisure activities taking a hand in
the shaping of his wardrobe.
Climate and Weather
are unavoidable realities. Heating and air conditioning only go so far
— the Midwestern man still has to slog through snow to get to his car
in the winter, and the Arizona desert-dweller can feel the sun even
through glassed-in windows. Changes in fabric are a man’s best ally for
adapting to climate, with wools in thicker weaves counteracting cold
and lightweight cottons offering breath-ability in heat. Lighter colors
will also help keep the heat off, while layering of clothing and the
use of cashmere’s insulating properties
will keep a man warm in colder climates. Men who work inside eight
hours a day will want to keep the typical building temperature in mind —
if you have to walk in the snow but the office is kept furnace-hot,
you’ll need to have layers you can remove or an appropriate change of
clothes at work.
Social and Professional Expectations
determine the “flavor” of a wardrobe. A businessman in a formal office
may need as many as five or ten suits, if the expectation is that he
will wear one every day. Since the jackets and trousers can be worn
separately for more casual outfits he may have less need for sport coats
or odd trousers as a man whose work expectations stop at a collared
shirt. Men in less formal settings who still want to appear
well-dressed may own a number of spot jackets but very few neckties,
preferring open collars or alternatives like turtlenecks and sweaters.
Most men find use for at least one suit, especially something simple and
multipurpose like a basic charcoal gray.
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