Weekend Suiting – Yes Your Suit Can Have a Life Past Friday
January 24, 2014
By Brian Maynor
January 24, 2014
Continuing our discussion from yesterday suiting can be successfully incorporated into a truly casual outfit, extending its use beyond strict career-wear and into lifestyle-wear.
Most professionals who wear suits five days a week typically avoid them like the plague on the weekends, but that doesn’t have to be case. We’ve talked about using suit separates to create new outfits for work and touched on carrying them over into dressier weekend events but today I wanted to explore truly casual outfits using suiting. Here are my tips and inspiration ideas for stretching your suit into a casual outfit for the weekend that is still comfortable and relaxed:
1. The type of suit matters. I classify suits into two basic categories: ‘boardroom’ and ‘everyday’.
‘Boardroom’ suits are traditional classic-cut suits in a mid-weight wool and unadorned with any embellishments or accents. These suits are perfect power suits, but do not give you the flexibility to bridge into casual wear that an ‘everyday’ suit will.
‘Everyday’ suits tend to be in textured fabrics, possibly a jersey or knit, with accents or details that give them a little more personality and flair. These suits are closer in nature to casual outfits thus bridging the two successfully. Traditional suits are just too far removed to really work as a cohesive outfit.
2. Use the blazer. Blazers are by far the easiest piece of suiting to use in a casual outfit other than a vest. While you can dress up any outfit with a blazer, these looks incorporate the blazer as a necessary element for the outfit as a whole. You could remove it and have the looks still work, but the feeling and level would change dramatically.
3. It’s all about working together. Just like with an eclectic outfit you can make some bold choices and break a few rules when building a causal one, but to make it come together everything has to blend and make sense. Both of these outfits use casual pants as a counterpoint to the blazers and blend the two through the tops.
4. Real world application. While these looks meet all of the technical elements of a balanced and cohesive outfit and stretch your creative muscles, they are wearable. These would be perfect for travelling when you need to be comfortable in confined spaces or any other time the environment is extremely casual yet you still need to look and feel somewhat presentable if you run into a colleague.
A similar look to the lady’s inspiration board sparked a lot of discussion Tuesday night, which was great. Both of these looks will garner plenty of attention and conversation because they are non-traditional. I’d love to what you think, so please share your thoughts and comments as well!
Click on the images below to learn more about the outfit.
Click on the images below to learn more about the outfit.
I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty. Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
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