A Fitting Brace to the Finish
How does a guy make his drab business uniform look a little stylish? The easiest way is to throw out the belt and strap on a pair of suspenders or braces. But while braces may look great when a man is standing or walking around, if they’re stretched out and ill-fitting, they’ll be twisted or loose around the shoulders when he’s sitting.
“If it’s a pair you really like, they can be altered,” says Laura Downing of Laura Downing in Laguna Beach. “A good tailor can discreetly attach a new piece of elastic in the back to keep your suspenders tight at all times.”
Make sure your braces fit between your neck and shoulders, and if you’re new to suspenders, don’t make that grave faux pas that nearly every neophyte does at some point--walk into the office with not only your braces on, but a belt as well.
Cattle drive: Face it, East Coast transplants--this is the West, the place where men and women can get away with cowboy boots nearly anywhere at any time. But we know there’s sometimes a legitimate reason you’ve got your noses in the air--cheap new boots.
“Usually the odor is determined by the tanning process,” says Tom Graffio of Factotum Shoe & Luggage Repair in Laguna Beach. “When cowboy boots were work boots, it didn’t matter if they smelled. Now that they’re in fashion, it does.”
In general, the better the boot, the more extensive the tanning process and the less gamy odor the boot gives off. If you find that strangers are asking you what dude ranch you just came back from, take the boots back to the store and complain, or consult a leather repair shop, because the problem could also be mildew.
Tie spy: The time has come to give it up. We’re talking about those awful fish ties, especially the King salmon ones that look like they were bought at a gift shop in Spokane.
“That Northwest, rugged look is still in style, which is probably why some guys are hanging on to fish ties,” says fashion buyer Bill Rigioni of Huntington Beach. “It’s fine if you want to wear it to an off-beat party, but the fad has pretty much died. It’s like you’re telling a joke everyone’s already heard.”
If you don’t want to give up on seafood neckwear, try one of the more fashionable ties with outdoorsy prints, such as small shells, pelicans and, yes, salmon.
