Men's Fashion...

[whereisthatsusu]

My brother asked me to help a friend of his, who has been given $600 to spend on clothing. I suggested he shop at medium-priced stores such as Club Monaco, Banana Republic, Diesel, etc. but he really has his mind set on designer clothing

So my question is, what is in style for young men? (have never really looked @ men's collections)
And, given $600, what are some key pieces to buy other than dress shirts?

 

[Burro]

That's a difficult price to start a wardrobe with. Tell him to stay away from buying stock pieces (ie. jeans) by designers, because they're just that, stock pieces, and it's better to have several different pairs of cheaper pants than one pair of designer pants.

Slim is in, tighter pieces. Since it's spring/summer, colors are in, stay away from white and black.

 

[Diesel21]

$600 is not much to buy a designer wardrobe, considering a designer shirt costs around $300. I would buy a few pants and shirts at J.Crew a a couple of paits of diesel jeans, and if he must buy designer, Saks usually has great end of season sales or he can go to outlets...

 

[whereisthatsusu]

Originally posted by Diesel21@Mar 24th, 2004 - 9:51 pm
$600 is not much to buy a designer wardrobe, considering a designer shirt costs around $300. I would buy a few pants and shirts at J.Crew a a couple of paits of diesel jeans, and if he must buy designer, Saks usually has great end of season sales or he can go to outlets...

exactly, that's what i told him. but apparently he just wants some designer pieces to "look cool," says my brother. i recommended going to a place that sells clothing from past seasons. i think the whole "designer only" idea is crap because he is only 15 years old.

so if he were to buy an expensive designer item, what would be best to invest in? ie. would be top priority in wardrobe?

oh and thanks for the info this is all good advice

 

[Christopher31]

Hey there is nothing wrong with black for the summer, al a dior homme! You cannot buy too much designer wear with $600. I would totally go with diesel, gstar, pdg, juicy(nice simple mens pieces), levis premium, anything in that range. You can buy some designer tees for less...but still run at least a hundred. You can always check out sales for designer wear.

 

[faust]

Hmm, I'll save my original post about "style is a matter of taste" and try some practical advice instead.

It all depends if he has enough basics in the wardrobe. If he does, I'm sure for $600 he can get one outstanding designer outfit (top/bottom), if he looks around hard. If he does not, I guess I'd direct him to something like Barney's Co-op where they sell more or less basic stuff from designer second lines, less expensive designers, etc... Where are you located, anyway?

 

[sbbbjm]

ok, $600 for designer -- i don' think so. he's 15, its not as if the other 15 year olds are wearing designer clothes either. i think he could buy 2 pieces max with $600.

i think his money would be MUCH better spent at somewhere like urban, club monaco, nordstrom, banana republic etc.

seriously, i would do what i did with my cousin. pick out some nice designer but versatile jeans (something easy like diesel, paper, seven's, levi's premium), some kind of button down longsleeve shirt. some trendy sneaks and more dressy shoes, a blazer or jacket, and a few cool tees here and there.

if he absolutely needs to have designer take him somwhere like Off 5th or wait till about April and start raiding the sale racks at saks and neimans.

it sounds he just wants something that has a designer label on it, so if that the case just go take him to buy some logo tshirts.

15?! with designer clothes, holy crap! i'm 18, and have a good amount of designer stuff and i hardly ever wear it cuz i have no where to wear it. i mean really where is he planning to go? i mean i really can't imagine a 15 year old walking into class with a dior homme outfit on. at 15, i was a little skater punk that put on whatever was clean!

 

[Max]

$600 on clothes when you're 15? Clearly this kid comes from a ridiculously rich family but when I was that age (all those [5] years ago) I'd spend it on something a lot more usefull like a guitar or ... damn, I can't actually think what I'd do with so much cash at that age.
Seriously even with a fake he couldn't go clubbing looking so young, and where else are you going to wear top-line desinger? Otherwise if it's just a vanilla dress shirt, when you're 15 and not trying to impress top execs it won't matter if it's a discounted Alfani at Macy's (and btw their fitted shirts are pretty damn good for $30) or a $300 Versace.

It is possible, however, to get plenty of designer clothes for a budget like that if you have patience and will. I definetley don't spend more than $600 on clothes a year - but nearly everything I buy is desinger. You have to do two things - shop at the big sales in the right stores (and of course eBay from reputable sellers) and also be on the lookout for new small designers that will often have great pieces for prices that are quite a bit below the top-line runway stuff. For example get gsus instead of dsquared.

Speaking of top young men's labels, btw. Here are some I like in no particular order:
J.Lindeberg, Diesel Stylelab, Guess by Marciano, Gsus, Dsquared, troVata(*plug* ), Fake London, Evisu, Maurice Malone, Ringspun, Da Nang, 10 Deep, Aem'kei.

 

[sbbbjm]

max -- i really like some of that troVata stuff. i really want those pants that have the flap that flips up to a pinup! those are rad! i had never heard of it before. is it american?

 

[tott]

Originally posted by Max@Mar 26th, 2004 - 12:24 pm
Seriously even with a fake he couldn't go clubbing looking so young, and where else are you going to wear top-line desinger?

How about everywhere? Designers do daywear too, you know...

 

[whereisthatsusu]

EXACTLY!!! i agree with everyone---there is no need for a 15-year-old to be wearing designer items. i had initially told him to look at places like you all said: club monaco, diesel, banana republic, etc. or go to big designer sales. But he wouldn't listen so I had to come here and ask. Thanks for all the suggested labels!

Max: he lives a "comfortable" lifestyle, but he is definitely not "ridiculously rich." apparently his parents only gave him money because he had been wearing the same clothes everyday...lol

faust: i am located in Vancouver, BC. definitely not a fashion capital

 

[Max]

Originally posted by sbbbjm@Mar 26th, 2004 - 4:07 pm
max -- i really like some of that troVata stuff. i really want those pants that have the flap that flips up to a pinup! those are rad! i had never heard of it before. is it american?

Yeah I love that pocket design too. troVata is based here in SoCal in Newport Beach and I'm working for them right now, just got back actually.

 

[Max]

Originally posted by tott@Mar 26th, 2004 - 4:29 pm
How about everywhere? Designers do daywear too, you know...

Yeah I know, but I think if you're on a budget and buying desinger you should go for the items that really look it and those tend to be too extravagant for daywear.

 

[Christopher31]

THey sell trovata at boutique that i love to shop at in Scottsdale. I almost bought a few of the shirts, very vintage and fun!

 

[Christopher31]

*** Hey max, hook me up with some deals at trovata, haha.

 

[sbbbjm]

ooh me too

 

[Max]

Christopher31 and sbbbjm,

If you guys come down to Newport Beach when we have our sample sale I probably could hook you up...

 

[wyatt.]

i can understand this. when i was 15 i was determined to save up for a $600 dollar Hamilton watch and then even more a $1,500 cartier tank.

thank god i got over that.

i would still like certain things


like man would i love a suit.

i just need somewhere to wear it.

and preferably a date.

oh and 1,000 GRAND FOR ONE

i'd probably want a dior homme, dolce and gabbana or...hmm...hugo boss suit.

 

[softgrey]

loserunit said it--A SUIT
that's what you should get if you have $600 to spend...
does holt renfrew sell menswear?
there are some decent stores in vancouver
he should be able to get a cool suit

wear the suit jacket with a button front shirt-cuffs left open
dark or black straight jeans
blk shoes

i love that look...very cool right now...

or wear the whole suit with a t-shirt...
wear the pants alone w/a shirt...
etc...

that's what i would do

 

[mode_addict]

i think he should invest in some shoes preferabley ysl. but i don't know how this 15 year old is. well invest in some dark denims, try apc if you're in nyc. i'm still obsessed with them after 3 years, if not go levi's. i'm really sick of diesel excpet for their fankers. maybe get a beautiful wallet. and get a staple jacket like a blazer or a leather jacket. with 600 bucks you can probably get 3 nice pieces that will last for a very long time.
or let him go crazy.