I can’t tell you much about fashion trends or haute couture. Not that I disdain it, it’s just not something that I follow. Bell bottoms, tiny suits, clown shoes, skinny jeans, whatever fad has come and gone, I just never manage to pay much attention. I did, however, learn an important lesson years ago when I was in college.
A man named Alan managed a frighteningly upscale clothing store that I wandered into because of a sweatshirt that I saw in the window. By asking about the sweatshirt I got an unexpected education on how to dress. Alan taught me that any outfit, whether a hand-stitched suit, bespoke little black cocktail dress or casual weekend attire, is never complete until the accompanying details are in place.
Whether for men or women, there are certain things that make-or-break one’s appearance, and if one truly cares about one’s attire these things are never left out. Shoes, belt, wristwatch, cufflinks, even the type of knot in a necktie, these are the details that elevate a carefully chosen array of clothes from good to great.
