I’m ditching the polyester and Kevlar for good shortly and need to beef up the wardrobe. Any standout suggestions for dress shirts I should start with especially for summer wear for an easy sweater? All of my current occasional wear ones are 100% cotton, is this still the best option for comfort and breath ability? No problem paying for quality but not looking to impress with labels. Thanks in advance for the suggestions.
Also interested in daily wear business dress shoes with comfort and some traction, no smooth soles.This message has been edited. Last edited by: ceptor781,
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Posts: 2200 | Location: VA | Registered: June 12, 2004
I'd vote for cotton rather than a blend. Breathable, comes in many styles and colors, Wide range of price points depending on your wants and needs. I've had much better luck with wear and appearance with more expensive shirts (Brookes Brothers, etc.) but YMMV.
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Posts: 1994 | Location: Southern California | Registered: January 16, 2003
Originally posted by bonfire: I just picked up some shirts from Costco called 32 Degress. I am wearing them under my suit and so far they great. Light and breathable.
Thanks for the info so far. I should clarify when I say dress shirt I mean tie and suit/jacket business dress. Also any directions for comfortable all day wear shoes to go along with business dress attire would be appreciated. Tie or slip on doesn’t matter but I’d like to avoid leather soles and keep some traction.
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Posts: 2200 | Location: VA | Registered: June 12, 2004
I generally stick to all cotton shirts, however, if I'm in the Southeast US, I know the air will be humid and/or, I know I'm going to be sweating a lot, I like shirts with a 50/50 blend. If you're looking to build the wardrobe, Brooks Brother's usually has a 3/4 shirt specials, works out to about $50/shirt. Nordstrom rack is also good place. Dress shoes...buy the best you can fit and afford. Shoes are one aspect to make the investment. A black and brown oxford are good starts.
Posts: 15190 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000
The only shirts for me are from Dillard's. Roundtree and Yorke. Gold Label. Amazing shirts. Last forever. Get them as the seasons change. Like a week or two ago, the long sleeves were on sale for 10-20% of retail. In the fall, the short sleeves will go on sale. Amazing wrinkle-free shirts, of superb fabric and detailing. I have two dozen all purchased at a discount and they have lasted for years.
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Posts: 5265 | Location: Commonwealth of Virginia | Registered: January 15, 2007
LL Bean offers a good balance of cost and quality. Brooks Brothers biggest sales are the day after Fathers Day and the day after Christmas. These 2 make up my wardrobe.
Posts: 97 | Location: Alabama | Registered: December 27, 2014
Originally posted by spunk639: What type of environment are you working in? By that court, executive protection general detectives etc
None of the above. I’m giving it up entirely and moving to a REMF position in the office. After 22yrs in uniform I’m taking the money and running inside for good. Just want to be comfortable in the duds I’m buying verses making due with what’s been issued over the years.
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Posts: 2200 | Location: VA | Registered: June 12, 2004
I switched to custom shirts and won’t go back to off the rack. These start at 85 and fit so much better. You can chose your fabrics, patterns, and even styles.
You also asked about dress shoes. Ecco has some dress shoes that are quite nice, very comfortable, and reasonably priced. I have three pair in different colors and they have worn well and look every bit as good as much higher priced shoes such as Allen Edmonds.
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Posts: 1994 | Location: Southern California | Registered: January 16, 2003
Thanks for the suggestions. Have a couple of Brooks Brothers retail locations here I’ll start with since I can put hands on.
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Posts: 2200 | Location: VA | Registered: June 12, 2004
Originally posted by Rebel-22: LL Bean offers a good balance of cost and quality. Brooks Brothers biggest sales are the day after Fathers Day and the day after Christmas. These 2 make up my wardrobe.
This, and make sure you get the travlers wrinkle free type, JAB runs 3 for $99 once or twice a year....thats when I stock up.
I live in DFW and wear oxfords year around, wear UA v neck tshirts and it is mostly comfortable.
Shoes, comfy and with grip...ecco.....not cheap but not real expensive either
Posts: 8301 | Location: Back in NE TX ....to stay | Registered: February 12, 2004
Originally posted by ceptor781: Thanks for the suggestions. Have a couple of Brooks Brothers retail locations here I’ll start with since I can put hands on.
Check to see if you have an outlet near, shirts are normally ~$50 or so....also a good place for suits, picked up 2 BB travelers suits for $900
Posts: 8301 | Location: Back in NE TX ....to stay | Registered: February 12, 2004
One of my favorite shoes was a black wingtip I got from Rockport. It had rubber like synthetic soles, yet was fine for a suit. Felt like sneakers or running shoes. Felt like I could have jogged in them. I also had brown wingtip and oxblood captoe by Rockport with the sythetic sneaker. All looked apprpriate for a suit.
Of course if you run with hi power investment bankers on Wall Street or work at the White House, I suppose that custom made leather soled shoes would be required. I never felt under dressed in Rockport dress shoes in the court house where I worked. Noticed many lawyers, judges and pols wore the same kind of shoes.IANAL but my job required suit and tie sort of formality. My main goal was comfort.
Price was digestable too.
Posts: 1623 | Location: Texas Hill Country | Registered: April 07, 2006
Originally posted by maxdog: One of my favorite shoes was a black wingtip I got from Rockport. It had rubber like synthetic soles, yet was fine for a suit. Felt like sneakers or running shoes. Felt like I could have jogged in them. I also had brown wingtip and oxblood captoe by Rockport with the sythetic sneaker. All looked apprpriate for a suit.
Of course if you run with hi power investment bankers on Wall Street or work at the White House, I suppose that custom made leather soled shoes would be required. I never felt under dressed in Rockport dress shoes in the court house where I worked. Noticed many lawyers, judges and pols wore the same kind of shoes.IANAL but my job required suit and tie sort of formality. My main goal was comfort.
Price was digestable too.
That’s what I wore. Gave away all my expensive shoes after discovering Rockports, a dignified dressy shoe, comfortable, much less expensive. I have one black pair, one brown pair, more than 5 years old now.
Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.
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"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown
Posts: 48369 | Location: Texas hill country | Registered: July 04, 2005
