Quality clothes make the man

BY COLLEEN SIMPSON

Being a fashionable guy takes a bit of doing, but it isn't as hard as you might think.

Colleen Simpson talks to fashion PR guru Paul Blomfield about how today's man can get major wardrobe mana.  

Clothing purchases are one of the first to feel the pinch when a recession arrives, and in many households, it is the man of the house who suffers the clothing budget cut first.

This is tough luck for a nation of men who aren't known for their great dress sense in the first place.

"They really do need to be given some confidence," says Paul Blomfield, a public relations consultant to the fashion industry.

"Bob Nelson, who owned the Satori retail chain, used to say that if you look at who wears suits every day, you will see some of the worst crooks in our society.

"His thing is that some people think dressing up means you wear a suit, but a lot of people's suits are not of a high standard."

Blomfield is more a fan of having different outfits for daytime and weekend dressing. Different but always stylish.

"Style is generally achieved through the way things are put together and how they fit. Also, if you only ever buy from chain or discount stores, the fabrics will give you away - they just don't look new enough for long enough."

Blomfield says there are plenty of ways to be clever with your fashion spend.

Office workwear doesn't have to be all suits and ties, he says.

"I have to confess I'm pretty much a jeans man these days, but I don't wear damaged, distressed or even faded jeans. My jeans are always new, crisp and shiny.

"I prefer Wrangler sharpshooters or straightshooters, because they're slimmish in the leg and not very grungy."

Top-notch jeans can, Blomfield says, provide the foundation for a good, practical business crossover wardrobe. "I don't work in the office all the time. The dress in corporate offices is different, but most of us don't work in that world and we can get away with a good sharp pair of jeans."

So jeans at work are OK when they are put together with a well- tailored shirt and a smart jacket?

"Yes. And don't forget to pay attention to your shoes. If your shoes are sharp, your shirt is slick and well made and you have a nice jacket, then you can wear jeans in nearly any environment."

Blomfield's wardrobe does contain a "great" pair of trousers that aren't jeans, but still pay homage to the comfort he holds dear. "I have to go to a lot of events and you have to be able to read your event, and sometimes you just can't wear jeans."

"Living in the public eye during the week means that at the weekends, I tend to wear really shapeless, easy, comfortable stuff and only if I have to go out and party do I put on something sharper."

A good jacket can make the wardrobe and Blomfield's advice is to invest carefully in well-made, well-designed items, rather than succumb to the lure of a cheaper, less polished alternative.

Spring officially starts today, and while the shops are bulging with the new season's offerings, Blomfield says those with smaller clothing budgets should resist the urge to splurge on one-season wonders.

Instead, only items that won't date and can be worn year after year, should be bought.

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THUMBS UP

* Investing in well-cut, tailored shirts.

* Polished shoes that gleam.

* Cufflinks - they add a formal touch.

THUMBS DOWN

* Sleeves and trousers that are too short or too long.

* Only one pair of shoes for all occasions.

* Grungy old jeans in the office.

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- © Fairfax NZ News