The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing

This book is the best of the books out there explaining the rules of dress for a man. It describes the traditional way of dress. Obviously, today people tend to dress very casually, but even if you don't wear a suit all the time this book is useful. You will understand how one is supposed to dress. If you choose to bend the rules to make a style point, you will know what you are doing. If a situation arises when you have to dress traditionally, after reading this book you will know just what to do. I dress casually most of the time, but now I know what to do if I choose not to (at work, at a wedding, at a gala affair, etc.). After reading the book, you will start to notice the way men dress in a new light. This is knowledge that every man should have

There is nothing I hate more than wasting money. And there is nothing quite so satisfying as finding a good bargain. With that in mind, this book has become an indispensible guide and companion as I navigate through the sometimes treacherous waters of buying clothes. Now when I see a shirt marked down to $9.95, I am able to discern if it really is a bargain or if I will be out $9.95 and still not have a shirt to wear. This is a wonderfully informative book and gives all the information I have been seeking on the fabrics and workmanship of men's clothing.

While its true that most offices have gone casual these days, this is a book that should still be in every gentleman's library. To be without this knowledge is to be at a grave disadvantage -- Even if your intent is to break the rules, you'll need to understand them first.The great thing about this book is that it covers the history, origin and derivation of classic men's style, allowing the reader to not only understand the grand traditions, but to approach modern style with a new awareness (read: power) and appreciation.I absolutely loved this book -- In fact, I wish I'd read it before I ever entered the business world, as it certainly would have saved me a great deal of time and money, not to mention an awkward wardrobe of costly and seldom-worn garments. If you're interested not only in what to wear and how to wear it, but curious as to where it came from in the first place, this is the book for you.

Have to jump in here. I loved this book, precisely because it doesn't just tell men what to wear. Style isn't about being told exactly what to wear. Style is understanding what clothes say about a man and how to look good! Any book that tells you exactly what to wear is going to be stale in one year. This is the book that lays out the whys!

What a great gift item for almost everybody - men including sons, dads, grandfathers, or business associates and don't forget women such as wives, girlfriends, and daughters who end up dressing their significant others! The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing is an invaluable reference book for me or anyone who wishes to be knowledgeable about timeless classic men's wear. I had a great time reading it from cover to cover in one sitting and I couldn't put it down - it's written in such an easy and unassuming style. It is both a history book on men's clothing and a practical book for today when you really want to wear appropriate clothes for an occasion. The book speaks both to those living within a tight budget (me) - I can now identify quality on my own in retail stores or thrift shops - and to those for which money is not an issue. It may sound stodgy that the book gives you knowledge amounting to hundreds of years of combined history from the most prestigious of clothiers, but I feel that it definitely adds to my appreciation of what people are wearing today and what I would like to wear - even if it's not classic. I guess it's analogous to learning psychology in college: with that knowledge, one can more easily define oneself and other people. With information from this book, you now can identify your own and other people's styles more clearly - and its fun. I feel like I've had easy-going conversations with the most knowledgeable of conservative clothing retailers and I can walk into any store with more confidence. A must read!