How to Wear a Custom Suit Questions
How to Wear a Custom Suit
I typically get bombarded with questions about Custom Suits via email, via phone call, and people stopping me in the streets.
I take this, of course, as a good sign. As in, even though America continues to go the way of glittery shirts and super tight jeans, there are plenty of up and coming G’s on the rise that are interested in dressing how men are supposed to dress.
(Side note: To my friends that have been away in prison for the last five to ten years and are reading this now just as you got out, a little clarification might be needed. When I was referring above to “glittery shirts and super tight jeans” I was referring to how guys dress these days, not girls. And yes, I am being serious. Amazing as it may seem for someone who has been “away”, American “males” now actually wear shirts with glitter on them and splotchy designs and guys wear tight jeans. It’s true, there is only so much I can do to keep our country in check).
Anyways, I will answer some of your questions below.
Question: Are there certain cities where being suited down wouldn’t be an advantage or may even be a disadvantage?
Michael Mason: Well I know for sure it is an advantage in NYC, LA, New Orleans, Las Vegas, SF, Miami Beach, Beverly Hills, DC, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, ATL as I have come up Aces in all while Suited Down. Internationally, the list would get pretty long.
In the last year I can confirm: Buenos Aires, Barcelona, Sevilla, London, Riga, Latvia. I didn’t go Suited Down in Cartagena, Colombia which is coincidentally where I took a loss to Gabriel García Márquez.
Not sure about Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Deadhorse, AK or Surprise, AZ. Nor do I intend on finding out. Why don’t you check for me and report back? Fair enough?
Question: Do you think there’s a big drop off in results with quality of suit. For instance, can a guy swoop girls in a $200-300 suit that looks decent and get 90% of the results of a guy in a custom made suit?
Michael Mason: I love how people always want shortcuts.
That being said, you are in luck as from my experience the answer is yes. A little story: back when I was a super young proto-type G cub, I went to a super sick wedding on top of The World Trade, Windows on the World. (Pre-911 obviously). Let’s put it this way, the cake supposedly cost $75,000.
It was West coast Newport beach/Hollywood money meets NYC Hedge fund money flush from the Internet Bubble. All kinds of competition from heavy finance cats and actors. I was a young up and coming Playboy on the Rise in a $300 suit.
Came in with so much swagger I swooped the flyest girl at the wedding right out from under everyone.
Clean KO. (Disclaimer: I was the best friend of the oldest brother of the bride. So I did have a “leverage point”.)
That was the first time I cracked the Top 100 American Playboys list.
So yes, it can be done. And done against top-flight competition as well.
Question: Who is your tailor? Who is this “mystery man”?
Michael Mason: Do me a favor. Actually, it is pretty easy to figure out. He is the best tailor in America and has a supreme clientele of famous people you know. However, I am his favorite client.
He is a super cool old-school cat that knows all the heavies from years gone by. Sometimes I just go hang out in his tailor shop and rap out with him for hours. I consider him a key member of my “team” and a great friend as well.
Question: Do you ever fear you will come off as a cheesy Wall Street Guy when you wear Suits?
Michael Mason: No. But then again, with my ethnic mix (half IRA, half ETA) and since I look like a slightly more Irish-Blooded “Manolo” in Scarface or young Andy Garcia, I get accused, more often, of looking like a high-end drug smuggler more than a Wall Street Cat. Which I have come to realize isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
(Another Side note: Seriously, if Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola ever wanted to make an epic about drug smuggling, they would be remiss in not casting me in the part of the brutally handsome young drug smuggler with South American, Miami Beach and California Connections. I would of course turn down the role. This “Life as an International Playboy” thing I got going on is way too good to sacrifice.)
Plus my suits are different than theirs.
Question: What are your thoughts on the current state of men’s fashion in America?
Michael Mason: I have said it before and I will say it again, My Grandfather always told me; “Style and Taste are for men. Trends and Fashion are for the ladies.” G’s stick with Style and Taste.
Since fashion has 98% of American men wearing either glitter on their shirts or tight jeans these days, it’s not too much of a stretch to think American fashion will have the majority of American men wearing skirts and dresses in a few years.
Is it?
To be continued…
Third Side Note: Sometimes I don’t know what is weirder; the fact that 98% of American males wear either/or glittery shirts or tight jeans, or the fact that I am the only one that seems to question this fact.
(Fourth Side Note: I have that same sports coat with the big houndstooth check that Benny Siegel is wearing above. Of course, I had to have it custom made).
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA GFK, Jr.
AKA The Sly, Slick and the Wicked
AKA The Voodoo Child
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Louis Armstrong- High Society
21/01/2011 at 4:38 pm Permalink
LOL. You can always count on the G to give a scathing critique of modern day america. It needs to be done and no one else out there will do it except the G.
21/01/2011 at 11:23 pm Permalink
G, when rolling in the custom suit do you typically go with or w/o tie?
22/01/2011 at 12:52 pm Permalink
G,
Great post the site needs more on men fashion. I feel the same way men just are not men any more thats all it break downs too. There is a huge transvestism among modern men that makes me sick fashion is just really the clearly obvious thing that we see. The way these new man talk, walk, shake hands, and even sit is all very woman-like. I was at a party and i saw man standing with his legs crossed and hands on his hips like a woman. Now you would think he was gay but he was kissing up on some woman who was standing just like he was.
Men walk and stand this way.
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/01/21/style/1248069580659/on-the-street-a-stretch-of-leg.html
Matt-
23/01/2011 at 10:39 pm Permalink
Mike,
First off, many thanks for speaking on behalf of the people.
Secondly, what do you know about Rubenstein’s New Orleans? Just scored some fresh Brioni suits from here last week.
24/01/2011 at 11:16 am Permalink
Shane B,
“Secondly, what do you know about Rubenstein’s New Orleans?”
I have been known to make a stop by when I am staying at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans.
The place can come in real handy if you forget to bring your pocket squares.
Or to pick up a fresh new shirt in case you splash some bbq shirmp juice from Deanies on it.
Any more questions?
– MPM
24/01/2011 at 12:19 pm Permalink
Mr. Mason,
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you. As this country continues to fall apart stylistically, monetarily, and culturally your posts on suits are more important than ever.
From an earlier post you mentioned some entry level labels (Hugo Boss, J. Press). Roll into a function suited down, with Italian dress shoes and a pocket square and (of course) grits and a correct lighter on the ready…
Devastating results, as if you didn’t already know. Cheers.
02/02/2011 at 9:17 am Permalink
On behalf of Rubensteins, Thank you for the kind words and shout out!
We are gearing up for a great Spring Season of Trunk Shows specifically created for customers to design their very own Made-to-Measure Suits, Shirts and Shoes!
We look forward to seeing you on your next visit to the city!
———————————————————–
Shane B,
“Secondly, what do you know about Rubenstein’s New Orleans?”
I have been known to make a stop by when I am staying at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans.
The place can come in real handy if you forget to bring your pocket squares.
Or to pick up a fresh new shirt in case you splash some bbq shirmp juice from Deanies on it.
Any more questions?
– MPM