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Help me buy some suits

saslett — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:24:36 -0800

Help me buy some reasonably priced, high quality suits I've transitioning into a job that requires that I wear a suit almost every day. I own only a few suits. Those suits from a time when I worked at a much higher paying (though lower quality of life job) that didn't require a suit very often. To give you an idea of their quality, one's a Zegna and the other's an Oxxford.

Yeah, I spoiled myself.

But my new salary is such that I can't go out and buy half a dozen $1,500+ suits to get myself started, and I'm going to need a fair stock of them soon. I know I can't approach the quality of an Oxxford without shelling out some major cash, but I don't want to feel like I'm wearing glued together cardboard or pay $800 for something that will fall apart in a few years.

So where should I buy them? I'm looking for well-made suits in the $500-$800 range. I've visited a bunch of stores that carry such suits (Brooks Brothers, Jos A. Bank, Nordstrom, Dillard's, etc.) but I'd like input on which store has the highest quality suits in this price range.

I'm particularly interested in your opinions of Brooks Brothers vis-a-vis Jos A. Bank. From what I could tell (and I'm no suit expert), the nicer Jos A. Bank suits seemed to be of the same quality as the Brooks Brothers suits but far, far cheaper.

If you feel you need more info about the new job to recommend suits, I'm transitioning from private practice legal to government legal.

It's good to walk a mile in another person's shoes, because then you'll be a mile away and have their shoes.

spamguy — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:52:41 -0800

What can I do to repair the heel padding inside my shoe? I'm a guy, and a cheap, lazy one at that, so I have one pair of tennis shoes for everything: work, exercise, errands. What's worse, I treat them like crap. I tend to wear them like slippers, pulling them off and putting them on without bothering to tie the laces.

Naturally, this has not been good to my shoes. In the three or four months I've owned my current pair, I've rubbed away the padding on the inside of my shoe at the heel. Walking has become rather uncomfortable now that my heel's rubbing against harder fabric. Exercise, which I do several times a week, is worse.

Is there something I can buy or do to cover this hole up or make it less noticeable? I promise to treat my shoes better afterwards.

Where can I find a inexpensive dress in Paris?

Vanna79 — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:58:14 -0800

I have just moved to Paris and am not at all familiar with the area. I am in need of a black dress for a wedding that I am in at the end of the month but can't find anything for a reasonable price. If anyone knows of a good place to find nice dress for 200EUR and under I would greatly appreciate the help.

Are nipple piercings attractive on straight men?

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:20:55 -0800

Are nipple piercings attractive on straight men? (I have no qualms with LGBT persons with nipple piercings, but that doesn't happen to apply to me.) I'm a 30-ish year-old guy and I already have my tongue pierced and I've been thinking about getting my nipples pierced as well. Before doing so, though, I thought I'd get a sanity check here.

Of course, I realize that opinions will vary, so I'll probably just try to gauge the overall vibe on this (unless, of course, it ends up veering heavily in one direction or the other). And if you're in the in-favor-of camp, I'd also be interested if you have any preference around whether a guy has one or both nipples pierced.

Help me compromise my ethics!

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:20:07 -0800

For nearly a decade now, I've avoided all leather goods for ethical and aesthetic reasons. But I'm at a point where I'm sick of wearing canvas athletic shoes and imitation leather dress shoes (which are often ill fitting and, frankly, silly looking), and am looking to have my guilt assuaged so I can return to wearing leather. Basically, I'm looking for arguments in favor of wearing leather shoes, and for any arguments downplaying the ethical compromise that the purchase(s) would entail.

I feel like if I could justify the decision to purchase a few pairs on whatever grounds, my decision wouldn't feel like such a compromise and I wouldn't feel too guilty about it.

Where can I sell vintage clothes in L.A.?

corey flood — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:58:19 -0800

Can you recommend a good place in Los Angeles to sell vintage clothes? I used to sell vintage stuff all the time in the Bay Area, but haven't yet had the chance to do it down here. Has anyone had experience with particular stores in L.A.? It would be great if they offered a reasonably decent price (though this isn't the most lucrative endeavor) and if the store wasn't a bastion of hipper-than-thou attitude.

Again, I'm looking for places to sell to, rather than buy from.

Grizzly Adams

chuckdarwin — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:05:28 -0800

Why do the white hairs in my beard grow so much faster than the brown hairs do? When it comes time to trim my beard, the brown ones are much shorter, and this happens every time. There is a very noticeable and measurable difference.

Help me with my hirsute shoulders!

bardic — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:23:18 -0800

Shoulder hairs. I hate 'em. But I'm getting older and I'm getting more of them. Is there any easy way to get rid of them? Shaving my shoulders (more specifically, the upper portion of my back between my shoulders blades) seems like a recipe for disaster. But, what to do? Plucking is what I do now, but that's tedious. A piece of tape? A very patient GF with tweezers? ZOMG help me before I turn into a cave-man!

Permanent hair color atop temporary hair color: please discuss.

iguanapolitico — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:32:16 -0800

Permanent hair color atop temporary hair color: please discuss. I used a temporary hair color on Tuesday night, and it's not the right color. I'd like to do something about it this weekend, maybe.

I should start by saying that until a few years ago, I colored my hair (myself, out of the box) for years and years. I'm not terribly afraid of new colors, or having weird color hair days, or any of that. And my hair is very short and very healthy, since it's been natural for a few years. And I really, really don't want to spend salon prices right now, and anyway, I've had better luck achieving the colors I've wanted at home.

So I'm thinking my alternatives, to tame this undesired hair color, are:

1) Wait the "28 washes" that the box says this color will last (and it's red, which is notorious for fading quickly, so it might go faster than that)

2) Use another temporary color over this color, to "fix" it (for the next 28 days)

3) Because I'm still interested in coloring my hair, go ahead and choose a permanent color (perhaps one that I've used before and am familiar with) and go that route

(I should also say that I'm not sure why I chose the temp color. It was a moment of madness, I think. I wanted to color my hair but didn't want to take the time to think about the color I wanted, so I quickly decided on the temporary stuff. There is no other reason why I chose the temp.)

But I've never used a permanent color on top of a temporary color. (I've never used temporary color at all.) What would happen? Would the permanent color maybe not "bind" to my hair as well? I do imagine the results of the permanent color will be influenced by the presence of the temporary color, but for how long? Will the temp color be able to continue washing out? Is this just a Bad Idea?

I'm mostly interested in replies from people who have actually done this. There are a lot of OMG GO TO A SALON FOR HAIR COLOR people out there, and I'm not one of them, so that knee-jerk response won't work on me. (I've ALWAYS done my own color, and my stylists have always gushed over it. They'd have tried to sell me a salon coloring job if they felt they could.)

I've done permanent-over-permanent, but have never used temporary before, so this is new territory for me. I'm not TOTALLY freaked out by the color, but ... I had really hoped it would fade more by now. I'm tired of the whole "Did you change your hair color?" "Yes, but it's not right and I'm changing it" conversation, and I've only been out of the house for 3 hours since Tuesday night. :)

But if I just lose 5 pounds, it will fit me.

typewriter — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:28:13 -0800

Purging closet filter: What should I do with clothes that are close to brand new but that I don't want anymore? I have clothes. I have lots and lots of clothes. How many? I know for a fact that I have enough clothes including underwear and socks to last me 6 weeks.* I am purging and giving away, but I am still left with clothes that I are high quality enough that I don't want to give them away. They are not designer, but often high quality wool or silk and sometimes from mid-high end stores. They are my work clothes, but would be considered too dressy or casual for the average office drone. (I'm in the arts.) I figure I could do the following:

Option A: Sell'em
I looked through Toronto's craiglist but there wasn't much traffic in the kind of stuff I have. I don't want to ship stuff either so Ebay is out. (I don't have a lot of spare time.)

I don't know of a good consignment store in Toronto. I used to go to Re-threads but they closed down. Anyone know one?

Option B: Give'em away

Freecycle. I know about them but I don't want a bunch of strangers trooping up to my porch trying on jackets etc. Yeah, come pick up a toaster, that's fine, but pants?

Clothing Swap. I just end up with more clothes. And I have to provide snacks and haul all the clothes away to charity. At least the clothes would go to my friends.

Charity. Sometimes they come pick up from my house.

What should I do with them?

*The length of a work contract. Then I would get a break. Do laundry. And repeat. For real.

Where can I find pastel oxford dress shirts, size 14?

ptsampras14 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:47:38 -0800

Where can I find oxford type dress school shirts in a size 14? I am looking for pastel school shirts, size 14. I have the normal colors (yellow, pink blue white) but I want green, orange etc. The better the brand (Ralph lauren, tommy hilifiger), the better. I know polo doesn't make size 14, and I would like direct links to the item not just brand websites. Btw, I want oxford with the buttons on the collar, not dress shirts and also the cheaper the better but thats not really an issue. Thanks

Hair straightening in Chicago

echo target — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:34:20 -0800

Where to get hair straightened in Chicago? The girlfriend and I are going to be in Chicago this weekend, and she'd like to get her hair straightened. It's fairly long - down between her shoulder blades. We'd like a place that:
1. Won't do horrible damage, and
2. Is reasonably priced.

We're going to be visiting friends in Lakeview, so bonus points if it's anywhere around there. Any experience or suggestions?

How do I arrive in style?

Gungho — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:41:34 -0800

A new dress code at work requires suit and tie. So other than transporting my wardrobe to the office and changing there what is the best way to commute to work on a scooter and arrive in style? I prefer to wear an armored riding jacket which seems diametrically opposed to a suit jacket. Folding the suit and putting it under the seat coat isn't an option. Too much oil and junk.

Where can I find a silver ornate watch?

mrmarley — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:00:24 -0800

Where can I find a watch in this style? (silver/western/spanish/somewhat ornate) this is for a man bytheway. It's a "Fossil" brand watch, but they don't sell this style, nor could I find anything like it on amazon. ideas? suggestions?

Are there cute, comfortable shoes for women with larger feet?

burnfirewalls — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:49:18 -0800

Comfortable-and-cute-shoes-filter: can my wife find a pair of shoes that don't blister her feet? My wife and I live in the United States, and she wears size 11 shoes. Unfortunately, in all of the years that I have known her, she hasn't been able to find a comfortable pair of shoes that isn't an athletic sneaker. She has a few pairs of them and they fit fine, but they're standard-looking running shoes and they absolutely don't go with anything else besides an athletic outfit (rawr! for sure, but not always appropriate for the occasion).

Mrs. Burnfirewalls has tried Earth shoes (blisters), Terra Plana shoes (run small in the footbed, sent back before she got blisters because she couldn't even stand in them), and Sofft shoes which, while not giving her blisters, had a heel at an awkward height. Add in a wide variety of other shoes that I just can't recall.

She also says that she doesn't even know how a shoe is supposed to fit, so this has obviously been a chronic problem.

She is reduced to wearing Crocs, Mario Batali be damned! Help us have a nice night on the town, with her in cute shoes and me a happy man!

Hivemind: do you have any advice on particular brand/shoe combinations? Good brands? Manufacturers that realize that not all women have tiny, postage-stamp sized feet?

I want to be smooth.

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:32:49 -0800

Question about best practices for hair removal in intimate areas. What is the best way to get rid of the coarse hair leading from belly button to parts south? Shaving there leaves ugly stubble--is wax worth it? If so, what kind would you recommend? If it matters, I'm a lady. As for my actual pubic area, it is already neat and trim. My question for that area is how to eliminate razor burn/bumps on my actual bikini line. I'd rather not wax there since I don't have a huge amount or anything particularly thick to shave--I'm not extremely hairy, just need to do some light but regular maintenance. Any tips, techniques, products, aftercare ideas are welcome. Thank you.

I needs me some new duds.

crickets — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:08:31 -0800

I'm about to start my own company, one that will require some face time with clients and partners. I'd like to spruce up my wardrobe a bit, but in simple ways. Help? I'm a guy, and I generally wear business casual -- no polo shirts -- mostly Gap-type button downs (not tucked in), Threadless shirts, and/or long-sleeve shirts that I find cool, and always jeans.

I'd like to step it up with some additional pieces -- a pair of kick ass shoes, a printed blazer... I don't know. Something that will kick up my fashion a notch and make a good and memorable impression. I'm not averse to paying good money for something I will wear a lot.

I'm tall, and not skinny (I weep for my twenties), and in NYC if it that matters.

Any thoughts?

MAC moisturizer mix up

nadawi — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:49:36 -0800

I just ordered makeup from MAC and picked studio moisture fix instead of studio moisture cream. what's the difference between the two? i have amazingly dry and break out prone skin. cetaphil with the MAC studio moisture cream keeps it under control. when i was ordering, i guess i just wasn't paying attention (silly glass of wine) and clicked the wrong thing. do these products do different things? all the descriptions on the website and reviews are a tad vague, and no one compares them.

if it's important, i don't wear makeup ever and i'm 26.

if the fix won't work as a substitute, can i return things i bought online to a retail store? i've opened the box, but i haven't opened the moisturizer.

It's not class or ideology, colour creed or roots...

TheWhiteSkull — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:16:13 -0800

Where can I find a pair of the new UK made vintage Doc Martens? Specifically, I'm looking for a pair of 1490s (10 hole) in a UK size 12. I thought I'd ask here before wandering up and down Queen st.

what would you do with this hair?

epersonae — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:58:52 -0800

Help me find a cool short(er) hairstyle for my thick wavy hair! I'm having my occasional itch to do something relatively drastic with my hair. (It's been waist-length & pixie-short over the years, as well as flame orange, blond, and fire-engine-red.)

Right now it looks like the first few pictures here, you can see I've grown it out from a shag-like cut over the last year, and before that it was a kinda "meh" bob. I've been grooving on the big fluffy hair, but it's getting on my last nerve. I'm thinking short, mid-jaw or shorter.

I bike a lot, and do yoga occasionally. Something that survives a couple of miles under a helmet without looking totally f'ed up is very important. Plus, as you might imagine from that, I'm not much for lots of products or fussing, although I don't mind a bit of something or a little blow-drying. I'm in a professional, moderately conservative work environment, but I'd like to fall on the hip/artsy side of the spectrum.

My hair is very thick, inconsistently wavy, and grows freakishly fast. I'm starting to get a few grey hairs, and they have a crazy kinky texture, but they're not very noticeable (yet). IMO I have a tiny head for my body, although less so than I used to. :)

Although I like my stylist, I'm terrible at explaining what I want done with my hair, so good photos and especially terminology are appreciated. Thank you!

Fitness swimsuit sizing for busty women

craichead — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:55:42 -0800

I would like to start swimming laps. I have big boobs. What size Speedo or Tyr-type woman's swimsuit should I get to prevent uncomfortable boob-flopping? Years ago, I enjoyed lap swimming. I'd like to take it up again. Unfortunately, I have misplaced my swimsuit, and I'm having trouble shopping for another one. I remember that the nice lady at the sporting goods store recommended that I buy a suit that was a little tighter than normal, to compress my big boobs. But I don't remember how much tighter than normal she said to go. Does anyone have any insight?

My bust measurement is 36, my underbust is 28, and my waist is 27. (Those measurements are correct. I have no waist. I like to say that I'm like two grapefruits nailed to a two-by-four.) I wear a 30F bra. According to the charts I should probably get a size 34 swimsuit, but the charts don't have an underbust measurement, and I suspect when they say that a 34 is good for someone with a 36 inch bust and a 28 inch waist, they're imagining someone with a 28 inch waist, a 34 inch underbust, and a 36 inch bust, which is to say a small-busted, proportionate woman. Should I, a large-busted mal-proportioned freak, get a 32 inch swimsuit? Or should I stick with the 34? Or go down to a 30? Help!

I'd like to order a suit online if possible, and if not I'd like to get it from a general sporting goods store rather than a fancy swimming store. Is that a lost cause? Do I need to go to the fancy swimming store out in the burbs and get fitted by a pro?

Boston Filter: Help me get a cute haircut.

grapefruitmoon — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:32:29 -0800

BostonFilter: Where can I get a cute, reasonably priced haircut in Boston? I'm kinda new in these parts and I need a haircut. I'd like to have recommendations first, so I don't just walk into a salon and end up paying a huge chunk of cash to end up looking like a springer spaniel.

I'd like to pay <$100. I don't know how much haircuts go for in these parts, I was paying ~$45 in Providence. Clearly, I am not looking for a recommendation to Super Cuts.

I'm in the Back Bay area and willing to trek to the ends of the Green Line (or anywhere else on the T) to obtain cute hair!

(I saw the recent post for a poster with wavy hair. My hair is stick straight, fine, and about chin length. I'm not looking for a new style - I've been rocking a short asymmetrical bob for a few years and it's just peachy. I just need it to look more intentional and less like I just fell asleep in a pile of hay.)

I want cool shirts!

evil holiday magic — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:50:00 -0800

Where can I get some cool men's shirts? I've collected a few shirts I consider really cool and interesting, and I want more. I have a lot of regular work shirts, short-sleeved button-downs in conservative colors, etc., but I want a few more items that pop. Unfortunately, they're few and far between, usually the result of a thrift store run. Items I consider interesting include:

A DKNY faux-army shirt with tattered patches and grid-textured fabric.

A green dress shirt with faux double- collar and cuffs, and a giant friggin' silkscreen of a statue of Mercury on the front.

A black pullover made of a stiff textured fabric.

I'm interested in shirts with textured materials, or interesting construction (like reversed seams, frayed edges, etc.), or uncommon fasteners (buckles, laces, etc.). I'd also be interested in other interesting quirks of design and construction; preferably at reasonable prices.

children's apparel industry publications

foxinthesnow — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:55:07 -0800

Are there any children's fashion/apparel magazines? I am looking for English-language magazines that are about the children's fashion industry, not like, parenting magazines that have fashion features. The magazines will be used by college students in fashion marketing classes.

Bambini Collezioni is an example of what I am looking for, but are there others that you know of?

Help me with clothes for my lifestyle--SAHM/Travel/exercise/errands/small town/comfort/classic

seekingsimplicity — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:09:19 -0800

I would like some direction about making my wardrobe work well for my lifestyle that I see as diverse. I am home much of the time in our smallish conservative town (SAHM to teens)
I do yoga/biking/weights/run
I run errands/clean house/do yardwork/cook
I am the wife of a business exec and we do a fair amount of travel to board meetings and dinners (international and US) where I must dress nicely and walk for hours
I go to church about once a month
belong to a knitting group

The other parameter for me is that I am comfortable when walking a lot in foreign places but still want to look good!

Please help me find classic/timeless practical clothes and shoes that I might feel good in!

Thank you!