Men's Wardrobe (Chic Simple) [Hardcover]

Chic Simple Partners (Author)

Book Description

Series: Chic Simple | Publication Date: June 3, 1998

Men's clothes today are confusing--they reflect the multi-task world we all live in, where work is a constant presence and fun is serious business. The old uniforms are gone, with casual work environments, new cultural standards, and increasing global influences, new styles are evolving. In this changing time, Chic Simple Men's Wardrobe makes the myriad options easy, accessible, and inexpensive. The book is divided into four sections of a guy's life:  WORK LIFE takes you through everything you need to compete sartorially whether you work at home or in an office, EVERYDAY LIFE reflects today's more casual society and the new dress codes for weekends and after work, OUTDOOR LIFE is a gear guide to both the classics and the tech-advanced sport clothes for golf, tennis, skiing, fishing, hunting, or the gym, and evening wear, whether for a casual dinner date or opening night, is covered in NIGHT LIFE. In addition, you'll learn to:

--dress for an interview or a night on the town
--handle the new corporate casual look
--travel for a week with an overnight bag
--relax when the invite reads "black tie"
--choose the right cut for your body type
--dejunk your closet and recycle the classics you own
--create a low-maintenance lifetime wardrobe

First Aid, a section in the back, turns you into your own valet--stains, starch, ironing are demystified; how to pack and how to shop are deconstructed; and a glossary defines more than 200 terms from "gusset" to "placket."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you don't know how to tie a tie--or pretend you don't--obtain this book posthaste. The Chic Simple folks have once again produced a classic, stunning collection with gorgeous color photographs, perfect problem solvers, and helpful resources, including the Web site addresses for everyone from Adidas to Waterman pens. They show you the essentials for preventing Monday morning "I have nothing to wear to the office" panics, the basics for a camping trip, and the perfect shoes to wear with a tux. Can you mix a tattersall shirt with a checked tie? What does tattersall look like, anyway? Have no fear, it's in here. This book will help you create a sensible, organized wardrobe that'll keep you prepared for any fashion situation, from a job interview to "casual day" at the office to the golf course.

The book is especially suited for men who hate to shop because they have no idea what they're doing. How do you spot a good-quality dress shirt? Look for at least 14 stitches to the inch on the placket. What to wear for a nice slimming effect? Try a suit with a tailored vest. How do you take care of leather shoes? How to pack a suitcase so your clothes don't come out looking like crepe paper? Chic Simple Men's Wardrobe tells you.

From the Inside Flap

Men's clothes today are confusing--they reflect the multi-task world we all live in, where work is a constant presence and fun is serious business. The old uniforms are gone, with casual work environments, new cultural standards, and increasing global influences, new styles are evolving. In this changing time, Chic Simple Men's Wardrobe makes the myriad options easy, accessible, and inexpensive. The book is divided into four sections of a guy's life:  WORK LIFE takes you through everything you need to compete sartorially whether you work at home or in an office, EVERYDAY LIFE reflects today's more casual society and the new dress codes for weekends and after work, OUTDOOR LIFE is a gear guide to both the classics and the tech-advanced sport clothes for golf, tennis, skiing, fishing, hunting, or the gym, and evening wear, whether for a casual dinner date or opening night, is covered in NIGHT LIFE. In addition, you'll learn to:

--dress for an interview or a night on the town
--handle the new corporate casual look
--travel for a week with an overnight bag
--relax when the invite reads "black tie"
--choose the right cut for your body type
--dejunk your closet and recycle the classics you own
--create a low-maintenance lifetime wardrobe

First Aid, a section in the back, turns you into your own valet--stains, starch, ironing are demystified; how to pack and how to shop are deconstructed; and a glossary defines more than 200 terms from "gusset" to "placket."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1st edition (June 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679445765
• ISBN-13: 978-0679445760
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic, like the clothes it describes, September 18, 2001

By 

Mr. Timothy Johnson (DICKSON, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Men's Wardrobe (Chic Simple) (Hardcover)

This book is *the* reference guide for the man pursuing that elusive, important goal that separates a real man out from the philistines around him: the quest for the perfect, stylish wardrobe.

This book was given to me as a 21st birthday present, which was shortly before I finished university, and I have found it to be an invaluable resource in building a good wardrobe and in discovering a good sense of style as I've set out to forge my own way in the 'real' world.

The book presents a very detailed examination of classic men's fashions in various aspects of life and their corresponding wardrobes: work, leisure, sport, winter, summer, accessories, ties, cufflinks - and so on. This book gives you an insight into what defines the classic fashion in each of these areas and gives some tips and general rules about how you should construct your wardrobe in each of them.

The book is also very 'cool' - it is very well presented with lots of great photos and illustrations. The variety of classic quotes from books, films, etc that are used to illustrate various points work really well and help to maintain your interest and the sense of coolness about the book as well.

It should be noted that this book is not an exhaustive guide to what is fashionable, and is almost quite the opposite. Rather than focusing on clothes or wardrobes that are fashionable, this book presents only those things that are never likely to go out of fashion (like the classic two or three button, black or dark blue suit, or a well-made trenchcoat). So, don't buy this if you're looking for an analysis of the latest in men's fashions, but do buy it of you are into timeless classics and don't plan ever to go out of style.

This would also make a good companion piece to other books on "how to be a man", and in fact it does address this question in part as well.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book has a chic appearance but the text is too simple, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Men's Wardrobe (Chic Simple) (Hardcover)

Chic Simple is a book of glossy pictures and bad text. The writing is poor in both substance and in its unreadable graphics. The text full of senselessly varying fonts and styles. There is good information squeezed in tiny print in the back of the book, but that is obtainable from any of the clothing books out there already. If you like gazing at men's clothing, though, it's a nice book to thumb through for a few minutes. It will provide you with some nice visual examples of how to put together outfits. However, a good salesman could do the same. I don't understand the rave reviews given to this book. It's not bad but it's not great either. If you're looking for real understanding of clothing beyond pictures, go elsewhere.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost exactly what I was looking for., September 25, 2001

By 

Daniel J. Warme "dwarme" (Van Nuys, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Men's Wardrobe (Chic Simple) (Hardcover)

Loved the full color layout. Explainations of what a Harris Tweed is, Pin Stripe vs. Chalk Stripe, Oxford, or Broad cloth, Tattersall, or window pane. Terms that get batted around but have never been able to see actual examples before. Very comprehensive. Perhaps the one thing I would have wanted additionally would have been more ideas and direction in dressing for social occassions that did not include a Tux, or the boss. Overall though I found it a very worthwhile book and intend to refer to it time and again.