When I lived in Manhattan, I often found myself in after-work events and some pretty swanky fashion affairs, so the bar for looking good was always pretty high. I soon learned how to easily navigate what to wear and have on hand to smarten up the same outfit that I had been wearing for crouching in fittings or air travel that same day. I also learned to have my tuxes always ready and paired clearly in my closet so I could get home and quickly change if needed. It only took me once to mistakenly show up to an event, unfortunately with a black jacket and navy pant, to realize that simple closet organization and good lighting was rather important. Gone are the moments you would see in crowded midtown bars after-hours with the Madison Avenue execs removing their ties, rolling them up in a pocket and unbuttoning the top button to a dress shirt, to look the part. Social dressing in 2023 has a code of its own, so follow the few tips for savvy style game for after-hours that will have you James Bond suave for any impromptu evening.
My go-to in this situation are the dark color families simply because they look better in dimly light evenings, especially if you plan on taking group selfies at the table, where darker colors frame the face perfectly for Instagram-ready posts. I also like the darker colors as they feel somewhat sexy; taking a prompt from Tom Ford’s playbook, darker colors like inky navy or black can give a slightly more edgy evening look and make it easy to transition from day to night, avoiding a trip home to change. If you are looking for a bit of color, many of our shirting patterns are available in deeply saturated color, including the latest Ratti prints with smart geos and in burgundy’s deep teals and greens. These all were designed to work back to navy and black, so combining them with your favorite sportscoat and five-pocket pants should be effortlessly easy.
Talking of sportscoats, I find them an imperative piece to have on hand. Without going to velvet, which has a party vibe, a black or navy sportscoat should always be on hand, either a year-round wool from our Studio Suiting, Reda Flexo, or VBC Revenge. I have spoken often about the versatility of a 2-piece suit, and a social appointment is the perfect time to break up the suit and combine the jacket with a 5-pocket pant. We have plenty of patterned suiting with black or navy in the design, so you can steer away from solid if you prefer. Many of our suiting patterns are designed with accent colors to pick up in shirting and layering knits, making them easy to combine with any touch or color you prefer.
I love a navy-on-navy or black-on-black look, but alternatively, the white shirt, again, looks great and shows us why it is an important part of any man’s wardrobe. Also, consider a black or Navy 4-Way Stretch or Reda knit sportscoat alternative for a more youthful option with comfort and style guaranteed for all-day and after-hours style.
Your five pockets don’t necessarily need to be dark, and we are showing many key looks with a darker sportscoat and lighter pants. My advice here is to pair back to a dark or black loafer, and whilst sneakers have become an acceptable look anywhere, anytime (most Country Clubs aside), I think you need a smart lace-up Oxford or loafer to add a touch of “dressy” to a five-pocket look, particularly if you opt for dark denim, which needs a bit of dress-up help for an evening outing.
Cheers!
