Menswear Designers Throw Out Rules
Question: For men, is it appropriate to wear a navy suit with a foulard tie and a striped shirt, or is that too much pattern? What is the rule for shirts and ties with glen plaid suits?--D.A.
Answer: Menswear designers have thrown out the rule books this season, putting pattern with pattern and print with print, as in this head-to-toe look by Kenzo. The Prince of Wales plaid jacket, pants and cap are worn with a striped shirt, polka-dot tie and a Jacquard striped sweater with snowflake motif banding the neckline. The brown and white spectator shoes offer even more pattern. Not every man can--or would want to--wear this many patterns in one outfit. But the endorsement of such a look by a designer as famous as Kenzo means that even the most conservative menswear manufacturers are beginning to show pattern on pattern. If the Kenzo suit were a solid navy, the striped shirt, dotted tie and patterned sweater would be considered in the fashion mainstream. If you have a glen plaid suit and are not quite ready for Kenzo’s eclectic pattern mix, wear a solid shirt with polka-dot or rep tie. If you want to add a sweater, try a subtle tweed.
Q: Because of a broken foot, I cannot get into my regular shoes. Neither can I hobble all over Chinatown on my crutches to find a pair of kung fu shoes. Is there a mail-order source? A quick reply would, of course, be appreciated.--S.H.
A: Kung fu shoes in women’s sizes 36-41 and men’s sizes 38-45 are available for $9.95 in the current catalogue published by Camp Beverly Hills, 9615 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills 90210. They are available in black or white canvas with rubber soles. In case you’re not familiar with European shoe sizing, a 36 is comparable to an American woman’s size 5, a 37 is the same as size 6 and so on. A man’s size 38 is equivalent to an American 5, a 39 is a 6 and so on up to size 45, which is an American 12.
Q: Is it OK to wear a dress with beads or sequins to an afternoon wedding? I am the only attendant, and the ceremony will be followed by a reception and dinner that continues on into the evening.--R.R.
A: Because the ceremony is followed immediately by events that will continue into the evening, a beaded dress is OK. If the ceremony and reception were afternoon only, your beaded dress would not be appropriate.
Q: Are my black patent oxfords from 1982 still OK to wear now? Or did they go out with the “Victor/Victoria” look?--P.A.
A: Patent leather flats are still at the height of fashion, having just been shown for fall by almost every major designer in Europe. Rome designer Laura Biagiotti gives them a new twist by tying them with black-satin ribbon instead of shoestrings.
