Be A Sharp Dressed Dad Despite the Messy Odds
This blog entry is being written in the interest of the future. From where I sit, almost all of my friends are beginning to have kids. And, man, these things are real. They are little bundles of joy that take the way your life used to be, and throw it as far away as they can. But, does that mean that every aspect of your life needs to change? Do you have to resign yourself to the possibility that between 2:00am feedings and changings, that you’ll be that guy in a stained hoody and warm up pants with a thin butt? Mercifully, the answer is: no. Neither does going in to the office have to consist of searching for the shirts, ties, etc. with the smallest, or least objectionable spit-up stains. Of course, a gentleman’s family, and children are always going to come first in his life. After all, these are the people who will truly define you as a man. However, even though having a kid means you will have to sacrifice your sleep schedule, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have to stop dressing as sharply as you used to. Before your child, you used to be the sharp dressed man in the office, and the good news is: you still can be. Granted, it is going to take a little more planning and attention to detail to get back to where you used to be, fashion-wise.
The fact is that your time is far more limited than it used to be. With this in mind, you can still maintain your dapper appearance; it is just going to take more effort that it did before. But, there are tips that you can follow to help you.
1. The first one is fairly obvious: select dark fabrics that can more easily hide stains from prying eyes. Kids are messy, and you are going to have to roll with these punches. Don’t try to be a hero, and rock your cotton seersucker suit like nothing has happened. Instead, opt for something in tweed perhaps, as these are already dark, and the rougher texture can more easily hide food stains. Also, grey flannel trousers will be your best friend, for mush the same reason. For a while anyway, it might be time to say goodbye to your sophisticated silks, and become familiar with some stain resistant, microfiber alternatives. But, beyond their stain fighting abilities, these darker fabrics and rougher textures also look great, and you’ll look great in them.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
A Dad in Tweed and a Yellow Floral Tie made from a stain resistant microfiber.
2. Groom yourself before your children are on the scene. This is where the dedication part comes in, as this will take extra time in the mornings. Not much; thirty minutes should be ample time to shower, shave, and select your outfit, but it’s all about having that undisturbed time to yourself, so plan for it.
Photo Credit: www.designspiration.net
3. Save actually putting on your shirt, tie, and jacket for when you are about ready to head out the door. This tip might seem a little silly, until you’re breakfasting with your family, and a giant spill ruins your outfit. Again, it’s all about timing and sequence to build the best dressing routines in the mornings.
Photo Credit: http://thevintagologist.tumblr.com/
Bow Ties are Great Accessories Because They are Harder to Tug At!
Become familiar with stains. You should be like a detective; knowing which course of action is the best for which type of stain; food, or otherwise. In general however, if you act quickly, and follow your clothing label’s instructions, you should be all right. Remember to be patient, however, and try your stain removing procedure again, if necessary.
There are other tips, like having an extra change of clothes at work, just in case, and storing your more valuable accessories away in a safe place before wearing. And, you’ll probably come up with a few tips of your own. Looking good can be work at the best of times, and now with kids, it is going to take that much more extra effort and time. But, in the end, maybe the most important reason to maintain your dress standards is for your family. No wife in the world will not be exited that you, her husband, are dressing in a sharp and professional manner. And, you can definitely use your dressing routine as a teaching opportunity for your kids. Show your children the care and love that is involved in shining and looking after a nice pair of leather shoes. Or, teach them how preparing, and laying out your outfit the night before can save you much time and stress in the mornings. These are the moments that, with luck, will seep into their personalities, and make your kids better, and sharper members of society. As a father, you are setting an example, not only for you children, but for how the rest of the world perceives you and your family. All you have to do is sacrifice some of your precious time, and choose to make the extra effort involved in looking good.
Happy Dad’s Day Everyone.
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Who said you can’t wear two different kids of checks in one outfit? Here the gingham check shirt is nicely paired with a Glen plaid jacket. The charcoal pants and color matching knit tie set a nice contrast. Two things worth taking away from this example: #1: Solid colored knitted ties look great with gingham check shirts, and #2: You can indeed pair two different kinds of checks as long as the scale (size) is different. Photo credit: www.menofhabit.com
Multi-colored gingham shirt paired with pin-striped suit, V-neck sweater vest, white pocket square, and solid charcoal gray necktie. What is worth taking away from this picture is the use of color on the shirt on an otherwise monochromatic charcoal and dark blue ensemble. Also always great is pairing a Gingham shirt with a solid colored V-neck sweater. Photo credit: http://thisandthatstyle.tumblr.com/
A great way to pair a larger scale light blue gingham check shirt: Brown suit & orange polka dot tie. We would also suggest adding a pocket square to this look that ties in with the orange of the tie and the blue of the shirt. A good example would be a madras check pocket square in blues, oranges, and browns. Photo credit: www.acuratedman.com