Where do you buy decent clothes?

I would say that JC Penney is a step above Old Navy.

Be a real man. Shop at Sears.

I agree with those that said Gap and Old Navy (at least for value). My favorite stores are Express (men’s) and Guess. The problem you are going to have is that once you get in a slob rut, it’s hard to put things together with style. Just because a brand name or style is fashionable, it doesn’t mean that it looks good. Dressing good is not about wearing a cool shirt or nice pants, it’s about the ENTIRE package. Biggest mistake I see guys make is wear a cool outfit and crappy unclean shoes and a different color belt. It will take a little time to build up a cool wardrobe where you will be able to mix and match some. My word of advice, go into a Guess or Men’s Express type store and approach a well dressed gay male salesperson. I have had extremely good luck with these guys when my style gets caught in a rut. Nearly everytime I have had one of these guys pick out a new outfit, I have gotten tons of compliments from the ladies. Female salepeople can be okay too, but there usually is something missing when they help me. It seems that with many gay male sales associates, you become a project to them and they really care more about you looking cool than making the sale.

How about american eagle? Is that any good?

Real men don’t get laid by hot chicks either! :p

Yup, at AE you can pull of a nice grungy clean look as most of their clothes have a worn look to them (which I like). Abercrombie & Fitch is good like that too but the arms always run really long with me.

Interesting advice.

I actually buy pretty good footwear, “Timberland,” because they work best for my wide but short feet - very comfortable and durable. It’s from the ankle up that there’s a problem.

Don’t ever work in a Timberland Boot, my friend. They are not durable as I remember holding a 6 month old pair together with Duct Tape at UPS. Steel Toe Wolverines have lasted me 8 years, but are giving up the Ghost now.

Ummm, I’ve seen some crap advice sofar, honestly, JCPenny? There’s a difference between dress nicely and dress normally. Dress nicely at: Armani Exchange, Diesel, Banana Republic, Express Mens, Gucci, ect. If you’re younger you can get away with some abercrombie and hollister, otherwise, no.

I’m too much of a power shopper, so I do reconnaissance trips to places like Nordstrom, Old Navy, Macy’s, Gap, Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer and Abacrombie and Fitch; then I go to cheap places — Ross, Costco and thrift shops like Value Village — to see if I can find the same styles and brands for less. If I can’t find what I want for less, I go back to the cool stores.

Most of my casual clothes are second-hand purchases from thrift shops.

I can usually afford full price, but I have to find bargains. It’s genetic. When my mom died, the eulogy I read at her memorial service was all about how she had ingrained in me the inability to buy anything that isn’t on sale. She was a classic child of the Depression — the consumate pack rat and bargain hunter.

Old Navy and Banana Republic have clearance racks that ocassionally have nice, very inexpensive stuff.

Land’s End is good for inexpensive, quality dress shirts: Lands’ End: Flannel Shirts, Pajamas, Sweaters, Turtlenecks, Coats

Go shopping with women. I have two hot friends who love to take me shopping. I trust them to tell me when I look good, and to check out styles that I’d normally be too shy try on.

One tip from the women I know: no pleated pants. Flat front only.

I haven’t set foot in a JC Penny since the took their advertising off of the Ellen DeGeneres Show after she came out.

I will certainly keep wolverines in mind now. 8 years is incredible. Longest I’ve had a shoe for is 2 years - they were Timberlands. The average is 6 months.

Why no pleated pants?

Timbers you dress with, Wolverines you work with. Just never confuse the two and all will be fine.

Check out Kohl’s.

Apparently because they give guys an unflattering frilly hump in the front, and when you sit down they give you a fakey tent that looks silly. Of course, they’re making recommendations for my 5’9” stature, and might say something else if a guy is 6’11”.

What’s your inseam, by the way? Like 40+?

>>>I’m not on that much of a budget. I do have some disposable income.

Hey huff, where’s the “Forum Donator” designation under your name? ;)

>>>approach a well dressed gay male salesperson. I have had extremely good luck with these guys when my style gets caught in a rut.

I agree 100% with this; I’ve also found that gay men give me a better haircut, on average, than do women (or hetero men). It probably has something to do with men’s obsession with beauty, regardless of sexual orientation. Most women, I’ve found, just aren’t as aesthetically sensitive in the visual-sexual sense.

>>>Dress nicely at: Armani Exchange, Diesel, Banana Republic, Express Mens, Gucci, ect.

I’d have to sell crack to afford that stuff!