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What to Wear for a Night Out

May 5, 2010 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Kenneth Cole Video Style Guide – What to Wear for a Night on the Town

It happens to everyone.  There’s some occasion for a nice dinner out, then cocktails or a bar crawl afterward, and 90% of the guys out there won’t know what to put on.  They’re stuck in a blue jeans/untucked dress shirt/square toe shoe rut, and they can’t get out.  For the latest installment of Kenneth Cole’s Style guide, Brian from Kenneth Cole Productions design services tries to put a 30ish something fellow (who looks awfully weird in his suit by the way… doesn’t he?)  in a “bouncer-proof” outfit for a night out in the city.  What they got right, and what they got wrong, after the video.

What they got RIGHT:

The Jeans – Kenneth Cole New York 5-Pocket Denim $59.00

Fail Proof Denim - Dark but not black
Fail Proof Denim - Dark but not black

$60.00 is getting up there for a pair of jeans, especially since Levi’s 501s do the job just as well.  But the tonal stitching on the back pocket is a nice touch, and the Kenneth Cole Logo is there but not overly visible.  Nice choice for a night out.

The Watch – Kenneth Cole Touch Screen Black Watch $175.00

It's a bit odd, but in a good way.
It's a bit odd, but in a good way.

It’s fairly obvious that they’re pushing this new touch screen watch, and they’re pushing it hard.  That plug at the end is not real subtle.  But I’ll give Kenneth Cole this, it’s a nice looking outside of the lines casual watch.  Digital can never work in a more formal environment, but on a pub/club crawl this’ll stand out while fitting in.

What they got WRONG:

The Jacket – NO: Kenneth Cole Suit Jacket – $198 | YES: INC Slim Augusti Blazer – $69.98

Suit jackets go with suits, blazers can be worn with jeans.
Suit jackets go with suits, blazers can be worn with jeans.

That’s a suit jacket.  Notice how it seems too structured on the already stiff looking Brian, and thus, he looks completely unbalanced.  Suit jackets should be worn with matching pants.  Never jeans.  What you SHOULD wear with your jeans, is a lightly structured casual blazer.  Like this one from the Macy’s House brand INC.  It’s slim and cotton, but still dressed up enough for higher end establishments.  Slightly peak lapels give it extra character.  Plus, it’s a steal at less than half the price of the suit jacket.  How can you tell the difference between a suit jacket and a more casual blazer?  If it comes in chest sizes (like 38, 40, 42) it won’t go with jeans.  Stick with the S, M, L sized jackets and you’ll be good.  And one last critical point.  Never, ever… pop your jacket collar.  Ever.  Period.

The Shoes – NO:  K.C. City Vision Sneakers – $108 | YES: Aldo Mitchen Loafer – $69.98

Shoes often seperate the men from the men-boys
Shoes often seperate the men from the men-boys

For starters, looks like Brian from Kenneth Cole Design services picked out a shoe that’s available in one of their stores, but not on their website.  That’s just fine though, because if you want to “bouncer proof” your look, show up looking like you’ve got money to spend.  And that means no sneaks.  Grown ups with grown up money get treated well.  Grown ups also wear leather shoes, like these Mitchen Loafers from Aldo.  For only $70 these will help you pass the grade with the bouncer, and more importantly any women inside.

Shirt & Accessories – NO: Necklace/Bracelet, V-neck – $88.00 |  Yes: Fitted Oxford – $49.50

If the left appeals to you... You're doing it wrong.
If you find the left appealing, I'm sorry.

The Term “Douche Bag” is overused.  But sometimes there’s just not another word to describe a look.  There just isn’t a more appropriate way to describe an over accessorized, too-cool-for the room, embellished to the point of bedazzled young man wearing all that… junk.  Dog tags are for the military.  If you haven’t served and you’re wearing tags, you’re a poser.  Plain and simple.  Bracelets are for women and Johnny Depp.  Graphic V-Necks are for guys with low self esteem or overblown egos.  Just put on a fitted striped oxford and you’ll look great.  Want to get nuts?  Go for a micro-floral pattern.

Click for the Women's Style Guide
Click for the Women's Style Guide

One Final Very Big Question

For this one, I ask you to watch not just one video, but both videos.  They always do these in pairs, one style guide for the men, and the other for women.  Here’s the women’s version.  Give it a look.

She… looks amazing.  Now Ask yourself this:  Is the male subject from the Kenneth Cole Men’s style guide, wearing that, going to get that woman’s number?

No.  Not a chance.

Filed Under: Accessories, Clothing, Shoes Tagged With: casual blazer, douche, INC Blazer, Kenneth Cole, man jewelry, style guide, What to Wear

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Comments

  1. Matt says

    May 5, 2010 at 9:40 AM

    Maybe is just me but neither the guy nor the gal looked good. Other than the jeans everything was bad on the guy. That watch looks horrible, touch screens are for phones not watches. The gal’s outfit was a mirror of the guy’s, large print shirt, overly formal jacket and mismatched silk pants? Also, for the women, empire waistbands make you look even fatter than you are. Even Kate Moss looks like she may be pregnant wearing an empire waisted anything.

  2. Bryan says

    May 5, 2010 at 10:01 AM

    I agree with Matt. Both were pretty bad. Yes, the model in the women’s video is pretty hot, but the attire was not. It probably does have to do with the waistband, I felt like she was pushing her stomach out or something. Everything about the guy was fail, including the guy himself. He looked like he has something up his ass. Not to be overly critical or anything :).

    However, I disagree about the watch. I think it is pretty cool, and would probably get it if it weren’t $175. The touch screen might be a bit gimmicky, but the display and textured background look really nice.

  3. Dap says

    May 5, 2010 at 7:27 PM

    Dappered, fix your HTML code. The entire site lisps to the right.

  4. Bryan says

    May 5, 2010 at 8:19 PM

    Yea, I think the addition of a new category (button) at the top pushed the ETC. category off to the next line and messed up the floating of content.

  5. Adam says

    May 5, 2010 at 10:26 PM

    I’m losing faith in Kenneth Cole’s idea of what looks good. Every video I’ve seen you put up they pick at least 2 items that look ridiculous particularly on a guy that age.

  6. kin says

    May 6, 2010 at 2:25 AM

    I’m not taking style advice from the middle age crisis Michelin man. HEY KENNETH COLE, YOU CAN’T BRING BACK GRAPHIC TEES. Also, $40 for dogtags?

    HAHAHAHAHAAA

  7. Steven says

    May 6, 2010 at 5:22 PM

    Looking at that guy in the suit jacket made me dizzy. I think I went cross eyed. Not only was it a SUIT jacket, not a sports coat, it didn’t fit him. The shoulders were over-padded, and sticking out to the sides, and the waist hung off him like it was afraid to touch that horrible shirt (and I wouldn’t blame it).

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