<p>Aside from frat functions and other social occasions, S. wore his to off-campus info sessions that were a prerequisite to formal job interviews.</p>
<p>Son wants to know what’s wrong with the gold buttons.</p>
<p>There’s a lot of debate as to the appeal of gold buttons on a navy blazer. In my personal opinion, they just come off as ugly and cheap and is something reminiscent of young children being forced to dress up for church or dinner. </p>
<p>Truth is, there really isn’t anything wrong with them but you must think of a blazer as more than just a formal piece of clothing. For casual or everyday wear, you’ll want a button color that matches or blends well with the color of the blazer and avoid the metallics. Again, this is personal choice, but when paired with a jean, casual shoe, and tee, the gold buttons will come off as a bit of overkill. The lack of metallic buttons tones down the naval appeal of the coat.</p>
<p>A navy blazer, white and/or lt blue button down shirt and khakis will take a kid a long ways. You can pick up a blazer for under $10 at the Salvation Army or Good Will on half price days.</p>
<p>Interesting thread, since I’m going to be a junior this year and have been thinking recently about the need to buy a suit. What are some of the classic looks that I should go for? What’s the distinction between a suit, and blazer?</p>
<p>…it’s amazing the things that you don’t really learn in life until you need them.</p>
<p>Lands End also has nice ones that don’t cost an arm and a leg and are nearly indestructible. I buy one annually for my son. (summer place we go to requires one for diners over 13)</p>
<p>Not to say he doesn’t need such things, I’m sure he does. Most would agree, myself included, that I need a suit and/or blazer. Conceding that point I can proudly say that I do not own either one and hope I can still say that well into my old age.</p>
<p>I have some deep seated aversion to dressing up beyond khakis, an oxford, and a tie.</p>
<p>S has spent his three years in college in cargo pants and T-shirts. He went to an interview for his current summer internship wearing khaki pants, his dad’s Oxford shirt and tie, and a sweater (also borrowed from dad). He said he was better dressed than any of the men he encountered in the large company. So he is spending the summer again in cargo pants and T-shirts. Some of his friends, however, wear jackets quite frequently.</p>
<p>I second the blazer & khakis look for (almost) any occasion–wedding, funeral, interview, nice dinner.</p>
<p>Youngest S has outgrown his old blazer and I’m having trouble finding one this time of year! If I recall, they are abundant in the fall, winter, & spring, but his size is nowhere to be found at the moment. I don’t think he has a real need for one until fall, but I was trying to shop while we had time in the summer.</p>
<p>We never had this problem before, as there was always a hand-me-down from his brothers in the closet. :)</p>
<p>Fanatic, a blazer is a sport coat, usually navy blue, which you wear with either khaki or grey slacks. It’s less formal than a suit; but, as many have commented, a classic and very useful look for many situations, both social and business.</p>
<p>A suit is two or three pieces (jacket, pants, vest optional) all made of the same fabric. I would suggest that for your first (possibly only) suit, you go for a charcoal grey solid or very subtle pinstripe. Two pieces is fine. I would suggest a light weight wool, which you can wear in all seasons.</p>
<p>To go with the suit, you might want a white dress shirt and I would suggest another dress shirt - stripe, check, or solid in a different color from white. This can look a little less rigid. These days it is apparently possible to look “too stiff” in a suit for a job interview, depending on the company. So, if you own a blazer and khakis, a grey suit and a couple of shirt and tie options, you have it pretty well covered.</p>
<p>It’s just so funny that this thread came up. I decided earlier this year that Son - a rising Senior - needed a navy blue blazer. I took him to Joseph A Banks Saturday afternoon after he got off of work, because it was the last day of their 60% off sale. The only ones they had in his size have gold buttons and I’m not fond of them, but son sees nothing wrong with them. We can always switch them out. I think one of the “looks” we’ll try for his senior picture is white button down, dark jeans and blazer.</p>
<p>As I was helping son unpack two weeks after he got home this Spring I unearthed a blazer and dress shirt I had never seen before. Turns out son attended a semi-formal dance in the fall and went down to the local thrift store and bought both!</p>
<p>I’m a little surprised about the gold button comments. The men’s blazers on the Brooks Brothers and JPress sites have gold buttons! These stores have historically been the “bastion” of classic men’s clothing…and aren’t cheap!</p>
<p>Males in my family have always had a blue blazer in the closet. It may only get worn 2 or 3 times a year…but it’s needed for those few times.</p>
<p>Some kids’ navy blazers have shiny, cheap-looking yellow-gold buttons. Those the ones I avoid. I have switched out ugly buttons, be they cheapy gold buttons or cheapy shiny navy plastic buttons, with more subtle looking bronze or antiqued brass buttons from the fabric store. Rich looking buttons make a big improvement to the appearance of an inexpensive navy blazer.</p>
<p>In 1837 young Queen Victoria was to pay a visit to the HMS Blazer. The captain, acknowledging his unsightly crew, ordered a new uniform for the visit, a short navy serge jacket with royal navy brass buttons. The queen was so impressed that a new uniform for the British Navy was decreed. Therefore, by definition, a classic blazer is navy blue and has gold colored buttons.</p>
<p>Thanks USNA! So, I think the item of clothing to which I was referring would be more accurately called a navy blue sport jacket.</p>
<p>Just make sure the material is not shining.</p>
<p>I think it’s always a good idea to have a suit or at minimum a blazer/khakis/tie-one-set-of-shoes-not-sneakers for a young man. I would see no reason I wouldn’t send ds off to college with one. You just never know when it might come in handy.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the buttons. They won’t last.</p>
<p>“Way too dressy for son’s campus- it would depend on where yours is. Son will wear a dress shirt and tie with khaki or black pants for a dress up occasion, such as a wedding, graduation, prom when in HS…”</p>
<p>In our family, a dress shirt and tie with khakis wouldn’t be appropriate for a wedding or similar event; there would be a blazer or suit jacket, even if it was taken off.</p>