MALE CALL

Discerning men leave logos on rack, as much as possible

Q. I like to wear bolder colored shirts and have been searching for a replacement for my older bright red shirt. The one I found had the Ralph Lauren logo on it, of which I am not a fan. It has received compliments, but I'm uncomfortable with wearing logos. What do you think?

A. We have a couple of questions/problems here. One has to do with replacing favorite items when they have reached the end of their life, and the other has to do with whether or not to wear clothing with logos.

The replacement problem is one that everyone faces eventually. Say we have a pair of shoes that fit perfectly, feel good, and are appropriate in a variety of situations. We are very fond of them. Then they die and the shoe repair man tells us they cannot be repaired, or that they will cost too much to repair and it makes more sense to replace them. Of course, we know that it will be impossible to find the same style, in the same color, and with just the same degree of comfort.

Even clothes where comfort is not a major factor, such as shirts and pants, present the same replacement problem because the clothing industry is obsessed with making changes. True, everyone likes to find new styles and designs, but the manufacturers seem to forget that we also like to find again our old, favorite designs. I'm sure this is one of the factors that makes the standby companies -- Lands' End, L.L. Bean and Pendleton -- so popular. Men, who like to return to their old favorites, can usually count on finding many of the same styles with little or no changes to replace threadbare ones.

Because replacing clothing items we like a lot is so difficult, I have for years recommended that men and women consider "buying doubles." Unfortunately, when we first buy any new item of clothing, we have no idea if it will ultimately become a true favorite or one of those items that just hangs there filling our closet. But once you start wearing it, you soon discover which one it will be. Just as soon as you realize that a particular garment is a winner, quickly return to the store (or the catalog) and buy a second one -- either in the same color or in another color. The following year, when the store or online company no longer offers the identical item, you will thank me.

And now to your second, more philosophical, question: What do I think about wearing logos? As I have written before, I think discerning men who dress in good taste avoid logo overkill. They do not wear shirts and ties bearing another person's initials. Bottega Veneta, a manufacturer of some of the world's finest leather goods, has no visible identification on its products aside from their intrinsic good design. Their slogan is: "When your own initials are enough."

I don't feel nearly as strongly about logos on sports clothes. Sometimes they are hard to avoid. So many really fine casual clothes bear that little polo player or the well-known alligator. They have become an accepted part of our culture. If you feel strongly enough against them, you can eliminate them from your wardrobe entirely, but their colors are so wonderful, and hard to resist.

Send male fashion queries to

[email protected]

High Profile on 06/29/2014

Upcoming Events