Guys like this are a dime-a-dozen in God's so-called organization...
http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1054546530199272.xml
Michael Wilcox, 67, Cleveland
06/02/03
Q. When do you consider a gentleman fully dressed?
A. "When he puts on his cuff links. When yo uget dressed, get dressed, or don't bother."
A well-dressed man's insights
Before dress-down Fridays started the casual trend, men donned suits, ties and dress shirts for work.
They coordinated their pocket scarves to their ties. They matched their socks to their trousers. They finished their look with a fine selection of cuff links. There was an understanding that personal image was directly related to respect.
Paying attention to these details is Michael Wilcox's primary lesson for those who long to continue this image of a well-dressed man.
Wilcox, a Jehovah's Witness minister and a private investment consultant, is wearing a suit from Saks Fifth Avenue, paired with a shirt and coordinating tie from Dillard's. He adds some finesse with a pocket scarf, and he matches his socks to his trousers. That's the kind of detail that gives you a valuable insight into his self-image.
His summer straw hat ($150) from Mike the Hatter in Cleveland adds a touch of fun to his otherwise traditional look.
With 35 suits in his closet, hanging next to 50 or so shirts and 100 ties, Wilcox has developed a strong foundation for a fashionable man's wardrobe.
"My ties change all the time," says Wilcox. "Right now the wider tie is in, so I'll wear those until the styles change."
Wilcox looks to the book "Dress For Success" as a resource for creating his sartorial image. He also relies on his wife of 22 years, Delecia, for solid fashion input.
"Delecia has a great eye for color - she's a color master," says Wilcox.
He has learned to stick with earth tones that work well with his complexion. He makes sure all the individual fashion pieces blend together well.
With a $100 monthly fashion budget, Wilcox spends to maintain his style rather than reinvent it.
Wilcox will indulge in custom-made shirts, an extravagance that he says is well worth the high price tag.
"I've had several shirts made," says Wilcox. "You get the style you want and a fit you'll never find over the counter."
At $75 a pop, longevity matters. He is still wearing some custom shirts that are 30 years old.
"They're as good-looking as the day I had them made."
-Brenda Sue Junkin, Plain Dealer stylist
Contact Brenda Sue Junkin at:
[email protected], 216-999-4541