- Subscribe
Join 30,000 other guys just like you. Primer is proudly spam free, Unsubscribe at any time.
A Guy's Guide To Growing Up
Affordable style, self-development, how-tos, and apartment DIY for the aspiring gentleman.
A Man’s Complete Guide to Linen: Hacks for Wrinkles, Affordable Picks, Outfit Inspiration & More
How to wear and care for linen, the easy way.
Deal: $17 Levi’s 512 Slim Taper + More
Snag them before they sell out.
The Best Dress Pants for Every Budget
Despite what you may think, you do have options when it comes to dress pants. Check out some of our top picks.
Amazon Prime Has Completely Changed the Way I Buy Everything
Shipping charges really add up when buying things off the internet, with Amazon Prime most items get free 2 Day delivery. But that's not the only benefit the service offers.
How to Play Pool (And Look Like You Know What You’re Doing): An Animated Visual Guide
An easy how-to for pocket billiards.
This post brought to you by Old Spice
Dead Simple Accountability Solutions for the Easily Distracted
Modern life is full of distractions, from Tweets and GChats to AIMs and Yahoos, not to mention just regular email. To cut through the weeds of distraction, what you need is a method to keep yourself ... [more]
The Casual Outfit That Will Carry You Through The Rest Of Summer
Simple can be stylish, too.
Live Action Getup: Summer Vacation Means Working Smarter, Not Harder
Channel your inner “Bond on a tropical island” and pack these easy to wear pieces that look good on the beach and at the bar.
The Intentional Apartment: An Industrial And Modern Living Room Look
Follow this plug-and-play plan for a quick decor upgrade.
The Ultimate Collection Of 42 Free Wall Art Prints
The budget-friendly cure for blank walls.
Getting Started With Scotch Whisky: Everything You Need to Know
Scotch might be a sophisticated drink, but learning to love it is surprisingly simple thanks to this crash-course guide.
What Is The Cheapest Rolex?
Rolex watches have been the choice for presidents, astronauts, A-list movie stars, and more – we break down how much it will actually cost to get one of these timepieces on your wrist.
kp
That bag… must buy….
confused grad student
How about a getup for grad students? pretty please. I’ve always had trouble standing out from the undergrads and not dressing up like older professors.
Young but professional.
I attend UC Santa Cruz so the styles range from hipsters, surfers, richie rich kids, hippie, but professors on campus don’t dress up.. jeans are ok.
But I’ll be teaching soon, so I’d like to be taken a little bit more seriously. I’m reading past entries and trying to learn what I can. Thanks for the great blog.
Matt
Just don’t show anyone at work the pocket knife. =)
Nice outfit, as always Andrew.
Jonathan Nguyen
Andrew,
How is the build quality of that bag compared to the Saddleback Leather one you reviewed a while back? I found the Etsy link and it appears to be made in India. Photos make me believe the hardware is a bit unreliable. How do you stand on this issue? Thank you heaps. As always, great combination. I particularly enjoy the pattern contrast between the shirt and tie. Keep on doing your thing!
Jonathan Nguyen
@jonnguyen
Andrew
Hey Jonathan,
Can’t speak first hand unfortunately. I’ve been eyeing it and a few others on Etsy for awhile.
David
Does Forever 21 sell mens clothing in their stores? Every time I have walk past one, I see nothing but girls clothes and dismiss the place (I used to do the same thing with H&M, but now I shop there regularly). I really like that cardigan and want to try it on before buying it.
Andrew
David, They do, but some stores, as with H&M, are women only. Their men’s line is called 21 Men
http://www.forever21.com/Product/Landing.aspx?br=21men
Andrew
Confused Grad Student,
Is there something about this Getup you think you can’t wear as a grad student? Too formal? Ditch the pants for jeans.
km80
Andy,
You need to do an article on slim fit shirts and the price ranges. I am just not a fan of shirts that balloon in the middle. Makes me feel like a middle aged banker. thanks for helping me dress better
Andrew
That Brooks Bothers shirt would be a good place to start. I’ve found a lot of the new slim options at places like Gap are actually TOO slim for my average build, so at places like that, regular fit should be slimmer than the balloon sacks we’re used to. I’ll look into doing a post!
JC
Dear ATS,
I’m living in Denver now and I am wondering if you have any tips on outdoorsy styling that can play at the bar and the office without looking like I just got off the mountain…
Michael
I second the idea of a slim fit shirt article. I’m a slender guy (5 ft 9, 155 pounds) and I look like a child in most dress/sport shirts I try on. An article pointing out my options would be extremely helpful
John
I’m with Andrew on slim fit and grad student or young professional: The Gap Triumverate Slim is too slim, so I just stick with Classic, but size down sometimes (their S is 36-38, M 39-41, and I wear a 38).
Trade the trousers for dark jeans (or faded ones for that matter) and this outfit works. In fact, most of these Getups would work for a grad student with or without a less dressy substitution.
Cheers!
David
Thanks Andrew. I checked the site and there isn’t a 21 Men store within 100 miles of me. That would explain why I never see them…
KM80
On the topic of slim Shirts..Anything but GAP and H&M, they almost seem good for only one wash..More like wear and throwaway. I’ve tried Banana Republic, JCrew and some brands off Nordstorm rack and found them good, but I’d be curious on Andys take on it
Andrew
KM80,
I’ve had the same experience with H&M. I still like browsing the store and find some things from time to time, but for basics I’ve moved elsewhere. I do have a white dress shirt from there that is still holding up after a few years though, so I guess it’s just hit or miss.
I haven’t had that problem with Gap though, honestly they’re one of my go-to’s for stuff like that. I’d watch out for shirts that look like they might shrink, I had a western shirt from there that shrank quite a bit and I can’t wear now.
For flannel type shirts you can’t beat Lands End Canvas, the one I have from them is one of my favorite shirts, and it’s a nice fit, not too slim, not baggy on my average build.
David
KM80,
Aside from H&M, I have a couple ‘fitted’ shirts from Express. I am more built (6′ 1″, 195 lbs, 44″ chest, 33″ waist, with 36″ long arms), and the ‘fitted’ shirts fit me perfectly. Not too tight, but still slim. I have never tried on their extra slim 1MX shirts though. The price is a little high on the high end (~$70/shirt), but it’s another place for you to look.
Ethan
Andrew,
Can you explain what the difference between a non-iron shirt, a casual buttoned shirt, and a regular dress shirt is? Non-iron shirts confuse the crap out of me as far as how to wear them, but they seem to feature a lot of classic, versatile designs. Thanks!
Fred
How about a get-up on summer garb, featuring shorts next time?
Andrew
Ethan,
In my experience non-iron is a production method, not a style. They coat the fibers with a chemical that keeps the shirt wrinkle free. I have wrinkle free dress shirts, and wrinkle free casual shirts. If you travel in high class circles, I suppose a wrinkle free shirt may not be dressy enough compared to a super-nice dress shirt, but for us common Joes, a wrinkle-free dress shirt in a tasteful pattern and flattering cut should be just fine. Hope that answers your question.
Andrew
Fred,
Definitely a good idea for a Getup. Where do you live that it’s shorts weather already!? 🙂 I’m in LA, and I still wear sweaters.
Fred
haha yeah I’m from Dallas, so it’s been 70s here for about a month (and getting warmer). I feel like I can dress well with pants, but shorts confuse me, especially when it comes to pairing shoes with them
Jake
i found those photographer pants to be incredibly slim at the calves and thighs…and their producer pants are just a tad bigger than i’d want. any suggestion on something in between with a wool or wool- blend slacks for a sleek look?
Tense Wooden Watch | Primer
[…] addition to getups ranging from casual to smart casual. It would look perfect with The Getups like Up and At ‘Em, A Full Saturday, or The Casual Office. This watch, beyond its looks is astonishingly light. If […]
PWA
How about a day at the state fair?