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What to Wear When: Club Hopping |
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Written by Brian Joyner
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 It’s Friday night, things are popping all over town. You’re heading out with the fellas/ your crew/your folks, or maybe it’s you and your girlfriend/wife/significant other. Either way, you want to look right and you want to be comfortable. A guy's club attire makes a statement about you and if you're not appropriate or confident in your gear, you won't look relaxed and you get past "go" with that hot brunette leaning on the bar, working a mojito. Plus, the last thing you want is the bouncer stopping you while letting your boys in. So what's the right stuff a guy should wear to the club or lounge?
- Dress for the environment. Don’t wear a suit to a hip-hop club, unless you’re Sean Carter. Even then, I’d still argue against it. That means you get a reprieve from wearing a tie, too.
- We don't care who you are, you don't wear a hoodie, sneakers, or any sort of athletic wear to a club, no matter how much you paid for the gear. Most bouncers will leave you on the curb if you bring your gymwear to the lounge. Leave your Adidas at home
- Stay away from just wearing a printed t-shirt by itself. Just because Tyrese wore a Beatles t-shirt to the Smirnoff Ice Opening Party for “The Fast and the Furious 6: El Segundo Slide,” doesn’t mean that you should. He’s a singer/actor, under the age of 30, and he's in better shape than you. He can get away with just a t-shirt at a club. You can strip down to a t-shirt when things heat up, but we recommend a more sophisticated look when not on the dancefloor.
- Layers are you friends. Back to the printed t-shirt - you can certainly wear one under a sport jacket with a good looking pair of trim pants. If you’re going dancing, as stated above, you can remove the jacket when it gets hot on the floor. You can pare down, stay cool and not become a sweaty, smelly mess that just pisses the rest of us off.
- Hats - check with the club or lounge before showing up with your lid in place. Some clubs ban all headwear, others limit what they'll accept. When in doubt, porkpies, driving caps and stuff you'd expect Timberlake to wear are usually fine. Ballcaps and trucker hats and stuff you'd expect K-Fed to wear are usually not fine.
- Remember, you’re going out. This isn’t an office gig. Loosen the tie, break up your suit, and wear clothes that say “I’m having a good time,” not that say “I’m refinancing my car loan.”
Now, on to some options that lend class and cool to your club attire:
- Sport jacket. A sport jacket lends instant sophistication to your look. A lot of guys will show up in the usual button-front striped shirt and some form of designer jeans. You show up with a cool sport jacket and immediately you stand out - for the right reasons. Look for one that's more flavorful than the usual blue blazer. Something with interesting details, like patch pockets or contrast stitching for button holes, of light construction (little or no shoulder padding, a minimal lining), and a unique fabric or texture (sharkskin, corduroy, suede, etc.). In other words, a one-off piece that doesn’t look like it’s the top part of a suit. It dresses up a pair jeans or slim pants and now you have a place for your phone, wallet, and shades. Plus, you can always take it off when you want to lighten your look. Just keep it within sight; if you think the jacket's hot, so will somebody else who wants to make off with it.
- Zip- or button- front cardigan. The sweater creates a long line that’s slimming for some guys. It can add a bit of bulk for the thinner ones. A sharp, sporty look. Think light wools, cotton, or blends to keep you cool.
- Trim-cut (or athletic cut) dress shirts. Don’t wear the same white or blue Oxford shirt you’d wear to the office or the same polo you wear on the golf course. Wear a trim-fitting button-front dress shirt with strong colors, bold checks, thicker stripes, or other interesting patterns. If you want to wear shirts untucked, look for those with a straight hem on the tail of the shirt, not the curved one most dress shirts have (it looks sloppy untucked). Regardless of the shirt tail, we recommend you tuck it in because it’s just a cleaner look.
- Jeans and flat-front pants (not chinos). No pleats at the club, Hammer. Flat-front pants with a trim fit give you a modern, stylish look. Mid- to low-rise on pants are popular, but not too low because it's not 1992 and we don't want to see your underwear. Also, everyone from Theory to French Connection to The Gap has trim flat fronts for every body type, plus a number of them have colors beyond the basic khaki or black - orange, blue, red. Don't be afraid to stand out. Regarding jeans, there are hundreds of styles out there for every body type, color choice (although we strongly advocate blue, the darker the better), and budget. Pick something that fits your body on the hips and doesn't hang off your butt like your diaper's full and needs a change. One point - some clubs and lounges frown at jeans. Call first so you're not sitting curbside with the Adidas fellas.
- Boots or casual loafers. Chelsea boots or other slip-on or lace-up ankle boots in smooth leather or suede, or suede slip-ons with an elongated toe box are sharp. Either are great options and will lend some style and cool to your look. Sneakers should be for the basketball court so instead, bring some stylish grown-folk shoes to the lounge and look classy while looking cool.
- Finally, you have to make sure the accessories are tight. Complete your scene with a good-looking belt, sharp tank watch, and cuff links if the shirt calls for it. These are the finishing details women will notice.
Remember, going club hopping is not the same as lazing on your couch, watching Monday Night Football and eating Hot Pockets. This is the time to step up, step out, and let the people of the world know you've arrived. You’re going out to have a good time, so dress like it and bring your "A" game to the table. See our video on how to put this together, here.
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