Do men really hate wearing suits?

[A1A]

No flames' date=' but maybe you should get yourself fitted for some nice summer weight clothing that fits properly so that you can be more comfortable.[/quote']

 

Believe me Cantstopcrusing, I live in Florida, no wool here! I wear the lightest coolest stuff I can find! It's just the way I feel, in case you couldn't tell, I was having a little bit of fun with my post, exaggeratting a bit I suppose! :D This venue fits us perfectly as dressing up for dinner is optional!

Ken!

Edited August 3, 2010 by A1A

[iancal]

I am one of those men who do not like taking a suit, a jacket, dresshirt/cuffs, tie, or dress shoes on a cruise. I wear a suit and tie for business. My idea of a vacation, lets say in Feb away from the snow, is not one that includes bringing or wearing anything except casual clothes. It is as simple as that. Why on earth would I want to wear a suit/tie when I could be so much more comfortable in a pair of dockers and a light cotton collared shirt. And the final reason....I am a light packer who takes a 21 inch roller on a 4 day business trip or a five week European tour. We generally combine cruises with a land tour of some sort. I really have no more room in my suitcase for this formal gear. I am fortunate enought to have a wonderful wife who is completely fine with this and does not try to give me all the reasons why I really should be just as comfortable and relaxed in a suit and tie as I would be in casual attire.

Edited August 3, 2010 by iancal

[julia]

So, if I might ask a question respectfully: If he were to go to the MDR in a sports jacket and tie, rather than a suit and tie, he'd still need all of those things you listed, except for the suit jacket, right, as he would need some kind of pants with the sports coat? I assume you are indicating that he would be bringing a sports coat anyway (otherwise the suit jacket could replace the sports jacket too).

 

 

Yes... you are somewhat correct in that the actually packing of "suit vs sport coat/blazer" might be comparable, but as stated by others, the slacks would not be "suit pants" (and therefore worn more often) the dress shoes would stay home, and the sports coat/blazer would be more versatile during travel.

 

We simply consider the climate and pack accordingly. We will be on the Solstice in five weeks, and will be dining sans suit, tie, jacket, dress shoes, etc on our balcony (with our own quiet music, a fake candle, a bottle or two of wine, and whatever appears on our little table from room service!) :)

[chipmaster]

I get dressed up for "formal" night usually a sports jacket with shirt / tie and matching slacks.

 

I'd much rather not wear the coat and tie, but the night just kind of calls for it. Why you ask?

 

1) I can wear jeans and t-shirt with tennis shoes to work every day, even when I have to get up and talk to Vps and highers, that is just our cultural. Thus own little clothes that one would call formal night wear.

 

2) The last suit I bought was my interview suit after I got my PhD. Since then I've managed not to grow out to much, but only have fashionable sports jackets and dress shirts thus no suits required or needed so not a big selection in my closet.

 

For the ladies would you like to wear something that covers your whole upper body from wrists to neck, then add an additional tight thing around your neck and top it off with a jacket just to look good :D

 

Opps I know the answer to that :o

Edited August 3, 2010 by chipmaster

[elena7seas]

Yes... you are somewhat correct in that the actually packing of "suit vs sport coat/blazer" might be comparable, but as stated by others, the slacks would not be "suit pants" (and therefore worn more often) the dress shoes would stay home, and the sports coat/blazer would be more versatile during travel.

 

We simply consider the climate and pack accordingly. We will be on the Solstice in five weeks, and will be dining sans suit, tie, jacket, dress shoes, etc on our balcony (with our own quiet music, a fake candle, a bottle or two of wine, and whatever appears on our little table from room service!) :)

 

That sounds very romantic :). And I understand the points you made about the packing differences.

 

My DH doesn't have any problem packing his suit for formal nights, but on our last cruise I found him pretending to be ill on one of the formal nights. We've been married long enough for me to know when he is sick or not, so I suggested that maybe he'd feel well enough to have dinner at the Casual Dining Boulevard, for which he wouldn't have to wear a jacket or tie. Surprise, he popped right back to life. We had a lovely dinner and a very nice evening.

 

For myself, I remember when we really enjoyed the formal nights, and I would like to help preserve that for others who appreciate them, because it's an experience that is hard to find at Celebrity's price point. I don't have a problem going to an alternative venue once in a while, if it helps to preserve the ambience for others.

[elena7seas]

I get dressed up for "formal" night usually a sports jacket with shirt / tie and matching slacks.

 

I'd much rather not wear the coat and tie, but the night just kind of calls for it. Why you ask?

 

1) I can wear jeans and t-shirt with tennis shoes to work every day, even when I have to get up and talk to Vps and highers, that is just our cultural. Thus own little clothes that one would call formal night wear.

 

2) The last suit I bought was my interview suit after I got my PhD. Since then I've managed not to grow out to much, but only have fashionable sports jackets and dress shirts thus no suits required or needed so not a big selection in my closet.

 

For the ladies would you like to wear something that covers your whole upper body from wrists to neck, then add an additional tight thing around your neck and top it off with a jacket just to look good :D

 

Oops I know the answer to that :o

 

LOL....you men have NO idea what we go through to look good for you...I see your uncomfortable clothing and raise you one pair of high heels! :D

[julia]

Elena:

 

That is a funny story about your DH "faking illness" to get out of dressing for formal night! It got me to thinking about a post I did three years ago on the Princess board.... I found it and copied below. My DH (like yours) was pretty grateful to not don a suit! :)

 

 

 

Posted August 27, 2007 aboard the Caribbean Princess:

 

My planning brain then starts thinking ahead to the rest of our day, and realizes that tonight is the second “formal night” in the dining rooms. My mind starts processing my remaining and slightly wrinkled wardrobe (you know ladies, how you mentally try on, and then promptly discard, everything in your closet before every event you have ever attended in your entire life?!) Now mind you, I have a pretty nice cruise wardrobe with me (due to weeks of "retail therapy" pre-cruise), and mostly everything is small and stretchy and spandexy. (We also invested heavily in DH's travel wardrobe... who knew that a new suit and coordinating ties could be so costly?!) But, by this particular Friday afternoon, the breakfasts of Horizon Court bacon and sausage are affixed to my waistline, I’m puffy and bloated from tipping a few too many cocktailly wocktaillies, my hair hates this humidity, and my butt cheeks are sunburned from snorkling yesterday (tip: "30 up" your cheeks before snorkling!) I’m a bit train-wrecked at this point, and frankly, the thought of dressing and dining formally in a few hours is a bit oppressing.

 

I slowly weigh my ensuing suggestion before asking the DH... “Hey hon, tonight is another formal night in the dining room… would you by chance want to just skip it entirely and perhaps just dine on our balcony?”

 

I'm pretty sure he spit out his iced coffee before looking at me with this look on his face like I had just handed him Superbowl tickets while wearing a see-through teddy because he knows how much I enjoy the formal dining experience, (even though he doesn’t, he does it for me). His resounding YES YES YES was something right out of “When Harry Met Sally”, and so…. I guess we’re dining on the balcony tonight! Fine with me. We then decide to make it our own “Ultimate Balcony Dinner”, and he gets onboard (hahahaha) with planning the dinner details. (BTW folks….please do NOT jump into this thread about the merits or demerits of formal dining dressing, as I don’t particularly give a RIP what anyone wears to the dining room…. as long as you are a nice person, can complete a sentence without using the word “like” 17 times, and can operate a fork and knife, I’m good to go. Period. No questions asked. :)

 

 

(Still holds true today. JMM):)

[tip]

See, I'm not really sure why folks would choose a vacation venue that doesn't suit their dress requirements!

 

Some of us choose a cruise line not for "dress requirements" but for other reasons. We shall be sailing Celebrity for the first time in January after 19 cruises on other lines. We have chosen Celebrity for one reason----its strict smoking policies. We are looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy our balcony without having to breathe second hand smoke.

 

Some may choose a cruise line for a chance to play "dress up" and they are certainly entitled to do that. For some of us, there are other reasons.

 

I do not own a suit (that still fits). I shall be wearing a long sleeve shirt with tie, blue blazer, dark slacks, and polished shoes on so-called formal night. I don't belong to a country club, have never belonged to a country club, have no desire to belong to a country club, nor do I wish to pretend that I belong to a country club. I have no objection whatsoever to those who do. Just stop acting like you are on the membership committee and want to ban me from th MDR!;)

[David V]

I'll wear a suit and tie (or even an odd jacket and tie) any chance I get.

I'll often be the only man wearing one and that's fine by me.

I can even leave the house without wearing a baseball cap!

 

I save the t-shirt for cleaning out the garage.

[PartyAllDaTyme]

I figure if we can afford to take a cruise, I can afford to buy a suit (or get a new one if my waistline says to:D) and, if necessary, pay the extra baggage fee for another suitcase if it comes to that (hasn't so far). My work dress is jeans and a t-shirt, usually a souvenier shirt from a cruise, so I do like to dress the part and actually look forward to formal nights. Knowing about formal night going in, I buy into it as part of the overall cruise experience. I keep it as light as possible-- skip the undershirt, light cotton dress shirt (I take two different colors to change the look), collar wide enough to comfortably button the top button, I don't even notice the tie. If DW can go through the effort of dolling up for formal night, I figure I can easily do my part as well.

 

To me, not much difference between a suit coat and a sports jacket, so why not dress to the nines? However, I can appreciate those that have to wear a suit and tie to work wanting to skip it. When we get to the point financially that we can cruise so often that it becomes onerous to dress up for formal night, I'll gladly go the buffet or room service route.

[Straughn]

I guess I am lucky in that my SO works in a business casual office and only wears a suit/tie when he has meetings outside the office. Normal attire for him is nice slacks and open collar shirt. He loves an excuse to wear a suit and sometimes shows up in one when I least expect it. He is looking forward to packing his charcoal pin stripe, white monagrammed Frech cuff shirts, cuff links and striped black and silver tie. He is also planning on packing two sport coats for smart casual evenings.

 

We debated the "tux" issue and decided that based on what I was reading on the boards, there were more suits than tuxes, especially in the Caribbean. If I had said "bring the tux", he would have done so.

 

However, I must agree with the statement that sometimes a sport coat and slacks can be dressier than a suit. I would prefer a double breasted navy blue blazer and grey slacks any day over a wrinkled khaki or seersucker summer suit. There is something about a navy blue blazer with the right accessories that I find very elegant.

[1Puglvr]

If my wife spends the time to get ready and all dolled up for me the least I can do is dress to match. Now I don't have a tux I do have a nice dark suit that should be ok. The only issue I have is my shoe's. I broke my heal and have had problems wearing dress shoe's ever since. For me there is nothing better than walking hand in hand with the woman who has been by my side though think and thin. I can't wait!

[Redtravel]

Wearing badly fitting formal clothes looks bad. A shirt that is too tight should be given away. Bring only clothes that fit correctly...or just a bit loose if you plan on eating a lot. Celebrity should follow the lead of Azamara which does not expect formal attire, but says that if you prefer to wear formal attire, you are certainly welcome. On my last Azamara cruise, most people wore very nicely well fitting attire...and some wore formal attire especially in the specialty restaurants. I did not wear anything formal and felt fine in all dining venues...MDR, buffet, pool deck, and specialty restaurants. I am an responsible adult and will choose my attire as I see fit...and it will fit well.

[linda_22003]

 

I don't want to debate anything...I'd just like to hear why some men are objecting to wearing suits?

 

Huckleberry Finn Syndrome. They don't want Aunt Polly "sivilizin' " them.

[Bridge Maven]

Just curious - but if you don't own a suit what do you wear to a funeral? I have found that even though our society has become more casual in recent years people still dress the same way for a funeral as they did years ago. I have been to a few funerals within the past year and every man there was wearing a dark suit.

[CelebrityMan]

Hi,

 

I value dressing up for the level of respect it shows for the event itself, and for the people attending the event. Don't flame me, that's just the way my parents raised me. I still dress for church and often am the only one there wearing a suit. I know I'm of another era....

 

Hence I've always worn suits to things and still at my "advanced" age (50s) enjoy wearing suits. Packing is not an issue..., my 22" carry-on has a compartment in the lid specially made for a suit.

 

Bridge Maven, you must live in a unique area of the country. In the region I live attitudes/practices are much more casual about funerals. It's been years since I've seen the majority of folk wearing dark clothes to funerals, let alone suits.

 

Count me among the "suits."

 

 

 

 

CM

[BKFlowerMound]

I can't believe that I'm about to reply to another dress code thread.

 

I own a tux, at least half a dozen suits, and many sport jackets. My office is business casual but I have several clients that aren't so I'm prepared with a supply of ties and sports jackets in my office in case I have to go see any of those clients at a moments notice. As I type this, I'm wearing a suit and tie (even though it's going to be a 104 degrees today). My clothes fit and are summer weight.

 

Would I prefer not to have to bring a suit on a cruise? Yes. Why? A suit is a uni-tasker. A sports jacket is more flexible and, in addition to being paired with a collared shirt and a tie, it can also go without a tie, with jeans, with a polo, with a sweater, etc. A suit usually requires that you bring an extra pair of shoes that you'll wear with nothing else. The sports jacket is usually worn with the shoes that you are wearing on the other nights.

 

But right now, Celebrity has two formal nights on a seven day cruise so I bring the suit and the black shoes. I don't bring the tux anymore because it raises the bar for my lovely wife who has taken the more simple approach to formal night as well. (Black dress, pearls, beautiful)

 

Bottom line, if Celebrity got rid of the dress code entirely a suit wouldn't be packed but a sports jacket and a couple of ties would be. I might not ever wear the ties, but I probably would wear the jacket.

[iancal]

If we do not dress in formal attire, ie dress in casual, then we do not attend the MDR on formal night. But this of course does not preclude us from visiting other public areas of the ship, including the theatre, shops, and casino. We like Celebriity for a lot of reasons but find the whole notion of formal evening in the MDR is getting a little stale. For us, it has started to become a gong show because Celebrity does nothing to enforce their own rules and the cruising public appears to be moving towards a more casual event as evidenced by the attire that one sees on formal evenings. Celebrity is not alone in this...HAL for one has the same issues. We are quite comfortable with it. When we do attend the formal dinner, we are not in any way offended or upset by others who are not dressed appropriately. We are far too busy having a good time and chatting to our tablemates or to each other to notice, to care, or to be offended by what others may or may not be wearing.

Edited August 3, 2010 by iancal

[TomTN]

How would you like to hear "we are going on a vacation, and you get to wear your work clothes"?:(

 

Suites suck!!!

Funny how so many ladies answered this question.

[dkjretired]

Trying on my suit for my upcoming cruise on Solstice, last time I wore a suit was last November on the Equinox. Found a receipt in the pocket to prove it...

[thecruiser7]

I'm probably not the norm on this subject but give me shorts or a swimsuit on a Carribean cruise. I don't pack a suit & expecially don't pack a tux.

If necessary, I might pack dress slacks. Yet, I do my best not to wear them.

Hey.......this is a warm weather vacation. Let's keep it that way.....

I'm lucky, my wife feels the same way.... Shorts or a sun dress......

Who wants to pack dress clothes in a suitcase for a cruise?

OK guys......Am I the only one that feels this way?

[dexter99]

Comfort levels of my clothes:

 

Most comfortable: suits. They aren't overly expensive - bought from a mainstream menswear chain. Lightweight wool (which is a cool and breathable material), and while 'off the rack' the store then does minor alterations to make them fit perfectly. Collared shirts properly measured for breathing room, with tie done up to the collar, not my neck. (and unlike many of the posters here, I have yet to dribble on my tie while eating).

 

Second most comfortable: Sport coats/ khakis. What i wear most often because of work but also because I spend a lot of time in environments where they are suitable (good restaurants). Pants are lighter than denim. Sport coats in general are usually heavier than a good suit coat but they come in such a huge variety of cuts that it is easy to find ones that fit really well and are therefore really comfortable.

 

Tied for second: hiking clothes - shorts and lightweight button up shirts. Don't look good, but feel great.

 

Worst: jeans, tshirts, other standard department store fare. With no tailoring and material meant to be durable but is heavy and hot. they are the least comfortable clothing.Yes, I wear them - and find ones that fit as well as possible but don't think that any denim pants or basic shirt will ever be as comfortable as well-made nicer clothes.

 

So overall, I actually like wearing suits, not every day but frequently.

 

And my wife likes the way they look...and I like that :)

[Onessa]

. . . For the ladies would you like to wear something that covers your whole upper body from wrists to neck, then add an additional tight thing around your neck and top it off with a jacket just to look good :D

 

How many of the women who just love getting "dressed up" for formal night love pantyhose and the specialized under garments that one really "should" wear if on is truly dressing formally? Since many women on the fashion thread admit to not wearing pantyhose, girdles, underwire push-up halter bras, etc. I'm thinking that these women at least are not as committed to the dress up thing as they may admit to.

 

I sold women's formalwear throughout high school and college -- back in a time when women wearing full-length gowns would not consider not wearing "proper" hoisery and such. And it was only the full length gown, with pantyhose, and appropriate undergarments would really be considered formal.

 

Now days I can pop on a cocktail dress, up my eye makeup a notch, and actually wear a pair of earrings and I'd achieve a beyond acceptable level of "formal" on just about any line -- and be pretty darn comfortable!

 

Thus I can understand that the average guy who is expected to still wear a suit, dress shirt, tie and dress shoes might be a bit uncomfortable. If I still had to wear pantyhose and a corset and tease my hair into a buffont, I might re-think the whole formal night thing.

 

My DH doesn't mind -- he wears business suits often enough that he has stuff that fits well, and is accustom to the tighter shoes and stuff. Most importantly his 14YO DD has him wrapped around her finger and since SHE likes dressing up, HE'll dress up without any complaints!

[We're The Groupnors]

There appear to be more than the regular number of dress code threads at the moment, and, as usual, some of them are a little heated. One of the issues that comes up regularly has me wondering....

 

Why do some men hate wearing suits? Why would men rather wear sports jackets than suit jackets?

 

My husband tells me that his suits are as comfortable as a sports jacket and slacks. But he says he hates wearing a tie, and if given a chance, will wear a thin silk crewneck sweater/tee with his suit. (He looks very smart in this). There is no question that he looks "more dressed up" in the suit, even sans tie, than in the sports jacket.

 

I am honestly quite perplexed as to why so many of the recent cruisers who are new to Celebrity object to wearing suits? (or why their SO's are objecting on their behalf).

 

A suit jacket and matching slacks don't weigh more than a sports jacket and slacks. They don't take up any more room in the suitcase. A smart casual shirt can be worn as easily with suit trousers as with dress slacks (for double-duty on smart casual evenings).

 

I don't want to debate anything...I'd just like to hear why some men are objecting to wearing suits?

 

We often say to each other that we can't understand why some people give themselves the stress of having to dress up (or not dress up and get glared at, spoken to, etc.) if they hate it so much...just pick a cruise line without a formal dress code!

 

DH loves wearing his tux, perhaps more because he paid a mint for it and is deep down a cheapskate, and therefore feels he's getting more of his money's worth with each passing formal event. Regardless, other than the appearance, the difference between a sport coat and slacks versus a suit jacket and suit trousers is nil, unless you ditch the tie.

[madelinerose]

I can't believe that I'm about to reply to another dress code thread.

 

A suit usually requires that you bring an extra pair of shoes that you'll wear with nothing else. The sports jacket is usually worn with the shoes that you are wearing on the other nights.

 

But right now, Celebrity has two formal nights on a seven day cruise so I bring the suit and the black shoes.

 

BK, I hear you. I typically avoid these dress code threads on the cruise line boards like the plague. I prefer discussing fashion on the Fashion Board. ;)

 

You have, however, piqued my curiosity about the shoe choices.

 

DH would wear the same slip-on dress shoes with a sports jacket or suit.

 

Why different shoes for the suit vs. a sport jacket? Are you saying a lace-up shoe vs. a slip-on or a more casual loafer or driving shoe? Thanks. ;)