Manolo for the Men Fashion and Lifestyle Advice for Men

May 19, 2008

A Button Too Far

Clooney and Pitt at Cannes

It may seem like just a minor thing, but Izzy can’t stand that unusually high top button (or is it a stud?) on George Clooney’s shirt.  By being so close to the bow tie, it ruins the simplicity appropriate to formal wear.  And by the way, given the gap between the lapel and his shirt collar, Brad Pitt’s jacket appears to be too small around the chest.

11 Comments

  1. Georgie isn’t wearing a formal shirt. It’s just a plain shirt that could be worn with or without a jacket. Otherwise it would look more like Brad’s shirt.

    Comment by Jennie — May 19, 2008 @ 12:57 pm

  2. How does one get this paper look of shirt fabrics, which I love so much?

    Comment by Eugene — May 19, 2008 @ 1:46 pm

  3. It’s an odd “little Lord Fauntleroy” type collar altogether. Rather child-like and not GC’s usual slick style.

    Comment by DU — May 20, 2008 @ 8:50 am

  4. I agree with Jennie! Also Brad’s shirt looks like that due to a peice of stiff interfacing under the fashion fabric and tons of starch.

    Comment by Phyllis — May 21, 2008 @ 2:27 pm

  5. It looks like Clooney’s shirt is too tight while Pitt’s is too big.

    Comment by me — May 21, 2008 @ 6:51 pm

  6. Either the collar is WAY too big on both of those shirts, or the ties are WAY too small. You’d think that two of the sexiest men on the planet (and yes, I’m straight) could have a stylist available before big nights like that.

    Comment by Smokey — May 22, 2008 @ 8:07 pm

  7. Shirt similar to Pitt’s can be got at http://www.vintageshirt.co.uk/, that is a pique stiff-front shirts, attachable collars, and shirt studs. Pitt’s is obviously an attached collar but with pique front and shirt studs.

    Comment by William — June 4, 2008 @ 7:51 pm

  8. Eugene, the “paper” look which you so admire is achieved through the thorough and heavy application of starch to the formal shirt (once known to the vulgar as “b’iled shirts,” that is, shirts which had been boiled in starch to achieve the requisite stiffness). Please note that as you happily search through vintage clothing merchants for the appropriate shirt of your dreams to make sure that the shirt is the correct length for your torso; I know that a starched formal shirt which is too long for its wearer can emit “popping” sounds as the wearer moves!

    I commend you on your taste, and suggest Dorothy Sayers novels featuring Lord Peter Wimsy, for more information on men’s formal wear (and murder). The added plus, if you are drawn to the elegance of men’s vintage clothing, is that there are many women who admire a man so drawn!

    I also suspect, in part, that Brad’s posture in that photo is slightly hyper-erect; that is, his back is somewhat arched, which will result in the lapels sliding back and away from the center line of his chest.

    Comment by La BellaDonna — June 25, 2008 @ 1:49 pm

  9. Oh yes I completely agree the button just rubs it the wrong way and gives a cluttered look to the whole outfit. As for Brad’s jacket it is far to small and makes him look baboon chested. They really need some new designers to custom fit their stuff, they know they can afford it!

    Comment by Stephanie — September 20, 2008 @ 7:46 pm

  10. OH yes that button does not look right at all! I can’t believe that whoever dressed ole George would not be aware of how it really messes up the look of the bow tie. Get it together George!

    Comment by Leslie — September 21, 2008 @ 8:48 pm

  11. Also I mean come on, at first glance it looks like Brad is puffing his chest out thus causing his jacket to widen the chest area but then again I think it is a problem with the jacket. Think again Brad!

    Comment by Leslie — September 21, 2008 @ 8:49 pm

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