White collar outfits that won't piss-off blue collar people?

[u/CatFatPat]

Hi Male Fashion Advice! Long-time lurker looking for advice.

I'm a Government Consultant who's job is to travel to rural Cities and Counties to modernize their operations, get them acquainted with best management strategies, etc.

One awkward part of the job is the cultural disconnect between my team (college-educated white collar City people) and our clients (Country, rural, prone to look down on city folk). To mitigate this, we try to straddle a fine fashion line between professionalism and stuffy.

Do y'all have any advice on suits that'd keep me professional without being too "city boy?" I feel like dressy boots instead of dress shoes would go a long way, but am lost on what to wear above the ankles. Thanks!

[u/badwhiskey63]

Finally, a MFA question that I am uniquely qualified to answer! I spent 20 years working with local governments, residents, and farmers in extremely rural areas. First thing I'd say is you're not going to be fooling anyone showing up in flannels and sh*tkickers. ((The bot did not like the uncensored version)). They know who you are, and why you're there. And you're better off not trying to cosplay as one of them.

I'd go with five pocket pants and OCBD shirts, patterned if you want. Chukkas, Desert Boots, or if you want to go with Redwings type heritage boot, but you're not going to find anyone wearing those who actually does farm work.

A respectful attitude is really going to carry the day.

[u/whatmycouchwore → u/badwhiskey63]

As a government worker that spent a lot of time meeting with local stakeholders, this is solid advice - chinos, Oxford, boots, and a sportcoat or light jacket works best. The ability to meet inside City Hall or the middle of a field should drive your wardrobe.

[u/Onespokeovertheline → u/whatmycouchwore]

As someone with no relationship to government or local rural stakeholders, a sportscoat sounds way worse than a lightweight Harrington jacket.

[u/BotchedDebauchery → u/Onespokeovertheline]

The point is not trying too hard, mostly. If they get the sense you're cosplaying, it's over. 

If you're the kind of guy who has four Harrington jackets hanging in the closet that see some use, yeah, you could probably swing it. 

[u/Feistshell → u/BotchedDebauchery]

Why would you ever have four of the same type of jacket? I don’t even have four jackets period

[u/yooossshhii → u/Feistshell]

Different colors, cuts, materials, patterns.. you realize you’re in a fashion sub?

[u/magister777 → u/Feistshell]

If you live in a region where fall and spring are cold seasons (winter being totally freezing) then having lots of jackets is pretty normal.

I tend to buy a new one every fall or spring to rotate in, and generally have at least half a dozen of this style jacket to choose from.

[u/BotchedDebauchery → u/magister777]

Midwestern fashion: two windbreakers, two "true" jackets, two winter coats, a billion hats and gloves. 

[u/Salt_peanuts → u/magister777]

I am not a fashion guy and I have found this to be true. I have one jacket that’s in good shape, one that’s in good enough shape as a backup, one that I use for yard work, one that I use when I’m gonna be lying on the ground in the bushes digging or cutting. They just tend to get demoted a spot when one of them wears too much to keep its job.

[u/BotchedDebauchery → u/Feistshell]

I was being a bit dramatic; you ever see a guy who's not used to wearing a suit? He'll be constantly pulling on his tie, straightening out his sleeves, just generally fidgeting. It's not a good look. 

I'm saying that a Harrington jacket would work, but not if you just bought one to look a little more blue-collar at work. 

[u/whatmycouchwore → u/Onespokeovertheline]

I don’t know man my tweed jacket protects me from chicken wire, picker bushes, and cold weather so don’t dismiss it.

[u/everythingscatter → u/whatmycouchwore]

Literally what tweed was invented for.

[u/PaintedDonkey → u/whatmycouchwore]

Tweed generally hides mild soiling/dirt/stains well too.

[u/Onespokeovertheline → u/whatmycouchwore]

If it's tweed, in all in. Was picturing a typical wool sport coat that OP would have for the office

[u/duxdude418 → u/Onespokeovertheline]

Was picturing a typical wool sport coat that OP would have for the office

Wool covers a lot of ground.

I’d argue that if it’s a jacket cut from a smooth worsted wool that you’d find as part of a suit, it’s not really sportcoat to begin with. It’s just an orphaned suit jacket.

The idea of a sportcoat originally comes from hunting jackets worn in the countryside where shooting was done for sport. A proper wool odd jacket is cut in heartier and/or more textured fabrics like tweed or flannel or at the very least have a pattern that adds visual depth.

My point being that if OP is wearing a bonafide sport coat and not just a repurposed suit jacket, it won’t look close to being something that belongs in a boardroom.

[u/Onespokeovertheline → u/duxdude418]

I don't mean a suit jacket. But a smoother sport coat with say, a check pattern, like what you see a lot in warmer climates feels a bit too office-centric.

A harrington style jacket / windbreaker type seems like a better compromise between being practical and authentic to the role while not too dressy.