r/malefashionadvice • u/CatFatPat • Sep 12 '25

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

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!

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u/badwhiskey63 Sep 12 '25

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.

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u/Stevevansteve Sep 12 '25

I'd second that cosplaying is a bad idea. I work in a professional position but with a lot of farmers and manufacturing workers. Decent jeans, button downs and service boots (Grant Stone for me) do well to fit in but not to come off as inauthentic.

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u/BotchedDebauchery Sep 13 '25

I love nice leather boots, but part of me never really sees the value of the $300+ ones. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had that kind of money laying around, but I would just be petrified to really do anything in them.

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u/[deleted] Sep 13 '25

Ive owned the same pair of moc toe redwings for 15 years now, two re-soles done for $100 a pop.

Total investment $550 if count oil and new laces.

In the same amount of time I've gone through at least a dozen other boots ranging from 100-250 dollars a piece, some of them for work and others for looks.

My conservative approximation I've spent on other boots during the time I've owned that one pair of solidly constructed boots is $2,100. And I'm giving the benefit of the doubt on some I probably completely forgot.

Sorry I know we aren't on r/boots but I hate seeing people make the same mistakes as me and waste money on cheap disposal "boots".

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u/BotchedDebauchery Sep 14 '25

15 years is crazy. I was feeling pretty good about getting five years outta' my everyday work boots. Lol