Tom Paolini makes custom suits for a living, so it stands to reason that he goes out and about in Kansas City wearing spiffy, fashion-forward suits.
"I'm looking forward to the day where I'm wearing a suit and I don't get a compliment," Paolini said on Central Standard. "Right now, you're more the exception."
Paolini, alongside local suit-wearers Bob Kendrick and Noah Marsh, confirmed that Kansas City is not a cufflink town — but they say it should be. While the guys out there may be every bit as conservative as their reputation, they are becoming more adventurous. Noah Marsh, a recent high-school grad and wooden-bowtie entrepreneur, described the area's emerging style as "preppy flair"; Tom Paolini also sees glimpses of hipster style about town.
In fact, on Dress to the Nines Day at Kauffman Stadium, baseball fans are encouraged to show up at the stadium in high-fashion attire as a throwback to the days of Negro Leagues baseball. If the classy hats on display at the K that day are any indication, Kansas City men are just waiting for permission to dress up.
Consider permission granted.
Here are some tips for Kansas City men looking to up their game.
Noah Marsh: Recent graduate of Shawnee Mission East and originator of the wooden bowtie, which he sells through his business, Against The Grain Bow Ties.
- Never be afraid to accent. Yes, wearing khakis and a polo is comfortable and fine, but where is the flavor? I'd highly suggest more men use articles of clothing or accessories to accent their wardrobe.
- Never be afraid of patterned designs.
- Just because something is "in" right now doesn't mean you should wear it all the time. Specifically, this is targeting people wearing a standard plaid button-up shirt and jeans or khakis. This look has been used so much and is the norm for a certain age group of men. Don't be afraid to be adventurous and explore what kinds of clothes can better reflect your personality.
Bob Kendrick: President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and known suit-wearer who spearheads Dress to the Nines Day at Kauffman Stadium.
- Kansas City men are doing a great job from the neck down, but they disregard the shoes, and the shoes are very important to completing the outfit. You go back into your closet and you've got some beat-up shoes and the heel's all kind of worn and it just kills everything. So men, put a little bit of extra care into picking out your shoes. I'm not saying you've got to spend hundreds of dollars to buy, but make sure they're polished and the heel is not damaged.
- The sock is a personality kind of thing. People are speaking through the socks.
- We see a melding of the two coasts in terms of style. Kansas City offers you an interesting mix of options to create your style.
- In general: Look good, feel good.
Tom Paolini: founder and owner of Paolini Custom Garment. His grandfather was also a custom clothier. Paolini designs suits for the athletes of Sporting Kansas City.
- On getting beyond the gray suit: I joked early on that when I was first selling suits, men would come in and it was, 'What shade of gray suit do you want?'
- On seersucker: Seersucker has got a unique feel to it. It's the Southern gentleman. But it's not as prevalent here, so you will stand out.
- On cufflinks: In Kansas City, you don't see them much. It's been a conservative type of fashion in Kansas City and men don't want to be showy or ostentatious. There's an idea that they're calling attention to themselves. But cufflinks offer an opportunity to show some personality. There's also a sentimentality. Gentlemen will have cufflinks from their fathers and grandfathers.
Credit Sylvia Maria Gross / KCUR/KCURTom Paolini helped Central Standard host Gina Kaufmann tie a tie. Noah Marsh provides moral support (and a tie you don't have to tie).
