The Queen’s Plate is the longest continuously run stakes race in North America.
The races have attracted A-list celebrities & government officials from across the globe not to mention all levels of the monarchy including the Queen.
Going to the races has always been about making a scene which is why dressing appropriately is so important.
There is no “official” dress code for the Queen’s Plate, but that doesn’t give you the license to wear some tattered jeans and a tee! The Gotstyle man knows that dressing up isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a lifestyle – Dress Better. Do Better!
What To Wear:
Generally speaking, you should think dandy, colourful, fun, and British. You’ll be surrounded by lush green lawns in an almost Alice In Wonderland type setting. It’s basically a classy AF costume party.
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Try to mix and match patterns. The rule of thumb for pattern mixing is that the size scale of your pieces should be different. (Big check blazer, small check shirt).
Go bold! Ever wondered when you were going to be able to wear those impulse (pink, green, red, blue) pants again? Have a bright suit that you’ve been wanting to let out of the closet? This is your time to let them out!
Accessories! This event is all about “peacocking”. The bolder you go the more attention you’re bound to get. The best way to do this is with hats, scarves, bright ties and pocket squares. Stick to three to avoid looking too costumey, and the same rules apply to pattern mixing here.
Millinery: You’ll see a lot of this at The Queens plate. Bold Hats for men and crazy fascinators/hats for women. This year the official milliner of the Queen’s Plate is David Dunkley.
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Wear funky shoes! Sneakers just won’t do for an event like this. You need a classic shoe in a bold or neutral colour. Something like these brogue oxford shoes. A well-made shoe in a fun pattern that still respects classic menswear.
The Gotstyle man knows that dressing up isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a lifestyle. We put together some more inspiration for your outfit. Thanks to David Dunkley for the hat & fascinators.
Here are four looks from Gotstyle that would rock the Queen’s Plate!
Outfit Details: Conor is wearing a hat by David Dunkley, GS Launch white dress shirt $95, Moods of Norway dress pants $139.50, Gotstyle double monkstrap leather dress shoes $295, Gotstyle suspenders $25 and Jin Quin skinny tie $20
Sophie is wearing the Keepsake fitted mini dress $260 and Tiger of Sweden heels $240
Outfit Details: Conor is wearing a hat by David Dunkley, Haspel Gravier seersucker blazer $650 and pants $195, Ted Baker print shirt $169, Paradigma fancy brogues $375, Anderson’s stretch woven belt $160 and Doro lapel pin $19
Sophie is wearing the Velvet Lace off the shoulder dress $218 and Tiger of Sweden heels $249
Outfit Details: Haspel Gravier seersucker blazer $650 and pants $195, Ted Baker print shirt $169, Anderson’s stretch woven belt $160 and Doro lapel pin $19
Outfit Details: Conor is wearing a Weekend Offender nash brid print shirt $115, Vito solid cotton short $89, Tiger of Sweden Hoyt cotton blazer $384 and Van Gils trilby hat $115
Sophie is wearing an Ecru sleeveless silk blouse $225 and Ted Baker floral party skirt $289
Check Out Last Year’s Outfit Inspiration Below
Vito Cotton Twill Pant: $88 Shop Now Sand Cotton Linen Blazer: $550 Shop Now Franco Negretti Print Shirt: $168 Matteo Massimo Paint Splattered Shoe: $475 Shop Now
Tiger Of Sweden Pieter Print Shirt: $199 Moods Of Norway Oluf Pinstripe Linen Jacket: $398 Moods Of Norway Pinstripe Linen Shorts: $165 Jin Qun Silk Pocket Square: $20 Tiger of Sweden Vince Raffia Leather Shoe: $229 Shop Now John Varvatos Straw Fedora: $85 Shop Now
Van Gils Elvy Windowpane Jacket: $495 A. Christensen Linen Pocket Square: $45 Tiger Of Sweden Herris Pants: $229 Ted Baker Bachh Stripe Floral Shirt: $198 Shop Now Matteo Massimo Two Tone Cap Toe Shoe: $275 Shop Now
A Christensen Tie: $95 Shop Now Stenstroms Check Shirt: $228 Tombolini Cotton Suit: $795 Tombolini Cotton Vest: $225 Prime Bergamo Box Calf Shoe: $375 Shop Now
Tiger Of Sweden Herris Pants: $199 Haight & Ashbury Ashton Shirt: $120 Tiger Of Sweden Bowtie: $85 Gsus Honeycomb Blazer: $276 Shop Now Matteo Massimo Monk Strap Shoe: $450 Shop Now
Dibi Knit Tie: $55 Shop Now Gotstyle Gingham Shirt: $165 J Brand Tyler Slim Jean: $ 218 Blue Industry Half Lined Blazer: $275 Matteo Massimo Brogue Shoe: $275 Shop Now
We celebrated our 10 year anniversary last summer at the Audi downtown dealership in Toronto. It was also in celebration and debut of the first issue of Gotstyle Man. The party featured a live band and a collection of influential guest at the fashion show; this fashionable event filled the room with many well-dressed men.
There were many dapper and unique looks, everyone came in their best dressed, but there are some who stood out from the rest. We love a good tuxedo, suit and colour combination. Click through our gallery to see if you made the list. Don’t forget to get your tickets for our upcoming Gotstyle Man Issue #3 Party. Proceeds go to support the local charity, The Remix Project.
You know the guy that’s a little bit too obvious about being on a 5 day work wardrobe rotation? Don’t let that guy be you. It may be easy to get caught in the trap of wearing a boring office uniform, but dressing for success is key to showing professionalism and ambition. Switching up your style and taking things to the next level can be easy. I’m here to help with 5 ways to elevate your office style.
OFFICE STYLE TIP #1: GO CUSTOM When it comes to suits, great fit matters over everything. Even if you don’t wear a suit every day, it’s important to have a perfectly tailored suit in your repertoire for meetings, presentations, and events. Think of your best suit as your go-to for when you need to step things up — and nothing will fit (and look) better than a suit made expressly for you.
For details on the made to measure process, pricing, and advantages, Gotstyle’s tailor extraordinaire Konstantine has got you covered.
OFFICE STYLE TIP #2: ACCESSORIZE The easiest way to elevate your office style is to add new accessories to your existing office wardrobe. It’s simple addition by, well, addition. Lapel pins, pocket squares, tie bars, shoe laces, and even work bags are all ways you can add pops of style and colour.
OFFICE STYLE TIP #3: ADD A VEST A vest is a simple way to class up any office look. Wear it with one of your standard 2 piece suits to add complexity, texture, and contrast. Or, just roll up your sleeves and wear it over a well fitted dress shirt as a more casual look (this looks good on literally every guy).
One thing to watch out for: don’t try to match a new vest colour to an existing suit. Unless you have the exact same fabric, it won’t work, and will look off. The solution? Go with a contrast vest, and introduce a new colour to the suit entirely. It’s an unexpected look that shows off your style chops. Grey and blue (like in the photo above) always pair well, and can be used interchangeably between vest and suit.
OFFICE STYLE TIP #4: WEAR A TIE If you don’t normally wear a tie, step up your office style and wear one! There’s no better way to show you mean business.
If your office is casual or you don’t see yourself as a “tie guy,” try a knit or textured tie as a casual midway point between your usual laidback style and something that’s too formal.
OFFICE STYLE TIP #5: SUITS WITH BOOTS Wearing a suit with boots is an awesome way to switch up a stale office rotation, but you need to do it right. If your suit fits well (which it should), the boots you pair with it need to be sleek and slim fitting. You want the outfit to look well put together and intentional — and not like you haven’t changed yet from your morning commute. The best way to achieve this? Chelsea boots.
Both of these looks (courtesy of GQ) add some rocker edge to a suiting look, without being too chunky or out of place. It’s a menswear power move, and you can totally pull it off. Reserve this look for fall and winter, and make sure to match your belt and boots to keep everything tied together.
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Ready to step things up? Gotstyle’s stylist team has got you covered. Book your appointment today at 416-260-9696 or info@gotstyle.ca.
A great blazer is one of the most reliable and versatile pieces in any guy’s wardrobe. The classic way to wear a blazer is similar to a suit jacket — with a dress shirt and tie — but slightly less formal (the jacket isn’t a matching set with the suit pants). The differences between a blazer, sport coat, and suit jacket can be subtle, but they’re important to know.
Think you’ve got the classic blazer look covered? Great. Let’s step up your style to the next level, and explore 5 new looks to make the most of your awesome blazers that have been trapped in the confines of nine to five.
A double breasted blazer with dark denim is a modern power look any guy can pull off. The double breasted blazer is bold, so pair it with a solid colour dress shirt and let the blazer do the talking. Always keep the inside button and upper outside button fastened when standing. The only time you shouldn’t do up a button is if your blazer has multiple rows of buttons on the centre. If that’s the case, the same rule as with single breasted blazers applies — leave the bottom button undone.
Make sure that when wearing jeans with dress shoes the jeans are well tapered at the bottom, like on our model above. This will add height and slim down your look. If the front cuff of your jeans covers either of the monkstraps, it’s a sign the cuffs are too wide.
It may not be what you’re used to, but trust me, tapered lower legs are the way to avoid the dreaded “dad jean flare” you may not even realize you’ve been rocking. Once you wear one pair of properly tapered jeans and see the difference, you’ll never go back.
Throw your best dark blazer on over a designer tee, jeans, and military style boots to pull off a Justin Theroux inspired rocker look. Some tips to make sure you do it right:
Treat this as a casual look. A t-shirt with a blazer is cool. A t-shirt with a blazer when everyone else is wearing a suit? Not so cool.
Make sure your jeans are tapered right. Come on man, we already talked about this.
Let your boots develop some character.
Leave the blazer unbuttoned — with a t-shirt, better to keep it casual.
The t-shirt should hit just below your belt.
Avoid tight tees. When wearing a t-shirt with a blazer, try not to look too…slick. I like to gently tug on the collar of my shirts before wearing them under a blazer. A bit of a slouchy look is perfect. You’re not wearing this to a black tie event anyways, so it’s cool to grunge up this particular blazer look.
Here’s where a blazer can be useful as a transitional layering piece. Pair a casual, natural shoulder blazer like this one with a hoodie, joggers, and luxe sneakers for a super comfy outfit that will turn heads. In the right way.
Make sure the hoodie is thin. Not just any hoodie will work — too thick and it won’t layer nicely with a properly tailored blazer. As much as you love your college sweater, save it for the couch and opt for a sleeker fitting piece.
Seize this opportunity to wear your coolest, boldest sneakers (as long as they match what you’re wearing above the ankles). Joggers were made popular by sneakerheads because they show off a guy’s kicks — so go all out! An eye-catching pair like these ones from Sully Wong elevate the look from good to great.
Gotstyle Navy Wool Notch Lapel Blazer with Metal Buttons: $695, Selected Homme Charcoal Skinny Fit Stretch Chino: $95, Swims Navy Sport Loafer: $100, Taft No-Show Socks: $60 (4-pack)
This preppy spring/summer look works best with a navy blazer. Start with a polo, tucked or untucked (I prefer untucked, but either can work). Roll up your blazer sleeves a bit, even cuff your pants at the ankle if you feel like it. Slim fit chinos are a must, especially when your loafers tie in to the rest of the outfit as well as these ones do.
Pro tip: when going “sockless,” wear no-show socks. The exact same look is achieved, minus the blisters and lingering stink. You’re welcome.
This is a great transitional layering outfit for fall days when you don’t quiiite need a jacket yet, or the end of winter when you’ve ditched your parka for the season. The different textures (fuzzy flannel on the blazer, herringbone pattern pants) complement well and are way comfier than you’re used to for a look this sharp. The thin crew neck sweater under the blazer gives you some flexibility on whether to button or unbutton.
Last thing — show some cuff. Having that sweater peek out from both the chest and sleeves may not be something everyone notices, but those who do will appreciate the attention to detail.
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Ready to pull the trigger on your new blazer look? Our team of stylists is here to help, with private appointments and free wardrobe consultations. Book your appointment today at 416-260-9696 or info@gotstyle.ca.
Remember to bring your blazer(s) with you when you shop. Try layering them with different pieces, and see what works best for you!
Your resumé was polished and they loved your cover letter. Perfect. You got the interview. You know you can nail it, but one big question remains: what are you going to wear?
Dressing well for an interview shows professionalism and that you understand the culture you’re going to enter. It’s a great way to make the right impression and be memorable to the interviewer. It’s not rocket science, but there are some things you need to know.
Consider three things when picking your outfit:
Industry — Would you wear the same thing to a conservative bank as you would to a casual tech startup?
Job function/department — What flies in marketing may not be greeted as enthusiastically in accounting.
Seniority — Younger guys should err on the safe side, versus someone more established in their career who has “earned” the privilege to dress with a little more flare.
The common theme here? Know your audience.
Unless you’ve been specifically told not to,wear a suit. You’ll look your best and most professional. It shows you respect the interviewers’ time and take this seriously.
Now, let’s get into the details.
THE SUIT When dressing for a job interview, the safe play is a dark charcoal or navy blue suit. Charcoal tends to be the more conservative of the two — but you really can’t go wrong with either. If you’re having trouble deciding, once again: consider your audience. Paul Betenly makes an awesome starter suit in both charcoal and navy.
If you’re interviewing for a more senior position or a job in a more creative industry, a brighter blue or lighter grey suit can work too. A black suit is never okay unless the job is in the funeral business.
THE SHIRT Your interview shirt should also fit great. Check out our video guide for finding the perfect shirt to make sure you’re doing it right.
For the style details, go with normal cuffs (not french), and a spread or semi-spread collar.
In terms of colour, solid whites and light blues are most conservative. These go well with any suit. Stenstroms and our own Gotstyle-Lipson shirts are both fantastic options.
For a bolder look, try a micro pattern. A geo pattern like the one below from Oscar works well.
THE SHOES Never, ever wear a square toe dress shoe. Say no to square toe.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I recommend black or brown leather oxford dress shoes for an interview. You can’t go wrong with an oxford shoe in a business setting. The Gotstyle Cap Toe Derby Shoe is a perfect example.
Double monkstraps are a riskier alternative. Only consider these in situations where — you guessed it — you’re interviewing for a senior or less conservative role. And again, keep the colour to black or brown.
No matter what shoes you choose, make sure you give them a good shine and that you’ve worn them before. Often a new pair of dress shoes takes some time to work in, and the last thing you need is blisters on the day of your interview.
THE ACCESSORIES
Belt First things first, your belt should match your shoes. Black with black, brown with brown. Keep your belt sleek and simple — no big buckles. Anderson’s black or brown pebbled belts are perfect.
Tie Here is your chance to show some personality. Choose a colour or pattern that’s stylish and memorable — just make sure it’s setting appropriate and that it matches.
For creative industries (especially in the winter), add versatility to your formal look by trying a more casual, texturized knit tie. When choosing a tie knot, go with a half windsor or four-in-hand. Knots are not the place to experiment.
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Socks Have some fun! It’s fine to show a little colour or pattern, as long as they don’t clash with the rest of your look.
Watch If you’re going to wear one, keep it sleek and understated.
Everything Else Save the funky lapel pins, cufflinks, and tie bars for once you get the job.
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Got any more questions? Our team of stylists is here to help, with private appointments and free wardrobe consultations. Book your appointment today at 416-260-9696 or info@gotstyle.ca.
Good luck (not that you need it). You’ve got this!
