8 Outfits My Wife Loves on Me (Favorite Menswear Ensembles)

While we advocate for gentlemen to wear what they want and feel good in, we think it’s also great to ask those who are close to you what they think of your wardrobe – whether they validate or criticize your style – to help you! So, today, I have my wife and business partner, Teresa Schneider, to share her favorite outfits I’ve worn, and why she loves to see them on me.

Video Transcript [Lightly Edited for Clarity]

Raphael: Welcome back to the Gentleman’s Gazette. In today’s video, we’re going to do something a little bit different in the sense that I have my business partner and wife, Teresa, here with me.

Teresa: And today, I’m going to share seven of my favorite outfits that Raphael has ever worn.

Raphael: Now, we often get asked what our favorite outfits, combinations, accessories, and so forth, and we firmly believe that you should wear whatever you want and what other people think. Now, in order to prove that I walk the talk, Teresa has a little story for you.

Teresa: On our second date, Raphael comes down the stairs. I was picking him up where he was staying and he asked me, “Should I tuck my shirt in?” And this being 2006, I was like, “No, you should not do it.” And Raphael promptly tucks his shirt in and we go out on the rest of our date.

Raphael: You can see I had a very firm independent sartorial style even at that time.

Teresa: I knew I was gonna have my hands full.

Raphael: That being said, sometimes it’s fun to have other people give their input on your outfits, especially if they’re close to you and know you well. So, I didn’t have any input on the choices and it was through this selection from start to finish.

Teresa: Raphael tried to convince me to add “birthday suit” to this list, but we didn’t want to get banned from YouTube.

Let’s start by saying that I really love all of these outfits for many different reasons, but one of them is that they actually happen to genuinely reflect Raphael’s style.

Outfit #1: Ralph Lauren Purple Label Suit with Suspenders

Raphael: So, the first outfit is the one I’m wearing here right now. And no, I didn’t just put it together on a whim. Actually, I first wore this in 2007. 

Teresa: Hands down this is my favorite suit in Raphael’s collection.

Raphael: I hope it will continue to fit me then.

Teresa: Raphael has had this suit for as long as we’ve been together, which was 2006.

Raphael: As a poor student, I didn’t have the funds to buy a Ralph Lauren Purple Label suit for full price. By the way, if you want to know how I rank this brand, check out our suit ranking video here. I bought this on eBay for probably 90% off and I’ll show you in this video my proven method of how you can get that same discount.

Teresa: At this point, the cost per wear on this suit is probably in the single digits.

Raphael: Honestly, every time I wear it, I got compliments. I’m really just happy I still fit into it. Even though, if I’m honest, I should probably go to the alterations tailor and see what we can do to let a little bit of the fabric out.

Teresa: That’s what love will do to you.

Raphael: Goes to the stomach after all.

Teresa: This suit has been to so many special and meaningful events in our lives and Raphael will oftentimes wear it just because he knows I like it. I really love the strong features of this suit, starting with the bold stripe.

Raphael: Now, this is a rope stripe. Most people will say, “Oh! Nice pinstripe suit.” And as you know, it comes from the way that it looks like it was pulled through with a pin, and this one actually looks like a rope, hence a “rope stripe.”

There are also chalk stripes and many other stripes. If you want to learn more about that, we got a guide for you.

Teresa: I also really like the strong shoulders and the suppressed waist, which creates that beautiful V-shaped torso.

Raphael: What I really like about the suit is that, even if the shoulders are built-up a little bit and have padding, it’s overall very soft, so it’s comfortable to wear and it’s not super stiff. As Teresa mentioned, waist suppression is really nice because it gives you this hourglass shape that you typically get when you work out hard at the gym. With a suit like this, you don’t have to do that. 

Teresa: Other features that I love about the suit are the wide peak lapels, the rich navy tone, and the fact that it’s worn with suspenders.

Raphael: If you take a closer look, the lapels are rather wide and, if you button it on the top button, you actually don’t see much of the shirt front. If you button them at the bottom, the lapels become even bigger and you see more of the tie, so you can get different looks with the same kind of suit.

Teresa: Overall, it’s just a very flattering suit. Raphael usually wears it with a light blue or a white shirt as he is today and then a tie in a traditional business color like red or blue.

Raphael: Of course, this kind of a suit is often associated with bankers. And so, you wear a white or a blue shirt and you can always have a different tie. I like a light purple tie, maybe something in buff or orange, red, and blue tones. 

Teresa: And don’t forget knit ties in yellow, orange, or blue —

Raphael: — are also really a great option. I’ve even worn it with a chartreuse knit tie, which is a very different tone. But, the texture tones down the suit and makes it a little less formal. 

Teresa: Occasionally, Raphael will also wear it with a bow tie with a diamond end, which mirrors the peak of his lapel. In the original picture, Raphael wore this outfit with an old pair of black Oxfords, but it also looks great with a pair of suede and navy Oxfords that he has as well.

Raphael: Yeah, spectators. But, I still have the original ones I’m wearing today, and they still fit me, showing you that a good pair of shoes goes a long way. 

Teresa: To tie it all together today, Raphael’s wearing a pair of blue and white two-tone socks from Fort Belvedere as well. 

Raphael: You can put them in our shop just like all of our Fort Belvedere accessories. The original socks were, I think, red and blue, but there were holes in them, so I no longer have them.

Teresa: Last but not least, Raphael finished off the outfit with a blue and white linen pocket square.

Raphael: At the time, that was all I had. Today, I have a much broader selection of subtle different shades of blue. So, ideally, you get a color that matches the shirt as closely as possible.

Oftentimes, that’s not possible, so getting a two-tone pocket square with tones of white and blue make it always seem like it matches. Much better than if you have a solid color on its own.

Outfit #2: Black Tie

Teresa: The next outfit, as you can see, is Black Tie. We both really enjoy dressing up, so the Black Tie dress code is something we really enjoy wearing.

Raphael: Once you have a tuxedo, you have an ensemble there’s not too much variation. Maybe you do a different pocket square or maybe a boutonniere. Here, there’s not a buttonhole, so I can’t have a lapel flower.

But, there’s not that much variation you can have. Maybe a pair of socks that’s a bit bolder. But, the black-white simplicity makes it easier for you, but c

Teresa: I’m a bit jealous that Raphael has everything he needs for the Black Tie dress code. Ladies just can’t wear the same outfit over and over again. I love Black Tie for what I think is the obvious reason: who doesn’t love a man in a tuxedo.

Raphael [mouthing]: “Bond. James Bond.”

Raphael: As a clothes enthusiast and collector of vintage garments, I have a range of different tuxedos. But, don’t have a perfectly fitting one probably because I haven’t had one custom-made just for me.

Teresa: Despite not having a custom tuxedo, I am a big fan of this vintage tuxedo he found at a local shop a few years ago.

Raphael: We actually made a video about vintage shopping, so you can check out the shop here. It says midnight blue. It has this subtle herringbone texture, wide peak lapels, low buttoning points, and it’s full cut. Definitely like 40s or 50s, I’d say.

Teresa: He pairs this tuxedo with a grosgrain bow tie from Fort Belvedere and I love that continuity of the different fabrics. The buttons even have a grosgrain texture on them as well.

To complement the other grosgrain elements of this tuxedo, Raphael is pairing this today with our monkey’s fist knot studs from Fort Belvedere and the matching cufflinks. 

Raphael: They’re in sterling silver platinum-plated, so they don’t tarnish. But, they really work well with any type of tuxedo, not just a grosgrain lapel.

The other interesting part about a tuxedo is that it has really high-rise pants and, as every traditional tuxedo should, no vents. That means there’s no gapping in the back and it’s just a traditional way to do it.

Teresa: I would really love it if Raphael could wear his new-to-him, vintage, white dinner jacket. But, COVID and all, he hasn’t had the opportunity.

Raphael: Yeah, it’s actually the Ralph Lauren Purple  Label, made in England jacket that is off-white, and the silk facing is a shade darker, which is super interesting. And I just got it pre-COVID and never had a chance to wear it so far.

Teresa: I’ve been waiting for my “Rick Blaine from Casablanca” moment.

Raphael: To bottom things off… Or a better said, to top things off from the bottom, I have a pair of capless, evening Oxfords in patent leather and they have a pair of evening shoelaces in a barathea fabric. It would be even better if I got the grosgrain ones from Fort Belvedere, but I was just too lazy.

Teresa: Finally, Raphael is also wearing a pair of navy and white, two-tone socks from Fort Belvedere. which, in this case, work really beautifully with the navy of his tuxedo.

Raphael: They’re, in fact, the same pair of socks I wore with the striped suit in the previous outfit, and it shows how versatile a pair like that is. The shine is great for evening outfits, as well as business outfits or you can wear with a pair of jeans.

Outfit #3: Brown Suit with Odd Vest & Spectators

Teresa: On to our third outfit, which is a brown suit with an odd vest and spectators. Raphael’s style is usually squarely in the classic category, but I particularly like this look because of its distinctly vintage feel.

Raphael: The suit is originally a three-piece suit, wide peak lapels, two-button closure with a double-breasted vest that I exchanged here for a white kind of doeskin waistcoat.

If you take a closer look at the fabric, it is a charcoal brown. So, it has brown, charcoal, and a white pinned-out pattern, which makes it very easy to combine it with any type of shirt. 

Teresa: Raphael pairs this look with spectator shoes, a watch chain, and a fedora hat.

Another point of interest is his Winchester club collar, which has a tab to keep it looking neat and tidy underneath his tie. I think these elements really stand the test of time without looking too costume-y.

Raphael: I guess the spectators are typically something people associate with Al Capone in 1930s, but you can still wear them. Here, they’re brown and white from Allen Edmonds. They’re on the Bel Air, the last, which I think they no longer make. But, I really liked it.

Teresa: I particularly like the use of swapping the odd vest out for the original vest from this suit. It’s just a unique way to expand the use of a suit you already have. 

Raphael: Or a jacket or any combination. And to learn more about how you can do it with your outfits, check out this video here. 

Teresa: I also really like the pop of red from the tie here, which Raphael coordinates with a red linen pocket square from Fort Belvedere.

Raphael: I think she also particularly likes it because she took this beautiful picture, which was actually published in Bernhard Roetzel’s book. I think it was “Men’s Style Book.”

Teresa: I might be a little biased.

Outfit #4: Gray Windowpane Suit

Teresa: Here we are with our fourth outfit, a gray windowpane suit, which I like so much because it’s a bold pattern that you just really don’t see very much of anymore, and it also really happens to suit Raphael’s style pretty well.

Raphael: This suit was made for me from Vitale Barberis in this Canonico fabric. It’s a flannel with a mottled gray yarn and this bold windowpane. Normally, you see those in sport coats, rarely as a suit.

Teresa: It’s double-breasted with peak lapels and it has a high buttoning point. Because of that, you have a very small V, kind of an unusual style that you don’t see too often these days. The buttonholes have a Milanese buttonhole and remember, at the time, that was something new and exciting. Now, you can even see it sometimes in ready-to-wear garments. At a time, you could not.

You’re probably starting to observe a pattern here that many of the things that I have chosen are a bit unusual in one way or another. 

Raphael: That being said, I like being unusual, unique, and one of a kind.

Teresa: Since this suit pattern is bold enough, Raphael pairs it with a simple, white shirt and an elegant silk paisley tie. 

Raphael: Now, the one here is not the one from the original outfit. We just don’t have it in our studio right now, so this is the closest one.

Teresa: It’s a hazard of having hundreds of ties to select from. Another feature of this outfit I really like is the texture combination of Raphael’s suede gloves and the suede on his Balmoral boots.

Raphael: And in order to tie it together, we have the red color of the suede gloves in the pocket square. And the pocket square is a small paisley and it’s connected to the big paisley on the tie. So, everything harmonizes in one way or another.

Balmoral boots are basically an Oxford in a boot form. And in the olden days, sometimes you would have a contrasting leather in the same color. Here, I have black boots with a black suede insert. Sometimes, you find brown boots with a brown suede insert. It just creates a different look. 

Even though the color is the same, the way the light reflects it on different surfaces is just very interesting. Because the boots are black and the suit is gray, we chose a pair of gray shoelaces to tie those two things together.

Teresa: Finally, some of the most interesting details of this suit are hidden because they’re underneath the jacket. Raphael’s pants feature a beautiful, high fishtail back and inverted pleats on the front for a very nice vintage look.

Raphael: The suit lining is also quite cool and the cufflinks are the red carnelian, which picks up the red colors of the outfit otherwise.

Outfit #5: “Boston” Combination

Teresa: The fifth look is a “Boston combination,” so I call it because I took these pictures of this particular outfit when we were in Boston a few years ago. We’re one of those obnoxious “we” couples. “We did this. We did that.”

It was a menswear field trip. We spent six hours digging through the warehouse from Bobby from Boston.

Raphael: It was one of the few times I went on a shopping spree, and we walked out with six or seven large plastic bags of men’s clothing.

Teresa: Even though we did a lot of shopping on this trip, this jacket was something Raphael already had in his collection.

Raphael: It was from the same tailor as the brown suit we had previously, and it’s also brown. It has this brown Prince of Wales check with a blue overplaid. It’s part of the suit, but here, I’m just wearing the jacket.

Teresa: And, big surprise, it’s another double-breasted jacket with peak lapels and, looking at the pictures, it might be a little bit tight.

Raphael: Definitely! I have to go to the alterations tailor and see what we can do.

Teresa: Personally, what I really enjoy about this outfit is the brown, blue, and yellow combination. I think brown is a highly underrated color in menswear. It’s so much more versatile than black, and so much so we’ve even made a video about how black is overrated.

[from behind the camera]: “We also made a video about how brown is underrated.”

Raphael: And Chris behind the camera was right. We also have a video about how brown is underrated. So, check it out.

I had these pants made at a custom tailor in Sri Lanka, I think in 2014 that I just came across, and I always think it’s a much better souvenir to bring something home that you actually like and wear, instead of some tchotchke stuff at the airport.

Teresa: Raphael’s a big fan of a substantial cuff and this pair of pants is no exception. They have a large three-inch cuff, and this is one of these things that our commenters love to hate. 

Raphael: Typically, I go with a two to two-and-a-half-inch cuff. This one is three inches or seven-and-a-half centimeters.

Now, in the 50s and 60s, if you go back through old fashion photography, you can see it was a normal cuff height. But, today, for some reason, people on YouTube seem to go crazy and usually they don’t like it. But, as I said at the beginning of the video, wear what you like and don’t care so much about what others say. 

Teresa: Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think of this three-inch cuff.

Raphael: But, be nice to Teresa. Otherwise, she won’t reappear 

Teresa: That’s true.

With the soft jacket, I particularly like the knit texture of his tie from Fort Belvedere. It’s got that beautiful color that brings out the overplaid, as well as softening the overall formality of the look. Both the jacket and the tie are on the casual end of the formality spectrum.

Raphael: The jacket because of the flannel texture and the tie because of the coarse knit. On this jacket, I like the color of the buttons, which are this nice corozo, lighter cognac brown.

So, for my pairs of shoes, I wore this double pair of monk straps from Shoepassion. It’s a much darker brown, but it was probably just because I didn’t have a lighter pair of brown with me in Boston at the time.

To tie it all together, I’m wearing a pair of brown and blue shadow-stripe socks, which work with the blue in the outfit and the brown in the outfit. And it provides enough contrast to both the shoe and the pants, but it has this visual element of interest.

Teresa: Overall, it’s just a great combination and I think putting together unique, odd combinations is definitely one of Raphael’s strengths.

Raphael: Thank you!

Outfit #6: Seersucker Suit & White Full Brogues

Teresa: The next outfit on the list is a seersucker suit paired with white full brogues, and this is the first and only addition on the list that is single-breasted and has a notch lapel.

Raphael: Very traditional. I think this other picture you took in Charleston, and it was pretty hot that day.

Teresa: At least 90.

Raphael: And so, you know, Charleston, the South, seersucker. It was just a perfect match.

Teresa: We’re the perfect match.

This seersucker suit is still a bold choice like all the other outfits on this list, but it is the most casual of the group.

Raphael: I like seersucker because it hardly wrinkles even though it’s cotton, and I wear the pants without the jacket a lot. I like the style of the jacket with the patch pockets. I’m not a big fan of the center vent and it’s a little tight in my back.

And, as you can see, there’s quite a bit of collar gap if I move, which is not something I like. So, I could have the jacket changed but it would still be tight. So, maybe I’ll just have one made for me and then, in a more exotic seersucker color. Maybe green or beige or who knows what?

Teresa: That’s the answer to everything. Just get it custom.

In general, I think many men believe that more formal clothes are less comfortable. But, seersucker is a great example of how that’s not true. It’s a soft fabric, it’s very breathable, and it’s particularly good for summer outdoor events.

Raphael: With a suit like this, a black pair of Oxfords simply won’t cut it. So, I’m wearing a pair of white buckskin Oxfords that I specifically got for seersucker outfits because, otherwise, it may look over the top.

Teresa: With black shoes, there would simply be too much contrast in the color and the formality, so the white really helps streamline the combination.

Raphael: Today, I’m wearing pink shoelaces, but I could also have white ones or blue ones, matching the seersucker, or green or whatever it is that floats your boat. The beauty of shoelaces is you can easily exchange them and it really changes the look of the shoes. Don’t believe me? Watch this video.

Teresa: Finally, Raphael completes the outfit with a white, summer-weight shirt and a red and yellow paisley bow tie from Fort Belvedere.

Raphael: I’m also adding a white and blue pocket square, picking up the color of the seersucker and, same with the socks, blue and white provide contrast to the shoes but pick up the overall color scheme without being boring.

Outfit #7: Jacket & Turtleneck

Teresa: Next up, Raphael wears a turtleneck with a double-breasted jacket and a beautiful pair of winter white pants.

I particularly love the look of a turtleneck and I would suggest you don’t underestimate the power of a turtleneck on women. I distinctly remember in high school how fast news would travel when it was turtleneck day for a certain swimmer.

Raphael: I particularly like wearing turtlenecks with jackets, especially double-breasted ones, because it tones down their formality, yet it’s still a more dressed-up, put-together look.

Teresa: The turtleneck, like a collar and tie, helps draw the eye up to your face. And if you’re interested in learning more about how to wear and pair them, check out our turtleneck guide.

Raphael: Now, out of all the ensembles, this one is probably the most muted one. Why did you like that?

Teresa: I particularly like this lovely combination of neutrals. It shows how you can put together a very elegant and sophisticated look without bold patterns, and I also really enjoy all of the different soft textures, which I think is really wonderful during the winter season.

I also think that white flannel trousers for men are also very underrated and not something you can just find off-the-rack. So, this is a great way to combine them.

Raphael: Of course, with white flannels, you have to be very careful, especially in the winter when there’s snow and lots of dirt. Otherwise, you will have a lot more trips to the dry cleaner.

Teresa: Finally, I like the fact that Raphael paired this look with loafers. In this case, they’re very dark brown. Raphael usually has a hard time finding off-the-rack loafers that fit his narrow heels well. But, in this case, it really helps soften the formality of the overall look. 

Raphael: Traditionally, a casual loafer would never have been worn with a more formal, double-breasted peak lapel jacket. But, in this day and age, you can wear whatever you want.

The jacket is part of a gray flannel suit from Chester Barrie. The pants were custom-made. These socks are brown and off-white, two-tone solids from Fort Belvedere, and they really transition the pants and the loafers well.

The turtleneck is gray wool from Uniqlo and I’m wearing a little undershirt underneath it, otherwise, it’s too itchy.

Teresa: Last but not least, Raphael polishes off this outfit with a vintage silk pocket square, which picks up the shine of his loafers and of his socks.

Outfit #8: Christmas Ensemble with Tartan Jacket

Teresa: The final outfit today is a Christmas ensemble Raphael put together with this beautiful tartan jacket. 

Raphael: Obviously, it’s bold and a bit over the top, but that’s the whole point.

Teresa: I particularly enjoy tartan around the Christmas season, so when Raphael got this 80s era, tartan jacket on eBay, I was thrilled. 

Raphael: The vest I picked up at a flea market. I just liked the color. I didn’t know how I would wear it. But, now that I have this jacket, that’s usually my go-to combination. I also have a bold red and white linen pocket square and a bold, red velvet bow tie. So, the shirt is plain white and the pants are plain black corduroys from Polo Ralph Lauren.

Teresa: To complete the look, Raphael is wearing some green velvet Fort Belvedere Albert slippers, which are a prototype.

Raphael: The socks are burgundy and white, two-tone solids, which pick up on that Christmas theme, just like my silver and malachite cufflinks, which are green. So is my pinky ring.

Teresa: And finally, Raphael can turn any outfit he’s wearing into my favorite outfit if he just wears Green Irish Tweed.

Raphael: And, by the way, if you don’t know what it is, it is a scent by Creed.

Teresa: And, no, this video is not sponsored. It’s just my absolute favorite.

Which of the outfits today do you like best? Let us know in the comments!