"Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man"

[ChrisBfla]

One of the things that struck me about the ladies in Ukraine on my first trip over (that led to my proposal of marriage nine years ago) was the sense of fashion these women have.  Despite tough economic conditions, most were dressed really well. On the flip side, a man should also dress to impress.  You don't need to go broke, buying Armani pants and a jacket, you can hit Marshalls or the Burlington Coat Factory and come out looking just as sharp, but I found this carries a lot of weight in the FSU.  We tend to be a lot more casual here is America.  My wife's opinion (and I am pretty certain this is shared by most of these ladies) is that our casual, relaxed look makes a lot of Americans look like Bumzha (tramps, bums, etc).  Particular care should be given to footware.  Many Russians or Ukrainians will make a judement about your status, or sense of sophistication based on your shoes or boots.  So, before you head on over, consider a fashion make-over before you pack because as ZZ Top says, "Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man."  And that goes double in Kiev or Moscow!

Chris
www.freewebs.com/chrisbfla

[topofthekey]

I agree Chris. Dressing sharply is important. I have to say Burlington Coat Factory and other discounters might not be the best way to go... at least not for me. Sure its nice to stop in and see if they have some deals now and again but the style they sell compared to say some of the stores you might find at the local mall are different. I know I know nobody wants any banana in their republic or are Gay And Proud (GAP), but you should at least check some stores like that. Burlington coat factory is not designer. Ignore the goofy pink shirt in the display window in that designer store in the mall and walk in anyways. You'll find some really sharp clothes and make a great impression. Now this information might not apply to everyone, but it did apply to me. I'm 25 and dating women my age and younger.

[Diplomacy]

Yes, Yes, and more Yes!

Here is the fashion tips from me.

You do not need the latest and greatest.  You hit Off the rack and get the clothes off Season too.  Stay away from crazy patterns and stay in style with clothes that do not go out of style.  Solids colors is a good example. 

Jeans with dress shoes are good, add a blazer even better.  Shoes make the man in woman's eyes too.  Just not jeans every single day.   

You can spend less money on pants, if on a budget.  Shoes you do not go on the cheap with. 

[ECOCKS]

I agree 100%. 

Most WM immediately notice the fashion sense here.  And guys, it's everyday, not just for dates, work and club nights.  They regard this as the norm and are going to be horrified at the sweatpants and XXL T-shirts the women back home wear when going to the Kroger down the street or running to the cleaners with the drycleaning.  Every minute is subject to a grade.

That said, I very deliberately stuck with jeans and comfortable clothing for everyday wear.  Yes, sportcoat and sweater over button-down collar shirt for the opera and those theater nights. What can I say, I am what I am.  I have a few ties but in the last 3 years  have worn one MAYBE a dozen times for client meetings, the Embassy Ball and a funeral.  Just like I would back home.

My advice is to be yourself.  If you want an honest gal for the long-haul, you need to present yourself honestly.  My woman still remarks (fondly) if I put on the dark blue w/white stripes, polo pullover I wore when we first met for coffee nearly three years ago.  One thing I have noticed about FSU women, they have memories like elephants.  If you come in here dressing like some James Bond wannabe, you better be prepared to continue the trend in Cedar Falls, Tampa or Topeka.  Otherwise, she'll be expecting that as the norm.

From the movie Aladdin, "BEEEEEEEEEEE yourself."

[SANDRO43]

www.freewebs.com/chrisbfla

Chris, I was having a look at your website when I came across this sentence in your autobiographical page:
Down the road from me was a man named Hyman Roche, who was a serious armature astronomer and telescope builder.
Is that a specialisation I never heard of before, or did you mean amateur ?

[Gator]

Cyclo drivers in Vietnam are better dressed than a  couple of Western men (presumably Americans) I saw in the FSU.   :noidea:

[AnastassiaAsh]

Yes, I would agree with this statement too. This idea was expressed in some other thread or board but somebody said that in Russia most people who are not rich and cannot afford buying or investing into let's say real estate or something else big, would spend it on clothes, shoes and maybe a car. That's why all of these things have become a sign of sophistication. Also, because still nobody trusts banks but they have to spend their money somehow, they spend it on clothes. It goes both for women and men.
In the US the situation is reverse. The status of a person very often is determined by the size of his house, how many times a year he can go on vocation and where, yes what kind of car he drives, how much savings he has.........clothes are at the end of the list if not absent at all.

I personally am fine if my husband wears just Tshirts, jeans or shorts and tennis shoes, if they are clean and look nice of course  , nice haircut......plus good job, house and other things in place that I mentioned. I would make this choice hundred times over those men who may wear nice suits or shoes but this is pretty much the end of that list for them.  I happened to be married to two wonderful men whose testing/engineering/computer work allows them to wear casual clothes, thus their way of thinking and style is very casual -  haven't seen so many Tshirts in my life though  If that's their only "downside", i am ready to embrace it. 

[Makkin]

  Very Very Very TRUE.

[Mishenka]

I agree also, especially with City women. Wearing designer labels to her, means her man has class, money and knows how to dress to make her look good standing beside him. Galina took me shopping the second day I arrived to meet her. I expected she would ask me to buy her some things but no. She wanted me to buy only for myself. I ended up with black pants from Turkey that fit better than any I had brought with me, Italian designer shoes actually from Italy and of course her favorite cologne, socks and even the right underwear. This is when she began calling me Giorgio Armanio,   In any case, when we went out for dinner she made sure we both looked our best. When at home, it was back to T shirts and undies, very casual behind closed doors.  To me there is nothing more sexy than my woman wearing only her Victoria's Secret leopard Cami and undies.... OK I won't go there.  Whew, is the Sun out or am I feeling a little heat in here?

Mishenka

[I/O]

Wow....!!! How this subject imput has changed in a couple of years..!!! I recall other threads in which guys argued right left and centre dress was relatively unimportant. I agree wholeheartedly with the OP here. Dress within your budget but dress to the best level that budget can afford.

I recall seeking advice many years ago on this subject before going to the FSU (My first stop off was not Russia) and the advice was to simply take comfortable travelling clothes, nothing more, this would be step down from the way I normally dress anyway. I was sceptical and unfortunately I was correct. I arrived in Kishinev late one evening and felt like an eyesore. By 10.00 am the next morning I had all but emptied my suit case and made the keeper of a menswear store very happy.

IMO, so much more does this apply if your trip is to meet a lady or ladies. There is simply no downside to dressing well. My Grandfather's advice when teaching us as kids a little about boxing applies IMO. Prepare well, enter the ring and don't take your eye off your target, wait your moment and make your first shot count, if you do, you may not need to fire a second shot and if you don't you may not get another opportunity.

I/O

[Vaughn]

While I agree with the degree of sophisticated dress espoused in this thread, I happen to
know a few examples of happy marriages that were not exactly borne in high fashion...

My wife and I met an acquaintance of mine as he arrived at the train station. Unbeknownst to us
and him, he was being observed and scrutinized by his future mother-in-law, who was aware that
he was about to visit six different ladies on his second visit. He hopped off the train like a walking
billboard for the NFL with a Carolina Panthers jacket, cap, and so forth. Later that week he was
seen around town sporting a Tar Heels shirt....  this was NOT appealing to my wife, but fortunately
for him, he was not there to visit her. Apparently his sincerity, charm and personality overshadowed
any objections by his lovely wife, whom we consider to be a very educated and stylish woman with
good taste, and was not at all desperate to exit the FSU. She wanted a good man, and found them
to be scarce locally. When these two finally met, there was no turning back. In my book, they are
a model of compatibilty and devotion.

At their wedding, he appoached my wife, grinning, "Elvirochka! How do you like my tie?" It was a
beauty - and was the first time she'd seen him wear one. Over the years, I have to admit, he has
slowly but surely begun to dress sharper. I wonder why?   

They are married about four years now and doing well. They attend Bike Week at the beach
every spring. In short, they have interests we do not, yet our friendship is unquestionably close.
Different strokes. It CAN be done, although dressing down in the FSU is not for us - and we agree
it puts a suitor at a distinct disadvantage.

Many Russians or Ukrainians will make a judement about your status, or sense of sophistication based on your shoes or boots.

Absolutely true. Leave the cross trainers at home.