I really need everyone’s help for our upcoming cruise. First a little background. DH is an engineer and I should have been one. We are not creative in the artsy sense. We have no sense of color or style. Well, OK, we do, but it is not good. Our creativity is limited to fixing things, finding better ways to do things stuff like that but not the aesthetic stuff.

We are both visual people. Verbal directions and descriptions are not helpful. We both need to SEE things (a map, a picture).

We have sailed the PG and loved the country club casual dress code. It worked well for us and I was able to dress us appropriately.

We are now due to sail the Voyager over the holidays and I’ll need to add formal and informal to the clothing. Formal is not a problem. DH has a black suit and I have some dressy skirts and dresses. Informal for me will be similar dresses as casual (hey, it’s a dress) or even similar to formal with different tops.

Now I have 2 questions. Do I need to wear pantyhose with formal/informal or can I go barelegged. (Please say “no hose needed”)

And, how in the world, do I dress DH with a jacket and no tie? Ngaire says her DH wears a silk T with his jacket. I would love to see the outfit. My DH never wears a jacket without a tie, even a sports jacket. Generally, he wears polo shirts to work (college professor).

So if anyone has pictures or links they can share with me I sure would appreciate it. DH has agreed to go clothes shopping this weekend. Last time he went was a year ago so this may be my only chance unless I can order thru a catalog or something.

Would this type of silk shirt work with a jacket? He’d go for a solid color, I think. But the black/multi might work with a black suit jacket and tan pants.

http://www.blair.com/webapp/wcs/sto...langId=-1&storeId=10001&go.y= 12

Thanks for all the help.

Colleen, I just sent you an email with a couple of pics included for my visual friend :)

Colleen, ....you need to believe in yourself and your choices and I know you'll both LOOK GREAT!! I personally do not wear pantyhose with anything anymore and haven't for a couple of years (I generally wear open toed shoes and pantyhose just don't cut it).
As for your DH, if he doesn't feel comfortable wearing a button shirt with a jacket and no tie, they have some beautiful silk crew neck pullovers. This is what my husband often wears. They pack well without wrinkling too! Sorry I don't have a photo! I'd suggest going into a NICE men's department such as Nordsrom's (even if you don't buy there) and look around at their displays for good ideas.

Trust yourself!!

Colleen, when Ngaire told me that Ken wore "silk t's" under a sports jacket, I told my husband. Well, he thought that was a great idea, and has been shopping for the same ever since. He has found some, but they're quite literally $300!!! Methinks he's looking in the wrong shops! I'm thinking, there's GOT to be a better price than that out there. Does anybody have any ideas? Ngaire?

Charlene

What I often do is wait til the end of the summer season when you can get great deals on silk shirts.

In the meantime, these are much less than $300


Ribbed crewneck

Karen, you're a godsend. I knew you'd find something!!! And yes, much less than $300. I am going to order some today! Thanks for your help. Colleen - take note!!

Charlene

Yes Colleen....that photo is what I had in mind! (leave it to our star Karen!!)
They come in lots of solid colors or he can just stick to basic black or cream colors. They also come in flat fabric, ribbed, short sleeve, long sleeve. I've bought them for my husband at Coscto and they wash and wear great!

Colleen: I wear pantyhose to funerals and weddings and if they take place in the summer "forget about it" - no pantyhose on the cruise! I never took a dress just dressy slacks, palazzo pants and dressy tops and jackets - couldn't be easier. Joanna

No Hose! We all swear by Chico's Traveller's Collection. Wash in sink and mix and match. They do the accessories for you too.

For both of you, check out Travelsmith and Lands End.

www.chicos.com
www.landsend.com
www.travelsmith.com

Back to the subject of DH, for a moment. On several Radisson cruises, I've seen men dressed for "Informal Night" wearing polo shirts, sport shirts, and every other kind of shirt/slack/shoes combination you would see on Casual night, with the simple addition of a sports coat. I've dressed this way myself on many occasions, and always had much company! Sorry that I don't have a picture (or the computer ability to post it). IMO, a navy blue blazer is the most versitile for a cruise. Also, if your husband prefers to wear a tie with the jacket on Informal Nights, he may surely do so. I've done this too, and also with plenty of company.

Hope this helps,
Richard :) :) :)

I definitely agree with no hose. My husband is similar to yours Colleen. All he ever does is wear a striped shirt (like an oxford) under a navy sportsjacket. As far as tees you can get a nice quality tee not pure silk that is dressy enough and not so expensive at almost any department store or men's store. I have known Ken for 24 years and I can assure you he doesn't pay $300 for a shirt. Maybe $20 or $30. Ngaire is en route to the Diamond in Istanbul so I don't think she will be able to respond today.
I hope she makes it because there were long delays at DFW today due to a computer glitch.

$300....get out of here!
The few I bought are made of "washable silk" at Costco for $19.95

No hose, unless you feel like it with the particular outfit you are wearing. I agree with Kathy, check out Chico's, and they are really coming out with lots of new stuff and colors and prints - just got a super plum purple top and skirt for our upcoming cruise in Sept. Your DH can certainly wear a tie with an oxford and jacket if he is more comfortable, and the silk T's that Karen came up with are great, might even go get a couple for my husband. What mine has been doing lately for informal with jacket but no tie, is slacks, jacket and a nice muted hawiian print cotton shirt (i.e. he has black slacks, a light tan jacket and wears a soft yellow/gray/white print shirt - he looks awesome in it) so maybe that would work. Agree with Richard, navy blazer is perfect. I'm sure you will work it all out, again going to a good Men's store really helps, just looking at the displays. If you have one near you, try Jos A Bank's - great store, reasonable prices and nice sales people.
JoAnn

If you can't find anything locally, I've had good luck with Norm Thompson. DH loves some of their clothing items, and he hates to go shopping!



Silk/Cotton Mock Turtlenecks....under $50!

Ladies....the latest. Forget about pantyhose!



Air Stocking

Wow, thanks for all the links and pictures. I'm getting some great ideas now. Except for the hose, I'm not worried about me. Although my wardrobe doesn't come from Chico's (exclusively), I've been into mix and match for years. Packing for me will not be a problem.

I think I'll try to find crew neck not mock turtle neck silk shirts. Maybe even some button down silk shirts.

Anybody know how microfiber holds up? I think I have some totes and purses but what about men's clothes?

Marcie, not only were they $300, but Mike found one for $675 at Harry Rosen. One silk "t". No, I am not kidding! Needless to say, as public servants, with public servant salaries, he didn't buy any of them!

We did search our (Canadian) department stores (The Bay, Sears etc.) and they do NOT have them. We were recently in New York State and should have shopped there, but didn't have time.

The online options that you wonderful people have provided will be useful, however I was about to order (4 shirts "in my cart") on the first one, and then they noted that they didn't ship outside of continental US....so I'll have to keep searching. Or have them sent to my sister in Atlanta, and she can send them up to us here.

Charlene

Margo,
You, Karen and others...never cease to amaze me with what a wealth of information you bring to this board!! Now, have you tried these air stockings?? They sound intriguing to a "non-sun whitey" like me!

Do you have a Bloomingdales where you live, Colleen? They are having a huge sale in our town this weekend. Bloomies own brand of mens clothing, Joseph and Lyman has fantastic silk 'like' tee shirts for under $20 each! :app:

Someone, that Kojo guy I think, who is such a riot, brought those air stockings on the Today Show a few months back, Katie Couric tried them and as I recall she didn't like them thought they felt weird - but it was an interesting and intriguing idea!! What will they think of next????
JoAnn

The Air stockings remind me of the Leg Makeup that women wore during WWII. I remember finding a tube of it when I was little that my mother had kept as a souvenier of the war. Avon made it for years after the war. I remember seeing it in the catalog.

I bought Frank some of the Silk T's from Bloomie's main store when we were in NYC. They were really nice and about $60.00 on sale 100% silk.

Bonnie, sorry no Bloomies in Lubbock, TX. Too bad. Those sound great. We have Sears, Penneys, Dillards, Dunlaps (not the tire store - a department store), Bealls, and the usual discount places. I think we have a Men's Warehouse, too. I have been showing DH some of the pictures, links, options, and he is ready to shop.

Thank goodness we have over 6 months. It may take me that long.

JoAnn, I love that Kojo guy!

As for the air stockings stuff, I use L'Oreal Sublime Bronze on my legs. It's a self tanner with a bronzer that won't give you that orange looking skin like some of the other self tanners can do. The bronzer part of it gives your legs that moisterized look which I think looks better than the panty hose look and also lets you see where you have applied the self tanner. Once or twice a week is all you need. One tube lasts me all year and it's a bargain, under $10 at Walmart.

Karen: Guess that is why Tony called your legs "sublime" - J

He actually said that? I knew their was a reason I loved him so! Can I maybe buy him some accessories for his Rowenta? How about this nice iron pad or maybe a new ironing board?

Colleen,

Try Stein Mart (I am pretty sure there is one in Lubbock) for nice silk or like silk t's at a good price.

Betty

I agree about COSTCO and Stein Mart. I bought Alan several of those silk shirts and he wore them with a nice sportjacket and looked fantastic.

I can also find really nice things at very reasonable prices at Marshall's, Ross and TJ Maxx. No reason whatsoever to pay $300 for those shirts. Hopefully, these stores are in your area.

I stressed and stressed about proper attire, before our first cruise. I stress no more. Black dressy pants, long black skirt, lots of nice tops and dressy, jewelry and you are good to go!

Suggest that your husband bring one black suit, dress shirts and tie - for formal nights, a nice sportsjacket and those great silk shirts. Believe me, your husband will look like a million bucks!

No need to pay those big prices with so many store options out there!

Please let us know how you make out and, above all, concentrate on enjoying the cruise and don't get yourself crazy over what to wear!

I have found silk or other fiber dress "T" shirts at Steinmart, Foleys, and various places for well under $20. But even on the PG, I have seen men wearing ties with their sports jackets, so if your DH likes to dress that way (even on Casual Nights), it is OK. I have also seen men wearing dress "T" shirts with suits on Informal Nights, and they looked great. I have been one of them (though I doubt that I ever look "great"). And the dress "T" need not be silk at all. There are some very nice ones in cotton. One of mine in this fiber is my "Mercedes Benz Club" dress "T", which I once wore with a jacket on Informal Night, and I didn't get kicked out at all! On our last cruise, a bunch of us at dinner talked about how much more we worry about dress "on the boards" than we do while ONBOARD! And it is so true.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Different looks for men for informal night:









All images from Travelsmith (my favorite travel clothing store)

Masaki

Or take a look at any picture of George Clooney.

Masaki, thanks for the pictures. These are exactly what we need.

What do all the males think of those stand up collars? DH was giving me funny looks about it but he didn't say anything.

Betty , we do have a Steinmart. I'll chech them before I drag DH there.

Denise, no Costco, Ross, or TJ Maxx, but we do have a Marshall. (And I think it is next door to Steinmart - how convenient) Your suggestion for his dress is exactly what I want to do but we need to add to his wardrobe. His only T's are souvenir cotton type. Somehow, I think the T that proclaims we biked Pike's Peak is not appropriate for even casual night. LOL.

Colleen: Some great bargains can be found at Marshall's and I love Steinmart - I probably would not get Tony into a stand up collar but that doesn't mean a thing - I think they look great - Joanna

Colleen ~ If I had biked Pike's Peak you better believe I'd wear that tee shirt on FORMAL NIGHT..very proudly!!! ;) ;) ;)

Bonnie, it was just down not up. But it was gravel over half the way down and we had to watch for ruts and pot holes. My right hand got a cramp from hugging that brake so much. You didn't have to be in very good shape but you did have to know how to handle a multi speed bike. Loads of fun, tho. Highly recommend it.

C do you mean neru colars? The kind with no fold over flaps? Are they back again? I never liked them preferring a more traditional shirt. If hubby is giving you a funny look now, he will likely never wear it. Personally not for me.

R

Oh, that would be nehru....

Robert, look at the first picture in Masaki's post. I've seen that type of shirt all over the place since I started this search.

Yep, that's the one. So it's back. I'm a Polo/Gap slacks & knit shirt (think Alfani) kind of guy. Fairly traditional. Hardly what anyone would call a fashion plate.

R

I prefer the third picture - black sport coat and black slacks with that tan no collar shirt.

Colleen,

I figure, with all the great advice you have received, which ever look you and hubby choose, he is sure to be "stylin'"

Betty