SARATOGA FASHION TIPS FOR MEN, FROM REGION’S PREMIERE HABERDASHERY

Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel: Brightly Colored, Slim Fitting, Tailored, Shorter Coats are the Style

COLONIE — The 2019 Saratoga Race Course meet has begun. And that means a chance to dress your best at the track and out on the town. While a lot of fashion talk tends to focus on women’s styles, a local haberdashery says Saratoga is a chance for the men to show off their style sense, too.

“The Saratoga meet is an opportunity to get dressed to the nines and carry on a tradition that’s been going on for more than 150 years — to look your absolute best, more so than you would on your average work day,” said Kerry Fagan, owner of Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel, an upscale men’s clothing store in Colonie. “A lot of men dress to blend into the background, they’re scared to stick out. Think lots of blue — kind of boring. But at the track it’s sort of the opposite. You’ll see a lot of men sporting bright colors, bold patterns that remind us of green grass and blue skies.”

When dressing for the track, Fagan said men should try to dress a little more playfully than usual. Don’t be afraid to do a little peacocking.

“The outfit you’re going to wear to the track is probably not the same as what you’d wear to the office on Monday,” Fagan said. “The Race Course scene is a fun change of pace, so try to be a little outrageous and let your Saratoga persona shine through.”

Most people are more comfortable when they are dressed to the same level that others are dressed up or dressed down to. Keep in mind that at the track, you might actually stand out more if you’re not dressed more colorfully, he noted.

“You want to be dressed to make a great impression with the people you meet at the Race Course, because they might change your life in terms of business, friendship or even love,” said Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel Haberdasher Joel DiPersio.

Both Fagan and DiPersio sport two very different outfits when heading to Saratoga, both appropriate for any area of the track but each with specific areas in mind.

With a more casual aim, Fagan dresses for the clubhouse and to be outside under the sun and on the grass near the dust at the winner’s circle. His preferred outfit includes a custom pink dress shirt and a purple Italian sport coat by Canali made with silk, linen and a summer wool blend.

“Skip the tie to stay cool and casual, but add a bright pocket square for some flair,” Fagan said.

A nice pair of airy dress slacks by Jack Victor, made in Canada, goes well with the jacket and keeps Fagan cool. For shoes, he chose slip ons by Magnanni from Spain, for a casual but conservative look. Again, to be playful and show a little flair, Fagan’s socks by Robert Graham are grey with green sea turtles.

DiPersio dresses more formally, in an Italian suit with a Stone Rose pocket square, custom vest, and JZ Richards tie. He wears an oxblood belt by Torino and matching oxblood shoes by Magnanni, because it’s important to match your belt and shoes.

“You can add a vest to your outfit for a more formal look if you know you’ll be inside, in air conditioning,” DiPersio said. “I dress more for the boxes and the new 1863 club, whereas Kerry dresses for the clubhouse. Or, if we go to 15 Church Restaurant for dinner, I dress for the dining room, Kerry dresses for the patio."

DiPersio also works as Maître D' at 15 Church and says he sees a lot more suits indoors than outdoors.

You should really have both types of outfits in your wardrobe so you can dress according to the activities you have planned for that day/night, Fagan noted.

What’s in style today are shorter coats that are more slim fitting, Fagan said. Newer men’s styles are trim and lean. No more pleats. No more double breasted suits. No more cuffs on the bottom of your pants, Fagan said, noting that everything he and DiPersio wear is tailored and trim.

“No matter how much your clothes cost or where they came from, they have to fit well. That’s really the most important thing.

Even if you go to a department store, it’s affordable and necessary to have a tailor custom fit your clothes,” Fagan said. There are too many ill-fitting blue blazers out there, Fagan laments.

While Mark Thomas is an upscale men’s clothing store and the lines they carry are not cheap, Fagan said his store carries something for everyone at every price point.

“You don’t have to buy clothes from me,” Fagan said. “But you have to wear clothes that fit you properly and that complement your shape.”

“Your clothes reflect how you feel. And your clothes can affect how you feel, too,” said DiPersio. “Dress for success.”

PUBLICITY PHOTOS

To download high resolution photos of some summer styles, visit the following Dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pcnbi8ettrnbl2t/AACGb-L6rhNvNRwGSZcbA2sia?dl=0

Or Google Drive link

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bxVLJbJLNRhhtqhBJnj-iDTvBwkXtVgu