Posted: 3/12/2025 9:53:46 PM EDT
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I’m new to the idea of being well dressed but I’ve been reading up on things and I think I know the basics of wearing a suit. I’ve ordered a charcoal suit (made-to-measure) and I’m working on putting together the whole outfit. I have some medium-dark brown shoes and I’ll get a belt and watch band to match. My question is in regard to my gold USMC uniform tie bar that I’d like to wear. I’d normally gravitate toward silver accessories but I’m fond of this tie bar. How important is it that my watch and belt buckle are also gold? Can I get away with wearing the gold tie bar with a silver watch and belt buckle without looking like a stooge? |
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I did. I had two sets of "jewelry." One silver, one gold. Watch, tie bar/chain, cufflinks, belt buckle. |
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I wouldn't hesitate to add a gold Marine tie bar to a silver set up. You are correct about sticking with gold or silver generally, but your Marine accessory is special to you. Besides, I wore my silver Captain's bars on class A Greens with brass colored buttons and a brass belt buckle!  Also, I tend to shy away from being "matchy-matchy" for fear it looks too studied or self-conscious. |
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Silver watch, silver belt buckle and a gold EGA tie bar? I don’t see a problem here. Anyone who thumbs their nose at any of this are just fucking pogues and you shouldn’t give a shit. Of the three, your EGA. Is supposed to stand out. To hell with anybody who doesn’t like it. |
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Originally Posted By NoImpactNoIdea: Are we talking about an issue gold tie bar? Im sure you dont care what people think but that will be interpreted as a real boot move by almost everyone else who earned the emblem. If you want some USMC flair buy something nicely made or wear a lapel pin. This occurred to me and I’m glad you bring it up. Yeah, the issue tie bar. I’m not generally in the habit of wearing much USMC flair since I agree that it’s often a boot move. I thought about it some and I figured that the tie bar would be subtle enough when worn with semi-formal attire that it would be classy and not boot. It’s not like I’m gonna wear my issue CamelBak with my suit. Perhaps I’m wrong, though. I’ll have to ask around with some of my Marine buddies to get some more opinions. I do know that if I saw a well dressed, fit looking dude wearing an issue tie bar with his suit I’d think that was a classy way to give a nod to his service and the Corps. Thanks to everyone for the opinions. I think I’m gonna stick with silver accessories even if I determine that the tie bar is acceptable to wear and won’t make me a pog boot fuck. rah |
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FWIW, I'm a sartorial purist. However, I am not strict when it comes to the silver/gold rule when it comes to business attire (suits). I just give it my best shot. And, like you, I do prefer silver. Anyway, per my post above, wear that tie bar! I do tend to stick to the rule for semi-formal (Black Tie) and formal (White Tie -- lol. Only been there once, though!). Still, I would be surprised if you run across anyone anymore who understands all this!!!! The fact that you asked puts you in a class above! |
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I probably wouldn't think twice about it. Does a steel and gold watch clash with itself? A dark metal like pewter or bronze or such and I can see it, but shiny is shiny where I sit, and people will rarely see you belt buckle or watch. I do think a little EGA lapel pin might be a better way to flex, but I do like the stealthiness of your approach. I just don't like tie bars in general, and tend not to wear them. They always seem look too formal in a casual suit, and too casual in a more formal suit. Might just be my own neuroticism at play. I rarely do pocket squares too. Just not one to accessorize needlessly. |
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Originally Posted By Bohr_Adam: I probably wouldn't think twice about it. Does a steel and gold watch clash with itself? A dark metal like pewter or bronze or such and I can see it, but shiny is shiny where I sit, and people will rarely see you belt buckle or watch. I do think a little EGA lapel pin might be a better way to flex, but I do like the stealthiness of your approach. I just don't like tie bars in general, and tend not to wear them. They always seem look too formal in a casual suit, and too casual in a more formal suit. Might just be my own neuroticism at play. I rarely do pocket squares too. Just not one to accessorize needlessly. It’s the subtlety of the tie bar that appeals to me. A lapel pin would be bolder. At least that’s the way it seems to me. I asked a number of Marine buddies about if the issue tie bar was uncool to wear with a suit and I didn’t get a single objection to it. Infantry guys, a retired DS/GWOT-era Master Gunnery Sergeant, a few random MOS vets from different eras. They all said they think it’s fine. One guy says he wears his with a suit or sport coat regularly. Another says that he sees retired guys wear theirs regularly. I’m comfortable with it. |