Thread: Questions for a young professional.

Hello everyone. As I've said before I'm an old man in a 18 year old's body. I love most things vintage, old fashioned or a throw back to a more honest time. In so I will be starting college in the spring and am planning on getting a job in an office, I'm looking at banks or a sales job. In so I think I should start stocking up on the basics. Do any of you know a place to get good fitted/ athletic cut dress shirts, slacks, and suits on a budget? Also I'm particular about pocket knives and pens. I always have those two things on me. I've been thinking about a fountain pen, I love the history behind them. What are the benefits of a fountain pen? What is the difference between piston filled and cartage filled? Once again thanks for your time.

P.S. If you know any places I should apply in either Oxford Mississippi or Columbia Missouri please suggest away. Thanks again.

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Devilpup

Yes fountain pens are good. Also an addiction like straight razors. Most definitely one of the finer things in life.

Piston fill - When the pen is empty you stick the nib in a bottle of ink and twirl the bit at the back that causes the piston to suck ink up.
Cartridge fill - When the pen is empty you open it up, throw away the empty cartridge an put a new one in. Like loading a shotgun.

Try "The Fountain Pen Network" and buy a Vintage Fountain pen. Much more style.

Greetings. Check over at Men's Wearhouse for your finery. Their prices are decent and they have good selection. I did a bit of checking and there are 2 in Springfield

Menswear Store Locator - Men's Wearhouse

You may also want to look into a local tailoring shop. I know in my area pricing is comparable and in some cases better from my local tailor than from a chain store like Men's Wearhouse. I know this is not the norm but something to look at.

Other places that have decent priced shirts are Kohl's but I am not sure on the slim/athletic fit selection as that is not my style (mainly because it can't be ) I have seen Shirt and tie sets there that are cotton for 20 bucks at times.

I love fountain pens and have a couple of Parker 51s. However for all useful purposes they are fairly redundant. I'm and oldie too, about 2/3 of the way though an Open University degree. I've done only one handwritten exam in four years ,every other piece of work apart from rough notes has been typed.
The best tip for a pen handwritten exams came from my daughter; use a Pilot Frixion pen, you can quickly and neatly erase mistakes. She used one for all her accountancy exams.

For dress shirts, try Land's End. They make what is in my opinion, the best true fitted off the rack shirt you will get. A lot of fitted shirts are still too wide, but the Land's End shirts are truly fitted and stay tucked. They are relatively inexpensive (under $50) and they have a "no iron" shirt that I love.

As far as pens, go for a Lamy Al-Star or Safari to get started and make sure you get a converter so you can fill the ink from the jar.

Seriously, stay away from The Men's Warehouse. If you ever get really quality clothes, then go back there, you'll never buy from them again, "I guarantee it".

So, first, let me give you some advice from a 30 year old who should have listened to what people told me. Get a double major in business and a science. It will make life hard, but you'll be fully prepared to do just about anything you want. Pick a hard major (I chose Accounting because it was the hardest degree in our business school at Baylor University), and I don't do anything remotely close to my major (Medical Device sales).

I wish I had gotten a good science degree because I could have gone back to medical school, but it would be 4 semesters of pre-requisites just to get in. That's something I wasn't prepared to do 3 years ago when I started thinking about it.

If you want to go into sciences, your business major will help you on the sales/management side of that. And, let's be honest, a "business" degree needs some meat to it to be really valuable, and about the brightest future in industry is likely going to be in sciences, as far as I can tell. Just my $.02

Regarding clothes, my recommendation is the same there as it is with this shaving scene. Buy classic and quality. I have a suit that I bought about 8 years ago that I still wear, and it still looks brand new... Of course, it cost me a grand, but I'd say it's well worth the investment.

Go to a local clothier, one with salesmen who actually cater to your tastes and guide you through the development of your wardrobe, and develop a relationship with one. My clothier has been the same guy since I was 14. He's great. I can call him up with a need, and he'll have me something in the mail the same day. And, as I mentioned, I buy classic styles so I don't worry about getting a wardrobe in a day, it's developed/developing over the course of the last decade... Plus, when you develop a personal relationship with the salesman, they'll call you when sales are going on and they can offer some discounts that aren't advertised usually.

Good luck with your decisions, and stay away from The Men's Warehouse. If you go to Jos. A Bank, don't even think of buying something that's below their "Signature" line. Unless of course, you don't mind buying a lot of stuff to replace what you have, or aren't the kind of guy who dresses up a lot.

When I retired I sold all the fountain pens I had accept one a Vanishing Point. They are neat and can lead to collecting mania. For use? Well most things are done on computer these days so if you really have need to use one you are lucky.

Originally Posted by Devilpup

I'm an old man in a 18 year old's body.

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Devilpup

I'll trade ya!

Thanks for all your help folks. I've picked up a few more dress shirts from JC Penney's and they are pretty good quality for now. Also I found an amazing site that sells $15 ties that are very good heavy quality silk IRS called the tie bar. I've also got my first fountain pens (a reform and a noodler enamel) both piston fillers and write extreamly smooth although the reform is a little dry.