There is nothing like a sharp dressed man. You might be thinking ZZ Top’s 80′s hit. I’m talking well-tailored suit, eye-catching shirt, well-planned tie, properly-polished shoes, precisely-folded pocket square…the whole nine yards.

Suiting up a client is something I love. And, I love it even more when it’s for a great cause.

My client, Jeff, was selected to participate in the Project Smile 5th Annual Charity Date Auction. What a great concept. A bunch of hot single guys and girls who are bid on. The highest bidder enjoys dinner and a fun night out and a potential love connection with a devilishly handsome guy like my client or one of the lovely ladies up for auction. The best part is that all the proceeds from the evening go to Project Smile, a non-profit that donates stuffed animals, coloring books/crayons, small toys and children’s reading books to police and fire departments for police officers, fire fighters and paramedics to give to children involved in traumatic situations. As a mom to two kids, I love that this charity is focused on children and helping them through tough times.

So, the first order of business for Jeff was to plan his outfit. The invitation for the event said “business/cocktail attire.” This is where most people have the “holy crap, what does that mean?! moment.” Do I wear a suit? Do I wear a ball gown? Do I wear jeans and a blazer? The problem with telling someone what to wear is that, unless it says “wear a suit” or  “wear a tux,” everything else is up to interpretation.

Jeff and I brainstormed on what he was most comfortable in. He works in sales and is used to being dressed for work – shirt and slacks. We decided that a full suit and tie felt too dressed and instead we would work with what he had and go from there. The starting point was a great shirt. A great shirt is a staple and an amazing outfit can stem from this simple piece. I’m not talking a white button down or a pinstripe shirt. I’m talking about a statement shirt. You’ve seen them – bolder patterns, color, interesting details like fabric-lined collars and reversible-patterned cuffs. Robert Graham is the master of such shirts and it so happens that I had already helped Jeff pick out a beauty. They’re not cheap, but again, it’s a wardrobe staple that goes with jeans to a bar, dress pants to a club, a suit to a wedding or event and with just about anything to dress it up and take the hip factor to another level.

I decided that I wanted Jeff in a classic black suit. It would be a perfect way to showcase the shirt and show-off Jeff’s fun and adventurous side while helping him invest in another staple for his wardrobe – the black suit. We set a budget and I knew exactly what I wanted. Simple lines, no stripes or checks, straight leg, European-cut jacket, flat-front pants. Stylish. Classic. You’ll have it and wear it forever. We set a budget and set off for the Men’s Shop at Lord & Taylor on Boylston St in Boston. L&T has an amazing Men’s store – great selection and prices, along with serious sales and coupons that can save lots of $$, which I love.

The first order of business was getting the right fit. The shoulders should fall perfectly. Sleeves hit perfectly at the top of the thumb, not too roomy in the jacket. Then, the fabric. All season is key here in Boston and is the most versatile. I chose a European-cut Calvin Klein suit for him to try, along with a DKNY suit. Both similar but I knew they would fit differently. A guy might be a 44R but each designer is cut in a unique way so one designer’s 44 is another designer’s 46. Gotta try the jacket with a shirt and the pants.

To the dressing room we go. He came out in the Calvin Klein and…wow! It looked amazing! The pants needed a hem but the jacket fit perfectly and with the shirt, it was stunning! He looked like a million bucks…and felt like a million bucks. Iliana came and took up the hem, promised them in two days (love that) and off we went to the register. No joke – 45mins tops from selection to try on to hem. The retail price for the suit was over $500. The sale price was over $300 and with the coupon I printed out for Jeff, he got an amazing suit including alterations for about $200.

I cannot wait to see the pictures from the event and hear the final bid. Knock ‘em dead, Jeff…you look amazing!!

UPDATE: I am happy to report that my client brought in the highest bid for the evening raising a boatload of cash for charity and walking out with one hot dame for a date. Jeff said he was the best dressed guy on the stage…aw (blushing:).