Help me Decide · Real Men Real Style Community

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Help me Decide

Next week I’ll be attending “NOVACONN” – that’s our very official, very serious internal name for “everyone in the company meets up and tries to look more strategic than confused.”

It’s the annual gathering where:

- We get the State of the Company address

- Sit through workshops about “where we’re going” (fingers crossed it’s not to another re-org)

- And choose our own breakout sessions like a corporate version of speed dating for career paths.

Now, onto the *real* crisis: clothes.

For the flight out Wednesday night, I’ll be in jeans, a shirt, and a jacket – you know, “I might get upgraded” casual.

Thursday is where the fake panic hits DEFCON 1. It’s the first day of formalities:

- C-Suite State of the Company (SotC) chats – my personal highlight

- Workshops

- Breakouts in the afternoon

Thursday Night there’s a Gala Dinner with a “Dancing Through the Ages” theme. My group (ACT) drew the 2000s, which means I’ve decided to fully lean into my inner “popped collar menace.”

The plan:

- 3 polos (because one popped collar is never enough)

- White chinos (pray for no red wine incidents)

- Blue suede sneakers (Elvis would be proud, my podiatrist maybe less so)

And I, as always, will be *that* person in a suit while 90% of the company rocks “business casual-ish, please don’t look too closely.”

The problem: I have **three** M.J. Bale favourites and can’t decide which one to take. Cue fashion anxiety.

The contenders are:

1. **Harwood Blue Birdseye Weave Suit** – Classic, sharp, “I read the quarterly report *twice*” energy.

2. **Collins Brown Suit** – Earthy, dependable, “I know where the good coffee is” vibes.

3. **Bonato Washed Cherry Suit** – Statement piece, “I have a personality and possibly a podcast” level bold.

I **will** take whichever one is most popular according to your votes and wear it on Thursday. If opinion is strong enough (and my overpacking tendencies prevail), I might bring a second for the half-day Friday, which includes a Breakfast Gathering and more workshops, and the flight home.

Once the suit is locked in, I can finish planning the rest of the outfit and finally start packing without spiraling into another round of “but what if I need a fourth pair of shoes?”

I’m taking a large suitcase. Space is not the issue. My self-control is.

Blue Birds Eye

Washed Cherry

Brown

Just here to see the result

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