Nothing beats a first impression.

Christopher Arblaster, a co-founder of Gresham Street’s A Flat Shop, says the most important consideration when pulling together an outfit to impress your partner’s parents is comfort.

“You want to feel good,” he says. “If feeling good means something that is fitted and fits your body, great. If it’s something  a bit looser, great. The best thing you can do is make yourself comfortable in the situation so there’s less nervous energy.”

Christopher and his two stylish business partners, Angela Carrig and Nathan Peacock (who are also romantic partners), have sifted through racks of A Flat Shop’s second-hand designer garments to create two comfortable vintage looks sure to win you a recurring invitation to Sunday night dinner.

The PVC Panel Suit

Why would this Comme des Garçons suit impress someone’s parents?

Christopher: It has a formal quality to it, and also a playfulness.
Angela: Showing that they mean business but they’re also transparent, literally.
Christopher: A woman could wear this, but it’s oversized. 

Maybe the parents will see a reference to David Byrne and Talking Heads?

Angela: If they don’t like Talking Heads, we don’t like them.
Chris: You could wear it with a sheer top underneath.
Angela: But sheer is a concern. You don’t want to be trapped wearing a blazer all night, potentially getting hot and flustered. Wear it with a t-shirt, or a nice blouse. This shirt is a blend of acetate and silk. May not help with the sweating, though.

Nathan, what did you wear when you met Angela’s parents for the first time?

Nathan: I don’t remember specifics, but I probably avoided things like paint on my clothes. It’s not disastrous, but it could imply there’s been an oversight.
Angela: Being well groomed is important. No Jack Nicholson eyebrows. But I can’t remember what I wore when I met Nathan’s parents. I don’t think I dressed really crazy anyway. Nathan’s parents are quite cool.
Christopher: I like ambiguity in dressing, which is ridiculous. I like dressing quite formally, but trying to make it unformal or messy. But maybe I’d want to tone down the messiness for this initial meeting. Making sure my hair is neat, things like that.

The Sport Look

Explain the red Issey Miyake jumper for this look?

Christopher: Is it a jumper, or a sweater? What’s the difference?
Nathan: I would call it a jumper. You wear a sweater for sweating.
Angela: Hopefully you’re not sweating when you meet the parents. Also – the Issey Miyake micro-pleated pants would impress them. They’d be like, ‘How did you iron those?’
Nathan: You don’t actually have to iron those.
Christopher: It would be a last-minute sort of situation. True for the jumper, too. If you’re in a bit of a hurry to meet the family, it’s not like, ‘Oh shit, my pants are creased.’ They’ll be fine. The navy colour of the pants has a formal quality to it also.
Angela: There’s a casual preppiness to the colour combination. Very French. But then there’s the foot tie.
Christopher: Yes. Jean Paul Gaultier.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a foot tie?

Christopher: If you look closely, the tie has tiny feet on it. It’s really a gag. We thought if something went wrong, you can blame the tie as an ice-breaker. ‘I knew I shouldn’t have worn this tie. I was bound to put my foot in it’, and then everyone’s like ‘Ha ha ha’. You’d wear it open, draped to one side, or around the neck.

Any accessories you want to throw in the mix?

Angela: There’s this zip bag. It keeps unravelling and unravelling.
Christopher: It’s not as much a thing you can blame, but a distraction.
Nathan: If there’s an awkward moment, you could say ‘I’ve got my bag of tricks!’