Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

@maurilio:

11

How Men Should Wear a Shirt

Too many men wear ill-fitting shirts. They make even a good looking guy look sloppy and not put together. Even expensive fabrics that are poorly fitted will cheapen the look you are going for. This Fashion Friday post is here to help you find a good-looking shirt. If I’m going to give someone the shirt off my back, I might as well do it in style. First you want your shirt fitted at the shoulders and back. This is usually down to the ‘yoke’ of the shirt, which is the piece of material at the upper back that dictates the fit and shape of the rest of the shirt. You want it to fit snug, but not to feel restrictive when leaning forward. Equally, your sleeves ought to cover most of your watch when you put your arms out in front of you. Remember that a slightly tapered shirt will…

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32

How Men Should Wear a Scarf

After a few weeks in hiatus, the Fashion Friday post returns. With the weather turning cold, we turn our attention to one of the most basic, and yet, stylish pieces of winter wear: the scarf.  Most of our winter garb is primarily black or dark. A colorful scarf can add style and personality to your winter clothing without breaking the bank. Most scarves are unisex, so look around your wife’s closet, you might even find something that you could pair up with an existing coat for free. So how do you wear your scarf? Here are a few of the most popular styles: Seen on: Everyone from prep schoolers to snowmen. How to: Like tying your shoe—over, under, and pull. Seen on: Guys in suits, Obama … and the English. How to: Drape around neck, tuck into sides of jacket and cross ends under your jacket’s buttons. Seen on: Regulars…

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4

How Good Should We Smell at Work?

For this edition of the Fashion Friday post, I’m tackling a very sensitive issue that I often get asked about. While my own policy might not be popular, I think it’s the right one. So what’s the place of cologne or perfume in the workplace? How much or how little should you wear to work? Before I answer that, here are a few thoughts to consider: Cologne or perfume smells different on each person depending one’s our body chemistry. What smells like lavender fields on you might smell like a can of  sardines on me. Well, not really, but you get the point. The more you wear it, the less you smell it. That’s a tough one to balance. Like most chemicals, perfume dulls your senses. In other words, the more you use it, the less you smell it. However, the rest of us can smell it whether or not…

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2

A Basic Man’s Guide on What to Wear

“I want to look better, what should I wear?” I get that question all the time. My answer, however, might surprise you. I don’t point people towards a store, a brand, or even a personal stylist. Here’s my advice: You have to “feel” good before you can “look” good. Your outlook and attitude have more impact on the way you look than what you’re wearing. You can dress up in the most expense designer suit, but if you’re a miserable, unhappy person, you’ll still come across as, well, miserable and unhappy guy with nice clothes on. If you buy something that makes you feel sharp and well-dressed, you will carry yourself much better every time you wear it. But before you decide that the double-pleated, stone-washed jeans is your best “look,” ask a trusted source if they agree. It’s all about the fit. Beyond style, well-fitting clothes will make you…

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2

The Monk Double Strap Shoe Comes Back

I have had my eyes on these shoes for quite some time. With summer almost over, I think it’s going to be my next purchase. The monk double strap shoes have been around for a long time. The monk refers to the style of shoe once worn by Alpine monks in the 15th century. It is a moderately formal shoe: less formal than a full Oxford (American: Balmoral); but more so than an open Derby (American: Blücher). In between these, it is one of the main categories of men’s shoes. The double strap with buckles have been making a come back in the past few years. You’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the days to come.     What’s your take on the monk strap shoes?

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3

How to Choose Your Color

Finding colors that work best on you is an important fashion foundation. Knowing what colors help you and what colors hinder you will help you look your best. While every rule has an exception, with color shades in the mix, exceptions abound. But here are a few color rules that generally work for most of us. If you have dark hair and complexion: Black, white, and jewel-tone (deep) colors work well for you. Stay away from pastels, deep green, and most browns. If you have light hair and fair skin: Black, pinks, some pastels like pale blue can look really good on you. Be careful with white because it can wash you out. If you’re very blond, stay away from yellows or you risk the danger of looking like a giant banana. If you have red hair and features: Hunter green, dark browns, plums, and some deep blues are good choices. You might…

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4

Socks 101: Bringing Soxy Back

Socks have been for a long time one of the most utilitarian of all male wardrobe options. If you open most guys’ sock drawers you will find black, brown, and perhaps a white pair left from the 80’s if he was around then. But that has changed. Colorful fun socks are making a big comeback. But it’s not only in casual settings. Fun and colorful socks are being paired up with traditional gray and navy suits to add a splash of color and energy to the old stable of men’s business wardrobe. The colorful socks are reaching beyond the trendy, like the Biebster. Jenna Bush Hagen interviewed her grandfather, George H. Bush, on his 88th birthday and talked about his love of colorful socks. “I’ve always been a sock man,” he said. You can watch the segment here. What is your take on pairing bright socks with business suits?

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4

How To Tie a Skinny Tie

With the return of the skinny tie to men’s fashion, I’m often asked what’s the best knot for it. Lately I have helped friends, family, and even a men’s apparel store salesman with their tie tying issues (he had trouble with a bow tie, however). Personally I like to use either the four-in-hand or the Half Windsor knot for the skinny tie. The Full Windsor is too bulky and looks out of proportion on a thin tie. Also, I would not recommend the Full Windsor unless you are wearing a spread collar shirt that allows for the larger, bulkier knot. Here are a couple of videos on how to tie two of the most popular knots.   What’s your favorite knot? How do you feel about the skinny tie come back?

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26

Is a Beard a Good Idea for Business?

Facial hair has made a come back in the past decade as a fashion statement for the guys. Sorry ladies, not so much for you.  Interestingly a recent study in the Journal of Marketing Communications found that men with beards were deemed more credible than those who were clean-shaven. The study showed participants pictures of men endorsing certain products. In some photos, the men were clean-shaven. In others, the same men had beards. Participants thought the men with beards had greater expertise and were significantly more trustworthy when they were endorsing products like cell phones and toothpaste. Take a look at these trustworthy and famous bearded: But before you decide to grow a beard, take a look at the chart below because not all beard styles are created equal and while some might deem you trustworthy, others might make you not only un-appealing, but downright threatening. Since I first posted…

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22

Easter Sunday and the Return of the White Pants

What should I wear for Easter Sunday? If you happen to be living in the South or Southwest of the US, that’s a question a lot of guys ask this time of the year. More than any other weekend, Easter Sunday brings out boldness in even the most fashion-timid of guys. And nothing says spring more elegantly than white pants. For several years the white pants have been in a status of hiatus, relegated to tropical islands and part of the esoteric “resort wear.” But lately they are making a come-back. Lacoste, Dolce and Gabbana, and Gucci have all featured white pants in their 2011 spring and summer collections. Gucci and Guess have great looking white jeans versions. But wearing white pants come with responsibilities and warnings. No Pleats.  Don’t pull out your 1985 college edition of the white pants. Right fitting. Dark colors can look ok if they are…

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