pig

Did I mention that I'm a fireman and I get paid to moisturize this really well-dressed guy every morning? It's a good gig, but he makes me keep my pants on.

Oh yeah, something about style and fashion and all that: quick question. I'll confess I grew up in the eighties / nineties, and for me clashing shades of the same color is a big no no. For instance, two shades of blue, one light and one not-so-light (it's so much worse if the shades are really close) - maybe one shade for the shirt and one shade for the jacket, or pants etc. I've noticed that more people are starting to do this, and I think they all look like they got kicked out of a Mentos commerical. Anyone else have any thoughts on the acceptability of clashing shades of the same color?

/The Freshmaker

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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

munchen

i cant stand the idea of wearing pants all summer yet I have no idea what to buy for shorts. Is there anyone out there with some good shorts advice?

I read an earlier post on shorts but i have no idea what "boat" shorts are.

also does anyone have a link on colour matching? im a stereotypical male when it comes to colours. i dont get them individually or paired together and have been told so. but im willing to learn. also im caucasian but tan easily, brown and brown.

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"Love is a perky elf dancing a merry little jig and then suddenly he turns on you with a miniature machine gun" -Matt Groening

Charlatan

Shorts... There are different types of shorts you can wear for different occasions.

Personally I prefer something that is either knee length or just below the knee. If you are going casual, cargo shorts are currently nice (they are usually made of cotton twill, or the same material that khakis are made of, and have lots of pockets).

You can also get very nice linen shorts that, while still being casual can be little more dressy. I have a black and a tan pair that I wear to the office. I pair them with broken in dress shirt with a T shirt underneath. I would suggest a good pair of sandals to go with them but I wear low boots with mine.

If you are feeling adventurous you can also try wearing pants that go to your mid calf... They are much longer that what could be considered shorts but can look very cool (I am wearing a pair today in fact). Again, depending on the style they can be either very casual or just a bit dressed up.

The ones I am wearing today are linen. I am wearing a white linen shirt, untucked and have a subtle pin-striped jacket over top.

As for colour matching... I don't know any websites. I just know what I think works together and I am almost always right (I also get my wife to confirm any new combinations I come up with).

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

munchen

thanks man. just bought a pair of cargos with a nice blue striped buttoned shirt. looks really good. I ve always ignored fashion but it can really make a difference

__________________
"Love is a perky elf dancing a merry little jig and then suddenly he turns on you with a miniature machine gun" -Matt Groening

Willravel

While I might be comfortable with clothing and such, but my hair has always been a problem. For a while, it was that generic 'cut short, spiked forward, gelled, and cowlick' look. Still is, I'm ashamed to say. So my wife made a wonderful suggestion yesterday: grow it out. Yes, for the first time since highschool, it's ttime to change the way my head looks. I reluctantly called some local hair style places, and they all say something like, "Come in and we'll take a look at it." I went down there (because we're all comfortable with our sexuality) and they took a look. I think I heard someone gasp when I walked in. They said they had some options, and started naming celebrities. "Give him a Colin Farrel!!" one shouted. "No, go with David Beckham!!" another said. Then the alpha...um, person calmed everyone down. "I'm thinking....Orlando Bloom." I must admit, this was the first time people had shouted the names of celebrities at my head. I was a bit afraid. I said "I'll sleep on it, what with it being my hair and all". Not even a chuckle. So I came home and farted around online for a bit. BTW, don't bother trying to look up men's haircuts on Google.

So here I sit, as confused as I've ever been. I'd still like a new, longer haircut, but I'm not sure how long and how to cut and where to cut. Please help. Please.

hunnychile

I love this thread!! It's well worth reading so I may just leave it up and hope my honey bear takes a read (tho he dresses quite well, um, most of the time...) but please, pleeeeze tell guys to get rid of the stretchy belts from JC Penny. They look so bogus, except possibly when you wear them while your washing the car or digging in the yard. And never be afraid to iron a shirt once ina while ...& ya know i will iron it, if there's a back rub "payback" later that night!!!

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"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB

Jesus Pimp

My best advice is to hang out with gay guys or designers of some sort. You'll learn a lot of about dressing nice. My favorite places to shop are American Apparel and H & M and buy shoes from Zappos.

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Never date anyone who doesn't make your dick hard.

Suave

Dude I know how you feel. I have the exact same haircut you do (or very similar ). I want to grow it out, but it's very fine and wavy (but I have a lot of it), and last time I grew it out I ended up looking like a frickin' minstrel from the 17th century.

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"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

Willravel

Same here!! About 10 or 11 months ago I said to myself, "Grow it out or I'm going to kill you." I grew it out. I made Chewbaca look like a GQ magazine cover model. I think the trick is paying out the ass to get it done by a true professional. My delimma comes in there, as I have no idea where to start looking. A friend of mine knows the dude who did the hair on Troy. If I had thousands of dollars to spend on my hair, I might give him a call.

mystmarimatt

I'm personally fond of some good pinstripe trousers and a cardigan sweater, with a dress shirt underneath...on sale at Express...But I'm a fashion whore

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Words of Wisdom:

If you could really get to know someone and know that they weren't lying to you, then you would know the world was real. Because you could agree on things, you could compare notes. That must be why people get married or make Art. So they'll be able to really know something and not go insane.

majik_6

My $.02:

It's possible to find some really great bargains on skincare/fashion stuff, but all-in-all, it's about what works best for you. I have stuff on both ends of the price spectrum that either get used constantly or never at all. Examples:

For jeans, I have a pair of $120+ Diesels that never leave my closet, while my ExpressMen and BKE jeans get heavy use. The Diesels are, of course, cutting edge fashion, but the fit doesn't flatter my build. The (slightly) less expensive denim from those other stores seems to have a much better cut in relation to my body.

Same goes for dress shirts: I have a $160 DKNY shirt that NEVER gets worn (I can't stand the cut and texture and the material shrunk the equivalent of at least 3 sizes upon the first washing) and I've got $20 outlet store shirts that also spend their lives in the back of the closet. For me, I was able to find the best fit from (once again) Buckle and ExpressMen.

Now when it comes to skin care, I've found that I do best with the more expensive items. When it comes to shaving, I used to use the moderately priced drugstore brands that cater to men who want modern products (like Neutrogena's new line)...until I found the amazing Art of Shaving products. Yeah, they cost a ton, but they last forever and they leave my skin amazingly soft and smooth.

So, I guess you shouldn't let the price be THE deciding factor (either shopping for a bargain or beliving the most expensive is always the best). Just be ready to shop around and try different things until you can find what works best for YOU.

Also, I have to throw in recommendations to read Cargo (great articles, but it tends to assume that the reader is either loaded or hoping to rack up ridiculous credit card debt), Men's Health (good advice on most issues relating to the art of being a man), and at least one magazine generally related to the image/aesthetic that you wish to portray (for example, I'm a graphic design student with a passion for minimalist/mid-century modern design and aesthetics so I regularly read several design trade journals as well as modernist living magazines such as Dwell).

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it's all about self-indulgence

soma

I'm looking for some athletic shoes. Running would be preferable, but I think I could go with just about anything.

Right now, I'm considering the Adidas A3 transfer. The reason is basically because they've done a pretty good job of advertising it, and I'm really not aware of much else. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Having Girl Problems?

pig

I assume these aren't actually to run in? I personally love my Brooks running shoes...but I wear them primarily to actually run. For pure style points, I'm not sure I'd really suggest them.

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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

Willravel

I've worn Pumas for years. They're extremly comfortable, and they have an understated style.

pig

shit, I wore pumas to prom. two years in a row. Loved those shoes.

/and I actually got compliments on them.

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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

kalisto_911

I am pretty clueless at style, i have become completely cynical because of all the self hate that the solid A&F wardrobe assholes in high school and college had caused me until I learned to not try and be "cool like them" (now it is mostly wierd shit at goodwill) but as far as skin care goes I take it pretty seriously. My dad inherited horrible skin from his dad and I have it as well, although my mom's genes helped me out a little bit (i can tan! yay) but my dad has been through a thousand and one mouisture products and the one he swears by (for life now I am sure) is kiss my face. The stuff works great and is unscented and completely skin friendly, he also swears by their shaving cream although I haven't even started using a razor yet so I can't comment there,

0.02$ dropped

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I know not how I may seem to others, but to myself I am but a small child wandering upon the vast shores of knowledge, every now and then finding a small bright pebble to content myself with. [Plato]

Nirvana

hey this is an awesome thread. let's keep this up. im a young guy (19) and i love low rise boot cut jeans and t shirts. i think have a cool pair of tennis shoes paired off wit slighly boot cut or at least straigh leg jeans looks great. can any one recomend some more stylish things to wear for a guy who like its very casual.

Willravel

Thanks for the resurection, Nirvana!

In addition to bootleg/straight leg jeans and t shirts, a straple in any wardrobe, I like sports coats and track jackets. I've always been casual, and formal for me is dockers and a polo.

maleficent

a trick thrifty (not cheap) women in bigger cities have always known about since the beginning of time.. is to call the better salons in your area (sometimes they are chains, mostly they are just ridiculously expensive hoity toity salons) Ask about their training classes and if they need heads for it... you basically go it.. sit in achair for about an hour (or longer) and you will get worked on by a student who's ready to hit the floor and cut for real... if the student does screw up - there's always a good stylist around to fix you up... (generally it costs no more than a very generous tip (if you like the cut)

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Willravel

Excellent info, Mal! I'll have to make come calls!

Nirvana

no problem Willravel. i recently got into fashion. I love to look at fashion shows, especially D&G and recreate similar pieces (of course much cheaper). tell me some of your favorite brands. Describe your style if you can as well. and I was wondering, how are those Nudie jeans working out for you?

Willravel

They were really stiff for a month or so. Now they fit like a leather jacket. I can see now that a lot of what makes clothes fit you is wearing them in. While going out to American Eagle or Abercrombie and buying ripped, fadded, and softened up jeans is nice, it's still very artificial. The best way to get worn in jeans is to wear them out yourself. I did everything from yoga to yardwork to 16 hour drives in my jeans and they are like a second skin. I should also mention that it's not uncomfortable to sit on my wallet in these jeans. They have worn thin where the wallet is and are thick around the wallet, forming a cushion. I've washed them maybe twice since I got them.

My favorite brand is old as sin. I've found that ebay (surprise) is a gem for finding old shirts and such (warning, dry clean everything you get before wearing it ). I do wear stuff from Express, Club Monacco, Banana Republic, Hugo Boss, Armani (espically Armani Jeans), Diesel, Lacoste, G-Star, Stone Island, Hackett, and whatever I can afford at the time. I still wear a lot of American Eagle (the stuff is comfortable as heck), and I also wear Dolce from time to time.

My style? I call it 'still learning', because I like to think the way I dress changes (I don't want to use the word 'evolves' as it sounds too pretentious and self involved). I also wear hats.

Nirvana

i would say i am in the Club Monaco and BR range when it comes to affordability of clothes. i tend to frequent department stores looking for sales. i think a great pair of sunglasses can complete an outfit.

Ive wanted a pair of nudie jeans since ive first heard of them but right now i just cant afford them. im glad they are working out for you. i hope this thread doesnt die again because this is somehting that should stay active for a long time.

VirFighter

Great thread guys!

I'm a senior in college looking to build my fashion knowledge and find my own niche. I generally try to maintain a professional yet natural look for the most part. I'm about to make a big purchase though, my first Seersucker suit! I think it'll be great for summer! Not professional you say? I live in the South and seersucker is a great way to beat the heat and have a "local" look about yourself.

On that note though, I have a question. I'm not one to wear suits often but wish I could without looking out of place or ridiculous. I have one charcoal suit and I'm soon to have my seersucker. How often do the gentlemen here wear a suit? Only for work, only on nice dinners (like an anniversary)? I love watching old movies and the men are almost always dressed nicely in suits, ties, vests, etc.... what happened to those times?

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"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

Charlatan

I don't wear a suit all that often but... if you like wearing a suit don't be afraid to wear them all the time.

The key with any fashion is attitude. The moment you are confident about your clothes, whatever they may be, nobody will question your choices.

It is a good rule of thumb.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

maleficent

They may be a southern thing.. I see them occassionally in NYC occassionally - and honestly they aren't my favorite look -- by the end of the day, they tend too look like you've slept in them -- wrinkled and wilted... not crisp and fresh... I much prefer the look of a tropical weight wool suit, it's generally good for three seasons, 4 down south, and just survives more than a single wearing

Make sure you've got a good dry cleaner will will keep your suit looking good, if you indeed get the seersucker.

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Nirvana

hey i think you can wear suits as often as you want. just make sure you don't take "style" over comfort. but basically you can wear a suit whenever you want. remeber, depending how you wear the suit, it can become a casual or a formal outfit.

keyshawn

Am I misunderstanding you that you only washed them only twice after you have boughten them (and did yardwork and 16 hr drives in them ?!) and you still wore them dirty ? I guessing that I'm taking you too literal on this tip

As with the pre-faded/ripped clothing, I'd rather just buy them second-hand and without the rips/fades/etc. in there and wear them out so the rips/fades naturally come out.

Finally, what do you think about the fad of wearing the 'generic athletic center since 1898' shirts (trying to ressemble old P.E. shirts from the 50's) that are sold in places like old navy and american eagle ?
I personally like them, but I'd rather make custom ones that have my elementary high school's info on them.

regards,
keyshawn

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Willravel

I washed them the day of the yardwork. I don't want to wear muddy jeans. They stay prety clean, otherwise. The 16 hour drive was in an air conditioned vehicle, which meant virtually no sweat. As time passes, you wash them more and more. Now that they are properly worn in, I'll probably wash them every few weeks or so (assuming I wear them once or twice in a two week period).

MSD

According to a 2001 (give or take a year, don't remember exactly) poll in GQ, the average man wears a pair of jeans 11 times before washing them.

edit: also, don't forget to check out my cologne thread for the perfect scent to go with your outfit

Nirvana

generally, i don't think jeans get dirty that quickly. i woudl have to agree with that GQ poll, althought maybe not as much as 11. during the summer time sit would be more frequent. during the inter, probably less.

willravel, i was wondering if you had any true religion jeans. i saw them at the store recently and i thought they were terrible. the style, the fabric, and the wash was so bad, especially for that price tag.

Mondak

Ok I'll bite. This whole business casual thing puts me in a tizzy at times. If you have seen pictures of me from around the board, I have a couple challenges when conducting business. One is that I am short (5'9" soaking wet) and the other is that I look like I am 19 (I am 32).

I regularly meet with senior executives when doing buisiness and so to combat this I try to dress very professionally. The thing is that a suit (paticularly in California) makes people sometimes uncomfortable. You see they have this whole business casual thing - even when I work with banks and insurance companies sometimes. Especially when I am in the IT or Opperations portion of a sales cycle. Suits I understand:

1. You get what you pay for
2. The guys who work in the mens section at Nordstrom know what they are doing

So I am not going to show up in jeans like some of the people I meet with, but the solid button down with dress pants has not been cutting it of late. I feel that the time is come for (must resist fist of death...) A Sportcoat (gasp)!!!

Ok now I always thought of these things as the elbow / shooting patches on a thick tweed jacket type of thing. I have seen some people pull these things off and it is a nice alternative to dress things up on a moments notice. For example, I was at a conference the other day in ARIZONA where it was like 150thousand degrees out during the day. Ties were clearly out, but I had a speaking engagement in which I could have slipped on the sportcoat and then went back to my button down (By the way - when did dress shirts start costing $150???) dress shirt and dress pants. Or transitioning from daytime to dinner as another example.

So does anyone have a sport coat primer for me? I don't want a navy sport coat with gold buttons either here. I don't want a staple that will last. I want to have something that might be out of fashion in a few years possibly, but for now it is very nice. What I am looking for:

1. What pants to wear with it (and how to choose). I have seen jeans but I will never do that. With a suit, they are exactly the same. With this? No idea.

2. How to choose a shirt. If I have a shirt with some stripes, how do I make sure it is not too much?

3. What is in? I am still tying an onion to my belt (since that was the style back then). What the heck am I looking for?

4. Shoes? Dress shoes I understand. In between (rubber soles are blasphemy but that could be its own response on this thread) I don't really have a grip on this.

5. Where to buy. While I have done well with Nordstrom, I am not married to them. If you are about to post that I go to a thrift shop and check out the racks for deals - you are responding to the wrong post.

6. Anything else that might be useful.

Thanks very much for reading all that and any help you have for me.

__________________
All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

VirFighter

I'm by no means an expert, but it has been my experience thus far in men's clothing that certain things are a staple simply because they work and will always look good, especially in the business world. You really can't go wrong with a simple navy (I wouldn't go with gold buttons though) or black blazer and the versatility is second to none.

You could browse stores like Express or Banana Republic to see what they offer and that might give you a better idea of what is fashionable these days, but if you want to maintain a professional look I'm not sure how appropriate these would be (but then again I'm on the east coast).

You seem like you have a good amount of experience and have a good idea what looks good on you and what doesn't... use this knowledge! Go to your favorite store and just browse the racks, try on stuff and see what you like. Maybe try on different shirt and pant combos as well. If you want a little more guidance, the gentlemen at Joseph A Bank and The Men's Warehouse have always treated me right.

One last thing, on the pants, I think it depends on how formal or casual you want to look. Dress pants are good if its a night function or you want to look a little more formal. A good pair of dockers or other khakis work if its just a casual meeting for lunch or something or its on a weekend.

I hope this helps.

__________________
"The South is gonna boogie again"
- Disco Stu

Willravel

A lot of jeans out there are going to be expensive. Armani jeans are worth every penny IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM. If you're a student, there is nothing wrong with AE jeans. There's no shame in wearing comfortable clothes that are well designed. I've not yet worn or even seen true religion jeans. From the look, they are so-so, espically for the price.
Bingo. You DO get what you pay for in suits.
Chinos are probably the answer to your problem. I wear them with tennis shoes and a t shirt or with dress shoes and a french cut dress shirt and a (gasp) blazer.
You sure you'd never do jeans with a sports coat? They really do work well. There are three general looks that you can use with the sports coat: casual, semicasual, and formal.

Casual - Jeans (even with rips or tears) or chinos with a print t-shirt, worn with sandals, tennis shoes, running shoes, casual shoes, or even dress shoes.
Semi casual - dark jeans only, not torn, or chinos with a dress shirt or turtle neck usually nicer shoes, not tennis shoes.
Formal - suit or tux with damn nice dress shoes
Too much? Look at yourself in the mirror and decide if it's something your wife/gf/crush/etc. would want to see you in. If necessary, ask someone.
Onions are okay. I guess you can look in magazines and stuff if you're not sure.
See above in the #1 section.
Thrift shops are for certian people and not for others. Cest la vie. Check post #102 I think it is. I name about a dozen places to get jeans, and they all have decent casual stuff, too.
Style can be deeply personal for people who put effort into it. At the end of the day it's up to you what you think looks and feels better on you. If all else fails, ask "What would Admiral William Adama do?"

jorgelito

Mondak,

Try the Men's Wearhouse - they give good service and the prices are reasonable. They have a good range of stuff (at least I think so). Give them a try, it's worth it. I spent 3 hours and almost $2000 getting outfitted there (I got a lot of stuff). It was worth it.

I got a nice sportcoat there. It was navy, but sleek; no "captain's buttons - the traditional ones). It's versatile - I can wear it in many combinations: with khaki's and white shirt for traditional; with a nice pair of jeans, nice shirt (untucked) and Kenneth Cole shoes for casual/night out; with dress pants and shirt still appropriate for business etc...

Also, hairstyling may help your look. I'm also 32, but I'm versatile: If I leave facial hair and carry myself a certain way, I can look "older, distinguished etc", especially with glasses. If I shave, change my clothes to a younger style, then I fit right in with the college crowd (I still get carded).

For shoes, try the Kenneth Cole line.

Shirts, maybe Calvin Kline?

I live in LA so I understand exactly what you mean. But, it also depends on your industry. If you're in entertainment, then casual is pretty wide. But in finance etc, then a more conservative look is the general rule even in LA.

Willravel's advice is sound, common sensical and prudent.

Hey, I'm learning too, heck we're all learning eh?

Oh, don't forget: there is a huge difference between jeans and nice jeans. I have a couple of regular jeans (for play, etc, and one or two nice jeans - something you pay $100-200 for (ridiculous I know, but I realized there was a difference), Think Diesel, Seven, Ebisu, etc. I think Will and someone had a jean post going on. So, nice jeans would go well with a nice blazer.

Good luck bro, let us know how it goes.

Mondak

Will
Thanks a lot for all the great responses. The more of this feedback I get, the better my results will be. It will take me a while to really get into this thing properly. The idea of a turtleneck or jeans will take some time and may never happen. The images I have in my mind are not good on those. Besides, a turtleneck + California = really fraking hot.

On the other hand, I think the sportscoat will be easier now - I will know it when I see it (and perhaps post a picture) but the pants might be tougher. Good stuff all around.

Jorgelito - Good stuff. In fact I recently changed my hairstyle and like it a lot. I have a great gal who does my hair and I have to say to anyone who still goes to Supercuts or the like: stop. Go somewhere where there are consistent results and professional haircutters. While there might be the occasional diamond in the rough, you won't get the same thing twice. Facial hair - can't do it. I mean literally. I went six months once and had nothing more than a few patches. It looked like crap. I wish I could grow a goatee or something. No dice.

Dress Shoes - I should write a guide for here. I actually meant - how to choose shoes that went with a sport coat and whatever pants we had.

Finally - your advice on jeans is pretty good. I would say that the same logic can be applied to Men's Warehouse vs. Nordstrom. There is a gigantic difference in the quality of the clothes. The twice yearly sale is actually quite a good deal. Go on a weekday afternoon / morning during the sale (take time off if you have to - it is worth it). You will get the full service Nordstrom is known for, but still get the great prices. Weekends during the sale are for the proletariat.

__________________
All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.

ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

Nirvana

try looking for stores that sell thing for dicounts. things like Filene's basement do the trick. you can find designer denim, as well as designer fashion for cheap. u have to spend some time looking but u can find some great stuff.

Ample

I just got a 10% raise at work, and am 50lbs lighter than this time last year. So I went out today and slurged on some new threads. I just wanted to thank willtravel and the others who posted here on some tips on what to get. Sure, they are a lot more than was I would normally pay, but look a lot better on me.

Thanks again Will

Willravel

Hey, no problemo. I figure this whole forum is here to assist people in helping others and themselves. I'm glad I could help.

cookmo

I'm a female, but I just have one tip for you all that my mother taught me...I f you find something you love whether it be shoes, jeans, shirts whatever, by two of it and if you can afford it by three or four. When something wares out, you can just, pull out your spare.

now I leave you men to your men talk