Tilted Men's Style
 

Well, after seeing a few threads flaot by hinting at this, I decided to take it upon myslef to open up a suggestion/question/discussion thread about men's style. We can discuss anything from clothing to furnature to machismo.

This isn't about men being pretty, this is about men being able to discern good from bad.

Note: some, if not all, of my suggestions and info will come from Men's Health Magazine (or my personal experience), as I persoanlly have close ties to the staff of that magazine and read the thing like it's going out of style. Heh.

From a MEn's Health article on Casual Ware
Men's Health usually writes to the 27 and up crowd. You've been warned. If you're under 27 (and over 18 of course), it's fine to do the oddly faded jeans, chinos (the grown up word for way to say 'a coarse twilled cotton fabric used for uniforms and sometimes work or sports clothes', see chinos at Banana Republic), some polo shirts, t shirts, comfortable cross training shoes, and boxers. Everything else will fall into place thanks to a gf or work.

I hope to God that I never think it's cool or even okay to wear loafers.

I'd visit a style forum. The style components were my favourite part of GQ and Esquire before they turned into crap.

Shall we all list our most hated fashions? Or our favourite styles?

I have to work in a semi-formal environment and I've taken to wearing dark vests. I think it adds a nice contrast to the jacket, shirt and tie. I don't generally wear the same colour as the jacket (not a three piece suit) but it's always in the same colour group of course. For example, today I have a dark-olive/green suit with a light tan shirt and dark-patterned tie. I threw on a charcoal vest and I think it really adds something to whole look.

One of my favourite vest combinations is a dark suit, dark shirt and tie with a dark-violet vest. I think it works.

I would like to read something like this

oh and.....men in loafers are sexy!!!!

Great thread idea!

There are still decent sources of men's style out there that aren't 'queer eye' (those guys are far from experts on their various fields, and they don't do much but stereotype homosexuals). You just gotta look a bit harder. I, too, am dissapointed in the way that GQ and Esquire shifted in the Maxim direction.

This is for all things style. It's an open forum. If you love it or hate it or want to know more about it or educate about it....go for it.

Sounds good to me. Any info on your brands?

i'm pretty well an Express junkie...best thing i like is that they have a wide variety of colors for their dress shirts.

Combine with jeans (white, green, lighter patterns), khakis (white, blue, darks) or grey slacks... and it's pretty hard to fail.

A little more casual... Old navy makes good layering t-shirts, get some greys, whites, blacks, and a few colors that work well for you. open dress shirt, jeans or slacks.

a few good pairs of pants go a long way...have some variety in the colors of khaki you use, some grey slacks, and dark jeans that can work with dress shirts.

save most of your variety for shirts, sweaters, and ties. Frankly, it's 95% of what people look at.

Cool thread! I've always needed a lot of help in this area. I can admit that! I can't contribute much, but I'll be looking for the tips for the guy who needs to be nudged out of blue jeans.

I think I'm a godamn failure in this, right now I'm in Converse sneakers, faded jeans, a hawiian shirt and a grandfather cardigan drinking red wine out of the bottle.

I like to think I can get stylish when the time is right but since it's 2am on Tuesday morning I wouldn't think it's too important.

Still, I think this is going to be a great thread and I hope by the weekend I'll have something more stylish to contribute :)

I'm a big fan of block colours with subtle patterns or unobstrusive designs. They give a clean first impression but still show some flair.

As always though, the right outfit for the right occasion. They way you dress will reflect the way others treat you based on their stereotypes.

\
Not bad. Converse sneakers are friggin comfortable, and I love mine. I've had chuck taylors off and on for like 7 years. So long as the faded jeans are narrow waist, slightly boot cuty, they'll usually go with the converse tennis shoes. The shirty to go with the casual pants and shoes? A simple t-shirt, polo, sweatshirt, or something really relaxed and informal. This is, of course totally good for hanging out with friends at the beach or somewhere recreational, or lounging around the house. It's your house, you make the payments, dress relaxed. With that...hmmm. Hawaiian shirts usually go well with chinos or cargos, long or short, and maybe some sandals or some comfortable shoes. Trim back the chest hair if you're Robin Williams, no one wants to see that. If the Hawiian shirt is long sleve, usually roll up the sleves, unless it's cold. Who wears a hawaiian shirt when it's cold? Is that a form of denial? Cardigan is great with slacks and a good soft undershirt.

Wine out of the botttle? That's the most stylish thing I've seen yet. As long as it isn't one of those giant wine bottles (those are f**king awesome), go for it. What goes witrh 2 am? White or Red?>

Freaking awesome. You're a credit to your gender. I'm also a fan of Express Men, a.k.a. Structure.

Good with the t-shirts. If you don't know what colors work well with you, try to match the colors in this order from most important to least: eyes, hair, skin, lips. Match first to your eye color. Your eye draws other peoples eyes, then they go to work on the rest of you. Have green eyes and light skin with redish freckles? Go with greens and olives. Have dark brown eyes and dark skin? Go with earth tones (browns, greens, tans, deep blues).

Always make sure you are comfortable in what you buy. Don't feel prtessured to go buy lowrise bootcut jeans if they're not your thing. You have options.

Don't assume that jeans are only for kids. You can wear jeans as long as you can breath, as far as I'm concerned. The idea is to fit the jean to the situation.

From a Man's Health article
Decent jeans available from:
7 for All Mankind jeans
Nautica Jeans
Agave Jeans
Levi Jeans
Banana Republic Jeans
Armani Jeans
Diesel Jeans

Men's Grooming
 

Great thread idea Will,

Style. It's the one thing us guys dread but really need *chuckle*. Great contributions by Will and Martin so far on the clothing front.

I will add PERSONAL GROOMING:

Some of this may be redundant or you've heard it before, but go ahead, roll your eyes cause we all need to hear it again. I'm no expert, but I have gleaned from the collective wisdom of the the canon of the history of mankind and his foibles so here goes. Please feel free to "correct" me or add things etc. I like to think of the thread and TFP in general to be "open source".

Today's topic: Hair

Gentlemen, our hair runs the gamut across our gender; long, short, straight, unruly, bald. But they all share one thing in common: The need for management. No, licking your hands and slicking it back does not count. You know who you are.

1. Hair: Wash your hair and depending on type, condition too. Yep, times are a changing. I am your archetypal man's man but even I finally realized I need some effort and maintenance.

Start with a decent shampoo (I know, I recently switched from *gasp* bar soap to real shampoo). Also, no need to wash everyday, just wash the ol' hair every other time or so as not to "kill it".

You know your own hair type, and if you don't, ask your trusted barber (hairstylist for you city folk), GF or if you're really desperate, go ask mom. Then, buy an appropriate shampoo and condtioner. Spend a few minutes to READ the label and find a suitable match.

2. Extraneous hair - nose, ear, mole etc.
Yep, no two ways about it, Ya gotta snip the nose ticklers and the ear hay. Remember, you're not the one who has to look at it (and frankly, it's just better hygiene). Trust me, the opposite sex will appreciate it....really. You should invest in a nose hair trimmer - electric or ol' fashioned snub-nose scissors are fine, just go out and get one.

3. Facial care
Apparently, you're not supposed to use soap. Or the regular bar soap anways. I guess we're supposed to get facial soap. It's kinda nice actually, not so harsh. There is a whole world, some might say industry, out there of products for taking care of oneself.*awestruck*

My buddies and I used to laugh at this one kid in our group who always used facial soap etc and took care of himself. Well, we're all in our thirties now and no longer laughing at him. He looks great (and not in that girly way mind you), just well maintained and not like he scours his face with sandpaper like some of us.

4. Skin care
We took care of hair and face. Now you got to protect that mug of yours, you handsome devil. Moisturizers. Ugh. I actually said it, but you know what, it's necessary and you'll thank me for it when that hot chick/girfriend/wife or yours can't stop touching your face, rubbing it, wanting to put your mug in her boobies cause you're so smooth and soft (but not girly). Hit the moisturizer counter (hot girls there by the way, impressed that you're taking care of yourself and not afraid to do it). Find the right one for your skin type and use it regularly. Pay close attention to: dry, oily, normal, SPF, UVA, UVB. These are important.

To be continued later...

Guys, if the thought of doing these things makes you squirm, well, get over it. It's not a big deal, no one will question your manhood. As long as you don't obsess over it or spend more time on it than a girl would (LOL) then you have nothing to worry about. Taking care of ourselves is important for hygiene, appearance, and other stuff.

Last word of advice: Invest in a gentleman;s grooming kit. You can either buy a complete kit, or put together your own.
They're not expensive and very useful. A good kit should contain:
*2 nail clippers - for manicure and pedicure
*nail fail - for, well see above
*small scissors - with rounded ends - for trimming nose hairs
*razor - for shaving

larger sets may contain:
*small comb
*hair brush
*mirror

I actually have to go back to studying for my finals, BUT I will return with GROOMING Part 2 tomorrow or thereafter. Hopefully, someone can check my work to see if I'm right or completely out of my mind.

Stay sharp gentlemen, stay sharp.

Excelent post, jorgelito. A ton fo good information there. One cannot look stylish with an afro from each ear.

There is a wonderful place between the guy who drinks beer in litres and washes his face with lava soap every few weeks, and the guy who accedentally scheduled his mancure and facial on the same day and had to reschedule his bikini wax altogether. There is a holy ground where you don't have to look like a slob, but you won't have to answer the question 'why are only some of you gay guys flamers?' (from bigoted people out there who assume that they are able to tell straight from gay, and who are more than willing to act like idiots). This is the realm of the gentelman. This is a home for straight men or gay men, whoever wants to be respected and taken seriously. This is for the guy who wants to catch peoples eye just for a second, and leave a bit of an impression when necessary. This is a normal, classy guy. That's what this is all about.

i like sharp suits. shaped in at the waist often with slightly flared trousers with a dapper tie and scarf.
bashed up jeans and collared t-shirts.
i love wearing my kilts casually with a wooly jumper and a t-shirt and a pair of cons.
block colours are good. white socks are bad. loafers are bad too, as are sandals. hats are good but not baseball caps or 'comedy' hats unless it is a 'see-you-jimmy' hat.
grooming is good. too much aftershave is bad.
sports wear is just that.

lol i know i'm a girl so i'll just peek my head in here then run for my life since this seems to be for the boys...but i had to add that men wearing obnoxious tee shirts are not sexy. they just look like highschool freshmen...

and using moisterizer and grooming your nails well isnt gay...it just looks better

Can a female chime in here... Most women think bald is kinda sexy - -that whole grass doesn't grow on a busy street thing-- (intelligence = sexy) - combovers on the other hand - not sexy and are just silly. You aren't fooling anyone by having your part down around your ear... be proud of your bald head... We'll love you for your confidence.

Ok, back to reading... :D

when/ if (hopefully if) i go bald i'll shave it all off. much better tactic than a comb over or whispy thin stuff...

great idea will. and excellent contributions.

my 2 cents - details gentlemen, details. even a cheap suit can look like a million bucks if pay attention to a few finishing touches.

1) A nice tie - forget that novelty tie your mum bought you 3 years ago for christmas. it is neither cool nor amusing! you should be looking for something silk, and fairly neutral that will combine nicely with your dress shirts without visually hitting everybody in the face. ask the nice lady in the tie shop, they always know a good combination.

2) Shoes and belt - Shoes should ALWAYS be polished. even if they are $25 bargain basement, polish them well and often and people will be pushed to tell the difference from a much more expensive pair. and your belt should ALWAYS match the colour of your shoes.

3) A good watch - something dressy, but not too flashy, again if you dont have the coin to pay for a designer brand there are many cheaper makes that offer similar looks.
dont go for a diving watch unless you actually are diving instructor, or a navy SEAL.
stainless is always better than gold, unless it actually is a real rolex. and, always keep your watch clean.

nowthen

Good points all. One very important rule: ONLY WEAR A KILT TO APPROPRIATE OCCASIONS, AND ONLY IF YOU ARE SCOTTISH. It's a right of every man of scottish decent or orgin, but no one else. So, Sean Connery: yes. Prince William: NO. Ewan McGregor: yes. Michael Jordan: no. You get the idea. German and other Europeans don't count, you must have scottish blood.

While this is intended for the benifit of men, women are more than welcome to join in our reindeer games. A lot of the best grroming tips come from the other side of those lacking the y chromosome.

Yes! Good advise. If your hair is beginning to move on to greener pastures, don't be afraid to go short, really short. Make absolutely sure that you don't do it yourself, as it should still be slightly longer on top, and shorter on the sides. A good barber should be able to taylor the cut to your head. Don't be afraid to grab som magazine clippings of Bruce Willis or someone who actually makes bald look cool. Warning, if you arew really white and are going bald, it may not be the best idea to go TOTALLY bald (people might see you and think 'hmmm, that guy reminds me of American History X'). If you do decide it's time to go bowling ball style, do not ggrow a thin m,ustache and speak in a german accent.

Good info.

1) I always like to have two ties per shirt that are perfect matches, and that each of those two can be matched up eclectically with other two other shirts when you want to stand out a bit. If you can form a collection of shirts and ties that all are matchable, you can have a lot of looks to throw out there for less $$. Remember to go quality with ties, even if your shirt is from a 94% off clearence sale at goodwill. Also, for those of you with significant others, make sure your ties each have a slight smell of your cologne or aftershave. If you have the hint of your smell on your ties, they become like a part of you. It also makes the tie an excelent tool in bed.

2) Don't just match color with shoes, but try as hard as you can to mathc material and appearance. If you have smooth looking kenneth coles, go with another kenneth cole belt made from the same type of leather. Fabric belts are okay with loafers or sandals or flip flops. Don't wear dress belts with jeans. That's not cool. Since jeans are informal and have a matte finish, your belt should, too. Go big buckle and low shine with jeans.

3) With enough money at your disposal, you should have a watch that goes with the shoes and belts, but we aren't all millionares. For dressy occasions that involve a suit and above, go with the black leather strap with a stainless or silver head and maybe a grey or black face. The colors should go with your suit no matter the color (unless it's pink, but that's a different conversation). For every day nice looking- go with a stainless strap, 50-100 meter water resistence, and again, go with black, grey, or white for the face. If you have the $$ only purchase a watch from an authorized dealer at a reputable jewelry store. And get a warranty. The good ones will cover buckle-to-buckle repairs for 2 years. AND ALWAY BE ON TIME!!! Call (303) 499-7111 to synchronize your watch with the U.S. Atomic Clock. If your clock is off, you are not a gentelman.

Awesome thread and information, but it'll be a cold day in hell when I start to moisturize.

Ewwww, I hate loafers!

The best look on a man is clothing that is well-fitted (and by that, I don't mean super tight or anything).

Well if it were cold and you were in hell, it might be a good time to moisturize.

When I 'moisturize', all I'm doing is putting on spf-15 sunscreen (Neotrogena Oil-free Moisture SPF-15). Every morning after rinsing off my face really quick, I put on a little bit of oil free spf-15. It doesn't make you break out, it keeps your skin kinda smooth, and it prevents too much sun exposure. Dermatonogists reccomend wearing at least spf 15-30 every day, every month, every year.

over the years i've collected about every color there is... except for some pastel colors that i'd never wear. i love these shirts because they can be casual or formal and they are quite durable as well. the only bad thing about having a lot of them is the time it takes to iron them all, haha.

but as much as i love those shirts, banana is definitely my favorite store. it's dangerous for me to walk in one without my girlfriend with me to keep me in check because i'm almost sure to come out with at least $150 worth of stuff.

jeans are the hardest thing for me to shop for... especially now that everyone is going with the 'dirty wash' or 'pre-destroyed' look. i'm very picky about the color/texture of my jeans, not to mention the fit. i recently went shopping for a new pair of jeans because my old favorite pair of abercrombie's began to fall apart (like usual)... it took me 3 days to find some that i liked.

my one fashion rule is that it has to be comfortable... if it's not comfortable, i don't care how good it looks, i won't buy it.

I just realized I don't own a yellow shirt. Beyond that, I'm in the same boat.

I'm with you there. Banan Republic.com is in my bookmarks bar. I once actually spent something like $400 in one day there.

Well, Abercrombies are famous for falling apart fast. I just lost a pair of indigo low rise boot cut jeans a few eeeks ago I had from winter of 2003. My replacement 'old' jeans are Express indigos I've had since Structure turned into Express.

That is the bottom line. If you aren't comfortable wearing it, unless you'll lose your job or SO over it, don't worry about it. Go for comfort, and then style.

Just like to add that you can get fashionable, sharp clothes at cheap prices. Although BR, abercrombie, jack fraser have really nice clothes, you can purchase very similar outfits (or in some cases exactly the same) at bargain places like winners etc. for a fraction of the price.

It's something I found out the hard way when I learned money is a little tighter when you're a student. There's nothing quite like wondering if the pants you bought are edible because you spent your grocery budget on them that month.

a good designer for shirts and ties that are mid priced is Paul Smith. not too sure if you can get his stuff in the US but over here it is worth looking out.

agreed about needing to be scottish to wear a kilt but not about needing the right occasion. for me the right occasion is just whenever i feel like it, i often wear a kilt when i'm just out and about...

Well, the average poster isn't in Edinburgh. If you're in the UK, then there are different rules for kilts. If you live in L.A., you don't wear a kilt to the movies. They won't allow kilts in many restaurants or at work. In America, it's usually okay to wear them to weddings, funerals, or in an epic battle against the English. Don't forget the blue paint. And for God's sake don't go commando in public unless you want to be caught.

lol seriously you are not allowed to wear a kilt in restaurants!? that seems a bit daft!

I, a man of scottish decent (I'm about 1/4 scottish), tried to wear a kilt to a restaurant before going to my cousins wedding. I believe I was in Fresno, and we were trying to find a decent restaurant that wasn't called 'Denny's' or 'McDonalds'. We happened upon what seemed like a pretty decent place and we (I think we were a party of 9 or 10) went in to be seated. They took one look at me and, after rolling up their tongues and closing their mouths, asked if I had brought pants. I was confused, as I'm sure you were reading my post. I asked if there was a rule against wearing a kilt, and informed them that I was in fact earing boxers underneith. They said there was no rule, but they didn't have a rule against fighting either. Apparently the kilt rule is covered by the unbrella of the 'we reserve the right to refuse service' rule. Dismaied, I went and changed into a pair of slacks I had back at the hotel. I've tried it at several restaurants, even very nice upper class ones downtown. Same result almost all of the time. The only time I was allowed to wear a kilt at a restaurant was at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. They were quite nice (realyl good food and great staffing). I think I even got a whistle. I'd say if you really really want to wear a kilt to a restaurant in the US, call ahead.

what i sport:

suit wise: brooks brothers & calvin klein suits, ties - brooks brothers & tiffany's

casual ware: a&f / polo jeans -- fit me really well since im tall and skinny

shirts: fcuk (not just the teenage t shirts), armani shirts, le tigre, polo sport, and lacoste polo shirts....

and nothing can beat a good novelty t shirt.... seriously, i have a couple good ones, from my 'jim morrison: american poet' to 'treat me like the slut i am' to a koby bryant, colorado prison league shirt...

shoes: loafers are amazing, but you have to wear socks with them, im sorry. im not some obnoxious prick vacationing on the vineyard so i dont have the luxury of buying a new pair everytime my feet stink them up. lets not forget about sneakers though, if youre young like me and still wear khaki shorts from time to time, you have to have a good pair of sneakers, so i try to go upper end nike or classic kswiss/adidas. and, recommendations on good shorts: tennis/boat shorts -- all white and sometimes see-through, i dont know what it is about them but theyre mad comfortable and look hot.

re: watch -- if there's anything you want to spend a lot of money on (in my opinion), next to a good suit, its a banging watch (aka above 500 dollars).



ok, one quick annoying question too -- for whatever reason, me, dress pants, and socks never seem to match -- what the shit is going on here?

Psst...over here. If you want to know the secrets of sockless life, listen carefully. ODOR-EATERS foot poweder! If you have a pair of loafers, walking shoes, sneakers, sandals, or leather flip flops that you need to keep dry in order to preserve the smell, you need some good old fashioned oder absorbing foot powder. Most powerders can absorb between 90-110% of its weight in sweat. So long as you can keep your feet dry, socks are unnecessary with those shoes. I've had a pair of leather flip flops that are something like 4 years old. They still smell like leather. You don't have to be a bitch to your socks.

Nothing beats comfortable shorts and sneakers. NOTHING!

Alrighty then. When you say 'match' are you talking about color, shape, style? If you're going for color, look for complimentary colors. Let's say you have a pair of nice black slacks (black slacks go with every body chapse and skin color). So what socks go with this? It depends on three things: Shirt, shoes, and skin color. If you have black slacks, and black shoes, go with black socks, the darker the better. With grey slacks, look to shits, shoes, and skin color. If you're wearing a white shirt and black shoes, you need a grey or black sock. If you go grey, make sure it is a grey that falls between the color of the pants and the color of the shoes. Most often, socks should be a battlefield between the shoes and pants, so the color should reflect that. So when does skin color enter into the equasion? If you are going buisness casual, and you want the sockless look, you should have a pair of tanish, cream, or brown socks that matches your skin color. Let's say you have khaki pants with a light colored polo and loafers. Unless you want to go sockless, you'll need to be wearing a skin-complimentary color.

If you have specific pants you want to get reccomendations on, feeel free to take a digital pic of them and post them for direct and specific reccomendations.

im pretty fucking white honestly.

but yah, i for the most part have my own personal style down except for socks. i never feel like i get them right.

i mean, i wear my loafers to work for the most part, or with jeans on casual nights out. so i dont have the opportunity to go sockless much -- but where could i pick up a good pair of 'sockless' loafers for summer nights?

My husband dresses really well now. We were both kinda athletic grunge for a long time. I started becoming more career focused and therefore more interested in a good appearance.

TLC's What Not To Wear (one of my favorite shows) often has men that they re-educate on fashion and I have noticed, since we have been watching, my husband is dressing great (not metro)!

They teach people how to layer, how to wear patterns or not, the types of clothing shapes that work on a particular body type, grooming, makeup (for the ladies).

It's okay to go sockless with jeans. It's okay to go sockless with khakis. So long as it's a really relaxed dress feel, you can feel free to leave the socks in the top drawer next to the dime sack you've had since you were a sophmore.

For those who are wondering, a loafer is a type of step-in shoe with an upper resembling a moccasin but with a broad, flat heel. It's actually a trademark, but you don't need to capitolize it. Where to buy? I've found a few. Banana Republc has come nice [ULR=http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/visual_index/visual_index.htm?cs_catalog=BR%5FSpring2%5F3%5F2005&cs_category=901002]loafers[/URL] if you have some change to throw around.

Alright, now I (think) have some questions:

I'm 5'6". Yeah I'm short. That isn't my problem. I'm also stocky (176lbs and only getting bigger! Yay!). That isn't a problem either. I just want to avoid dressing in a way that makes me seem shorter. Or something like that...?

I'm also more of an outdoors guy (hunting, hiking, getting in the snow, Indiana jones-ish without the hat) so I'd like a style that reflects that without looking like a grungy redneck (though I will keep my leather and blaze orange caps :p). Any tips and suggestions?

Thanks fellas.

lol i'll poke in again...for getting really great designer gear for less then teh stores... http://www.bluefly.com/ ..i've become addicted to that site and they have really cute guys clothes as well..

oh and btw..for the guy that was all anti skin care...women like men with smooth soft skin...we can snuggle cheek to cheek and not get either the sandpaper effect or pricked...EVERYONE should use the 3 step system...wash (for normal skin a cream based soapless cleanser is best), tone (one without any alcohol!!), and moisterize (a good oil free non-scented one that is "non comodegenic" and has a pretty simple list of ingredients)

:)

You'll quickly find I don't care what women like.

umm okay then..i'm pretty sure other guys like it as well...

oh and your supposed to do teh 3 steps 2 times a day..when you wake up and when you go to sleep :)

I didn't mean I was gay.

(From a Men's Health Article)
Muted, dark toned clothes blur your silhouette, creating a long look. Let pinstripes stretch your frame even further: They fool the eye. When the eye is directed along the stripe, the body appears mroe verticle. Make sure your suit jacket covers your butt without extending further down: a shorter jacket will emphasize the line of your legs, making you appear taller. Conversly, a jacket that's too long will shrink your legs.

Okay. Out doors. Number one rule for outdoors is comfort, followed closely by functionality. Cargo pants, strong (thick) jeans (possibly carpenter), vests, and tech jackets should be up there. A good pair of boots goes a long way. Timberland still has non urban wear that does quite well.

The only excuse for an attitude like this is being angry gay.
Oh. While I'm sure you have a good reason for feeling this way, you will find it counterprodutive to at least 60% of all men's style. While a lot of style goes to how comfortable you look in what you wear, much of it has to do with what is trendy and other people think. In all honesty, there is a reason that you don't wear pajamas to work. While I'm sure there is no official rule against pajamas at work, there are expected norms.

Maybe you can talk out your anger(?) about what women think of how you dress. When you and your SO(/future SO) are together, you'll want her to say something like, "You know what? Those jeans/that suit/etc. looks really good on you."

Anger? Hahahaha. It was tounge in cheek. Well it was supposed to be.

I don't care what women like in the sense that I'm not going to change my appearance or actions soley to attract them.

And thanks for the advice, I'm trying very hard to imagine myself in pin stripes.

Yankees uniform?

Just kidding. You could go with pin-stripe suits but that's not really everyday unless your job requires it. You can also try maybe bolder, thicker stripes. Also, maybe avoid high-color contrast stripes like black/white, instead, maybe go for more subtle pairings. You don't want to walk aroung looking like a referee or a Footlocker employee, zebra etc..

So, for eaxmple: Dark khakis(brown, black, dk grey, navy blue,) with a striped sweater and maybe a blazer over it.

I'm just guessing, not an expert. You'll probably have to ask some chick and they can tell you.

Interesting thread - After reviewing the info so far, I would say the following:

I feel the most important thing is, obviously, figure out / realize what image you want to project. Afterwards, the rest falls out. If you want to look like you've got your shit together, first get your shit together. Then project that image. For instance, I have a mild anti-authoritarian streak in me, so usually the stuff at Abercrombie, Structure, etc doesn't work for me. I tend to hit local places for my Oxfords and cacky slacks, Levi's 501s (button fly is the only fly, for me at least), and crew neck t-shirts. Specifics, in my opinion:

1. All leather accessories should match in tone. You can play some with texture, but don't get too crazy unless you know what you're doing.

2. For the sockless look that doesn't stink, in addition to odor-eaters, I would suggest some ridiculously short athletic socks. You can find them, really - completely fit below the ankle line of the shoe, but absorb the sweat and cushion the foot.

3. I personally always, *always* wear an undershirt everytime I leave the house, unless I'm running, practicing yoga, or equivalent. Keeps the sweat down, and I feel it gives more substance to the shirt you're wearing. For an Oxford, I feel it's absolutely prerequisite.

4. If you are wearing pants / shorts with belt-loops, do not leave your house without wearing a belt. Don't answer the door without one on.

5. If you wear jewelry, figure out your skin tone and don't clash. For instance, I've got red hair and freckles. Silver looks like ass on me. Gold works. Some people can go either way. Just know what you can do.

6. Did I mention don't clash. Learn how to group colors by shade and tone. I know a lot of people are doing the intentional clashing of similar colors, but I just can't deal with it.

7. I personally feel that unless you are either Don Johnson, Ricardo Montalbon, or Sir Alec Guiness, you can't wear white suits or anything close to white suits with t-shirts, and the t-shirts can be anything close to neon.

8. A little trick I've found works, if you wear cologne, is a dab just below the waist-line. It slowly emits, and if you have the pleasure of having someone else take your pants off, it's a little refresher. Not too much, or it's stifling - and no where actually on your Johnson. Taste factors and such.

9. Regarding moisturer / facial treatment - consider getting Clinique For Men Aftershave. Combined with a $2 bottle of Clearasil acne cream / moisturizer, you can shave hair from anywhere and it won't be a problem.

Or don't, whatever works for you.

Excellent advice, especially in the summer if a gentlemen is the type to perspire a bit (I know a fella who doesn't wear t-shirts under his dress shirts, and let me tell you, when he perspires, you can see his black back hair, and well -- ewwww). Wearing a tshirt (and please, not the wife-beater t-shirt either) makes a less expensive shirt looks like it has more body to it and makes it look more expensive

Thanks Mal - I personally find it irritating that so many guys are inundated with the notion that nasty = rad-tastic. Well, I guess ultimately I don't care that much, as it just tends to cut down competition and all that, but seriously - the notion that men can't take care of themselves from a health/grooming perspective has simply got to go. If they choose not to, that's fine - but to feel like you can't or you sacrifice your masculinity is an idea I don't understand. I forgot to add:


10. If it's not a t-shirt, a pair of underwear, socks, or something you can work out in : hang it in the closet. It will last longer and look better. If you can afford it, use the drycleaners - at least for the Oxford shirts that you plan to wear in any serious / professional sense.

For my recommendations, I think that men should wear a minimal amount of jewelry. My rules are:

1 watch (not total, you can have different styles)

2 rings. 1 wedding, one college, freemason, world series, something like that. as far as the second ring, particularly college, I am not crazy about it, but for instance if you went to one of the military academies you probably wear your ring.

If you have to be formal at all, no earrings. I don't like them anyways, but if you have to think about your formal appearance, then put your toys away.

If you wear a chain, it should be very simple and preferably only to carry a religious symbol. I do have a gold chain that is fairly discreet, but you never see it and I hang my wedding band from it when I work out so I don't lose or scratch it.

No bracelets. Period.

Tie tacks, clips, etc should be discreet.

Cufflinks are ok, and this you can use to advertise something like golf or something else trivial and noncontroversial.

Otherwise, thats it. Obviously, people are going to have different opinions about this, but this is what I follow and would recommend.

I'll back you on everything but this one, but that's a matter of personal preference. I pretty much go no-earrings in professional situations, but usually keep them at things like weddings or black-tie parties, depending on the host.

Hmm I'm a pretty fashionable guy but I don't particularly follow any trend so to speak. I just wear what looks good. I don't really have a particular style I stick to either. I've been told I dress retro and breakdancer haha. But in truth I don't think a guy should have to dress the same way all the time. I got a lot of clothes that I've collected over the years and I just mix & match em from time to time. Sometimes I dress sporty, dressy, casual T & jeans, hiphop(I am a rapper after all), retro, etc.

No matter what I wear I always get told I look good. My mom can't put her finger on it..she says "Son..you dress kind of funny but I dunno it just works for you." She says this because one day I was dressed in a button up shirt I have with big checkered patterns, brown, dark purple(kinda plum), with these somewhat plum colored eh how do I describe them..like well they were pants...and I had my brown leather jacket on over the shirt, my brown & tan suade adidas, brown sunglasses, and one of those hats that looks like an apple hat except flat(My dad says I look like a railroad spike when I wear it) and thats it. I walked past a girl and she started checking me out. My mom noticed and thats when she told me that lol. I carry myself well is what it is..I look good in whatever I wear cause I like the way I look and others do too. I always get complimented on it.

I don't particularly care what I wear either..I wear jeans I've had since I was a freshman, clothes I've picked up at thrift stores, designer clothing I've gotten at stores like express and structure...casual clothes I've gotten at JC Penny's, Buckle, Gadzooks(before it became an all girls store) band t-shirts from Hot Topic, Old Navy stuff. Button up long sleeves, button up short sleeves, button collar short sleeves, t-shirts, slim fitting shirts, pull overs, hoodies, vests, etc.

I'm also a bit of a jacket whore. I have a jacket for every day of the week and then some. A grey reversable zip up hoodie, grey n white puma jacket, brown pleather jacket, brown suade leather jacket, a corduroy jacket in solid black, off white, and tan...A brown one with the wool lining...a tan polyester suit jacket with pearl snap buttons I found at a thrift store for like 1 or 2 bucks thats from like the 70's :lol: A white I guess racer style wind jacket that has black checkers & red stripes coming down the left side and a patch that says stewart warner or some shit on the other side that I found at a thrift store haha...and some polyester black and teal green umm shiny soft material style jacket I got at Old Navy...etc. As it stands no blazers just yet but I've been dying to get some..at least one in Brown, Tan, Black, Blue, and Grey..oh and off white! haha

The stupid thing is I live in Texas and so rarely ever get to use these jackets cause it's always facking hot down here! lol.

Jeans I buy in all colors, light blues, dark blues, greys, dark grey, black, I went ape shit for cargos when I was a sophmore lol, dark greens, etc etc. Always loose fit, boot cut, or slightly baggy fit. I used to wear really wide legs a long time ago but no more haha.

I buy shirts in the same colors. I'm mexican and I have brown skin..dark colors look good on me. I like blacks, greys, tans, browns, etc. But I wear all kinds of colors greens, reds, whites, and blues too... Though I just look particularly good in the forementioned darker colors.

Bottom line...I dress unusually but everything I wear I look good in for some reason lol. I prolly break a lot of so called fashion "rules" on a daily basis.

Asta!!

Id go so far as to say that, in formal situations, or anytime that you are wearing a coat, they (and a french cuff shirt to go with it, obviously) are required. They (actually, the cuffs of the shirt more than anything) project a much more refined, formal look than a normal barrel cuff shirt, which just looks like something you got on the discount rack of the local department store.

That said, they should be classy and not gaudy in the least. I have several pairs--one is a simple silver pair, rectangular with my family coat of arms engraved in them. Simple, understated, and yet elegant. My other pair is a brass round number with a black center. Basically, it looks like a black circle with a small ring of brass around the outside edge. Again, simple and elegant. Also, never wear french cuffs/cufflinks without a jacket, unless, for example, it is hot out and you just took off your coat.

It goes without saying that your shirt should be pressed and wrinkle free. Also, avoid dress shirts with button down collars--a proper dress shirt's collars will stay down just fine without them, and they look tacky and half the time make the collar billow out. I prefer spread collar, but there are several different collar styles to choose from.

Here's a tip for my fellow men wtih long hair (still good if you have short hair, but you don't have to worry about split ends and that kind of stuff.) Find a shampoo that doesn't have cetyl alcohol. In fact, find a shampoo that doesn't have any alcohol in it. If I had a before pic, I'd post a before/after comparison, but trust me that there's no way I'll ever buy a regular shampoo again. The stuff I use is Realm for Men (www.realmfragrances.com) You can find the stuff in the TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and AJ Wright chains for about 15% of the list prices (no, I don't pay $30 for two weeks' worth of shampoo.) The only problem I have is that I need to alternate the soap with antibacterial to prevent breakouts.

Another trick is to use witch hazel and a cotton ball to clean your face instead of using soap. It isn't harsh on the skin, but it removes dead skin cells without being abrasive. After you shower, turn off the hot water completely (do yourself a favor and put a hand over your groin to prevent shrinkage and pain) and run it over you for a bit to close up your pores. It also does something beneficial for your hair, I forget what exactly, but mine feels smoother when I do it.

Also, I moisturize and my skin feels a lot better than it used to.

I clicked on Gucci just out of curiosity, to see what the sale prices are like. If you'll all excuse me, I think I'll go hang myself with my $15 tie.

That's a really good idea. I've often wondered about the drying effect of alcohol on the hair. I'll bet it's responsible for discoloration and dryness in hair. I'm gonna go get that Realm stuff tomorrow.
I don't mind the abrasive stuff on my face. I use Neutrogena face scrub before I shave every 2 days. Witch hazel is an excelent option, though.
What kidn do you use?
Hahahha. One of my ties was over $100. I think I'll make my own from now on. Now where can I get some silk larva....

I think Mens Style is a great subject.

I am a young man and will be attending college this fall after working for a couple of years. I am updating my wardrobe and taking on a more formal apearance (compared to jeans and a t-shirt) The problem is that I am 6'7" with a slimish build but broad shoulders.

I was out shopping for a few classic dress shirts, oxford blue, blue striped and perhaps a purple but wasn't able to find a single shirt that fit properly (161/2' 36/37) that wasn't white. I was also shopping for a vibrant blue and green cable knit, crew or V neck sweater and could not find anything in large tall.

This is becoming a serious problem. I have about five months until college starts and have already fixed the majority of what my wardrobe was lacking (less more varied suit / blazer colors) but after shopping at the majority of department stores in my city, I am not sure where else to turn? Any other tall, slim men have suggestions?

Have you tried "Big & Tall"?

Try here:

http://www.casualmale.com/

http://tall.com/tall.asp

http://www.big-tall.com/

Good Luck!

I've found that nice shoes can work wonders. I've got a pair of Doc Martin shoes that I've had for about 10 years and they'll make a simple jeans/shirt outfit seem dressy.

They were fairly expensive because they're the "real deal" and imported from England but it was money well spent. Women really do notice this sort of thing.

Aparently, GQ isn't all crap! I found these jeans at www.gq.com just a few minutes ago. So what's so great about these jeans....well I consider myself a bit of a jean conasuer, and I've always thought that the best 'faded' jeans are the jeans that come normal and are faded by the wearer. Think of your favorite pair of jeans. They didn't come that way, you made them that way. You wore them so that the jean fabric because soft and stretched like a good leather jacket tyo fit your body. You were the one who accedentally spilled the clorox on the right ass cheek. You were the one who rubbed the knee one time to many, giving it a little hole. They grew on you. All the fades and wiskers are there naturally, not by some sand blaster or artificial color fading done at the manufacturer.

Okay, Will...get to the point.

From www.nudiejeans.com
Nudie Jeans, a Swedish line that recently made its way stateside, [are] manufactured from “dry” denim that’s unwashed, untreated—and meant to stay that way. For the first six months you own them, you’re not supposed to wash your Nudies at all, and you’re advised to do so only rarely after that. A welcome alternative to the overly faded and whiskered denim that (at long last) seems to be disappearing from chicer store shelves, Nudies hark back to more rugged times, when the only creases, thigh-fades and wallet-outlines a pair of jeans sported were those etched by the wearer himself. “Dry denim jeans shows your personality more,” says founder Maria Erixon, a former designer for Lee Europe
http://men.style.com/images/news/0205/04/022805v.jpg
http://www.nudiejeans.com/images/feel/guldheden.jpg
Wear them, don't wash them. Make them your own. I just bought a pair.

If your hair is beginning to move on to greener pastures, don't be afraid to go short, really short. Make absolutely sure that you don't do it yourself, as it should still be slightly longer on top, and shorter on the sides.

Cool thread! I've always needed a lot of help in this area.

yah, this is a good thread, but i think we need more links.

i like that nudiejeans junk and bluefly is crucial.

im a fan of freitags european slings/backpacks ( http://www.freitag.ch/index_frames.php )

what other online outlets do people use?

Not sure I could handle the Nudiejeans thing--I hate the "stretched out" feeling I get from clothes that have been worn too many times without being washed (something that happens all too often to me :lol: ). I agree though--store faded jeans = the suck.

Great thread by the way. I'm a bit of a small guy and when I wear a backpack, it looks really big on me (padded shoulder straps belittle my already small shoulders). I'm looking into buying a messenger bag possibly from Timbuck2. Any other brands I should be looking into?

http://www.timbuk2.com/images/perspe...f_re-re-re.jpg
A Timbuk2 bag

Thanks. :)

freitags, linked in my post 3 posts up. they are swiss, they are made out of recycled materials, and they complement any arrogant WASP attitude perfectly.

This is far from being a fashion question, but it seemed relevant.

I have a couple shirts that I ordered online, and the neck holes are enormous. Even though I'm a pretty muscular guy the large neck holes make me look goofy as hell. How can I either shrink the shirt down a little bit or by some technique sew the neck hole so it's smaller?

Edit: The shirts in question are 100% preshrunk cotton.

I'm looking to get another suit, seeing as I only have one. It is a dark grey (almost black) Pierre Cardin suit that I got at the Men's Warehouse. So any suggestions on something stylish, yet reasonably priced (say < $350)? Also, color suggestions, considering what I have.

Also, I'm looking for a comfortable pair of brown shoes that can be worn with both jeans and kahkis. A casual shoe, that doesn't look polished or cheap. Price range for these say < $125. Thanks in advance

Kryptik,

If all you have is a dark grey suit, I would suggest a blue suit as your second. I have always had good luck at Men's Wearhouse. Tell them how nuch you want to spend, they will show you higher and lower and you will be able to see and feel the difference. A dark blue with maybe a small dark stripe looks really nice. Think about where you might be wearing it. Dark grey is sometimes a little over the top for a summer wedding.


On the shoes......I would suggest Rockports. In brown nubuck suede. Comfortable, stylish, jeans, khakis, dockers.

For your second suit... Blue can be very nice and practical... Blue with a subtle pin stripe can be nice too. You can also, depending on the cut, wear the jacket with jeans and a shirt that is broken in... Very stylish.

Depending on the colours you can wear, might consider a tan coloured suit. I can't wear them but I've seen them look nice on other guys. Tan suit with either blue or light green (almost mint colour) shirt can be very nice, especially in the summer. Pay attention to the shoes you have though.

Good reference: http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/3...uinness150.jpg

I use the Body Shop's Face Saver for Men... smells nice (my wife thinks so too) and it has made my face feel so much better after shaving. It's also really great in the winter as it gets bloody dry here.

Kryptic:

1. I might also suggest an olive suit. I've had decent luck on suits in that price range from S&K as well, if you have one near - particularly at an outlet mall.

2. Re shoes, I would also suggest This pair of Sperry's that they are listing at $150, but I know I got a pair of them about six months ago for a little over a $100. Next to a pair of Doc Marten's I own, these are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. However, I'll have to say that Rockport generally does make a good shoe as well. Just another idea.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check this soap / body wash I'm using now and post back...this stuff makes my face feel like butter when I get out of the shower.

oh - that picture was classic too :)

Thanks for all the suggestions, I hope to get out to the store in the next couple of weeks to check out some of these ideas.

I agree with that, I only own two suits, olive and black... I find that the olive works well in many situations, and where it doesn't, the black suit picks up the slack.

I saw the big/tall links and post earlier, but I have a few questions of my own if everyone doesn't mind...

I'm 6'5" tall, roughly 320 pounds and am working on losing some weight...

Finding clothing seems to be especially difficult, I have a fairly even frame.. my torso and legs are pretty balanced, yet I still have a difficult time with purchasing clothing that is comfortable and stylish at the same time.

I have a problem finding shirts that are a correct size for me.. shirts that are long enough are generally too large around the torso, and shirts great around the torso are generally too short. In my world, even the "tall" sizes seem to be incorrect. Is my only hope to have custom tailored shirts like oxfords? Any ideas?

The same seems to apply with jeans, and only a few manufacturers make jeans that I feel comfortable in.. Ralph Lauren's are great, but wear, tear, and rip easily. I usually end up getting Tommy jeans that area devoid of any major brand markings, etc so as not to advertise, however they usually end up being a little more baggy than I like.

Shoes and socks, I have my own style on... so I'll leave it at that.. :)

I love classic, good looking mens fashion... The kind of outfits that you'd envision Steve McQueen in... or perhaps Pierce Brosnan... But find it difficult to find this look in my size, to fit my budget.

Most days, in the end, I feel like I look like John "Bluto" Blutarsky in Animal House... :crazy:

RallyEX... the best soloution is tailor-made clothing but that can get really expensive. If you wear suits a lot I would say you should invest in a couple of really good tailor-made (bespoke?) suits. Make sure they are more classic in style than of the current fashion as you want them to be wearable past the current season.

My father-in-law is a big man as well and he shops for clothing at a Big & Tall shop. He always looks nicely dressed... certainly not cutting edge fashion but he looks good.


Pigglet... I see you suggested loafers for shoes. A fine choice for some but I just can't see myself in loafers. I have this thing about laces.

Also Olive is a good colour but again, watch your skin tones. If I wear an olive suit it makes me look like the living dead.

RallyEX - you might also look through a vintage place....chances are slim, but if someone dropped one in there (ok, basically died and their family got rid of it) chances are you won't have much competition for the size, and they typically are a helluva lot cheaper than new, but frequently just as nice. I'm not *quite* your size, but I've had some decent luck in there.


i'm so opposite, it's not funny. i have plenty of shoes with laces, but love not having to tie up...i tend to be the guy who has his bubble-toe skips perma-laced to just loose enough to slip on, and all of my dress / dressy-casual shoes are loafers / slip-ons.

edit: i kin spel gud.

Holy Shit I've been moisturizing my face since I was 16 - so for almost 10 years. And that doesn't make me gay. In fact i'm the most in touch with my sexuality out of anyone I know.

Men should moisturise! Complexion is the number one key to looking good. You shave, you moisturise. You will look old and shaggy/too rugged before your time if you don't as that razor and gel/foam will take out the moisture that your body put in.

My girlfriend loves my super soft skin, it glows, its got a natural sheen to it (not greasy by the way) Its like a baby's ass.

On a ligher note, a man should always wear double cuffed shirts to work, for the use of cufflinks (I find the most in-offensive to be the elastic double ball style, but a plain brushed aluminium style, or something sporty/related to work like a $ on one side, the euro on the other etc works well. You want to project success not bargain basement shirt finds.

I only buy double thick material shirts from people like T.M.Lewin (www.tmlewin.co.uk)

or Thomas Pink (www.thomaspink.co.uk)

Have a look through the mens sections on the sites.

Suits have to be crisp, clean and well dry cleaned - and shoes extremely polished.

GOOD HINT - I also agree that the only jewellery you should wear is a great watch. We've all heard that women first look at your face, your watch then shoes or whatever

- thats why I wear a Rolex GMT Master II (http://www.rolex.com/collections/oyster/fich_gmt.html)

I have the red and blue version listed in the collection....

But guess what - ITS A FAKE - full (japanese, ok not swiss made) oyster wrist movement wind up action, keeps the time like a dream, looks EXACTLY the same... and the key is that the retail price is only £2500 (I think around $4000) so its not one of the 30 or 40 grand versions which no-one would ever believe I could afford. Anyone asks it was a 21st birthday gift from my father.

There are good fakes and bad fakes. track them down... for example www.4swisswatch.com

I am in no way plugging these sites, just saying they look pretty good - I actually got mine from a street vendor in Spain, this is just spam i got recently, so they probably can't be trusted.

You can wear a mediocre suit with a good shirt, good watch, tie, cufflink and shoe/belt combination and pull it off.

As far as casual is concerned, I'm a jeans and t-shirt man, but the "rolex" makes that look good too.

Totally not true. I have it on good authority that the use of moisturizer by males is directly and irrefutably linked to the overwhelming desire to commit hot man-on-man sexual congress.

So that's what's been causing these urges... damn I guess I'd better stop moisturizing.


As for double/french cuffs... I love the look of them but not all the time. A good quality shirt is adequate. I get mine tailor made when I am in asia... Four dress shirts, custom fitted for $100. Best dress shirts I own.

yeah, back when i moisturized i'd get these urges when i was in confined spaces - elevators and whatnot. Now I'm going to regular MA meetings and it's all good. Sometimes I get weak and slip a dab of Intensive Hands in my gloves or something, but that doesn't make me a bad person. I can moisturize now, and it's not a problem. Thanks to these guys

As far as shirts go - I'll back you and essentially something Sailor through in a while ago. Unless I'm going to be in the God-Awful Heat of South Carolina in the summer, give me a good thick shirt, but not always French cuff...sort of depends on what I'm doing.

Oh, that body wash I was talking about is Olay dry-skin / extra moisturizer (the shower always makes me feel funny anways ;) ) ....which would explain why it leaves my skin like butter.

Ok, ok, I must be gay!! But all is well now I visited the religious guys mentioned above. They castrated me and pinned my eyes open showing footage of hot naked women a la "clockwork orange" and now i'm fine.

Did I forget to mention that its the local (topless) firemen who moisturize me all over every morning

only topless... boy you *must* be straight.

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

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.

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).

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

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.

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!!!

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.

Dude I know how you feel. I have the exact same haircut you do (or very similar :D ). 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.

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.

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

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).

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!

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.

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

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

/and I actually got compliments on them.

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

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.

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.

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)

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