JUST FOR MEN
Now is a good time to go through your closet. Check out your blazers, slacks, sweaters and shoes. How long has it been since you have taken your clothes to the dry cleaners? Your blazers and suits should be cleaned at least two or three times a year. Your slacks and sweaters should be cleaned more frequently. Don't let your slacks get shiny in the seat or develop a permanent wallet mark in the hip pocket. Check the hem of your pants. Are they getting frayed
or pilly? If so, it’s time
to get new ones.
How are your shoes? Keep them clean. Shine them every time you wear them. You can be wearing the most expensive suit, but if your shoes are worn looking with run down heels your image will look the same. Do not forget your shoes. Clean them up every day - like brushing your teeth – they should never be neglecte
The fashion world has not forgotten men when it comes to the denim look, and I don't mean jeans. They have also combined fabrics with denim to give suits, blazers and slacks a definite business casual look. Be sure to give the fabric the ‘wrinkle’ test before you buy. There is nothing worse than having something wrinkle the minute you sit down. You don't want to look like you slept in your clothes.
Do you still need to wear a suit every day or only for an occasional meeting? You should have at least one good suit in your wardrobe, two is preferable. Gray and navy are your most versatile colors. Your wardrobe should also include two versatile blazers in lighter weight fabrics, such as a light weight tropical wool, which can be worn year round. The same holds true for your two to three pairs of dress trousers.
Are you feeling the effects of winter and the cold? Do you have ‘cabin fever’? Adding color to your wardrobe can do wonders. If your workplace is not too conservative experiment with brighter colors and color combinations. Not quite sure you can pull off a purple shirt? Look for a striped or check shirt with different color combinations.
Don't feel left out. You too can have the same 'good feel' colors the women do. Yes, it's OK for men to have a little color in their wardrobes. Pinks and lavenders are here for you too. In the past these colors were not as subtle as they are today. Now they are softer and can be worn regardless of age or where you are in the work world. The fabrics are also friendlier. Just as they did for women, there is also a little stretch in the shirts for a little give and more comfort. Slacks are also available with the give of lycra. Another wonderful and very comfortable fabric is micro-fiber. It feels like a combination of silk and cotton and is comfortable without looking too casual. Give it a try.
Shirts
Tired of wearing solid color shirts every day, but aren’t too sure how to wear stripes and patterns?
It is not as complicated as you think.
Stripes are identified as parallel bands or lines that can be either vertical or horizontal on a contrasting background.
Vertical stripes can visually make a person look taller, more lean, while horizontal stripes are known for making people look wider and shorter.
Plaids and checks are usually harder to mix and match They can range from a Glen plaid to a Houndstooth to Windowpane.
There are also the patterned shirt such as Paisley, Herringbone and Polka Dot.
The secret to mixing two patterns is to avoid trying to make the patterns identical. One should be larger than the other. They both should also have at least one color in common. It is best to wear two similar patterns together, i.e. narrow purple striped shirt with a medium multi-color striped tie with one of the stripes in purple.
Just remember, the simpler your clothing the less likely you are to commit a mismatch.
There are 4 basic types of dress shirt collars, straight, spread, tab and button-down. A basic rule is not to wear a collar the same shape as your face; i.e. men with long narrow faces avoid long pointed collars, men with a round face should avoid spread collars.
The straight collar is generally conservative. This style is a traditional favorite and compliments almost any facial structure.
The spread collar is conservative, always appropriate, always dressy, and worn with a more formal suit. They are cut at a sharper angle, leaving more fabric showing at the top of the shirt placket.
The tab collar is held down by a tab under the collar to keep the points down and always neat.
The button-down collar is perhaps the most popular and versatile collar style available. It is less formal than the other styles. It is still appropriate for a wide variety of business and business casual settings. A button down dress shirt can easily be worn with or without a necktie.
Your wardrobe should have at least two solid white dress shirts, even if you don’t require a suit every day, They always look very professional and will always be in style. They not only go with your suits, but also with your blazers and casual wear.
Do you still wear a solid color shirt with your suit or blazer? Whether you’re dressing for work or play, take a chance and add some patterns to your wardrobe. Mix up the patterns and stripes that will set you apart from your colleagues at work.
Shoes
Are you jealous of the variety of shoes women can choose to wear?
Don't despair, the shoe companies have finally caught on that you want to be comfortable too.
You look great in your light cotton shirt and smart flat front pants, but what shoes to you wear? You don't have to wear funky sandals or boat shoes. You can wear comfortable slip-ons or soft leather mules. Just make sure if you are going to be wearing the ‘in’ shoes you do not wear socks with them.
Loafers (comfy shoes) are being shown more with both suits and jeans. You will notice that this year they have a higher upper front (vamp) than a regular shoe. Purchasing one of the newer styles means that you should wear your pants longer, to cover about a quarter of the top of the shoe. Oh yes, and please wear socks!
Ties
Do you wear ties frequently?
Look for playful patterns and colors to give variety to your wardrobe. Playful patterns, however, do not mean teddy bears, Sesame Street
characters or Santa Claus faces. Those are fine for special occasions and office parties, but not your everyday work day.
Blazers - Suits
Are you still wrestling with what Business Casual means?
The casual dress code was meant to lessen the restrictive atmosphere and encourage individuality and a more comfortable, yet respectful, environment. Pick up a light colored suede jacket (camel is popular), and pair it with a tailored knit shirt or relaxed fitting shirt. Be consistent in your dressing. Save the tennis shoes and the brand name golf shirts for the weekend. You want to be comfortable, but you also want to look like you can still take care of business.
There is a new soft style for Fall in men's blazers and suits.
It’s a more relaxed look with softer shoulders and easier fitting silhouettes for a more sophisticated appearance. For a more casual look, still suitable for work, there is the Sweater Jacket; a little more structured and dressier than your everyday cardigan. They put the stretch in your shirts and now you will find it in your suits and blazers and pants. However, most of the pants are with the plain flat front which means
you have to keep in shape to wear these and still look good.
Tired of the same old blazer, but don't want to go the casual route of a sweater?
It seems like every time you turn around you see yourself – you know, navy or camel blazer and gray pants. Have you looked at leather blazers? There are several very stylish looks from the one button to a four button jacket. Seek out one made from lambskin leather, which is very supple and does not a heavy, "stiff" look. A man will look as comfortable as he feels.