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2008 is a great year to look your best. We've compiled ten great fashion tips to get you started.
(1) Promise to smile more…it’s the most stylish accessory.
You think you have it all together: the right shoe, bag, belt and watch. But you’re missing something. A guy who can’t turn his frown upside down once in a while won’t get noticed. A beautiful, sincere smile warms you to others, and will make people look at you long enough to recognize your fashion taste. We’re not talking major cosmetic surgery. Invest in a good toothbrush and plaque-clearing mouthwash, schedule regular dental cleanings, and buy a good, “manly” lip balm to keep your smoocher crack-free.
(2) Replace dog with tailor as man’s best friend.
A good tailor will be your friend, counselor and healer. They will alter your clothes, subsequently altering your life. Take your time in your search, and don’t be afraid to give yours the boot if they’re not up to snuff. A skilled tailor will give you an air of confidence that cannot be matched. You will notice a dramatic difference in your walk, posture, and attitude.
(3) Choose quality over quantity.
It means nothing to have a closet full of clothes if they are all overly trendy or of poor quality (even worse if they’re both!). A highly functional and versatile wardrobe should be an 80/20 mix: Eighty percent classic staples, and 20 percent trendy. This is not set in stone, so adjust as you see fit, as long as classics always outweigh trends.
(4) Understand that price doesn’t determine quality.
Don’t feel as if you have to spend a fortune to amass the 80 percent of staple items that should be in your closet. A designer garment doesn’t guarantee its value will live up to its sticker-shocking price. Some high-end pieces are just as poorly produced as their cheap knock-offs. There is a happy medium…and we will help you find it!
(5) Overcome fear of the fitting room.
Stores have fitting rooms for a reason: to help you see that the orchid print woven shirt with pearl buttons in your hand is a mistake…and a tad too big. If you’re like most guys, when it comes to shopping, you like to get in and out. However, you only double the time wasted if you have to return the item. Also consider that the things that don’t look as eye-catching on a rack could actually look amazing. But you’ll never know if you don’t try it on.
(6) Wear clothes that flatter me, not Brad Pitt.
Do you really care what jeans Brad Pitt is wearing in this week’s Us Weekly? It’s nice to see what male celebs are donning, because you can pick up on new brands or see trends that you may want to try. But that doesn’t mean what works for Mr. Pitt will work for you. Knowledge is power: know your accurate head-to-toe measurements, what colors work well with your skin tone, and what silhouettes accentuate your best features.
(7) Dress age-appropriate and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Nothing is worse than being in your twenties or thirties and stuck in your college glory days. You know, the Abercrombie T-shirts, frat-boy hats, baggy pants or bohemian jewelry (i.e. Puka and cowrie shell necklaces). You graduated from the college VISA account to an American Express, and now it’s time to move from grungy jeans to a fitting pair with cool pocket details. The key is to look mature, not old.
(8) Remember that details count.
Scuff marks on shoes, holes in sweaters, missing buttons, stains…these are the things that ruin even your best fashion efforts. Make sure these details are non-existent so the other details of your clothing and accessories—nice trims, funky buttons, great stitching, embroidery—shine.
(9) I will not wear athletic socks with a suit….
Fashion rules help you avoid such style travesties as fanny packs and bellbottom jeans. Before you make any questionable or uncharted fashion move, seek advice. While the truly stylish live by their own rules, the following are just several of the most abominable fashion offenses that no one should ever commit: athletic socks with a suit; a belt and suspenders; a brown belt with black shoes (or vice versa); wearing a dress shirt without an undershirt; and dousing yourself in cologne.
(10) I promise to read more.
We'll be here to help...some keep coming back.
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