A lot guys have asked me the same question over and over again: what’s in style?

That’s a good question but it won’t help you much if you don’t answer another one first: what’s my lifestyle?

Since I’m a teacher, I’m not really allowed to get mad at anyone for asking this (and, at times, I do feel like it) but, what I CAN do is write an article about it.

I want you, for just one second, to forget about fashion and style. Forget all about D&G, Prada, chinos, bracelets and rings. Style is about expressing who you already are. If who you are is not who you’d want to be, then it’s time you figure THAT out first.

Seriously, you want to know the message you want to express. Then and only then can you allow clothes to help you express that message better and in a more powerful way.

Ask yourself, which of these words describe me better?

classy
playboy
businessman
fun
introvert
extravert
childish
cute
warm
friendly

You can come up with even more words to add to this list. The thing is: I want you to do this exercise for two reasons.

The first reason is that you want to find the best clothes that express your identity and personality.

The second reason is that I don’t want you to simply buy everything that I recommend on the site. I do recommendations for a lot of people with a lot of different backgrounds, ideas and beliefs.

You should be able to filter out those clothes that don’t convey your personal message and stick to those that do. No point in buying everything just because it’s stylish. Style needs context.

Ok, let’s take some examples in case you’re lost.

Let’s say you chose childish from the list. In this case, you may want to try some t-shirts with animated characters on them (such as those from D&G or New Yorker). At the same time, you’ll want to stay away from funny t-shirts that have any kind of logos and messages on them.

What if you chose warm? To express that you’re a cool, warm person, you may want to go for warmer colors such as yellow, orange and red. You may also want to try earthy colors such as different shades brown, green, or purple.

if you mix warm colors with earthy colors you’ll convey that warm, relaxed and trustworthy image that you already have on the inside.

This is fun, isn’t it? Let’s take one last example. Say you want to convey that you’re fun. Can you figure out how to do that?

It’s dead simple: patterns.

Patterns are a great way to add variety to your outfits and they draw attention. Now, since we’re guys, the range of patterns we can use is limited but don’t let that put you down. Here are a few patterns that work great on guys (some of which I wear on a weekly basis):

- checks
- stripes
- paisley
- polka dots

Each character trait, each emotion can be expressed through your clothes. Just make sure you put some thought into it. Someone once said that 1 second in preparation can save you 5 seconds in execution. If you put some though into what you’re trying to express, you’ll go right to the target and create a stylish wardrobe in no time.

You’ve been hearing this for years: Wear color!, Stand out!, Be yourself!, Who cares what anyone else thinks?
So, you timidly decide you should follow these voices and you buy a red pair of chinos, a slim tie, maybe even a fedora. As you wear your new items of clothing, you say to yourself: Hey, this is cool!
But something isn’t right. Even though the outfit is perfect, you have that gut feeling that you’re wearing someone else’s clothes.
This feeling accentuates once you meet someone you know and he or she gives you that “smile”.
You know that smile, right? The smile you get when they see you overdressed and they’re thinking to themselves: What’s this all about?
You bravely say to yourself: It’s going to pass. Everyone will eventually get used to me dressing to stand out.
But that weird gut feeling is still there…

I have an important message for you:
You don’t have to *dress to stand out* to stand out!

If you don’t like bold colors, don’t wear them.
If you don’t like fancy accessories, stay away from them.
If wearing shorts with a sports jacket gives you the heebie-jeebies, don’t wear this combination. In fact, I give you permission to laugh out loud at anyone who does.

The reality is you can stand out without trying too hard. And, between you and me, standing out without appearing to try is the absolute best way to do it.
Why? Because people will assume you’re not trying to impress anyone. They’ll think you just happened to put on some clothes on you in the morning and that you put together your incredible attire by accident.

Here’s a motivational quote I like which says it all:
Stop trying to impress people by being someone you’re not because in the end, you’ll lose yourself…

Standing Out: Your Self Assessment

By now you’re probably asking: Ok, George, how can I do this? How can I be cool without coming off as a try hard?

Before I open up my bag of tricks, I want you to get the mindset you need to have to pull this off. You know what they say:
Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.

You need to assess three things:
1. Your body flaws
2. Your body weaknesses
3. The people around you

Ok, you need to know what your body flaws are, and be brutally honest about it. Contrary to what you might expect, I’m not going to tell you to hide all your flaws.
Part of looking cool without appearing to try is to show a flaw or two that your body may have. We all have flaws and, by revealing one or two, your look will be more natural AND you’ll show the world you’re not trying to hide anything.
Finding the flaws should not be too daunting of a task. Just think what would happen if a woman you desire would walk in and see you naked. What would be the first thing she would see? What would be the second? Make a list and leave nothing out. (Tip: If you’re embarrassed that someone might find that list, it’s ok to do it on the computer and delete it afterwards).
Examples of body weaknesses include (but are not limited to):

- height
- weight
- baldness
- shoulder slouch
- messed-up teeth
- thick and/or rebel hair
- narrow shoulders and/or waist
- skinny arms or legs
- black spots or pimples on your face
- back hair
- too much chest hair
- and the list goes on and on

Stand in front of a mirror for 15 minutes if you have to and leave nothing out or you might sabotage your chances with women because of some hidden flaw.

Ok, now let’s talk a little about your body strengths. These are just as important as your weaknesses so be very meticulous about finding them.
You may find that…
- you have wide shoulders (very attractive to the ladies)
- you’re (very) tall
- you have a muscular body
- you have blue or green eyes (I’ll show you how to make those stand out later on)
- and so on

Now that you have the two lists, let’s remember for a moment what you want to achieve here. You want to look cool without trying too hard.
The trick is to hide all your body flaws BUT ONE. Oops!

If you intentionally show a flaw that you may have, you’ll show your soft side.
It could be the fact that you have a dark spot on your face and you trim your facial hair in a way which makes it obvious you considered its presence.
Maybe you have skinny legs and you’re wearing shorts with striped socks instead of hiding them.
Here’s an example from my own personal experience: I have pretty thick eyebrows and I found that a white and navy rugby shirt works wonders on me. The thick horizontal stripes form a pattern into which my eyebrows take part. Not that obvious but you won’t know what works for you until you try.
Whatever you do, make sure you don’t take this too far. One flaw, that’s it. The rest of your outfit should be as cool as possible without making you feel uncomfortable.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Showing your best traits is taken for granted by most guys. It’s EASY to wear a pair of bright red chinos but it’s not so easy to wear a color that complements your skin tone.
Standing out is great but it’s even more powerful to choose the clothes that look like they were designed specifically for you.

So how can you show your best traits without looking like you did it on purpose?
It all depends on your body’s best features. If you have wide shoulders, make sure the lower part of your shirts and t-shirts is follows your body, so that your shoulders are fully visible from your slim waist.

If you have to, take your shirts and t-shirts to your tailor for adjustments.
Here’s another tip if you have wide shoulders: to make them stand out: wear a t-shirt with horizontal stripes. This will make them look even wider.
(Stay away from muscle t-shirts, however, as they are cheesy and out of style.)

OK, let’s take another trait. Let’s say you have blue (or green) eyes. In this case, the secret is to match the color of your eyes to a color from your outfit. Maybe it’s your scarf, maybe it’s your shirt. The trick is to repeat the green or the blue.

Alright, you learned how to make the best of your body traits and hide your flaws. But what else can you do? You still want to convey that you’re an individual who has his own sense of style, right?
Let me give you a few golden nuggets on how to look cool and relaxed in your attire. Very few men use them so I’m convinced that this will give you a definite edge in front of the ladies.

Try without appearing to try: unbutton those buttons!

The first thing you should think about is… buttons! Too many guys button all their buttons, which makes them look rather… stiff.

If you’re wearing a (dress) shirt, unbutton the first button. If things get a little hot, unbutton the second one. Just make sure your chest hair won’t pop up. If that’s the case, I strongly suggest you trim it.

If you’re wearing a sports jacket, unbutton the bottom button. If it’s a three-button jacket or blazer, go ahead and keep only the middle button buttoned.
If it’s a 6-button cardigan, go ahead and unbutton the first, last and next to the last button.
These are not by any means strict rules but they will give you that relaxed look which triggers so much attraction in women.

Trying without appearing to try: work that scarf!

Scarves are great as long as you make it look like you just happen to throw them right before you left out the door.
If you just wrap them around your neck it will look very “negligent” BUT…

If you make sure you match one of the colors on your scarf to one of the colors on your outfit (could be the shirt, could be the jacket etc.)…
Take a look at some of the biggest celebrities out there and notice the way they wear their scarves:

Let your belt hang

I’ve been using this for a long time and it’s never failed me. Instead of wearing your belt like most guys do, let one of its ends loose. Not too loose, though – you don’t want it to hang too low and draw too much attention.

Final word…

There are an enormous amount of things that can make you look cool without appearing to try. The secret to all of this is to know yourself (your body strengths, weaknesses) and try to make the best of it.

Knowing what to wear for any occasion can be tough. Having the right clothes for each occasion is even tougher. If you’re the type of person who DOES care about his personal image and wants to stand out in a social gathering… good news:

I’m going to give you step-by-step instructions on how to dress to impress. I don’t know you and I don’t know your lifestyle but I’ll do my best to cover everything.

Table of contents

How to dress for an interview
Dress to impress at a wedding
What to wear in a club
Dress to impress at work
What to wear on a first date
What to wear during weekdays
The Proper attire for a formal dinner

How to dress for an interview

Interviews are a crucial time to make a lasting first impression. You absolutely must give off the impression that you’re a serious,dependable person.

Wear either a suit or a pair of chinos paired with a blazer. The dress shirt is a must. The only accessories you can wear during an interview (to give off that professional vibe are watches and ties).

I actually wrote an entire article about dressing to get the job, which you can access here.

A word of caution about dressing for an interview: don’t overdo it. You need to impress your potential employee through your knowledge first and foremost. You don’t want to take the focus off that by wearing colors that are too bright or the wrong accessories.

Accessories (except the watch) almost always steer you away from *expert-land*.

Dress to impress at a wedding

There’s one rule people say you shouldn’t break when you’re going to a wedding (not your own): to avoid looking better than the groom. My thoughts on the matter: BS!

If you’re a good style student of mine and know how to put together an outstanding formal outfit, then I don’t see why you should limit yourself. The groom will be fine even if you’re dressed better than him.

since a wedding is a very formal event, the suit is the only way to go. Sure, there are people who wear khakis and a sports jacket or blazer but wearing a suit shows you’re aware of the importance of the event and that you respect the bride and the groom.

Don’t worry: even in a suit you still have lots of ways to stand out. Choose a less common color (such as brown or blue), choose a brown pair of shoes (because brown is, again, less worn).

If you want to stand out through your shirt, go for a striped or a checked one.

And let’s not forget the piesse de resistance, the tie. Ideally you want to go for a tie that REPEATS one of the colors on the shirt. The tie should also make a lot of contrast with the shirt – a tie which you can barely distinguish is better kept at home.

If you’re serious about dressing to impress at a wedding, be sure to check out some pocket squares. Most guys never wear them and they are absolutely fantastic. Again, make sure you make some sort of contrast with the suit jacket.

One rule about pocket squares, though: if you’re wearing a white shirt, the pocket square HAS to be white.

What to wear in a club

Clubs are a great way to go a little over the edge with your style. Everyone there is having fun and so should you. The thing about clubs is that most guys already dress well so you’re *forced* to be one notch above them.

Accessories are a great way to do that and you have lots of options available.

For an in-depth analysis of what to wear in clubs to stand out, check out this extensive guide that I wrote.

Dress to impress at work

Your work environment can quickly become dull, especially since people tend to be very focused on work and less focused on socializing.

The key to business casual (or smart casual, as the two terms are used interchangeably) is to be unique but not to overdo it. Like I said, people are focused on their work and you shouldn’t distract them with any bold colored or over-accessorized outfits.

Think khakis, ties, cardigans, dress shirts and leather shoes. Here’s an article where I discuss smart casual in-depth: The smart casual dress code for men.

What to wear on a first date

Ahh.. the first date. Some guys have no clue how important it is to be dressed properly at a first date. If you got that far, it’s obvious the girl is interested in you and she’s trying to gather as much data as she can about you.

Naturally, what you’re wearing will tell her a lot about you. You know women, they interpret everything. So why not give her some good reasons to want to go on a second date with you?

There are two ways you can play this. I don’t know which one is right for you or for the girl you’re dating so you have to do your homework.

If you’re only trying to have sex with the girl and she’s a party girl or dresses extravagantly, then you should probably do the same. Wear cocky colors, be cocky and let the chips fall where they may.

On the other hand, if you’re dating a girl who is relationship material, you want to earn her trust. Even if you’re only going for sex but she’s shy, you shouldn’t wear too bold colors.

Go for warm, earthy colors, such as purple, blue and brown to make her feel comfortable. Stay away from combinations such as all white, black and yellow or pink (keep them for when you’re out partying).

What to wear during weekdays

Even if you’re just going to to do your shopping, you shouldn’t disregard the way you look. If you respect yourself then you should dress stylishly every time you go out. The reason is that, first and foremost, you’re doing it for yourself, to feel good in your own skin, not for others.

There are plenty of clothing items you can choose for day-to-day wear. Sneakers, loafers, jeans, t-shirt/vest combinations, t-shirt/scarf combinations, polo shirts, rugby shirts etc. etc.

The combinations are unlimited and all you have to do is learn to mix and match them. Check out the Be Stylish ™ package – you’ll find everything you need.

The proper attire for a formal dinner

As the name suggests, a formal dinner requires a suit. Don’t worry, there are still plenty of ways to stand out. A suit isn’t necessarily boring.

The suit colors is up to you.I assume you already purchased this so I’m going to tell you the next steps.

Let’s take care of the shoes first. There is one rule you should stick to when it comes to shoes, and this is in formal situations only: the shoes should be darker than the suit. Notice how I didn’t say they need to be of the same color… all I said was *darker*.

Say what?

OK, let me give you some specific examples.

If you have a navy suit, go for black shoes or dark brown shoes. The brown of the shoes should be darker than the navy blue of the suit.

If you’re wearing a brown suit, make sure the shoes are of a brown darker than the suit. No black shoes in this case, they won’t match well.

Next step: the shirt.

The shirt should make a contrast with your suit. If possible, it should contrast with your skin tone as well. If you’re wearing a brown suit,for instance, go for a baby blue shirt. Don’t overdo it, though. A formal dinner implies that you’ll be discussing serious matters and you want to look serious.

If, however, your suit, shoes and tie are “boring”(e.g. black suit and white shirt), go ahead and play around with the tie,the bow tie and the pocket square. In such cases it’s perfectly OK to wear some bold colors such as pink, red or light green.

That’s it but it’s not over. If you have any other social situations that I have missed, let me know and I’ll update the article. Just leave a comment below.

One of the things I absolutely *LOVE* to do here at Be Stylish is to take a complete outfit, reverse-engineer it, then tell you how to put it back together for yourself.

But classy suits and silk slim ties is not the only thing that’s stylish. A biker look can show just as much style as the most expensive suit IF you wear it in the right circumstances. Plus, you need to BE the kind of guy who would wear something like this.

Today I want to present to you a classic biker look. Dustin from www.shiggersonstreet.com was kind enough to let me comment on one of his outfits. Hopefully it will give you the inspiration you need to put together this outstanding look.

Here’s what you need:

- a classic leather jacket
- a black t-shirt
- a pair of slim-fit grey jeans
- a pair of black boots
- a black leather belt
- a cool haircut

Yep, it’s all about leather in this outfit. Not leather imitation, real, quality, leather. That’s the only kind you want.

Recently I could have purchased a leather imitation jacket for myself for pennies… but I chose real leather instead. It looks way better, it feels way better and it will look great for years.

One thing that I looked at when I got my leather jacket was the pockets. I don’t really go for jackets that have a lot of zippers. the fewer the better. Call it a matter of personal preference but I’d rather “load” my outfit with some separate accessories than with some annoying zippers.

What’s next? Ah, the black t-shirt and grey jeans. You don’t need much help here, just go for some simple denim… and stay away from skinny jeans.

Skinny jeans don’t look good on a man so go for slim-fit instead.

Boots! if you’re really going for that biker look, the books will make the whole difference. Just imagine Dustin in wearing black leather shoes instead. he wouldn’t make that much of a fashion statement in that case.

Add to the boots a leather belt, a cool haircut and we’re done… or are we?

There’s one detail in Dustin’s outfit that I missed intentionally. Did you spot it?

It’s the rolled up jeans.

Wear the jeans over the boots and you’re a generic guy trying to be cool. Wear them rolled up (which shoes more of the boot too) and you’ve put together a real biker look.

Remember: it’s all in the details.

You know what’s the big advantage of dressing stylish. Come on, stop being afraid – saying it aloud: you want hot women to notice you. It’s only logical.

It’s the easiest ways to get noticed by women. While working hard to build an attractive personality could take years, this is accomplished very fast with not so much investment.

So, let’s take a look at the outfits:

1. Aviator leather jacket, shades, jeans and a scarf

photo:gq.com

The leather jacket, combined with shades and some jeans are very reminiscent of Tom Cruise in Top Gun; the scarf just comes to complete this killer trio.  If you don’t know, google this movie and you’ll see the popularity that it gave Tom Cruise, especially among the girls.

The evidence is in the picture below :

photo:obsessedwithfilm.com

2. An overcoat, a sports jacket and a scarf

photo:gq.com

The scarf, as you see is the VIP of dressing stylish. Make sure you also read the other two articles on scarves: one is on how to wear your scarf and the other on which 5 items work best with scarves.

3. Vest

photo:madeinbrazilmag.com

You can either pair it with a t-shirt for a casual look or with a shirt in a more classy look. Of course, you shouldn’t limit yourself to the classic vest, so take a look at the lumberjack’s vest.

photo:rusticchic.files.wordpress.com

A good way to wear your vest is to contrast the color of what you’re wearing underneath with the color of the vest.

4. A navy blue slicker jacket with grey pants

photo:gq.com

Like father like son. I’m talking about the picture above. Back on topic, slicker is a good choice, and I’ve seen bulky slicker jackets which look terrific. You can add a scarf for a maximum impact.

5. A black blazer with with a white shirt and blue jeans

photo:thebottomup.files.wordpress.com

The blazer is always a sure choice for an instant head turning fiesta among the ladies. It has been discussed in previous articles, so one could say it’s a veteran of Be Stylish. If you want to be the king at a non formal event, this is the outfit that will crown you.

So, you have 5 choices of extraordinary outfits. Wear only one of them and women will find themselves in the situation that they can’t stop from looking at you. Wear all 5 of them (day in and day out) and you’re a stud.

Time is unforgivable. It’s eventually going to catch us all up. Hell, I mean I’m 21 now, but I’ll be eventually 40 and over. This article though, is not about time passage and “memento mori” things, but about style. More specific, how to dress your age if you are 40 and over that age.

So, the first thing men over 40 must do is to…

Avoid fashion fads

You should maintain a style that is timeless, not timely. So the key here is avoiding the latest trends. A definite no are the fashion fads;recognize them in order to avoid them. Picture this: boutique sneakers and t shirts with something printed on them (worn mostly by guys in their 20s) on a 40 year old look creepy.

Please, no matter how old you are, do NOT wear something like this ever! Take a look at the Very store to find some great clothes, not too flashy, at affordable prices – perfect for someone in his 40s.

So, the bottom line is that fashion fads are for guys still experimenting with style. You are past that period in your life, hopefully.

Leave the past behind

Just because certain looks “made a comeback”, this doesn’t give you license to pull these items back out of your closet. As you well know, more often than not, the past is typically best left in the past.

In terms of fashion, here’s why: When certain looks cycle back around, they almost always return with a modernized twist, such as an updated cut or re-envisioned style. Turn your attention to aviator sunglasses, for example.

photo:besportier.com

Here’s an updated version of Aviator Sunglassses. They look a lot better:

photo:http://t3.gstatic.com

So, be smart and never raid your closet for those items that resurface from the days of glory. Invest in the new version to ensure you’re updated, not outdated… but only if the look or item is a fashion staple, rather than a fashion fad.

Don’t mistake business attire for stylish attire

What works from 9 to 5 won’t always work from 5 to 9 or on the weekends.  In fact, wearing your work-wear outside of normal work occasions appears stuffy and one-dimensional; a look no guy in his 40s should contend with. Show the world you’re at the top of your game by presenting variations of yourself.

photo:http://4smart.net

Instead of wearing your best office suit to a dinner party, couple your sport coat with a pair of modern, straight leg jeans, a simple dress shirt, and a pair of casual boat shoes.

Blazers and sport jackets also work fine (I’ve also written an article about those two-read it).

Keep it simple

Don’t try to be very flashy. Leave the loud patterns and flashy ties to the young generations.

For instance, wear simple designer jeans instead of rugged ones.

Notice how the pair of black jeans below fits the person perfectly. Notice especially the bottom of the jean and how it “follows” the legs.

A final word: shave often… facial hair makes you look older.

While fashion changes constantly, but true style never dies.

Here’s a kicker story. This happened a few months ago and changed my perspective (a little) on style – for good.

I was with a friend in a club one night – great place, hot women, stylish guys all over the place.We order a few drinks at the bar and this really petite cute waitress serves us.

My friend tells me he dated her a while back. She was really, really cute.

After about 20 minutes, this guy comes out of nowhere. In a social gathering of guys wearing all shirts, polo shirts, hats and slim ties, a guy wearing a hoodie is easy to spot.

But he was really relaxed. He didn’t care.

He comes right next to us, orders a few drinks, talks to the waitress for a few minutes then pulls out his cell phone and writes her number.

Me and my friend were like “HUH”?

I don’t know what happened next with those two but it’s easy to imagine.

I guess what I’m trying to do is to build a case for Mens Hoodies, but only if you’re the type of guy who likes them.

If you like shirts (like me), wear shirts. If you don’t, read on.

Sometimes you want to be comfortable. Sometimes you want to be really comfortable.

If you’re not a fan of french cuff shirts and pocket squares, it’s ok. You should wear whatever makes you comfortable.

So I’m going to talk a little about hoodies. Specifically, what colors to choose and how to match them with the rest of your outfit.

I’m sure you’ve noticed a lot of guys wearing them. Plus, I bet you didn’t think much of them. I mean, when was the last time you saw someone wearing a hoodie that caught your attention?

The trick with hoodies is to make them stand out. (The last thing you want is to get people think you don’t know how to dress.)

And there are a couple ways you can do that.

The first one is to simply wear a light-colored hoodie. Too many guys wear a dark brown hoodie and look like they don’t know what planet they’re on.

But any style student of mine should know that a light-colored hoodie will make him stand out and make him feel relaxed and comfortable.

Take a look at this guy, the baby blue hoodie looks great on him:

Notice how the white t-shirt underneath the hoodie matches the sneakers while the hoodie and the jeans are of the same color but different shades.

Here’s the second way you can make a hoodie look awesome: by wearing a stylish outfit that make sit stand out.

The guy in the photo below is wearing a great pair of checked pants. The pants have dark colors, meaning they allow the viewer’s eye to stop at the green hoodie.

Needless to say, the entire outfit looks great. It’s not just the hoodie, it’s how the outfit waspulled together.

If you feel relaxed, talk relaxed, have a relaxed look and wear relaxed clothes, guess what message you’re sending?

That’s right.

OK, back to the original question: what hoodie colors to choose?

You’ve seen baby blue and green. You’ve seen that brown is a bad choice (you could go for light brown but, unless you match it really well, it’s going to look generic).

What other colors can you choose for a hoodie?

Pale yellow is one. In fact, yellow is great. Something like this from JoeBrowns.co.uk:

(Don’t look at the fact that it’s all crumpled – it will look much better when you wear it).

Ok, that’s a wrap. if you’re the kind of guy who likes hoodies, the bottom line is to go for lighter colors – you’ll make a better fashion statement.

When building a men’s wardrobe, we’d like to have it all, right? I mean, to buy the cheapest clothes, of the highest quality possible and by the best brands.

Since this is only an ideal, getting the right clothes is more like a balancing act.

The truth is,even though we’re living in some very competitive financial times, some brands continue to deliver good quality while others are still overpromising and underdelivering.

So I made you a list. The top 10 brands you should hunt when buying men’s clothing.

While I didn’t care too much about price, I tried to stay away from the most expensive ones.

Here’s the thing: a while back, I would go from store to store, wasting precious hours trying to find the right clothes for myself. But after a while I found myself buying from the same places over and over again. Then I realized some stores always had the same quality clothes I was looking for.

In order, here’s what I’m looking for when buying clothes (and you can rest assured all my top 10 list brands are in alignment with this:

1. Quality.
2. Price.
3. How fashionable it is.

You may want to switch #2 and #3 depending on your budget but you always want to buy quality clothes. This doesn’t mean you should spend all your money on expensive clothes, but rather pick the brands that deliver the best quality for the best price.

Without further ado, here’s my top 10 brands list.

#1 – Ralph Lauren

Yes, I know: Ralph Lauren is far from cheap. Shirts can cost up to $150 (or more). But here’s the thing, you can hunt for sales periods and get some pretty good deals.

Plus, Ralph Lauren clothing is definitely a long-term investment.Their shirts and sweaters are very good quality and will last for years. This goes for the color as well. You won’t see it fade anytime soon.

So if you know when sale periods occur (and you should!), keep an eye out for Ralph Lauren, you might just get a pretty good deal.

Recommended clothing articles:

- dress shirts
- polo shirts
- rugby shirts
- chinos
- vests

#2 – Brooks brothers

If you’re more the conservative type, that looks to looks sharp, you’ve found your match. Brooks brothers has good quality clothes at good prices, so you won’t be disappointed.

You’ll find everything you want, but be prepared to pay a little extra than you would at any other store.

You’ll find that some of their clothing items, particularly their button down shirts are of the highest quality.

#3 – Zara

Zara needs no introduction because of its really stylish lines of clothing. While some people are dissatisfied with this brand, it has some really good items.

Some people have reported minor quality problems with Zara, particularly in Eastern Europe and U.S. stores. This may be true but don’t assume all of their clothes are like that.

As always before you buy, analyze each item of clothing in detail, particularly the stitches.

One of the advantages Zara has over other brands, is the fact that it controls most of its clothing life cycle. This simply means it does its own clothing design, production and distribution. This end-to-end solution has had a tremendous impact on their brand image.

The nice thing about Zara clothes is that they can make you look very stylish even if you’re not too knowledgeable about it. You don’t have to know about color coordination or layering to look awesome in their clothes.

Bottom line:go for Zara but pay attention to the quality of what you intend to buy.

Clothing items to hunt for:

- sports jackets
- ties
- sweaters
- chinos

#4 – Guess

If you’re looking for some flashy clothes – Guess is the place to get them from. Not that it’s such a bad thing but it’s way better to be able to take 5 clothing items and learn to mix-and-match them than to put on some flashy t-shirt and jeans.

You get the idea, right?

Nevertheless, Guess has some really cool clothes that can make you stand out from the crowd. They can get really creative with colors and patterns so you don’t have to.

What you should buy from Guess:

- t-shirts
- jackets
- watches
- jeans

#5 – H&M

I have to say this right from the start: H&M is probably the most popular store from this top 10. This is especially true in Europe where people from most countries are regular buyers.

This Swedish retail clothing company has great clothing and great prices.

Hunt for:
- t-shirts
- casual shirts
- blazers
- cardigans

Don’t buy:
- accessories (they don’t have that many options)

#6 – Calvin Klein

I know what you’re thinking: you can get better quality clothing for less money than Kelvin Klein. But CK is a well established brand with a history behind it.

While they’re a little pricey, you’ll find that the clothing quality is great – you get what you pay for.

Keep an eye out for:

- jeans
- underwear
- perfume

#7 – J. Crew

If you’re looking for a reliable brand with great quality, look no further than J. Crew. In their stores you’ll find the usual array of clothes, from t-shirts and dress shirts to pants and coats.

Don’t expect to find the cheapest prices here but you will get great quality clothes, which is what I’ve always recommended to all my stylish readers.

#8 – Topman

The first thing I should mention about Topman is that they’re really concerned about colors. It doesn’t matter what shade of blue jeans you want, you’ll probably find it in a Topman store. This makes it really enjoyable to mix and match clothes of different colors and hues.

Topman has very good prices but, as some people have put it, they have a habit of turning people into clones. This is only because their popularity and men’s inability to mix and match clothes.

If you know how to match clothes and how to mix colors, you don’t have to worry you’ll look like the next guy.

While their clothes don’t look as good as Guess or Ralph Lauren for instance, Topman is great if you’re going for the cool, casual look. Their wide variety of streetwear clothes makes them the number one choice if you’re looking for the best price per quality ratio.

Another point to remember if you’re relatively small and you have trouble finding clothes: Topman has one of the widest selections of S and XS (small and extra-small) clothes available. I know that it’s hard to find clothes that fit you sometimes, so be sure to give Topman a try.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out their blazers, they are of good quality for the price you have to pay.

#9 – Gucci

Yes, I know some refer to it as the best brand in the world. But this top 10 is mostly about price per quality so Gucci barely makes it here.

Needless to say, their great quality is compensated by a steep price. However, you should buy Gucci only once in a while. Keep your money for less expensive clothes.

One thing that I always say to my stylish students is that the outfit is more important than each individual item of clothing. This means you can buy cheaper clothes and look way better than someone wearing Gucci from top to bottom.

Nevertheless, quality is quality and Gucci is all about that.

#10 – Kenneth Cole

If you’re looking for decent accessories and shoes at a reasonable price, look no further than Kenneth Cole. Of course, if you can afford $300 shoes, by all means, get them. But if you can’t, Kenneth Cole is your friend.

It’s also worth taking a look at their shirts. You may find a certain color or pattern that you’ve been looking for in a long time, that completes a great outfit.

Again, the quality is not the best but if you’re a student or on a budget, it’s well worth buying.

Hunt for:

- (dress) shoes
- belts
- men’s bags

If you have any other suggestions / reviews for any brands you may or may not like, let us hear about them. Just add a comment below and tell us which brands you like/don’t like and why.

Over the years, I’ve given you some great tips on what to wear. By now (and especially if you tried my men style guide) you should have lots of ideas on how to look great.

But what I haven’t told you too much about is… what NOT to wear.

And if you’re asking: Why should I care what other people say about my style? my answer is…

you should!

Style is not just about wearing clothes that make you unique and show your best traits (while hiding body flaws), it’s also a way of communicating that you understand how important the personal image is.

There’s a difference between wearing something bold and wearing something ridiculous. Imagine a guy wearing a bright red shirt with a pair of green pants. He would be bold and ridiculous at the same time.

And if you ARE the type of person who would wear such outfits, then it’s cool. No need to read this article. No need to read the other articles either.

But if you’re really concerned about your personal image and want to avoid these big mistakes, read on because I have a very interesting list of what not to wear.

1. UGG boots

I’ve discussed these in detail in another article a while back. UGG boots look good on hotties but not on us. Stay away from them, they are womens boots and you have plenty of other shoe options.

2. An over-sized shirt

I’ve seen this so many times it’s not even funny. Guys wearing shirts 2-3 sizes too big for them.

If you’re not fashion conscious, it’s OK to make this mistake but I’m sorry, I wont’ allow it anymore. You’re reading my blog which mean’s you’re style savvy.

You don’t have to throw away all your shirts. Take them to the tailor and have then adjusted for your body. It’s not that expensive and will save you some dollars since you don’t have to buy a new one. If you’re a bigger guy, it’s even more important for you to have clothes that fit. Big and tall stores like kingsizedirect.com are a good place to start looking for properly sized shirts and trousers.

3. Crocs

Crocs are as ugly as they seem… and more. OK, I know you’re expecting a pertinent reason why crocs aren’t stylish so I won’t banter this time.

The look you should aim for as a guy is slick and sharp and shoes should be that way too. Crocs are too chunky, they come in ridiculous colors that don’t match the outfit and the overall design is bad.

If you’re looking for something cool to wear during the summer, get a nice pair of sandals.

4. Novelty T-Shirts

photo: haggisbuffet.blogspot.com

Novelty t-shirts send a message, all right… the WRONG one. The right message is conveyed by a great outfit.

Let me tell you: such a t-shirt will get women’s attention in the street or in a social gathering. But ask yourself this: what kind of impression am I making?

Well, If your novelty t-shirt has a text on it that says “Enlightment” and a penis next to it, probably not a good one.

Some of the guys wearing this think they’re projecting a bad-boy avatar. Not true. Here’s how a bad-boy avatar looks like:

The message is not that obvious but it does reach others at a very deep level.

4. Skinny jeans

photo: drjays.com

Skinny jeans are the exact opposite of baggy jeans. The big idea is that jeans (and clothing in general) should fit you like a glove.

Skinny jeans, like UGG boots look great on women. They show a certain sex-appeal that just doesn’t work for men.

The solution? Go for slim fit jeans. I’ve talked about the difference between slim fit and skinny jeans here.

That’s it. I will update this never-wear list every once in a while with clothes that you should stay away from.

Finding your own sense of style comes not just from seeing what works for you, but also from figuring out what doesn’t.

Good luck!

photo: www.grossiste-service.fr

Winter is still here, no doubt about it. I just came back from jogging and I can vouch for that.

But spring is around the corner and we need some solid fashion errr… style tips. But before we go into specifics, we have to know what we’re aiming for.

Spring is usually associated with rebirth and vibrant colors. This means it’s the PERFECT time to stand out from the crowd by means of a crazy little thing called layering.

Spring and autumn are perfect for layering. During those seasons it’s not too hot such that you can’t put two items of clothing together… and not too cold such that you’re forced to hide your cool clothes behind a coat.

It’s time to innovate when it comes to style. I’ll take you by the hand and show you what you can wear this spring and draw all women’s eyes on YOU.

Let’s tackle the most expensive things first.

#1 Pants

Spring 2011 still calls for simple denim jeans, nothing fancy. Go for lighter colored jeans to stand out more.

Jeans are a staple of any man’s wardrobe; this mean’s you’ll build on them with well matched quality clothes.

A more stylish alternative is to go for chino pants. These are an amazing way to add some color to your outfit. Take a look at these:

photo: zalando.fr

Chino pants are a great way to add some color into your outfits. If you’re really bold, you can go for more vibrant colors. Here are some amazing GQ outfits:

photo: gq.com

I personally had a yellow pair a few years back. It was pure GOLD (no pun intended) when it came to women. They all had their eyes literally glued to me.

If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd but don’t want to buy too many expensive clothes, here’s my advice: buy a pair of colored chinos, then wear them with black shoes/shirts/t-shirts.
You can go for white and gray, of course. White, black and gray go well with almost anything.

#2 A brown leather jacket

Are you a fan of leather jackets? If so, you’ve probably worn black all your life. This is the perfect occasion for you to try something new.

Brown jackets can make you stand out but not too much. It all depends on how well you match them.

Wear one with some nice brown leather shoes and a brown belt.

Now you’re probably thinking: what on earth can I match brown with?

Great question. Brown is actually dead easy to match. White, yellow and blue are the first choices you can think of.

Look at this brown leather jacket by D&G. Remember how I told you to stick to plain’ol jeans? D&G shows us how you can match blue jeans with the jacket. Take a look:

Does that look AMAZING or what? Yeah, I know, the jeans aren’t exactly “plain’ol”, they have some cuts here and there… But it still looks good.

#3 A pocket square

Do you have a blazer or a sports jacket? If so, this mean’s you’ll spend a minimum amount of money to make it look awesome.

Pocket squares are like the cherry on top of a cake: they communicate you’re a well rounded, well dressed stud.

I’ve noticed an increasing trend in wearing slim ties but pocket squares are still very rare. This mean’s we’ve got an edge here. Pocket squares are inexpensive and very effective, as long as you know how to match them.

source: mymanybags.blogspot.com

#4 A pair of brogue shoes

If you’re not a converse fan, how about NOT buying the same old brown shoes? For once… please

Brown is cool and a pair of brown brogues will give you a fresh air among the rest of the men (who always wear black shoes).

And just in case you’re wondering whether brogues go well with jeans, the answer is a definite YES.

There’s only one thing I want you to be careful with: brogues go very well with blue but not that great with black or navy pants. Here’s a small list of what you can wear your new brogues with:

- blue jeans
- medium gray suit pants
- brown suit pants
- brown chinos

photo: floralsandpearls.blogspot.com

I love the contrast in the outfit above.

Ready for spring?