Every time I see style and technology coming together, I’m very excited. It’s because both are my passions and there’s just something cool when your passion is taken to another level.

In short, C&A is making these special hangers that shows electronically the number of likes that the clothing item received on Facebook. This means that you can just walk into their stores and immediately see which clothes are hot and which clothes are not.

Pretty cool.

Ascot ties are not really ties and are not really scarves either. They’re somewhere in-between but, most importantly, they’re a hidden style gem that will make you look amazing.

I just took my new ascot tie for a “drive test” in the mall today. Now, if you’re a serious style student of mine, you’ve read my articles and you know the kind of stylish clothes I wear and I recommend that you wear as well. These clothes get you noticed almost guaranteed.

But something happened when I wore my ascot tie in the mall today. I felt in a way that I haven’t experienced in years. Truth be told, the last time I felt this way was back when I started wearing really bold clothes. Back then I was somewhat nervous when women looked at me because I wasn’t used to it.

Wearing this ascot tie got me A LOT more attention that I expected. I mean, women would involuntarily smile at me. Even though I consider myself experienced in style, today I felt like a new man.

So I thought I’d jumped into the blog and share my experience with you. Plus, I wanted to post some YouTube videos on how to tie an ascot.

Tying an ascot is very similar to the four-in-hand knot that you would perform on a tie. Just watch the videos below and you’ll get the hang of it pretty soon:

Here’s a video that show you how to tie a variation of the ascot, that has only one wide end and a sewn loophole at the other:

The Ascot tie, as you may have noticed, is pretty big but chances are you ended up buying one that had a shorter midsection, like I did.

I actually had to bang my head against the wall a few times because of this. It seems that nobody knows how to tie such a tie. SO I finally figured it out through trial and error.

If your ascot is short, tie it just like in the videos above EXCEPT for the last step. Don’t put the longer end through the loop at the end, just leave it hanging. and widen it to cover as much of your neck as it possibly can.

The point of the ascot is to protect your neck from cold temperatures and wind so it has to cover most of your neck. A short ascot, if you tie it the usual way, will not be able to serve that purpose. That’s why you have to skip the last step and do it the way I recommend.

Questions: Do you have an ascot tie? And what do you think of this accessory?

A lot of times we’re on a buget. Oh wait, let me rephrase that: most of the times we’re on a budget when we go shopping. Even me.

That’s right. Even though I run one of the best men’s style advice blogs, this doesn’t mean that I can go into malls to get whatever I want, whenever I want,for whatever price they’re asking.

Just like my style students, I keep in mind and apply dozens of principles that allow me to save lots of money, spend less time shopping and get higher quality clothes.

In a few moments you’ll know the most important tips for shopping on a budget as well… and now you have NO excuse not to dress stylishly.

Do you ever take flyers from pretty girls? Do you pay attention to commercials that announce huge discounts? Do you notice those big billboards with special offers?

If you do, you know for sure that,when you start paying attention when companies communicate with you, you start saving. The more you’re focused on it, the more quality deals you get, and you save even more $$$.

It’s the same with smart shopping. The collection of tips that I’m about to give you is worth its value in gold. Here it is.

1. Make a list of ALL the outlets in your town. Ways you can find out about them include:

- searching the web

- asking your friends (especially female friends)

- paying attention to the stores you pass by downtown. One of them could be an outlet

Don’t wait for the list to grow too big before you start visiting them. You need to know right away if an outlet is either a good resource, or if it has crappy clothes in which case you can just delete it from your list.

2. Start saving money for the big discount periods.

Twice a year, clothing retailers are emptying their stock to make room for the new collections. January, February, August and September of each year can offer you discounts of up to 75%… wherever you live in the world.

3. Never Ever Miss Black Friday

Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day but it recently got popular in other countries besides USA. This particular day signals the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and retailers (not just in clothing) offer huge discounts.

This is your chance to buy as much as you can. Pay attention to other details such as fabric and fit, like I taught you.

4. When You Can, Buy Online

I don’t recommend that you buy your clothes online but things change when it comes to some accessories.

You can find better deals online for cufflinks, ties, bow ties, ascot ties, belts, pendants, casual rings, leather bracelets and so on.

But there’s one other thing that you can buy online for a MUCH better price than that from retail stores. Furthermore, this one thing will be exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll never return it.

Know what it is? One word: perfumes.

Here’s how you buy the right perfume on a budget. First you go to any big perfume retail store and you try on lots and lots of perfumes.Then, you order your favorite one online.

Easy, right?

Wow, I can’t believe I gave away so much free shopping tips! But no worries, I have a lot more great tips in my Be Stylish ™ Package.

All YOU have to do is apply them. And, if you have some tips on shopping on a budget, do add them through a comment below and let’s make this page the best resource for men’s shopping on a budget on the Internet.

Being a well dressed man means nothing without manners. Sure, most of the times you go out with friends in bars and clubs…but there are occasions when you have to deal with a fancy restaurant.

A fancy dinner isn’t some sort of a test on your dining etiquette that you must pass. Think of it as a chance to show of some of the skillthat I’m going to teach you right now.

Before we begin, I have one think to ask you. And you must give you my word that you’ll do as I ask.

When you’re at that dinner with those important people or with that amazing uptown girl…don’t act too formal. Rather, be yourself and apply my dining etiquette tips as if they’re second nature to you.

Being in formal encounters doesn’t mean that you have to act like you just teleported yourself from the 16th century. Be cool and act cool.

All right, let’s get started with the most important dining etiquette tips you need to survive during a meal at a restaurant.

1. The big napkin that sits on your chair when you arrive (you may also find it on the table or in the wine glass) goes on your lap.

Most people are clueless as to what to do with that napking.They usually fold it and put it somewhere where it won’t bother them. At the end of the meal they might use it to wipe their mouth.

Wroong!

You should take the napkin and place it on your lap before you start eating.If you haven’t ordered yet, it’s ok to keep it on the table.

Caveat: you don’t have to completely unfold it when you use it… just enough to cover your lap.

Another caveat: never tuck your napkin inside your shirt’s collar.

When you excuse yourself from the table, fold back the napkin (once) and place it on the table.

When you finish eating, either place the napkin on the left or,if the plates have been cleared from the table, in the center.

2. Posture

Keep your back straight and don’t stretch your feet in other’s people personal space.
Never keep your elbows on the table. I know it feels like you don’t have where to put your hands but keep in mind that this rule right here is known by A LOT of people. It’s widespread and if you don’t follow it… you get the idea.

You can hold your arms on your knees or you can hold them on the table but only about half of your forearm.

3. Never blow your nose at the dinner table. Period.

4. Wait until everyone at the table is served before starting to eat

This is common sense and I’m sure you’re already doing it. The only exception to this rule is if you order 2 courses and others only one. You may go ahead and eat the first course alone and eat the second course along with everyone else.

5. Always eat with your fork and knife at the same time.The fork goes on the left, the knife in your right arm. If this is something you’re uncomfortable with, practice at home until you get it.

6. Never bite from your bread, use your hands to break the bread into pieces before eating it.

7. Never talk with your mouth full. I cannot stress this enough. If you want to know how bad this looks, just wait until you catch someone in action.

8. When drinking wine, never hold the glass from the cup. This will warm the wine and that’s why it’s considered bad manners. Hold the glass from its stem (the long thin part that connects the foot from the cup).

9. You can share food with other at the table for tasting purposes.This is OK. However,you should ask for an additional plate and another fork and knife to divide the food.

10. While eating, you can rest the knife and the fork on each of the sides of the plate. But don’t leave them with one side on the plate and one on the table. Once you start eating, your utensils should never touch the table again.

When you’re done eating, you should place them one next to the other on the plate, with one end in the center of the plate and the other at the side. This will signal the waiter that you’re done eating and that he can remove the plate.

11. It’s ok to leave food on the plate, contrary to what you mother might have told you. What’s not ok is to leave the plate “too clean”,as if you haven’t eaten in days.

If there’s one thing that comes up over and over again in my style lessons is FIT. Fit is king and guys are finally starting to realize that.

I probably told you a dozen times to take your shirt to the tailor for adjustments after you buy it. That’s great advice (and common sense) but, sometimes, the tailor can only do so much with it.

Enter the world of custom clothing.

You can custom make much more than shirts: suits, sports jackets, pants and even shoes. Sure, this may require a little more effort and a little more money out of your pocket… but in the end it’s well worth it.

I’m sure this happened to you many times: you check every store in town for the right shirt and you can’t find anything. All the shirts are either too big or too small. What do you do?

Answer: find a tailor that makes bespoke clothing.

Let’s take shirts for instance. Once the tailor has your measurement (waist, neck, arm length, chest), he’s ready to make you a unique shirt that fits you like a glove.

In the case of suits, things get a little more complicated. Suits are a big investment so it’s even more important that you have them bespoke.

Usually, when you make a custom shirt or a suit, you not only get to choose the fabric but also the details of that clothing item. For a shirt you might be able to decide on the fabric, the pattern, the collar, the cuff and whether or not you’d like to have a pocket.

How Do I Find the Right Tailor?

This is a critical question. You might not want the same tailor to do your suits as they would minor adjustments to the clothes you buy off the rack. The first task bears with it great responsibility while the other is easier.

You can take clothes you buy from the mall to pretty much any tailor for adjustments. But if you want a custom shirt or a suit you should find a higher end tailor that not only has great fabrics but he’s also known for his quality work.

Ways to find a good include searching the internet for local businesses and asking around. Spend some time researching to find out if that particular tailor is really good and to compare prices with other tailors.

Tailor visits have been around for centuries but, with the Internet, there comes a new option: to order bespoke clothing online.

I don’t recommend this for suits as they require more attention to detail and a good old fashioned 1-on-1 conversation to your tailor, so he knows exactly what you want.

But sites like tailorwork.com offer custom dress shirts with a process that takes place entirely online.The great thing about this site is that they offer a “perfect fit guarantee” which takes all the pressure from you.

You measure yourself, select all the shirt’s options and you place the order. Since it’s only a shirt and since they have all your measurements, the end result is just as good as if you personally went to a tailor. I’m really excited to see websites offering this option which saves everyone time, yet doesn’t make any compromises when it comes to quality.

What do you think about ordering bespoke clothes online?

One more thing: if you’re going to make more than one purchase, always use a car to visit as many stores as possible in one day.

Item: Shorts (+ bonus canvas belt)
Fabric: cotton
Color: brown
Brand: Pull and Bear
Price: $29 (on April 22th 2012)
I’ll be wearing them with: boat shoes, loafers, sneakers, shirts (both long sleeved and short sleeved), polo shirts, t-shirts

These shorts were the best quality for the money. Plus, they let me keep the belt they had on which will work perfectly with my boat shoes.

Item: Slim tie
Fabric: cotton/denim
Color: blue
Brand: Mustang
Price: $18 (on April 22th 2012)
I’ll be wearing it with: by light blue shirt, my brown shirt, my shit shirt and, of course, with regular blue jeans

I don’t usually visit mustang due to their higher than average prices but I did so today. I never had the chance to buy a denim tie and, given it’s fair price I didn’t hesitate much.

Since this is an unexpected place to be wearing denim, I’ll always make sure I pair it with some other denim item of clothing, be it jeans or a denim shirt.

Item: Ascot tie
Fabric: silk
Color: light blue with brown and purple
Brand: Seroussi
Price: $31 (on April 22th 2012)
I’ll be wearing it with: my dark brown shirt (which was the main reason I got this), my light blue shirt etc.

Ascot ties are great. They’re a classic accessory that few people wear them and, to be honest, I’m puzzled why.

One of the *toughest* periods in any man’s life is – you guessd it – his wedding. There are lots of details to consider (which I’m not going to cover here from obvious reasons).

What I do want to talk about is choosing the right wedding ring for yourself (or your friend that’s getting married). There are a few key aspects you should consider before you buy one.

Choose The Right Width for Your Size

The first thing you should think about is the width. As you know, here at BeStylish.org we’re obsessed with how everything fits you and the wedding ring makes no exception.

Longer fingers ask for a wider ring, shorter noes for a shorter ring. The most common ring width is 6mm, followed by 7mm. If you’re shorter than average, you may opt for 5mm but 6 is should be good enough for anyone.

Not that the width in discuttion is NOT the diameter of the ring. That has to be dealt width separately. We’re talking about the width of the wedding ring (or band) along the finger.

If you’re going for a more complex design of your ring, which might not be available on the 6 or 7mm versions, keep in mind that wider ones can feel uncomfortable when worn. You won’t be able to experience this on the spot, only after a while so keep this in mind.

Price

I wish I could tell you what your budget should be (like I do for the rest of the fashion items that I recommend) but I simply can’t thins time. How much you want to spend on this rare accessory is really up to you.

Basically you’ve got a whole spectrum: from cheap wedding rings to really expensive ones. Deciding how much you want to spend is not just about how much you can afford but about how much you think price matters.

Your personality

Personality isn’t something that I can pinpoint for you. When choosing a men’s wedding ring you should go (up to a point) with your gut level. If you’re an introvert you might want to take a look at simple wedding rings, and if you’re more of an extrovert… a ring with engravings will suit you better.

Your Lifestyle

Most men don’t even want to consider this but it’s super important. If you play a lot of sports or if you do a lot of manual labor, keeping your wedding ring on at these times can prove challenging.

Ideally you’ll want to take it off – it’s the best bet. But, if you don’t (some couples decide they don’t want to take it off at all), then it’s best to choose a tougher metal.

Again, my advice to you is: take it off during activities which might damage it. Otherwise, later on you’ll be forced to take it off… and replace it altogether!

Ok, I get it. Love trumps all and you’re not going to take it off no matter what. That’s ok, I gave it a shot. What you should do is go for men’s rings from stronger metals and alloys, such as titanium or tungsten.

Speaking of which, what are the best metals when it comes to men’s rings?

Choose The Right Metal

Everyone’s hear about gold wedding rings, right? Your dad probably has one. Such rings are still a viable choice but probbly not the best one to make.

Silver, titanium and tungsten are more popular right now. Gold is somewhat outdated and most guys prefer to ignore it, just to be safe.

From a style point of view (I hope you’be been reading my other articles & eBook about matching accessories because they’re pure gold), tungsten and titanium are great choices.

The reason is that you can now match your wedding ring with… let say… a titanium bracelet. Or maybe even an awesome leather + titanium bracelet, what do you think?

Now I know marriage is such a huge thing… and that you want your ring to be special… maybe even expensive?

In that case, forget about tungsten and titanium. The metals you should be on the look out are: white gold, platinum and palladium. Also, be on the lookout for rings that have diamonds encrusted in them – they are MEMORABLE.

Rings4love.com has exactly those types of rings. One of the coolest palladium wedding rings (which also happens to have 10 diamonds (that’s TEN) encrusted in it) is this one:

Antique/vintage rings

So maybe you’re not the flashy kind of person and you’re not looking for contemporary rings. You want something a little more… old fashioned. if a gold wedding ring is not enough, you always have the options of choosing a vintage ring.

Choosing a vintage ring requires a lot more effort, though, and it’s not within the scope of this article (I’m no expert in vintage jewelry). You have to watch out for fakes plus you have to know the eras into which vintage rings fall (Victorian, Edwardian etc.).

Well, I laid out the options for you. It’s up to you to make the best choice depending on time, budget and your personal lifestyle and preferences.

Good luck and let me know when you buy it by placing a comment below… so I can congratulate you.

It only takes a second to look at the old poster on the left and notice how stylish he is. The white and yellow bow tie is matched with the white hat with the yellow ribbon.

Style isn’t something new. Style was a way to distinguish true gentlemen from the average guy… and it STILL is.

If you’re a serious style student of mine, you probably know a lot of “tricks” to make your outfits stand out from the crowd. Things like rolling up your trousers or shirts and going sockless are just a few of the most popular ones. But a solid knowledge base is what you should aim for because it is much more important.

Most formal style boos are rather boring unless you’re passionate about style. That’s why I’m about to give you 3 style tips that I handpicked in my years of research in the field.

You can find dozens more tips in my Be Stylish ™ package but rest assured these are the most important ones. Ready? Here we go.

Principle #1: the man comes before the clothes

You have to understand that the purpose of clothes is to make YOU look good. It’s not about finding quirky ways of mixing and matching accessories.

The purpose of wearing any clothing item is to send a positive message about you that, in the end, will make people look into your eyes and think “this is someone who I definitely want to meet”.

What does this all mean, then?

Simply put, a simple and elegant outfit can often times make a more lasting impression than if you were wearing a really eccentric one. This depends on the social encounter, obviously, but this is as true today as it was a hundred years ago.

A nice fitting suit and a nice pair of black or brown leather shoes will convey more power and charisma than an over-accessorized casual outfit.

Remember this: every item of clothing you put on you has a very important mission: it’s sending a message about you. So make sure it is the right message.

Principle #2: Fit is king

If you ever wondered where this saying is coming from, it has its roots in formal style. Any item of clothing should flatter your body lines and give the impression that it was made for you. Sometimes, having custom clothes made is the best. Other times, buying the off the rack and have them adjusted is good enough. Just remember that slim fit is becoming more and more popular, trumping regular fit and baggy clothes.

Pay extra attention to the length of your clothes’ sleeves. I’m talking particularly about shirts, suit jackets, sports jackets, blazers, v-necks and roundneck sweaters.

The shirt’s cuff should be 1 or 2 inches visible from underneath the top that you’re wearing. This means you probably need to adjust all your shirts and jackets. Your tailor is there to help you so don’t be afraid to put him to work – that’s his job.

Principle #3: Formal accessories work

Have you ever worn cufflinks? How about a bow tie or a fedora? If you haven’t, I suggest you take my suggestion seriously and start buying them. Just because formal style is often associated with something old, this doesn’t mean it’s outdated.

If anything, formal style is making a comeback and is merging with casual style to form a modern mixture that’s pleasing to the eye and attracts a lot of attention.

So here’s what I want you to do. From the list of accessories below, choose 3 of them and commit that you’ll look for them in malls the next time you go shopping. Do we have a deal?

• cufflinks
• ties
• bow ties
• fedoras
• classic umbrellas
• pocket qatches
• pocket squares
• slim/formal belts
• tie bars and tie clips

Any of the above accessories will draw a lot of attention from women because they magically transform you into a powerful man. If anything, you should be careful when you’re wearing them.

I’ve seen this over and over again: guys have a hard time making that first step to standing out with their outfits. They have the basics down yet they’re afraid to make a mistake.

If this is you – I hear you. I was there too and I know that it’s hard to be creative with your clothes. So here’s what I’m proposing:

21 different ways to spice up a boring outfit. 21 surefire style tricks to get that girl to notice you when you pass her in the street. 21 ways to look good.

Let’s cut to the chase and start with the first one (note that the tips are in no particular order).

#1 Add a pocket square

A pocket square is probably the best way you can stand out by simply adding it to any outfit that incorporates a sports jacket, blazer or a vest with a front pocket.

No need to worry too much about the color: the easiest way is to match the pocket square with one of the colors on your shirt. Patterned pocket squares are okay too.

#2 Roll up your shirt’s cuffs over your sweater

This is something I’ve done a lot lately and not many guys are doing. It’s really easy to pull. You just roll over your shirt’s cuffs one length over the V-neck our roundneck that you’re wearing on top.

Make sure you first roll the sweater’s sleeves before you roll the shirt’s cuffs, though. The folding will become much easier. You’ll see how the sweater actually holds the cuff in place. The buttons can’t do that as they’re unbuttoned.

It’s easier than it sounds.

#3 Wear 1 or 2 rings

While the rising star called *preppy style* seems to ignore casual rings for the most part, this doesn’t mean you can’t wear them. Men’s rings always draw attention, especially if you move your hands when you talk.

I don’t recommend wearing more than 2 rings at a time unless you really know how to pull off that Johnny Depp look. If you want to go one step further after you’ve added the ring(s), try some other accessory, like a pendant.

#4 Roll up your pants

Rolling up pants may seem odd if you’re a new style student of mine but this is actually a hot trend. Best part: you can do this even in winter, and either show off either the top of your boots or your stylish winter socks if you’re wearing regular leather shoes.

Pant rolling is not complicated, different men roll them differently.

#5 Add a bright scarf

This should probably come very easy to you. I’m sure you already have scarves in your closet but do you have them in yellow or red?

I know it’s hard if you’re a beginner to try bold colors but a scarf is a great way to start. Remember, we assumed in the beginning that you have a boring outfit that you’d like to spice out. You’re probably wearing blacks, blues, browns or greens so why not go for a red or a yellow scarf?

#6 Add a watch

You might find wearing a watch to be superfluous since you have your cell phone with you at all times. But watches are still a style statement and wearing one will send subtle signals to everyone else that you value your time.

One thing, though. A watch can’t do much on it’s only to spice up an outfit unless it’s a colored watch. Unless you have money for a Breitling watch (which will probably kick-a$$), consider a colored watch.

Surprisingly, colored watches have made their way into men’s style so, if you think they look cool, I suggest you try them. Who knows, maybe this is just a fad that will disappear in a year or 2.

#7 Wear cufflinks

Any accessory will spice up an outfit but few can do it as well as cufflinks. You will of course need a french cuffed shirt but it’s a great investment.

Very few men are wearing cufflinks because they can’t be attached to a regular shirt and they take longer to put on and to take off. In a world where everyone is in a hurry, take a few extra seconds to relax and put on a pair of cufflinks. You’ll feel good.

#8 Get a new haircut

Don’t be surprised. Sometimes, a haircut is just what you need to stand out even if all you’re wearing are jeans and a t-shirt. You will, of course, need to go to a hair stylist so he or she can find you the right hair cut for you.

Us men are so scared of the idea of going to a hair salon that we’ll just use tons of gel to mold our hair into what we think looks cool. Most of the times, it ends up looking worse that if we had left it alone.

#9 Wear your scarf in your jacket’s pocket

If it’s too hot to wear your scarf around your neck, an alternative is to just stuff half of it into one of your jacket’s pockets. The other half will hang and, if the scarf is in a bold color, it will draw the eye in that direction.

You need to carefully fold it before you put it in your pocket so that it fits as much of the pocket’s space as possible (and to avoid creating a bump).

Careful so that it doesn’t hang too low, though.

#10 Wear a classic umbrella

I know we’re all used to seeing those compact umbrellas which are very practical. They’re easy to hold and they fit well into any bag. Who wouldn’t want one?

A stylish man, that’s who. A classic umbrella is something you’ll see very rarely on the streets these days. If you’re just going for a walk in the park try one and you won’t be disappointed.

#11 Try no-show socks

No show socks actually create the illusion that you’re not wearing any. This is the best way to get that sockless look that so many men have adopted over the past few years. The outfit might still look dull… up to the point the eyes fall down to your feet.

#12 Get an outstanding pair of shoes

photo: leffot.com

Here’s a revelation that I had a while back: shoes that are stylish and that stand out on their own cost just as much as those square-toed, thick-soled boring shoes.

I bought a pair of shoes that actually have 3 colors on them: green, camel and dark brown. You have no idea how much attention they get on the street.

Now, if you’re wearing a simple outfit, such shoes will stand out even more. I wrote a few times about some amazing shoes that you can find in stores (though it won’t be easy).

#13 Wear a hat

It’s amazing what a hat can do to even the most boring of outfits, in addition to instantly adding inches to your height. If you’re clueless about hats, go for a fedora as it will suit most head sizes and most outfits.

#14 Colored socks

While it’s easy to go overboard with these if your outfits stand out, a pair of colored socks will bring a breath of fresh air to your generic attire.

If you’re wearing blacks, blues and grays, I would advise you to a pair of striped red socks with grey or black stripes. This way the red will stand out but the grey or black will temper it.

#15 Wear a sports jacket with your shorts

This won’t work with any type of shorts, only with those stylish cotton ones. Don’t try this with the shorts you’re wearing at the gym.

All you have to do is wear a sports jacket or a blazer with an outfit that already has the aforementioned shorts. This will get you a lot of attention from the ladies but don’t worry – sports jackets are one of the manliest items of clothing out there so there’s no chance that you’ll be ridiculed by other guys. Have I ever given you wrong advice?

#16 Wear an ascot tie

Think of an ascot tie as something between a tie and a scarf. It has a little from both worlds and it’s really classy. As long as you’re wearing a dress shirt, you can just throw an ascot to the mix.

#17 Wear a circular scarf

I know that one of the tips was to wear a scarf but this one is a little different. A circular scarf is one that has the two ends sewed together so the only way to wear it is to put your head through the loop.

I usually make 2 loops and put my head through both of them. The end result is that it adds a little more volume to from the chest up, which is a very interesting effect.

#18 Wear an interesting pair of sunglasses

No, I’m not talking about those sunglasses that look like you’re going snowboarding. There are more stylish alternatives. Some have colored lens, other have colored frames.

If you just add such a pair to any dull outfit, it will instantly awaken it to life. Plus, it will bring a lot of attention to your face (which is where you want people to look anyway).

#19 Try an ascot cap

Throwing an ascot cap over an outfit is very easy but you should be a little careful on how you match it.

If your outfit is based primarily on black, a black or a grey ascot cap is ideal. If it’s based on brown, a brown, khaki, tan or beige cap is best.

#20 Wear a coat in a lighter color

If you have a generic winter outfit, there’s no better way to stand out than to wear a coat in a color such as camel, dark red or light gray. The contrast with the underlying clothes will be perfect. I know I’m asking you to wear a lot of color this time but it won’t hurt to just try a few on at the mall and see how you look like. Pretty please.

#21 How about a tie clip?

Well, this is my last of the 21 ways to spice up a boring outfit and I didn’t say anything about ties!

I think ties are starting to get too common so, instead, I’m going to suggest that you take things one step further: wear a tie clip with your tie.

Initially designed to keep ties from moving around when you walk (or because of the wind), tie bars and tie clips make a great fashion statement.

Just make sure you place the tie a little higher from the middle of the tie (at about the same level of the 3rd shirt button). The second thing to keep in mind is that the clip should never be wider than the tie width at the point of attachment. Easy.

It’s not every day that you get to see a male celebrity dressing up so preppy. Yet Ed does it and I want you too see it for yourself.

Ed Westwick (or, as you may know him, Chuck Bass from the TV series Gossip Girl) is an English actor and musician born in Stevenage Hertfordshire, UK in 1987.

That’s it with the facts, I’m sure you’re more interested in his photos than his performances in Gossip Girl, right?

OK, here we go.

The first photo shows Mr. Westwick wearing an awesome camel coat, a charcoal gray suit, dark brown shoes and black gloves. A striped shirt and a patterned dark tie complete his outfit.

Did you spot which rule he broke in this outfit? He’s wearing black gloves with brown shoes. It’s usually not a good idea to wear black and brown in the same outfit, unless you can make it look good. Otherwise, you’ll be just like every other guy who’s randomly throwing black and blue on him.

A stylish outfit overall, nevertheless.

This second outfit is less about the clothes and more about his haricut:

Really cool haircut.

This next one is also really good, as it was part of a GQ photo shoot:

You may be wondering how can those two patterns work together? They seem to have nothing in common.

That may be true but the thing that binds the shirt and tie together is actually color. They’re both black.

Since they already have that in common, Ed (or, rather, GQ) decided to put together 2 totally different patterns… and it worked!

This next outfit has a lot of color in it – I’m not sure you’re willing to wear it. Nevertheless, it teaches a valuable lesson on how purple, yellow and white work well together.

If you want you can start with navy blue or black, the add just a touch of yellow and purple. This way you’ll be on the safe side, yet still wear a stylish color combination.

Let’s take a look at the next one. Notice anything strange?

Yep – Ed is taking things one step further (as you should too!) and he’s wearing 2 (that’s “two”) shirts at once!

This is very rare and you need some balls to do it. Yet Ed does a wonderful job (and I’m sure that his fame also helps him to get away with it).

I really like this next outfit because of it’s casual nature:

Ed is really trying to stand out from the crowd. Check him out wearing a plaid suit:

photo: mtv.com

If there’s one thing you should be careful with when wearing a plaid suit, it’s fit. Such suits are synonymous with older men so you have to do your best to erase that vibe. A slim fit plaid suit is 10 times better than one with a regular fit.

I don’t really like wearing red and pink in large quantities, yet Ed looks pretty darn good in this attire:

Let’s continue with another well put together outfit from the GQ collection:

photo: gq.com