Winter Look For Men

When it comes to men's fashion, winter has always been my favorite season. It brings with it the opportunity for great wool jackets and outerwear, fleece hats and scarves, lots of layering, and warm leather boots. Plus, you can wear your favorite outfits indoors or out without sweating through them. What's not to like about that?

 

This year, winter of 2011-2012 will be very much about classic, masculine pieces that can be layered. Here are the essentials for the men's winter wardrobe.



Sweaters- Sweaters are a staple of the men's wardrobe for winter. Some of my favorite details in men's sweaters for this winter are soft brown leather patches on the shoulders, and a length zipper at the neck. One good thing to keep in mind when selecting a sweater is that if you intend to layer a jacket over it, it must be slim fitting and sit close to your skin. The length should be no longer than your hip bones. For the best wear, select a sweater in a natural fabric such as cotton or chenille. Store your sweaters folded and tucked in a drawer or chest, rather than hanging in your closet. Hanging sweaters stretches them out, which causes them to look droopy over time.

 

Vintage inspired accessories- This look is huge in menswear right now, and really anyone can pull it off. You don't have to wear actual vintage or second hand apparel to dress in a way that is vintage "inspired." You can find these styles in many mainstream men's clothing stores now. The best vintage inspired accessories include fedoras and wingtip shoes. Another great way to add a vintage touch to an outfit is with brightly colored ties, collar pins and tie accessories. Vintage inspired fashion is very much about looking gentlemanly and polished.

 

Jackets- An easy way to upgrade your look for the winter of 2011 is to trade in your basic overcoat for one in a cool pattern or texture. Men's overcoats in houndstooth and herringbone are excellent choices. One of my favorites is the Kenneth Cole New York Men's Wool Blend Herringbone Overcoat. The three-button front, notched lapel and button cuffs make it great to wear over a suit, while the herringbone fabric adds a bit of subtle interest. For a more casual outerwear choice, look for a quilted jacket or a leather bomber jacket. Or, for a really modern look, you can combine these two styles and don a quilted leather jacket, such as Knoles & Carter Men's Quilted Leather Jacket in black or brown. It's made of luxurious New Zealand lambskin leather and because it has a rather short length (hitting right below the belt buckle) it is a great style for you if you have a short torso or if you wish to emphasize a trim, athletic figure.

 

Sports jackets- Like outerwear, sports jackets with a bit of pattern and texture are great for winter. Look for those in heavy fabrics such as twill and corduroy. The great thing about sport jackets in heavy, textured fabrics like this is that they are perfect for layering in both work and weekend looks. For example, on the weekends, you can layer a twill sport jacket with a pair of corduroy pants and a cashmere turtleneck. Or, if you're not a turtleneck fan, go for a cotton button down and a v-neck sweater vest instead. For a day at the office, a tan corduroy sport jacket looks nice with wool dress pants, a button down cotton shirt and a skinny tie. During winter, many men instinctively reach for gray and black sport jackets, so wearing tan or camel colored corduroy can instantly set you apart from the masses.

 

About the Author

Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. The right necktie accessories can ensure you look professional and help you stand out for the right reasons. Now you can be confident knowing your tie knot looks great. For more information, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.

How Pants Should Fit Men

Many men, especially those who dress business casual to work every day, don't wear pants that actually fit properly. Simply look around you in any public place, and you're sure to see men in pants with a too-long rise and a baggy fit. And this is certainly not the most flattering look. So when you shop for pants, take the time to try them on, and look for these four important things: rise, drape, length, and break.

 

Rise - The "rise" of your pants basically refers to the groin area. In recent years, men have commonly started to wear jeans with a low rise. For a sophisticated and well-fitted look, you must look for pants with a rise that actually lays close to your anatomical crotch. Anything that hangs down or sags simply looks unpolished. Also noteworthy is the fact that if there is too little fabric in the rise, the pants will be quite uncomfortable. There should be just enough fabric in the rise of your pants that it shows contour without being tight. Make sure that when you try on pants, you sit down and stand up again to make sure the rise fits properly.

 

Drape - When trying on dress pants, check to make sure that there are no visible horizontal lines around your hips, thighs and backside. If there are, the pants are too tight and the fabric is not able to drape correctly. And trust me, too tight pants are something you should avoid when determining what to wear to an interview or on a date. What you want is a nice, long and smooth interrupted line from your hips to your toes. And as an extra tip- a shoe with a slightly pointed toe can help you appear even longer and leaner, as it extends this vertical line.

 

Length and Break - I've placed these two factors together, because they really go hand in hand. In order to determine the right length for your pants, you must also consider the break. "Break" is the effect that occurs when the bottom of your pants gather at the top of your shoes and create a horizontal crease.

Long length and full break: If the length of your pants is more on the long side, the break in your pants will be a visible fold. If your pants are more on the short side, there will be no break at all. You will have a full break in your pants if your pant leg length is between the top of your shoe heel and the ground. The long length/full break is a necessity if you are very tall, or if your pant style has a full opening at the bottom, such as pleated pants or boot cut pants.
Short length and no break: It is very common to see both men and women walking around with too-short pants. Essentially, if you see fabric flapping around someone's ankle when they are walking, the pants are simply too short. Therefore, I would generally not recommend getting pants tailored to be short with no break. When trying on pants in a dressing room, make sure to try them on with your shoes. Oftentimes, the pant length and break look fine when you're barefoot, but when you then put your shoes, the bottom of the pants hover at the top of the shoes. This is not your goal.
Regular length and medium break: This is what I consider to be the ideal length and break for dress pants. It is accommodating when you are walking, as well as when you sit down. To find pants that are regular length with a medium break, look for ones that (or have them tailored to) sit just about inch above the back heel of the shoe. This is a good look for everyone, because it creates just one small horizontal break on the front of your pants where they meet the shoe. Pants that are regular length with a medium break appear classic, and fit any occasion.

 

About the Author

Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. When searching for presents for men consider a gift that will help improve his tie style. For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.

Shoes Men Should Own

Ask any guy how many pairs of shoes he owns, and the answer may vary wildly. Some guys are "shoe collectors," who frequently head to the mall to buy the latest style of expensive athletic shoes. Others are minimalists, who alternate between one "casual" pair of shoes and one "dressy" pair of shoes. So what is the ideal number of pairs of shoes that every man should own? In my opinion, it is six. Your shoe wardrobe should include black dress shoes, brown dress shoes, beach/pool shoes, casual loafers, athletic shoes, and fashion sneakers.

Black and brown dress shoes - Of course, you can also look for gray, dark red, or even navy blue dress shoes. But black and brown are essentials. One look that is excellent for men this fall is the monk strap shoe. This type of dress shoe features a strap, rather than laces, that crosses over the top of the shoe, and includes a small buckle on the side. Another dress shoe style that you can't go wrong with is the classic wing tipped oxford. Once you've purchased a pair of leather dress shoes, make sure to care for them properly in order to keep them looking nice and new for a long time. Leather should be moisturized with a leather conditioner once a month to keep it from cracking. Wax polish can also keep leather looking clean and new. If you have suede shoes, however, never use wax polish on them, as this would instantly ruin the material. Instead, use conditioner and waterproofing spray that is made specifically for suede.

Beach/pool shoes - Here is a very important style rule: Your beach and pool shoes should be worn only to these places. A flip-flop should never be worn in place of a real shoe. That being said, you will fair much better with a good quality Reef or Rainbow brand flip-flop than you will with a cheap plastic pair. Yes, they cost more, but they last much longer and look significantly nicer, too. After visiting the beach, rinse of your shoes with clean water in order to remove sand and salt.



Casual loafers - The loafer is an awesomely versatile shoe, and can be worn to fit a number of occasions. Loafers work when you throw on jeans and a sweater to go to the grocery store. They also work with chinos and a button down shirt for a business casual look. Look for loafers with a square or narrowed toe if you want them to look a little more office appropriate. The geometric structure of the shoe's toe will compliment a wide range of tie knots. Conversely, a rounded toe appears a little more casual. Like your dress shoes, properly caring for your loafers will help them to last a long time.



Athletic shoes - Like your beach and pool shoes, your athletic sneakers should be worn only when you are participating in athletic activities. Running shoes with a nice pair of dark wash jeans or chinos is really not a polished look (with these outfits, throw on your loafers instead.) To help keep your shoes looking and smelling fresh, allow them to dry out completely before placing them in your closet. When they need to be freshened up a bit, store them with a dryer sheet tucked into each one. When your sneakers are in need of a good cleaning, wash them in a bucket of cold water and gentle dishwashing detergent. Then, rinse them clean and stuff them with paper towels, then allow them to air dry. Never place leather athletic shoes in the washing machine. You can clean canvas athletic shoes in the washing machine, but make sure to first remove the laces and put them in a mesh bag to give them a little bit of protection.

Fashion sneakers - When you are going to take a walk in the park with your girlfriend, or peruse the downtown area for your favorite hotdog cart, you don't want to wear the same sneakers that you wore to the gym that morning. This is the perfect scenario for a pair of fashion sneakers. These are shoes that have the same comfort as your athletic shoes, but possess a little more panache. You can look for sneakers in interesting fabrics such as wool, or bright colors such as kelly green and cobalt blue. Care for them using the same steps as your athletic shoes.

 

About the Author

Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. Being concealed within your tie knot makes it perfect to wear to an interview. A slipping tie knot looks unprofessional, so be confident that you look your best with TIE SNUG. For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.

Standard Tie Length

There are plenty of things to consider when selecting a tie for any occasion. Do you want silk or polyester? Red or blue? Solid or patterned? Wide or skinny? Of course, all of these factors are very important.

 

As we've discussed in the past, the color of your tie sends a strong message about you and your persona, and both the fabric and width of your tie are factors in how your tie knot will look as well as how smoothly it will lay. Another important factor that no man should overlook is the length of his tie.

 

Although tie length has varied slightly over the decades, this is the ground rule: The bottom of your tie should hit somewhere between the top and bottom of your belt. This is the best way to look tall, lean, and proportionate when wearing a tie. You should also always wear the tie with the front and back ends of it as equal as possible. Also, always wearing tie accessories is a good idea in order to keep the tie in place.

 

So, what happens if you bought an awesome tie that you love, and it is too long? Is all hope lost? Not necessarily. Here are some things you can do in order to make that beloved tie work for you:

Throw on a sweater or vest. A v-neck sweater or vest is an easy and nice looking way to conceal the length of a tie, while still revealing the knot.
Get it tailored. A good tailor can shorten a necktie for you for around 15 to 20 bucks.
Tie a larger knot. Because it takes up more of the tie's fabric, tying a larger knot can help shorten the length of your tie.
Wear your tie military style. Tuck the whole tie into your shirt in between your second and third shirt buttons.
Clip on a tie bar. You can use this to give the tie a bit of ruffle and lift.


Some tips for buying ties in the correct length in the first place are:

If you are tall, shop in a big & tall men's store. If you're 6' 2" or under, you can buy ties pretty much anywhere. If you are over this, you will probably need an extra long tie.
If you are short of stature, use the tips listed above. As an alternative, you can buy vintage ties. Ties from the 50s and 60s are typically shorter than ones today.
Consider having a tie custom made to your own specifications. Some companies that offer this service are Sam Hober, Drake's of London and Tie Crafters.



Overall, if you have difficulty finding a tie that is the right length, opt for one that is a little on the long side rather than a little too short. This will still help to elongate your appearance, whereas a too short tie simply emphasizes your midsection. For your best look, remember to aim for a tie that hits the middle of your belt.

 

About the Author

Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. Being concealed within your tie knot makes it perfect to wear to an interview. A slipping tie knot looks unprofessional, so be confident that you look your best with TIE SNUG. For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.

Sunglasses For Face Type

I'm sure we've all had this experience before: we go into a department or boutique store, try on 30 different pairs of sunglasses, then leave empty handed. With so many styles of sunglasses out there, it can be difficult to find the right style, if not overwhelming. But there are some tips that you can use to find the right pair of sunglasses based on the shape of your face. This way, you can choose from just a few pairs of sunglasses based on the frame size and shape, making the process much easier.

 

Round:

If you have a round face (a full face with a round hairline and chin), your goal is to find a sunglasses frame that will help to elongate it. Look for frames that are equal to or just slightly wider than the broadest part of your face. Square-ish or angular frames can help to give you a longer, leaner profile. Avoid very round frames. An additional accessory that can help lengthen your face is a fedora or panama hat.

 

Square:

A square face shape (a strong, square jaw line and a square hairline) can be softened with the right pair of sunglasses. Look for frames with a curve on the lower part, and a frame that is thicker on the top than on the bottom. The frame should, ideally, be wider than the widest part of your face. Avoid rectangular shaped frames, as this will make it look wider. Frames with a light pattern, such as tortoise shell, can help to add subtle curved lines. Another accessory that can help to compliment a strong square shaped face is tie in a classic Windsor tie knot. A bowler hat can also help to add a bit of roundness to your look.

 

Oval:

If you have an oval face, this means that the shape is very nice and balanced. You can get away with most sunglasses shapes and styles, but your goal should be to maintain the symmetry of your face. You can wear round, square, or rectangular shapes. Look for frames that are at least as wide as the broadest part of your face. If your ears are more prominent, try adding a gambler hat or a wide-brimmed fedora to your accessories wardrobe.

 

Oblong:

A face that is either long and narrow or rectangular can benefit from a sunglasses style that will make it appear a little bit fuller. Look for frames that will create visual interest at the sides of your face, such as ones with decorative or contrasting color temples. Avoid frames that have too much weight on the bottom, or where the frame is thicker on the bottom than on the top. If you are oblong, avoid wearing vertical lines close to your face. Look for a hat such as a fedora or derby with a wide band in a contrasting color, which will make your face appear shorter.

 



Heart shaped or triangular:

If your face is triangular or heart shaped, meaning that your face is widest at the forehead and narrowest at the jaw, you should select frames that add balance to the lower half. Frames with a straight top line, such as classic aviators, are a good choice. Rectangular frames are also a nice choice. Look for complimentary accessories that accent your cheekbones, such as a fedora, bowler hat, or panama hat. A skinny tie can also help elongate the face by drawing the eye up and down.

 

About the Author

Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. The right tie accessories can ensure you look professional and help you stand out for the right reasons. So be confident knowing your tie knots look great. For more information, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.