“Fashion can be bought, but style one must possess,” said Edna Woolman Chase, a pioneer fashion editor of Vogue magazine.  Men’s customs and fashions constantly change like the seasons—they come and go.  It is wise to follow current fashion trends, but do not compromise losing your individuality in the process.  If it is true that you are what you wear, then you must always infuse your own personality into your clothing unless you want to be considered just “trendy,” and not stylish or original.  Any man can emulate what he sees on the pages of GQ, Vitals, or Esquire magazine, but it is up to him to blend current fashion trends with his own unique style.  Enumerated below are fashion tips that men can incorporate into his individual fashion sense.  To our women readers, please read on so you can help your husband, boyfriend, brother, father, or male friends improve their style and appearance by applying few simple guidelines below.  

Short Sleeves and Tie:  This was never a fashion “do,” and I doubt it will ever be.  Unless you are bound by uniform standards like most pilots are, you should NEVER wear a tie with short sleeve shirts.  This is one of those cardinal sins that still plague some men nowadays.  If your job requires you to wear a tie, invest on long sleeve shirts.  If you happen to be a pilot or a male flight attendant, propose to change the uniform requirements to your superiors by eliminating the tie altogether or requiring long sleeve shirt with a tie.  Otherwise, you will remain atop the fashion police’s black list.  In all seriousness, the safety and comfort issues imposed by the airline industry’s uniform standard are understandable, but everyone else is exempt from committing this fashion crime.

Striped Shirts:  If you have not noticed, shirts with vertical stripes have been all the rage for a few seasons now.  Short men everywhere are thanking the fashion gods for this fashion trick that helps vertically challenged men appear taller.  If you are on the heavy side, stay away from shirts with horizontal stripes unless you want to accentuate your body’s width.  Caution should be taken when investing a lot of money on striped shirts that are too “trendy.”  Just like any other trend, the “in” thing at the moment can change instantly.  If you are looking into buying striped shirts, go more with the “basics” in mind.  Avoid shirts with stripes that are too pronounced and stay away from color combinations that are too bright or loud.  Every time you shop for any clothing article, keep in mind its practicality and the mileage you can get out of it.  If you are buying a shirt that looks too trendy to wear after one season, opt for something else, unless of course you are Mr. Moneybags and splurging on anything or everything “trendy” will not put you into financial hardship.  Remember, you do not have to overspend to look stylish and well put together.

Pleated Pants:  Most top designers today do not have a line of pleated dress pants currently displayed at your favorite department stores, and there is good reason for it.  Pleated pants, at the moment, are OUT!  Remember in the 80’s and early to mid 90’s when the more pleats your pants had, the more “in” you were?  Today, think the opposite; the more pleats your pants have, the more “out” you are.  If you are on the heavy side, be thankful for this fashion “don’t” because sporting a pair of pants with multi-pleats is not flattering on overweight men.  All it does is accentuate the bulge in the wrong places, especially when the pants are a few sizes smaller than they ought to be.  Fashion trends come and go so do not give all your pleated pants away to the Salvation Army just yet.  No doubt those pesky pleats will come back in style someday so save the quality pairs in your closet for now.  In fact, the very subtle one-pleat pants already made their way back on display at department stores.  In the meantime, shop for dress pants that are flat in the front with the pant legs cut straight or with minor flare.  Constantly updating your wardrobe can get pretty expensive, so it is wise to buy high quality “basics” that you can mix and match for a long time.  Your “basic list” may differ from someone else’s, depending upon your line of work and personality type.  In general, the basics for men’s wardrobe should include:  black, gray, brown, and navy trousers; a few plain casual long and short sleeve shirts and a couple with subtle prints; black and brown pair of shoes; black and brown belt; and black and navy suit for the business types.  Remember this paramount fashion rule:  “go for quality before quantity.”  Purchasing three pairs of cheap pants that fall apart after five washings is not much of a bargain.  Buying one decent quality pair of pants for the price of three cheap ones is the better investment in the long run because they will remain a part of your wardrobe for quite some time.

Belt and Shoe Color:  This is another one of those prevalent and major fashion faux pas.  One of the fundamental fashion rules is that your shoes must match the color of your belt, especially when your shirt is tucked in or whenever your belt is visible.  If you never noticed this tiny yet essential detail, go to your local mall to spot a handful of fashion victims sporting a pair of black shoes with brown belt or vise versa.  There is not a polite way of saying it…this is just plain tacky!  Your belt and your shoes do not have to be of the same material as long as their color is at least in similar shade, if not the same.  If you are wearing a two-tone belt or shoes, you can get away with wearing just one of the colors from the belt or the shoes.  To be on the safe side, buy the basic black.  If and when you decide to buy a pair of brown or burgundy shoes, buy the belt that match them at the same time so you do not fall victim to this fashion “don’t.”  If you do not have a belt that matches the color of your shoes, it is be better to:  a) not tuck in your shirt, b) wear a sweater to cover your mismatched belt, c) not wear a belt at all, or d) not wear the shoes until you acquire a matching belt.  If you want to go the extra mile for bonus points, it is ideal that the band on your watch matches the color of your shoes and belt.  No one says looking good comes cheap and easy.

Pointed Shoes:  Shoes with pointed toes are back so hopefully you did not get rid of your quality pointed pairs from a few seasons back.  Not to say you should stop wearing your round and square toe shoes, but keep the pointed style in mind the next time you go out shopping for shoes.  Whatever pair you are wearing at any given day, make sure they are clean and polished.  Men get judged by the shoes he wears so do not get caught with a dirty or scuffed pair.  It only takes a few minutes to give your shoes a quick brush and buff before you put them on or put them away.  If you continue to care for your shoes routinely, it will be easier to maintain their pristine condition.  In addition, it is advisable to let your leather shoes “breathe” for two to three days in between wear.  If you have the means to buy extra pairs of shoes as alternates, it will help prolong the life of your shoes and minimize the smelly feet and shoes syndrome.

A wise man once said, “…clothes don’t make the man, but good clothes have got many a man a good job.”  Unfortunately, we live in a materialistic world where people are getting judged upon their physical and outside appearance.  Humans are diminished as “external” beings by a society that places profound emphasis on how we are perceived on the outside, instead of what we can offer intellectually, emotionally, socially, or even spiritually.  I am not suggesting that you “sell-out,” but to stay competitive in today’s job market and keep up with the Jones’ of the social ladder, you have to maintain certain aesthetic standards.  In essence, your demeanor, wardrobe, and how you present yourself becomes a reflection of who you are as an individual and how others perceive you.  Picture yourself in raggedy clothes, unkempt hair, and dirty shoes trying to reserve a table for two with a host at a fancy restaurant.  Do you think the host will treat you the same if you walked in wearing decent clothes, impeccably groomed?  It will benefit you to stand tall, dress smartly, and have a distinct personal style because whether you like it or not, this is unfortunately how most in society judge you.   

By:  Salvador D. Belisario, MA

Nov ‘05