One of my least favorite things about young men these days is that many of them try to pretend they do not care about clothes. It seems to be a popular trend for boys to give off the vibe that they just do not care about what they are wearing or what might be trendy for men to wear. Contrary to this, I have been a part of many conversations with boys in which they have been concerned about what they should wear and were seeking my advice. For boys who actually care and boys who pretend like they do not care but really do, here are my top five fashion tips for men.
1.Patterned button-up shirts are your best friend. Looking for a shirt to wear casually with jeans? Wear a striped button-up with the sleeves rolled up. Wanting to dress up a bit and wear khakis? A colorful plaid button-up is a great match. For boys who are feeling extra stylish, my favorite trend for men at the moment is paisley. Choose a paisley button-up on a day when you are really trying to spice things up.
2.The blazer is not just for job interviews. For those of you who do not know the difference, I am not talking about your stiff navy sports coat that is collecting dust in your closet. The best kind of blazer for men is one that is loose fitting, dark-colored and casual. They look best when worn unbuttoned with jeans and a pair of leather loafers, which leads into tip No. 3.
3. Never underestimate the power of the leather loafer. If you had to own only one pair of shoes, it should absolutely be a pair of leather loafers. Similar to the patterned button-up shirt, there is rarely an outfit that cannot be made nice by a pair of these. When I’m looking at a boy’s outfit, it makes all the difference when I see a pair of nice loafers on his feet. Dark or light colored, they round out every outfit and even make it look like you tried a little bit.
4. A well-tailored suit is a force to be reckoned with. At the risk of sounding very cliche, it was not until I saw Ryan Gosling in the movie “Crazy, Stupid, Love” that I truly understood the importance of a well-tailored suit. Wearing a suit that is fitted perfectly to your proportions makes the difference between looking nice and looking like Jimmy Fallon wearing Shaquille O’Neal’s suit jacket. (If you have not seen it, look it up.) The point is this: tailoring is worth the money.
5. Most tips and rules about women’s clothing apply to you too. OK, no, if I am talking about different ways to wear skirts or dresses, then I obviously am not talking to you. But if I am talking about colors or patterns or graphic tees, what I am talking about is universal. I believe there is a very thin line dividing men’s and women’s clothing in terms of rules of styling. Do not be afraid to read my articles and try to apply them to your style.
