Thursday, June 26, 2008

Pros and Cons of Belts Wearing

Lots of men consider belts to be an integral part of their image. In most cases it is really so, but it is also true, that more often or not, you may avoid wearing belts all together.

Those men, who are used to wearing braces, consider belts to be absolutely useless. Moreover, they claim that with the belts you are likely to have more inconvenience than convenience having to hike up your trousers several times during a day. This belief can be easily neglected taking into account the fact, that the majority of young men wear their trousers on their waists, thus avoiding the problem of trousers slipping down. The hips – that gap just below the first ridge of your hipbones – provide a fairly stable location for the waist of your trousers. The swell of bone above and below stops them moving.

Another way to make your trousers fit you perfectly is to choose the right belt. Make sure it fits you perfectly! The best way to do this is to have a belt cut to your waist size and punctured with holes at your precise measurements, with perhaps one either side to be safe.

If you are eager to create a smart and stylish image, you may avoid wearing a belt – thus, nothing will distract attention from your ideally chosen suit and colors. This is especially topical, if you have a necktie or a handkerchief. In case, you don’t have any accessory, belt will be a nice addition to your image. It is also a natural accessory for a casual outfit – with odd jackets, with tweed, cotton or linen.

Be sure to take care of your belt! It will get worn and fray over time, but this can be mitigated with cleaning and an occasional polish. Wearing a frayed belt is akin to wearing unpolished shoes – no matter how much of a favorite they might be, it just looks scruffy.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

What about a white suit?

There appear moments in every man’s life, when he would like to wear a white suit. Sure thing, when a person is dressed in white, he/she attracts much more attention and it is quite normal – all the details, including plusses and minuses, are evident to everybody. If you are going to wear a white suit, you should know some dos and don’ts.

1. Choose appropriate season and appropriate weather. You are unlikely to look your best at a rainy day, wearing your best white suit.

2. The white suit is a fashion suit, so look for one that's a slim fit with two buttons, and also tailored to your shoulders and tapered at the waist.

3. Pair your suit with appropriate colors:

Dress shirts: To prove you know how to wear a white suit, opt for dress shirts in soft pastels (light blues, lilacs) or white with a pinpoint collar. A button-down collar is too conservative and a broad or cutaway collar is much too formal. Also, forget about any embroidery or patterns on the shirt. Keep it extremely simple.

Shoes: Experiment with a brown or black oxford or loafer. If you opt for a black loafer, by all means stay away from anything adorned with a piece of metal. That fashion ship has sailed and we all hope it remains lost at sea. Also, feel free to go sockless.

Ties: Keep your tie as simple as possible. A solid black tie will always work.

4. Apart from classical basics, you are free to wear your white suit by pairing the jacket with a distressed pair of jeans, black loafers and a black or white dress shirt. This look is best suited for the evening and can be pulled off into early fall.

5. As for the choice of the suit, it’s completely up to you – you likes and dislikes, your clothes budget etc. Do not try to save on quality and quantity – you’ll have to pay twice!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Fashion Tips for Fat Men

As well as skinny men, men with overweight also want to look their best and there is nothing strange here. To improve your looks and self-esteem you are to work more at your own figure, keep to diets or choose some other weight loss programs which are acceptable for you. Anyway you don’t have to wait that long to look and feel your best. The correct chosen clothes and these pieces of advice will help you.

Do not wear too tight clothes
Your clothes should fit perfectly. Too loose clothes will make you look like a large mountain and garments that are too tight will reveal all the lumps and bumps you’d rather hide. Take care when shopping to choose pieces that skim over your body and smooth out its surface.

Avoid tops with sloped shoulders
Tops with naturally sloped shoulders are likely to draw the eye down to your midsection. Instead, check to make sure that all your tops have slightly squared shoulders as these will concentrate others’ attention on your body to your chest and face.

Wear low-rise bottoms
Low-rise trousers have a shorter distance between the top of the waistband and the crotch of your pants than regular trousers. Also, ensure that the waistband of your pants is large enough to accommodate your midsection so that your belly does not stick out over your pants. A stomach that protrudes over your pants lengthens your torso and shortens your legs -- not exactly the most attractive combination. Rotund individuals should also avoid pants with pleats as they will make your pelvic area look bigger.

Avoid baggage in your pockets
Emptying your pockets of unnecessary items like bulky cell phones, overstuffed wallets and electronic devices will take the focus off a large midsection. On your pants, have any bulky side pockets sewn shut or removed by a good tailor. Doing so won’t cost much and it will make your hips appear smaller.

Don’t wear bold patterns
Avoid loud or bold patterns as they will make you stand out drawing attention to the upper half of your body. You should, however, wear pattern with vertical lines as they create optical continuity and will help elongate the look of your body. Dark, solid colors are also your new best friend as they are an instant figure fixer and will make you seem 10 pounds thinner.

Wear three-button not bulky blazers
Three-button blazers are just as classic as two-button blazers, but they will elongate your body and make you appear taller, and therefore thinner. As well, always leave the top button on your blazer undone as it will stop your clothes from pulling, particularly in the area around your middle, and consequently, your movement will seem less restricted. Avoiding bulky fabrics means that chunky wool sweaters are a big no-no. To stay warm in the winter, go crazy for cashmere as it provides warmth without adding bulk to your figure. Or, try a dress shirt and V-neck sweater vest combination as the sweater vest will keep you warm while also smoothing out your midsection and love handles. For suits, choose softer wools so that the fabric is as thin as possible. Invest in high-quality, lightweight wool suits if you can afford them as these will be the most flattering suits for your body and you’ll feel and look like a million bucks when you put them on.

Wear pants with a longer hem
Long pants will make you seem taller and thinner. They should hit almost at the ground to really lengthen your body. If you’re wearing shoes with a heel, the bottom of your pants should hit about a quarter to a half inch above the heel, no more.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Fashion tips for skinny men

They say, it's not the gay coat that makes the gentleman. How to become a real gentleman or a hot macho each of us decides for himself. But what we cannot do – we cannot considerably change what the nature has given to us. Some of us are too skinny and some have (no offences!) overweight. But we all want to look our best and to hide drawbacks under the well and correctly chosen clothes.

It is possible to emphasize all the good you have (I mean, figure) with the help of clothes. If you are skinny and find it really difficult to find something appealing to your taste and to your physique, you shouldn’t be down in the mouth – there is always a way out. You may join a gym and start lifting weights, alongside eating more protein and other foods that will add muscle mass to a bony body. If that doesn’t help or if you hate exercises, you may simply choose clothes that will make you look larger than you really are.

No slim fitting shirts
Avoiding slim-fitting dress shirts and T-shirts is an important fashion tip for skinny men. It is recommended that you opt for tops that come away slightly from your midsection as these will hide a small ribcage. However, don't buy your tops too large, as too much extra fabric will make you seem like you’re swimming in your shirt. In addition, avoid clingy fabrics.

Give preference to blazers with small shoulder padding
Purchasing blazers with light shoulder padding will make your body look more muscular. Mind that bigger is not better here, as small shoulder pads will give your back and chest a visual boost, but massive padding will make you seem like a small boy lost in a man's jacket in addition to cheapening your look, even if your blazer is pricey.

Wear jackets at the right length
When it comes to jackets, make sure they all fall right under your buttocks. A shorter jacket will emphasize your height as well as your skinny waist, arms and legs. A longer jacket, on the other hand, can make you look like a blanket-covered stick.

Buy flat-front pants
Wear pants with a classic cut and flat front. You may also wear pants with pleats, cuffs and pockets, as they volume, but do it only when these things are in fashion.

Wear turtlenecks and crewneck
For skinny men turtleneck or crewneck sweaters in chillier weather are quite a nice choice. V-neck sweaters will expose your neck and thin features. Similarly, open-collared shirts won’t flatter you, so button up your dress shirts as much as possible. Pay attention to the collar when you’re buying dress shirts and pick ones that have spread collars as they will make the upper portion of your chest seem wider.

Give preference to bulky fabrics
Thick corduroy, wool and other bulky fabrics, when in fashion, will add you more mass. Whether you’re dressing up or down, always dress in layers as more clothes means you appear to have more mass.