Warm Up Your Casual Style for Summer

After a weekend of afternoon walks, time in the park, BBQ's and sipping on a Gin Rickey as the sun goes down off the balcony I am finally convinced that summer is here.  If you haven't already taken a look at your summer wardrobe, I definitely suggest that you start taking a look to find out what you should keep, what you should get rid of and what you need to go out and pick up.  Here I'll talk about some staples of a well dressed man's summer inventory and where you can find some of these classic styles.

You're a man now, throw away the cargo shorts

Look, there was a time when we could get away with wearing baggy cargo shorts.  I refer to it as high school, and those days are over now.  It's time to update your shorts to something with a slimmer cut and less pockets.  Losing the extra fabric and hanging pockets will trim up your physique and gives a boat load of sophistication to an otherwise casual look.

J.Crew Microstripe Club Short

American Rag Stan Striped Shorts

Boat Shoes: No boat (or socks) necessary

Boat shoes have made a huge comeback in the past couple of years and the great news is that there are a wide range of labels now producing their own version of these classic shoes in a variety of colors and materials.  Sperry Top-Sider is the original but that's not to say that another brand isn't worth your consideration.  I recommend going sock-less in boat shoes, especially if you are going to be wearing shorts.  Below are three variations on the boat shoe that you can ponder on for your next purchase.

Sperry Top-Sider Originals

Brooks Brothers Calfskin Leather Boat Shoes
 

Polo Canvas Boat Shoes
 

The Polo: From golf course to dinner to night club in one shirt

Wearing a polo shouldn't be a moment you dread. Just because it's the weekend doesn't mean you have an excuse to throw on a nasty old t-shirt. The good news is that a fitted polo will serve you in more settings than you think during the summer. Of course you will want to wear one to the golf course, but try to avoid the sporty-style fabrics and go for a classic cotton in a light color to keep cool. Throw on a v-neck sweater over as well. Dinner at the in-laws house? Top it with a navy blazer. Drinks with friends? Just make sure that your polo fits you well and hit the bar. It's easy to see how versatile a great polo can be, here's three looks you should consider.

3 Ways to Wear Your Fitted Polo

These three additions to your wardrobe are easy ways to step up your casual summer style.  By the way, if you're having trouble finding a pair of shorts that fit well you can nominate a pair of your pants to be sacrificed into shorts.  Follow this guide here from GQ and you'll have a perfect pair of shorts in no time.

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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Buying Fashionable Men's Shoes - 3 Tips to Find Great Dress Shoes

So you've bought that great suit, had it tailored perfectly, bought some slim fit shirts (as discussed in this post Buying a Slim Fit Shirt) and now you are wearing a pair of clunky, square-toed shoes you found at Payless.  Shame on you!  Once you've got a tailored look, you need to translate that across your entire wardrobe.  Shoes are the anchor of your style and need to reflect the choices you've made in the other elements of your look.  Today I'd like to talk about some basics you should know before you go out and find your next pair of dress shoes. I'll be comparing what you should and should not do as well as how to keep your footwear fashionable by buying classic looks.

Shoe Soles: Go Slim, Go Leather.

Chunky, square-toed shoes were in style for a while but that fashion has (finally) gone away.  When shopping for your next pair of dress shoes, check out the soles.  They should not extend out too far from the shoe and should not be too thick.  Also, invest in a pair of shoes with leather soles.  There is a common misconception that rubber soled shoes are more comfortable, however leather will breathe more and if the leather sole is too slippery, simply score it with a knife.  Below you can see the difference between a shoe with soles that are too large and rubber compared with a classic slim profile shoe with a leather sole.  The shoes on the right can be found at Brooks Brothers.

Lace-up Oxfords: The Style You Need First

There's no way around it, if you want one pair of great shoes that will work in almost any setting the lace-up oxford is your only choice.  Luckily there are many variations that you can choose from:  wingtips, cap toe, plain toe and so on.  Though black shoes are a staple, if you are just starting your shoe collection I would recommend going with a brown shoe first.  They will go with almost any suit you have besides black (which should not be one of your first suit colors, see why navy should be your first choice in this article on Navy Suits.)  Dark brown will be a bit more versatile but you can go for something lighter if you want a shoe that will make a statement.  Below are two great examples of brown shoes, both dark and light, that are a great beginning to any man's shoe collection.  The wingtips on the left can be found at To Boot New York, while the cap toes on the right can be found at Maganni.

Sticker Shock: Calm down, it's going to be ok

If you're like most men out there, you're probably going to have to take a moment to calm down and regroup once you see the price on a pair of quality made, leather soled shoes. Let's take a moment and take about being penny wise but dollar foolish. Think about the last time you bought a pair of $30 dress shoes. How often did you wear them? How long did they last before they were uncomfortable or had worn through?  The longest you can expect a pair of shoes like that to last is 6 months if you wear them even moderately often.  So let's look at the cost of those shoes over 5 years, by the end of that time you would've paid $300 for 10 pairs of uncomfortable, ugly shoes. Rather, if you spend that money upfront on a pair of well made shoes they will not only last you longer than 5 years and you will look great the whole time. Not to mention that your feet will be more comfortable and your back will probably have less strain on it.  So take some time and invest into some well made shoes that will last years rather than months on your next purchase.  While you're at it, check out this dapper pair of shoes from Allen Edmonds.  The clean lines on these are such a classic example of timeless style.

So now you're ready to buy some fashionable, well made shoes that will last for years.  Don't forget that you need to look at material labels on shoes to determine exactly what they are made of, many shoe store associates will tell you that you are buying a leather shoe when it is actually a leather blend which will not last nearly as long.  Do you already own some great shoes?  Let me know where you got them and post some pictures, I'd love to see them.

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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Buying a Slim Fit Shirt - Say No To the Pirate Shirt!

Let's be honest, we've all worn the kind of shirts that just love to puff out in the back and make you look like you have the physique of a marshmallow.  Well today is the day to stop, I'm going to borrow heavily from the GQ article featured here because it is a great guide on how to find a great slim fit shirt.

Step 1: Not all slim fit shirts are created equal

This is one of the most difficult parts of buying a slim fitting shirt that you won't have to have tailored, the actual way a shirt fits you is going to vary widely between brands.  My best advice is to try a whole variety of different brands until you find one that fits you perfectly.  I personally love the Express 1MX Fitted Shirt, they are not too expensive and the variety in the past few years has expanded dramatically.  H&M is another great place for a cheap slim fit shirt, however if you want something that will last a little longer you can find slim shirts from Boss, Banana Republic, Gucci, Ralph Lauren and more.  See how well this shirt fits below and the slim look it gives.

Step 2: "It feels too tight" - Get over it

When you start shopping for a slim fit shirt, it's possible that you are going to be uncomfortable in it at first.  It will feel too tight around the arms, you might feel like your love handles are showing or maybe even that your shoulders feel constrained.   Chances are you have been wearing shirts that are too big for you in the first place your whole life, so it will take some time to get used to it.  If you don't think you can handle it, take a look at the picture below between a slim fit shirt and a standard puffed out shirt.  Who do you want to look like?

Step 3: Keep your slim shirt fitting perfectly

Nothing will kill how much you love a slim fit shirt like having it shrink up on you if you wash it incorrectly.  Trust me, you will go from admiring your new look to wondering how you gained 10 pounds overnight when a slim fit shirt shrinks up.  Wash white and light colors in a hot wash, dark shirts should be in cold water.  I recommend hang drying your shirts if at all possible but understandably this isn't possible for some households.  If you have to use the dryer, use it to get most of the moisture out of the shirt and then iron the shirt immediately.  You will get remove the rest of the moisture and any wrinkles this way.

I can't count how many guys I see that ruin a great look by wearing a dress shirt that is way too big for them.  By taking some time to examine how a shirt fits you and knowing what to look for you will make a big impact on your wardrobe.  Once again, I really recommend this article from GQ.  It has a lot of great looks and should give you an idea on where to start with picking a slim fit shirt

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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Knot Up! Necktie Fabrics & Which One You Should Own

After writing yesterday's article on How to Tie a Tie I promised that I would talk more about neckties, so here is another edition of Knot Up! on the Be Dapper Blog.  Today I'd like to talk about necktie fabrics.  While the silk tie is obviously a long time standard, going beyond the standard silk tie is a sophisticated way to show off your individuality and set your style a notch higher.

Necktie Fabrics

Silk ties

The undisputed standard for men's neckties, the silk necktie has drapes perfectly, has vivid color and reflects natural light well which can create a 3D-like effect. Silk can wrinkle easily however, so it is recommended that you roll your silk ties (as pictured below) rather than hanging them to avoid any permanent creases. Also, if you dirty a silk tie they can be extremely difficult to clean and will usually never look the same after being dry cleaned.

Wool Ties

The wool tie is a less formal tie but is very versatile and can still be used in most situations, save for a black tie event.  Wool gives a very rustic, natural look to your style and is a great look for winter.  I tend to enjoy the look of a wool tie year round but it looks especially sophisticated during those cold months.  These wool tie styles below are all great looks for any stylish man.

Knit Ties

The knit tie has made a comeback lately and is being seen everywhere from Urban Outfitters to Polo.  Knit ties are certainly a less formal tie than silk or even wool, so if you work in an uber-professional work place I don't think it's a great choice for every day, but for those of us who work in a more casual environment this is a style that will turn heads and have people asking you where you got your tie.  Below you can see two examples of how you can use a knit tie for both casual and professional looks.

Polyester Ties

Polyester ties are often a cheap or inexpensive tie that have many of the same benefits of silk, such as the reflection of natural light.  Be wary however, polyester does not look great and is not a fabric I would ever take to any professional office.  Next time you see one while you are out shopping, tie one on and see what I mean.  That said, they can be a hip look for casual events and are easy to pair up with a vest.  Keep the tie slim or skinny though, a wide polyester tie with jeans will just make you look like a stand in from a bad 80's movie.  Polyester retains stains and especially smells very easily, so if you end up sweating profusely while wearing one you can count on your stink sticking to that tie forever.  Below are some cheap skinny polyester ties that you can pick up from Forever 21.

Though there are some other fabrics that ties can be made from such as cashmere or satin (not technically a fabric but a weave style) I think these 4 are the standards that you should take notice of when you are shopping for your next tie.  Always look at the fabric labels to ensure that you are getting what you pay for and that the fabric will match the use you plan for it.

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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