Belts Are a Choice, Not a Necessity. But You Should Choose to Wear One.

Let me lead this post off by saying that if you are wearing a belt so your pants don't fall down, you need new pants.  Belts should be an accessory you choose to complement the rest of your ensemble, not something you wear to avoid mooning the whole office.  That said, once you have some pants that fit correctly you can use your belt to add some splash to your wardrobe or to just keep your look together.

The Leather Belt

I really should not have to tell you that the leather belt is one thing that you have to have at least one of. If not two. Probably two.  Yah, you need two. Black and brown should be represented, as it's important to match your belt to your shoes when they are both leather. Some people like a white leather belt as well, I'm not one of them. I prefer to have two different widths of each as well. A belt that is appropriate with trousers and suits should be about 1 - 1 1/2 inches wide, no more. Something closer to 2 inches is more appropriate for jeans.  With your business attire, keep the buckle simple like the belts featured below from Boss and Express.

BOSS Black '9005' Leather Belt

Express 2-in-1 Reversible Leather Belt

The Webbed Belt

A killer look with jeans and shorts, the webbed belt is a stylish choice not only because it looks great but also because you can find them dirt cheap. I prefer the double ring closure to the full buckle but either can be a good look. There are so many variations of the nylon webbed belt out there that I recommend having 3 or 4 in your wardrobe, just to match and contrast with a variety of outfits. Below are two different but very classy webbed belts from Urban Outfitters and Tommy Hilfiger.

Urban Outfitters Reversible D-Ring Belt

Tommy Hilfiger Webbed Belt

The Braided Belt

Out of popularity for many years, mostly due to the fact that people wore them at functions where a more formal belt was necessary, the braided belt is something you most likely think of your grandpa wearing. However they can be a fashionable casual accessory when worn correctly. First of all, keep it thin (this is still a leather belt) and make sure that it is the right waist size. It's easy to not think about waist size with a braided belt because there are no holes for the buckle, but you should not have more than 2 inches of belt sticking out from your first belt loop once the belt is on and fitting right. I love these two belts from Land's End and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Land's End Men's Braided Belt

Polo Ralph Lauren Braided Leather O-Ring Belt

Getting the right belt for the occasion and making sure the style is appropriate is key to getting your look right. Feel free to experiment with more casual styles but when you are trying to keep a look classic and professional, keep your belt matching your shoes.

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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Sunglasses for the Fashionable Man

There has been a huge resurgence in men's sunglasses in the past few years, reviving classic styles that had been set aside by many in favor of a line of sunglasses that were all mostly based on Oakley shapes and style.  That's not to say that many of these styles aren't high quality (though there are thousands of fakes out there) or that there aren't good uses for them, but a pair of sunglasses that were originally designed for motocross or BMX riders simply aren't something you're going to want to top off your classic style with.  Let's take a look at a few fashionable sunglasses that are great for the office or the weekend.

The Wayfarer

Though many will make an argument for the Aviator, I believe the Wayfarer is the quintessential classic frame. Originally designed in 1952 by optical designer Raymond Stegeman for Ray-Ban, the Wayfarer has come in and out of style but has always been embraced by those who avoid the trends and embrace timeless fashion. The great news is that today they are very much in fashion and there are a huge variety of colors, frame sizes and variations so you should have no problem finding the perfect pair for you.  I recommend a classic black for your frames, you'll keep them casual enough for the beach but professional enough to wear on the way to the office.

Ray-Ban Wayfarers

The Clubmaster

A variation on the Wayfarer, the Clubmaster has a trimmed down frame and more accents which make more of a statement than the Wayfarer. I recommend getting the Clubmaster in a tortoise shell frame, the pattern can be overwhelming with some other frames but with the additions of the metal accents it is very subtle and has an understated class to it.

Ray-Ban Clubmasters

The Aviator

Worn by many, worn well by few, the Aviator has so many variations on the original design that many people don't understand how great these sunglasses can look on anyone.  Make sure that you find a pair that frames your face well, they should not stick out too far from the sides and should not push down on your cheeks (you don't want to look like the Unabomber.)  Try several pairs on and see how they look, this is one frame that is truly easy to mess up but it looks amazing when it's done right.

Ray-Ban Aviators

If you're still wondering whether you should switch off the wraparound style glasses, just check out these pictures here at GQ.  I think it's easy to see how much better you're going to look in a pair of classic sunglasses.  I know I listed Ray-Ban as the only manufacturer here, but that is simply because everyone else is simply replicating these styles.  Feel free to try any brand you like, but understand that Ray-Ban is the originator.

Thanks for reading.  As always, be dapper.

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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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