STYLEnosh

I'LL PASS ON SHAPEWEAR FOR MEN

Images: spanx.com

Before anyone points out the obvious double standard of my statement, I want to acknowledge upfront that I'm fully aware of if. Women wear shapewear all the time. Spanx made it cool to slide a piece of fabric over your lovely, lady humps in an effort to make them less lumpy. I know a lot of women swear by these seemingly magical pieces. (Oprah and my friend Karla shared a moment solely on the topic of Spanx). I've personally never tried them.  Primarily because I'd rather work out and eat less junk to achieve toned legs and tighter abs. That's my choice. And now men, just like their female counterparts, can choose tummy-tucking shirts over eating vegetables.

Spanx and other companies like Ript Fusion are extending their suck it in philosophy to men. Tank top and t-shirt guy shapewear is designed to help them smooth out their not so flat tummies. So when you see a cute guy and think, "He looks like he's fit and takes care of himself," he's really just hitting the mall picking up a girdle. I think I'll just say no to fake abs.

What do you think? Are you okay with men wearing shapewear? And do you wear it too?

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A MAN WITH STYLE

It's a new year and it's time for the guys to get their wardrobes together too. There really is nothing like a man with style. And while hanging out with some friends this past weekend, I noticed this guy's outfit and I had to take a pic for the site. I'm totally digging the shoes. They add a special something to his overall look. Clearly this man has an eye for style.

Now if you're a man whose talents don't extend to your wardrobe, don't worry. If your girlfriend or wife has great style, ask her to assist you with your goal of improving your look. No girlfriend at the moment? Consider a stylish female friend. Or if you have the resources, consider hiring a wardrobe consultant. Rates vary but typically a couple hundred bucks can generate a wealth of style ideas for you-provided by the expertly guided hand of a stylist. And when establishing your image, I'd say it's money well spent. Indeed. 

WARDROBE INVESTMENT: FOR MEN

I haven't discussed anything for the fellas in a while and a conversation with a friend recently gave me the perfect topic to bring to all of you. If you're a guy looking for a sound addition to your wardrobe, consider a blazer. 

With the weather getting chilly, it's the time of the year that's ideal for a men's sport coat. If you pick a semi-dressy one, you can wear it to job interviews, to work (once you get the job), and to dinner (once you get the first check from your new job). This charcoal blazer pictured left is on sale and affordable at Macy's for $139.99.

Or if you'd like to spend a little less, head over to Gap. There are several options to choose from in interesting patterns like herringbone and pinstripe. And don't rule discount stores like Target and Burlington Coat Factory if your budget can't accommodate those higher prices.

Image: macys.com

MEN WITH STYLE: MEN CAN WEAR COLOR TOO!

If you ever meet me out and about, don't be alarmed if I stop you and ask to take your picture for my site. Hey, what can I say? It's what I do.

Anyhoo, I was at an event recently, (cheers to MediaBistro) when I saw this guy in a yellow sweater and a green shirt. As soon as I got the chance, I told him I loved the color combination! This is how you take khakis from boring to stylish in the workplace. Well done, my friend!

MEN WITH STYLE:

I snapped this pic of my cousin when I was home on holiday. He likes to think of himself as a man of style and this particular day, I had to agree with him. (Just ignore the silly smirk.) The simple gray on gray style looks sleek and fashionable. And I really like the matching hat and scarf. Remember guys, you don't have to sacrifice style just because it's cold outside.

MEN WITH STYLE: HAVE SUIT, HAVE STYLE

You've heard the phrase, "There's nothing like a well-dressed man." This guy is the epitome of that statement. I love the sweater under this tailored suit!

He's sleek. He's polished. He makes having style look easy.

MEN WITH STYLE: CASUAL COOL

I love it when guys do casual without looking young and sloppy. This retro style jacket looks sleek with the two-toned shoes. Remember K.I.S.S.? I've changed it a bit to keep it simple, sweetie. And that's why this outfit works for me. Basic jeans, a jacket, and nice shoes are the key pieces in this casual, cool look. Sweet and simple.

Inspired by this outfit? Check out this Marc Ecko track jacket.

MEN WITH STYLE

There's nothing like a man with style. And this guy is a great example of that with this casual cool look he's sporting. These Sean Jean, dark denim jeans look perfect on his frame. And the shoes are pretty sweet too. He gets an "A" for style from me! I almost forgot the bling!

Men with Style

This pic shows my friend KB doing his thing at Urban Outfitters. I should have known we'd never get in and out of the mall without buying something. He's the one man I know who has more shoes than his wife! I guess that's cool since he is a stylist. I'm featuring him as a man with style because he knows how to rock a look that is completely his own. And not many people can pull this off.

Take a good look at the skull belt. The salesperson at UO wanted to know where he got it but, no dice. It's a KB original my friend.

BLOGS ON MEN'S FASHION

Lately I've been feeling like I've been neglecting my male readers so I thought I should do something to remedy the situation. And that's what this post is about. I thought it would be cool to find some good blogs on men's fashion.

Here's what I found, just for you:

See Jack Shop - If you're looking for affordable men's fashion and style info, you have to visit this site. It comes from the creator of The Budget Fashionista, which keeps women looking stylish without going into debt. Be sure to check out the Grooming and Style 101 categories. See, you're looking better already.

Manolo for the Men - In case you're wondering, this blog is not written by the designer Manolo Blahnik. It's actually written by a guy who's fashion knowledge and witty commentary can be found on several blogs baring the Manolo name. I like this particular blog because it mixes a little high fashion with everyday style tips for men. And it has cool categories like Bad Fashion, Etiquette, and The Not Tall Man.

Ask Men - This men's portal is huge! They have great information on just about every topic you can think of for men. You've probably been on this site before via the results of a Google search. The Fashion & Lifestyle section has good, solid information like how to find a tailor and clothing storage tips.

I also added a new category to STYLEnosh called: Men Matters. Now men will have a place to go for style tips and ladies can check it out too if they're looking for ways to upgrade their man. And don't worry, I promise to minimize my use of the word "metrosexual".

MEN NEED JEANS TOO

In a previous post, I talked about buying chic jeans for women that didn’t cost a ridiculous amount of money. So naturally, I thought about the men in our lives as well. Do men worry about getting the right fit or finding that cool pair of jeans that can work for a date or watching the game with the guys? You’d be surprised. Men actually think about these things too!

I found a great article at askmen.com that provides wonderful considerations for men who are looking for jeans. Many of the suggestions for men resemble the ones I gave for women. I know that men don’t have the same selection available as women but the general rules still apply.

Basic style – The basic blue jean always works. Recently I’ve seen a lot of embellishment on men’s jeans and I think it often looks immature. Note to the fellas: Jeans with patches, designs, and color (for pete’s sake) is not cool for the grown up crowd. I’m just saying.

Think variety – If you don’t like going to a bunch of stores looking for one thing, try department stores like Macy’s or Nordstrom. Both of these shopping legends have brick and mortar stores across the country and they have a great selection online too.

Money, money, money - I don’t think it’s a bad idea for men to spend a little more money on jeans since men don’t typically treat clothing as disposable like women tend to. If you’re interested in spending $150 for a wardrobe staple, check out the about.com article on premium denim for men. However, if you prefer to look nice at a cheaper price, about.com also has an article on more affordable men’s jeans.

FASHION TIPS: WARDROBE BASICS FOR MEN

I’ve been writing this blog for a couple of months now and I have to admit that the biggest surprise for me has been the positive feedback I’ve received from a lot of my guy friends. I think it’s obvious that my target audience is women but I also think that it’s pretty cool that guys find my topics to be relevant to them too. And today’s post is dedicated to them.

I take most of my style tips for men from fashion expert Lloyd Boston’s book, Make Over Your Man: The Woman’s Guide to Dressing Any Man in Her Life. I like this book because it goes through all of the components of a man’s wardrobe in great detail. So what are the wardrobe basics for men? There are quite a few opinions on this topic, so here’s my compilation of the items that will create a strong foundation for any well-dressed man.

WARDROBE BASICS FOR MEN

Good underwear – I know this may sound like a no-brainer but I think a lot of guys have trouble throwing away underwear that has developed air vents. If your drawers are worn thin, buy new ones. And don’t be afraid to try different styles. Long gone are the days of “tighty whities” as the main choice of men’s underwear.

T-Shirts – If you’re in your late 20s, it’s time to start buying quality clothing. And t-shirts are no exception. Shirts with holes and tears just won’t do. Black and white are great colors to have but don’t be afraid to add red, blue, or any other color that compliments your skin tone.

Shirts – A white button-down shirt is essential to any wardrobe. Also consider adding another color (blue is very popular) or patterned shirt (like stripes and checks) for diversity.

Black sweater – You want a plain, black V-neck or crew neck sweater. Go for a quality fabric that can be worn for several years like cashmere or a cashmere blend.

Pants – Buy flat-front khakis and a pair of dressy, black pants. The flat-front style pant is often recommended because it’s flattering on most body types. Avoid pants with pleats unless you are a slim man looking to add bulk to your frame.