A lot of guys don’t want to be trendy in the way they dress. They just want to look decent and not embarrass themselves.
Too many of us have stories about holding on way too long to that velour/acid-washed/pleated piece of clothing causing our girlfriends/mothers/kind strangers to do a fashion intervention and shame us into throwing it away.
Dressing in style takes a little work. For successful guys, it’s a combination of keeping an eye out for trends (flipping through GQ or Esquire when we come across them, or surfing the Web), finding out what’s available to buy in the area (trolling retailers) and paying attention to the street (what’s that athlete or actor wearing? or that waiter? or the young guy at work?).
We did that for you over the past couple of weeks and came up with a few fast rules. Consider this friendly advice for getting through summer.
– Ray Mark Rinaldi
White is all right
Well, you knew that because you’re already back into those bright, white tennis shoes. But feel free to expand the options. White shoes of all kinds, from distressed leather loafers to sandals, are looking less geeky this summer. White and off-white belts are hot for the moment. White pants also will get you through the season, but toughen them up with wide belts and serious buckles.
Two warnings here: First, do avoid white belts with white shoes; that combo is a little too “retirement village” even if you’re just starting your 401k. Second, know enough to skip white if chicken wings or red sauce are on the menu.
The denim trap
We’re just gonna make a rule: Don’t spend $300 on jeans. This is easier said than done. Jeans with a $300 price tag make you look swell. They show you off in a way that used to be appropriate for rock stars but now seems right at home at a Monday morning business meeting. But these jeans will betray you. Rips, frays, stitches, pinpointed fades and dreaded cat-whisker crinkles will be out just weeks from now and even the folks at the Salvation Army will snicker when you drop off your barely worn denim.
You’re better off with slim-fit Levis (maybe the 514 model), which you can get for around $50. Or simple, button-
fly Luckys, which will cost you twice as much. If you need expensive, try on a pair of the new slim lines from a brand like Seven, which go for twice that. But stop there. Also, if you’re over 25, jeans that are tight from the crotch to the ankle can look ridiculous. Resist.
Age-inappropriate works
This is an odd time. Low-rise jeans and tight T’s are back for everybody. So are bright polos with horizontal, playground stripes and skinny guy suits – stuff men of a certain age thought they would leave behind in their 20s. We’re not recommending that you older guys buy off the rack at Hollister or Abercrombie & Fitch, but if you avoid stuff that shows a lot of skin, exaggerates your chest or exposes too much body hair, you can get away with a lot.
Loosen up your collar
The standard collar – stiff and symmetrical, pointy and creased – will still serve you, but you might want to vary it some. Track jackets with short, elastic collars that zip all the way up are functional and versatile as the weather changes. Skip the ones with too many patches and logos. Trendy short-sleeve polos with floppy, wrinkled collars may not be office-friendly, but they are comfortable and give off a too-cool-to-care Vince Vaughn kinda vibe. And speaking of pullovers, Henleys have returned so you may not need a collar at all.
Get fuzzy
Now that he’s Angelina’s kid caddy, Brad Pitt isn’t the sex symbol he used to be, but he’s still cool enough to have helped bring facial hair back.
Thanks to rockers, slackers, the fashionably lazy and that doctor guy on TV’s “House,” beards and near beards are OK for the moment. So if you ever wanted to take a break from the daily razor scrape, now’s the time. But be sure to trim the thing; let it wander across your cheeks or down your neck and nobody will want to sit across from you at dinner.
Highly sculpted works of beard art that follow the chin line are swell if you can stand all that grooming. As for moustaches, you’re still taking your chances. Definitely avoid the bushy Tom Selleck look. And don’t get crumbs in it.
Quick hits
Message T’s are fun, but they’re on their way out.
Vary your sock color with sneakers.
Fedoras are only for guys who date Cameron Diaz, and baseball caps work best if they don’t have baseball team emblems on them.
Pointy shoes can look like you’re trying too hard.
Keep the width of your ties in the middle: not too fat, not too skinny.
Have at least a few pairs of boxers and make them fun. You never know.
Get one good pedicure for sandal season (really, it’s OK now) and if that doesn’t help, try on a pair of hiker-friendly, toe-covering Keens or Tevas.
Oh, and avoid bright green.
