Menswear 101
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You might be surprised to learn that the style advice I give to men and women is the same. Today on Bridge Street, I shared that advice with co-hosts Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy. Clothing is a way to express your personal style so use it. Ask the salesperson for help- they have a lot of knowledge to share about fit and sizing, but go with your gut when it comes to your style. Don’t let them talk you into something you don’t feel comfortable with. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good. If you find a piece in a brand you love, buy it in several colors. My #1 pieces of advice is having a good tailor can make off the rack clothes looks custom.
Here’s some specific advice for menswear that will come in handy.
Shirts 101 Collars: Button down is more casual. Collars: Pointed spread collar is dressier. Fit: USE A TAILOR!
Pants 101 Pleats: When in doubt the answer is NO! It’s too hard to pull off. Gray is versatile. It goes with navy & black & colors. Denim: keep it plain in a dark wash. Leave the bedazzled pockets or distressed look for the weekends.
Accessories 101 This is where you can really express your personality. Ties or bowties: Choose fun patterns and bold colors. Did you see the bowties from today’s show? They are by J.Allen Inspired and made right here in Central New York. You may have seen them worn by Jim Boeheim, Dan Patrick, Bob Costas and other celebrities. Shop online or order a custom design. Follow them at @jalleninspired on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for menswear inspiration. Shoes: invest in a good quality pair & take care of them Brown shoes & belt with navy, gray & blue Black shoes & belt with black & gray YES! You do need to match your shoes & belt!
If this is all too much or if you just don’t have the time to shop or you just don't WANT to shop, I have a solution: Stitch Fix for men. GENIUS! Just like the women’s service. You complete a style profile online, share a Pinterest board with Stitch Fix and a personal stylist chooses 5 high quality pieces that are delivered right to your door. It also comes with “how to wear” style cards. You can keep all or none- if you keep all 5 you receive 25% off your entire order. There’s a $20 styling fee that goes toward whatever you purchase. As a Stitch Fix Influencer, I will receive compensation if the afflilate link is used, but I would never endorse a product or service I did not like or use myself. You can schedule your first fix now by clicking HERE or on the banner on the right and at the bottom of this post.
A great resource for men is fromsqualortoballer.com, a blog written by Ian Anderson, a menswear buyer and style blogger based in San Francisco. His tagline is “Simple style advice for the modern man” and he covers every concern you might have about menswear from etiquette to styles to trends to best brands. The photography is fantastic and the copy is down to earth. You don’t need to be a metrosexual to follow his advice. I’d start with his “Best Of” section and let your menswear education begin. Thanks, Ian, on behalf of the ladies in this world.
What did you think of today’s Bridge Street segment? Missed it? CLICK HERE to watch it and then tell me what you think in the comments below.