Menswear Guide

Helping Gentlemen Dress Better - Look Good, Feel Good

How to Prevent Your Shirt from Coming Untucked

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Can’t seem to keep your dress shirts tucked into your trousers? In most cases, tucking your shirt into your trousers and wearing a belt will suffice. In other cases, though, it won’t. And if you’re planning to attend a formal event, you probably don’t want your shirt coming untucked. Thankfully, there a few things you can do to keep it in place.

Choose the Right Size Shirt

I know this probably sounds obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning that you need to choose the right shirt size. If your shirt is too small or short, it’s more likely to come untucked. So, choose a shirt that’s sized to fit your body. And remember, there’s no such thing as a shirt that’s too long if you plan on tucking in into your trousers.

Military Tuck

The military tuck is a special type of tucking technique that’s used in the U.S. military. It involves pinching excess fabric on your sides and folding that excess fabric into your trousers. When performed correctly, the military tuck will secure your shirt into your trousers while creating a clean and professional appearance in the process.

The key thing to remember, however, is that the excess fabric should go behind the seam, not in front of it. If you need help perfecting the military tuck, look for tutorial videos on YouTube. Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to perform the military tuck in just one or two minutes.

Shirt Stays

Did you know there’s accessory designed specifically for this problem? Known as “shirt stays,” they look like suspenders and work by securing the bottom of your shirt to the top of your socks. To use them, you simply clip one end of the shirt stay to the bottom of your shirt and the other to the top of your sock, and repeat this process for the other side. Shirt stays look a little funny, but they are completely hidden once you put on your trousers.

What About Tucking Your Shirt Into Your Underwear?

Some men may assume this is a good idea, but in reality it’s probably not. Granted, tucking your shirt into your underwear may reduce the risk of your shirt coming untucked. However, it also means that your underwear may become untucked and visible. So, refer to the tips listed above to secure your shirt and prevent it from coming untucked. Do not try to tuck it into your underwear.

References:

https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-prevent-a-dress-shirt-from-coming-untucked

How to Care for a Leather Jacket

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The leather bomber jacket remains one of the most popular styles of men’s outerwear. Featuring a genuine leather construction, it’s soft, comfortable, durable and stylish. But if you plan on buying a leather jacket, you’ll need to know how to care for it; otherwise, you may find yourself having to replace it just a few years down the road.

Read the Care Label

As with most garments, it’s a good idea to read the care label on a leather jacket. Typically found inside the collar (around the neck area), the care label contains specific instructions by the manufacturer regarding how to clean and care for the jacket. Being that different manufacturers use different techniques to produce their leather jackets, you should always heed the advice listed on the care label.

Choose Genuine Leather

When shopping for a new leather jacket, make sure it’s made of 100% genuine leather and not fake or “faux” leather. Only the former is true leather. The latter is actually a synthetic fabric that’s designed to mimic the appearance and characteristics of real leather. As a result, fake and faux leather jackets don’t offer the same level of quality as their genuine counterpart, which can make them difficult to care for.

Moisturize with a Leather Conditioner

Leather jackets are generally considered low maintenance. However, there’s one thing that you will need to do: moisturize it. Using a special leather conditioning product, try to get into the habit of moisturizing your leather jacket once a month. When leather becomes too dry, it can crack open; thus, creating serious damage. This problem is easily prevented, however, by using a leather conditioning product. The conditioner will add moisture to the leather, protecting it from drying out and cracking.

Storage

You’ll also need to store your leather jacket in a climate-controlled environment. Why is this important? Well, leather needs some moisture, but too much can damage it. This is particularly true when speaking about moisture vapor in the air or what’s more commonly known as humidity. Airborne moisture vapor can saturate leather, causing it to develop mildew. To protect your leather jacket from this, store it in a climate-controlled environment with a relative humidity of 40% to 50%.

These are just a few tips to preserve and protect your leather jacket. Most importantly, though, remember to check the care label for specific instructions by the manufacturer. Following these tips will make your leather jacket last a lifetime.

References:

https://www.wikihow.com/Care-For-a-Leather-Jacket

How to Wear a Sweater Over a Button-Up Shirt (The Right Way)

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A simple way to dress up a sweater is to wear it over a button-up collared shirt. Doing so creates a dynamic look in which color from both garments is revealed. Additionally, the shirt collar will “pop up” through the sweater. However, there’s a wrong way and a right way to pull this off. So, if you’re looking to wear a sweater over a button-up shirt this winter, consider the following tips.

Choose a V-Neck Sweater

As you may already know, different sweaters have different cuts. The crew cut, for instance, has the least amount of space in the neck, whereas the v-cut has a v-shaped cut in the neck. Because it’s more open, v-neck sweaters are typically the best choice for this outfit. The problem with crew cut sweaters is that your shirt collar may not fit through the top. So, stick with a v-neck sweater if you want to wear it over a button-up shirt.

Press the Collar

It’s also a good idea to press your shirt collar so it’s not wrinkled or otherwise messy-looking. When wearing a sweater over a button-up shirt, the shirt collar will become a main focal point. If it’s wrinkled, it’s not going to exactly help your appearance. You can quickly eliminate most collar wrinkles by going over the fabric with a hot steam iron. Alternatively, you can take your shirt to a nearby dry cleaners.

Don’t Wear Double Patterns

There’s noting wrong with wearing a patterned button-up shirt or a patterned sweater. However, you shouldn’t wear both. If your outfit features pattern on pattern, it look awkward and unflattering. To prevent this from happening, stick with either a single pattern or two solid colors.

Hide Your Undershirt

It’s not uncommon for guys to wear an undershirt underneath their button-up shirt. If it’s cold outside, for instance, an extra layer such as this can provide invaluable warmth and comfort.  But if you’re going to wear an undershirt, make sure it’s not visible through the top of your collar. Only the collar from your button-up shirt should be visible, not your undershirt.

Check the Sleeves

Finally, check the length of your shirt sleeves to ensure they aren’t too long. Ideally, they should extend just slightly past your sweater sleeves. If they are any longer, the look won’t flow with your sweater. The good news is that you can often tuck your sleeves in to make them fit.

References:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/02/21/how-to-layer-clothing-men/

5 Beard Trimming Tips

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Studies show that men with beards are more attractive than their clean-shaven counterparts. But if you’re planning to grow a beard, you’ll need to trim it regularly; otherwise, it will turn into a bushy, unkempt mess.

#1) Wash Regularly

Washing goes hand in hand with trimming with a beard. Unfortunately, though, this is a step that many men overlook, believing the natural oils produced by their skin will help moisturize their beard. While natural oils do moisturize, you still need to wash your beard. Failure to do so will result in dead skin cells and other debris becoming trapped.

#2) Comb Before Trimming

Another helpful tip is to comb your beard before trimming it. Using a medium-stiffness comb, comb your beard towards the grain to straighten it out. By combing your beard, you’ll remove any tangles or knots while allowing for an easier and more efficient trim.

#3) Trim Shorter on Neck and Cheeks

It’s a good idea to trim the hair on your neck and cheeks higher than your actual beard and mustache. Why is this necessary? Well, it’s the same principle as “fading” the hair on the side of your head. You want the focus to be on your mustache and beard, not your neck and cheeks. Therefore, trimming your neck and cheeks so the hair here is longer than your mustache and beard helps you achieve this goal.

#4) Don’t Trim When Wet

There’s nothing wrong with cutting your hair when it’s wet, but you shouldn’t attempt to trim your beard when it’s wet. The problem with trimming a wet beard is that it may look different when dry. You might trim your beard, only to discover later that it doesn’t look how you wanted it to. To prevent this from happening, err on the side of caution by trimming your beard only when it’s dry. This way, if it’s not just right, you can adjust it accordingly.

#5) Finish Up with Scissors

An electric trimmer is an invaluable tool that can help streamline the beard trimming process. A high-quality electric trimmer ensures a consistent, even trim while also giving you greater control over length. However, you should still finish up with scissors. After you are finished trimming your beard with an electric trimmer, go over it with a pair of scissors to remove any stray hairs. In addition to creating a more polished finished, using scissors also allows for a more natural-looking beard.

References:

https://www.birchbox.com/guide/video/how-to-trim-your-beard-if-youre-growing-it-out

5 Stylish Alternatives to Denim Jeans

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Are you tired of wearing jeans day after day? Denim jeans are the world’s most popular type of pants, and for good reason. They are durable, versatile, comfortable and look great with a variety of outfits. However, there are other types of pants from which to choose, some of which include the following.

#1) Khakis

First on our list is khakis. Typically constructed of 100% heavy cotton, khakis are soft and comfortable. Most khakis are designed in a soft white or off-white color, though you can find them available in just about any color. Regardless of color, khakis are an excellent alternative to jeans.

#2) Chinos

Some men assume that khakis and chinos are the same, but this isn’t necessarily true. Although they look similar in appearance, there are a few key differences between them. While khakis are generally made using a heavyweight cotton construction, chinos feature a lightweight cotton construction. Furthermore, they are usually made to fit closer to the body, offering a more slimming appearance.

#3) Suit Trousers

Of course, you can also wear a pair of suit trousers, even if you don’t wear them with an actual suit. Suit trousers are available in countless colors and styles, with something available for every man. A plain all-black or dark gray pair of suit trousers is a stylish choice of pants that looks great with a variety of outfits. You can dress them up by wearing them with a suit jacket or blazer, or you can dress them down by omitting the outerwear from your outfit. Just remember to choose a pair of suit trousers that matches the other colors in your outfit.

#4) Corduroy Trousers

Another alternative to jeans is corduroy trousers. Consisting of twisted corded fibers that run parallel when woven, corduroy is a particularly attractive choice for the upcoming winter season. It’s thicker than most other fabrics, making these trousers warm and comfortable. With that said, style options are limited corduroy trousers. However, one of the drawbacks to wearing corduroy trousers is their ability to attract and hold lint. If you plan on wearing them, be sure to keep a lint roller on hand.

#5) Stretch Trousers

Finally, you may want to consider stretch trousers as an alternative to denim jeans. As the name suggests, stretch trousers are designed to stretch without sustaining damage. They are typically made with a combination of cotton and an elastic material like polyester or spandex. The elastic material is essential what gives stretch trousers their “stretch.”

References:

https://theidleman.com/manual/advice/top-alternatives-jeans/