Denim is one of the world’s most versatile fabrics, which is why jeans have become such a popular style of pants. It’s strong, durable, stylish, and can be dressed either up or down. But denim is used in many other garments, including shirts. Because of its unique characteristics, though, there are a few things you should know about denim shirts and how to wear them.

Wear it Over a Shirt

One simple yet effective way to wear a denim shirt is to wear it like a jacket, essentially wearing it over a shirt. This is great because it allows men to wear denim shirts throughout the year, regardless of season. When the nights become cool, you can simply wear your denim jacket over an existing layer (or two) for added warmth. This multi-layered look is easy and looks great.

Wear it Tucked in

Of course, you can always wear a denim jacket fulled tucked into your waistline as well. Assuming you are wearing pants with a belt, simply tuck your denim jacket into your pants. As you may have guessed, this creates a more formal appearance that’s perfect for evening parties, business meetings and other formal/semi-formal occasions.

Wear it Untucked

Alternatively, you can leave your denim jacket untucked. An untucked denim jacket is a bit more casual, making it ideal for daytime activities. And let’s face it, most men prefer casual attire when given the opportunity.

Wear it with Short

A denim shirt is the perfect garment to wear with shorts. Both offer a “cool” vibe, making them work well together. The key thing to remember, however, is that you want to choose matching shoes. Boat shoes and low-rise sneakers are both excellent choices for this combo. And if you are wearing a belt, choose footwear that matches your belt color (e.g. brown shoes with a brown belt or black shoes with a black belt).

Short-Sleeve vs Long-Sleeve

Denim jackets are available in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve. So, which one should you choose? Well, think about when and how you’ll be wearing it. If you plan on wearing it during the summer, throughout the day, the a short-sleeve denim shirt would likely work best. But if you plan on wearing it during the fall and/or winter months, perhaps a long-sleeve denim shirt is the better choice. And if you still can’t choose between the two, why not include both in your wardrobe.

References:

http://www.gq.com/gallery/how-to-wear-denim-shirts-men

Photo credit: Marica

If there’s one accessory you don’t to skip when wearing a suit, it’s the necktie. Consisting of a slim and narrow piece of fabric that’s wrapped around the neck, it completes the man’s formal appearance. But if you’re unfamiliar with neckties, you may feel out of place wearing one. Don’t worry, because we’re going to walk you through the basic steps of wearing a necktie.

Getting the Right Length

Don’t underestimate the importance of wearing your necktie at the right length. The great thing about neckties is that you can adjust their length. So even if it’s too short, or too long, you can often make it fit by tweaking the knot. Ideally, your necktie should stop right at the top of your belt. If there’s any visible fabric between the bottom of your necktie and the top of your belt, it’s too short. Consequently, if you cannot see your belt because your necktie has extended beyond it, it’s too long.

Wrinkle-Free

Some men have a tendency to toss their neckties on the ground after wearing them. In doing so, it creates wrinkles that are hard to remove. So the next time they wear it, their necktie is a wrinkled mess. To prevent this from happening, always hang your necktie up on a coat hanger after you wear it. If you notice any wrinkles, use a steam iron to safely remove them.

Use a Tight Knot

I always cringe when I see someone wearing a necktie that’s wrapped loosely around their neck. Perhaps it’s more comfortable, but it looks like a mess. This is why you need to secure your necktie with a relatively tight knot. You don’t have to tie it so tight that it constricts your neck and causes pain, but your necktie should be tight enough to prevent any abnormal shifting when you move. Feel free to adjust your necktie to find the perfect balance between security and comfort.

Match Knot Size and Collar Size

A good rule of thumb to follow when choosing a necktie is to match the size of the knot to the size of your shirt’s collar. Certain shirts look better with certain neckties. You can match the two with relative ease by comparing the knot size to the collar size. If your shirt has a large collar, choose an equally large necktie. But if your shirt collar is small, choose a smaller necktie.

References:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/02/20/necktie-tips-for-men-a-visual-guide/

Whether it’s cotton, linen, wool or any other fabric, shirts are bound to develop wrinkles. The good news is that you can eliminate most wrinkles by pressing your shirts with a hot steam iron. The steam smooths out wrinkles and creases, leaving your shirt nice and crisp afterwards. While ironing may sound like a simple enough, however, many men do it wrong, leaving behind wrinkles or even damaging their shirts in the process. So, what’s the right way to iron a dress shirt?

Choosing the Right Iron

First and foremost, you’ll need to choose an iron that’s suitable for the job. You can identify the “power” of a clothes iron by its power consumption, with most consumer-grade irons ranging in power from 420 watts to 1800 watts. Conventional wisdom should tell you that an 1800 watt iron delivers more heat than a 420 watt model. And when there’s more heat, you can iron clothes in less time.

You should also look for a steam feature on an iron. Basically, this allows you to spray steam directly onto the fabric; thus, helping to eliminate wrinkles and creases. When you come across a stubborn wrinkle, simply spray a mist of steam over the fabric to smooth it out.

Read the Care Label

Before ironing any shirt or garment, read the care label for the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some shirts may contain delicate fabric that cannot be steam-ironed, in which case you should take it to the dry-cleaners.

Prepare Your Shirt

When you are ready to begin, lay your shirt flat on the ironing board, with the ironing board running through the middle of the shirt. Doing so protects the rear side of the shirt from wrinkles, allowing you to iron only one side at a time.

Collar First

Most experts recommend ironing the the collar of your shirt first. Pop up the collar and iron from side to the other. If any wrinkles appear, run your iron to the bottom to minimize their appearance. When you are finished, flip the shirt over and repeat these steps to the outside.

Cuffs Next

After ironing the collar, go ahead and iron the cuffs. Make sure the buttons are unfastened, flip the cuff inside out, and iron the fabric to eliminate wrinkles and creases.

Now the Front.. and Back

Last but not least, you’ll need to iron the front and back of your dress shirt. Assuming your shirt has buttons, you should begin with this side, using caution to iron around the buttons, not over them. As you finish the front of your shirt, iron over the shoulder and work your way back down. Repeat these steps on the back, at which point you shirt should be crisp and wrinkle-free!

References:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/04/06/how-to-iron-shirt/

It’s frustrating when you spend an entire week’s paycheck on a new wardrobe, only to discover your new clothes have faded after washing them just once in the washing machine. The fact is that all clothes are susceptible to fading, regardless of color and fabric. It’s a natural process that occurs through the breakdown and degradation of its fibers. But there are ways to preserve the color of your clothes and protect against this phenomenon.

Read the Care Label

I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it’s still worth mentioning that you should read the care label on your clothes before washing them. This reveals the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to clean and care for them. Some manufacturers may recommend tumble-dry only, or others may recommend dry-clean only. The only way you’ll know what’s recommended by the manufacturer is by reading the care label.

Wash with Similar Colors

The golden rule of laundry 101 is to wash clothes of similar color together. It’s not uncommon for clothes to “bleed” colors, meaning some of their dyes leak and seep onto other nearby colors. Assuming you wash similar-colored clothes together, this shouldn’t cause any problems. But if you wash reds with whites, you may discover some of your white clothes having more of a pinkish tint — and that’s never a good thing.  Always separate your clothes according to color before washing them.

Wash Clothes Inside Out

Another tip I’ve learned over the years is that washing your clothes inside out can help preserve their color. By washing your clothes inside out, it protects the exterior (the front) from fading. The interior may still fade — at least some — but being that no one really sees the inside of your clothes, this shouldn’t be a problem. It only takes a couple of minutes to turn your clothes inside out before washing them, but doing so can make a world of difference in preserving their original color.

Wash with Vinegar

No, that’s not a typo. Washing your clothes with vinegar can actually protect against fading. Granted, vinegar has somewhat of an unpleasant smell, but it goes away, after which your clothes will be nice and fresh. Simply add 1 cup of white vinegar to your washing machine, and wash your clothes like normal. The vinegar works to protect the fabric from fading.

These are just a few tips to help preserve the original color of your clothes.

References:

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/laundry/tp/8colorfadetips.htm

http://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/4-natural-ways-to-keep-colors-bright-clothes-laundry.html

There’s a lot of misinformation out there on the subject of men’s fashion. So just because you hear a “fashion rule” doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding men’s fashion.

Your Belt and Shoes Must Match

This myth isn’t limited strictly to men’s fashion; women also believe that their belt and shoes must match. In reality, though it’s perfectly fine to wear two different colors for your belt and shoes. As long as the two colors flow cohesively with another, you can pull it off without fear of it hurting your appearance.

You Can’t Double-Up on Denim

Another all-too-common myth is that you can’t wear two denim garments together. If you wear denim jeans, for instance, this myth states that you cannot wear a denim jacket. But this is just a myth to which there is no merit. The secret to wearing two denim garments together in the same outfit is to choose a different color/type of denim. If your jeans are indigo, for instance, wear a light-blue denim jacket.

You Can’t Wear Brown and Black Together

In some cases, you can’t (or at least shouldn’t) wear brown and black together. But in other cases, it’s perfectly fine to wear them together. The key thing to remember is that you want your outfit to maintain a central, cohesive color scheme. Normally, this means using subtle hints of either black or brown to enhance the other color(s).

You Can’t Wear White After Labor Day

We’ve all heard this myth before: you should stop wearing white after Labor day. This is an unwritten rule of sorts, with origins dating back to the late 19th century. But the rule has since faded, with many people wearing white throughout the year, long after Labor Day has passed.

You Can’t Wear Pink

Who says men can’t wear pink? On the contrary, it’s a bold color choice that’s sure to turn heads. Whether you are going out with friends or just running errands around town, pink is a great choice to increase your visibility while presenting yourself in a more fashion-forward manner.

These are just a few of the most common men’s fashion myths and misconceptions. Of course, there are plenty more floating around there, which is why it’s important to use your best judgement when preparing your outfits.

References:

http://www.mensxp.com/fashion/style-guide/9099-busted-top-5-mens-fashion-myths.html