Doing laundry isn’t particularly fun or enjoyable, but it’s necessary if you want to wear clean clothes. Sure, you can probably wear the same pair of denim jeans for several days, but eventually you’ll need to wash them. While there’s no way to completely avoid laundry day, there are some steps you can take to make the process a little easier.

#1) Preserve Color with Vinegar

You can preserve the color of your clothes by washing them with 1/2 cup of white vinegar. After adding your clothes to the washing machine, go ahead and pour the laundry detergent and then add the vinegar. Vinegar is a safe and effective way to protect your clothes from bleeding color.

#2) Clean Your Washing Machine

When was the last time that you cleaned your washing machine? The truth is that most men rarely, if ever, clean their washing machine. Whether it’s a front-loader or top-loader, however, your washing machine should be cleaned on a regular basis. Failure to do so will result in mold and mildew accumulating in tiny cracks and crevices. And when you wash your clothes, it may seep onto the fabric. Refer to your washing machine’s owner’s manual for more information on when and how to clean it.

#3) Eliminate Wrinkles with Ice Cubes

If you’re out of dryer sheets, an alternative way to protect your clothes from wrinkles is to dry them with a couple cubes of ice. The added moisture of the ice discourages wrinkles from forming; thus, eliminating the need to press your clothes with a hot steam iron.

#4) Aluminum Foil

Another way to protect your clothes from wrinkles is to dry them with a crumbled up piece of aluminum foil. Unlike ice cubes, however, aluminum foil doesn’t work by adding moisture. Instead, it works by neutralizing static electricity, which is the underlying cause of wrinkles. Simply crumble up one or two pieces of aluminum foil into a ball and place them inside the dryer with your clothes.

#5) Use Color-Safe Detergent

You can further protect the color of your clothes by washing them with color-safe detergent. As the name suggests, this detergent contains special ingredients to preserve colors and protect them from bleeding.

#6) Use Dish Soap for Grease Stains

If you have grease stains on your clothes, dry pre-treating them with dish soap prior to washing. Most dish soap is designed to absorb grease, making it a highly effective tool at removing such stains.

References:

http://www.viralnova.com/laundry-life-hacks/

Who says you have to spend thousands of dollars to complete your wardrobe? While a large wardrobe gives you more outfit options, you can still cover all of the bases with a minimalist wardrobe. So, if you’re looking to slim down your wardrobe, consider adding the following fashion basics to your closet.

Indigo Jeans

A pair of high-quality indigo-colored jeans is the perfect go-to pants for both casual and semi-casual occasions. The dark color allows you to dress up or dress down, depending on the occasion. If you’re running errands around town, for instance, you can wear indigo jeans with a plain white t-shirt or polo shirt. But if you’re going to dinner, you should wear a button-up dress shirt (tucked in) for a more formal appearance.

Light Blue Button-Up Shirt

In addition to a indigo jeans, you should also include a light blue button-up dress shirt in your minimalist wardrobe. This shirt can be worn for a variety of occasions. You can wear it with khakis, shorts, jeans or even a suit. Furthermore, you can wear button-up shirts such as this year-round. When it’s warm outside, simply roll up the sleeves for improved comfort and style. And when it’s cold outside, roll the sleeves back down. Feel free to experiment with other colors, but light blue typically offers the greatest versatility.

Two-Piece Suit

Of course, you’ll also need a two-piece suit for special formal occasions. While a three-piece suit consists of trousers, a matching jacket and a waistcoat (vest), a two-piece suit only consists of trousers and a matching jacket. Therefore, you can usually buy them for less. With that said, you should also pick up a necktie to complete your appearance. A waistcoat typically isn’t necessary — unless specified in the dress code — but a necktie usually is.

Leather Oxfords

There’s no better choice of formal footwear than a pair of genuine leather Oxfords. They offer a classic, timeless style that’s guaranteed to compliment your outfit. When choosing Oxfords, check the lacing to see how it’s designed. Balmoral lacing is the preferred choice among most fashion-conscious men. Additionally, it’s recommended that you stick with black Oxfords due to the unmatched versatility they offer.

Solid-Color Shirts

Finally, pick up several different solid-colored t-shirts for your wardrobe. Whether you prefer crew neck or v-neck, solid-colored shirts are the perfect solution for a casual look. They look better and more mature than graphic shirts with cheesy phrases. And you can wear them in countless ways.

References:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/09/21/minimal-wardrobe-3-pairs-shoes-man-needs/

Business casual offers the perfect balance between formal style and casual comfort. Because of this unique balance, it’s become the preferred choice among countless men. But if you’re thinking about sporting a business casual look, there are a few things you should know.

Do Consider Comfort

One of the great things about business casual attire is its ability to create a superior level of comfort. No longer are you forced to wear clothes strictly for aesthetics; you can now consider your own personal comfort. Therefore, it’s recommended that you choose soft, comfortable fabrics when sporting a business casual look.

Don’t Wear a Necktie

While neckties are essential for formal attire, they should be avoided for business casual outfits. Neckties are simply too dressy and formal for a business casual look — and that also applies to bow ties. Avoid wearing both neckties and bow ties for this style.

Do Leave Shirt Collar Unfastened

Normally, you should fasten the top button of your shirt collar, but this isn’t necessary when sporting a business casual look. Since it doesn’t require a necktie or bow tie, there’s really no reason for fastening your shirt collar. On the contrary, fastening your collar will only create a tighter and more constricting shirt. So, not only does it look awkward, but wearing a tie-less shirt with the collar fastened is also downright uncomfortable.

Don’t Wear Matching Trousers

What kind of trousers should you wear with a business casual outfit? With a formal outfit, it’s best to wear a suit jacket with matching trousers. For business casual, however, you should choose a less dressy style of pants, such as khakis or chinos. Do not wear a suit jacket with matching trousers. You can wear a suit jacket with a business casual look, but you shouldn’t wear matching trousers (it’s too formal).

Do Press Your Clothes

Regardless of what clothes specifically you intend to wear, make sure they are pressed and wrinkle-free. Even if you don’t have time to get your clothes dry-cleaned, you can still use a hot steam iron to de-wrinkle them.

Don’t Wear Sneakers

Just because it’s called business casual doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s okay to wear sneakers or tennis shoes. A better choice of footwear for business casual attire is leather oxfords or moccasins, either of which are perfect for this style. Just remember to choose a color that flows cohesively with the rest of your outfit.

References:

https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-business-casual-attire-2061168

Dressing for a formal event requires a different approach than your normal day-to-day outfits. In fact, the word “formal” specifically relates to the dress code. Instead of jeans and a t-shirt, you’ll need to wear something a bit more dressy. If you’re planning to attend a formal event in the near future, here are five rules to follow when getting dressed.

#1) Wear a Suit

There’s no other way around it. If you’re attending a formal event, you need to wear a suit (at least for men). A typical suit should consist of three pieces: a dress shirt, trousers and a matching jacket. There are countless different styles of men’s suits, though a traditional black or charcoal gray is usually a great all-around choice for formal events.

#2) Leave the Bottom Button Undone

With the exception of a single-button suit jacket, it’s usually best to leave the bottom button undone. If your suit jacket features three buttons, for instance, you should fasten the middle and top buttons while leaving the bottom button unfastened. Not only does this enhance your appearance, but it also prevents your suit from bunching up when you are sitting down.

#3) Match Socks with Trousers

A good rule of thumb when wearing a suit is to match your socks with the color of your trousers. So, if you’re wearing traditional midnight-black trousers, you should also wear black socks. This essentially conceals your socks, blending them into your trousers. Of course, no one will see your socks when you are standing. When you sitting, however, the bottom of your trousers may rise just enough to reveal your socks, which is why it’s a good idea to match them with your trousers.

#4) Necktie

You should also wear a necktie with your suit. A necktie is a simple accessory that creates a more formal appearance by defining your suit collar while adding color to your outfit in the process. Furthermore, one of the great things about neckties is the countless colors and styles in which they are available. You can wear a single color, two-tone color, striped, plaid or even polka-dot necktie.

#5) Clean, Formal Footwear

Finally, you need to wear clean, formal footwear with your suit. A pair of classic leather Oxfords is an excellent choice, assuming it matches with the rest of your outfit. Loafers are another great choice for formal attire. Just remember to choose a color that matches your suit and doesn’t clash with any of your accessories (e.g. necktie).

References:

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-appropriate-mens-attire-for-every-occasion-2014-9

It takes a lot of hard work to develop a muscular, athletic build. Equally difficult, however, is trying to find the right clothes to wear. If this sounds familiar, consider the following tips to improve your appearance and gain more confidence in what you wear.

#1) Skip the Skinny Fit

Men with an athletic build should typically avoid wearing skinny-fit clothes. This includes skinny jeans, straight-leg jeans and slim-fit shirts (among others). While skinny-fit clothes such as these are great for men with a slimmer appearance, they are generally too constricting for athletic builds. And for this reason, it’s best to avoid them.

#2) Size Down

Some athletic men assume it’s better to wear oversized clothes, so they end up with a closet full of XXL shirts and garments. However, wearing a size smaller than your actual body size can actually improve your appearance. Known as “sizing down,” this can define your muscles to achieve a cleaner appearance that compliments your body. If you normally wear large shirts, for instance, try a medium to see what it looks like.

#3) V-Neck Shirt

Skip the crew neck shirts and instead choose a v-neck. Generally speaking, v-neck shirts make your neck look longer by drawing attention to your upper body. There are times when a crew neck shirt is acceptable, though v-necks will better compliment your athletic body.

#4) Cut Back on Layers

Layers are usually a good way to enhance your appearance. It allows you to incorporate multiple colors and styles into your outfit while also giving you the opportunity to add or remove layers if you are hot or cold. Men with athletic builds, however, you should cut back on the layered look and instead stick with basic garments.

#5) Have Your Clothes Tailored

When all else fails, you can always have your clothes altered by a professional tailor. Granted, not all clothes can be tailored. Depending on the fabric and method of construction, however, a tailor may be able to alter some of your clothes to create a better fit.

#6) Wear the Right Shoes

This doesn’t apply strictly to men with athletic builds — it applies to all men. However, wearing the right shoes is particularly important if you have an athletic build, as your shoes are usually more visible (and you’ll probably be doing a lot of working in them). Whether you prefer sneakers, boat shoes, oxfords, etc., choose the right footwear for your respective outfit.

References:

http://www.fashionbeans.com/2015/athletic-muscular-mens-style-fit-guide/