Who says blazers are limited strictly for formal wear? It’s a common assumption that blazers are part of a suit, but this isn’t necessarily true. There are blazers, suit jackets and sports coats. Of those three, blazers are the least formal. But if you’re planning to wear a blazer as part of a casual outfit, there are a few things you should know.

When Wearing Jeans, Go Dark

You don’t have to necessarily wear a trousers, chinos or khakis with a casual blazer. But if you’re going to wear jeans with a blazer, make sure they are dark. Light and/or faded jeans are simply too casual for this look. A pair of dark-indigo jeans, however, is the perfect choice for a casual blazer.

Contrast Shirt and Blazer Colors

Something else to consider when wearing a casual blazer is whether or not it matches your shirt. You don’t want to wear a blazer that’s the same color as your shirt. If your blazer is black and your shirt is black, the two garments will blend together, offering nothing in terms of aesthetic value. A better approach is to contrast the color of your blazer to the color of your shirt, which makes these two garments pop with greater visual appeal.

Semi-Formal Footwear

When wearing a casual blazer, it’s important to choose the right shoes. Shoes can make or break an outfit, regardless of whether it’s casual or formal. The trick to achieving an attractive look when wearing a casual blazer, however, is to choose semi-formal footwear, such as boots or loafers.

Necktie?

One of the great things about casual blazers is that you can wear them with or without a necktie. Contrary to popular believe, neckties aren’t limited strictly to formal wear. It’s perfectly fine to wear them with casual outfits, including a casual blazer. With that said, you should only wear a necktie with your casual blazer if it flows cohesively with the rest of your outfit.

Press Your Blazer

Don’t make the mistake of wearing a wrinkled blazer, as this will hurt your efforts to achieve a stylish look. Whether the wrinkles are small or large, you should eliminate them before wearing a blazer out in public. Thankfully, there are several solutions available to de-wrinkle a blazer, some of which include professional dry-cleaning, steam iron, and even hanging your blazer up in the bathroom while leaving a hot shower running.

References:

http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/blazer-jacket-jeans/

You choice of choice says a lot about your personality and lifestyle. If you wake up in the morning and throw on the same clothes you wore yesterday, it’s not going to reflect well. But if you put forth the effort to achieve a stylish look, others will perceive you as being a hard working individual who cares about his appearance.

Don’t Forget to Wear a Belt

Even if your pants “fit” and stay on your waist without any additional help, you should still wear a belt. Belts are arguably one of the most important fashion accessories for men. They bring new color and style while complimenting your existing attire.

Dark Indigo for Jeans

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with light blue jeans, but they typically lack the high-end style of their indigo counterpart. There’s been a growing trend towards the use of dark indigo-colored jeans, so stick with this color as your “go to” choice.

Say ‘No’ to Graphic T-Shirts

Unless you’re a college student, it’s best to avoid wearing cheap graphic t-shirts with cheesy phrases and/or designs. Instead, consider wearing a high-quality solid-color t-shirt. Whether you prefer black, white, red, green or blue, single-colored t-shirts are an excellent choice for men of all ages. However, this is one instance in which the mantra “quality over quantity” holds true. Make sure your single-colored t-shirts are of the highest quality materials and craftsmanship.

Choose Undershirts that Compliment Your Outfit

Men wear undershirts for different reasons. Some wear them for warmth, others wear them for comfort, and some men wear them for additional comfort. Regardless of your reason for wearing one, you should choose an undershirt that compliments your outfit. Even if you wear a shirt over it, chances are some of the undershirt will remain visible. Therefore, you should choose a color that compliments and flows cohesively with the rest of your outfit.

Dress in Layers

Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, you can’t go wrong with a layered look. Wearing layers is a great way to enhance your appearance while giving you more options in the process. If you get tired of your “outer” layer, simply strip it off to reveal the under layer.

See a Tailor

You won’t always find clothes in the perfect size. On the contrary, this rarely happens — and that’s okay. Thankfully, you can have most of your clothes tailored to achieve a better fit. Consider taking some of your favorite garments to a local tailor for adjustments.

References:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/10/24/101-style-tips-men/

When searching for a new men’s dress shirt, you’ll need to consider the material or fabric from which it was made. Like most garments, dress shirts are made in variety of fabrics, each of which has its own unique characteristics. Cotton is the most popular choice, as it’s soft, comfortable, inexpensive and readily available. However, linen is a popular alternative thanks to its properties. To learn more about linen dress shirts, keep reading.

What is Linen?

While most men are familiar with cotton, wool and other common fabrics, linen remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. Linen is essentially a textile made from flax plant fibers. It’s time-consuming to manufacture, but the end result is well worth it, as linen dress shirts and garments are prized for their performance in hot weather.

Benefits of Linen Dress Shirts

As stated above, linen dress shirts are ideal for hot weather and hot climates. This is because they are typically lighter and thinner than most other fabrics and materials. If you’re attending a beach wedding, for instance, wearing a linen dress shirt is a great way to enhance your appearance while staying cool and comfortable at the same time.

Linen dress shirts are also available in countless colors, styles and designs. Regardless of your personal taste, chances are there’s a linen dress shirt out there with your name on it.

It’s important to note, however, that linen dress shirts often cost more than traditional cotton dress shirts. You should think of a linen dress shirt as an investment. Even if costs more upfront, you may still get more use out of it than a non-linen dress shirt simply because it’s the perfect fabric for hot weather.

Tips on Wearing a Linen Dress Shirt

If you plan on wearing a linen dress shirt, however, you should follow the tips listed below.

• Check to make sure the linen dress shirt is an appropriate size for your body. If it’s too big or too small, take it to a professional tailor and have it adjusted.
• Choose a color that’s going to match the rest of your outfit.
• If you plan on wearing a necktie, your linen dress shirt should not feature the same color as your necktie.
• As explained by GQ Magazine, slimmer-fitting linen dress shirts typically look better than “standard” and non-slim fit.
• Being that linen is so thin, sweat stains are more visible in linen shirts than shirts made of other materials. To prevent this from happening, try wearing an undershirt and/or a linen shit in a dark color.

References:

http://www.gq.com/story/how-to-wear-a-linen-shirt-shopping-guide-summer-style

The new year is officially here, offering the perfect opportunity for fashion-forward men to update their wardrobe. With each new year comes new changes in the world of fashion. Some styles will fade, while others will enter mainstream popularity. So, what kind of trends can you expect to see in men’s fashion this year?

Bandanas

According to TheTrendSpotter, bandanas are coming back this year with a bang. Granted, bandanas have been around for quite some time, but they’ve somewhat faded off the radar in recent years. As more and more men sport them, however, it’s safe to assume they’ll come back into mainstream popularity. If you want to accessorize your outfit with a touch of color, try sporting a bandana. Just remember to choose a bandana that matches and flows cohesively with the rest of your outfit.

All White

Another fashion trend for 2017 reported by TheTrendSpotter is all-white outfits. White is often viewed as a “blank palette,” leading many men to believe that it should be worn in conjunction with other colors. However, you can differentiate yourself from the norm by wearing an all-white outfit. A plain white t-shirt with a pair of white jeans or khakis, for instance, is a simple yet stylish look that any man can accomplish. And best of all, you probably already have these garments available in your current wardrobe.

Leather Jackets

Why are leather jackets such a hot trend? Well, for starters they’re all-but-guaranteed to withstand the hands of time. Fashion styles come and go, but leather is here to stay. Leather jackets have been around for over a century, and there’s no signs of this trend slowing down anytime soon. A leather jacket offers the perfect combination of style, comfort, durability and longevity. Furthermore, leather jackets retain their value more than jackets and coats made of other materials. These are just a few reasons why you can expect to see more of them in 2017.

Bold Colors

Another trend to watch in 2017 is the use of bold colors. Of course, men have been wearing bold colors for countless years, although this trend has been gaining popularity as of late. A bold red-colored blazer, for instance, the perfect way to enhance your appearance. This is just one of many bold colors from which to choose, however. Feel free to experiment with other colors to see what works and what doesn’t. After all, that’s part of the fun associated with fashion.

References:

http://www.brostrick.com/content/mens-fashion/

Denim jeans are the world’s single most popular type of pants. Worn by both men and women of all ages, they offer an unmatched level of versatility. But not all jeans are the same, with many featuring different measurements and stitching. This is why it’s important to choose the right “cut” when shopping for a new pair of denim jeans.

Boot Cut

Boot cut jeans live up their namesake by featuring a unique design that’s specifically geared towards boots. They typically open around the ankles, becoming wider through the leg. This allows the wearer to place the bottom of his or her jeans over their boots. While boot cut jeans were originally made for use with boots, you can wear them with any type of shoes or footwear.

Straight Leg

Another popular cut for denim jeans is straight leg. Not to be confused with skinny jeans, straight leg jeans run straight through the thigh, leg and ankle. They fall somewhere between relaxed fit and skinny, enhancing the wearer’s appearance by hugging the body. Straight leg jeans have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many men preferring to wear them over other cuts.

Skinny

Skinny jeans are characterized by an even tighter fit through the thigh and leg. They generally have a small and narrow leg opening of 9-20″. One of the most common complaints associated with this cut, however, is its constricting properties. Because they hug the body so tightly, many people find them uncomfortable to wear. This is particularly true if you are a highly active individual, as the constricting properties of skinny jeans will restrict your movement.

Low Rise and High Rise

The “rise” of jeans refers to the height at which it sits on the waist. There are two specific types of rises: low rise and high rise. Low rise jeans sit lower on the waist, whereas high rise sit higher on the waist. Low rise jeans are generally preferred over their counterpart for both comfort and aesthetics.

These are just a few of the most common cuts in which jeans are made. Something else to consider when choosing jeans is the fabric. Most jeans are made of 100% denim, but some contain a combination of both denim and another fabric. Stretch jeans, for instance, are made with denim and an elastic fabric like polyester. Just a small amount of polyester provides greater elasticity, allowing the jeans to stretch without sustaining damage.

References:

https://www.jackthreads.com/jtedit/2015/04/30/are-you-wearing-the-right-jeans