10 style commandments every man should know

Gabe Alonso Style Editor

moses 10 style commandments every man should know
You can either follow them or break every single one. Maybe you already are. At least now you’ll be aware of the rules you’re breaking. And by rules, I mean my subjective thoughts on how a man should and should not dress. Feel free to put your addendums, revisions, etc. in the comments. I’m sure some of you will certainly disagree. With that said, behold my 10 Style Commandments!

1. No wrinkles. Iron your sh*t in the morning. Wrinkles throughout the day? Fine. Don’t go to work looking like you slept in your clothes. Unless you did. In which case you better have one heckuva story prepared. And it better be a one night stand/Hangover Part 3-type of thing.

2. When all else fails, dark denim (raw, selvedge, washed, Target brand, who cares!), a white crew neck tee, and a pair of well-worn sneakers won’t. And the girls love this. LOVE. I think it’s some weird Brando/Dean thing that women these days are automatically wired to be infatuated with.

3. Every man should have these types of shoes: brown lace ups (cap-toe/oxfords to start, wingtips after if you’ve got the dough), black dress shoes (versatile enough for interviews and formal events), suede bucks (white and/or sand suede), a pair of desert boots, and a canvas sneaker. You’ll get through anything and everything with these.

4. Speaking of shoes – NO SQUARE TOED ANYTHING. EVER. STOP. If you think it may be too square, it probably is. Don’t buy it. And before you say, “Well, then why do they still make them, Gabe?” It’s because you guys still buy them! So stop buying them and Kenneth Cole will stop making them.

5. Hats are great and a gentlemanly thing. But wear them only if your face allows it. Some of us can pull it off, some of us can’t. Be aware of your sartorial limits (including but not limited to, hats/caps).  But always, ALWAYS, remove said cap when indoors (at the very least for dinners, formal gatherings) and in the presence of a lady (do so initially, upon introduction or greeting, then throw it back on your dome to hide that awful hat hair).

6. Personality is a must. Whether it’s color blocking, pattern mixing, or wearing an extra piece of mewelry (man + jewelry), do you. Don’t be afraid to shine a little brighter because you think you may stand out. That’s the point. Be yourself, clothes are an expression of who you are just like the songs you play on your iPod. (Yes, that Miley Cyrus song does say something about you. And I’m judging.)

7. Own a great watch. Doesn’t have to be worth $109347098234, but it has to make you smile when you put it on. Only assholes posture with their watches. There’s beauty in simplicity.

8. ALWAYS: Tuck in your dress shirt. SOMETIMES: Tuck in your sports shirts/polos NEVER: Tuck in just a t-shirt. Yes, there’s a different between a dress shirt and a sports shirt. It mostly has do to with the patterns and fabrics they’re made out of. But if you’re wearing a thin, cotton button-up shirt, where it’s practically see-through, that’s a dress shirt. If the fabric is thicker or patterned, that’s a sports shirt. These are really vague definitions, but it’s enough to get you buy for the time being.

9. If you grow out your facial hair, be diligent as hell with it. Just because you look like a caveman, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use the proper tools to make sure you at least look like a well put together caveman.

10. Lastly, F*CK THE RULES. Be comfortable. Look great. Be you. You wear the clothes, don’t let them wear you. Just remember to wear things that fit you properly and don’t sparkle in the club or otherwise (I’m looking at you, Ed Hardy).

Ok. Let the comments roll. What do you guys think? What are your style commandments?

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