All right fellas, time for some more straight talk. I’ve about had it with guys who tell me, “I don’t need a suit, I NEVER wear one.”

This lie guys tell themselves (and me) ranks right above “My hair’s not thinning, it’s just fine” and somewhere below “I could totally hook up with [Insert name of Victoria's Secret model here].”

Thankfully, this slovenly suit-nixing naysayer is fewer and farther between than ever before. Most guys get that, even if you don’t work in a job where you have to suit up every day, it’s still a must to have an acceptable suit hanging in your closet.

Unless there’s absolutely zero chance that ANY of the following events might happen in the near or even distant future, then sorry, buddy, but you need to get up off the couch, and go buy a damn suit:

- Your girlfriend’s fabulously wealthy parents are visiting and they want to take you out to the nicest restaurant in town. Jacket (and tie) required.

- You’re interviewing at a job where you’re not sure of the dress code. Because when in doubt: it’s always better to show up overdressed. Always. (If you’re really nervous, hedge your bets with a sweater vest and no tie)

- You know anyone who might ever, possibly, theoretically get married

- If you might ever, possibly, theoretically get married

- You have old relatives. What are you going to wear to a funeral, if not a suit? Jorts?*

- There’s any reason you might be invited to either 1) the White House, or 2) the opera.

*If you’re the kind of guy who outright refuses to own a suit, I’m assuming you’re also the type to wear jorts. And sandals with socks in the winter.

(T-shirt: Sears)

It’s said that a girl dresses for one of two audiences.

Staring in her closet each morning, a girl decides who she wants to impress that day – other girls, or guys. The girl that dresses for other girls puts considerable time and effort into looking like she just swung through her closet, Tornado Rex-style, and popped out wearing the artfully layered look she has on. The combination usually includes articles of clothing that guys (a.) can’t identify or (b.) wish we wouldn’t leave the house in (harem pants fall into both categories, for instance).

When she’s dressing for guys? Things get decidedly easier. Snug jeans and a (relatively) low-cut top. Done. Or, conversely, (relatively) short skirt + snug top. Done.

The first group of girls hope to impress other females with their style prowess, each outdoing the next in crazy color combos, jewelry and (clashing?) patterns. The second girl wants guys to think she’s pretty.

For guys, on the other hand, the choice is usually between dressing for themselves or for us ladies. Dressing for yourself means you give the pants on the floor a quick sniff and throw them on with whatever shirt is hanging most(ly) wrinkle-free in your closet. But when you’re dressing for girls? Our reaction gets factored into the wardrobe equation. “All the girls at work make a big deal when I dress up…so I’m going to wear a blazer today.” “My girlfriend said I look cute in this sweater, so I’m going to wear it on our date.” Given the rewards, the choice seems pretty logical, don’t you think?

Of course, taken too far – obsessing over herringbone weaves, pondering the pros and cons of beige versus taupe in an unlined blazer – that’s not such a turn-on. Thankfully, this phenomenon is mostly confined to the hallways of GQ, and to an elite cadre of menswear bloggers, but just a warning to stay vigilant.

Because as a girl who likes talking about menswear, I want you to look handsome. I do. But as a girl who likes being the girl in a relationship, I also want to take longer than you to get ready. And even then, ten times out of ten I’d rather the first words out of your mouth to be, “You look so pretty,” not “You look so stylish.”

But maybe that’s just me.

What do you think? Would you rather your girlfriend dress “stylish: or “pretty?” Whose reaction do you consider when getting dressed in the morning?

If you’re like me – new “clothes” stuffed in your underwear drawer, gift cards to burn – it might be time to clean out your closet out in anticipation of some new duds. I always do a quick inventory of my closet at least twice a year. Usually my appraisal comes when I swap out my summer clothes for my winter ones (and vice versa), but the post-holiday season is as good a time as any for a little wardrobe purging.

Here’s what to look for:

Clothes that don’t fit



Take any ill-fitting (but otherwise perfectly good) clothes to a tailor. It’s amazing what an inch taken in at the waist, or removing an extra break from a pair of pants will do to an item’s rotation in your wardrobe. 

If that feels like too much work, give those pieces away. You’d rather have clothes in your closet that you actually like, and will wear. Anything else is just taking up room.

Rips, Stains and Tears



First, try to fix the problem. Sew the ripped sleeve closed. Get the stain out. Find a new button for that jacket missing a cuff. If that doesn’t work, throw the thing out. Or make some new rags for cleaning day. Old t-shirts make great rags, especially those with dumb sayings on them from your frat days.

The Forgotten but not Gone



You know that stuff you haven’t worn in six months to a year? Too-light jeans. Blazers that never quite fit right. The sweater your mom brought back from Boca. Look at it. Really look at it. Will you ever? And not, will you wear it if you lose ten pounds, or will you wear it if you get invited to appear in a music video, but will you ever wear it if nothing else in your life changes? If not, get rid of it.

After all this, your closet will contain more of what you actually wear, and less of what you don’t. Meaning you’re finally ready for a shopping trip funded by your well-meaning but clueless relatives.

Tomorrow we celebrate….what exactly do we celebrate at Thanksgiving? Harvest season? Landing at Plymouth Rock? Manifest Destiny? Whatever it is we’re commemorating, we’re all looking forward to observing the holiday with a traditional American food binge.

I’m not about to play Grinch and tell you to ease up on the cranberry sauce this year. No way. This is the one time a year you get to stuff yourself in the name of goodwill and peace on earth (or something like that). Instead, below are a few tips on dressing slimmer for a day devoted to hoovering pumpkin pie like it’s your job.

Small Patterns
Big patterns on your clothes make you look – well, bigger. Stick to subtle checks and prints, and keep them away from your widest canvas – which for most guys is their mid-section. Sorry fellas, that means no reindeer sweaters this year.

Monochromatic Clothing
Wearing one color head to toe makes you look taller and skinnier – always a good combo.

Abandon Pleats
Extra folds mean extra volume in the region us ladies like to call our “trouble area,” that is, the hips, butt and belly. Cut out the pleats to cut out a few phantom pounds.

Skinny Fabrics
Skipping extra material helps; so does skipping extra-heavy material. Stick to slimmer knits and fabrics to cut down on unnecessary bulk. So, Cashmere cardigan: yes. Wool fisherman’s sweater: no.

Up and Down, not Side to Side
Horizontal stripes are no friend to a stocky frame. Keep your look on the up and up with vertical stripes. Thin lines draw the eye up and down (rather than across) your body, making it look longer, and yes, leaner.

Lower that Line
A v-neck is a great “having a fat day” clothing option. By now, you’ve hopefully noticed a pattern – elongate lines and draw the eye away from any holly, jolly hefty zones. The v-neck’s low collar does both.

Not too tight, Not too loose
Picture a chubby girl wearing a skintight dress. Got the image in your head? Okay, that shudder you just felt is the same one women get when they see guys wearing too-tight attire. Steer clear. And at the other extreme, ditch baggy duds; they just make you look sloppy. And no, they’re not fooling anyone into thinking you’ve got a six-pack hiding underneath. A good fit covers a multitude of sins, including that six-pack you polished off watching the game.

Happy Thanksgiving!

One of the biggest games of the year finally came out today, Uncharted 3. Explaining to folks why the series is so awesome is pretty tough, especially since on paper, it’s actually seems somewhat pedestrian.

It’s about a dude, who’s a treasure hunter you see. He’s actually an ordinary guy who goes on all these kinds of adventures, and … Again, it appears hardly groundbreaking. But it’s all in the details and execution. It does what it does exceptionally well. The gameplay is super tight, the narrative is engrossing… it does what it does, with seemingly little effort. Though trust me, there’s a LOT of work involved.

One central key is the star, Nathan Drake, who is in many ways the poster child of what gaming has become. That being a likeable, and more importantly, identifiable leading man who can kick lots of ass, and even spout lines that are genuinely funny, but is overall quite realistic and even relatable. Sure we all want to me Link, and while it’s also impossible to be Drake, aspiring to the latter is slightly more plausible.

And one way is to dress like the guy. Sony most recently, in one of their 900 press junkets for the title, tried putting Nathan Drake’s “half tuck” front and center, at Fashion Week of all things. Here we Jay Manuel (aka one of dudes on that Tyra Bank show where they convince 60 pound girls that they might need to shed some weight), Ben Lyons, whose apparently a correspondent for E! (which I stopped caring about once they stopped running Howard Stern, sorry), and one of the Kardashian chicks…

There was even a runway show featuring just dudes with half their shirts hanging out, along with a “mobile dressing room” that plucked folks from the streets and helped them get hip with gaming’s most current and cutting edge fashion trend.

Sony PR’s machine has also been busy singling out various random examples of assorted celebs also sporting the “look”, including soccer superstar David Beckham and everyone’s favorite scientologist, Tom Cruise…

And here’s a billboard that also part of the “campaign”; not sure if it’s real or not, but I’ve seen wackier things while on the road…

Since we crank out so many stories each week some really good ones get lost in the cracks. And since so many new people visit Guyism every day (thank you), we thought we’d take some time on the weekends to share a few classics that many of our newer readers may have missed.

Fashion is constantly evolving from season to season and therefore it’s inevitable that among all the awesome fads and great new styles, a few horrific trends pop-up. And it’s always the worst trends that not only stick around the longest, but also make appearances in retro Facebook albums. We’ve taken a look back at the ten worst trends of the past decade.

7 Von Dutch Hats
The Von Dutch brand is well known in the business world for tricking every day Americans to market the name of the company for him. Not only did all the hats have his company name front and center, but they were also modeled after trucker hats. If only Von Dutch designer Christian Audigier had put the Von Dutch name on the steering wheel of every 40-foot truck, we would have a nation of qualified and uniformed truck drivers.

6 Cropped pants
It’s rumored that the cropped pants fad took off after one trendsetter accidentally shrunk his jeans in the laundry and wore them around town. While they resembled women’s capris, the men who wore them vehemently denied any similarities and loudly claimed there was nothing feminine about 3/4 pants. Cropped pants are primarily known for solving the common problem of “how do I keep my legs warm while still showing off my muscular lower calf.”

5 Popped collars
Rich people often face the challenge of letting people know they’re rich while coming off like they don’t want anyone to know. While getting accepted at Ivy League colleges with libraries named after them and being a member of the neighborhood croquet team help establish that wealthy image, it often isn’t enough. Wearing not one, but two popped collars was an easy way to say to the world, “I can afford to wear two shirts at once once and I can afford to wear them incorrectly.”

4 Skinny jeans
One unfortunate side effect of wearing abundant amounts of black eye liner is that it clouds your vision. This led to men not only accidentally shopping in women’s stores, but also led them to look in the mirror and think their skin-tight jeans looked cool. It’s well-known knowledge in emo forums that the tighter your jeans, the more your parents made you miserable during your childhood.

3 Deep V-neck
While some men are proud to be dating women with abundant cleavage, others get jealous of the attention not being on them. Hence the creation of the male V-neck shirt that V’s deep enough to get a partial view of the bellybutton. It not only pairs well with silver chains, but it also gives men a chance to show off their chest hair growth.

2 Ed Hardy
Legend has it that this tragic trend started from a bet Christian Audigier made with his friend. It went something like “I bet you I can get adult men to wear bedazzled shirts with animals on them.” While Ed Hardy may have won Audigier that bet, he lost in the long run when the world’s worst dad, Jon Gosselin, became his voluntary spokesman. Suddenly, to everyone’s shock, diamond-studded tigers looked a little trashy.

1 Fedoras
Justin Timberlake pulls off a lot of trends that the average slightly-overweight male should never attempt. After all, if we all achieved everything he has, then we would all hold bragging rights to taking Britney Spears’ virginity. Despite constant mockery, grown men continue to put on tight vests everyday and pop on a fedora under the mistaken belief that they look like a rockstar and not like a man who got dressed in the dark.

For example, how about this ultra limited edition Space Invaders watch from Romain Jerome?

Limited to just 78 pieces each (to celebrate how it came out in 1978), there are two styles, day and night. The former you see above, and the latter is basically the same except the action is all white, coated in Superluminova. Each is encased in black PVD stainless steel and sapphire crystal, plus they’re waterproof. No word availability or price, but expect them to be fairly expensive (but worth every cent).

Now, if watches aren’t your thing, how about a wallet made out of a NES controller?

Apparently it’s for ladies, but other than the red zipper, I can’t see why a dude can’t sport one. Makes that lame ass velcro wallet with the NES design printed on that you find at Target and places like that. Unfortunately there’s still a slight problem: it’s one of a kind. But I’m sure they can’t be that hard to make yourself (or simply send the woman who made it your spare controllers and like $20).

Swank Limited Edition Space Invaders Watches From Romain Jerome [GameSetWatch] & For the Ladies: NES controller wallet by Brittany Lynch [Albotas]

Though we on the style side get embarrassingly geeked up over clothes, we also appreciate beautifully stylish women. StyleCaster has a great photo shoot and editorial (but you will probably just look at the photo shoot) with model Irina Shayk. The Russian beauty, styled by Emily Finkbender, talks about realizing her beauty through modelling and a potential future guys-only concert series. Head over to StyleCaster to see more photos and read up on Gabe’s future wifey.

This outfit will be very similar to what I outlined on the “How to dress casual” post. You’re in the comfort of your own home with that special lady in your life. You don’t need to impress her. She’s already decided she trusts and likes you enough to come to your home for dinner. This is when you can (and should) show her a little bit more of who you are, your personality, and charm.

However, don’t think you can just wear any old pair of jeans and your old tees. Incorrect. You should still make an effort to wear fitted everything to give off the best silhouette of your body in your clothes. When I talk about your silhouette, I mean how your body outline looks. If you wear baggy, over-sized (or just too big) clothing that outline doesn’t exemplify what you really look like. In fact, it makes you look smaller, especially if you’re swimming in your clothes. I’ll detail all this in another post, but my emphasis on well-fitted clothing isn’t in an effort to make you wear all skinny err’thing. I hate skinny jeans, but I do love slim fits that fit my lower half well. It’s all about putting the best version of you in front of the world. You go to the gym in order to be fit and have a body that you’re proud of. Why hide your broad shoulders or chest under a 2-sizes-too-big dress shirt?

Check out the picks below and keep in mind sizing when you’re in the store.

Gap Straight-fit Selvedge Denim – $89

As I said before, I own these pair of jeans and I love them. I got them on sale, so definitely take advantage of the next Gap discount (I get e-mails all the time). I’ve had them since August and I wear them at least 2-3 times a week. Over time, they slowly molded to my body and they’re my most comfortable pair of denim I have. Granted the rigid wash made wearing them the first month or two a bit difficult, but now they’re perfect. The waist has stretch out a little, which makes me think it’s about time for me to soak them. I don’t want to put them in the wash for fear of losing the shape I’ve spent months trying to create.

L.L. Bean Signature Striped Cotton Henley – On sale $29.89

It’s going to get hot slaving over the oven all night. So instead of wearing a cardigan or chunky sweater over top, I think you should layer underneath. Grab this cotton henley from LL Bean and definitely size down. You want your layers underneath to be slim and very well fitting, so your shirts don’t look bulky from the outside. If you get hot, take off the button-up shirt and show off those guns you’ve been molding since you started going to the gym again this winter.

Lands’ End Canvas Heritage Red Chambray – $49.50

I have the blue chambray from LEC and it’s one of the softest shirts I own. You can wear it by itself or pair it with a v-neck sweater/cardigan and tie to class it up a bit. It’s an extremely versatile shirt, one that transcends seasons as well. Looks great whenever. Just remember to buy a shirt that fits well. If you tend to have a lot of blousing (i.e. the shirt gets semi-untucked and there’s a bunch of fabric folds around your midsection) you may want to look into buying a size down. I usually grab a medium and I bought a small in this shirt (I’m 5’7″, 160ish lbs for reference). The neck’s a bit snug, but after a wear or two it felt fine. If you feel it’s too small (or big), Lands’ End has fantastic customer service. They’ll hook you up and get you the right size.

Well, there you have it guys. Hopefully, you’ve gotten some great choices and ideas for outfits to wear to various levels of dates for this Valentine’s Day. Now go ahead and impress your lady with your new found sartorial awareness. Cheers!

Tumblr is great way to focus and define your brand’s identity through a visual medium (not just for fashion, mind you). For example, a brand like J. Crew may post pictures of the Ivy Style and the booming American/heritage trends. Doesn’t matter if they’re J. Crew campaign shots, all that matters is that it represents how the want their audience to view them. The images add a color and texture to the brand’s identity.

The website has already been adopted by the style/fashion community at large. Tumblr fashion director, Rich Tong, says that approximately 180 of the top 1,000 tumblr sites are fashion/style related and more are popping up every day. This holds true for men’s style as well. This is where I was really able to get my footing in the style blogosphere and get involved in the daily conversations. It’s been a great experience growing with the bloggers that were on there a year ago and seeing how new guys keep popping up. Check out my current 10 favorite men’s style tumblrs and let me know if you have one. I’ll give ya follow!

1. How To Talk To Girls At Parties

2. Edwin Hu

3. Nickel Cobalt

4. Put This On

5. This Fits

6. Suits and Boots

7. Most Exerent

8. Noah Emrich

9. Die, Workwear!

10. The Life and Times of C. Benjamin

[Editor's Note: By no means are these final or in any particular order. There are so many others. If you want to get a full list of the blogs I follow on Tumblr check me out on Pleats Are For Lovers.]

Why Fashion’s Top Brands Are Flocking to Tumblr – Mashable

Plus, just for signing up for Jackthreads, you get an instant $5 credit and get to skip the waitlist for whatever gear they’re selling.

Simple enough? So get to it:

Step 1) Sign up for Jackthreads‘ daily members only deals
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Step 3) Post your wittiest or most insightful comment on our Facebook page this week before end of day on Friday 9/24
Step 4) Possibly win $200

Though Italy is suffering floods and Milan heavy rains, Zucchelli is envisaging a balmy summer next year. So much so, many sweatshirts were cropped half way up the chest, the better to see the models’ six-pack abdomen. Several of these feature logos, though even the Calvin was cut in half. Part sweatshirt, part micro cape, the garment would be impossible to wear without a flat stomach, but a cool look if one is gym rat buffed.

No, no, no. Not listening. I stopped reading when I heard the word capes. I’m not going to the gym to get my Abs of Steel on just so I can wear a cape. It’s too late, I’m already on my way to the liquor store in my Batman pajamas. “How about a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue my good man, as Batman is feeling quite regal today. Lets throw in a few scratch-off tickets, a Snickers bar and, oh yeah, do you guys sell mirrors here?”

If you saw a man walking around wearing a half-cape/half-shirt design it’d be difficult to take anything that person said seriously. I just don’t see this trend catching on. But to be safe I’m going to go ahead and cut all my shirts and capes in half anyway. I’ve waited most of my adult life for capes to come back in style (I wore them regularly as a child) and I’m going to ride this baby into the ground.

Calvin Klein’s Capes for Cool Guys [Yahoo]

You can see what a woman wearing the nipple enhancers would look like in the above photo. Not to ruin the mystique, but here they are outside of a woman’s body:

Selfridges claims that these accentuate the currently-trendy “natural look” on a woman. The product description says that “from your favorite magazines, to stars gracing the red carpet, women are showing off their breasts with pride.” Somehow, this means women need fake, perpetually hard nipples.

I wholeheartedly approve. Not because I like my women to have enormous pointy nipples pointing at me all the time, almost as though they’re accusing me of a crime. But rather because I can’t bring myself to buy an umbrella rack and I see no better way of showing a woman, “Hey, you’re more than just an object to me” than hanging accessories off her fake nipples. Ol’ charmer Chris, they call me.

Fake Nipples Aim To Destroy You, Boys [Gizmodo]
Nipple Enhancers [Selfridges]

Business Casual has no REAL definition, well, nothing consistent or coherent, which spans all companies terms of appropriateness. It’s the attire, that mid-point in the corporate world that says “I work hard, but know where all the good happy hour spots are.” It’s the blazer without the tie, the Dockers without the Rockports, the sass without the pretension.

My roommate’s personal style could be defined as business casual, having always felt comfortable in feeling like she could ALWAYS take care of business, if need be. It’s just an example that just because its for work doesn’t mean it’s a wardrobe to scorn.

A business’ dress code is something that must be learned, no two offices are alike. Take the time to observe co workers and what they’re wearing, note their status in the company, and keep in mind, in any situation where you’re an underling …ahem… employee, it’s never bad to be the best (most conservatively) dressed. As all career advisors tell you, “dress for the job you want, not the one you have.”

I think this is one of the more underrated issues perplexing fresh graduates entering the corporate world (given there are still jobs TO get). It poses the question, “I got the job, now how do I dress for it?”

1 The Trusty Sweater
Whether you were expecting or dreading it, the sweater/sweater vest is the all encompassing, versatile, must-have for every working-man’s wardrobe. Using the sweater as a fashion plate, you can mix and match different items while the sweater takes on most of the focus.

Pairing a dark or bright colored sweater with a striped or light colored button down shirt underneath gives that professorial ‘I read books’ kind of vibe. Most (Business Casual as well as others) Women dig this vibe. Just saying.

Knit sweaters, with carefully, not overdone embellishment carry a subtle “I care what I’m wearing” notion.

Commonwealth Utilities adds some hinted flair to the usually blasé gray sweater. The multi-colored lines provoke a masculine yet tailored look. The detail is what makes this sweater so interesting, and a fine example of using the over-shirt-sweater to its fullest advantage. ($220.00)

St. John’s Bay exemplifies the sweater vest; the careful knit cord pattern is not overly femme and reaffirms that professorial gleam. It comes in an array of colors, from neutral tones to a bright red. Very Versatile. ($44)

I really like this brand Merona and desperately wanted to include them in this feature. It’s affordable, looks great and is found almost anywhere, specifically Target and Kohls. This incorporates that sly stripe style with the clean sweater. ($17) At this low price, you can afford to dress right for the job.

2 The All-Purpose Shoe
The thing that makes a shoe really good, and worth it, is its ability to work with many outfits. A shoe should not just be “a work shoe.” A good shoe spans events, looks good with jeans, looks good with dress pants, looks good in the closet.

The Oxfords are really popular right now. Not everyone can pull them off, and not everyone wants too. But what makes them special is that they can easily go from work to play without seemingly forced. Another aspect of the Oxford is that they can tend to make your feet look longer/bigger. Now some men, like this touch of enhance foot size, but if you’re a size 13+, you may give off the impression you could crush small towns with your paws.

Cole Haan makes great shoes. I think I can say that every time I talk about men’s shoes. I really like the color play gray on white on blue is very Spring, very light, and can be worn with a blue suit or blue jeans. They all so come in black, but these gray duds are doing it for me. ($198)

A good Loafer doesn’t have to have a penny adorned on the front; a tassel or look like you went through grandpa’s closet. Ecco reforms the moccasin/loafer into a new, lightweight, leather necessity. It promotes heel and sole comfort, so if you’re on your feet all day THEN going out that night, these shoes will keep you standing. ($140)

3 The Well Fitted Blazer
Personally, there is not much sexier than a well fitted blazer on the back of a man. If on right, it broadens the shoulders, chest and confidence. With a good blazer, you can pull off the nice button down shirt alone (sans tie), with a sweater (vest). Simple works when you have a structured/tailored piece.

The blazer comes in array of textures and colors, rooted in nautical history, a trusty blue blazer will always be a sure-fire. Blazers can be business, or they can be your cool weather jacket, THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS.

A first date blazer is golden, wanting to impress without coming off too strong, or that you have the Barney’s floor-plan down pat, pairing a good dark jean and corduroy coat makes this early Spring that much Springy-er.

From Overstock.com “Measurement Guide”:

* The first part of a blazer size is a number; this is your chest measurement or your over-arm measurement minus 7 inches.
* If these two numbers are about the same, you’ll use your chest measurement as your sport coat size. If the measurement over your arms is larger than your chest, use your over-arm measurement (minus 7) as your size.
* The second part of the blazer size is a word or letter; this designates whether the sport coat is short, regular or long, and it may just be the first letter: S, R or L. The letter or word refers to your overall height, but these measurements are flexible.
* Be aware of your overall body proportions and choose the sport coat length that covers your rear end without going any farther. For example, if you’re 5’10″ but you have a long torso, then you may want to shop for a long sport coat.

Short: 5’5″ to 5’7″
Regular: 5’8″ to 5’10″
Long: 5’11″ to 6’2″

Blazer by Theory, exemplifies that classy, clean, no need for a tie, Look. Trim, tailored and modernly classic, this blazer can take you from lunch with friends, to dinner with in-laws. ($495)

Croft and Barrow sticks with the simplicity and class that makes a blazer/sport coat just that. The clean lines and standard colors is a perfect edition to your wardrobe. Seen here with a tie, and buttoned, this jacket can easily go from day to night; unbutton that top button, throw on jeans and Voila! Class. ($150)

4 The Belt
The Man-Belt.

There is nothing attractive about slouched pants in the work place. No one wants to see your boxers/underwear peeking through your white Oxford. There is no situation where you should come into work with a Saggy Bottom.

A belt can dramatically change how a pair of pants fit. A simple cinch of the waist gives the impression to your cohorts that clothes CAN make the man. Looking comfortable and confident in your clothes makes your coworkers, prospects, employers feel more confident in you.

Belts can be cool too. I’d stray from the glaring buckles, bedazzled with sports teams and kitschy one word jokes, and go with the clean black, brown, blue route. The belt doesn’t need to be the stand-out, rather the subtle something that makes you stand-up straight.

Fossil makes really affordable, really good quality goods.. I know them mostly for their watches, but when I saw this belt I literally EEP’d! I will continue to love color blocking and experimenting with color, and this brown leather DURAN belt does just that. Even those small hints of detail (fading color) come across, even if the belt is not the center of attention. ($30)

Hugo Boss is known for Men’s Clothing. They have practically reinvented how men look and care about clothing. This belt is a perfect example of their style and quality. The gorgeous metal against black leather is masculine and really aesthetically pleasing. A good choice for keep pants on, for that moment. ($85)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In short, most of us, will at some point, or already do, wear Business Casual.

Take it in stride. Love your duds no matter the occasion or style.

The most important thing, in the entire fashion world, is exuding the confidence your clothes allow you to feel. Don’t wear what you think someone else will appreciate.

Trust your gut, because in the end, you’re the one who’s got to wear the clothes.

It used to be that back in the olden days of entertainment, one needed only talent and opportunity in order to make a name for themselves in show business. But in today’s world of “look at me” reality stars and Disney produced pop princesses, the best way for someone in the entertainment industry to ensure some camera time is to dress in a manner that cannot be ignored. And while it isn’t always pretty, some celebrities have turned their wardrobes into extensions of their persona.

I know I’m not cool enough to pull of any of these outfits and chances are you aren’t either; however, in hindsight, maybe these folks could think about turning the crazy dial down just a bit when getting dressed in the morning. I mean, there is dressing the part and then there is dressing like a third-rate magician at a color-blind child’s birthday party. Maybe they aren’t insane. Maybe they’re so far ahead of the curve that we simply cannot comprehend their style choices because we are too creatively inept. I dunno; decide for yourself…

1 Don Cherry
The joke, “What? I can’t hear you over your jacket,” was tailor-made for Don Cherry. Who knew that Tommy Bahama even had a men’s suit section. Sometimes all you need in order to dress like a color-blind Bond villain is the ability to sell it. And Don seems to have the knowledge and the attitude to rock some of the out-and-out craziest outfits to ever appear on Canadian television. How you would even broach the subject of a Hawaiian business suit without getting laughed out of a tailor’s shop is beyond me. Cherry dresses like an antagonist you’d have to defeat at the end of some insane Japanese video game. Oh Canada…so similar, yet, still so far apart.

2 Bootsy Collins
He’d be the lovechild of Elton John and Slash if it weren’t for the fact that he was already jamming with James Brown before Elton ever wore a feather boa and Slash could recite the alphabet. You couldn’t expect someone with the nickname “Bootsy” to become an accountant; you’d expect someone named Bootsy to look like, well, to look like the guy in the picture. You don’t just become roll out of bed and become funk; especially when you are part of the self-proclaimed funkiest band on the planet and possibly the outlying solar system. You gotta dress like an interplanetary funk machine, and that’s why some of the outfits Bootsy pulls off are nothing you’ll see any Earthling rocking in 2010 or the foreseeable future.

3 Andre 3000
3000 sometimes dresses like a crazy person and some days he looks like a stone cold pimp. Andre Benjamin seems to walk the line between cool and absurd (I’m leaning towards coolest motherf#%*er on the planet), but no matter the outfit, dude always looks pimp. It shows that if you have extraordinary talent and a chill attitude to back it up, you can wear whatever you want and people won’t bat an eye…even when you dress crazy and shake-it like a Polaroid picture.

4 Elton John
The man who pretty much started it all. Reginald Kenneth Dwight took a page from old vaudeville acts and a page from an old-time honky-tonk blues pianist and threw them together to create the starred-out sunglass wearing artist, Elton John. Some days he dresses like a schizophrenic that dropped acid and dug through the trunk of a 1930’s German burlesque dancer and others he looks like someone that got drunk and couldn’t decide whether he wanted to look like Liberace and or one of Jim Henson‘s Muppets. Either way, he made crazy fashion crazy fashionable for some of today’s most outlandish musical acts. Oh, and he’s one of the greatest piano players the world has ever seen.

5 Katy Perry
Katy Perry used to be a gospel singer, but no one seemed to notice. So she did what any woman with a great voice and an even better set of…lungs would do: she dyed her hair, changed her image and found some of the craziest outfits on the planet to show off her…lungs. Some days she looks like something a Japanese school girl would make at a Build-A-Bear; except instead of extra stuffing in the paws, there would be extra stuffing in the…it’d be top heavy, probably. Katy Perry has magnificent breasts. There I said it. And she shows them off in eccentric outfits and I speak for most males when I say thank you Katy Perry. Even though I can’t name one song of your album, feel free to wear whatever you want.

6 Bjork
Some people are just born a bit strange. Bjork seems to be one of those people. From her sometimes bizarre music videos and performances to some strange fashion decisions, she has become known for being one of the most eclectic performers that the world has ever seen. Nothing wrong with being someone with a knack for the eccentric and the talent to back-up their eccentricity; Bjork is probably an artist in the truest sense of the word. Maybe tone down the aquatic bird themes when going to the Oscars though…it just kinda makes you look like the crazy cat lady that lives at the end of the block.

7 Lady Gaga
There are certain people that set the bar for things and then there are people who see the bar, decide it’s not tacky enough, and bedazzle the living hell out of it.When someone asks, “How many Muppets did you have to kill to make that outfit?”, the answer should never be 50 Kermits. I’m sorry, no matter how talented Lady Gaga is, she will always be the girl that cried out for attention like a match at a fireworks stand. I think even Andy Warhol would have told her to tone it down. Is it performance art? Sure. Does it give me a headache every time I see her on TV? Yes. Is her shtick working? Yes. Are we all a little bit epileptic because of it? Yeah, and I don’t care how great her music is, I’m tired of swallowing my tongue when I watch the Grammys.

And here’s some more fun stuff we think you’ll enjoy…

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• Click Here to Delay Any Productivity You Might Have Today
• Saudi Billionaire Throws Money On Women
• UFC Octagon Hottie Arianny Celeste
• Tan-Through Polo Lets You Golf Without the Golfer’s Tan

I don’t envy men when it comes to fashion, most men I know say that they don’t care but in reality toil and torment over the anticipatory first date ensemble, “how do I come off not creepy, and still get laid?” You don’t want to appear as though you’re trying too hard (gay-vibe-red-flag) and you don’t want to come off a disheveled, Lebowski of sorts; it is never a good thing if the woman you’re courting questions you on your regular bathing habits.

So how do you find that in-between, that look, that pièce de résistance, that signature style that sets you apart and makes others notice?

With Spring here, the season of finding your metaphorical rabbit, you’ll want to dress your best to stand out and attract, without coming off like a guy that would a) wear a tattoo style graphic t-shirt (need I mention names) or b) have a subscription to Vogue (10 points if you had to ask yourself “What’s Vogue?”) Sprucing up your wardrobe doesn’t mean you have to detract from your own personal, set style, it does not need to be a fight to the death, you do not need to call your buddy’s girlfriend and ask what works. Check out these selections and suggestions below:

1 Hats

A good hat does many things, it keeps you from having noticeably bad hair days, bad haircuts and serves as an awesome extra to make a t-shirt and jeans look a little cooler.

The Fedora capitalizes on this idea; I’ve been seeing both cloth and straw fedoras in high-volume this spring. The base color hat with whatever color/pattern you could think of, made by everyone you could think of. Not only is it a good looking hat, it’s really versatile.

Wearing the same clothes from last night? Slick the hair back, prop the fedora on, and all focus is brought to the guy with the really cool hat.

The Fedora is a hat commonly associated with the Great-Depression era gangsters and the coolest of cool Humphrey Bogart, circa Casablanca. Fedora-wearers are most often epitomized as the desirable, tough guys, aching to be loved, and us women, just want to love them back. Interestingly, no matter the decades that pass, the Fedora is still considered a necessary fashion accessory for adding that bit of spice, and touch of class.

True Religion does a mighty good job of updating this classic hat. The cross-weave style looks more like as overturned basket, but the straw color and brown braid gives it that spring/summer touch. ($75)

Robert Geller’s Spring/Summer show back in September had this heavy German, beach, boat vibe. I really enjoyed the lightness and playfulness of the color schematics. The feather and black and white coloring gives the former hat a Bugsy Malone type-feel. (about $265)

And for the all important affordability, H&M has its hand in every style out now, no price but I’m sure it’s reasonable

2 Shoes

Shoes should always be comfortable first and god-damned sexy second. A cool pair of shoes can totally transform an outfit, and your stride. There is nothing like strutting into a room with your very own blue suede shoes.

We’ve finally come into a time where you can wear sneakers with suits, and for whatever reason, dress shoes with sweatpants. It’s shocking and fun. Shoes are the new watch. The accessory men compare at the gym, the bar, “Dude, have you seen my new kicks…” all this, with keeping in mind that shoes are meant to touch the ground, not run your finances into it.

My picks for the season are: The color-block shoes, they are really interesting and are sure to get you a double-take….

These Cole Haan shoes may be a bit too much for the normal 9-5 business man; the blue into black concoction is creative and visually attractive. It both figuratively and literally redesigns an old shoe idea with a splash color. This palette boost, dresses up the everyday black dress shoe to something that says: “I care, but not too much.” To contrast my love for these shoes, my father, said they weren’t his style and “…looks like a narc walked through a paint puddle,” to each his own. ($198)

One of my favorite men’s shoe brands is Generic Man; constantly skirting social and style boundaries, this brand loves when color holds hands with classic savoir-faire, and makes little baby shoes that feel great. These shoes combine textures, styles (that span decades) and a color scheme that just flat out rocks. I’ve included photos of both their dress shoes and more casual shoe. So versatile. (about $295/$175)

Speaking of Color, a great brand to trust for a good fit (remember sizes run a tad small, I’d go with a half-size bigger) is Alife Footwear, successfully melding styles of the 70’s and 80’s with the repeating patterns/graphics of the aughts, Alife is one of the most recognizable shoe brands out there, and for good reason! ($120)

3 Stripes!

Stripes are nothing to be scared of. They are not to be associated with time spent in prison! Do not feel contrained by the dyed bars! Do not feel trapped by the power of at least two colors containing you in its fabric vault!

Stripes are not to be toyed with either. The number one thing is to choose the appropriate stripe pattern for you, your body and personality. If you’re short, Vertical Stripes make you look longer. If you’re a little on the heavier side, Horizontal Stripes will make you look a little thicker. I like all types of stripes, they’re not as obtrusive as a graphic tee and more interesting than a solid sweater/shirt.

This tee by Drifter messes with the constraints which is much appreciated. ($48)

Also, mixing stripes (i.e., stripes on top and bottom) may have you looking like an hypnotic spiral

Ever, an L.A. based brand, mixes surfer saavy and adult sensibility. This sweater would look great with jeans,shorts, slacks, or in the hamper. ($88)

BDG, an Urban Outfitters brand, does what Stripes should do – they draw your eye in, making a simple button down, something else. I like this brand a lot and this shirt structure is another must have for this Spring. The subtlty of the lines/stripes aids to the refinement. Lightweight, sheer and breezy, the rolled up sleeves and assortment of colors make this a very good pick, especially at ($48).

4 Linen and Cotton Pants

It’s time to put away your skinny jeans and let your legs, thighs and nether-regions breathe. With warm weather a-coming, you should pant yourself accordingly. I think women tend to have it easier with the vast array of shorts, cropped pants and lightweight trousers. Men don’t seem to have as many options, shorts always seem under-dressed and slacks always seem out of place (when out of the work realm) and there’s not much that’s really interesting about a pair of jeans.

You don’t need to be the Mediterranean Don Juan to wear cotton or linen pants, this is a common misconception. These lightweight and comfortable pants will help to combat the heat and look like you could jet-set somewhere tropical at any moment.

These Steven Alan “layman” pants are 100% cotton and super comfy. I see a blazer and light colored button down paired with these pants for that “I just stepped off my yacht” look. For that I wish I lived on the beach but I’m stuck with NYC rooftops sensibility, these pants are right up your alley ($198)

H&M is surely delivering this season in regards to Men’s Clothes. A good friend of mine just bought their stark white linen pants for ($35). Probably the better fitting pants I’ve seen in this style. Just remember, wear light colored underwear, or nothing at all, if that’s how you’re gonna roll this summer.

Old Navy known for that beach bum look, has a great pair of Linen pants. I can smell the coconuts and rum from here! ($26)

5 Denim Shirts

Denim is making a HUGE comeback in waves! So much denim on denim it’s as though the trains were still running on coal! Now the double denim look is not for everyone and it doesn’t have to be. As much as this reminds of some Coal Miner’s Daughter serenade, you don’t have to go all the way! But denim is the stand out this season, making men across the nation have the urge to wipe grease across their foreheads.

There is, at times, this overwhelming sense of “I don’t want to look like a Village Person” and you don’t have too! I think Denim shirts are more a reflection of Cool Hand Luke than YMCA.

ADAM takes a stab at re-looking at the denim shirt as a new commodity. I love how this one looks and how flattering the cut is, or lack of cut for that matter. This screams I’m confident in what I’m wearing, no matter how big (or small) my member is! ($195)

G-Star Raw is one of those brands that is always on the cutting edge, figuring out what’s cool before cool knows it’s cool. Always flirting with concepts of experimentation, space, the future, and innovative traditionalism, this Denim Shirt does what many try. Clean lines and cut, it doesn’t appear that this gentleman is on his way to the tracks, but rather, that next morning breakfast? Tip: wear your hat ($160)

6 Reinvented Shirt

Anything redone, to be new again, earns points in my book. Same goes for Beatles covers. Asymmetrical lines aren’t used to so much compliment the body, but rather the look. Wearing something that isn’t ordinary automatically puts you at the forefront. This doesn’t mean wearing things you’re not comfortable with.

Men wear skirts; I am in no way promoting this.

Beta Unit has some of the coolest cuts I’ve seen. This hoodie is more than just a hoodie. Walking down the street in this, people are sure to notice. And this isn’t going so out of the realm of comfortable fashion. It’s like origami folds, finding new and innovative ways to make the regular sweatshirt, more than just a sweatshirt. The intentional dirty grey works well with the worn style and lax fit. This, in my opinion, is a must have. ($129)

This Mans Nonno sweater takes not only the vitality of this red but the intricacies’ of the design. This asymmetrical top exemplifies the style. Refreshing and alluring, this sweater is both casual and inventive. ($62)

Tim Hamilton does what very few designers do, and that is experiment to the fullest sense of the word. I don’t have prices for these, and each dud is probably more than my rent, but they serve as an enigmatic example of the Reinvention of the Shirt. Not everyone could, or should attempt to pull these off, but the mere thought, and concept behind these is art.

7 Vests

As winter makes her way to Spring there’s still a slight chill in the air. Wanting to show off your sweet denim shirt or reinvented top, a jacket does a bit too much to cover and conceal.

The vest should be a necessary component to everyone’s wardrobe and you don’t need to grow a beard to own one, or feel like a down-filled nylon bubble. When paired with jeans, a vest can help create many chic combinations that are suitable for a number of different occasions.

This add vest will ensure you stand out. No one will say lumberjack when you stroll down the street in this. Fusing sportswear and chic-ability this vest could replace the need for flashlights. This will combat those chilly mornings and cool evenings without the need for extra fabric!($239)

ORISUE Nylon Vest is a different take on the sleeveless covering. This vest screams hipster chic and I can’t help but yell along too. The cut is very visually appealing and that extra fabric, or what-have-you, draws the eye to the most important part of the clothing, the wearer. Housing many pockets this vest could free your jeans of all that extra crap you stuff in there. ($64)

The most important thing about standing out this Spring is making sure you’re wearing clothes that fit you, which you feel comfortable in. We all remember the kid in grade school who showed up in his dad’s clothes.

• Find the uniqueness and experimentation that works for you.
• Clothes are an extension of personality; they are not the all-encompassing feature.
• Don’t fear the retail circus, make it work for you.
• Dress how you want to this Spring, stand up and stand out!

With advertising dollars scarce these days, many companies have need to take look at how to get the most bang for their buck. In doing so, a look back at what’s worked well in the past is never a bad idea. And in my humble opinion, one of the greatest moments in print advertising was when Georges, Armand, Paul and Maurice Marciano (and their advertising agency) turned the world on its collective ear in 1985 with their series of super sexy black-and-white ads touting their new ‘Guess?’ jeans. Most notable were the campaigns fronted by Claudia Schiffer in the late ’80′s and by Anna Nicole Smith in the early 1990′s, eventually evolving and extending to their other new products such as glasses and handbags.

The list of models who have posed for the fashion house is a literal who’s who of supermodels including (by my count) Alessandra Ambrosio, Valerie Avdeyeva, Diora Baird, Patricia Barros, Ana Beatriz Barros, Drew Barrymore, Sasha Beznosyuk, Toshauna Boake, Lauren Bowles, Karen Carreno, Laetitia Casta, Laryssa Castro, Chanel Celaya, Shannan Click, Bree Condon, Adia Coulibaly, Ksenia Deshtchekina, Lonneke Engel, Megan Ewing, Roxana Filip, Janelle Fishmann, Beau Garrett, Diana Gartner, Melissa Haro, Paris Hilton, Lauren James, Cynthia Kirchner, Martina Klein, Stacey Kwiatkowsky, Dominique Laniel, Adriana Lima, Korina Longin, Josie Maran, Valeria Mazza, Jessica Miller, Sarah Mutch, Rachel Nichols, Thais Oliveria, Julie Ordon, Carre Otis, Rachel Pierce, Tori Praver, Noelle Roques, Lisa Marie Schneider, Claudia Schiffer, Victoria Silvstedt, Anna Nicole Smith, Kim Smith, Landi Swanepoel, Fabiana Tambosi, Olanna Taskey, Cindy Taylor, Emma Warg, Minki Van Der Westhuizen, Veronika Varekova, Camilla Vest, Candice Viale, Shana Zadrick.

Now, I’m not sure what brought me to this moment of nostalgia, but I am glad I was because I was able to go through and locate over 210 different Guess? print ads featuring the extensive list of models you see above. I have sorted through them all (a great pleasure) and chosen the best 141 (again, in my opinion). I hope you’ll join in me as we take a sexy look back at some of the best print advertising the world has ever seen…

(NOTE: If you want to view all the ads just click on the first pic below and then click the next button below each ad. And if you do view them, leave me a comment on the ones you like the best. I am real curious which one is the most popular. Thanks!)