Column:
Dress to the nines; you'll be a 10.
Guys can dress smartly, even on a budget.
Published Sept. 25, 2009
It's a Friday night. Music at The Blue Note is bumping and crowds rush to Déjà Vu for a few laughs at the comedy show and to get down on the dance floor. Groups crowd to local parties for some drinks, friends and fun times. The streets of downtown are jam-packed with people at cafes, clubs and bars.
Ladies strut by in tall heels and slinky dresses, their stylish and polished men escorting them. It's a typical Friday night on the town.
Although the street savants look at ease, much planning and primping contributed to their appearance. We all do it: rate people who walk by. But take a look in the mirror before you leave and ask yourself, "How can I be a 10?" The answer is simple.
Gents, it's incredibly easy to throw on a polo (please, don't pop the collar), ripped and ragged jeans and some tattered leather flip-flops and call it a night. Sure, you'll blend into the crowd, but why blend in when you can stand out?
Like a house, a great outfit begins with a solid foundation: denim. Dress it up or down, denim is the quintessential article that makes or breaks the ensemble. Ditch those baggy light wash jeans for a pair of straight legs or boot cuts in a dark wash. Fit is key.
You don't want jeans that are too long or too wide in the leg. When going for boot cut, be careful that they aren't too boot cut (unless you're trying to go for the Bee Gees' bell-bottomed look, but try to leave that in the '70s). A slight break near the bottom of the jeans works nicely. Straight leg denim proves another great option and has fewer restrictions to body type. The best part is that you don't have to be a slim rocker to pull these off.
When deciding on shirt and shoes, play with extremes. If bold and crazy shirts are your thing, go for prints and colors. Plaid is hitting full force this season in a plethora of colors and variations, leaving options wide open for sartorial success. But don't go all out, Paul Bunyan.
Far from attractive, the lumberjack look can prove an easy vortex to fall into. Keep the plaid (not flannel) in a comfortable material, preferably a button-up shirt made of cotton twill, and never fear boldness. Bold is gold.
If you decide to simplify your top half, go shoe crazy. Willing to splurge on footwear? Lacoste, Christian Dior and Dolce & Gabbana (my personal favorite) are your best bets for luxury sneaks. These designers are highly-coveted, yielding a high price. But draining your savings on a hot pair of kicks isn't necessary. Asics, Sperry, Adidas, Puma and Toms are stylish and affordable options for sneakers. Go with a low-profile shoe for a more urban/European look, or even slip into a pair of high-top Converse. Style meets affordability.
Most importantly guys, clean up! A clean shave/trim, nicely styled hair and great cologne can make you feel like a new man, guaranteed for approval from the beauty across the room giving you a flirty wink.
Sure, parading out of the house every night looking like Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum just isn't in the cards for some of us. What we can learn is simple: Mimic the good styles you see in the magazines. Don't be afraid to stand out; receiving compliments glorifies dressing to your best ability. Gentlemen, why be anything else, when you could be a 10?