How to Dress Better (for Men)

Clothes make the man. This mantra has been drilled into your head time and time again, but many of you out there are still not listening. When it comes to fashion know-how, most men are 1) too cheap, 2) too clueless, or 3) simply don't care (these are the men whose mommies laid their clothes out for them).

You can no longer continue walking around looking like a mess, so for some help, we turned to our very own fashion guru, Stan Williams, the fashion editor of MAXIM magazine, for some tips on how to get your wardrobe in shape so you can start stepping out with style.

Stan makes a compelling case on the importance of a well-dressed man:

"I think that women recognize a man who dresses well. They can pick that guy out of the crowd. He's not necessarily dressed expensively or crazily, he's a guy who's dressed well and looks neat. If a man cares about the way he looks, it is obvious to other people that he's got something going on for himself and that he will probably be a better date," says Stan Williams, Fashion Maven.

In other words, man + good wardrobe = dates with women! Got your attention now? Thought so.

If you're lucky enough to have a business casual dress policy at work, many of our tips can be applied to your office wardrobe as well.

By the way, this article is for beginners who want some simple secrets for building a basic wardrobe and improving their general appearance-it's not meant to turn you into a trendy hipster overnight. So you'll find no references to long fur coats, shiny shirts or updated cowboy hats.

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Instructions

Groom Yourself

1. Your body is a temple that deserves to be worshiped. But first, it's time for a spiritual awakening. Before you even begin to think about revamping your wardrobe, you first have to perform some basic grooming. Yes, we know you bathe on a daily basis and wear (relatively) clean clothes, but the following items are notoriously (and wrongly) ignored by men:
   
   Eyebrows
   Nails
   Hair
   Cologne
   
   Eyebrows
   
   Think waxing and plucking is just for women? Not true. There are many men out there who suffer from the infamous unibrow--when two eyebrows appear as one because of a continuous bridge of hair. If this sounds a little too familiar, then it's time for you to do something about it. There are two ways to alleviate this problem:
   
   * Go to a professional salon and have them wax and shape your eyebrows. It will cost around $10-$15. After you get your eyebrows initially waxed, you can maintain them at home by plucking the hairs as they grow back with a pair of tweezers.
   
   * Wax them at home. This method is a little risky, and you will need a trusted friend to help you (and we do stress trusted). But waxing at home can be done.
   
   * Pluck them yourself. We don't advocate this method, but if you refuse to cough up the $10 or are afraid of salons, it's better than nothing. Just be sure to pluck the middle (that is, any hairs growing on your nose bridge).
   
   Whatever you do, you must not shave your eyebrows. Not only will the hair grow back faster and thicker, it will also be pretty obvious that you took a razor to 'em. Plucking is the only way to go.
   
   Nails
   
   People notice your hands-they are a part of how you express yourself when you are communicating, so you need to take care of them. So here's how to make your nails look nice:
   
   * If you are a nail biter, stop immediately. There is nothing grosser than a pair of gnarled, ragged fingernails that have been chewed down to the knuckle.
   
   * On the other hand (pun alert), long fingernails on men are equally disturbing. So it's important to keep them short enough so that you don't hurt people during handshakes.
   
   * Get a professional manicure (more manly than you think) or invest in a pair of fingernail clippers and a fingernail file and do it yourself at home. Pay attention to cuticles and hangnails.
   
   * Toenails are also important. Whether the ladies are seeing your feet on the beach or in bed, nasty toenails are a complete turnoff. Keep them trimmed and keep them clean.
   
   Hair
   
   Basically, hair is easy: Don't be afraid to get haircuts, and make sure you comb it before you leave your house.
   
   Most men don't get haircuts frequently enough, which contributes to an overall sloppy look. So after you get one, ask your stylist when you should come in next, and make an appointment. (Our recommendation is once every five weeks.) If you like the unkempt rock star look, keep the length to a minimum and make sure your hair isn't greasy. At the other extreme, the crew cut military look is no good (unless, of course, you are in the military).
   
   For men who use styling products in their hair, they often fall victim to SFS, or Shiny Forehead Syndrome. This is when the styling product you are using in your hair gets all over your forehead leaving a shiny film. The solution is simple. Wash your forehead after you are finished styling your hair.
   
   Cologne
   
   In the wild, animals are able to identify others by scent. But they also smell each other's asses to sniff said scent. The moral: Be careful when selecting and applying cologne. Here are our tips:
   
   * You should never wear a brand of cologne that you can buy in a drugstore (translation: Cheap cologne).
   
   * Go to a department store and get a quality brand.
   
   * Ask your sisters and chick friends to recommend one. They would know best.
   
   * Don't rely on what smells good on a friend; different colognes smell different on different people. So test a small amount on your forearm, give it a minute to seep in, and then smell it.
   
   * You shouldn't mix one brand of aftershave with another brand of cologne. You'll smell like a mess.
   
   * The most common error: Don't pour too much of it on. You don't want your scent to arrive in a room before you do.

Next: Clean Out Your Closet

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[MyJB]

on 10/23/2009 This article demonstrates that you're open-minded and know a lot about male fashion and grooming. Thanks for sharing. 5*