Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Look at the Industry of Men’s Fashion

Fashion industry, since its inception, is based on innovation and change. Various trends have come and gone over the decades. There hasn’t been a year when there was no modification or improvement in this field. Thus, we can say that the only thing constant in this industry is the need for change and up gradation. The fashion industry is demarcated by the trends and styles, fads and changes. The essence of the fashion industry would be lost and will cease to exist if there’s consistency as everyone would be wearing the same old clothes season after season.

The fact that it always has something new to offer to its audience is what keeps the audience attracted towards this industry. The proof of which is derived from the erratic variety that is offered by multiple designers in form of summer collection and winter collection irrespective of the fact that at times the old fashion is recycled in new and exhilarating ways for the onlookers. It’s for this reason a new trend is now emerging in the industry.

The industry, once ruled by women’s fashion, is no more restricted to this gender. Men of the 21st century have made themselves visible even in the fashion industry. They have shown that if females can dress well so can the men of this decade. They have shown that they match themselves with the females’ natty dressing sense and the up-to-date fashion trends. Formerly, men always opted for suits of black and navy colors and used flamboyant ties to do the talking for their looks. In this day and age, things are taking a turn.

Men these days don’t hesitate to wear colors like sporting pink mauve shirts to office and even at important office meetings. The concept of dressing up just on one day is passing out along with the Friday dressing concept. A trend for use of brighter shades excluding the black and the navy color of winters is now emerging to depict the optimism of the climate outside.

The concept of fashion designer has now extended to apply to males. Bright t-shirts and designer denims make as much a fashion statement for men as it would for women. The point to be noted is that the fashion for men is not restricted to formal or casual apparel. It’s applicable to a list of extremely diversified accessories staring from beach wear to spectacles and belts. The world of male fashion is filled with enormous opportunities and scintillating combinations to motivate the most shrewd male fashion aficionado. The male fashion doesn’t stop at clothing and dressing it even includes the various male hairstyles and the personal grooming products that have swamped the arcades.

The fashion industry for men has globally perceived a change over the last two decades. More attention has been diverted to fashion oriented dressing from modest dressing. Fashion trappings have become a way of enhancing male outlook irrespective of their age groups. Thus, it has become an area of interest not only for the fashion conscious males but also of large companies willing to invest huge amount of money.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Fashion From the 1930s

If you want to have fun with your fashion statement one technique that never fails is to go back in time at least 50 years. Through the miracle of television re-runs they are still running the old shows from those years and so you don’t have to guess what they were wearing. By watching the old shows you can see for yourself that the styles were more simple and the haircuts were clean.

One of our favorite shows from that time is “Leave it to Beaver” because of the innocence in the troubles that the “Beav” got in to. If he got a bad grade at school, that was a major catastrophe. Nowadays simply being able to go to school and staying in school regardless of the grades received is a miracle for many high school, junior high, and elementary students.

What can the “Beav” teach us about fashion? Plenty. Simple is still cool. A baseball hat is still cool. You can mess up your dress pants, but you cannot really harm your jeans. Your older brother (or other men) do not look any better than you do, they only think they do. Your Dad may know a lot of stuff but he is not really to be trusted when it comes to fashion advice. Nor should you follow the examples set by others who actually have less of a clue about what to wear than you understand. Your mom does know best (Barbara Billingsley who played Beaver’s mom just died at the ripe old age of 94, bless her heart).

If you think you are immune to Beav-fashion, then think again. Every time you put on your jeans you can thank the Beav, because it was in the 1950’s that jeans changed from being work clothes to being cool to wear everyday and to wear to school. James Dean had a lot to do with that, but so did the Beav. The clean cut look is still as fashionable as ever. Short hair cuts (in the olden days they were called crew-cuts) are as fashionable today as they were 60 years ago.

Short hair, shiny shoes, cotton shirts with or without patterned ties, a sweater or that existential leather jacket are still a very cool look. Interesting to note is that the very short haircut (also called the buzz cut) went from being the average All-American male fashion choice in the 1950s to being part of the radical fringe three decades or so later. As with all fashion trends, old became new again.

There is definitely a place in current men’s fashion for a clean cut look as evidenced by the designs of Abercrombie & Fitch or J Crew. These and other designers specialize in this look. It is not age restricted to teenagers either. Men of all ages can wear a nice pair of jeans with a casual cotton shirt. They look great when they also take the time to polish their shoes. You can get a close cut hair cut at your nearest Super Duper cuts and with a nice cardigan sweater you can complete the “preppy” look and be completely in fashion.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Top 10 Fashion Tips For Men

Some guys are brilliant with their fashion knowledge, but most just don’t have a clue when it comes to fashion. This article is for those men who need tips on how to appear fashionable yet masculine. Appearance can make or break a business deal, job opportunity, or first-date. Follow these ten simple rules and improve your fashion sense.

1. Make sure the clothes fit properly. This is the most important rule. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing Ralph Lauren or Versace – if it doesn’t fit properly, it looks terrible. These days, you can get custom-made shirts and suits if you’re one of those guys who find it difficult to find off-the-rack items that fit. One of the number one fashion faux pas is the baggy bottom effect. Make sure those jeans fit!

2. Learn how to use an iron. As above, it doesn’t matter if you wear designer clothes if the clothes are full of wrinkles. Invest in an iron and learn how to use it, or buy items that are wrinkle-resistant.

3. Invest in some good shoes. Women pay attention to shoes, and so should men. There’s nothing worse than a great outfit that’s spoiled by a pair of cheap shoes in a color or style that don’t match the clothes. You only need two or three good pairs that will go with anything you wear. Ask at the shoe store for some good “staple” shoes.

4. Don’t be afraid of color. This doesn’t mean you should go overboard and wear eight different colors at once, but do try to break out of that blue-or-black rut.

5. Buy clothes as expensive as you can afford. Generally, when it comes to clothes, the expensive ones are pricey for a reason – they’re high quality. Buy classics that will last you a long time and your investment will be worth it. Cheap clothes will not last, and they look like their price.

6. Accessorize! Etsy.com is full of handmade accessories like tie bars and tacks, cuff links, watches, belt buckles, and more. Express some personality with your accessories.

7. Act confident. When you feel confident about your appearance and carry yourself well, you make your clothes look better. A man with good posture always looks better than one who slouches, even if they wear the exact same clothes.

8. Avoid “fad” trends. Don’t invest good money in a clothing trend that is sure to pass before the end of the season. If you must follow celebrity trends, pick an accessory that is easily replaceable, like a pair of sunglasses or a hat.

9. The classics are always, well…classic. If you have a few good classic staples in your wardrobe, you can build upon them each year and never have a tired look. Choose good suits with classic cuts (think a more modern version of the double-breasted suit that emphasizes wide shoulders, a narrow waist, and narrow trousers), a few pairs of good jeans, and a nice coat or two. Wool pea-coats are one of those classic staples that never get old, and look good over anything.

10. Keep good grooming habits. There’s no easier way to ruin the effects of great clothes than when you go out with greasy hair or an unshaven face. Daily maintenance takes a lot less time than occasional overhauls, so take a few minutes each day and make sure your face and hair are tidy. Get your hair cut regularly, and invest in a good razor. If you’re one for a beard or moustache, keep it trimmed and clean.

These ten general fashion tips will help even the most hopeless of men get a grip on how to be fashionable. Be amazed at how your friends and family (and complete strangers) notice your improved appearance when you make these simple changes.

Top 10 Fashion Tips For Men

Some guys are brilliant with their fashion knowledge, but most just don’t have a clue when it comes to fashion. This article is for those men who need tips on how to appear fashionable yet masculine. Appearance can make or break a business deal, job opportunity, or first-date. Follow these ten simple rules and improve your fashion sense.

1. Make sure the clothes fit properly. This is the most important rule. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing Ralph Lauren or Versace – if it doesn’t fit properly, it looks terrible. These days, you can get custom-made shirts and suits if you’re one of those guys who find it difficult to find off-the-rack items that fit. One of the number one fashion faux pas is the baggy bottom effect. Make sure those jeans fit!

2. Learn how to use an iron. As above, it doesn’t matter if you wear designer clothes if the clothes are full of wrinkles. Invest in an iron and learn how to use it, or buy items that are wrinkle-resistant.

3. Invest in some good shoes. Women pay attention to shoes, and so should men. There’s nothing worse than a great outfit that’s spoiled by a pair of cheap shoes in a color or style that don’t match the clothes. You only need two or three good pairs that will go with anything you wear. Ask at the shoe store for some good “staple” shoes.

4. Don’t be afraid of color. This doesn’t mean you should go overboard and wear eight different colors at once, but do try to break out of that blue-or-black rut.

5. Buy clothes as expensive as you can afford. Generally, when it comes to clothes, the expensive ones are pricey for a reason – they’re high quality. Buy classics that will last you a long time and your investment will be worth it. Cheap clothes will not last, and they look like their price.

6. Accessorize! Etsy.com is full of handmade accessories like tie bars and tacks, cuff links, watches, belt buckles, and more. Express some personality with your accessories.

7. Act confident. When you feel confident about your appearance and carry yourself well, you make your clothes look better. A man with good posture always looks better than one who slouches, even if they wear the exact same clothes.

8. Avoid “fad” trends. Don’t invest good money in a clothing trend that is sure to pass before the end of the season. If you must follow celebrity trends, pick an accessory that is easily replaceable, like a pair of sunglasses or a hat.

9. The classics are always, well…classic. If you have a few good classic staples in your wardrobe, you can build upon them each year and never have a tired look. Choose good suits with classic cuts (think a more modern version of the double-breasted suit that emphasizes wide shoulders, a narrow waist, and narrow trousers), a few pairs of good jeans, and a nice coat or two. Wool pea-coats are one of those classic staples that never get old, and look good over anything.

10. Keep good grooming habits. There’s no easier way to ruin the effects of great clothes than when you go out with greasy hair or an unshaven face. Daily maintenance takes a lot less time than occasional overhauls, so take a few minutes each day and make sure your face and hair are tidy. Get your hair cut regularly, and invest in a good razor. If you’re one for a beard or moustache, keep it trimmed and clean.

These ten general fashion tips will help even the most hopeless of men get a grip on how to be fashionable. Be amazed at how your friends and family (and complete strangers) notice your improved appearance when you make these simple changes.