One of the big myths about a man’s dress code is that there isn’t a way for them to show off their sense of style while in formal wear. This definitely isn’t true. When accessorizing formal wear, it’s true men have a somewhat limited amount of choices, however, there are many ways to show off their sense of style. For example, both rings and watches are mainstream accessories that everyone sports. Watches are a staple in menswear because they can be both fashionable and highly functional at the same time. Rings, on the other hand, portray a man’s accomplishment and commitment. However, an often ignored element of style with men’s formal wear are cufflinks, which replace buttons in holding a shirt’s cuffs around a man’s wrists.

Cufflinks were originally made for formal wear for royalty and high-class men. Throughout time, men’s dress codes have evolved to adapt to the demands of current society, making cufflinks a very important element in completing any man’s overall styled look. Cufflinks are a fun, underused part of men’s formal wear that should be rocked! Like watches, they can add a bit of class, a splash of color or a touch of whimsy to any outfit.

So, when should you wear cufflinks? Though in the fashion world there isn’t a real right or wrong answer, in general, there are two formal wear situations in which men may require cufflinks: work and social. Each of these occasions has different guidelines for when to wear cufflinks. For example, if you are a banker, it is highly likely that your dress code in the office is formal, requiring you to wear a suit and tie. However, because workdays can be long, it is expected that you likely will take off your jacket while working. In a case like this one, it wouldn’t be poor etiquette to dismiss cufflinks. On the other hand, if you are a banker who is receiving an award at a ceremony, dress etiquette may demand you wear a pair of dressy cufflinks.

While cufflinks are supposed to add a touch of style to an outfit, you should also have fun with them. The key to wearing cufflinks is to match the formality of the cufflinks with the rest of your outfit. So if you’re planning to wear a tuxedo you may want to stay away from wearing fuzzy dice cufflinks!

What cufflinks do you own? We’d love to see a picture of them!

CLEVERFIT is the world’s first precision fit adjustable collar stay. It’s unique patent pending design provides an innovative solution to end decades of frustration. Click here to contact us and check out our video to more about CLEVERFIT.

Photo Credit: Fluid Forms

“Looking good isn’t self importance; it’s self respect.” – Charles Hix

For many young men, style and fashion don’t become important to them until after they have graduated college. Once they hit the “grown up” world they realize it’s a good idea to become familiar with style and fashion. Too many young men are starting their professional lives without a clue as to how to dress. Whether we like it or not, we live in an image-centric world where people quickly judge you by what they see. Is your hair neat? Are your clothes tailored? Is that a designer pair of shoes you’re wearing?

In terms of style and fashion, everyone can use a sensei from time to time to help guide them to look their best. For men, the art of dressing isn’t so simple. Though many women will say, “Men have it easy when it comes to clothes. They just have to throw on a T-shirt and jeans,” this isn’t the case. Whether it’s work clothes, play clothes or everything in between, it takes time, effort and a little inspiration to look put-together and effortless. Here are three tips to help you look like a man and not a boy.

1. Style Pyramid – If you’ve always had your mom or girlfriend help you pick out your work clothes because you’re not sure where to start, it’s a good idea to consider using the Style Pyramid. According to the Art of Manliness, it’s a simple three-step rubric: Fit, Fabric and Style. If a piece doesn’t meet all three criteria then you’re better off not wearing it. Here’s a quick rundown.

Fit is at the top of the pyramid. If a garment doesn’t fit well, don’t bother looking at the other two criteria.
Fabric is a crucial consideration. It’s the key in determining the quality of a piece of clothing. If you don’t like the raw material you’re not going to like the finished product, so don’t bother and move on.
Style is about you, your own personal taste and the image you want to present. If it fits and it’s well made, but it doesn’t have the look you want, then it’s not a good idea to buy it. It’s better to find something that not only fits the first two criteria, but that you will also enjoy wearing.

2. Shoes – Whether or not you realize it, your shoes are telling the world a variety of things about you. In a previous blog post, we discussed that a man’s shoes say a lot about him and some people even judge you by your shoes. So it’s a good idea to shell out some cash and get yourself a well-made, classic shoe. A good pair of men’s shoes will last for years and stay looking good without too much maintenance.

3. Ignore Fashion Trends – Mainstream fashion trends change quickly and most young men don’t have the budget to buy new work clothes every few months. It’s a good idea to stay away from pants, shirts and even colors that are trendy or “in” season. Stick to classic clothing staples for the core of your wardrobe and avoid anything that’s cutting edge.

A good tip to leave you with is to never underestimate the power of an iron. The iron is the ultimate tool for looking great in your work clothes. In fact, if you’re not ironing your work clothes, it’s likely you’re not dressing well.

What are your tips to dressing to impress? Let us know!

CLEVERFIT is the world’s first precision fit adjustable collar stay. It’s unique patent pending design provides an innovative solution to end decades of frustration. Click here to contact us and check out our video to more about CLEVERFIT.

Photo Credit: South Granville Live

Did you know men’s shoes could be the key to their soul? Believe it or not, a man’s shoes can be saying a dozen different things about him without him ever uttering a single word. No, we aren’t saying that men’s shoes can actually talk, but we are saying how a man maintains his shoes and which shoes he decides to wear could be a representation of who he is.

A study done by researchers at the University of Kansas and Wellesley College in Massachusetts, which was later published in the Journal of Research in Personality, found that shoes convey a thin but useful slice of information about the wearer. People in the study were shown pictures of men’s shoes and they could usually guess the wearers age, ballpark income and level of agreeability based on his shoes alone. The most surprising thing the study found was that participants were accurate at guessing attachment anxiety just by a man’s shoes! In case you are unfamiliar with attachment anxiety, it is a condition in which a person worries about being separated from a friend or loved one.  Continue reading →