Appearance, Clothing
Are the cufflinks an essential element of office wear or they should be reserved for formal occasions? For gentleman who wants to stand out or show his status, cufflinks are a great accessory that make a statement.
Clothes do not make the man, but attention to the detail differentiates man from the gentleman. Choosing a shirt with cuffs is a matter of style and require wearing cufflinks.
Cufflinks were an essential accessory for nobles for centuries and became more common in Victorian times. In the seventies of last century cuff links were replaced with build-in buttons, but they made a big comeback in the nineties and today are worn by men and women. What was once an exclusive domain of wealthy and privileged class of people became a main street fashion accessory.
Today, cufflinks are commonly available, and in my opinion they are always in a good taste to complement a professional attire. They are also a part of men’s jewerly and since the more stylish a man becomes, the more he relies on smaller details, you should strive to match the colour of your cufflinks with other metals – your watch or ring.
Shirts come with either cuff with buttons or cuff for cufflinks. The last is definitely more elegant option and I would advise having few shirts for cuff links, as well few pairs of metal and silk knot cuffs.
If you decide for enamel or knot cufflinks, you should coordinate their colours with the rest of your attire. Knot cufflinks are an inexpensive option for adding an extra flair to your look. They work great for a more relaxed look and you can play with the colour, matching them with tie or handkerchief.
There is a wide range of fancy cufflinks available on the market and even some fashion designers promote them. Pair them rather with casual outfits, as funny cufflinks do not add to the professional look.
Please note shirt with cuff links is meant to be worn with the jacket. If you want to be more relaxed and remove the jacket, then choose for a shirt with buttoned cuffs.
Tips on wearing cufflinks:
- Choose gold or silver cufflinks for formal occasions
- The more formal the occasion the less ornamented the cufflinks
- For formal occasions choose double cuff shirt (also known as French cuff)
- For office wear and business, you can choose less formal single cuff shirt
- For a professional office look avoid fancy cufflinks, keep them simple and solid
- Match the colour of your knot cufflinks with the attire
- For an elegant look, metals of all jewerly pieces should match
- When wearing cufflinks, keep the jacket on
Clothing
Summer is a great time to look at your wardrobe and refresh it a bit for the season. Your thick woolen suits and double ply cotton shirts should be replaced with light garments and thin fabrics. Warm season is also a great time to wear bright colors and you should not be afraid of having few cheerful elements.
If you aim for a more classic look, wear bold colors and choose for plain fabrics or very small patterns. If you prefer a more relaxed style and your job doesn’t require formal look, then you may want to experiment with floral patterns and colorful fabrics.
Below some examples how you can coordinate your spring look with pastel colors. Mix and match the color of your shirt, tie and pocket square to achieve a new look for every day. All you need is a classic gray two piece suite, three cotton shirts, few ties and matching handkerchiefs. You may also wear a white shirt for a polished look at any time.
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Appearance, Clothing
Do you want to look stylish, fashionable and yet elegant and appropriate? Then have a collection of ties! There are 5 rules when it comes to your tie…
Man’s wardrobe must look boring in comparison with a closet of a woman. In a way men are limited to suits, shirts and ties which make their everyday business look pretty boring. Yet, some men crave to stand out of the crowd of look-alike executives and want to add a personal twist to the business outfit. Experiments may be fun, but might also lead to disasters.
5 rules to match a tie
The rules for a good match of the suit, shirt and ties are simple:
1. The more formal the occasion, the more conservative the outfit
For formal occasions decide for a white shirt and plain, one color tie. The more authority you want to command the less fancy your clothing should be. That’s the reason for a classic, elegant look – no pattern, high contrast, two color formal wear.
For a more relaxed look or informal business meeting opt for the pastel color shirt (ivory, blue or pink) with colorful tie that compliments the color of the shirt or suit. If in any doubt, choose a ‘save option’ – white shirt. It goes well with any suit and tie and always looks appropriate.
2. The wider the collar – the bigger the knot
Choose the tie that works best with shirt collar. If the collar is wide spread, compliment it with a thick full knot or a single knot of a thick woollen tie. If the collar wings are narrow, choose a thinner fabric tie like silk and go for smaller knot.
3. The tie should be darker than a shirt
Black shirt and white tie? This surely will make you memorable but not necessarily in the right way. For a classic business look always choose a light color shirt and dark, contrasting or matching tie. If you like monochromatic look, then go for a plain tie a shade darker than the color of the shirt.
4. The stripes on the shirt and tie need to oppose each other
If you want to play with stripes please remember this rule. The wider the stripes on one item, the narrower the should be on the other. This will ensure appropriate balance and the final effect will be elegant and not overwhelming.
5. Tie width should match the width of the suit lapels
This is all about proportion… If you want to wear skinny tie, you need to wear it with a suit jacket with narrow lapels. Wider lapels require a wider tie.
I always encourage my clients to experiment. Once you gain the confidence to coordinate your wardrobe according to the rules, you may want to break them from time to time, as long as the occasion is appropriate for a bit of a show off. Whatever you do please remember that the final look should always enhance your personal style and elevate your image.
Appearance, Clothing
Corduroy is a cotton fabric that is used to make pants, skirts, jackets, and outerwear. It is warm and soft with a particular texture.
Corduroy pants are casual and can be part of an everyday outfit for informal occasions. They come in all colors, although black, navy, brown, and tan are the most popular colors. What kind of corduroy you should wear depends on the setting and the weather. They can be a good alternative to jeans or trousers for a casual outfit. Thicker corduroy is better for cold days, whereas in the spring you can wear a lighter material.
Corduroy can also be made into jackets. They are as soft and comfortable as a sweater, but they look much better. You should not wear corduroy pants and a corduroy jacket together because it will be too much of the patterns. If you are bigger, you should not wear heavy material because it will not be very slimming.
Corduroy clothes need special care. You should always hand wash them or at least turn them inside out in the washing machine. Hang them to dry rather than using a machine dryer. If you need to iron them, turn them inside out. The texture of the fabric will cover up most wrinkles. Corduroy that is damaged looks inelegant and should not be worn.
Appearance, Clothing
It seems like there is nothing special about socks. They are just something you have to wear and they don’t really matter. However, this minor detail can ruin any outfit if the choice of socks is not given proper thought. There are a number of things to consider when buying socks.
Color
Socks should match your shoes or pants. White and colored socks are best for sports or other informal events. Dark colors like black or navy are best for formal occasions like business meetings. For casual pants, you should wear brown shoes with brown socks. With a gray or black suit, you should wear gray or black socks. This is the safest option, but you can also coordinate sock color to the rest of your outfit. Socks are inexpensive, so you should always have a pair in the color you need.
Patterns
Plain socks will always match your outfits, but they are also not very exciting. Small details can make socks more elegant as long as they don’t compete with the rest of the outfit. If you have patterns in the rest of your outfit, you should wear plain socks because you don’t want to overdo it. Traditional sock patterns like argyle can match with other elements of your outfit like your tie.
Thickness
For thicker winter suits, you should choose thick socks as well. For more casual events, you should wear thinner socks. The more formal the occasion, the better quality sock you should wear. Things like tuxedos need special knee socks and you should choose a high-quality material.
Length
Socks for sports are usually short and go with sneakers and trainers. For casual outfits, you can wear ankle length or longer socks. For formal occasions, you should wear longer socks. Longer socks keep your legs covered if you are sitting down with your legs crossed.
Fabric
Socks can be made of many fabrics. The most important quality of a sock is that it fits your foot. The heel of the sock should not be bunched up in your shoe. You also need to consider the width of the sock so it comfortably fits on your leg.
Socks are an important part of your daily outfit, especially if you are in a cultural situation that requires you to take off the shoes, like visiting a mosque.
If your socks have holes, you should throw them away and buy a new pair to avoid the embarrassment that Paul Wolfowitz, President of World Bank had to face, when photos of him taking off his shoes when visiting a mosque in Turkey, made to the front pages of daily newspapers.
Appearance, Clothing
Many men despise wearing ties. They don’t wear a tie because they want to; they wear a tie because they feel like they have to. They wear them out of a sense of obligation and only feel like themselves once the tie is off.
Men who do not like wearing ties should consider that there are professional and elegant alternatives like the ascot. An ascot is a sash or scarf and it is named after the horseracing track Ascot Heath in England, where these scarves became popular in the19th century.
An ascot can be worn with either a formal suit or a more casual blazer. During the day, it should be tied up in the collar. The top button does not have to be closed. At more formal occasions, the collar should be buttoned all the way and the ascot should be tied and clipped with a pin. A vest completes this look. It can be worn with tailcoats, tuxedos, or frockcoats. An ascot should be a solid color like white, silver, or burgundy for formal occasions or patterned for casual look.
The ascot is an old style that is just starting to return. It is a perfect substitute for a tie and can match any shirt of jacket. A man who wears an ascot is elegant and unique and stands out among other men who wear ties. Ascots convey individualism, good taste, and aesthetic sense.
Appearance, Clothing
The Preppy style is inspired by American Ivy League colleges. These students primarily come from the upper classes and have a specific way of dressing and acting. It involves more than just an outfit; it is a lifestyle. In addition to clothing, a prep has a neat appearance with well-groomed nails and hair.
Published in 1980, the Official Preppy Handbook was a style guide that defined this look. Brands that embody this style are Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Brooks Brothers, and J. Crew. In addition to wearing certain clothing, preps play sports like golf, tennis, and sailing and drink bloody marys or gin cocktails.
There are a number of iconic clothing items that are part of the prep style, such as:
- Polo shirts, usually embroidered with the brand name
- Oxford shirts
- Chino jeans
- Tennis jackets
- V-neck sweaters, especially in pastel colors
- Blazers
- Bermuda shorts
- Boat shoes
Appearance, Clothing
Handkerchief is a piece of men’s clothing, which can signal that you truly have style. It is a small thing, but it really completes an outfit. It allows you to experiment with colors and express your individual nature.
A handkerchief, also called a pocket square, is a piece of fabric that is between 15 and 20 centimeters wide. It is now only used as decoration rather than as a function object. In the past, material like silk or linen showed the owner’s status. Today, handkerchiefs are made of many different materials. Silk is best for formal occasions, where cotton or wool are best for everyday use.
High quality handkerchiefs are hand-made. The edges of the fabric are hand-rolled and secured with broadly spaced stitches. Make sure that the label or monogram of designer or producer are not visible.
Handkerchiefs should harmonize with other elements of your outfit and complete the look. If you have a colorful tie, a solid handkerchief that compliments one of tie colors is best. If you are wearing a striped or patterned shirt, choose a plain handkerchief or one that color is the same of the stripe. Using multiple colors and patterns requires good taste and can be difficult.
If you are unsure, choose a white handkerchief, which is the most universal color and style. The only exception to this is rule is if you are wearing shirt in off-white, like ivory or ecru, white pocket square makes the shirt looks dirty.
Other good colors include yellow, grey, or pastels because they are easy to match. A man should have two or three handkerchiefs in neutral colors to easily match with any outfit.
Men who wear handkerchiefs are perceived as more stylish. The more elegant the man, the more attention he pays to details. Wearing a pocket square allows you to add color to an outfit.You don’t need to limit yourself to formal occasions or office wear. Pocket square looks great with tweed jacket and also adds the flair to more casual outfits.
There are many ways to wear them. Americans prefer to fold handkerchiefs (pointed fold), whereas Britons put them in the pocket in a more artistic way (flair fold). My advice: put it with the attention and wear it as you forgot about it!
5 tips to wear handkerchief
– White pocket square works with most outfits
– Choose pointed fold for business and flair fold for a more relaxed look
– Pick a color that matches either the shirt or tie
– The more formal the occasion, the more conservative your pocket square
– Wear pocket square for casual jacket to add a flair to your outfit
