Matching Mens Shoes with Suits or Pants

I have received many queries by readers on how to match their shoes against their other mens clothing, like suit or pants. Actually it is not as difficult as they think it is since the choices of colors for men's shoes are quite limited. Unless you have a taste for extraordinary colors, otherwise there should not be much problem coordinating dress shoes.

Always remember that formality of dress shoes begins from the darkness of its color. For example, black is always the most formal color while light brown is the least formal. So you should match your shoes against your suits or pants based on the occasion. If you are attending a formal business dinner, then naturally black shoes are your ultimate choice rather than brown shoes.

Of late, there are more men wearing light brown or camel colored dress shoes against their dark colored suits or pants. These high contrast creates a very trendy style which I personally like. However, we should also note that this combination gives a more casual feel toward it.

What if the suit or pants are brown-based colors like olive or chocolate colors? Must we definitely wear it against brown shoes? Not necessarily, black shoes are just as fine. Of course, brown shoes would let the color flow very smoothly but black is still a color that can fit nicely. Remember that black is the color for formal.

Lace-up shoes are one step better than slip-ons for their formality. At the same time, lace-ups are split into Balmoral and Blucher types. Refer to Mens Dress Shoes Styles for their differences. The latter is always considered less formal because of its open throat design.

So remember that whether you want a formal or casual look would depend on your choice of two criteria: the dress shoe style and its color. My brother actually has a gray shoe that is blucher styled with pointed tip and polished patented leather. Due to these various combinations, his dress shoe actually looked almost formal against dark colored pants and yet with a tinge of stylishness.

For more: http://www.mens-fashion-tips.com/

Dior Homme AW07-08

Dress for success

The guys in the lab coats are hard at work on your suit coats, and the results deliver new levels of comfort and class.

Science improving style? Yes, sir, and the future looks comfortable. Take the word of men whose lives depend on what they wear: U.S. servicemen. Recent army studies have shown that uncomfortable clothing can interfere with soldiers' short-term memory and mess with their reaction times. That holds true whether you're literally under fire or only metaphorically dodging grenades. Mark Newton of Gore-Tex brand calls it the comfort correlation: "The psychological and physiological states are inseparably linked." Here are new uniforms for the everyday soldier, judged by their wrinkle and stain resistance, moisture wicking, breathability, and comfort. Why not put every advantage to work for you?

The Job Interview
You flash the suit, they show the money
So it's your second interview for that position with the six-figure salary and the five-star office space. High-tension moment? Not really, if you can ensure that they literally won't see you sweat. The worlds of fabric technology and traditional tailoring meet in this slideshow. Perry Ellis and Hart Schaffner Marx are pioneers in using lightweight, high-tech fabrics that look cool, and feel cooler. Pair them with the Air Clifden split-toe shoes on this page, for the sole (and comfort) of a running shoe, and style straight from the craftsmen of Florence, Italy.

The Workday
If your clothes work hard, you can take it easy
Nanotechnology, the science behind Perry Ellis's Nanotex suit, works on a microscopic level--a nanometer is 3 to 5 atoms wide--to create fabrics that repel and resist stains. So there's no reason to cry over spilled milk (or coffee). Tip: Don't bust out a new suit for a big meeting; wear it a few times first, so you feel comfortable in it. The ease you'll display will encourage people's confidence in what you have to offer. For the rest of your body, remember that fit is as crucial to comfort as fabric. Brooks Brothers, for instance, offers body scanning that can deliver custom clothing to your door in 3 weeks.

The First Date
Underwear can seal the deal, or break it
After weeks of IM innuendo, she agrees to go out. Now it's time to look the part you've been playing electronically. That begins with the layer closest to your skin. The new Calvin Klein Flexible Fit line is made from 91 percent cotton and 9 percent Lastol XLA fabric, for better shape and stretch. Advanced fabric technology helps, but natural cotton is tried and true. In tests by the military, soldiers wearing cotton scored the highest on memory-related tasks--second only to those who wore nothing at all. Keeping your mind sharp and your body cool (nothing breathes like cotton) will make it easier to remain your charming self all night long--until it comes time to remove even the last layer. And as the last stitch comes off, your memory kicks into a higher gear, as the military has shown us. Good thing, too: There's so much worth remembering then, after all.

The Weekend
Kick-back cool
A weekend's activity--that mix of errands, kick-back time, and socializing--can stretch any man's ward-- robe. It comes down to versatile styles in fabrics that stay comfortable during every stop on the to-do list. "In the industry right now there's an enormous focus on improving the 'hand' of fabric--how it feels to the touch," says Maureen MacGillivray, Ph.D., a professor of apparel merchandising and design at Central Michigan University. Her colleagues have used thermal cameras and other technology to measure the "microclimate" between the body and clothing. Combine go-anywhere style with touch-me fabric--and make it moisture wicking--and you have this sweater from Zegna Sport. Your personal microclimate has never felt so temperate.

Silk Ties Basics

There are thousands of different silk ties available on the market, and sometimes the many choices available can be overwhelming for some people. Below are some helpful tips to consider when making the decision of what style, and type of silk tie to choose.
Silk ties are very popular because of their luxurious look and feel; at one time silk ties were only worn for special occasions. Now there are a wide variety of silk ties available for every occasion. Polyester was the most popular choice in ties, as they were always considered easy to clean and care for. Although, silk ties are now made just as versatile as polyester ties, and look far better.
At one time silk ties were considered to be a luxury item and were very expensive, although now they are cheaper than ever due to popular demand. A silk tie will cost around $50 in today’s market.
When choosing a silk tie, the shirt and tie must match each other. Since a tie is used as an accessory to compliment an outfit, it is important to keep in mind that if the shirt you are intending on wearing is loud and colorful the tie needs to be calm and not overly colorful or loud. The same rule applies for a shirt that is plain, you should choose a bold and interesting tie, like one with a pattern.
Be sure that the color of your tie matches with your outfit so that it compliments what you are wearing. Depending on the occasion you may choose a conservative tie such as black or a plain color especially, if you are attending a formal occasion. If you are attending a party or wedding it is ok to wear a more colorful and exiting silk tie, or maybe even a novelty tie that will compliment your personality as well as your outfit.
There are many other accessories that can be used with, or in place of a silk tie. Some of these are silk handkerchiefs, silk bow ties and tie clips. The most important thing to remember when choosing a silk tie is to make sure that it matches what you are wearing. If you are not sure weather the tie matches your outfit ask at the store where you are intending to purchase the tie or bring along a friend who can give their opinion.
Silk ties are available either at department or clothing stores or can be purchased over the Internet. Many online stores offer free postage and handling on their silk ties, they also have a large array of different payment options including pay pal, credit cards or money orders. With thousands of stores available, silk tie suppliers can be found by doing a quick search on your favorite search engine.

About the Author:
Celia Nemart writes about family and creativity and design on the internet, Celia is a dedicated writer that writes to improve the information about Silk Ties and pregnancy in young woman.

Find A Tailor

Sure, everyone knows you can get your pants hemmed at the dry cleaners. But what about when your threads need a little more attention? Perhaps that fabulous new suit needs fine-tuning or you’d like your own custom-designed dress shirt. How do you find a great tailor who can expertly handle a variety of complicated and specialized tasks?
First and foremost, don’t be afraid to ask around: Ask a friend, that sharp-looking dresser at work or go to a high-end department store. Once you've assembled yourself a list of recommended tailors, start doing some research.
Now that you’ve found some tailor candidates, you need to make up your mind about which one to trust with your style reputation. The following are some details you should keep in mind when conducting your search.

Experience
Start with this direct and most important question: How long have you been in business? If you want someone experienced, make sure he's not the new business on the block. Of course, everyone has to start somewhere, but do you want to be the one to take a chance?
Secondly, ask if he can provide a list of clients. There is no better reference than a satisfied customer; make sure you get at least five names, and don’t assume they’re all happy customers -- call them. If your candidate won’t or can’t give you a list, cross him off of yours; it doesn’t matter if you've heard great things about him.
Vision
Find out the tailor's personal take on fashion: Is he strictly into old-school, classic styles or can he do trendy items for you as well? Having your own fashion authority is a great tool to form your own sense of style.
See if the tailor has the same vision as you. Search magazines and bring photos of what appeals to you. Discuss fabrics and styles you prefer. Find out if he is open or resistant to your ideas; a tailor who balks at your suggestions is not the tailor for you.
Making sure your visions mesh is of the utmost importance. You need to be comfortable working with this person, so it’s best to find out from the very beginning whether this will be a pleasurable collaboration or not. You don’t want to be halfway through a suit to discover you are rubbing each other the wrong way; chances are it will show in the garment.
Samples
The only way to know the exact quality of a tailor’s work is to see it for yourself. Ask if he can provide you with samples or photos of his work, and judge for yourself if this is the kind of craftsmanship you’d like applied to your own clothing. Also, browse through some samples of the materials he works with.
Furthermore, make sure to ask him about his style of workmanship. Ask how much of the garment will be hand-sewn and how much will be machine-made. Ask him to describe the process to you so you can make a well-informed decision.
Time frame
So far, so good, but what about the wait? Check his availability and the time frame allotted to complete various projects; unrealistic, overextended time frames can be a deal-breaker. The tailor may make a great garment, but if you have to wait forever for it to be completed, it may be a good idea to visit the second tailor on your list.
Price
Once you’ve found the tailor you like best, you must find out the most important detail of all: How much does he charge? You need to listen to your wallet, but don’t go with the bargain basement either -- unless a polyester plaid ensemble is more your thing.

After interviewing your tailor candidates, take the time to review your options. A tailor's experience and his happy repeat clients are the hallmark of an expert tailor. Shy away from anyone who resists your style vision; you must be comfortable working with this person -- after all, it will be a close and personal relationship. Choose the one who most closely reflects your sense of style and taste, has a good turnaround time and offers reasonable rates.
Hand-tailoring is not inexpensive and has traditionally been in the realm of the upper class, but consider this: Who do you think looks better -- the guy in a $300 off-the-rack suit or the fellow in the hand-tailored $3,000 suit that drapes like a dream?

Classic Men’s Wallets That Never Go Out Of Style

I know not every man puts much thought into choosing the wallet he uses. After all, it’s just something that carries your cold hard cash. But to me, the wallet is arguably a man’s most essential accessory and the wallet he carries says a lot about him and his personal style.
So regardless of you’re buying a wallet for yourself or as a gift, you should really take your time to pick a good one. It’ll accompany you for many years to come.
Women are clearly spoilt for choice when it comes to handbags and small leather goods. Every season, designers crack their brain to come up the “It” bag that will be the object of every woman’s desire.
As guys, we aren’t that fortunate. We don’t have that many designers clamoring for our attention. But it doesn’t mean we don’t have choices. In fact there are men’s wallets and small leather goods that never go out of style.
I find these timeless classics very appealing because there’s always an interesting story behind its success. They may not come cheap but they’ll certainly elevate your status in the style department.
Meisterstuck by Montblanc
Montblanc turned 100 in 2006 and there are many reasons to celebrate. The success of the legendary Meisterstuck fountain pen launched in 1924 helped Montblanc become the de-facto market leader of fine writing instruments.
Today, Montblanc is more than just a maker of fine writing instruments. The company has launched its leather goods, its fine watches, eyewear, fragrance and even jewelry.
Montblanc’s foray into leather goods started in 1935 when it acquired a producer of leather ware in Germany. Riding on the success of its Meisterstuck fountain pen, Montblanc launched the Meisterstuck leather collection.
Using black calfskin fitted with its signature “star” logo, Montblanc creates a masculine line of fine leather goods that is an instant hit with its predominantly male clientele.
Must de Cartier by Cartier
Well-known for its jewelry and fine watches, Cartier is one of the top luxury brands in the world and its products are associated with very, very high price tags.
1974 was the year Cartier made a comeback in the world of leather goods with the Must de Cartier line. The color burgundy, with a slight raspberry hue, was chosen as a logical continuation to the Cartier red for this must-have collection of fine leather goods. Burgundy soon became the new black.
The influential Bordeaux color, the iconic double ‘C’ logo, and the distinctive gold hardware make the Must de Cartier line a timeless classic.
But to be honest, Must de Cartier is not for the weak-hearted. Not every guy feels comfortable carrying a burgundy wallet with gold adornments.
Monogrammed Canvas by Louis Vuitton
With more than 100 years of history, Louis Vuitton monogrammed canvas must be the classic of all classics. And no matter what Louis Vuitton does to the monogrammed canvas, it still sells like hot cakes.
They splattered the canvas with graffiti. They planted red cherries on the canvas. They painstakingly sewed the motifs on denim. And they got Takeshi Murakami who reinterpreted the motif in brilliant rainbow colors. It seems like you can’t go wrong with the monogrammed canvas.
Unfortunately they don’t have a good selection of men’s wallets in monogrammed canvas so your choices are rather limited.
Pocone Nylon by Prada
It was in 1978 when Miuccia Prada took over the dusty luggage business from her grandfather. Under her helm, Prada became a luxury powerhouse with far-reaching influence in the world of fashion.
The world took notice when Prada made a handbag out of black waterproof Pocone nylon. Fitted with its distinctive triangular logo plate, nylon never looked so good. Miuccia Prada single-handedly made nylon luxurious.
Of course, I’m not expecting you to carry the popular nylon handbag. Prada does make nice nylon wallets trimmed with cowhide for men. Although it’s now available in many different colors, black is always a classic.
Woven Leather by Bottega Veneta
Once a second-tier brand in the Gucci Group’s stable, Bottega Veneta has become the group’s rising star. With its ultra-exclusive and elitist appeal, Bottega Veneta is poised to become the next Hermes.
Recreating the brand’s popular woven bags from the 1970s, Bottega Veneta beats the trend of logomania with its handcrafted leather goods made from the finest napa leather.
And consistent with the brand’s slogan “When your own initials are enough”, you won’t be able to see any logo on the leather goods. But the beautifully woven leather, which ages very well with use, should be enough to announce that you’re carrying a Bottega.
Line D by S.T. Dupont
S.T. Dupont is so well known for its lighters that it’s easy for us to forget that Simon Tissot-Dupont founded the company in 1847 making leather briefcases for diplomats and businessmen.
The classic Line D collection of fine leather goods was launched in 1985 and featured the Dupont “D” logo in gold on black calfskin. In recent years, they also offer Line D fitted with the trendier palladium hardware. But whether it’s in gold or palladium, Line D still looks as timeless as ever.
Burberry Check by Burberry
When we think of Burberry, we invariably think of the red, camel, black and white check that has become synonymous with the brand. It’s hard to imagine that the Burberry Check actually has a humble beginning. It was introduced in 1920 as a lining to the iconic Burberry trench coat.
Burberry is enjoying a revival in recent years - all thanks to its creative director Christopher Bailey’s modern interpretation of the classic check, CEO Rose Marie Bravo’s dynamism, and Kate Moss’ star power. You just can’t go wrong with such rich Brit heritage.

By Logan Wong is the founder of mensfolio.com

The Shoes That Everyone Needs In Their Wardrobe

This season, black is the new black. That's right. Black is in. Black is always in. That's one of the great things about it. Black never goes out of style. Part of its timelessness is the fact that it goes with almost anything. From jeans to a tuxedo, black always works. When it comes to shoes, all those statements still apply. You may not want to wear black shoes all the time, but no wardrobe is complete without them. Man or woman, you should own black shoes.
In the past, when people thought about black shoes they thought about formalwear. Well, that's no longer the case. These days, many athletic shoes are black. It's tough to predict popular fashions or explain them, but at some point professional athletes started switching from white shoes to black shoes. Soccer players have been wearing black sneakers for a long time. Football players and baseball players soon followed suit. But it wasn't until professional basketball players started wearing black sneakers that the trend really caught fire. Now it can be hard to find white athletic shoes. Some athletes think black shoes make you look like you're moving faster. Others point to more practical reasons. Black shoes don't show dirt and scuffs as much as light colored shoes do. Popular fashion tends to follow the lead of the elite and athletic shoes buyers are no different. Once the pros started doing it, the masses followed. Black athletic shoes match almost any color and work well in a variety of environments. Black basketball shoes look just as good with blue jeans as they do with a pair of polyester mesh basketball shorts. Women athletes are wearing black shoes, too.
Of course, their real-world female counterparts are doing the same thing. Of course, when it comes to formalwear, black shoes are an absolute necessity. Men can get away with own one pair of nice shoes and odds are that one pair of nice shoes that guys own are going to be black. You can't go wrong with a nice pair of black loafers, or oxfords, or wing-tips, or even formal boots. Black dress shoes are integral to that classic black tuxedo. They go great with jeans and a blazer for that rugged, yet chic look. When attending a funeral, those black shoes will work perfectly.
Women, too, need a nice pair of formal black shoes. Unlike most men, it's probable that women will have more than one pair of nice black shoes. Whether they're flats or high heels, a lady must have some black shoes to choose from to go with that elegant evening gown, beautiful cocktail dress, alluring skirt, professional pants suit, and even blue jeans.
Don't forget to invest in some shoe polish for your black formal shoes. This will keep them shiny and in good condition.
You can't go wrong with a pair of black shoes, whether it's for formal occasions, knocking the stuffing out of a baseball, or hanging out at your favorite bar.



Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as dress shoes at www.designershoesplus.com
Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com

Fashionable Watches To Style Up Your Life

You will probably agree that a watch is a very important thing in defining anyone’s style. No fancy suit can be complete without a trendy watch, so if you don’t have at least one by now, you must absolutely add it on your to-do list.
The latest in men’s fashion brings up a very large range of watches to choose from. Whether it is a watch with white face and a black leather or a stainless steel band, it will most surely brighten up your life. It can change your image for the better and you will feel more comfortable with yourself.
For the ones seeking attention and envious looks, a funky watchstrap will be more than enough to achieve your goals.
Bright, multicolored, nylon straps are popping up on watches everywhere, and make for a great sporty look to add to your jeans or track pants and sweatshirt. The strap can be made of nylon, for instance. Nothing will look nicer than a multicolored strap to add charm to your timepiece, not to mention the colors in the watch face! The only thing you must think about when buying such a watch is that you can never wear it to a business suit!
Should you choose leather for your watch, you can be certain that you have made the right decision. Leather seems to be the king of the fashion world, whether it is in the form of jackets or pants and of course, as a watchstrap. You may also combine a leather watchstrap with a leather wristband!
If you want to be misterious and interesting touch to your evening outfit, you can choose to conceal the time with a popular watch that features a face covered by a steel flap. Not to speak about adding an element of originality to your timepiece! The main point is that no matter if you decide upon a stainless steel or leather strap, this style is a very good way to hide your true intentions.
Not sure whether to choose a classical or a modern watch? You can have them both! The modern watches are not a bit like the ones we are used to. Their face shape and time display can be very strange at first glance, but what does it matter when your only purpose is standing out from the crowd?
For your business casual look, a tan strap gives a watch a more casual appearance, while the shape and style of the face will lend it a modern and minimalist appeal.
So, no matter how much money you want to spend for a new watch, you will always have a lot to choose from! Don’t be afraid to try something new for a change!

Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com