menswear – krissie’s guide to looking nice if you are a man!

I love men’s fashion. Men’s clothing has a sense of custom and tradition that encapsulates masculinity in a very sexy and appealing way. Although men’s clothing rules are arguably more rigid than women’s, perhaps curtailing creativity, it makes it easy for any guy to dress truly well. However, so few men dress truly well.

Here are the Krissie Tips to Men Dressing Better/Decently OK (Disclaimer: my taste isn’t for everyone and I sure have some yuppie taste, but here goes anyway):

1. Layer. For men, it’s relatively easy. Generally, in menswear, there aren’t a million patterns and colors to choose from. It’s easy to find stuff that “goes.” It doesn’t have to match, it just has to “go.” I think I sound like a bad TLC fashion show right now, but just ya heard me?

See the following photo. Some people think black and navy can never be paired. They are totally cray. Look how nice this guy’s torso looks. Grayscale blazer and jacket, red shirt (red is almost considered neutral), and a nice navy tie. Super! What a hot babe!

Now here is a more casual look that is admittedly not for everyone. The hoodie/blazer ensemble can easily be messed up if when you pair a too-small blazer with a too-baggy hoodie – you don’t want to look like a sausage! This photo is OK. Looks a little tight, but I like the matching pocket square and hoodie.

This photo is my favorite. The blazer is easily removed for a more casual look. Cardigan + tie + button-down = very cute. The jacket is very-well tailored and fits as it should.

2. Which leads me into: wear clothes that fit. A blazer or sports jacket should fit in the shoulders without any tugging in the upper back. The seam should hit at the end of the shoulder and not over the slope of the arm. The sleeves should expose just a centimeter or two of your undershirt (like in the above photo). Your pants should fit without a belt – if they don’t, get them taken in at a good tailor. Your pants should never be longer than your shoelaces.

I like the guy on the left a lot. His pants a slim and a bit cropped. Overall, a very simple look. The guy on the right is OK, although his sleeves a touch too short. But his camel leather shoes look fantastic with his charcoal suit!

3. Invest in nice things. Men can have a very simple, small wardrobe and look terrific. But you need to invest in a few nice items that will last you for years! Namely, shoes.

A pair of Red Wing boots will last you for years and are extremely versatile.

4. Wear only dark jeans. Enough said.

5. Look like Ryan Gosling. JK. But a cranberry cardigan paired with pretty much anything is nice. I think it’s one of the best colors.

6. Or look like Chuck Bass. JK. But this is a good example of how you can dress simply but look nice if your clothes fit and they are nice color choices. If you aren’t crazy about putting together colors or patterns, just go with this! And look like CB.

7. Or look like Alex Nosse! Great wool sweater, dark jeans, practical snow boots, karaoke. Boom. (Sorry to Alex for using this goofy photo, but I wanted one of him in this sweater I got him!)

OK so these are some of my pro-tips. Everyone’s style is different, so be yourself. But if you find yourself in need of help, I’m always available to offer advice because it is my favorite topic.

xoxo,

k, the mini-sartorialist