The Young Man's Style Guide

Help Chris Make a Short Film!!

2013-11-07T05:39:00.001-08:00

I know that I haven't posted in FOREVER, and there is a reason for that. I have been working really hard on another one of my passions, filmmaking. I recently wrote a script for a short film, and now it is time to launch a Kickstarter to raise funds for production. Before I go ahead and beg you for your hard earned money, I'm going to give you a little information about the project (after the jump).

The Obsolete Mutants Club is a mockumentary short film written and directed by yours truly. It is the story of an AA type support group for mutants whose superpowers are now obsolete due to advancing technology. I've worked really hard (alongside my producer/basically life partner Alyssa Timoteo and the wonderfully talented and beautifully intelligent Christine Dax) to get all my ducks in a row and be able to move forward with making this dream a reality.

Additional information about the project can be found on the film's Kickstarter page, as well as the video on YouTube:

So, if you want to make my dreams come true and gain my undying love and devotion, PLEASE DONATE!! Also, if you don't know me personally and are a fan of YMSG, you can finally see what I'm like in person by watching the video.

I have huge plans for YMSG in the future, like tutorial videos, more posts, photo shoots, and much, MUCH more. Don't think I've forgotten about all of you, because I haven't. I just need to chase a different dream for a little while. I'll be coming back to YMSG more determined than ever.

Please check out the video, donate if possible, and keep checking YMSG for updates! I'll be back at it before you know it.

Buy Your Summer Things Now!

2013-09-09T13:18:00.001-07:00

Fall is just around the bend. We will be able to tell when it actually arrives because Facebook and Instagram will be exploding in an atomic mushroom cloud of pictures uploaded by people before/during/after buying their first pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. Most people mark that first sip of overpriced harvest java as the true beginning to the best of the four seasons.

But for those of you who, like me, don't drink coffee, fall can be marked by the ceremonial putting away of shorts, tank tops, and bathing suits, and pulling out those warm cardigans, jeans, and thick sweaters from the back of the closet. For football fans, fall means its time to break out the game jerseys, and kids realize that fall is only days away when they buy their new backpacks and "first day of school" outfits. While fall is a time of change for nearly everyone, it is also a time to take advantage of sales. You may think that summer (and summer shopping) is in the rear-view mirror, but its not. The best summer deals are right here waiting for you, and they start at the beginning of fall.

A while ago I posted about change of season sales. If you haven't read it, you can find it here.

Ok, now that we're on the same page, one of these change of season sales is happening right now. All of the summer merchandise needs to go, so the stores slash prices drastically in order to make room on the shelves. I was shopping around the other day, and I snapped a few pictures of these change of season sale racks (in Urban Outfitters if you couldn't guess).

So here are a few things to look out for while rummaging through the sale racks. It might not make sense at the time, but once next summer rolls around, you'll be glad you thought ahead:

1. Swimsuits
For the past couple years, I've bought a swimsuit at the end of summer. Most of the time I forget that I even bought one, and when the late spring bathing suit paranoia sets in (you know, when you panic because you don't have a new bathing suit for the summer and you have to go to your friend's pool party the next day), I frantically raid my drawers and discover the swimsuit I bought for $5 at H&M the previous September. Crisis averted.

2. Shorts
Last September I bought five pairs of denim shorts of various colors for $5 each at Urban Outfitters. I tried them on to make sure they fit, and put them away. Come spring break time, I already had a full array of new, never-been-worn shorts to wear during my trip. For $5 each, you can't beat it.

3. Other Beachwear
Im talking about tank tops, those button down short sleeve shirts, towels, and sandals. All these things will be marked way down right now, and it is the perfect time to buy. This way, when you plan your spring break trip in February like I always did in college, you will have everything you need to look good at the beach, rather than having to shop online for beachwear because it is the middle of winter.

So get to your nearest store soon, because these change of season sales don't last forever. In another week or two these racks will be cleared of all things summer in order to make room for more fall and even winter clothing. Like I said, the best summer deals are waiting for you, right at the beginning of fall.

Chris' Secrets: The White V-Neck

2013-06-27T14:26:00.001-07:00

You're not going to believe it, and you're probably going to laugh, but I'm being dead serious. You know that part of my little mission statement where I tell you about how this blog is not GQ? Well, this post is sure proof of that. This is one of my biggest style tips, and I'm glad to finally share it with all of you. I wear these 3-pack v-necks almost every day. I prefer the Hanes and Jockey brands, because they are tagless and don't have any logos on the outside of the shirt, which cannot be said for the Polo Ralph Lauren versions. Yeah, I might be cheap for buying shirts out of a 3-pack, but I'd rather save the money on these because I wear them all them time and are constantly having to replace them.

Besides being budget friendly, these shirts are also extremely versatile. Honestly, there's never really a time to NOT wear a plain white v-neck, and it can be coupled with a pair of casual shorts, or put under a fancy blazer. Here's a list of ways that I use my white v-necks:

1.) Wear under a busy sweater or blazer. You have that chunky winter sweater, but its very loud and you can't really find anything to wear with it. That's where the white v-neck comes in. Just throw it under your favorite winter knitwear or blazer and you're ready to go.

2.) Wear as an undershirt and/or to avoid adding another color. I wear these v-necks underneath my denim or button down shirts, mostly because I think wearing a button down shirt and nothing else is just strange (plus I would sweat right through it). Similarly, if you're planning on wearing a cardigan, flannel, or vest with a lot of color or is very loud, you don't want to wear any other color that would battle with it.

3.) Wear alone to make your pants/shoes the statement piece. If you haven't read the 10 Style Rules, I suggest that you do. You can access the page by clicking the tab at the top of the page. Every well styled outfit should have a statement piece, and sometimes your shirt isn't that piece. By just wearing a plain white V-neck, you can avoid violating rule number 2 (don't overcomplicate) and fulfill rule number 3 (pick a statement piece). This look is great for the summer, and I know I'm gonna be wearing it many times from now into this coming Fall.

I have more style secrets, but this one is key to the way I dress. Take this advice and I promise you that you'll never again find yourself saying "This is so cool, but I don't know what to wear with it."

Photos by Jenna Kim

Help Me Help You!

2013-06-21T13:23:00.002-07:00

I'm so glad that so many people have been on board with my blog. I've been getting so much positive feedback, and I'm so thankful that all of you out there love reading my posts just as much as I love writing them. People are always asking me "how do I wear this?" or "Are these things cool or stupid?" and I (most of the time) have an answer. Now I'm going to ask something of you.

I want YOU to tell me what you want to hear about, ask me the questions that you have, and let me know your opinions. I want this blog to be more than just me spewing out words to the public. I want you to be able to find the answers you need here.

Comment on this post, message me on Facebook, or email me at youngmansstyleguide@gmail.com, and help me help you!

Never Again: Flip Flops

2013-06-17T16:27:00.001-07:00

I know I'm gonna get a lot of heat for this, but I guess my first new post needs to be something spicy.

Back in the day, once the summer came around, all I wore were flip flops. They were easy, didn't require socks, and could be slipped on or off at a moments notice. I was 16. At that time, my biggest concern was figuring out how many people I could cram into my two door '96 Honda Civic so that all my friends could go walk around the Southern Park Mall with me. Recently, I've been noticing flip flops everywhere, and realizing how not masculine they are. I don't know if its my obsession with shoes, but they're just very feminine to me all of a sudden, and this is coming from a person who wore a wine colored leopard patterned lightning bolt sleeveless shirt and leather pants to the mall the other day. The femininity of these "thong" sandals (Sisqo would be so proud) aren't the only negative of the flip flop. I've compiled a small list (as always, after the jump):

1.) No one wants to see your gross ass feet. When I was 16, my feet weren't that disgusting. Nowadays that is a completely different story. Don't act like yours are any better. Guys always have gross feet, they're veiny, hairy, and probably have calluses. Cover that shit up you sicko.

2.) They aren't functional. If you wear these things, answer me this: How many times have you hurt your toes while walking in flip flops? I used to stub my toe at least once a day when I wore these things. Unless you live on the beach and are walking on sand all day, you're bound to lose a toenail sooner or later.

3.) They make that annoying sound when you walk. Why do you think they're called flip flops? Flip, flop, flip, flop. The sound is fun for about five seconds, and then its just really, REALLY aggravating.

Now that I've convinced you to throw way all of your flip flops, here are a few alternatives that I truly enjoy and are all closed toe:

1.) Vans. These shoes really help to step up your functional shoe game while still not being hideous "functional" shoes. They used to be worn only by skaters, but in recent years they've become extremely mainstream. Although I don't owe a pair of these, I'm constantly checking them out at the stores. Maybe I'll buy a pair one day.

2.) Slip-Ons. I have these red pair of Aldo slip-ons and I literally wear them every day. I mean like EVERY day. They're so easy and can be worn to the beach with a swim suit or to a graduation party with a pair of jeans or khakis.

3.) Sanuk Sandals/Shoes/Idk. If you look at the packaging on these beauties, they say that they are not shoes, but sandals. Regardless if you agree or not, I kinda like the look of them. I didn't always, but they've been coming out with a few patterns that I really enjoy. They're not my style at all and I probably would never buy them, but I've seen a lot of people rock them very well.

So ditch the flip flops, and cover up those toes, because without all that flip, flop, flip, flop racket we can all rest a little easier (and have all our toenails).

Avoiding the Cold: Thick Socks

2012-12-05T10:26:00.001-08:00

The worst part of winter is just around the bend, and it's easy for us to forget how cold the first few months of the year can get. Most of us have packed away our sandals and light summer footwear, but that doesn't mean that we can't wear some of our lighter footwear in the winter. All we really need is a pair of thick socks.

Not let me preface the rest of this article with a few things. I am in no way, shape, or form telling you to wear your sandals in the winter with thick socks. If you have half a brain you will understand that. Summer footwear is summer footwear, and a lot of it is not acceptable to wear in the winter. Here are a few rules I've come up with in order to narrow down your thick-sock-appropriate shoe selection.

Not Acceptable
1. Anything with open toes
2. Anything that is made of particularly light and airy canvas (example: those Sanuk sandals)
3. Shoes with light or pastel colors
4. Any footwear that you don't feel comfortable wearing in the winter

I added the fourth bullet on the list for a reason. This is one of my 10 style rules, putting on things only if you can confidently wear them. If you question yourself, people will notice. Next, I really want to stress color. I only wear nonwinter footwear when the colors are dark. I have a pair of dark blue slip on suede-ish shoes that I've been wearing recently with thick socks. They look similar to this:

These can be worn in the winter because of the dark color. Similarly, Vans slip ons with darker colors have my seal of approval because the thick socks give them the warmer feel that makes them able to be worn in winter. Once the snow starts to fall heavily, though, its time to put these shoes away for the season and start putting on your boots, because there is nothing more stupid than wearing a pair of slip on shoes in the middle of a snowstorm.

Another thing that I have been seeing in the magazines is wearing these thick socks with your dress shoes. Strikingly different socks in the workplace has been a trend for a few years now, and its one that I tend to like. J Crew and Urban Outfitters have many good patterned thick socks that could give your workplace look a little winter boost. I got a few pairs about a month ago at J Crew for $12 per pair.

I've put a few ads at the bottom of the article for those of you who want to buy some pairs online for cheap. So get out into the cold in your favorite footwear, all while keeping your toes warm!

Never Again: Basketball Shorts

2012-10-31T05:37:00.002-07:00

Ok, so before you all get your pitchforks, form a large mob outside of where I live, and demand to have my head on a stake, let me preface this article with a few sentences. We all love basketball shorts. Their comfort surpasses anything else we could possibly put on our body. These gifts from the gods allow men's balls to go whereever the fuck they want, provided we are wearing the correct underwear. And you know how men are about the comfort and freedom of their testicles. That being said, there is a time and there is definitely a place to wear this particular clothing item, and "Everywhere, every day, at every time" is not an option in my book. Before I begin to yell at you and tell you all the places that you shouldn't wear basketball shorts, let me show you a list of places that I have deemed completely acceptable to show off your favorite pair of baller legwear.

1. The gym, out on a run, or any other place where you will be performing moderate physical activity. Self explanatory.

2. Inside your own house. No one can judge you on what you wear in your own house. I pretty much look like a complete fuck anytime I'm sitting at home. For example, today I was wearing jeans and an old Hollister shirt that I turned into a cut-off to clean the living room and do the dishes. I was also wearing slippers. I looked like a complete idiot. So what? I was in my own house.

3. To class or to run errands when you are extremely hung over. As much as it pains me, there are times when I wake up after a long night of drinking and throw on the first clothes that are in arms reach. We've all done it, and we're all going to do it again. When you're hung over, there's nothing you care about less than how you look. I'm gonna give the male sex a pass on this one, because I've been there with the rest of you.

Now its on to the part that makes this post a true "Never Again." I'll keep this short and sweet. You shouldn't wear basketball shorts to many places, but here are a few that are at the top of my list. Don't wear them on a date. Don't wear them to a party. Definitely don't wear them to meet new people. Why you ask? I'll tell you.

1. You look like you're in junior high. Do you get this theme that I'm developing throughout my articles? Anything that you wore before high school graduation makes you look like you're still counting down the days until that graduation.

2. You look like you don't care about your appearance. Sweatpants and athletic wear say one of two things about a person. You either play a college or professional sport (which I know most of you do not) or you just don't care. It has been proven time and time again that people respond positively to others who dress well. And don't you want that cute girl in your econ class to respond positively to you when you see her out at the bar?

3. You're completely vulnerable to other people "pantsing" you. I know this is very immature, but you just never know!

So there are three (well two) very solid reasons to listen to the little angel on your shoulder telling you to put on a pair of jeans and leave the pair of basketball shorts for later.

Side note: If you insist on wearing basketball shorts every day, please refrain from the ugly, multicolored, bold ones like the ones in the picture at the top of the article. They're just hideous. Period. Never Again.

Thread Review: Rainboots

2012-10-30T07:12:00.001-07:00

In honor of Sandy, I decided it was time to do a post about a clothing item that I utilize more frequently than the average young man. Yes, my friends, I'm talking about rainboots. The weather is fucking ridiculous out there right now, and if you've been outside for more than a few seconds you've probably come to the realization that the nike shox, boat shoes, or flip flops that are on your feet are no match for a storm of this magnitude. So how long will it be until they start making shoes that keep your feet dry in a hurricane?!?!

Oh wait, they already have.

Men are scared of things like rainboots. They are for girls, and heaven forbid if a guy did something girly. Lately, though, clothing designers have been coming out with men's rainboots that are anything but girly. Here's a few types of footwear that will keep your feet nice and dry in the face of hurricane Sandy.

The Traditional Rainboot
These are what you think of when you hear the word "rainboots." They usually come up to about mid calf and are the most effective way to keep your feet dry. The traditional rainboot can be anywhere from loud and colorful to plain black. Nowadays, everyone is wearing these name brand Hunter rainboots that are on the more expensive side. If you're like me and want to save some money, you can find decent ones for way less. I bought my pair Good Souls rainboots (the tan and orange ones above) on UrbanOutfitters.com for about $30 in the sale section. I've worn them a few times, and they really do the job. I like the laces as well as the orange soles, but there are hundreds of cheap pairs online that are simple like the black ones above.

The Sneaker Rainboot
Some people are afraid of the traditional rainboot. That used to be a dealbreaker for these people in general, but thanks to the sneaker rainboot those who want to blend in can have dry feet too. My pair, in the picture above, are much more low key than my tan and orange pair, and they are perfect for lighter weather. I got them at Aldo marked down to about $30. They had black and blue pairs as well, and I actually saw them in an Aldo store a few weeks ago. The laces on the sneaker rainboot help to give the look of a normal sneaker. Although my pair are plain, the green and yellow converse ones in the picture at the top of the article have a little more color and a little more style to them.

The Slip On
Sadly, I do not own a pair of these style of footwear. The slip on rainshoe is another newer addition to the rainboot family, designed to blend in even more than the sneaker rainboot. These truly are the rainboot for someone on the go. These shoes are small, so they easily fit into a backpack or other bag. We've all had those days where we know its going to rain later in the day but don't have a chance to go home and change in order to be prepared for the weather. It's kind of the same as packing a sweatshirt for when the nights get colder in the fall. The slip on rainshoe is exactly that.

Those are just a few popular versions of footwear that is going to help you out in the wetter times. So go ahead, hit up ebay and amazon, buy yourself a pair of rainboots, and next time a storm like Sandy comes around you won't be blow drying your running shoes every time you come in from the rain.

Never Again: Ripped Jeans

2012-10-05T07:14:00.001-07:00

We all remember them. We all wanted them. We all tried to make them ourselves with a pair of scissors or a piece of sandpaper. Ripped jeans. These were once a staple item in all of our 15-year-old wardrobes. I used to walk past the Abercrombie & Fitch window and look at the gorgeously tattered and paint splattered pairs of jeans, wishing my mom would just be "a cool mom" and spend $175 on that denim form of euphoria I wanted so badly.

Fast forward to today. I would not DARE buy anything that has rips, tears, snags, or paint on it. Remember your dad telling you how stupid you were for buying jeans with holes in them, and how you looked like a homeless bum when you wore them? Well, he was right. I could go off and bitch at you for another two paragraphs about how stupid you look in ripped jeans, but I'm not gonna do that this time. I'm just going to let my reasons speak for themselves.

1. They look cheap. Notice how expensive clothing stores don't sell ripped jeans. That is probably because ripped jeans look very cheap. No matter how much money you spend, the holes in these jeans will always give off an "I'm trying to look like I don't care" attitude. They are also usually in a very bad wash and hue, which just further cheapens the look.

2. Fashion over function? If you're wearing ripped jeans right now, it's probably because it is getting too cold for you to wear your cargo shorts. People defend themselves wearing cargo shorts by saying that they are "functional." They need the extra pockets to carry all of their precious items, and they look for function, not fashion, in their clothes. To those people I say this: A) Get a fucking backpack and/or briefcase to put all your shit in, and B) Ripped jeans are the least functional piece of clothing you could ever purchase. Want to know why? BECAUSE THERE ARE LARGE HOLES IN THEM.

3. They always fall apart. How many times in high school did you sit in class looking down at your legs, picking all the broken white fibers off of your pants? If you say never to this question then you were probably one of those idiots who just let them hang there, consequently looking like a porcupine and like this girl:

This is not a good look. You don't look cool or edgy, you look like you got in a fight with a lawnmower and got rocked by that shit. No matter the amount of care you put in to making sure your ripped jeans stayed in one piece, there was always that moment where you bent over a little too far or tried to sit on the floor and you felt a bunch of those white fibers give way. Ripped jeans ALWAYS ended up looking just like this girl's knee in the picture above, bare with a bunch of tattered edges hanging off the side. Notice I'm using the past tense because that's where ripped jeans should be, in the past.

4. They remind everyone of Abercrombie. No matter what, all I can think about when I see a pair of ripped jeans is Abercrombie. It never fails. What is so wrong with Abercrombie, you might ask? Well, instead of just ranting on about how fucking stupid you are to be shopping at a place that pre-teens shop at, I'm going to explain it with a true story. I'm trying to take the high road, OK?

A few weeks ago, I was at a club with a few friends. We were sitting at the bar getting drinks and people watching, and we all noticed this very tall and muscular guy. He was extremely attractive, but he just seemed to be standing there looking around, scoping out the ladies. There were a bunch of less attractive guys around him who had girls all over them. I was puzzled why this gorgeous man did not have at least that one token drunk ass bitch trying to get in his pants, and then I saw the shirt he was wearing. It was one of these precious gems:

Let me remind you that this man was probably the most attractive person, male or female, in this club. Abercrombie is literally a girl repellant, and this story is proof. Ripped jeans have the same effect. So, as usual, my biggest reason for not wearing ripped jeans is that no one is going to have sex with you because they're so turned on by your leg hair coming through the holes in your pants.

So there are four solid reasons to throw away your ripped jeans. Notice I said throw away. You should not give your old jeans that are full of holes to the Salvation Army because that is just mean. Throw them away. You'll feel liberated, I promise. If you want to see more Never Again articles, just click the Never Again label on the right side of the blog, because if you wear ripped jeans you probably wear a few more things on the Never Again list.

Ripped jeans...NEVER again.

The Basic Black Blazer

2012-10-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

I love blazers. They are such a crucial step in maturing your wardrobe from "I still kind of dress like I did in high school" to "I'm kind of an adult and I sorta dress like one." Now that fall is starting, we are coming into the perfect weather to rock a blazer. This may be a big step for some of you, but once you get compliments on how good you look, I promise that you'll never want to go back.

Blazers can be tricky. It is very easy for you to look like you are trying too hard, and they are not always appropriate. Also, when people think "blazer" sometimes they think of someone wearing a full suit going to work, and they get scared. Throw the idea of a full suit out the window and don't let that scare you. I'm going to walk you through a few basic looks that will help you step up your wardrobe without taking too much of a risk.

The Basic Black Blazer
I think everyone should have a black blazer. it is perfect for stepping up any night outfit, and can be worn in a bunch of different situations. Photos by Jenna Kim.

Look 1

Look 1: Black Blazer and White Tee
This look is the safest and most basic, but also classic. What makes this look work so well is that it's simple, so put away all your man jewelery and accessories, because you won't need them for this. I start with just a white V-neck and a pair of grey or black jeans. You can technically wear dark blue jeans with this look, but I personally stick to grey. Now just add the blazer and either black sneakers or black boots and you're good to go. I usually wear my black Michael Kors watch, and even though the look should be kept simple, the watch adds a little bit of worth to it.

Step up Look 1 with some detailed pants.

Add a scarf to bring your black blazer into Fall.

Stepping it up: If you want to amp this look up, go crazy with the pants. I sometimes wear my detailed grey skinny jeans or red denim pants with the white shirt and black blazer.

Another way to step up the look is to add a scarf. It's perfect for fall and gives that extra style touch that some people like. If you add a scarf, I would avoid detailed or colored pants so the two don't compete for attention. I've also been known to use a pocket square to add some jazz to the blazer, but again, keep the pants basic if you're going to add the square.

Look 2

Look 2: Black on Black
People say that this is a fashion no-no, but I disagree. Match your black blazer with a black t-shirt and you're ready to go. Just don't wear black pants also or you'll look like you're going to a funeral.

Stepping it up: I've worn colored shorts with this look a few times and really liked it. It's not for everyone, but I think its a very fashion forward look. It's getting too cold for shorts, so try some colored pants.

Add a pair of colored pants to step up Look 2.

These are two basic looks that incorporate the basic black blazer, and you can mix and match depending on how dressed up or down you want to look. My personal rule of thumb: DON'T OVER COMPLICATE. People think that because they're wearing a blazer they have to wear this and that and the other thing on top of it. This is completely untrue. Just keep it simple, with little touches of flair, and you'll be ready to hit the clubs in these polished yet urban looks.

Properly Wearing A Denim Shirt

2012-10-03T05:55:00.000-07:00

The denim shirt has made a comeback as of a few years ago, and I'm not complaining at all. This trend has exploded in the past two years, and you can find denim shirts everywhere now. I personally love denim of any kind, so I own a few denim shirts and I wear them in a variety of ways. I think a denim shirt is a staple item that should be in everyone's closet, especially going into fall and winter. You may be intimidated, but don't be, because I have created a few basic looks that almost anyone can wear. Photos by Jenna Kim.

Look 1

Look 1: Loosely Over a Tee
This is the most common way that I wear denim shirts. Slap on a pair of colored pants, a white tee, and a denim shirt will fit right in. I use a denim shirt to bring my favorite summery colored pants outfits into fall. You don't have to have colored pants to wear this kind of shirt, though. Many people will say that you can't wear a denim shirt with jeans, but I disagree. I like the denim shirt/jeans combo, but I always make sure that my two denims are drastically different shades.

Look 2

Look 2: Buttoned Up
Wear the denim shirt like you would a flannel or dress shirt. I've been wearing this look a lot recently and really like it. I love to pair this look with jeans and a bold shoe. Since the denim-on-denim blends together, you can really let your shoes be the statement piece.

Look 3

Look 3: Underneath a Statement Piece
I have a lot of very loud sweaters and knitwear. A plain denim shirt is a great way to feature these knitwear pieces and avoid the standard white t-shirt. Again, wearing denim and denim is allowed, just make sure they are different shades!

So there are three looks that look polished and aren't hard to put together at all. No more being intimidated by the denim shirt. Some might think they are too expensive, but I found my lighter denim shirt at H&M for $25! Remember, you don't have to drop mad money to look like you have mad money.

Black is Best

2012-10-01T11:21:00.001-07:00

Sometimes people think fashion is all about trying the newest and most unlike the norm. This is completely untrue. To prove it to you, here are a few pictures of what I wore to a wedding that I attended this weekend. Want to look like this? Just remember that sometimes, "Black is best."

Blazer: H&M
Tie: Express
Shirt: Express
Pants: Express
Shoes: Aldo
Pocket Square: Macy's

Never Again: Shorts and Tees When It's Cold Out

2012-09-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

This article was inspired by a walk down the street with a few of my roommates. It was dusk, and although it still has yet to be freezing in State College, PA, it was pretty chilly. I had a zipup hoodie and jeans on. My roommates were both wearing long pants and light jackets. To further justify this, my hands were pretty cold when we got back to our house, so this article is not just me being dramatic. As we crossed the street, we noticed a guy J-walking a little farther up the street. He was wearing black basketball shorts and a Penn State t-shirt. One of my roommates asked jokingly if we were the only people who knew it was cold out. Without even a hesitation, I blurted out "No, guys are just like 'I'm too hot for the cold!'" And although I was just making a joke, all I thought about afterwards was how true this is. Walking to class in the winter I always see that one asshole who's wearing a long sleeve t shirt in a blizzard. Meanwhile, I'm wearing a parka.

I don't know what makes guys think that by not wearing the proper outerwear that they look tough and/or like the biggest badass that has ever walked the planet. Apparently looking like a complete dumbfuck makes you look cool. I definitely missed that memo. I know that the weather is still warm enough that you're not always going to need a jacket, but I'm trying to prevent this debauchery before it starts. That being said, here are some reasons why you should wear a coat when its cold out...

1. It's common sense. When the weather gets cold, our bodies cannot retain the amount of heat that we need to stay warm. One day, a caveman, watching all of his friends die of hypothermia around him, saw that the furry animals were able to keep warm in the dead of winter. So, he killed one, skinned it, and wore its fur, thus, coats were invented!! If this logic is too complex for you, you are probably one of the guys I see walking around in a t shirt and shorts in the middle of a blizzard. If so, please drink an entire bottle of nyquil until you pass out, and if you see a white light, go toward it.

2. A soaking wet shirt is never good. Besides the fact that there is the whole body temperature, frostbite, possible death by hypothermia thing, there are white little specs that fall from the sky called snow. Although it is not wet when it falls, once it sticks to you and you walk inside, it melts and soaks your clothes. I thought this was common knowledge, but year after year I see people that are unaware of this little problem, and fifteen minutes into class they look like they just jumped in a pool with their clothes on. No one likes to wear wet clothing, so prevent it by wearing something like a jacket!

3. You look like a fucking idiot. Yes, everyone that sees you is asking themselves, or the person they're walking with, why you aren't wearing anything but a t shirt and shorts. We're all talking about you. When my friend busts out in laughter right as we pass you it's because I was whispering in her ear about how much of a fuck you are.

I didn't realize that this was such a hard concept to grasp, but years of seeing people struggling with the concept of wearing a jacket has caused me to speak out against this apparent loss in translation from English to neanderthal grunts. Hopefully I've cleared some things up for you all, and this winter we will see a lot more people in a lot more clothes!

Packing for a Weekend Away

2012-09-24T07:50:00.002-07:00

Fall is full of new beginnings. Some people are starting a new year of school, while others start new jobs. A lot is going on in every community and there is always so much transition and adjusting during the autumn season. But with every new beginning, we need a new retreat from the chaos. Many of us will be taking off from our normal lives and spending a weekend away, going to big cities or visiting friends. The downside is that every road trip has to start with something that most people hate: packing.

Almost everyone I know hates packing. They dread packing so much that they wait until the last minute and then throw a bunch random mismatched items in a bag and then end up not having anything to wear. Fortunately, I love packing. It not only gets me excited to go on my trip, but it causes me to get organized and not stress out about the trip itself. Yes, I understand that I am one of the only people on the planet that thinks this way, but after I show you my packing routine and give you a few tips and tricks, maybe you won't dread packing as much as before. Maybe you'll even like it.

Step 1: Pick out your luggage of choice. This is crucial because it can make or break your packing experience. Because most of my trips are friday-night-to-sunday-afternoon trips, a medium size duffel bag is usually big enough for me. One thing that you shouldn't do is give yourself too much room, because then you just pack your whole closet and it turns out to be a huge mess. My mom just bought me this new duffel bag for my birthday, and I think it is just the right size for a weekend trip.

Step 2: Pack the necessities. The first thing you should pack is underwear, socks, and at least one belt. I cannot tell you how many times I've gone on trips with friends and one of them forgot to pack an extra pair of underwear. Also, I cannot count the amount of times that I have forgotten to pack a belt. Now, I make sure that's one of the first things I pack. I always put one black and one brown belt in my bag just to be safe.

Step 3: Pack for big events. My most recent weekend away was to the University of Virginia. One of my friends goes to grad school there, and my school, good old Penn State, was playing them in football. A bunch of my friends who have already graduated decided we should all reunite at UVA and tailgate Saturday for the game. That being said, I knew I needed to pack a tailgating outfit. I also knew that we would be going out on Saturday night, so I needed to pack a night outfit. I found things to wear for both of these events and packed them first. This also forces you to find out a vague itinerary for the weekend. Maybe you and a few friends are just going somewhere spontaneously? Think about what you're most likely going to do on this spontaneous trip. You are probably going to go out to dinner a few times, you are probably going to go to bars. Pack accordingly.

Step 4: Always pack a spare. People dress differently all around the world, and although I never strive to fit in, I also don't want to look like a walking circus attraction. That's why I always pack at least one spare outfit. In preparation for the UVA weekend, I packed one of my normal Black night outfits to go out in. I had no idea if we were planning to go to a club or more of a saloon type bar, so I packed a club outfit as well as something more casual. This way, if my "going out" outfit wasn't going to be appropriate, I wouldn't be shit out of luck.

Step 5: Consolidate. This is the most important part of packing. Take a look at all the items that you are going to pack. Is there any way you could eliminate a pair of pants? I usually pack a pair of black or grey jeans for my going out outfit, but sometimes I just pack one pair of dark blue jeans that can be worn with my black and brown outfits. So instead of having one pair of pants for each separate outfit, I just pack one pair that goes with everything.

Step 6: Wear hard-to-pack items. Sometimes I want to bring along a pair of high top sneakers or maybe boots. The only problem is that these items are bulky and not easily fit into a smaller bag. I always wear these things while I'm traveling so that I won't ever have to pack them.

Just follow these few easy steps and you can take some of the stress out of your trip. Happy packing!

Casual Night Out

2012-09-20T18:50:00.001-07:00

I'm going out with a few friends tonight just for a few drinks. If you're not doing anything major just throw a cardigan over a plain shirt and you're good to go!

Never Again: Running Shoes

2012-09-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm going to start this one off by saying that running shoes are great...when you're running. I have a few pairs of running shoes and I wear them a couple times a week...when I'm running. I think everyone should have a pair of them to wear...when they're running.

That being said, RUNNING SHOES ARE NOT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN RUNNING. You shouldn't wear them to party. You shouldn't wear them to class. You shouldn't wear them on a date. You shouldn't wear them to the club. Anywhere outside of a gym is the wrong place to be wearing running shoes. Why you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

My roommates and I have a saying that we pretty much live by, and that saying is that "you can find out everything you need to know about a guy by looking at the kind of shoes he's wearing." This is almost fool-proof, and running shoes fall at the very bottom of the list. What do we think we know about you because you wore running shoes out to the club? We think that you have no style and don't even realize it and will forever be unaware of how tragically awful the way you dress is. We will probably laugh to each other meanly about how bad you look and we might even talk about how horrific your whole outfit is. Then we will go on our way being reincarnations of Regina George and never look twice at you again.

This might sound like I am the most evil person on the planet, but I cannot stress to you how awful you look when you wear running shoes as if they were a brand new pair of dress shoes. But instead of just bitching at you some more, I'll give you a list of reasons why your running shoes need to stay on the treadmill.

1. They are not appropriate. By wearing running shoes, you are breaking one of my 10 Style Rules. You should always be dressed appropriately for where you are going. So if you just went to the gym and decided to run some errands, go ahead and wear your running shoes, that's not a big deal. I'm saying that when you're about to go pick your girlfriend up to bring her on a date the last thing you should be putting on your feet are a pair of Nike Shox.

2. They're ugly. Look at the picture that I put at the top of the article. How ugly are those shoes? Pretty ugly, I know. And yes, I understand that some are less ugly than others, but at the end of the day they're all running shoes and they don't look nice!

3. No one has ever complimented how much they like your running shoes outside of the gym. No one is going to get turned on by the sight of your sexy new balance's peeking out from your denim pant leg. If you've read my other Never Again articles, please tell me that you trust me enough. Please, please, PLEASE tell me that I don't have to make a bullet number 4 that reads "No one wants to fuck you when you wear running shoes."

Please stop this heinousness so I can sleep better at night.

Change of Season Sales

2012-09-10T10:46:00.001-07:00

When a season changes, stores have to adjust what they put on their shelves depending on what season we are going into. We all know this. Something that you might not know, though, is that this is the best time to get good deals on clothes. I've made a point to keep doing this at the end of every season, and some of my favorite clothes have been bought out of season on a sale rack. Now I'm going to share with you a few tips to help you take advantage of these sales. (After the jump)

The first kind of change of season sale that you should be aware of occurs when seasons are changing from summer to fall or winter to spring. The clothing stores have extra merchandise from the year before that is going to be season appropriate in about a month, so they clear out the back rooms, mark their old clothing down, and put them on a sale rack. The most recent of these happened around the end of July and carried into August. This is when the stores put out all of the old winter clothes that they need to get rid of in order to make room for the new fall/winter clothing. I've gotten a bunch of great stuff last month by taking advantage of this sale. Zara was having a huge change of season sale, so I knew I had to take advantage. I got this shirt for $10:

Orig. Price: $40, Sale: $10

I got a few sweaters also, each for $20:

Orig. Price: $59.90, Sale: $19.99

Orig. Price: $79.90, Sale: $19.99

I even bought a blazer for $40:

Orig. Price: $89.90, Sale: $40

I stopped by H&M a few days later, and they had a rack of last winter's leftovers and I picked up this zip up sweater for $20:


Orig. Price: $49.95, Sale: $20

I did some math, and my total money spent was $109.98. If none of these items were on sale, and I bought them at full price, I would have spent $319.65. By utilizing these change of season sales, I was able to save $209.67, which is almost two-thirds of the total price. It's hard to argue with those numbers. If you didn't have the chance to take advantage of the most recent sale, don't worry, because there will be another one once winter is over. All the old spring/summer clothing will be on the sale.

The second kind of change of season sale is the one that is happening right now, in September. This sale occurs when the weather starts to change, and summer clothes are beginning to not be warm enough to wear. All of the summer clothing will be marked down in a last effort to get it out of the store. This also happens at the end of winter, when heavy knitwear is starting to become too hot to wear. This is my favorite sale, because I always buy a bunch of stuff for cheap and put it in the back of the closet. Then, when the seasons change, and I have forgotten all about what I had bought months before, I go through my closet. I find the sale items and it's like I gave myself a present! This may sound stupid, but if you love clothes as much as I do, you'll love playing this little game with yourself.

The other day, I stopped by Urban Outfitters and saw that they had a $10 rack with a bunch of summer t-shirts on it. I grabbed this long sleeved tee that was originally $49:

Orig. Price: $49, Sale: $10

I wore it one time since the weather hasn't cooled down a lot yet, but I'll save most of its wears for next spring. If I add this shirt to my total savings, I've saved $248.67. The proof is in the pudding. So now that you know exactly when and where to take advantage of these great sales, shop around a bit and find those change of season rollbars.

Thread Review: Harem Pants

2012-09-09T18:45:00.001-07:00

Harem pants are starting to push their way into mainstream clothing, so I decided to write a Thread Review about them. Harem pants can be noted by their low crotch and baggy side pockets. They have been a fashion trend in Asia for a while, and people have started wearing them over here in the states.

At first I thought they were kind of stupid, and then I saw someone wearing harem pants in a music video. I can't even remember what music video it was, but they guy wearing them was really pulling them off well. A couple days later I started googling them. I found a bunch of pairs on eBay and bought one for only $11. The pants came from China so the shipping was $10, so my total was about $23. I had to buy a size XL, though, because they were in Asian sizes. The interface on eBay did tell me that an Asian XL is equivalent to a US medium, so just make sure that you double check the size when ordering.

My pair of harem pants.

As you can see, my pair are less drastic than the one in the photo at the beginning of the article. I took a drastic fashion statement and bought a more wearable and less outrageous version, which I think can be done with many trends that are a little too crazy for the everyday. I've been trying different outfits with my harem pants for about a week now, and I think I've mastered how to correctly wear them. So, that being said, here are a few guidelines to help you nail the harem pants look: (after the jump)

Sneakers help to give a sporty look.

1. Stick to sneakers. Most of these pants are made of cotton or jersey, which just don't look that good with boots. Also, the harem pant just gives off a sporty look, so sneakers just make sense. Some people wear them with gladiator sandals, which I don't mind, but don't love. I'm probably going to stick to sneakers.

2. Show a little leg. I personally think that when the pants cover the whole leg (as they do in the picture above), they look too much like normal sweatpants. If you roll the pant legs up and bunch them, you can accentuate the low crotch and unique cut of the harem pants. If you want to mimic how I wear my pair of harem pants, check out my "How To Achieve The Rolled Up Pants Look" article. Just go to the right side of the blog and click "How To" under the Labels heading.

So there you go, another Thread Review comes to a close. If you think you want to take a swing at this fashion forward look, you don't have to go any farther than your internet browser. Remember, I got my pair for about $23 dollars on eBay. So search around and buy a pair!

How To Acheive The Rolled Up Pants Look

2012-09-07T07:23:00.001-07:00

This is a little trick that I have been doing with my pants to make them wearable in the summer. Yes, I am simply rolling up my pants, but I've perfected away to make them look less like homemade women's capris and more like a fashion statement. I would not recommend trying these with denim, because denim is too thick and doesn't scrunch right at the knee like cotton pants do. If you've been following the blog, this is a perfect thing to do with your bright colored pants.

Now, I'm going to guide you, step by step, on how to achieve the look seen in the picture above:
(after the jump)

Step 1

Step 1: Fold up the bottom of the pants once. Be sure to make your fold thick because you are going to fold it in half eventually.

Step 2

Step 2: Continue folding up the pants, keeping the same fold thickness. Fold a few times, until the pants get tighter than normal around your legs and the bottom of the pant leg is at the widest part of your calf muscle.

Step 3

Step 3: Fold the thick fold in half. This will help to keep the pant legs tight around your knee joints and prevent them from falling down.

Step 4

Step 4: Slide the fold up to just below your knee. This will give the scrunched up effect.

The only warning I would give is to fully commit to the pants as being shorts when you go out. I say this beacuse two things. First, nothing is worse than trying out something new, getting embarassed, and changing in the middle of a party or night out. Secondly, because of how many times you folded and scrunched the pants, they are going to be very wrinkled when you unfold them. So unless you have a mini iron or steamer that you carry around in your back pocket, I wouldn't unfold them.

Well now that you know how easy it is to mimic the look you've been seeing in the magazines, go for it!

Never Again: Plaid Shorts

2012-09-06T09:02:00.003-07:00

The brother of the dreaded cargo shorts, plaid shorts are not much better. They could even be worse in certain situations.These blew up as a fad when I was in high school. I had a few pairs, I'm not going to lie. They were cool at the time, but then college came and it was time to upgrade my style. Apparently I'm the only one who felt the need to do this because my college campus is littered with men still wearing these pants. Even as a college senior, I see people in my classes sporting these like they just stepped out of an American Eagle photo shoot. Enough is enough, and I can't bite my tongue any longer.

Just like before, here are a few reasons why you should retire these hideous shorts for someone who is, well, retired. (after the jump)

1. Plaid is for shirts, blankets, and the pants of the 1970's. I love a good plaid flannel button down. Who doesn't? But to put something like this on pants is just stupid. It reminds me of the stereotypical golfer outfit that you see in cartoons. It does nothing for anyone's body shape and is personally just way too loud for me.

2. It was a high school fad. Remember when we all had to have the ripped jeans with paint splattered all over them? Or even the shirts and sweatshirts from Hollister that had paint on them? I do. I loved my paint splattered hoodie, but once I got to college I realized that it was time to grow out of high school fads. I also can almost guarantee stores don't sell these plaid shorts anymore so if you have them, they are probably the ones you had in high school. Reflect in on yourself for a second and ask yourself why you are wearing something that you wore throughout your high school career. It's time to grow up.

3. No one who isn't completely incoherent and/or blacked out is going to fuck you. Self explanatory.

I could go on, but I think number 3 really puts to rest any doubts on the validity of what I'm saying.
This ending could be filled with funny little jokes about how bad these shorts suck, but I've said my piece. Please stop wearing plaid shorts, I'm actually begging you. They need to be something that we look back on and say, "Oh my god, do you remember when we all used to wear those stupid plaid shorts all the time?" NOT "Oh my god, do you remember when we all used to wear those stupid plaid shorts all the time that I still wear to this day and am actually wearing right now?"

Plaid shorts...Never again.

NOTE: After posting this article to my facebook page, my cousin commented and asked if he could wear these on the golf course. You can 100% absolutely wear them on the golf course, because they fit in with golf attire. I know that all the golf wear brands still make plaid shorts that are sold to be worn on the golf course, and, after a little googling, I saw a lot of golf outfits that looked good with more subtle versions of plaid shorts. If you golf, you wear the heck out of your plaid shorts while you're playing. Just don't wear the same shorts out to the bar later that night!

Athletic Wear

2012-09-05T18:29:00.001-07:00

It's my personal philosophy that no matter what you are doing, there is no reason that you have to look bad. We all have our days, though, and I'm not saying that you should look perfect all the time. Even as I'm writing this, I'm sitting in a laundromat in an old tank top and possibly the ugliest pair of cutoff sweatpants that exist on the planet.

That being said, what's wrong with looking good when you work out? Why do people insist on wearing mismatched old t-shirts and ratty shorts with holes in them? Above is the outfit that I wore out running today. Black tank top, Nike black and red shorts, and my new red running shoes. Could you guess that red is my favorite color?

I'm gonna keep this short, because I honestly don't wear athletic wear that much. The trend that I have seen and liked is keeping your top and shorts a solid subtle color and let your shoes be the statement piece. I'm going to do a little more research and write a more in-depth article, but just remember that you don't have to dress like shit just because you're working up a sweat!

Thread Review: Bright Colored Pants

2012-09-05T07:37:00.002-07:00

Although not a new idea, colored pants have made their way into just about every major retail store on the planet. They are clearly the newest fashion fad, and it seems that everyone is jumping on board. I personally love colored pants and think that they can up the production value of any plain outfit. Bright colored pants can be way too loud for some people, so I wouldn't spend the big bucks on a nice pair if you've never traveled into this realm before. H&M has really nice pairs in the $20s-$30s range, and most of mine are from there.


My collection of colored pants, all under $40.

So if you've decided to take on the challenge of colored pants, here are a few tips to wearing them correctly: (After the jump)

1.) Make it the statement piece. Every outfit should have a statement piece, this is Rule 3 in my 10 Style Rules that can be found in the navigation bar right underneath the big title box at the top of the page. These types of pants are already extremely loud, so you do not want to add anything that is going to compete with the pants. By adding a plain shirt, you can keep the pants the focal point of the outfit and avoid over complicating (Rule 2).

2.) Stick to either plain white or dark colored shirts. Personally, I think that someone with too many bright colors on looks like a basket of Easter eggs. You need to combat the brightness of the pants with either no color (white) or a dark color. I think navy works with most colored pants, and I think it looks exceptionally good when paired with mint and red, which are both shown in the picture at the beginning of the article. A dark color shirt will also tone down the summer feel on some of the more flamboyant colored pants and make them wearable and appropriate in the fall.

3.) Don't think you can only wear slip-ons with them. All of the men in the top picture collage are all wearing some kind of sperry/vans mix. The thing I should stress the most about these colored pants is to bring them into fall and winter with you. Last winter I wore my red denim pants with a black shirt and black sneakers to the club. I've worn them with combat boots and even sandals. Although I do like the slip on shoes/colored pants look, I've been experimenting with other combinations and it has definitely been paying off.

4.) Add a Blazer. We all love a good blazer. I plan on making a bunch of posts about how much I love them. Colored pants and blazers compliment each other very well, as long as the blazers are DARK or SUBTLE. I always wear my red pants and Black blazer with a white shirt underneath. Also, my dark blue blazer goes perfectly with my yellow as well as brown colored pants. I always keep the blazer dark, though. Personally, I don't think you should wear more than one extremely bright color at once, but that is just a personal preference. Something about wearing red pants with a bright yellow jacket just screams Tommy Hilfiger to me and I don't like it. If that's your style, though, you should go for it! Don't let me tell you no. The blazer could also be subtle, like a khaki or white color. This is a great summer look, while avoiding looking like a neon sign.

So, there you go. With these four easy tips, you too can conquer the challenge of the bright colored pants. This is a perfect way to have fun with your clothing, fulfilling style rule number 10. Now go out and get creative!

Coming Soon: Closet Raid

2012-09-04T21:22:00.001-07:00

So one thing that I think would be not only a lot of fun, but also very helpful, is to find friends and other participants that would allow me to raid their closets, get a feel for their personal style, pick out a few outfits for them, and then shoot them in said outfits. I think it would be a great way to show people that to follow this blog you don't have to go out and buy a new wardrobe, you just have to put the right pieces together. Anyone else on the same page as me?

The first person I want to raid is my friend John. This will be very interesting because we have very different styles, but this will be a way that I can prove to all of you that you don't have to shop at the same stores as me or want to dress like me to read this blog. John is 100% on board, so hopefully I can do this tomorrow and have an article up in a few days. This is going to be an ongoing theme in the blog, much like the Never Again and Thread Review articles, which I also wish to continue.

So keep an eye out for John's debut, and who knows, maybe He'll post a few articles on here talking about his own personal style. The possibilities are endless, and watch out, because I might be raiding your closet next!

Never Again: Cargo Shorts

2012-09-03T17:05:00.002-07:00

We all used to wear them. They were popular back when we were in junior high and even in high school. But honestly, as a college senior, I should not be seeing some of my friends wearing them. These were cool back in the day when we thought that Hollister was the new Jesus and Abercrombie was our Burberry. I'll admit, I rocked them in the beginning of freshman year of college, but then I started to mature, and I realized my clothes needed to mature, also.

Yes, you might want to whip out these babies when you don't have anything to wear, but here are 3 reasons to donate them instead.

1. They're too bulky and baggy. When we were younger and cargo shorts were the shit, a lot of us were still stuck in our AND1 and SouthPole days, where we thought to look good we had to wear baggy clothes. Nelly wore baggy clothes, so why shouldn't I? Today is much different. Even rappers are wearing skinny jeans, and all that extra pocket fabric on the sides does nothing for your body shape. And you know that you never even put anything in those random extra pockets anyway.

2. No one thinks they're attractive. No matter who you're trying to impress, they are not going to fall for you because they just couldn't resist the ridiculous amount of canvas covering your crotch and legs. They simply do nothing to accentuate virtually anything on a person's body. And no, a girl is not going to believe you when you tell her that you need all that extra pocket space to hold your Magnum XL condoms.

3. They're for kids. Think of all the stores that carry (do they even still sell these in stores?) cargo shorts. American Eagle, Hollister, Abercrombie, and Aeropostale, just to name a few. It's not a secret that these stores are marketing to kids that are still in junior high school. Why don't you ever see a nice pair of cargo shorts in H&M? It's because H&M knows that the people shopping in their stores have gotten over that phase. They know (and pray) that people in their 20's aren't deeming cargo shorts a must have for the next season.

Well there you go. Three extremely valid reasons to light anyone on fire who is caught wearing a pair of these canvas wonders. Cargo shorts...never again.

Running Errands

2012-09-03T13:48:00.001-07:00

Just because you're running errands and checking things off your to-do list doesn't mean you have to look like shit.

Shirt & Shorts - H&M
Shoes - Aldo
Watch - Kenneth Cole