When it comes to soul-searching, love-seeking and dressing themselves, men should follow certain rules.
In the world of clothing, these rules range from simple issues, such as choosing the proper socks, to more complex things, like tailoring a suit.
Men of the older generations adhere to certain norms, but these are lost in translation as they are passed on to our generation.
These essential standards of style should be noted by all men, and so I present a simple series of rules and regulations for you to keep in mind.
The Suit
The suit is the starting point of a man's wardrobe. Buy yourself a two-button suit, placing emphasis on the two. The three-button days are long gone and will most definitely not return.
The two-button will give you a slimmer look while exposing more of your tie and shirt.
Make sure you know the difference between a notch lapel and a peak lapel, and which one suits you better (pun definitely intended).
The notch lapel is the standard style worn by men, and has a missing "notch" cut out where the lapel meets the collar.
The peak lapel is cut so that there is a sharp corner pointing upwards toward the shoulders where the lapel meets the collar.
In more formal attire, you might also encounter a shawl-collared jacket, usually worn with a bowtie, where the lapel is a continuous piece of cloth starting from the midriff and extending up to the collar, around, and down the other side.
Once you've bought the suit, the next important step is getting it tailored. This is essential to looking your best.
Since no ready-to-wear suit fits perfectly, ask your tailor to bring in the jacket and shoulders, narrow the sleeves and cut the pants so that it breaks only once.
Also ask the tailor to stop the jacket cuff right at the hinge of your wrist, so that your dress shirt shows just a bit of the cuff underneath. The central theme here is slim and narrow. The days of baggy pants and jackets are long gone.
The Tie
The tie is the frosting on the cake. Most men know the basics of color coordination, but they tend to skip the details.
For one, your tie should never be wider than half the width of your forehead. If you're mathematically inclined, think of it in the form of the nice equation T=W/2.
Alongside that, unless your name is Domenico Dolce or Stefano Gabbana, your tie should not be insanely superskinny either.
Keep your tie slim, about three inches wide, and you'll look modern and sophisticated.
Invest in a slim black tie; it will spruce up any formal or casual outfit, not to mention it goes well with just about everything.
I've also been pushing this for a while too: Invest in a diagonally striped, slim collegiate tie. It carries the perfect amount of prep in it.
Finally, make sure you can tie your knot well. Don't leave it looking overly large or small. It should form a nice triangle with a small dimple beneath. Never forget the dimple.
Socks and shoes
When looking for dress shoes, avoid clunky pieces of leather. Opt for sleek narrow shoes in black or brown with a slight heel.
Also, consider that brown leather shoes can be worn with gray, navy or tan pants, whereas black shoes are limited to black pants.
Moreover, your socks should be of high quality and match the color of your suit.
For example, a navy suit with brown shoes dictates navy socks, and a tan suit with brown shoes dictates tan socks slightly darker than the pants.
Casual
Even if you're not going to weddings and date-parties, you still need to look well-dressed.
A grey V-neck sweater is important for all occasions. Wear it with a well-chosen pair of Japanese salvage denim jeans, like those from the venerated A.P.C. brand.
Pick up some distinct polo shirts, not the generalized Ralph Lauren ones you find on every street corner.
And invest in a cotton oxford shirt and pair it with a cardigan.
These are just some general examples for what is considered stylish and fashionable on the streets. These tips are what you need to build a steady wardrobe. The important factor to keep in mind is originality.
Follow the seasonal trends, but do not be afraid to inject a little class and style into your outfit.
Fashion is not about how others view you, but how you view yourself. So put a smile on your face when you look in the mirror tomorrow.
