Interview With Clothing Expert - Andy Gilchrist on how Men Should Dress

By Adwin Ang

Conversation between Adwin Ang & Andy Gilchrist Good day everyone and Welcome to our Interview with Andy Gilchrist!

Adwin:
Hi Andy, first of all I would like to thank you for taking some time off from your busy schedule for this online interview. I have read the materials from your CD; you bet they are highly informative products. Especially you use charts and picture to illustrate. Also it is a very good and fast reference guide.
My first question is Andy, what have made you decide to come up with a website's that focus on men's fashion?

Andy:
It was an extension of my natural and long time interest in men's clothing. I started out at the monitor of a men's fashion Forum that was connected to Men's Health magazine and liked the idea. I then decided to write a book on men's clothes, (The Encyclopaedia of Men's Clothes) which took me two years, and the website was a vehicle to sell the book.

Adwin:
I have read and saw the huge number of topics which you covered on menswear both on your website and CD Rom e-Book "The Encyclopaedia of Men's Clothes", the information really amaze me on what I have missed out all these years.
Where or how did you develop your fashion sense? Any special training or courses one need to take?

Andy:
Some of it came from my father, who living in the middle of Kansas (USA) and doing oil exploration work. But he was always interested in men's fashion and the quality of the various brands of shoes, suits, shirts, etc. And honestly I think it somewhat out of insecurity!! Not being born the best looking guy in the world (don't argue!) I realized that image and looks was important and that I needed to make myself look as good in public as possible.

Adwin:
It occurred to me men in my country aren't really dress to impress or know their dressing sense but dress according to what they think is suitable for the occasion.
For example: Some men would wear a polo-shirt or jeans for Wedding dinner. They find it more comfortable which is obviously

Where can we obtain the information on latest trends in men's fashion? Any websites which are your favourites?

Andy:
Unlike women's clothing, most men's clothing (even for the most formal occasions) are intricately comfortable. Women are always searching for comfortable shoes, while men would not stand (pardon the pun) for shoes that didn't fit well and feel good.
There is also a world wide cultural (or sexual) mind set that men are not suppose to dress well. They are "supposed" to be unkempt, rugged individuals. But if you study every male animal species you note that the male is the more colourful!

It's good to keep up on the current trends, but not necessarily to go crazy for each fad that comes along. The value of men's clothing is that they change fashion rarely since the styles have been evolving down through a 100 years to something that fits men's body types, activities and makes most men look great. Look at formalwear - every man looks exceptionally handsome in the classic (no frills, no updates, no changes) basic tuxedo. The "acceptable" colors for business (Navy or grey suit, white or blue shirt, etc.) compliment most gentlemen's skin, hair and eye colors.

Adwin:
You mention about the "Rule of Seven" a few times in your Men's clothes Encyclopedia. What exactly must we watch out on the '7 rules'?

Andy:
Just to restate that there is a "Rule of Seven" in women's fashion that applies to men as well. The "rule" states that there should be no more than seven points of interest on your body at any one time!

The theory is that too much visual stimulation detracts from the total look.
Points of interest could be a watch, pocket square, bright tie, blazer buttons, braces, belt buckle, cuff links, fashion glasses, facial hair, vest, anything that could draw attention to that item.

So if you're wearing an exceptional pair of cufflinks you don't want to overpower them by adding too many other visual excitement. When others are visually overloaded they tend to repel you. The mistake when you have too many points of interest is that the look is loud, busy and discordant (not harmonic). Too many patterns make you look like a clown.

Adwin:
The section which I find it most interesting is on casual wear.” DON’T BE A CASUAL CASUALTY!" which you mention alot of people have misunderstood the meaning of casual dressing. I do agree and myself have always misunderstood it at the long.
What are the different types of casual wear and how should we wear to address the word "Casual wear" on our invitation card?

Andy:
Part of the problem is that the person sending out the invitation has no idea what the classifications of dress are and thus confuses the guests. There are 5 classifications of dressy and 5 classifications of casual and they all depend on the occasion. It's easy to get them all mixed up.

Adwin:
Ehm...Andy, as you know I am running a blog site on cuff links. My next question is in general how should we match our cuff links to the type of cuff shirts we wear, in terms of shirts and cuffs material?

Andy:
You can coordinate cuff links by colour with the rest of your ensemble for that harmonic impression.
You may want to coordinate the metal colour with your watch and ring, so that everything, for example, is gold, but that’s not really necessary. Many watches contain both silver and gold and colour mixing is not scorned. Traditionally gold was appropriate for day, and silver for evening, but with the advent of a more casual approach both are interchangeable. Silver goes with blue, black or grey, and gold is best with earth tones.

Adwin:
About cuff links care, how should we store them to prevent scratches and should we clean them often for cuff links made of stainless steel?

Andy:
Store your cuff links in a felt lined jewellery case or use any other method that keeps the links from coming in contact with each other to prevent scratching.
If you don’t have a jewellery case just keep them in the felt lined box they were packed in when you purchased them. Of if they didn’t come in a box (where did you say you got these cuff links?) try storing them in a soft cloth in a drawer.

Adwin:
As you know, there are many type of cuff links in the market. For a person who intend to buy his first pair of cuff links what should he look out for? Is there such a thing as the main categories of cuff types?

Andy:
STYLES of CUFF LINKS:(from most elegant to least dressy)

Double-faced are links with two identical faces attached with a metal link. You push one face through the “button” holes of the cuff. These are the dressiest.Chain links -- A chain attaches the double-faced links. Snap on are made up of two separate pieces that snap together.

Push-through -- This style has a bulbous or globular end opposite the showy side, which is pushed through the cuff holes. Also see Silk Knots below.

Hinged back -- This type has a bar, which can be aligned perpendicular to the link then opened parallel, after it’s pushed though the cuff, to secure the link in place.

Stirrup are cufflinks that wrap around the shirt cuff. Some consider these garish.

Silk knots have two knots linked together with and made of silk; one of the knots is pushed through the cuff hole to hold the cuff together. Silk knots are the least dressy style.

Adwin:
I have seen a few men's cosmetics store in Singapore but might be catering to a small group of people. But seems to me men nowadays are more concern of the way they dress themselves and they are more willing to spend on accessories.
Do you think men's fashion wear will continue to be more popular for the next 5 years or so?

Andy:
Absolutely. Men are realizing the importance to their daily lives of looking good. A good impression helps with business, love life, family and all relationships (getting through airport security!!) There will be a boom in men's cosmetics, quality and classic clothing (some with new high tech fabrics) and a greater willingness to spend money on items that make us look good.

Adwin :
Andy, having been in the men's fashion industry for many years, what are the common problems that are face by men nowadays in term of their dressing?

Andy:
The casual dressing era was welcomed by many men but then it became apparent that putting all those elements together properly wasn't so easy. Certainly not as easy as putting a suit (one element) together with a shirt, tie, and shoe and a belt that matched. It's more difficult to dress in casual mode and look good.

Adwin:
Coming back to the topic of cuff links, do you have any resources to recommend where readers here can draw information from?

Andy:
There must be a good history or a book on cuff links out there. If not, Adwin, let's write one!

Adwin:
From our last email exchanged, you are launching your a set of cuff links, do you intend to go into customisation cuff links for the Online community? How can they reach you?

Andy:
SmartTurnout, in the UK, in the UK, One of the sponsor's on AskAndyAboutclothes.com agreed to design a pair of chain style (double faced) cuff links with the Ask Andy hanger on one side and some nice blue tone stripes on the other. (so you could wear the ask Andy side out for Ask Andy get-together events and the other side out for day to day wear. I should have some news (photos, prices) very soon.

Adwin:Once again, thank you, Andy!, for sharing with us your knowledge on clothing’s and await to see more of your exciting tips and cuffs launches. Take care and have a nice day!

Andy: Thank you Adwin! Really good thoughtful questions. Good luck on the great website you've started on cufflinks. I really like the layout and the information there is excellent.

Adwin Ang have been in the IT industry for about 9 years and currently started his own blog in providing cuff links resources for cuff links lovers.He runs a monthly newsletter which deliever highly informative resources and tips to his subscriber. Visit his blog at http://mycufflinks.blogspot.com.

Men's Clothing Suit Styles

By Victor Epand

Suit jackets certainly can be worn with other things, but you're right, you do have to be careful. Can you let me know your husband's age and size? The last thing I want to do is recommend unsuitable attire!

Also, have you checked with a tailor that the pants cannot be altered? Most suit pants can be either let out or taken in by up to 1 3/4 inches if done properly, and of course the hems can be altered to suit length as well.

Ok, the dark blue subtle pinstripe, this is where the importance of your husband's age comes in! I would recommend using this for an informal/formal look and teaming it with a smart pair of jeans, and a formal work shirt.

Matching this jacket with a pair of formal pants will be nigh on impossible, but matching it with jeans and going for a casual yet still smart look is easily done. What you have to do is think about the accessories. As I said, a nice oxford shirt in either a pale blue or white, along with a pair of smart jeans and then a black belt and black shoes, either plain oxfords or perhaps a pair of suede loafers even.

For the glen plaid, this can be matched into something more formal and worn almost as you would a sports jacket. Pants will have to be dark, plain and pleated. I would recommend dark navy pants, and brown shoes and belt. In terms of shirt and tie, you can't go far wrong with a white shirt, and then a tie that brings out a bit of the color in the glen plaid, so a tie with a hint of red in would go nicely.

If you are looking for a more western interpretation, then you can find suits with a mandarin influence, or perhaps a Nehru style suit which fuses Indian themes within the suit style. I would avoid the white shirt/black tie routine, it'll either make you look like you're going to a funeral, or going to carry out a hit on someone!

What you need for interviews is something safe, but also nice and smart. You can't go too far wrong with a pastel blue (not a navy blue, more of a sky blue) cotton shirt with tie that has gold/yellow/blue in it. Alternatively a lilac shirt with a tie that has a combination of purple/blue in it works well.

A general rule of thumb that I advise is that the darker the shirt, the lighter the tie color to lift it. The opposite of that works too, i.e. if you're wearing a very light shirt, then a heavier colored tie is good.

I say go ahead and buy the suit. It sounds like a winner. There are always a lot of questions asking whether or not a double breasted suit is hip and I say it can be. It's a classic look that will never go out of style - although, sometimes the look is more "in fashion" than others. However, because this suit is a classic it tends to look better on men and not young men or teens.

Victor Epand is an expert fashion consultant at http://www.LingerieDress.com/. Visit us when you want the best prices, styles, fashions, and fits of all types of lingerie. We carry a super selection of everyday, as well as bridal and specialty items.

Clothing and Fashion for Men

By Sarah Freeland

One of the most popular item purchased by people shopping for men’s clothing are t-shirts. T-shirts are a great option for building a man’s wardrobe. This is because t-shirts come in a variety of great colors, they offer a great selection of designs, and they come in either long sleeved or short sleeved options. Also if the man that you are shopping for is into vintage designs then you can also purchase vintage tees.

Sweatshirts are another popular men’s clothing option. In the past sweatshirt designs have been limited to grey gym wear, however, now a days you have a lot of great sweatshirt fashion choices to select from. Some of the most popular sweatshirt styles on the market today include hoodies and athletic sweatshirts.

A great men’s shirt option for the work environment is the sweater. Sweaters come in a variety of styles and they can easily be worn as professional wear or for special occasions. Most merchants that sell men’s clothing will sell a selection of men’s sweaters.

To find the best t-shirt, sweatshirt, or sweater for yourself or for a man that you are shopping for, you will want to take into consideration several measurements. These measurements include the size of the man’s neck, the width of his shoulders, and the size of his waist. These measurements will help you find a man’s top that has the right fit and feel. In addition to finding the right size, you will also want to look for the style that are both appropriate for the occasions that they will be used for and that offer a style that the man will like.

Plus Size Men's Clothing - How To Look Great & Look Slimmer Instantly Part 1

By Kelly Price

If you choose carefully with men’s plus size clothing you can give the impression of knocking off half a stone instantly by simply being careful with the type of clothes you wear.

Men’s plus size clothing can look great, you just need to know how to dress correctly and here some tips to look great.

1. Horizontal Stripes Are A No!

Vertical stripes are a yes.

Why?

Because they draw the eyes downwards, making your silhouette longer and making you look slimmer.

Formally, Pinstripe suits are the perfect, especially paired with a crisp black dress

For casual wear, try to find dark corduroys with slim stripes are also a good option

If you are wearing vertical stripes its fine and if you are not, it’s no stripes at all with this fashion tip.

2. Go Single Breasted

Single breasted jackets always look slimmer than double breasted that focus the eyes at the centre.

Also be careful about the vents at the back of your jacket on.

Stay away from blazers and jackets that are double-vented as this cut will draw attention to your bottom.

Stick to single-vented jackets or jackets without any vents and keep in mind your jacket should always cover your bottom.

3. Watch the Fit

Make sure your wear clothes that fit and you buy the size you are, rather than the size you would like to be.

Tight clothing will make you look ridiculous and show every bulge in more graphic detail.

On the other hand, many men believe baggy clothing will hide their bulges, if their to baggy they will simply make you look much bigger.

The secret to looking slimmer is to choose clothes that are not to tight not to baggy and allow you to feel comfortable and move properly.

4. Go Monochrome

A shirt and trousers in two contrasting colors will draw attention right to the centre where the join is which is your stomach!

Avoid this and go for two similar colors that don’t highlight your middle. For example Black trousers yellow top is a no Dark blue jumper and black trousers is a yes.

In plus size men’s clothing you do not want to draw attention to your middle. Finally, black is the ultimate color for slimming. If you decide to dress in black make sure you add a splash of color to break up your look

5. Don’t Wear High Neck Jumpers

In men’s plus size clothing high roll or turtle neck jumpers are a no at all costs it will simply make your neck look fatter and give the illusion of a shorter person

V-neck round necks and T-shirts are all good.

These draw the eyes down giving the impression of a sleeker silhouette also, it will give you the illusion of having a longer neck which if you have double chin or large neck will make you look slimmer.

6. Always Use A Belt

A belt will hold your waistline and make it appear slimmer and make sure your trousers hang correctly.

Conversely don’t tighten your belt to hard so you can’t breathe! Your belly will them overhang.

7. Don’t Follow Fashion Blindly

With men’s plus size clothing don’t try and follow fashions simply because you think you should, they wont always suit.

Instead develop your own personal style that makes you look good. The above are just a few tips for wearing men’s plus size clothing and we will discuss more in articles in this series.

Where to Find Men's Tall Clothing

By Krista Mayne

Is it possible to wear stylish clothing when you are tall? Does that mean that you are stuck with wearing only one type of jeans - namely western? Well, over the last few years, the men’s tall clothing department has expanded greatly and retailers are finally catering to this market. Many stylish name brands such as Ralph Lauren, Polo, and Tommy Bahama have added a huge assortment of men’s tall clothing. So where does one find tall clothing?

1. The first option is tall specialty catalogs. There are many big and tall men’s catalogs on the market now.

2. Some finer department stores now have special big and tall departments. These are usually found somewhere towards the back of the stores, often in a corner. Although they are hard to find, they are worth the trip.

3. The Internet is exploding with men’s tall clothing in tall niche-type stores. Everything you could possible need is available online- whether it be men’s casual tall clothing to men’s designer tall clothing.

4. Custom tall clothing stores are a great option- as you can get clothing to fit your exact measurements. The Internet has custom men’s tall clothing in jeans, chinos, dress shirts, casual shirts and suits. You may also visit a local tailor to have custom clothing made for you.

When it comes to shopping, tall men may have to search a little longer than the rest of the population. The good news is, that men’s tall clothing finally exists and the choices are growing more every season

Men's Clothing

By Damian Sofsian

Traditionally, the word fashion is only applied to women. This is because the fashion industry focuses much of its attention to women's fashion and for good reason. Women are perceived to be the ?shoppers? of the world, and they are also perceived to be the ones who give a lot of thought to their clothing, making them the perfect market for fashion designers. On the other hand, men?s fashion do not get that much attention, because it is perceived that men do not put much though on the clothes they wear. However, this does not mean that men do not experience fashion problems that women experience, which include the difficulties that taller and shorter men experience in looking for good fitting clothes.

For shorter and taller men, the main problem is to find good fitting clothes because most of the clothes that are available in the market cater to the ?average? body size of men. Given this difficulty, the only option for some of these men is to have custom made clothes from tailors, which can be very expensive. For short men, a very good source for good fitting clothes are specialty stores on the Internet that cater to the body types of shorter men. One good example of this kind of store online is Short Sizes, Inc., which specializes in clothes designed for shorter men since the 1970?s.

For taller men, the same problem applies, because they also experience problems in finding good fitting clothes. Fortunately, the Internet is also a good source of good retail stores that sell clothes that are designed for taller men. One of the better sites that sell these clothes is King Size Direct, which not only offer clothes for tall men but for big men as well.

Men also experience some of the same fashion problems that women go through, especially for taller and shorter men. This is because just like short or tall women, short and tall men also find it difficult to find good fitting clothes. Fortunately, in the same way that there are a number of sources of clothes that cater to short and tall women, the same also goes for men, a good example of which is the Internet.