Mastering Men's Jeans - How to Find the Perfect Pair

By Jennifer Wasilewski

We’ve reached an “almost everything goes” point in fashion, especially when it comes to jeans. No matter where you go, it seems that the men’s jeans section is full of jeans in every color, size, and style. If shopping is not number one on your list of great ways to spend an afternoon, here are some tips to help you weed through the

  • Style: When you’re shopping for jeans, think about what kind of style you want. If you’re purchasing a pair of jeans for all occasions, you may want to stay away from anything to flashy. This means stay away from pockets that are embellished, jeans that are ripped or have other cosmetic designs like paint, stripes, or different bold color stitching. You also want to steer clear of styles that are over trendy. For example, for a pair of multipurpose jeans you don’t want to buy something like a bell bottom, and please stay away from tapered jeans at all costs.
  • Color/Wash: Choose a color that flattered you body and can be worn with many pieces from your wardrobe. Dark or med-dark blue is a great color because it goes well with practically all shirts and shoes. Darker wash jeans are also great because they can easily be transitioned from casual to classy with a few simple changes to the rest of your outfit. By day, a dark pair of jeans with a track jacket and tennis shoes looks great. As the night progresses, you can keep the same pair of jeans and match it with a button down shirt and a pair of brown or black shoes, for a great going out attire.
  • Width: To look great in a pair of jeans and to really get your money’s worth; you need to buy a pair that fits well. This means as much as you’d love to run in, grab a pair of jeans, and run back out; you’ll really need to try them on. When you try them on, be sure to walk around and sit down to make sure they are comfortable and fit well. Your goal is to find something that fits just right around the hips. Well fitting jeans will not be tight around your stomach, crotch, or backside. It’s also important to make sure they aren’t to lose. You do not want to be able to take them off without unzipping or unbuttoning.
  • Length: It’s also important to pay careful attention to the length of the jeans. Ultimately, your jeans should fall at the top of your shoe. If a pair of jeans is just the right length at the store, you may want to go up one size length wise. When you wash jeans, they usually shrink a little. While normal wear will help to stretch them back out width wise, once your jeans shrink length wise, there is little hope in restoring them to their original fit. Buying jeans a little longer will help prevent your jeans from turning into an expensive pair of high-waters. If possible, choose jeans that are pre-shrunk to help minimize the loss of length.

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Top 7 Men's Clothing Stores

By William Brister

Following is a list of online shops and websites compiled for the fashion conscious male of the 21st century.

Bluefly Men’s Clothing
Is the leading online retailer of designer brands, fashion trends and superior value. It is the ultimate fashion store for the fashion conscious man with trendy designs, latest cuts and designer labels that include Prada, Gucci, Cole Haan, Zegna, Ted Baker and many more. From blazers to belts, cashmere to cufflinks, briefcases to bathrobes, there is every item that a man could possible want.

Brooks Brothers
An American icon, two centuries old, it continues to uphold the same traditions and values, always making, dealing and offering merchandise of the finest quality ever. Besides the casual and business collections, their special departments have so much to offer from country, big and tall as well as formal wear.

Paul Fredrick
Paul Fredrick’s designs a classic collection of men’s fashion apparel of the finest fabrics and includes dress shirts, tailored clothing, sportswear and accessories. Known for their style and comfort, these fashion garments not only sport exceptional value but continue to wear well through the continuously changing fashion cycles

International Male
A company in existence for the last twenty-five years especially focuses on the fashion conscious male. They cater to individual tastes whether it is exciting or eclectic, straight laced or button down and create designs with more than just a distinctive look – fashionable and trendy. Not only are the clothes and accessories sensible, but stylish as well. The International Male website offers you a productive and efficient online shopping experience.

Vintagetrends
Men’s personality is largely reflected through the clothes they wear, whether it is dapper, dashing or distinctive, they express their individuality through style. Vintagetrends recognizes this and has gone on to become the leading web-based distributor of vintage, military, designer clothing and accessories. Men’s vintage clothing is as unique as it is bold. It is known for its high quality in fashion apparels sourced from across the globe.

Thomas Pink
It is one of the best online shops offering luxury shirts, ties, cufflinks and accessories made from the finest materials. Thomas Pink is synonymous with classic British shirt making and London’s Jermyn Street heritage. From business to casual, slim fit to tailored, Thomas Pink showcases a selection of various styles.

Casual Male
With an innovative comfort technology adapted in their clothing style, Casual Male has earned a lofty reputation for their fashion apparels especially for bigger sizes. It is largest specialty retailer for bigger and taller men and offers great styles, designer comfort and huge selections.

William Brister - http://www.menswear.tv - A guide to male style.

Men's Shirts - A Fashion Staple Since Time Immemorial

By Andrew Regan

There are as many different types of shirts as there are hours in the day; and with summer fast approaching, the latest styles and fashions of that long time staple of menswear - the shirt - are sure to cause a buzz in the fashion scene all over the country and across the globe.

Whilst the American usage of the term “shirt” generally refers to any garment other than a jacket worn on the top half of the body, in Britain the term normally refers to a garment with buttons up the middle and on the collar, and long-sleeves with full cuffs – an item of clothing known as a “dress shirt” in America. Whilst more formal men's shirts are often associated with special occasions and restrictive job-wear, young men in particular should not make the mistake of overlooking the fashionable men's shirt!

The variety of garments that this definition can provide stretches is both wide and far-reaching. At one end of the spectrum, you'll find the extremely informal white sleeveless shirt which has long been popular in punk and alternative fashions; while at the other end of the scale, people will find the only shirt that was officially recognised in mainland China for many years - the double breasted shirt with four pockets known officially as the ‘Zhongshan suit’, but long referred to as the ‘Mao shirt’ or ‘Mao suit.’

Thankfully these days our clothing range isn’t quite so restrictive. New fashions in men’s shirts this season show that stripes, checks and grand-dad collars are back in fashion in a big way, with inspirations taken from the indie college rock scene of the mid to early 1990s along with thrift-store chic showing in the latest lines of short sleeved men's shirts. Think fashion shirts from Weezer circa 1994 to artists such as the Kaiser Chiefs today, and you'll be someway towards comprehending how shirts should look this season!

Long sleeved shirts are also changing to keep up with the times. Shirts with deliberately pre-rolled up sleeves are proving to be popular, with long vertical stripes and a comfortable but fitted look winning through. Let’s not forget as well updates to the classic smart work shirt - and of course the ties to go with them! With the increasing popularity of worryingly skinny boys in indie bands with expensive and complicated haircuts, the skinny tie has exploded in popularity again, and is one of this seasons must have mens fashion items.

Andrew Regan is an freelance, online journalist.