Simple Style Basics for Every Man

What's one thing that a majority of men have in common? When it comes to fashion, they are lost! A lot of men figure that fashion and style is for women or, it takes too much time to put it together, or they figure they have better things to do. They say, "If it's comfortable and clean, I'll wear it."

I'm here to say that men's style can be simple! With a few tips and a little bit of help, any man can not only be comfortable, but can look like he just stepped off the pages of a men's style magazine.

What's the trick? As in most things, keep it simple stupid! Now I'm not saying that men are stupid, after all I am one. When it comes to dressing themselves, however, many men are, well, less than knowledgeable. Lets go from "Keep it simple stupid," to "Keep it simple, stud!"

Let's get right to it. Here are some basics that every man should know when it comes to what's in the closet.

Basic 1- Cost doesn't make a good polo. You don't have to buy the $95 polo shirt every time you need a new polo. There are plenty of less expensive options with equal quality. A few in the $50-$70 range are just as nice as the bank breaking ones. Very good quality but a much more reasonable price. Remember to keep it simple. Stick with the solid colors. Stay away from prints and patterns. Most men don't know what to pair them with so be safe. Make sure you have plenty of color options as well! There's more polo colors out there than black and white, although those two basics are needed.

Basic 2- Fit, fit, fit! Make sure your clothes fit! And that doesn't mean, I can put it on so it must fit. Make sure you have the right size! Just like Goldie Locks, not too big, not too small, but JUST RIGHT! You shouldn't have to squeeze in to them and should never be "swimming" in them.

Basic 3- You should have a navy blazer. Nothing more really needs to be said about that one.

Basic 4- You should have at least one, solid colored (Black or Navy) suit. Refer to Basic 2! Don't just buy it off the rack. Make sure it fits!

Basic 5- Your jeans should look like jeans, not an old rag. You should have at least one pair of good quality jeans. Forget about the "broken in" or "distressed" look. They only make you look sloppy. Find a nice pair that fits and stick with them. They can be dressed up and dressed down. Pair them with a polo and your navy blazer or, pair them with a clean t-shirt. Very versatile, if you choose the right pair. Don't be afraid of the slim fit. They don't need to be skinny jeans but baggy jeans just look bag.

The same goes for your pants and shorts. You should have at least on pair of good fitting Khaki pants and shorts. Shorts are a great place to add color and print/pattern. Just be careful what you pair those bold but fun shorts with. If you wear them, stick with a solid color top.

Basic 6- Not every t-shirt can be worn in every situation. You should have seperate shirts for the gym and going out to meet friends. Keep the worn out ones for around the house or working out. Also, unless you are a cast member of the Jersey Shore, you should NEVER WEAR ANYTHING ED HARDY, AFFLICTION, CHRISTIAN AUDIGIER, or like brands! You don't look cool. You look like a tool bag!

Basic 7- When it comes to shoes, there's more than just black and brown. You should have: black dress shoes, brown dress shoes, sneakers for the gym/activities, nicer sneakers for around town, brown leather thong sandals (Rainbows work great!), at least one pair of brown Sperry's or loafers. From there, you can build and expand but those should cover most outfits and situations. Hebrew hikers (strappy sandles like Teva and like brands) should never be worn. When wearing shorts, the sock color should match the shoes. When wearing pants, the sock color should match the pants. Socks should never be worn with sandals.

Basic 8- Don't be afraid of color. Just be careful where you put it. Colorful polos are always an option. Colorful sport coats are only an option in Palm Beach. Feel free to wear bright colors, just keep it to one piece in the outfit. Don't go overboard. A colorful shirt should be paired with jeans or more toned down shorts and vice versa. There's no excuse for looking like the crayon box exploded all over you, unless you are in Palm Beach.

Basic 9- Accessories should go with the outfit. The belt should match the shoes. The watch, if at all possible, should match the belt. Obviously if you have a gold or silver watch, it's ok not to match. The tie or bow tie (Yes, bow ties are cool as long as they are not clip on) should match the colors and basic palate of your outfit. Ties are a great place to add that pop of color!

Basic 10- Match! For Pete's sake, match! Stripes and plaids DO NOT MATCH! Brown and black should not be worn together in most situations. Refer to the color wheel if you don't know what colors go together. Or, suck up your pride and ask someone, "Do I match?"

Those are just some of the key tips to looking good and feeling great about what you have on. Of course, there are many more things you can do to really pull it all together but those should get you off to a great start. Don't be afraid to ask someone for help either. It's worse to go out looking like a schlub than it is to ask a friend if you look ok.

Remember, KEEP IT SIMPLE STUD!