In all honesty, I’m not a big spender. I definitely don’t splurge very often, either (not on clothes, anyway). I always see things I want and like, but I’ve conditioned myself for so long to hold off hold off HOLDOFF… until I’m certain it’s something I absolutely want.

See, when you splurge on an item, it’s more about desire than necessity.

No one NEEDS Tom Ford suits when there’s a Men’s Wearhouse (bleh) down the street. You don’t NEED a pair of $1600 John Lobb lace-ups to cover your feet, or a $7k Panerai just to figure out the time.

These items are about desire: for history, quality, a story, a brand name. We’re way past utility when there’s $7k on your wrist.

I’m not saying this desire is a bad thing, rather, how do we strike a balance between affordability and luxury?

The reason I ask this is because as we get older, our tastes evolve (and our incomes rise), and we start to desire other, better things. Why take your significant other to McDonald’s when you can afford dinner at Morton’s or BLT, right?

But, if we gave into our desires for the biggest, baddest, most awesome things all the time, well, we’d have lots of cool shit but no cash in our pockets.

How do we choose what’s worth the extra coin, and what we should pass on (or at least substitute for a more affordable alternative)?

Determining if your desired item is splurge-worthy

Let me preface all this by saying that if you’re in the minority of folks who can easily practice delayed gratification, I tip my hat to you.

Controlling spending is difficult, and if you ever find yourself on that slippery slope of buying things (usually on credit) before you make the money… be careful with that ish, my friends.

Concerns about style, looking good, and having cool things don’t matter when you’re drowning in debt. Get your finance game straight before buying anything that isn’t a necessity to live (like rent, or food).

Even better, pare down, buy quality, understand the principles of wardrobe minimalism and adopting a personal uniform, and your new habits will justify the splurges you give into every now and again.

So this is my rough three-point checklist when I’m considering a splurge-worthy purchase. Try asking yourself these things next time:

Have I been looking at it forever?

• Do you visit the store all the time?
• Have you tried it on more times than you can remember?
• Are you always looking at the product page online, so much so that it’s the first result in your browser’s history when you type the first letter of the URL?
• Can you recite the product description listed on the site by heart?
• Do product shots make appearances in your dreams?

If you’re thinking of a particular item while answering “yes!” to these questions, perhaps this is something you really should buy.

Do I have the means to purchase it?

Like I mentioned earlier, I’m not talking about credit cards. That’s cheating.

If you’re a smart man, you’ll save up the cash before buying it. There’s no true joy in buying something on credit… it may feel good at the time, but that’s just the deceptive high of instant gratification.

Put away $100-200 (or whatever you can set aside) every month until you can afford it, then go buy it with that cash. The feeling of finally having that item in your possession after saving for it is sweeeet. You know what’s even sweeter? A $0 balance on that credit card.

Plus, you also get a chance to practice delayed gratification by saving for something instead of taking the easy way out and using the credit card. Delayed gratification is monumentally important, especially considering the type of debt people find themselves in nowadays. SO not worth it for a new pair of shoes or a dope jacket.

Do I REALLY want it?

Be sure you really want it. This is probably a bigger, pricier purchase, or else you wouldn’t have been debating over it for so long. Make sure you really want this thing, and know your reasons why.

Quick test: When you find this potentially splurge-worthy item, simply walk away from it and go about your day (or X out of your browser window). The next day, are you still thinking about that item? Do you revisit the store just to take a gander one more time?

A few days later, are you still daydreaming about it, checking stock online, looking at product photos?

That’s when you know you really, really want something. If you can step away from it and give the chemicals in your brain a chance to simmer down, and you still find yourself wishing you had it, then you know it’s not a spur-of-the-moment impulse buy.

The Not Quick At All test: Do you still want said item after saving for it for weeks, potentially months? If you’ve saved the money and you still want the damn thing, it’s DEFINITELY meant to be yours.

If you could live without, since you’ve done so for this long… well, good thing you didn’t buy that item on credit, knawmeen?

Will this splurge-worthy item eventually become an heirloom you pass on? Is it something you can use every day? Do you get giddy with excitement every time you’re near it? You should be passionate about it if you’re gonna buy it, so know your reasons.

Never buy something because it’s what everyone else wants, or to be a show-off, or to put yourself on display like a damn peacock. Purchasing something of luxury shouldn’t be done for these purposes.

Luxury should be personal, intimate. Keep it to yourself and enjoy the outstanding quality quietly, otherwise you look like a douchebag showoff.

BOOM. There’s your quick three-question mini test. Hopefully this saves you from several regretful purchases you otherwise might have made in 2012.

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Speaking of splurge-worthy, K and I are gearing up to release our second collection at Fifth&Brannan. We’ll be releasing the collection in phases. If you were hoping for everything all at once, sorry to disappoint… but that’s okay! A controlled drip is better than a tsunami of awesomeness. Wouldn’t want you to pass out from sheer delight, or anything.

Best way to stay on top of the 5&B goodness that’s about to grace your screens in early February? Sign up on our mailing list. We’ll make it worth your while, I promise. Click here to get on the list.

If you’re so inclined, feel free to chat with us on Twitter, or be buddies with us on Facebook. It’s all the rage these days.

Photo credit: HO/AFP/Getty Images, tomford.com

The Lean Wardrobe is an ongoing series of articles exploring the ideas and philosophies behind curating a lean wardrobe… Things like cleaning out whats unnecessary, buying only what you’ll use, spending on things that are worth it, etc.

If you’re interested in creating a lean, mean closet with only stuff you love to wear (while getting rid of the crap that’s taking up space) you should subscribe to Effortless Gent (this will open in a new window).

Hey gents,

I’m a big proponent of understanding basic style rules, and then bending those rules (maybe even breaking a couple) to make them your own. Doing so will help you create a personal style that’s completely yours.

The idea of high / low style isn’t a new thing, but if you haven’t yet incorporated the idea of it into your daily life, why not?

High/low style (or high-low, whatever) is this general idea of combining high-fashion, tailored, and custom pieces with more casual, everyday pieces. Alternatively, the combining of the higher-priced items in your closet with your less expensive items.

Most people have outfits in mind for certain occasions. So, jeans and a t-shirt for going to the store, suit for work or a wedding, etc.

The idea behind high / low style is blurring the lines (something else I’m a big proponent of) so you take on a more casual dressy look, or a dressy casual look. Never too overdressed for any occasion, but never underdressed either.

Probably the most basic high / low style mixture out there? Denim with a sport coat. Looks great, classes up the denim. Throw on some great leather shoes and in 95% of situations, you’d be dressed appropriately.

Waistcoat, denim, dress shirt, sneakers. BOOM.

Some other ideas? A waistcoat and dress shirt with denim and sneakers, suiting trousers with a simple, fitted sweatshirt. Suiting trousers with sneakers and a thick cardigan sweater.

Think mixing high and low can’t look good? It sure can. Remember, if everything fits well, you’ll have a much easier time putting things together and making sure your look is polished.

Other reasons you may want to use high/low to your advantage:

Perfect way to utilize both casual / dressier clothing in your closet

If you’re like most dudes, the suit you bought and had tailored sits in your closet for most of the year, only seeing the light of day when a special occasion arises.

You need to make use of that suit more often. Break it up and use parts of it throughout the week. Throw on your suit jacket with your favorite pair of denim. Wear the trousers with a sweater and some sneakers. Mixing a suit in with other, more casual pieces, keeps shit interesting, and adds another dimension of awesomeness to your everyday style.

Here’s a great article (with images) from Dan T over at The Style Blogger, where he shows five different ways you can wear individual pieces from a double breasted suit.

Lets you be more creative with your combos

It’s easy to get into a routine with your clothing. And there’s nothing wrong with a uniform, but if you’re still figuring out what defines your personal style, you don’t want to get stuck early on. You want to experiment and try as many things as possible, so you can land upon something that’s uniquely your own.

Word?

Wondering if you can pair X with Y? Not sure how to pull off slim trousers with anything but the suit jacket it came with? Let’s hear it in the comments below.

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By the way, are you following Fifth&Brannan?

If not, you totally should be. We’re putting the final touches on our next collection, and we’re looking to release in early February. Stay updated by joining the 5&B fam and hitting up our Facebook page.

Hey gents,

2011 was a foundational year for EG. At the beginning of 2011, we we’re still relatively small and unknown, continuing to build our audience and find our voice. Our subject matter has become a lot more focused as the year went on, and it seems our readership grew exponentially because of it.

Here’s an example. The last post of 2010 drew in 278 visits total. Contrast that with the last post in 2011, which brought in 1775 visitors. 24,851 people visited EG in the month of December 2011. 5,103 people checked out EG in the same month, exactly a year before. That’s some nice growth right there.

Of course I’m not using these examples to brag (because really, who cares about those numbers anyway), but more to say thanks. Thanks for spreading the word, for recommending EG to your friends, and for coming back several times a week, leaving insightful comments, and asking great questions.

I’m hoping that in 2012, we’ll grow to twice the size of our best 2011 numbers, reaching even more people, assisting more dudes in finding their own sense of style, and demystifying the whole process, regardless of how the media, trends, or peers tell them to dress.

Here are the essential articles of 2011

If you have to read anything from the past year, these would be it.

• Seven things guys overlook when caring for their clothes (on Primer Magazine)
• My take on style vs. fashion, the differences, and why you should care
• Back to Basics: Which shoes with which pair of pants?
• The one thing you need to do to set yourself apart from every other guy
• When to spend vs. when to save
• The evolution of fashion (or, why classic style is the best style)
• Three Fs to consider when shopping for new clothing
• The endorsement: One thing every man must have in his closet
• The break: How to choose the best pants length + how to tell your tailor
• Sartorial evaluation: How to be stylish in your 40s and beyond (yes, this still applies to you young cats)
• Back to Basics: Choosing a casual shoe
• Get Measured: the one tool you need to solve all your shopping woes
• Do it anyway: improving yourself and dealing with those who don’t understand

How did YOU do last year?

2011 was a foundational year for you also, if you were following along. My goal is to write insightful articles that are easy enough to implement, so you can take action right away. If you started reading a year ago and applied everything you learned, you’d be well on your way to developing a great sense of personal style with an understanding that goes far beyond the basics.

If this is you, I’d love to hear from you. Please let me know in the comments below how much progress you’ve made so far.

If you don’t feel you have as good a grasp on this just yet, don’t worry, this isn’t a race to the finish line anyway. It’s more like a gradual progression, learning and applying at your leisure.

Understanding the basics of color, fit, proportion, fabric, and texture can be understood pretty quickly. It’s the application and combination of all those things that take time. If you haven’t already, let this be the year you start.

Here’s to an awesome 2012.

I love the new year. I think of them like mile markers, helping me gauge what I’ve done versus what I had planned to do over the past twelve months.

Now that you’ve been along for the ride with us at EG, I encourage you to set some style goals for yourself as well. I’m sure most of you had goals you tried accomplishing this year, and there are probably some things you haven’t gotten to yet.

Things like finally clearing out your closet that’s stuffed with crap you no longer wear, or purchasing a navy suit so you can get your grown man on. Maybe there are some essential pieces you’ve been wanting to pick up but just haven’t yet.

Don’t worry, you’re not expected to do it all in one shot, so it’s okay if you haven’t even taken care of all the basics. In fact, I have some things I hope to take care of this year.

Here are a few of mine:

• Find an awesome gray wool puff vest for the colder months
• Pick up a gray flannel suit, two-button, single breasted, double vented
• Buy a few white / light blue oxfords (I’ll probably just snag a few of the new 5&B ones coming soon)
• Solidifying my personal uniform, something I’ve been working on for a while now
• and more, I’m sure, which I’ll figure out in the next week

What are yours?

Just like regular life goals, if you don’t commit to them in writing (or even better, in public) you’ll probably never get around to it.

I want to hear your style resolutions for the new year. What are you hoping to acquire? What changes are you looking to make?

Remember, establishing your personal style isn’t about picking the most expensive items, or having a warehouse-sized wardrobe to choose from every morning.

All you need are several key (interchangeable) pieces in your closet, mixed in with a few things you love that aren’t necessarily considered basic, but help to define your personal style.

Having trouble thinking of ideas? Check out Dappered.com’s suggestions from the beginning of 2011. This is a good place to start.

So let’s hear em below! Consider the comments section of this post a place to hold yourself publicly accountable. And if I can help in any way, let me know.

Till next time.

ps — you should join us on Facebook!

I can just imagine the conversation that goes on among bros before hitting the clubs on a Saturday night.

“Hey bro, whatchoo gonna wear tonight?”

“Bro, what else? My Going Out shirt, yo! The ladies love it!”

“Aww snap, sweet yo. I just picked up a new Affliction tee at the mall, I’m totally rockin’ that tonight.“

“Dude bro, but what if the bouncer says you gotta wear a collared shirt?”

Ugh. This hypothetical conversation alone is the reason I hardly ever go out (to lounges and clubs). Being in the same room with broz wearing Going Out shirts and graphic tees drives me crazy and induces vomit, even with minimum Old Fashioned consumption.

Why there is no such thing as a “Going Out” Shirt

Sweet shirts, broz. See you in line at the club!

Image credit: left, middle, right (please, please don’t actually purchase any of these. The fact that the middle one is found on Zappos and is SOLD OUT disturbs me a bit. Okay, a lot. Hopefully by the time you read this, they take the link down… forever.)

Okay, maybe in your mind, there is a Going Out shirt, which roughly translates to a shirt with some crazy bold stripes, or a super dark colored shirt with ridiculous embellishment or embroidery (to match that stupid ass pair of artificially distressed boot-cut True Religion jeans), un-tucked (of course!) with the first three buttons undone. Extra points for the sunglasses, over-gelled hair, and square-toed “dress shoes”.

Here’s a little motion picture to more succinctly explain the G.O.S.:

Click here to view the embedded video.

(If you’re reading this in an email, click here for the video)

…

Duuude. Give me a break. There is no such thing as a “Going Out” shirt, just like there aren’t any “Sitting In My Cubicle” shirts. It’s either acceptable shirts, or terrible shirts. Guess which category the above fits into.

If you see anything that remotely resembles the shirts in the photos or the video, please, just step away.

Dude bro, those are some sweet buttons on your Going Out shirt.

Why cant I wear these shirts?

You can, technically, but then we’ll all be pointing and snickering when you’re not looking (and when you turn back around, we’ll be doing the same thing, but in our heads).

The Going Out shirts you see above are tacky, contrived, and make you look like you don’t know how to dress (because you don’t). It’s like wearing Ed Hardy or those Affliction tees (which coincidently, some guys do) to the lounge or club… or anywhere in public, for that matter.

You’re putting yourself into the “D-bag” category when you wear this shirt to the club, and all the ladies are thinking, “Oh there’s the d-bag with his d-bag broz all wearing the same shirt.”

You’re not dressing up when you put this shirt on with your Sevens; it’s the opposite. You’re categorizing yourself as a guy who doesn’t know how to dress.

Look, if you’re this guy, don’t worry. I don’t hate you. No one does. But now that you know you’re committing a crime, how about you just stop?

Do yourself a favor: take those Going Out shirts, and drop them off at the nearest dumpster.

Okay fine, I’ll stop wearing my favorite Going Out shirt. What do I wear to the club then?

If you’re going to an establishment that requires you to look presentable (i.e. wear a collared shirt and dress shoes), then instead of donning the bare minimum, why not step your game up?

Here’s an example of one basic outfit that you can wear 200 consecutive weekends in a row, and you’ll always look good, never trendy, and best of all, this involves no Going Out shirts.

White oxford: J.Crew, Dark denim: Levi's, Navy blazer: LLBean Signature, Brown cap toes: Allen Edmonds, Socks: Corgi, Belt: Dockers

• Put down your faded ass denim and throw on a well-fitting pair of dark denim
• Put on a slim, white shirt (fine cotton, spread collar? even better), tuck it in
• Brown leather belt
• Brown leather lace-ups
• Navy single-breasted, vented blazer

BAM! That’s it.

Looking to add your own flare? Maybe you want to spice it up a little?

Try a subtle stripe or pattern with your shirt. Try different colors (hunter green, lavender). Wear a tie! Put a pocket square in your jacket’s breast pocket. Wear a great pair of socks. Find an awesome striped wool blazer. You get the point.

From Chicago Street Style

Oh look, here’s practically the same outfit I described above, plus some serious personality and style injected (and a bit of badassery, if I do say so myself).

There you have it, a solution to your nightlife woes, and a chance to ditch that terrible shirt you’ve been wearing this whole time.

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Thoughts? Objections? Are you pro-Going Out shirt and want to rip me a new one? (Ha)

Are you glad someone finally said something (though I’m sure I’m not the first one)? Other questions? Let’s hear them below.

Till next time!

ps — Could you Like Fifth&Brannan on Facebook? In case you didn’t know, Fifth&Brannan is a clothing label I run with my wonderful, gorgeous designer girlfriend, Kate, and we have some cool stuff coming up soon that we can’t wait to share. Join the 5&B family on FB.

Have you heard? Fifth&Brannan is hosting a launch event in San Francisco. Want to attend? More details here.

If you’ve been reading this site for any length of time, you’ll know I’m a bit anti-fashion, meaning I’m against going 100% trendy, or following trends to the letter because, well, they pass.

To be more accurate, fashion trends (re)cycle every 20 years or so. Have you noticed?

When I lived at home, my mom always mentioned to me when she saw certain celebrity trends on TV that were familiar to her. It always went something like this:

“When I was younger, we were all doing that! I can’t believe that fashion style is coming back…”

Fashion is cyclical and can look dated after its popularity deflates and until its next refresh. Classic style, on the other hand, stays relevant no matter the year.

Case in point: Early- to mid-90s, wide-legged jeans were really trendy in certain circles. Do you remember that? They were huge. And with each year that passed, they became progressively hugererer. This denim company called JNCO had the largest pair of pants I’ve ever seen. They were called the Twin Cannon. The cuffs had a 26″ circumference. wtf? The cuffs covered your whole shoe and you basically looked like you had no feet.

Twenty years prior, in the 70s, flared denim was very popular, mimicking the same silhouette around the ankle.

That’s what I’m talking about when I mention the cyclical nature of fashion. Sure, the pants aren’t EXACTLY the same, but they’re closely related, both trendy, and they’re both… out of style.

Now contrast this with something like the basic fit of the Levi’s 501. How many times has that silhouette changed since the early 1920s? Maybe a little, but not very much. The 501 is a classic because the fit is just right, and it hasn’t changed much in its 90-something year history.

How to avoid being a tragic trend chaser by sticking to classic looks

This image is from the 1960s (source:Take Ivy*) but could easily be mistaken for a photo taken present day

I’m not completely anti-fashion trend, though I have a couple rules I follow when dabbling in them.

Don’t go full-on trendy

Adopt trendy ideas and elements of popular items, but don’t completely replace your style. When you do that, it looks contrived and unnatural, almost like you’re trying too hard, which you probably are.

Diversify your classic look with trendy elements

So apparently man jewelry is trending a bit the past couple years. Things like manly rings and bracelets and things. I’ve always liked how certain bracelets looked but I could never really find any affordable options before the markets started producing them to capitalize on the trend (perhaps they caught on to Street Etiquette?)

When I found this leather and metal ID bracelet J.Crew put out, I got one, knowing that I’m pretty much indulging in a trend, but that it was okay because I’m just using it to accent my already personal look. This brings me to the next point.

Adopt trends because you love them, not because the cool kids are doing it

This is a big pet peeve of mine. I hate seeing people chase every single fashion trend out there in the hopes of looking more chic or being the envy of their peers. Style is personal, it’s intimate. It should reflect who you are. If you’re chasing trends left and right, what does that say about you and your personal style? Not much.

If you find a particular trend you like, then by all means, adopt it. Kinda like me with the bracelets. My watch gets lonely from time to time, so I wear two or three bracelets because I like how it looks. I’m not doing it for anyone but myself. I’m not doing it because People Magazine told me the new “in” thing is wearing man bracelets. I just do it because I like it, and I make it look good. Simple.

Don’t ever forget your personal style says a lot about you, and trend chasing isn’t doing you any justice.

Learn to spot trends and decide if it’s really you or not

Excessive pants rolling (no matter the occasion) seems to be a trend. I understand if you’re walking along the shore at the beach, but if you’re at the mall? I don’t think that’s necessary. Half-tucked button-up shirt? Kind of a trend. Boat shoes? Classic item gone trendy.

I’m not pointing these things out because they’re good or bad; that’s for you to decide. The point is, figure out if this trend you follow is really you or not. If you’re trying hard to be the cool cuffed-pants guy, but you look doofy doing it, then maybe it’s not really you.

Take a long hard look at the trends you follow and see if you can really pull them off. You might need to start being honest with yourself, or, who knows, maybe you look super sexy and can pull of trend X quite well. If that’s the case, and it meets the rest of the criteria above, well then awesome!

Know what looks good on you

I know a couple heavyset dudes who love rocking the Levi’s 511 denim skinny fit. If you have to buy a skinny fit model in a size 42 waist, maybe you shouldn’t be wearing denim labeled “skinny fit”. This goes along with the whole idea of being honest with yourself. If you want to complement your physique, stuffing yourself into skinny denim isn’t the answer.

Maybe they really like the trend of skinny jeans, who knows. The thing is, the trend doesn’t like them, and maybe it’s something they haven’t realized yet. Dress for your body type and you’ll always look your best.

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There you go, a couple guidelines on how not to look like a complete trend chaser, while at the same time, staying true to yourself and finding a classic style you can personalize and make your own.

Thoughts? Questions? Leave them in the comments below.

Oh, and RSVP to our Fifth&Brannan Launch Event in San Francisco!

*Find Take Ivy here (affiliate link)

I’m about to get real with you guys right about now. Let’s talk about this whole “fashion” thing. Or would you call it a “style” thing? Most dudes seem to use them interchangeably, and I can’t blame them because lots of women do too.

For the purposes of this article, let’s define the two terms so we don’t get confused. I may be biased, but this is how I see things.

“Fashion” is ever-changing

There are no constants, no staples. Fashion is difficult to keep up with, as it changes by the decade, the year, the season, sometimes even by the week. What is considered in fashion today could possibly be different tomorrow. There’s no sustainability in fashion, and one could go so far as to say fashion can be wasteful. Wasteful as in, a closet full of barely-used clothes, left unloved because they’re no longer fashionable. Or wasteful as in the stacks of money spent chasing trends because everyone else is doing it, and it’s fun to have the latest, greatest thing… just because.

It seems the worst followers of the religion of Fashion aren’t really true to themselves; they seem to wear things or carry things or like things because these things are “in”, they’re popular, everyone else wants it. Human nature, sure…. But not exactly something to be proud of.

Style is personal

“Style”, on the other hand, is something I can get behind. Style is personal. Style is all one’s own, and no one can say otherwise. The truly stylish man knows, understands, and respects the rules, yet knowingly defies and breaks them, bends them and interprets them as he pleases. Great style means not taking oneself or one’s garments too seriously, because to be honest, there are things in life way more important.

uStyle isn’t directly affected by trends. It doesn’t change with the direction of the wind, or the disapproving look of a fashion magazine’s Editor-In-Chief. Style can adopt and adapt to certain trends, and most importantly, put a unique spin on it. Ultimately, the truly stylish gentleman has a casual irreverence towards trendy fashion.

Personal style choices turned trendy by the masses

How many can you name? I’m pretty sure the “vintage” homeless hobo hipster chic look was something unique before it became Urban-Outfitterized. I can imagine a bunch of kids in Brooklyn in the early- to mid-2000s thinking, “F the trends, and F consumerism, F this and F that… let’s buy clothes strictly from Goodwill and look as ratty as possible.”

Maybe their thought process didn’t go exactly like that, and maybe The Goodwill isn’t my clothier of choice, but I can get behind that movement. Those hipster pioneers were honest and were being themselves, and I’m all for going your own way.

What happened though? Fast forward to 2009 and your everyday suburban pre-teen is sporting factory-ripped skinny jeans and running over his Vans with his bike so they look more distressed, because straight out of the box is SO not cool! Give me a fucking break.

That same prefabricated trend cuts across the fashion landscape, and people really love that shit. They eat it up, just like the brilliant marketers had planned. Another case in point: the whole Americana fashion trend. I bet 95% of people who are on the Americana bandwagon wouldn’t have thought twice about a pair of Levis several years ago, because Seven For All Mankind was slangin’ the $190 pair of jeans. It was the in thing, and everyone wanted it. Stop lying to yourselves… you’re not genuine, you’re a follower.

Look around at the pro-selvedge jean crowd, the uber-thin tie crowd, the dudes with handlebar mustaches sporting the Old Timey Gold Miner look. Perhaps we all long for a simpler time when a handlebar mustache perfectly complemented the pocket watch in one’s waistcoat, but the only time I care to see that thing is when the mixologist is pouring my Bulleit Old Fashioned at the local speakeasy… and even then, I wonder if that guy is a bandwagon jumper.

What’s the point?

Look, my point is this. If you love facial hair, great. Don’t just grow it out because everyone else is.

Don’t get on your high horse about the wonders of Japanese woven selvedge cone denim or whatever the hell that shit is, when you know that three years ago, you couldn’t tell the difference between True Religion and a pair of Faded Glory from your local Walmart. (For the record, I’ve never spent more than $50 on denim.)

Don’t talk about Filson and Orvis and Pendleton like you’ve been chopping wood in their clothing your whole life. And stop talking about rebelling against the system and rejecting consumerism or whatever else you’re babbling about, when you know you purchased your Levis 510 Super Skinnies from Urban Outfitters, a large corporation.

How the stylish use fashion trends

What I’m trying to say, is find your own way. Do you. Don’t be someone else just because… have your reasons.

I’m not without fault, of course. If you take a look at photos of me throughout middle school and high school, I was right there with all the trends. I wore the oversized Polo Sport, the Nautica, the Tommy Hilfiger logo tees, I even had the windbreaker with Tommy Hilfiger down the sleeve. I wore the Old Navy polar fleeces and the baggy cargo pants. I stuffed the tongues of my sneakers.

Several years ago, I wore the bootcut jeans and the short sleeve plaid shirts, the solid dress shirts with the similarly-toned shiny ties, getting my Regis on. I’ve done all of that. I jumped on bandwagons and I’ve jumped off. I’ve done all the things I’m telling you not to do, but I’m also owning up to it.

I still find myself attracted to certain fashion trends from time to time, but I try to remember that the stylish dude bends trends and adapts them to his own personal style. You can be unique by not trying to be unique.

Think about Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers may be plain as vanilla in his button-ups and cardigans, but you can take his style and find examples of it on the golf course in the 1960s, as well as many modern iterations of it on the streets today.

Genuinely like it

It’s okay if you find yourself liking certain trends and other pieces considered fashionable, as long as you like them for real and aren’t trying to be someone you’re not. Don’t do it because everyone else is. Following a trend for the hell of it takes the fun and creativity out of your personal style. Also, you should be honest with yourself. Take a look in the mirror, and if it doesn’t look good and know you can’t pull it off, don’t force it. Be real. Do you.

Lastly, experiment! Clothing should be fun. Find inspiration and inject it into your own personal wardrobe. Take certain aspects of trends you like, find color schemes that complement your skin tone, look for materials and fabrics you enjoy, and put it all together and see what you get. Don’t go too crazy, but don’t be scared either. The evolution of your personal style is all about experimentation and seeing what works. Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone to find new things you like, and to avoid getting stuck wearing a uniform.

What are your thoughts?

Do you agree with my thoughts on style vs. fashion? It’s okay if you don’t. I’d love to hear what you have to say. Why not leave it in the comments below?

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By the way, if you are in the process of evolving your own personal style, make sure you sign up for email updates (you get new articles delivered straight to your inbox!) You should also follow me on Twitter.

Who he is

I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about sports, but what I do know is that Baron Davis is a point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers. How do I know that? Because we have similar names, duh.

Why he stands out

In a sea of tall dudes wearing five-button suits, he stands out with his own style, and he’s unapologetic about it… which I love and have always advocated.

The Takeaway

“When I walk in the locker room, everybody on my team wants to see what I got on just to crack jokes: ‘You wear the weirdest shit ever, dude!’“

Simply stated, Baron Davis doesn’t conform to the crowd. He knows his style and what he likes.

When people are a part of something (a group of friends, a ball team, etc.), they can’t help but subconsciously attempt to fit in and belong. When it comes to a man’s personal style, there should be no pressure to look like the crowd, mostly because the crowd is usually terribly dressed. Case in point: Walk down any big city’s Financial District, and you’re bound to see a mass of men walking around in black pants and blue shirts. That’s just how it is.

“Keep it real”

Don’t be afraid to break away from the norm and do you. Wear what you like, haters be damned.

Thoughts? What else can you take away from this man’s style?

By the way, if you like the stuff you read on this site, I’d love if you followed me on Twitter, or subscribed by email. :]

some more reading: http://www.gq.com/style/blogs/the-gq-eye/2010/05/the-sharpest-point-in-the-nba.html, photo credit barondavis.com, GQ

About a week ago, EG celebrated its one year anniversary. Our first post went up on November 23rd, 2009. I wasn’t certain of how far I could take this, but I knew what I wanted to discuss, the kind of community I wished to create, and the peeps I hoped to reach. I picked up a lot of style knowledge throughout my life because I enjoy clothes and actively tried new things, which helped me learn what works and doesn’t work for me personally.

However, I know most men don’t care to do the same, and that’s okay. I think that’s where this site comes in; I hope to be that platform where ideas are provided, and you can roll with what works for you. It’s easier to figure stuff out when you have a place to start. This site provides that starting point by pointing out styles, combos, and even particular pieces you might not have thought to try.

This site is meant for the everyday man wishing to up his own personal style.

EG has discussed a lot, and here’s a bit of a recap. You might’ve missed some of these articles so here’s your chance to go back and check them out.

The idea of french cuffs as overly dressy seemed to be reason enough to avoid them, but I pointed out some alternative ways to wear them. We also talked about the best way to roll up shirt sleeves, which got a pretty good response. Seems lots of guys had the issue of the sleeves unrolling a little too often. We started discussion of the ever-versatile brown dress shoe, and came to the conclusion that there are so many hues of brown, as well as a multitude of dress styles, that you can’t really go wrong with this option. This article discusses how to choose a brown dress shoe and what features to look for, and which ones to avoid. We also talked a little about what to wear with a pair of cognac-colored shoes (my favorite “brown” shade).

One particular article got a good laugh out of most people, and hopefully you can understand my obvious sarcasm when discussing how to be the best dressed man ever. For some reason, the topic of what undershirt to wear under a dress shirt was quite controversial; I guess people feel really strongly about their preferences. Although I expressed my opinion on the best style of undershirt to go with, you definitely don’t have to take my advice (although I think you’re crazy not to… just saying.) It also seems that when most guys hear me say “slim cut”, they think I mean skinny jeans, but that’s clearly not the case. I talked about the differences between slim and skinny jeans and hopefully that cleared up some things.

Broader Topics

EG also explored more general (yet equally important) topics such as defining your own style , actually getting rid of clothes once in a while, why it’s good to spend money on quality, why you should take the time to find your own style, and most recently, some pointers on how to dress when you’re fat.

Collaborations, Partnerships

I also started writing for Primer, an online magazine which serves as a guy’s post-college guide to growing up. We discussed the beauty of a slim wallet , the kind of accessories a man needs, what NOT to do when in a suit , the basics of finding a tailor and what you should pay him for,  and some pointers for a can’t-fail first date getup.

I worked with Matt over at The Motley and he contributed a series of articles entitled Maintenance 101 that covered things like how to best save your skin, the right way to care for your hair, and the proper way to shave.

The Perfect EG Complement

I also managed to start a side blog of sorts, called Less Effort. Consider it a street style blog for trends you DON’T want to follow. I think this is helpful in the sense that it’s one thing to talk about bad style and trends to not follow, but it’s another to check out a visual representation. This site is run with the readers’ help, and we are constantly requesting and accepting submissions from all you guys. Whenever you see something that just shouldn’t be worn… snap a covert photo, and submit it to Less Effort. Share with the class! We all learn when we share.

Finally

Looking back, I guess we did cover a lot. Crazy what can come about in a year’s time. You can find the unabridged list of every article on Effortless Gent in the archives section, in case you were interested in checking out articles that weren’t highlighted in this post.

I’m always open to hearing suggestions on topics, style examples, or anything, really. Even if you just want to drop a line to say hello, you can do so on the contact page. I really do read every email and do my best to respond. I get quite a bit of mail though, so forgive me if it takes several days to get back to you; I promise I’m not ignoring you. If it’s been ultra super duper long and I still haven’t responded, feel free to send me a reminder email.

Here’s to another super awesome year filled with great discussion and great style.

-EG

photo by crystal

Or overweight. Or portly. Husky. Slightly chunk. Whatever you want to call it. Do the rules apply to you? Or do you have a separate set of guidelines that are unique to your own situation?

Well, maybe both. But before I ruffle any feathers, you may be asking,

“B, what do you know about dressing an overweight body? Why you gotta call us out like that? We’re already super uncomfortable in clothes as it is, and we’re doing everything we can to pretend like we’re not (uncomfortable / overweight).”

Okay, calm down. To be honest, I know quite a bit about being a big dude and attempting to blend in with decent clothing, despite size and personal insecurity. In fact, I used to be quite plump myself.

Please excuse the poor style decisions. I had a lot to learn in 2004.

That’s me about six years ago, 81 lbs heavier than I am today. It’s been a while since I’ve been that massive so most of the insecurity has faded, but I can still remember how tough it was to be okay in my own clothing, and my own skin.

To be honest I’ve always enjoyed clothing. I just hated I couldn’t achieve the look I was going for, because my size didn’t allow for it. Plus, in all honesty, when you’re big you tend to look a little sloppy no matter what clothing you wear. Again, speaking from experience.

So, what’s one to do?

The singular most important thing I could do for my look, my body, my appearance, my health, and my self esteem was to lose weight.

Seriously, there’s no way around it. No amount of positive self-talk or pats on the back from members of the Fat Acceptance Society can make you feel as good as the satisfaction you get from melting away excessive fat, becoming more lean, eating better, and making conscious decisions in favor of your health. As a bonus, the good looks just follow.

This isn’t a weight loss or self-help site, so I’ll leave that up to you to figure out a plan for your own life. (If you do want to reach out with questions though, you can always email me.) The takeaway from all of this is this: you have to take care of your body first before you can be your 100% absolute best.

Okay, now let’s talk about clothes. Let’s say you refuse to lose weight and you wanna know what you can do right now to improve your look. Where to start?

Know. What. Fits.

It’s a recurring theme over here at the Effortless Gent, because it really IS that important. Bigger folks that get it wrong are from both ends of the spectrum, interestingly enough. Here’s an example:

Peeps from Group A wear their clothes too tight. They clearly could go up two or three sizes, but refuse to do so. They’re held captive by the size they used to be. Either that, or they truly believe in their heart they’re a size Large, when in fact they’ve graduated to an XXL years ago, as evidenced by the shirt or sweater pulling in unnatural ways. If you’re not willing to lose the weight, do yourself a favor and start sizing up.

Group B is the exact opposite. Their clothes hang off them like Snuggies. They think draped, billowy clothes mask their size, when it actually does the opposite.

What’s the solution?

A whole lot of trial and error. Trying on a lot of clothes from a lot of different makers. See what fits.

How can you tell what’s a good fit?

In general, something between draped and spandex-like tightness. More specifically, a good gauge of fit is to look for shirts that fit right in the shoulder, meaning the shoulder seam lines up with the top of your arm. In suits (same with shirts), if the shoulder seam passes the tip of your shoulder, buy a smaller size.

If you stand against a wall sideways, and the shoulder pad touches the wall before your arm does, the suit is too big.

That’s a good place to start. You may dismiss slim cuts, but maybe you actually DO need a slim cut shirt, to minimize the excess fabric and appearance of bulk. Again this is all dependent on your specific body type and composition. Everyone’s different, so I can’t give specific advice, but you get the idea.

You may need to step away from the slimmer cut denim, but try the regular straight leg fits; they allow for more room in the leg but still stay relatively streamlined. Stay away from bootcuts or anything labeled baggy or wide leg. You don’t want extra volume where it’s unnecessary.

Seeing as though shirts, sweaters, and jeans comprise a majority of a man’s wardrobe, this is a good start. The most important thing is to dress your body appropriate to its size, while still maintaining decent proportions.

Lastly, if you don’t like your size, get off your ass and do something about it. I did, and it was the best style decision I ever made.

Photo credit: Esquire.com