Today, I’m going to turn the table on you guys and let you dictate what we’ll talk about.

Ask me anything! Seriously, anything, and I’ll do my best to answer. I can’t guarantee a *good* answer, but I’ll try my hardest.

• Is there a burning question you’ve been meaning to ask, but never had the chance?
• Always thought about shooting me an email?
• Curious about what to wear to an event or how to pull off a certain look?

You could also leave suggestions of topics you’d like me to cover, or conversations you think we should have on this site, and I’d be happy to consider those as well.

Leave a question in the comments below, and I’ll respond with an answer for you over the next couple days. Make sure to subscribe to the comments so you don’t miss my response.

Looking forward to hearing what you guys have to say!

Hey Gents,

Today I’m unleashing my new pet project unto the internets: LESS EFFORT.

Essentially, it is a curation of various media (images mostly, perhaps some occasional video and written word) I’ve collected over the past several months. And when I say collected, I actually mean “took photos of using my iPhone”.

Initially, I snapped these photos of random strangers to remind myself of subjects I could address in future posts. In my mind, the dudes in these photos represented the type of guy who put less effort and thought into their presentation than they should—due to their lack of understanding, knowledge, or care—and it clearly showed. A few may have tried, but were still clueless to some degree.

One day on the train, however, I realized how helpful these images could be if they were actually used as examples of what not to wear (as a self-respecting male who cares about self-respect and outward appearance.*)

Some of these style “rules” and guidelines are obvious, some aren’t.

Many are open to subjectivity, but mostly, I thought it’d be fun to facilitate conversation among the community and gather everyone’s input and opinion. Personal style isn’t easy to pinpoint, as I’m sure you know. Perhaps these conversations can help others find their own style, or at the very least, discover what they’re doing wrong day in and day out.

The point of this project isn’t to make fun of the individuals in question (and I’ve obscured faces when possible), but merely to serve as visual representations of which habits to steer clear away from, if your aim is to man up and dress appropriately.

I made it a little easier to participate in this conversation.

Not only can you comment (and I surely hope you do), you can also send in your own photos. So as you go about your day and you spot someone with a questionable ensemble, snap a photo and submit it HERE with any questions or commentary you may have. Fun, right?

Let me know what you think in the comments below, or better yet, hop on over to LESS EFFORT. Peep the images that are up so far, comment, and send in your own photos.

If you have any questions, you can ask me here. Looking forward to building up this project with you!

* :]

When I’m wearing a dress shirt, what is the best kind of shirt to wear underneath? I usually just wear one of my white T-shirts but I’m starting to think that’s not the best choice.

Good for you! I’m glad you’re second-guessing your current undershirt selection. The white T-shirt seems to be the default choice for most men, and that’s unfortunate, because it also happens to be the poorest choice. White is visible under light-colored dress shirts (see below), and that crew neck collar peeking out from underneath is NOT a good look.

white undershirt + light-colored dress shirt = no no

I usually go undershirt-free, since that double layer feels so restrictive to me. Then again, I’m not overly sweaty like some dudes I know. Undershirts provide these sweaty males an extra layer of protection. If you must wear an undershirt under that button-up, choose a lightweight, form-fitting, heather gray v-neck.

Why gray, instead of say, white?
Well… this is why:

Looks like a man bra

Heather gray (basically a light gray) blends better with your skin tone and is virtually invisible underneath. Have you ever noticed how that white undershirt shows through a white or light-colored dress shirt? Won’t happen with a gray undershirt.

Why lightweight?
Avoid the excess bulk that comes with heavier shirts and stick with a lightweight v-neck. It’s easier to bear and looks more natural underneath your button-up as it keeps the drape natural.

Why form-fitting?
I’m not suggesting anything super snug, but a more fitted version aids in the invisibility of the undershirt. Also it won’t bunch or create extra bulk when tucking in your shirt.

A great second alternative is a heather gray A-shirt. Both options fit the bill, so it really just depends on the wearer’s preference.

Gray A-shirt from Gap; Jaspe Jersey V-neck from J.Crew

In conclusion, throw one of these gray numbers on the next time you get dressed. Like I always point out, the little details in a man’s wardrobe can make the biggest difference.

By the way, in an upcoming article written for Primer Magazine, I discuss several other no no’s men often commit. The article is coming soon! In case you missed the previous articles, check them out by clicking here.

So, a good Friday-night-out look. I want to look better than most, like I’m not trying, and nothing like the Marina*. Ideas?

Not all, but most Marina* dudes (at least the ones I’ve seen) violate many style rules and it tends to induce quite the amount of stomach churn. Bad clothing mixed with heavy amounts of douchebaggery is a dangerous combination.

All bias aside, the first outfit that came to mind is something like what you see above. Start off with a pair of dark wash, slim cut (not skinny), unembellished, straight leg jeans. Pair it with a crisp white button-up, navy or dark gray blazer, and brown leather lace-ups. Simple! Accessorize to your liking (nice watch, slim tie, bracelet, if that’s your thing, etc.)

This type of ensemble would be appropriate in 92.68% of situations. It’s a classic, laid-back, yet put-together look. Feel free to experiment with derivatives of each piece (solid dark shirt and khaki-colored linen blazer, for example). If you stick with these basics, however, you can’t really go wrong.

Oh, one more thing… tuck in your shirt. Some guys think the tuck is too stuffy and makes it look like they’re trying too hard, but I think quite the opposite — everyone else will look like they’re not trying hard enough.

Navy cord Ludlow blazer from J.Crew, white button-up from Banana Republic, dark wash 511 from Levi’s, brown Caglio lace oxford from Rockport.

*neighborhood in SF whose inhabitants consist of quite a number of men in their late 20s to mid 30s possessing way too many Ed Hardy tees, flattened, limp-collar dress shirts, bedazzled, over-designed bootcut jean pockets, and square toe shoes.

I had an opportunity to do a little one-on-one with my man Dan Trepanier, also known as The Style Blogger and Esquire’s Best Dressed Real Man. This is a dude I align with closely when it comes to matters of style, and I felt that sharing this conversation would acquaint our readers with a man who understands what it means to personalize your style and make it your own.

8 Questions — Effortless Gent x The Style Blogger

EG: Appreciate you taking the time to do a little Q+A with us today. In case we have any readers who happened upon this conversation unaware of who you are, care to give us a little background?

SB: Long story short… born and raised on a small farm in an even smaller Canadian town, recruited to play basketball at Columbia University in Manhattan, fell in love with men’s fashion, started a men’s style blog, won Esquire’s Best Dressed competition, currently working on starting my own business, constantly enjoying every moment of it.

EG: You were crowned Esquire’s Best Dressed Real Man of 2009. What was most memorable out of the whole experience?

SB: It has certainly been a great experience with a lot of good memories. If I had to choose one, it would be giving my mother a shopping spree to Kenneth Cole for Christmas. Although, the day my girlfriend and I went to the Ralph Lauren mansion and spent $5,000 in one shot is a close runner up. We felt like celebrities.

EG: I hear the Best Dressed Real Man gets some sweet prizes. Out of all of them, what was your favorite?

SB: I would say the publicity that came along with winning. Money is money and clothing is clothing, but making a name for myself in the fashion industry has certainly put me on the path to achieving my future goals.

EG: You also run a website, http://www.thestyleblogger.com, which you update regularly with lots of great tips for men. Where do you ultimately see yourself taking the site? Any future aspirations for it, or for your potential role in the fashion world in general?

SB: I think the natural progression of the site, as its popularity grows, is to solidify some advertising and make it profitable. After that, I will be opening the store section. It will be a passionately edited collection of my favorite items of the season, along with the very first pieces from my own line which is currently in production. Coming soon!!

EG: When you’re walking the streets, what’s the one thing you see men wearing that you absolutely cannot stand?

SB: What I don’t like is guys who are cocky about being “well dressed”, who walk around like, “I’m the man, I’m killing it right now!” Most of the time these guys aren’t even well dressed. Clothes do not make the man. On the other hand, some guys just don’t care what they look like, and that’s okay, its what’s inside that counts. Clothes don’t UN-make the man either.

EG: Are there any current trends in menswear that you like, and hope to see more of?

SB: Without a doubt there is a growing European influence in American menswear. Men are embracing clothes that are more streamlined and tailored and paying more attention to the importance of fit. The term “slim fit” can be found in just about any store now. The funny thing is, the clothing isn’t slim, it just fits properly.

EG: You mentioned your mom as a big fashion influence in your life. Who, if anyone, do you find influential today, in terms of making an impact on your personal style?

SB: I get this question often and I find it difficult to answer because so many different people and things are constantly influencing me. I think one of my blog readers just about nailed it when he said, “If you take Gossip Girl’s ‘Chuck Bass’, White Collar’s ‘Neal Caffrey’ and Kanye West, and blend their styles, you’d be the result.”

EG: Before we let you go, one thing The Effortless Gent stresses to its readership is the necessity of finding one’s own personal style, independent of any current trends in fashion. What would you recommend to someone still searching for his or her own look and style?

SB: I think it’s important for people to be true to themselves and be comfortable in their own skin. It’s very obvious when someone is playing copy-cat or trying to be something they are not. Just because something is trending, or it looks good on someone else, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you. My number one piece of advice is to understand what works for you, and play to your strengths. If you are not very creative, take your favorite aspects of others’ style and combine them in your own way.

Make sure to check out Dan at his site, The Style Blogger.

Hope you enjoyed this conversation. Are there any other questions you would’ve asked Dan? Leave them in the comments below.

Hey gents—

I wanted to post some relatively common questions that we find or are asked (and our answers to them) in hopes that they could possibly help or inspire someone else. We’d like to make this a recurring feature and we encourage you to send questions our way; we’ll do our best to answer them.

Anyway, here we go.

Do YOU have any questions for us? Seriously, email them to b (at) effortlessgent (dot) com, or leave them in the comments section below. We love receiving questions and we promise to get them answered as quickly as possible.