Men’s Clothing – The Basics of Success

A man’s clothing is something that gets noticed. In the workplace. On the street. At social functions. The term dress for success came out of this.  If you dress like a slob, people may assume that you are not worthy of their attention, their friendship, or their business contacts.

Fashion is not just for women. Guys need to be equally aware of what types of clothes are fashionable today. With a little bit of awareness, a man can dress to impress for any type of situation. There are a few guidelines one should consider when purchasing clothes for men that are a great value at a great price.

First, it is important to consider what type of men’s clothing apparel is needed. Do you have an office job that requires business attire? Does your job support “casual Fridays” and you are wondering how to dress down, yet still look proper for work? Perhaps you wear a uniform to work, but need to understand the basics to a casual wardrobe. Maybe you are preparing for a beach vacation and are wondering what kind of swimwear would be appropriate. There are so many options available for menswear today, you should easily be able to find excellent items at excellent prices that fit your style.

Let’s start with business attire. The first item that is a staple for all men’s wardrobes are mens trousers. Particularly khaki pants. There are many different types of khaki pants available, ranging from super casual and comfortable cargo khaki pants, to more formal pleated khaki pants. Although cargo khakis may not be appropriate in every office setting, in general you can pick the type of khaki pants that feel the best and look the best on you. You will probably want a few pairs of khaki pants for your wardrobe, some casual, and some a little bit more formal. There are even some khakis on the market today that claim to be wrinkle-free, if ironing is not one of your favorite things to do (although at times may be necessary).

Men’s dress slacks are also important articles of clothing to own if you work in an office setting. The fabrics you can choose from for dress slacks range from polyester blends, to wool, to cotton or cotton blends. Silk may even be used, although it is less common. Typically dress slacks are navy, black, gray or brown. Some may even have pinstripes, which can add a fashionable element. Some dress slacks have a flat front, and some are pleated. Pleats work well on men with larger thighs, whereas flat front slacks work well on thinner men and tend to look more modern. Cuffs are also an option that usually found on slacks with pleats.

There are also other casual slacks available. These are very similar to khaki pants, generally with a cotton blend. They can be found in colors other than the generic shades of tan that you typically find with khakis. Different shades of browns, greens, and blues are commonly found as casual slack options.

Of course when shopping for men’s dress pants, you will also need to find appropriate men’s dress shirts to match. There are three different fits of dress shirts: athletic, regular and full. Athletic fit dress shirts, also known as slim or tailored, are the narrowest fit of men’s dress shirts. Regular fitting dress shirts fit a little looser and are probably the most common type. Full fitting shirts are typically for men that are bigger and taller. Some of the options with men’s dress shirts include the type of collar, cuffs, and pockets. Choose what type to wear based on your personal preference.

There are different types of fibers and weaves to men’s dress shirts. Cotton and cotton blends are common, but linen is a good summertime choice. However, linen does wrinkle easily, so be prepared for that. Oxford men’s shirts are made from a heavier yarn, and tend to have a more rugged look. Most shirts that would be considered men’s dress shirts will be button down shirts. If you want to look very formal, you can put a tie with any button down dress shirt. A white button down dress shirt should be a staple in every man’s closet.

For the professional job setting, don’t forget the details. If you don’t see others in denim jackets, it’s better to blend in with the black jackets and blazers. Mens hats and gloves can add a touch of luxury if you go with high class items and materials. Even your watch, wallet, and briefcase say something about who you are and your social status, to some people’s thinking.

If your office setting is a bit more casual, or participates in casual Fridays, there are some other shirt options you can wear. Consider a polo shirt, or typically a short sleeve shirt with a collar and a few buttons at the neckline. Some polo shirts may have a pocket, contain stripes, or even may have long sleeves. During colder months, maybe a sweater would be more appropriate to wear on a casual business day. Both polo shirts and sweaters can be paired with khakis, or casual dress pants, as well as jeans. Mens sweaters are undergoing new interest, so you might want to study them online. As a style statement they are right on target.

For those that may have a blue-collar job or wear a uniform to work, it may be important to have a few staple items from the above mentioned paragraphs for special occasions. However, if you rarely have to get dressed up, your wardrobe will probably consist of more casual clothing items.

No matter the workplace, size is important. Don’t try to wiggle into a standard size if big and tall mens clothing is what you need. This includes everything– from shirts, formal trousers, to the jeans made famous by Levi Strauss.

Obviously, the most common casual item is men’s jeans. Jeans can be one of the most versatile items in your closet. There are many different types of jeans and many things to consider when purchasing jeans. If you want a timeless pair of jeans that won’t go out of style, pick a classic fit and classic blue color. However, there are many other great value choices to consider.

There are many different types of fits when it comes to men’s jeans. There is a classic fit as mentioned, which is typically a slimmer fit. There are loose fitting, or baggier jeans as well. There are straight leg fits, as well as boot-cut fits. It is important to try on jeans before purchasing them to make sure you like the way they look and are comfortable. Since jeans could be one of the most worn items that you own, you want to make sure you are happy.

There are also different denim washes, or color options available. As mentioned earlier, there are classic blue colors, or slight variations of the classic color. There are slightly faded washes that are trendy at this time. There are also dark-washed jeans, which look great if you are trying to dress up a little and look a bit nicer.

There are many options with men’s jeans concerning pockets, zippers, and buttons. Again, it is important to try them on before purchasing. Make sure they aren’t too tight or uncomfortable anywhere. Stick your wallet and keys in your pockets and make sure they fit comfortably. Make sure they are long enough that they will look good with sneakers, boots, and loafers. If you make a wise purchase with your jeans they can be very versatile and last for a long time, if properly cared for.

Jeans can be paired with button down shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, t-shirts, and more to look great. It all depends on where you are going and what kind of attire you need to be wearing. Pair them with the right shirt and shoes and you can look appropriate in any casual setting.

It is a good rule of thumb for men to have some supply of athletic wear. Sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, hoodies and athletic shorts are important obviously for athletics, but also for lazy weekends around the house or when chilling in the Man Cave. There are many options when it comes to athletic wear and it is important to consider what your needs are when purchasing. If you are buying for a competitive sport, then look for items that are necessary for that. However, if you are just looking for items to wear on the weekends, look for comfort. Pick fabrics that feel good and wear easily. Drawstrings and elastic waistbands are typical for athletic wear, so sizing may be a bit different than your casual or business pants.

If you plan on visiting the pool or going to the beach, you will need to find swimwear in which you feel comfortable. Board shorts are a popular type of swim trunks that look good on most men. They can come in solid colors, or stripes and patterns depending upon your taste. These swim trunks typically go to the knee in length and have a drawstring at the waistband.

There are also other options that may not be for everyone. These include small swim briefs. Typically these types of swimwear look more like underwear and may be a bit too revealing for some men. You’re not as likely to see this type of swimwear as you will swim trunks and board shorts.

Men’s clothing apparel contains a wide array of topics. With a little help, most men can look very appealing in any setting with basic knowledge. Some other items that are necessary for every man’s wardrobe are a belt, and black shoes. These items can be paired with many types of pants and shirts to complete the outfit. If you have trouble finding clothing items that fit appropriately, consider talking to a tailor to have the items adjusted so they fit perfectly. If you are a larger person, consider shopping at clothing stores that cater to people that are bigger and taller.

The good value wardrobe for men most certainly includes the proper underwear.  Mens underwear tends to follow classic forms, though colors and styles may vary modestly from year to year.  There are several types of underwear for a gentleman. The subcategories of mens undergarments are t shirts, socks, underpants, special purpose, and sometimes swimwear.

Mens tee shirts can be traditional or wild. When we think of t-shirts we generally think of something like a Hanes mens underwear brand white sleeved tshirt. Of course these do come in colors too.  Sport team T’s generally favor the hometown or home state teams of the area. Humorous tshirts are popular, particularly at holdiday time like Christmas, Valentines, or Father’s Day.  Muscle shirts are popular in summer or where it tends to be warm or humid much of the year.

Socks for men can vary by their function. Dress socks are appropriate for officewear, and for dress-up occasions like church or dinner out. Running socks work for the jogger. Athletic socks, which many envision as the ever-popular white socks, work for active events and also for the more casual workplace. Golfers love golf socks. Hiking socks fit into hiking boots and can be much heavier to protect the feet.

When it comes to shopping for mens underpants, the boxer vs briefs debate continues. It is the age old war that all men wage in their lifetime, boxers or briefs?  While this may not be a war that is waged on a battle field or with a platoon of soldiers, it is a very important one to most men, mainly because of what is in the boxers or briefs.  That particular area is very near and dear to every man, regardless of age, so the protection of that area is always on their minds.  There are as many different varieties of materials and styles that men can choose from, but it mainly comes down to what they are comfortable in the most.
The first type of underwear for men is boxer shorts.  These come in the traditional boxer shorts, which are loose fitting shorts that have a 3 inch inseam, usually an open fly, and fit at the waist.  These fit nicely under pants, shorts, or anything else with which a man would wear underwear.  There are also the full cut boxer, the brief boxer, and the tapered boxer.  They differ from the traditional boxer in various ways, but the biggest difference is the snugness of the leg and the crotch area and whether the boxer has a button fly or an open fly.  Many men like these because of the loose fit of the boxers, and the fact that they are so much like shorts.  Some women even borrow their man’s boxers because they are that comfortable and they like the feel of the shorts.

The second type of underwear is a brief.  These have a tight fit, through the thighs and up the brief area to the waist.  It keeps the man snug and tight, protecting everything that is important to a man.  These briefs are no longer than where the buttock ends, unlike the boxers, which are quite longer.  These also fit quite well under any man’s pants, but are recommended for Dockers or a looser fitting pant, mainly because they do not show the underwear line.  There are also different types of briefs, which are the thong, which is the smallest of underwear offered to me, the trunk brief, which is also known as boy shorts as the legs are a little wider than the traditional briefs, which usually follow the cut of the leg and follow the line of the hip around the leg, the string bikini and regular bikini, which are obvious in the design, if one has ever seen a bikini.  There is also the mid-rise and low-rise brief, which are tailored more for the low rise jeans or pants than for any other type of pant.  All of these briefs are tight, close to the body, and designed to keep everything in place where it belongs.

Another less popular style, which still has a tremendous following, is mens thongs.

Regardless of the type of underwear one chooses, the underwear should make the man feel protected in that area, seeing as it is the most vulnerable area on a man.  The way that a man comes to this decision is his own prerogative, but most men usually sort this out either from the guys in the locker room in Junior High, or their dad, who wears something different and they wanted to try it.  So, the war continues- boxers or briefs?

Special purpose undergarments for men include winter underwear and long underwear. Special sizing also is considered “special purpose”… tall mens underwear, big mens underwear, and
big and tall mens underwear.

Swimwear for men is sometimes discussed within the context of underwear. The popular competitive swimmer’s style suit could safely replace boxers, briefs, or thongs on the way back home from the pool. Besides Euro-style swim trunks, Surfer-style baggies are a popular swimmer’s choice.

Combined together, underwear and mens clothing work in unison. The same principle applies to both. Always seek good value.

A word of sage advice when creating your wardrobe is to start simple and small. Get the basics and add appropriately over time, and seek great value at great prices. Just because you may be trying to achieve a classic look doesn’t mean it has to be a boring look. Try not to purchase items that all look the same or have a lot of commonalities. Branch out and try some new styles. You may surprise yourself at how much fun it can be to expand your wardrobe and try new things. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy making yourself look good and fashionable. You may find that by putting in a little effort, heads will start turning when you enter a room. Then people will know that you are a person who pays attention to detail, to perfection, and are a man’s man with notable men’s clothing.