From dealing with the sales guy to choosing lapels—everything you need to know about buying the perfect suit.

1. Use the salesperson to your advantage
He’ll tell you whatever you want to hear—that everything looks great on you, that the store’s tailor can fix any suit. And you can almost be guaranteed his sense of style will be different from yours. For all these reasons, you need to know as much as possible about how a suit should fit and what kind of suit you’re looking for before you walk through the door. Remember, you’re the boss, not him. If you need his/her help finding the size and style you want, do so. Remember you will most likely be able to find the same suit online for half the price.

2. Know why you’re buying a suit
Are you hunting for a suit that you’re going to wear to the office once or more a week? (If so, keep it dark and classic.) Or are you looking for a suit you’ll wear a few times a year to weddings and funerals? (Black or navy is a safe bet.) Is it a suit you’ll wear to job interviews? (If so, you want to be well dressed but not better dressed than the guy interviewing you, so nothing too pricey.) Or is it the kind you’d wear with sneakers and a T-shirt, or wear just the jacket with a pair of jeans? (Think designer, Ermenegildo Zegna, Giorgio Armani, or Canali, not Brooks Brothers or Hickey Freeman.)

3. Start at a department store but purchase online
When you’re ready to start shopping, grab a friend who won’t hesitate to provide you with a blunt opinion, and head to a store like Barneys or Saks or Bloomingdale’s. You’ll be able to view a variety of brands instead of just one. Once you’re inside, do a lap of the suit floor by yourself. See what styles are carried—what grabs your attention. Look at prices. Ask for a salesman when you’re good and ready. Now, allow the salesperson to help you find your size if necessary. Once you determined the correct size it is time to go online to the Best Designer Suit Store and save enough money to buy a second suit or a pair of shoes.

4. Know your size
It sounds obvious, but it’s not. The most crucial element of a suit is its fit, and not many sales guys understand how a suit should fit or, more specifically, how you want yours to fit. Before you step into a dressing room, get a handle on the various components of a suit…
Shoulders:
The suit’s shoulders should hug yours; shoulder pads should not protrude beyond your own shoulders. If you stand sideways against a wall and the shoulder pad touches the wall before your arm does, the suit is too big.
Chest:
You should be able to easily button the jacket without it straining. Conversely, there shouldn’t be too much space between the button and your chest—no more than a fist’s worth.
Length:
When your arms are hanging straight down, you should be able to cup your fingers under the sides of your suit jacket. However, these days, with shorter suits in style, some jackets reach only about an inch beyond the cuff of your suit sleeve.

5. Start thinking about the number of buttons
Now you need to think about the style of the suit itself. The first thing you need to consider is the number of buttons on the suit. This will determine a good deal about the cut and fit. Here are some basic pointers:
The three-button suit became the dominant look in the 1990s; it now seems to be the standard young man’s choice. Instead of opting for one of those high-cut versions, look for one with a roll-over lapel—one in which you button the middle button, encouraging the soft lapel to roll over the top button.

For years the two-button suit was the go-to conservative, Capitol Hill getup. Now every fashion label imaginable is designing two-button suits, except they’re making them more streamlined and modern. This cut is what’s most in style right now.
If you’re looking for something rakish, a bit more high-style, try a one-button suit. It’s not for everyone, but if you can pull it off, it’s a sleek look.

6. Think about the vents on the back of the suit jacketA center vent is all-purpose; it is both modern and traditional. You can’t go wrong.
Side vents are more European; a bit more suave.
A ventless jacket is just plain wrong. It says you think it’s still 1986.

7. …and the type of lapel
A notch lapel—what you see on most business suits—is the standard. You’re always safe with a notch lapel.
A peak lapel is more old-school and elegant. And now it’s enjoying a comeback with the high-fashion crowd. It makes a statement.

8. Now head to the dressing room
If you’re not wearing a dress shirt and dress shoes, ask for them; a good store should be able to hook you up. Then, find the three-way mirror and size up your suit. And not just the jacket. Consider the pants, too: They should be comfortable, and the rise (where the pants sit on your waist) shouldn’t be too high or too low for your taste. If you don’t think the pants fit right, try on another suit.

9. Know what a tailor can—and can’t—do for you
Here are the areas you should direct your tailor’s attention to:
Shoulders: If your suit doesn’t fit in the shoulders, it’s not going to fit anywhere else. Salesmen will tell you they can reduce or reshape the shoulder pads—don’t listen to them.
Pants: If the pants are an inch or so too tight or too large in the waist, a tailor can usually fix them. But if it’s more than an inch, you’re asking for trouble.
Jacket: A tailor usually will need to alter the length of the sleeves. Insist that you’d like a quarter inch of shirt cuff to show. The sides of a jacket often need tapering so they contour to your torso. And check out the collar: Many times there is a roll in the back of the suit jacket, up near your neck. A good tailor can correct this.

Any tailoring required to obtain that perfect can be done locally with funds saved by shopping online.

The length of your suit’s pants might make you look longer, shorter, trendier, old-fashioned.
The length of the pants of your suit depends on your personal preference. That is rule number one; follow your personal style rather than what a salesman is telling you. However, there is certain etiquette you might want to know about. In most cultures, the pants of the suit should be 1 centimeter above the sole of your shoe when standing up straight (measured from the back of the pants). I wear my pants 4 centimeters above the sole of my shoes which means you can see my socks when I walk, which is fine. You can play around with colored socks that match your outfit. When you sit, people shouldn’t have to see your bare calves or hairy legs (like mine). Especially during formal events, make sure your socks are long enough. David Beckham has the perfect length pants.

The major advantage of tailoring your pants to 4 centimeters above the sole of the shoe is that there are no extreme folds at the bottom. For me, a single subtle folding works. Long and skinny people often look better if they wear their pants of the suit a little longer (2 centimeters above the sole) because high-flood pants will optically create the illusion that the person’s legs are even longer. Short men should avoid wearing their pants only 1 or 2 centimeter above the sole of the shoe because many folds at the bottom creates the optical illusion that the person is even shorter.

Certain fashion designers like Thom Brown, have made high-flood pants a mantra for success of their fashion companies. Still, not all men can go to work like Thom Brown does. If you are working for a, let’s say, ‘traditional’ boss or your customers are very traditional, they usually dislike shorter lengths of the pants because they are used to ‘oversized’ clothing that was trendy many years ago.
From left to right: Hill Harper, John Legend and Terrence Howard. In my humble opinion, Harper’s pants are way too long, look at the folds at the bottom! Legend’s the man! He dared to try something creative which I think looks great. Howard’s pants are of the right length.

The length of the pants of your suit depends on your personal preference. That is rule number one; follow your personal style rather than what a salesman is telling you. However, there is certain etiquette you might want to know about. In most cultures, the pants of the suit should be 1 centimeter above the sole of your shoe when standing up straight (measured from the back of the pants). I wear my pants 4 centimeters above the sole of my shoes which means you can see my socks when I walk, which is fine. You can play around with colored socks that match your outfit. When you sit, people shouldn’t have to see your bare calves or hairy legs (like mine). Especially during formal events, make sure your socks are long enough. David Beckham has the perfect length pants.

The major advantage of tailoring your pants to 4 centimeters above the sole of the shoe is that there are no extreme folds at the bottom. For me, a single subtle folding works. Long and skinny people often look better if they wear their pants of the suit a little longer (2 centimeters above the sole) because high-flood pants will optically create the illusion that the person’s legs are even longer. Short men should avoid wearing their pants only 1 or 2 centimeter above the sole of the shoe because many folds at the bottom creates the optical illusion that the person is even shorter.

Certain fashion designers like Thom Brown, have made high-flood pants a mantra for success of their fashion companies. Still, not all men can go to work like Thom Brown does. If you are working for a, let’s say, ‘traditional’ boss or your customers are very traditional, they usually dislike shorter lengths of the pants because they are used to ‘oversized’ clothing that was trendy many years ago.

By RAY A. SMITH

Every workday, scores of businessmen go through the motion of putting on a dark suit and tie. These men end up looking almost indistinguishable from every other guy—and that's part of the problem.
For the man who wants to stand out, but not stick out, there are ways both subtle and bold to inject personality into a suit-and-tie look without prompting gawks from the office peanut gallery.

The trick is navigating how much to push the personalization. The look must be comfortable and confident, never forced or affected. Taken too far a man risks being accused of having a mid-life crisis or becoming a slave to fashion.

Suiting Up
Popular in the big-shouldered '80s, the double-breasted suit is mounting a comeback.

"Personalizing your suit demonstrates confidence and creativity," says David Lisbon, a menswear personal shopper at Bloomingdale's Manhattan flagship store.

Men just starting their careers may see the suit-and-tie thing as restrictive, a capitulation to a future of being just another bland man in a gray flannel suit. Older men may want to add some personal flair to their old standard.

Robin Walker, a Chicago-based image strategist, says her average client is 45 to 60 years old: "They are bored wearing the same old stuff," she says. "It may be stress-free and a no-brainer but they are tired of looking at it."

At the men's fashion shows in Europe late last month, some designers showed suits accessorized with gauzy scarves, T-shirts, sandals and even shorts.
Still, a man has to know when to say what's right and what's not for him—and avoid being a slave to outré runway looks.

Often, personalizing a suit just involves small tweaks and accessories. That can mean something that isn't immediately apparent to others, like a barely there pocket square. Or a leather braided or beaded bracelet worn just above the watch, recommends Eric Jennings, men's fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue. "When you're reaching for your glass of wine or fork, [others] will see a flash of it." Mr. Jennings says he noticed a number of men wearing such bracelets last month in Italy, where he was attending menswear shows.

Another way to personalize a suit is with a custom belt, suggests Mr. Lisbon. The Trafalgar label, for example, has a program in which shoppers choose belt color, leather type, buckle and monogram style.

When it comes to cufflinks, going whimsical and quirky is acceptable, says Mr. Lisbon, so long as the designs aren't objectionable or offensive (no pin-up girls). Cufflinks can add a hint of color and humor to a more conservative look and also reflect the wearer's off-work interests with, say, a golf motif or images of sailboats.

A pocket square is an easy way to distinguish a suit. "It's a small thing but it does speak volumes," sending the message you care about the way you present yourself, says Mr. Jennings.

"Don't get hung up on the proper way to fold it," he adds. "There is no right or wrong way." Mr. Jennings notes that the Brunello Cucinelli label showed pocket squares folded in a number of different ways at a recent trade show.

The perfect suit watch is an equal mix of conservative and trendy, says Mr. Lisbon. He recommends a Frederique Constant model that is rose gold, which is popular right now, but is otherwise understated. While it can be worn with many suits, "it just oomphs up the classic khaki suit," he says.

Ms. Walker says it's OK to be a bit adventurous with the watch, choosing one that has a bolder face or evokes a certain time period. "It means [others] will have something to talk about when they shake your hand."
Leather bracelets, called wristlets, can be worn above a watch for a personalized look. Ms. Walker says one of her clients, who is more rock'n'roll when off the clock, wears a skull and crossbones bracelet under his suit to reflect that part of his personality.

She approves. "The outside of the suit is for everybody else, the inside is for you," she says.

Double-Breasted Lite

The double-breasted suit, popular in the big-shouldered '80s, is mounting a comeback. It was all over the runways at the recent spring 2012 men's shows in Europe and the July issue of GQ featured a double-breasted suit jacket on its cover for the first time since 1998. The look can give off a yacht captain or Masters of the Universe vibe without attention to a man's accessories. One key to personalizing the double-breasted suit (Z Zegna, $1,275, above), Bloomingdale's David Lisbon says, is to invest in a newer model that's slimmed down with four buttons rather than the typical six or more. Since the jacket covers more chest than a single-breasted, adding a lot of color with the tie (Turnbull & Asser, $185) and pocket square (Duchamp, $85) is the crucial play. A briefcase bag (Salvatore Ferragamo, $990), rather than a traditional boxy briefcase, also diffuses the stuffiness.

Power Khaki

In some people's minds, a khaki suit (the Men's Store Bloomingdale's, $350) can come off as Dockers-casual. While it's less formal than a wool suit, there are ways to personalize it to hit a sweet spot between basic-dressy and sporty. One way: Ditch the tie and focus on the shirt color, says Bloomingdale's David Lisbon. This bold purple-and-white check patterned shirt (Eton, $245), makes for a sophisticated, office-appropriate look. Other company men will wear their khaki suit with a tie, so going without will appear unique in a good way. Add a simple white sneaker (Jack Purcell for Converse, $80), as opposed to an athletic sneaker, to 'make it a little bit more summery nice,' Mr. Lisbon says. For the man who's just not a sneakers-guy, he recommends a slip-on loafer in some shade of brown. Adding a sleek, soft, attaché-style brown leather bag (Jack Spade, $375) 'dresses up the suit a tad,' Mr. Lisbon adds.

Urban Southern

In the wrong hands, a seersucker suit (Hugo Boss, $795) can look like a costume from the old-timey South—one reason some men find seersucker hard to pull off. The key to owning this look is to make the warm-weather Southern fixture more urbane, starting with the shoes. 'You're taking something classic and adding edge to it with a nice brown monkstrap, with or without a sock,' says Bloomingdale's David Lisbon. The shoe (Bruno Magli, $570) also helps dress up the seersucker. A simple pocket square—seersucker already makes enough of a statement so no need to go wild—adds a touch of formality, while the slim cotton tie (The Men's Store Bloomingdale's, $59.50) keeps the look relaxed and balanced. Another modernizing accessory is a backpack (Prada, $830) with a top handle so it can be carried by hand to a meeting, without wrinkling the jacket shoulder.

The New Navy

For the man who wants to project to the wider world that he is conservative but signal to intimates that he has some style tricks up his sleeves, start with a navy suit (Canali, $1,695). Whimsical light-blue cufflinks (Jenny Knott, $350) stay in the blue family but add a pop of color that mostly will be noticed by people in direct contact with the wearer. Socks (Duchamp, $35) are another opportunity to sneak in some personal style, says Bloomingdale's David Lisbon. 'He can be very conservative on top but show personal flair on the bottom.' Mr. Lisbon recommends a tie bar, 'which adds that extra layer of sophistication.' Look for one with some texture or engraving (Burberry, $150). For shoes, Mr. Lisbon prescribes moving away from the expected lace-up with a simple loafer with a modern edge, and less of a rounded toe. A loafer (Salvatore Ferragamo, $570) also tends to be lower in the front, a better way to flash a bit of fun sock color.

After years of showing snug, skinny and even constricting clothing, some menswear designers are in a more relaxed mood. Fashion houses such as Calvin Klein Collection, Comme des Garçons and Louis Vuitton put fuller, wider cuts in their runway collections for this year, featuring baggy pleated pants and voluminous, flowing shirts and coats.

"It was the right time to change the silhouette" after seasons of tight clothing, says Italo Zucchelli, men's creative director of Calvin Klein Collection whose fall 2011 collection at New York fashion week featured full, pleated pants and oversized bomber jackets. "Sometimes it's almost like your eye is looking for something else, looking for a new direction, a new feel," he adds.

Menswear Loosens Up
After years of showing snug, close-cut clothing for men, some designers such as Calvin Klein Collection, Comme des Garçons and Louis Vuitton put fuller, wider cuts on their runways this spring, featuring baggy pleated pants and voluminous, flowing shirts and coats.
Calvin Klein Collection men's fall 2011 show at New York fashion week featured full, pleated pants and oversized bomber jackets.
Yet mainstream brands—as well as many men—have only recently gotten comfortable with the slimmer silhouettes that flooded the catwalks in recent years.

"It took us a long time to get men into flat-front pants," says Nickelson Wooster, men's fashion director at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. "I don't think either the customers or the stores are ready to throw that away."
With fitted clothing still selling well, retailers see the new silhouette as a look for the fashion-forward, at least initially. While Bergdorf Goodman now carries long, drapey T-shirts from Rick Owens and plans to carry pleated trousers from Dries Van Noten, Mr. Wooster says it will take a while for fuller looks to reach regular guys.

In menswear, "the pace of change is glacial," he says. "As more men see more images of newer fits, then over time, their eyes will adjust."
For some designers, however, the shift is sharp. Even lines like Dior Homme and Thom Browne, once poster children for supernarrow, body-hugging silhouettes, have been adding more wiggle room to their clothes.

Mr. Browne says he likes to play with classic looks' silhouettes and proportions "to make them not so classic." For fall 2011, that meant some baggy pants, including roomy jodhpurs, on the runways. Dior Homme started getting baggier last spring.

Mr. Wooster cites designer Tom Ford as a key influence on the emerging silhouette. Mr. Ford, he says, "has proposed a more aggressive clothing model that has a bigger shoulder, wider lapel and a longer jacket." Tom Ford's latest collection also includes pleated pants.

The looser look may come as a relief to many of the men who squeezed themselves into slim-cut pants and shirts in recent seasons. Karl Lagerfeld wrote in a 2004 book that he was motivated to lose some 90-odd pounds in 13 months in part by the desire to fit into Dior Homme's skinny clothing.
But before men rejoice, style experts say, they should consider that baggy pleated pants aren't as forgiving as men think. "You have to be tall, you have to be in shape" to pull them off, says Mr. Zucchelli of Calvin Klein. "They're not for everybody," including, he says, himself.
Mr. Wooster concurs. "I think flat-front trousers always look cleanest, regardless of body type."

Men who still want to cling to tighter styles don't have to worry. Prada and Versace are among the labels sticking to closer-fitting clothes. Even Mr. Browne isn't completely abandoning his signature look. And the exaggerated runway looks may not be as wide and full when the clothes actually reach stores.

At Saks Fifth Avenue, the relaxed silhouette and pleated pants will show up "in our advanced designer area," said Eric Jennings, men's fashion director. But this is "a specific niche audience in only a handful of locations across the country."

Still, he noted one more constituency for pleated pants. "We'll still have some pleats for our traditional, conservative customer who never really switched to flat-front trousers in the first place."

By Jason Chow

New York Fashion Week has just ended and you’re a stylish guy but… well, who has time to keep on top of it all? A fashion-week primer should fit nicely.
First of all, a lesson on timing: New York Fashion Week, which showcases the next autumn/winter season, is regarded as the kickoff to the year for the entire fashion industry. But men’s and women’s fashion don’t adhere to the same schedules. Menswear-only fashion shows took place in Milan and Paris in January, before the men’s shows in New York. At least in this case, men are ahead of their opposite sex when it comes to clothes.
Before we discuss the trends, remember that sticking to the classics is still the best way to build a wardrobe. What you see on the runway is not necessarily what you should wear every day.

Nevertheless, there are some fashion week trends worth noting:
Double-breasted everything: Spot it on almost all types of coats in all kinds of shapes. Casual, unlined sports jackets for the weekends and short, barely waist-length wool coats for colder climes.

Chunky turtlenecks: Sweaters with collars that will make your neck as wide as Mike Tyson’s were all over the runways, including at shows by N. Hoolywood and Tommy Hilfiger. Designers were perhaps inspired by the extreme snow and cold of the New York winter. These were even matched with blazers—often double-breasted ones, of course.

Wider pants: The moment for skinny jeans has now finally passed, and it’s time for your legs to breathe more freely again. Of course, what you will gain in comfort, you’ll lose in clean, angular lines. We’re not yet at the stage where parachute pants are set for a comeback. But during New York Fashion Week, the Calvin Klein show proved that even a brand that has stood by the sharp, skinny suit for the past decade is cutting guys a bit of slack around the leg with some pants that were as baggy as a pair of fleece sweat pants.

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Having a suit is very important for men’s wardrobe. In fact, they hierarchy of fashion, any high-quality suit stays a man’s only trump card. Even in today’s age of casual-wear, the men suit yet carries an air of achievement, experience, and superiority. Men’s suits are especially designed to make you appear much better than normal wear, to break the gap among social classes, to make a less heighted man tall with pinstripes suit and to make a fat man look slimmer. Suits usually look great when you go to restaurants, travel, events, dinner parties, work place or Paris; in other words, anywhere you go. This is the best and complete form of dress, which can never fail.

Unfortunately some of the suits may look ugly and awful, but then it is not necessary. Even if you are at work for 9 hours with your suit on, being watchful of the suit clothing would certainly keep you prepare for a party after work. Again few men does not really know how to care and how to wear suit and untimely land up looking horrible, this should obviously be avoided.

However before buying a men suit there certain general rules that needs to be followed:

- Regardless of the suit style, fitting is what you need the most. This simply means all suit pieces must be cut and stitched appropriately in your shape. Actually, this does not ask to spend you lot of money but then you just need to be watchful and little brains to ignore any syrupy compliments a salesman may give.

- Trends have six-to-eighteen-month shelf lives. If you plan to retire your suit in this window, feel free to splurge. Otherwise, shop considerately.

- Normally any trend goes for about six to twelve months. If you are now planning to retire your purchased suit in this season, then feel free to overdo. In other case, do shop thoughtfully.

- Men Suits are made up of wool or cotton, and some of their variations. Do not go with additional fabrics.

- You are an attractive, positive, colorful man. Let your surroundings learn that from how you act, not from the tag on your jacket.

- A suit coat goes only with suit pants, does not go with jeans or chinos. If you desire a casual jacket, purchase a sport-coat or may be a blazer.

- It is important to know what to need to wear along with your suit. Unless you’re a chic confident guy, keep it easy: any decent light colored shirt, dark tie will surely work for you.

- A self-effacingly, chic man has never failed to make an impression. Note it.

Know that you do not require ten suits to decorate the wardrobe, just four is sufficient. This simply means that you could be a discerning shopper and spend more time accumulating, and then maintaining it in good condition (dry cleaning a year and keeping away from spills will do).

by: Rod Hagwood

Guy garb just doesn’t have the same drama inherent in women’s wear.
The rest of the animal kingdom has the male species with all the colorful plumage, sculptural antlers and bushy manes but man…well….man is different.
Man wants to blend with the herd – with a psuedo uniform if at all possible – which is fine since fashion is currently in a quiet, soft mode for both sexes.

“It’s casual in South Florida,” said Nick Wooster, men’s fashion director for Neiman Marcus. “But the difference between, say, L.A. casual and South Florida casual is the East Coast. South Florida is part of the DNA of New York…from Palm Beach all the way down Miami Beach. So it’s a little dressier, a little more refined, a little more polished.”

Apparel brands that market to men – we’re talking labels such as Levi’s, Gant, Burberry, Lacoste – are looking to their pasts for design inspiration, rebooting Americana work-wear and Ivy League prep looks.

“History and heritage make a brand more relevant, especially to men,” said Tom Julian, trend analyst and author of “Nordstrom Guide to Men’s Everyday Dressing.” Not only does it impart a cool back story, the authenticity that they evoke serves as a powerful cultural connector for the shopper.’

So here are the 7 things you need to know about men’s wear trends this fall/holiday season.
SUIT UP – Heralded by television’s “Mad Men” and the movie’s “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” the power suit is back, this time slimmer with a narrow necktie or more fitted if double-breasted. “Expect more interest in what’s inside of the suit thanks to craftsmanship, sartorial tailoring and new technologies,” said Julian.

SOFT TOUCH – “Velvet is a huge trend anywhere you go,” said Wooster. “Velvet gives you amazing color saturation and it’s perfect for those Florida evenings. It’s exactly on-trend for South Florida because it goes great with jeans; it goes great with a printed T. We have velvet from Lanvin, Prada, Gucci, Caruso, Brioni, Tom Ford. ”

GETTING THE BOOT – “Everything from military-inspired lace-up boots to suede dress Chelsea boots in a diverse array of colors and fabrics will be in heavy demand,” said Julian.

KNIT PICKS – There used to be a time when knit tops were used for layering. But now knits have woven themselves into outerwear with jackets, blazers and cardigans. Julian observed, “Adventurous types may gravitate towards short-belted knit coats and more traditional men may like the double-knit zip-front jacket to pull together a tailored look with shirts, ties and trousers.” Or you can try a woven shirt from the likes of Etro and Robert Graham, said Wooster. “It’s the number one question for men: what do you wear at night when you go out?” said Wooster. “Guys are always looking for interesting things to wear – alternatives really – when they go out in the evening.”

GRAY MATTERS – If you looked solely at the designer runway shows for fall 2010, you’d think only gray fabric was being made for men’s wear. “From slate to charcoal and cement, gray is so versatile,” said Julian. “Gray plays nicely in herringbones, tweeds, checks and in flannel. The color acts as a foolproof addition to the closet whether it comes to mixing with everything from dark denim to flannel shirts to turtlenecks.”

GO GREEN – “I’d say the new color is green,” said Wooster. “Green has a million shades attached to it. You have everything from a dark olive in Michael Kors and Vince to more of a military green with Etro, which also has some bright yellow-greens.

SHIRT HAPPENS – If the balmy sub-tropical evenings just won’t allow you to rock velvet, then Wooster suggests you try a woven shirt, maybe under a camel-colored deconstructed blazer or light-weight leather jacket. “It’s the number one question for men: what do you wear at night when you go out?” said Wooster. “Guys are always looking for interesting things to wear – alternatives really – when they go out in the evening.”

8 Easy Steps to Tie a Tie
Learning how to tie a tie is one of those basics that men need to know. There are quite a few different types of knots, but we are going to talk about the basic “Four in Hand Knot”. This knot works best with your basic collar, button down shirt -- whether it is a dress shirt or casual.
Since it was difficult to find step by step instructions, I’ve put together a short, tutorial in hopes it will help you out as well! The key is to not get frustrated and practice several times. It is just like tying a shoelace, once you learn how to tie a tie, it will be second nature!
How To Tie a Tie
• Place the tie around your neck with the wide end of the necktie on your right
• Extend the wide end to about 12 inches below the narrow end
• Cross the wide end over the narrow end
• Turn the wide end back underneath the narrow end
• Bring the wide end back over and to the front of the narrow end
• Pull the wide end up and through the loop around your neck
• Holding the front of the knot loosely with your index finger, bring the wide end down through the front loop
• Remove your finger and tighten the knot carefully to the collar by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up

If the step by step tutorial isn’t clear enough, I’ve added a video!

Creating a Successful Business Image : Proper Fit for a Jacket

Learn tips and advice on how to develop a professional wardrobe for men, including business casual style and the proper fit of a suit jacket in this free how to video.

Gentlemen, a wedding invitation arrives from someone important - perhaps from your boss, a favorite cousin, or worst of all, an old flame. You've got to go, and you've got to look good. There's no need to panic, say local style experts. Here are their top tips.

Read the invitation. It provides important clues to planning your attire. Note the location and time of day. A daytime wedding in a garden is more casual than one in the evening at a church.

Suit up. A suit is always appropriate, particularly for a more formal affair. "A navy blue suit, white shirt and tie make up the wedding uniform," says Miguel Lopez, proprietor of the Castro menswear store, Sui Generis. Just remember that the fabric has to be appropriate to the season. Spring and summer require lighter fabrics, such as cotton and linen. Save the heavier wools and cashmeres for fall and winter weddings.

Consider the alternative. If a suit is just not your style, luckily there is another acceptable wedding outfit. You will always look sharp in black dress pants or black khakis, a white button-down shirt, a sport coat and a tie, with black shoes, belt and socks. You can drop the coat for more casual weddings.

Pay attention to detail. A tie and leather dress shoes, such as oxfords or loafers, are the essential accessories to any outfit. Socks should match the color of the pants and belts should match the shoes. A shoeshine is a must.

Try it on. Whatever you are going to wear, make sure it's all pressed and fits well. Tailoring is, and many also advise staying away from pleated pants. A flat front is modern, clean and classic, but not yet to my personal liking.

Make your mark. Show a little personality and sport a colorful tie or consider a pocket square. It completes the look. If you know the bride's wedding colors, you might want to echo them in either your tie or pocket square.

Buy what you need. If you want investment quality pieces, Ermenegildo Zegna, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani or Brooks Brothers for a more conservative look. All offer suits that won’t disappoint. If budget is an issue, check the Best Designer Suit Store online.

Avoid the missteps. No matter how casual the wedding, you can't look your best in sneakers and shorts. Daniel Billett, guide to Men's Fashion on About.com and author of "Mistakes Men Make," includes in his list of no-nos jeans, cargo pants, Birkenstocks, wrinkled shirts, scuffed shoes, and wild colors or prints.

Many agree that weddings are opportunities. "First impressions matter." "You might meet your future mate." If that happens, there's just one last step ... invite the old flame to your wedding.