Accessorizing

Accessorizing can be extremely difficult for men. I take that back. Accessorizing can be very difficult for a guy who cares about the way he looks. I like that statement better because the problem with accessorizing is that so many companies create really terrible "guy" accessories. From watches, to lanyards, and even various other types of jewelry, there's just so much out there that can take away from a classy look. Let's start with lanyards since they happen to be one of my biggest pet peeves. I see guys with these all the time. The popular wear is to throw the keys attached to the lanyard into the baggy sweats or sports shorts and leave the long, often colorful, lanyard hanging from the pocket. It gives the whole, "I have a very small pet on a very small leash hanging out in my pocket" kind of look. It's far from classy but the one worse look is the lanyard's intended use around the neck. We see your keys dangling there pal. Are you really that bad about losing keys that they have to be around your neck at all times? If you're going to put them in your pocket anyway then the lanyard serves no purpose. Another thing to be careful with are watches. Watches can look super classy and elegant or gaudy and gross so you must choose wisely. When in doubt I say keep it simple. There's nothing worse, in my opinion, than seeing a well dressed guy with a leather watch band that's 3 inches wide. Instead of looking like a classy guy you end up looking like someone who is forced to dress well for work but is a wannabe rocker at home. The same goes for other jewelry. I tend to feel like the only ring a guy should be wearing is a wedding band. The one exception of course comes if he has won the super bowl or something of equivalent significance that is normally showcased by the wearing of a rather large ring. Like I said earlier, just keep it simple. Gaudy never means classy and the most presentable people keep it simple. (the rhyme was unintentional but I like what it does for this post) Stay classy.

Airline Travel Part 2: Dressing appropriately for your flight

Dressing well for airline travel is not a new concept. In past years (starting with the birth of commercial aviation) people always dressed up to travel. This concept wasn't widely received due to its comfort level but because of how people wanted to present themselves. If you've read many of my other blog posts then you know I'm an advocate for always being aware of how you present yourself. Airline travel puts you in front of many new people. It's your responsibility to see that those people view you as a well put together citizen. It's also important to be comfortable on flights and to get through security checkpoints efficiently. I propose wearing comfortable shoes like loafers that are easy to slide on and off and a belt that's not a hassle as these items will have to be removed and replaced. A blazer is a great option for travel outfits as it can be light weight and easy to deal with. It also looks great (tie or no tie) with a button up shirt. Don't do the t shirt and blazer combo. You're not Ralf Lauren. Smart casual is the look to achieve for travel so shoot for that. Another tip: if you'd like to arrive at your destination in nicer shoes than loafers then simply keep a pair of dress shoes easily accessible in your carry-on. here's to comfortable, efficient, and stylish air travel. Stay classy.

Airline Travel Part 1: packing for your trip.

There are many things to keep in mind and consider when packing for a trip. I usually start by taking into account how long the trip will be. Longer trips are pretty easy to prepare for because you will generally pack more allowing for greater flexibility in outfit choices while shorter trips (which tend to be more common) require more planning. for those shorter trips the best thing to do is pack neutrals for shirts and trousers and use color in other items like socks, ties, and pocket squares. This will allow some flexibility without taking up a lot of suitcase real estate. It's also a great idea to pack for 1 to 2 more days then what the trip requires. It will allow you some wiggle room if a flight is missed or canceled. Make sure to consider what types of things you'll be doing while traveling as it will help you pack appropriately for special events or parties that may require nicer dress. Another tip is to invest in some travel containers for things like aftershave and shave lotion etc. These will take up less space and allow you to pack more efficiently. Lastly, when putting all of your items in your bag, try different configurations to see how items fit best. The more compact you luggage the easier it is to lug around. Hope this makes your holiday travels more efficient. Stay classy.

Holiday gift ideas

As much as I hate lists I have to put one out there for the holidays. These are my top 10 ideas for guys to ask for/the top 10 things girls should consider buying for a guy (assuming he has no idea what to ask for for Christmas). Most of these items are on this list because they are "out of the box" ideas as far as gifts go. These are all things that any self-professed sartorialist needs if he doesn't have already.

(In no particular order)

-Fabric Shaver
-Vintage Watch
-Cedar Shoe Trees
-Horse or Badger Hair Shave Brush
-Fabric Steamer
-Leather Driving Gloves
-Wooden Hangers
-Antique Cigar Humidor
-Monogramed Zippo Lighter
-Vintage Safety or Straight Razor (fully restored and shave-ready of course)

P.S. Us guys always love giftcards too. Consider giftcards for thetiebar.com or for a straight razor shave at a local barber shop.

Stay Classy

Closet Organization

I am a huge advocate of organization in general but just recently I discovered the value of an organized closet. There are many aspects to keeping a closet organized so I decided that this would be a great topic for fitted male. The first thing I did to organize my closet was decide on a game plan. Its good to know what you'd like to accomplish prior to diving in. I knew up front that I had to rearrange things but I also wanted to purge. I think that purging your closet is possibly the most important step in getting organized. I  got rid of anything and everything that no longer fit and moved all of my t-shirts, shorts, and other super casual items to my dresser. I decided that the only things closet worthy would be button up shirts, trousers and denim, sweaters, suits, blazers, cardigans, shoes, and other important accessories. The best way to show you what I came up with is post the pictures.

This is an overview from the doorway of my closet. The shelving unit in the back allows for great storage of shoes, ties, and other accessories. the middle section is dedicated to an organizer that houses pocket squares, collar stays, extra buttons, extra shoe laces, and other various accessories. I also keep my box of shoe polish next to my black shoes below my ties.

One of my best ideas was investing a small amount in all wooden hangers. This is not only a great look but allows you to see all the hanging garments better allowing you to find items faster. You can pick up a large set of hangers from the Hangers Direct eBay store for a great price.

This tie and belt system is something I designed from kitchen drawer organizers and propped up at an angle for easy access at the top of my shelving unit.

This is a storage option that I came up with to keep extra hangers out of the way but still easy to access. Its just a cheap crate from a home store turned on its side.

Hanging closet organizers like this one can provide great storage for many things, not just shoes. I have shoes in the bottom half of this unit but use the top bins for scarves.

I didn't have any other place in my room to put all the books that were stored in my closet so I came up with this creative solution. Once again these are just cheap crates turned on their side with books piled inside. I even used an over-the-door hanger suspended from an opening in the crate to hold an antique camera bag and an old marching band hat. 

Not pictured is the wall that opposes my hanging items. Being that it was empty and didn't offer many options, I chose to put 4 double hooks on the wall next to and below each other. This allows me to hang hoodies and light weight jackets out of the way.

These are simple ideas for great closet organization. If you go shopping at places like The Container Store just keep in mind that every item you see can probably be used for something other than what it was intended. This knowledge will keep you thinking outside of the box (pun intended) on your organization projects. The benefit to getting organized is that you will speed up the process of deciding what to wear and getting dressed. You'll also be able to do quick inventories of what you need, when to do laundry, and what you have and haven't worn recently. Get organized and realize the benefit of a neat clean closet. Stay classy.

Leave It On The Rack III

This installment of "LeaveIt On The Rack" is all about pleated pants and trousers. This is a tough one for me to write because I have recently inherited some very nice Crombie suits and would love nothing more than to sport them but feel I am left stranded because of the pleated pants. Pleated pants aren't totally wrong. In fact, I have owned many pairs myself through the years. 

There are two problems I see with pleated pants:

1. I personally see them as unflattering for my body type. 

        (Pleats can make you look shorter if you're not careful and, since I have a 30in inseam, I can't afford to look any shorter.)

2. They tend to make a person or outfit look dated.

        (Since most new trousers and pants are made without pleats, pleated pants tend to look old or out of style.)

The reason I bring this up is not just because of my current Crombie suit situation but because I run into this issue a lot when shopping in thrift stores for vintage suits. I have often times found suit jackets that fit perfectly only to find that the pants are pleated. I have heard some say that pleats can be removed from trousers so I did some homework. I don't know much about the actual construction of a garment so I must say that I am not clear on what is possible with trousers. Soon after starting my search for a pleat removal expert I found that most tailors or alterations shops do not feel comfortable removing pleats from pants. I was told on multiple calls that, while it is not outside the realm of possibility, removing pleats from pants basically requires the tailor to rebuild the entire front panel of the garment. Evidently this is no easy task without a pattern to go by. In the end I decided that the best thing to do was just pass by those seemingly rare gems that featured pleats. Even if you can find someone that is willing to remove pleats from pants it is highly unlikely that the benefit will be worth the cost involved. So when you find pleated pants while looking for flat fronts, just leave them on the rack.

-Stay Classy

Haircuts and You

If you haven't noticed from all of my other blog posts, fitted male is all about knowing what type of impression you're making on the people you interact with. It's not about superficiality but professionalism. That being said, it doesn't really matter how dapper you dress if your hair says something different. I know this all too well because I am a victim of thinning hair and a bad feeling that no matter how I try to style my hair, it will undoubtedly end up looking terrible thus ruining the image I was attempting to project. I have found a reasonable solution though. Get your hair cut often and trust your barbers opinion. I went in recently and said, "give me something that looks professional but that will give the image of a thicker, fuller head of hair as well." If you have a good barber you won't be disappointed with the results. Take their advice. They are professionals and make a living helping you look your best. As soon as it gets too long to style properly you should go back to the barber with the same instructions. They'll do you right and keep you looking your best.
Stay classy.

Cheap Clothing (buyer beware)

Today I would like to talk about "cheap" clothing. When I say "cheap" I'm referring to stores like Forever XXI and H&M. I frequent these stores for the same reason as most. They have cheap clothes! The problem is that they are not just cheap in terms of price but also in quality. I have come up with some things to look for when shopping this type of brand.

The first thing to inspect is stitching. When you pick up an item make sure you pay close attention to the quality of the stitch and the parts of the shirt where stitching tends to have issues. I always look around the placket(opposite side from the buttons) because I have had a few shirts with poor placket stitching. Its easy to avoid if you check it out.

The next thing to look at is the quality and type of buttons. Buttons are easy to replace if they come off but you want to make sure they are all there and firmly attached. I try to stay away from snap style buttons as the fabric doesn't tend to hold up as well around the stitch for the snap. The act of pulling on a snap is much harder on cheaper fabric the simply sliding a button through a hole. Just make sure the quality looks good.

The last thing to check is the symmetry of the over all garment. I have often found that buttons don't line up with their respective holes or one shoulder could be a bit longer than the other. Its just good to make sure everything checks out before deciding to buy it. Don't talk yourself into an item that has a problem if its the only one left of its size. If this is the case just realize that it wasn't meant to be and move on.

If you follow these steps you should have pretty good luck when shopping at these "cheaper" stores.

Leave It On The Rack II

Its time for the second installment of the series I’m calling “Leave it on the rack.” A few weeks ago the topic was tattoo style tee shirts but this week I’m going to write about another pet peeve of mine. Articles of clothing sporting hoods that don’t traditionally have them. If you’ve done much shopping for clothes at Forever 21 then you know exactly what I’m talking about. I (cautiously) do quite a bit of shopping in these stores but this brand is particularly partial to adding hoods to clothing for what I can only assume is an attempt to “spice up” some dull pieces. I’ve been seeing this a lot with sweater vests and even blazers. At best its doing something different solely for the sake of being different. Heres a short list of items that should not have hoods attached that I have seen with hoods:

-Button up shirts
-Vests
-Sweater vests
-Puff vests
-Basically anything with short sleeves or no sleeves
-Blazers
-Cardigans
-Tee shirts

What it all boils down to is that hoods have a proper place. They’re perfect for sweatshirts (both zip-up and pull-over), jackets, coats, and rain gear. In fact hoods should be limited to these items because they were created to serve a purpose on these articles, not just to hang there for looks. Basically, if it traditionally wouldn’t have a hood, don’t even bother picking it up. Its a sartorial nightmare and it doesn’t belong amongst the rest of you wardrobe. Leave it on the rack.

Lets get started!

Today’s blog is going to be pretty short but its the over all theme that is important. Today is about a jump start for someone who wants to start dressing better but isn’t really sure where to start. I have come up with a few tips for the beginner who is interested in upgrading their wardrobe. The first thing I suggest doing is some good old fashioned research. Its simple to pick up a copy of GQ or surf through the pages of the sartorialist online so start there. Look at what styles are being featured and try to emulate some of the things that fit your personality. I also suggest going through your closet and dresser to purge the things that won’t fit your new style. If they aren’t available when you’re getting dressed then you can’t wear them out of laziness or bad habit. Another good tip is to check out PutThisOn.com. These guys have done an excellent job of showcasing what it means to dress like a “grown up.” There are 7 episodes from their 1st season and a highly anticipated 2nd season is in the works. These guys know their stuff so take them seriously. The last tip I have to share is about shopping. Shopping is where I believe most guys really miss. They see things on a mannequin or on another guy and automatically think its right for them. This is a rookie mistake so consider this your fair warning. First of all, not everything is made for every body type and secondly, not everything in a reasonably fashionable store is actually fashionable. The best example I have is of a girl wearing a great outfit and then throwing on a Vera Bradley back pack style purse. Its not a fashionable piece and it takes away from the better parts of the outfit. Nothing wrong with the purse but it should only be worn by grandmothers and pre-teens. That being said, just be cautious when shopping. Take the time to actually try things on and bring an unbiased party along for feedback the first few times. It will help you learn whats right for you. All the best in building your new wardrobe. Take pride in it and it will reward you with respect and accolades among friends and colleagues.

Is soap just soap?

Soap is soap right? Well, not really. Unfortunately all soaps are not created equal. This thought was sparked by a recent conversation/argument with two of my roommates. The argument started because one of my roomies was headed out to buy shampoo only. I asked if he was purchasing soap as well and he said he wasn’t. He then went on to explain that all he needed was shampoo to wash his entire body. Though his reasoning was also discussed its not actually relevant here. The question that I than began asking myself was, “just what is the difference between shampoo and regular body was or bar soap?” Never mind the hygienic nightmare that is allowing your suds from your hair to “clean” the rest of you, there had to be a reason why 2 distinct products exist. My research found that, at one point, soap was in-fact just soap. It was the realization that different chemicals and vitamins were need to clean and condition hair that spawned the idea for shampoo. That being said i can only conclude that it is important to use actual shampoo on your hair. Since it is a soap I must also concede to my roommates argument that buying only shampoo will get him just as clean as buying 2 separate products, assuming he doesn’t use dirty suds from his hair to lather the rest of his body. I do however disagree with the logic used and believe that it doesn’t really save money to only buy one product. You will most likely run through the one product twice as fast as you would the two separates. In conclusion, just get clean. You should always use shampoo for your hair but, while I prefer to use a separate product on the rest of my body, any soap should do the trick when plain cleanliness is the main objective. Here’s to smelling great and feeling clean!

Leave it on the rack

Since this blog post could possibly be taken as offensive to some parties I felt it necessary to explain myself and opinions on the matter before diving into the main topic. I started this blog with the sole purpose of relaying the importance of dressing well. It's not just about being fashionable. It's about having just enough self pride and feelings of worth to care about how you are presenting yourself on a daily basis. Like it or not, people judge books by their covers. If a book looks like a douchebag then on would assume that it reads like a douchebag. This leads me to today's topic. I have an opinion on what I will refer to as tattoo tees. You all know what I'm talking about and you may even own some. Brands such as Tap-Out and Affliction are some of the more popular ones but many brands have followed suit. Though I personally don't find this style of clothing to be sartorial in any form, it wasn't me that gave them the image they portray. You can blame it on the popular MTV show Jersey Shore if you like but when I see these tattoo tees all I can think is the guys that only care about working out, smelling up a room with over priced cologne, and treating girls like pieces of meat. I almost believe Tap-Out could be code for date-rape. Like it or not, the people who popularized this style of clothing painted a picture of the type of person who wears it. If you are wearing such clothing then you take the chance of being seen as one of “those guys.” It is your responsibility to present yourself as you want people to see you. Dressing well doesn’t mean you’re superficial, it means you take yourself and your environment seriously. So when you see tattoo tees in a store, on sale or otherwise, leave it on the rack. Stay classy.

Finding and restoring old shoes

One of my favorite things to do is go thrifting. Theres nothing like the thrill of finding that one-of-a-kind article of clothing or pair of shoes at a great price. The only problem is that, most of the time, the things you find while thrifting are far from being considered “new.” Since one of the best things I normally find are shoes, I wanted to write specifically about how to spot good quality pairs and then restore them. I recently found two pairs of dress shoes at a thrift store that I had really good luck with from a restoration perspective. The first was a pair of wingtip oxfords. The brand was not one that I recognized (Comfort Plus), they didn’t seem like they were originally very expensive (I recently saw a pair go for $17 on eBay in similar condition), but they seemed to have good bones and a nice condition to the outside. The second pair was a more modern dress shoe who’s brand name was the first thing I noticed. They were by an Italian shoe maker by the name of Mercanti Fiorentini. I know this brand to be a reasonably expensive brand. I have a pair of their loafers and they are possibly the most comfortable shoes I own. When shopping in thrift stores you have to buy good items when you see them because this was a rare find and unlikely to be there later.
I got the two pairs for around $20. This is a steal considering the Mercantis sell anywhere from $150 to $200 new. Neither of the two pairs of shoes were in “ready to wear” condition. They both showed reasonable signs of wear and the laces were all but destroyed. The thing to look for is the restorability of the shoes. If they have holes or rubber soles rather than leather then they may not be restorable. Look for all leather shoes. In most cases leather soles can be replaced by a shoe repair shop upwards of 4 or 5 times before the shoe will be beyond repair. In some cases even more. Laces are obviously pretty easy to replace but you may be wondering how to restore the leather to a nice wearable look. All you need to do is pick up some leather shoe conditioner from a local Journeys or DSW. This stuff is cheap and works wonders on scuffed leather. Shoe polish is a nice touch too but doesn’t condition so make sure to use the conditioner first. After applying the conditioner your shoes may not look brand new but will be in more than wearable condition. They’ll look like you’ve had them for a while but that you take care of them. Thats the last step too. Take care of the shoes. Resist the urge to wear them every day. Let them rest a day or so between wears. if you have wooden shoe keepers then these will help preserve the life of your shoes as well. To see a before and after of my Mercantis just check out the photos section on fittedmale.com.

What to wear to an interview

The other day I was at work and saw a guy come in to our store to inquire about possible openings with our company. This happens on a regular basis but what struck me as odd was his choice of outfit for approaching a manger of the store for which he wished to work. Normally dreadlocks, tattoos, and piercings don’t really bother me. (to each his own) The problem was with what he was wearing. Evidently when he woke up he decided on shorts and flip-flops. He chose to finish off the ensemble with a black t-shirt that simply read, “I hope they serve beer in Hell.” Now there are many problems with this outfit besides just the poor choice of t-shirt but instead of ripping this guy a new one I’ll take the high road and just explain what proper interview/job inquiring ensembles should look like. The clothing choices you make when deciding what to wear to an interview will greatly be determined by the job you are applying for. My general rule of thumb is to wear at least one level above what the job requires as a uniform or dress code. This means you need to observe what current employees normally wear. That’s right, you have to do a little research. If the company requires jeans and a polo as uniform/dress code then khakis paired with a button-up shirt is the bare minimum required by my rule. Personally I would still wear slacks and a tie but this still allows you to be taken seriously. If you really want the job then thats the general idea. Don’t just take this rule at face value though because theres no way a tux is required to interview for a job that requires a suit and tie everyday. When at the suit and tie level a basic match of the dress code of the company is just fine. If it happens to be a conservative firm then keep the shirt/tie combination simple and classy. If its a creative/young firm then feel free to wear some interesting color combinations between your shirt, tie, and pocket square. The best rule of thumb is, when in doubt, keep it simple and classy. Follow these simple rules when preparing for an interview and you’re sure to look well put-together and prepared for your new job.

Tide ToGo VS Shout Wipes

Being a professional looking "fitted male" requires that you look your best in all situations. That being said, we've all had that accidental spill or drip on a fresh shirt or pair of pants right before an important meeting or interview. So how do you deal with it in a timely fashion (no pun intended) and still show up to your appointment looking sharp? Luckily the detergent industry has come up with multiple solutions for this conundrum. Thats why this post is going to be a direct comparison of the Tide ToGo Pen vs. Shout Wipes. It's important to note that both of these solutions were created with convenience and portability in mind but were not created equally. I went out and purchased both of these to do a comparison of which is the most affective. I must say that I had high hopes for the Shout Wipes because they come in a multi-pack, are cheaper than the Tide Pen, and are small/flat enough to fit in a wallet. The pen is unfortunately a few bucks more expensive and not quite as convenient for guys, who generally don't carry purses. That being said, I did tests on multiple fabrics (shirts, pants, and ties) and found that the Tide ToGo Pen was much more efficient at removing stains. I believe this is mostly due to the fact that the pen has a built-in agitator, great for working stains out of the fibers, and allows you to control the amount of stain remover needed to accomplish the task. While the Tide Pen is a bit more cumbersome than it's rival, the Shout Wipe, it was much more affective at fulfilling it's purposes in all my tests. Keep one in your car, at home, and one at the office so you'll be prepared for any pesky stain that occurs.

Selecting and seasoning your cigar humidor

Over the past few years I have become a cigar enthusiast. One of the things I quickly found was that I had to learn how to properly store my tiny investments. There are wrongs and rights for handling and caring for cigars so I started out by gathering as much information on the topic as possible. As one might guess, there are many resources out there for learning the tricks of storing cigars but I wanted to give a few highlights that can get even the utmost beginner pointed in the right direction. Some people may say to throw your cigars in the vegetable drawer of your fridge but that is by no means a good long-term storage option. You’ll want to get an actual humidor if you plan on collecting and storing cigars effectively over time. It is important to start by choosing a suitable humidor. You’ll find that older “antique” humidors will be lined with copper and may not keep a great seal, while newer “modern” humidors can be constructed of various woods but will likely be lined with spanish cedar. The seal is really the important thing to note here because it will determine how efficient your humidor is in terms of holding humidity. Once you’ve picked the right humidor for you, resist the urge to throw your cigars in. There are a few more steps to take to properly ready your new humidor for regular use. (side note: even if you are buying a used humidor you should always season it properly first. if you buy an antique with copper lining the seasoning process will not be necessary.) The first thing you will need is distilled water or propylene glycol solution. I prefer the later because it is the same solution you should use to fill the humidifier you place in the humidor. AVOID TAP WATER! You’ll want to start by dampening a sponge with the solution and using it to wet the spanish cedar interior of the humidor. Once you have all of the interior saturated, you should re-saturate the sponge and place it on top of a plastic ziploc bag inside the humidor. This should sit for around 24 hours and the interior should be dry to the touch before placing cigars in the box. This simple process allows the wood to soak up moisture prior to the humidifier being installed so that it won’t rob your cigars of the moisture they need to stay fresh. The last thing to do is stop by a cigar shop and pick up a humidifier or gel canister, fill it with the propylene glycol solution, and place it inside the humidor. This will ensure that your cigars will always be provided with the proper storage environment. These steps are all it takes to start enjoying collecting and storing cigars. Use the contact me button to the left if you have any questions.

Send a message with socks

Let's talk socks. There's nothing worse than seeing a guy in a well put together outfit only to find that, when he sits down, plain white socks appear. This is a pretty common problem. We see a lot of guys simply wearing the wrong fit for their body type but this takes the cake for easily remedied fashion mistakes. It's easy to find cool/trendy socks at places like GAP, JCREW, or Banana Republic. Their usually reasonably priced as well. Good rule of thumb: If it comes in a package of 3 or more, proceed with caution. Socks help complete an outfit. They don't have to match if the contrast seems fun but it may show that you put a little extra thought into what you're wearing. That's never a bad message to send.

Shopping for Swimwear

It's swimming season and that means that its time to get some new swim trunks. Whether you're going on a beach trip or just to the local pool there are some things all guys should keep in mind. The problem is that, while wearing swim trunks, you usually aren't wearing much else. This is important because the one thing you are wearing has to make the proper statement. Your flip flops or other summer footwear won't make up for bad trunks. Swim trunks with a large corona logo definitely send a message. "I like to drink/party." while this message may be appropriate for some personalities it shows very little class. Instead shoot for something that isn't cut too long and is perhaps pretty simple. Don't choose something with too many patterns or pockets. This gives the impression that not much thought went into this purchase. When shopping swim trunks, keep it simple.

The fresh pressed shirt

When ironing a button up shirt, many people prefer a nice stiff collar, cuffs, and pocket. Many would also turn to spray starch for their desired stiffness. The problem is that spray starch can leave shirts too stiff and sometimes even leave a strange sheen on a shirt. We've all see that guy walk in to work or church with a fresh pressed shirt that could double as a cutting board. This is not a good look. A good substitute is 'sizing." It can be found next to the spray starch in whatever store you tend to shop for laundry supplies. It is less harsh but still provides a stiffness that will last while being worn. Simply apply it to collars, pockets, and cuffs and iron flat. Just a little will hold fine. There's no need to use this on thiner surfaces like sleeves, front panels, and back panel. Doing that may give the shirt a sort of western stiffness if you're not careful. They key is to finish with a nice, crisp, wrinkle-free shirt. You'll look professional and polished every time.

Cheap shorts for summer

Great Fashion idea for salvaging old pants: Have them turned into shorts by taking them to an alteration shop. This can be cheaper than buying new shorts and keep you from getting rid of old cuts/styles of pants wastefully. Usually this type of alteration will cost between $15 and $20 per pair of pants but will depend solely on where you choose to have it done. If you know someone who is confident behind a sewing machine then the cost could be completely negligible. Shop around to find the best rate in your area because it can add up fast if you're doing multiple pairs at a time, which is what I recommend. Either way, this this simple idea is much cheaper than buying all new shorts for summer. I'll post a few pictures to show before and after for the 5 pairs of pants I recently converted.

Summertime Footwear

It's such a common thing to see just about everyone in flip flops as soon as we start getting "good weather days." I love a good pair of flip flops as much as the next guy. Let's face it, it's almost as good as being bare foot. The problem is that, as I noted at the beginning of the post, that's all you really see during the summer. Flip flops everywhere. Being the fashion conscious person I am, this summer I set out to find some good flip flop alternatives. I have found that Sperry Top Siders are possibly the best summer flip flop alternative, considering the fact that they come in many colors/styles, and sport a beachy look. They can be expensive at a price of around $75 but can often be found on sale at stores like DSW and Journey's. Vans lace-ups are also a great summer look.They come in many colors so remember to keep it simple and try to stay away from the slip-ons with checkered patterns. A good cheap idea for vans look-a-likes are the lace-ups you can find at Walmart and similar big box stores. You can pick these up for as low as $7 sometimes and no one will know the difference. Its totally fine to sport your low-top Chuck Taylor's this summer too but make sure they're in good shape since chucks tend to look shabby after a good 6 months of consistent wear. Keep a few things in mind when wearing these flip flop alternatives: You'll need to stick to basic colors (assures they can be worn with most outfits) and you'll want to invest in some no-show socks. Journey's sells some no-show socks at $10 for 5 pair. They are essential to keeping your shoes and feet feeling and looking great. Here's to a more comfortable summer for your feet!

What is Fitted?

Fitted is going to be a great resource for everything that involves men's fashion, design, culture, and hygiene. Check back often for thoughts, pictures, and tips on men's fashion. I plan on sharing all I know as well as everything I continue to learn. Thanks for stopping by.