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.