What is a tie clip for?

A tie clip is one of those few pieces of jewelry that is actually functional. It weighs down your tie, keeping it sitting straight. It clips together the front and back of the tie, and clips to your shirt, so your tie doesn’t flap around. A tie clip makes for a much neater look, unless you somehow muck it up and end up with your tie bulging over the tie clip (I’ve seen it happen, but I have no idea how it’s possible to mess up something so simple). Tie clips can be plain or they can be elaborate and decorative. Either way, they are a great addition to your formal wardrobe.

How many tie clips do I wear?

You should only wear one tie clip. You could argue that more tie clips would do the job better, which may be true but it doesn’t look as formal. If you have particularly ostentatious style, you can experiment with wearing two or three tie clips at once. Novice tie clip wearers should stick to wearing just one rather than going overboard.

How long should my tie clip be?

For the best tie clip look, it should be a little smaller than the width of your tie. At a minimum, it should be about two thirds the width of your tie, and it should never be wider than your tie. You can wear tie clip with skinny ties, but you have to get a shorter tie clip so it still has the right proportions.

Where does the tie bar go?

A tie clip always needs to sit between two of your shirt buttons, so you are able to clip it to your shirt. Exactly where this is depends on the distance between your buttons, but it should be somewhere between the third and fifth buttons down. If you’re wearing a suit jacket with a high pocket, line it up roughly with the top of the pocket.

Elaborate tie bars

For the most sophisticated look, your tie bar should be fairly plain and minimalist. Silver is your go-to color, but gold isn’t a bad choice either depending on your personal style. However, it is possible to get intricately decorated tie clips. These would be frowned upon in situations where a tie clip is called for, but if you just want to liven up your suit for a semi-formal event, there’s no reason to shy away from decorative tie bars.

It’s not a tie chain

It’s stylish to wear a tie bar right now; it’s tragic to wear a tie chain. Tie chains –which look like a necklace strung around your tie- have a similar function to tie bars. However, you’ll be waiting a long time for a tie chain revival. At the moment they appear over the top and a little weird, unlike tie clips which are the height of sophistication.

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Get a good haircut

A straggly haircut can undo the most sophisticated outfit. A man with long, ratty hair who puts on an expensive suit doesn’t look like a free-spirited millionaire; he looks like he’s just stolen an expensive suit. Your personal grooming makes a huge difference to how professional you look. A short, neat haircut is versatile enough for your personal life and at work. A business haircut will make you look important, even if your line of work doesn’t require it.

For that matter, it also helps to keep your facial hair in check. Clean shaven is the easiest way to go, but if you’re going to rock the facial hair, make sure that it looks neat.

Know how to tie your tie

You don’t need to learn any fancy knots, but if you wear a tie, it’s important that you know how to tie it properly. Find a knot that you like and master it before adding others to your repertoire. Ties look best when they are freshly tied, so it’s not enough to figure out how to do it once and then keep the same stale knot for years on end. Ties with a faux knot are a no-no. It’s not that difficult to learn to do up a tie, and it’s well worth the effort.

Have a nice jacket

Invest in at least one decent jacket that goes with most of your wardrobe. A disgusting, daggy jacket can completely bring down a perfectly styled outfit; likewise, a well-fitted quality jacket can completely transform a mediocre outfit. A sport coat, a leather jacket or a casual blazer will do the trick. A suit jacket shouldn’t be regularly used as your casual jacket. Not only will this make it less formal when you do have to don a suit, but it can also look awkward.

Get collared

A well-dressed man will eschew t-shirts in favour of their collared counterparts. You don’t need to wear a dress shirt on a daily basis, but a polo shirt is so much sharper than a ratty tee. There’s no fashion law against t-shirts when you’re in a casual setting, but you’ll look much more stylish in something with a collar.

Polish it off

Shoes are the final touch to an outfit; make sure they’re well taken care of. Leather shoes always look smart, but they look their best when they’re perfectly polished. Whether leather or not, your shoes need to always be clean. Shoelaces tend to deteriorate faster than the rest of your shoe, and it’s very noticeable when your shoelaces look ratty. It may seem like a small matter, but if you don’t replace them as needed you’ll look unkempt.

It’s all about glamor

The Great Gatsby is dripping with new money. There is an abundance of wealth and the characters aren’t afraid to show it off. Today’s global economy may be nothing like the post-WW1 boom, but don’t let that stop you from dressing like you have a money tree orchard growing in your backyard. Luxurious fabrics in tailored cuts, gold and silver jewelry and quality leather pieces make you look rich without being too ostentatious.

Suits

They partied hard and looked stylish all at once back in the 1920s, at least in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s interpretation of it. Men had to wear suits, especially of the three-piece variety. There is never a bad time to wear a waistcoat, but they are becoming a trend as the release date for The Great Gatsby approaches. In the 1970s film adaption, the suits were often in white or light colors, and combined with brightly colored shirts- although this hybrid of 1970s and 1920s fashion may not fully endure into 2013. If you’re going to wear a light suit, keep it modern by ditching the suit jacket and making sure all pieces fit slimly.

Shirts

In an iconic scene in the book, Jay Gatsby throws his endless array of shirts, in all manner of colors and styles, up into the air. His love interest Daisy even cries at the sight of such beautiful shirts. Shirts don’t normally have that much of an impact -you would be hard pressed to find a real-life woman as unwaveringly materialistic as Daisy- but quality shirts are a must if you are looking to emulate Gatsby’s style. While the shirts featured in The Great Gatsby were monogrammed, in 2013 monogramming is more than a little passé.

Flat caps

Flat caps are sometimes associated with the working classes, but can also be worn in a very bourgeois way. Nail 1920s style by pairing it with luxurious clothing. It is essential that the cap itself be made from a quality material such as soft wool. Wearing a flat cap with high waist slacks with a shirt and waistcoat would be a perfect Gatsby-esque outfit.

The hair

In the promotional trailer for the upcoming film, the men wear their hair neatly slicked to one side. Their hair is short, but long enough to have a slight wave. Not everyone can carry off this hairstyle, but if you are lucky enough to have straight or slightly wavy hair, you’ll be able to do it with just a little bit of hair gel. Otherwise, you’ll have to make do with a short, tidy and respectable haircut.

Vertical vs. horizontal

It’s well known that horizontal stripes make you look fat while vertical stripes make you look tall. The well-proportioned man can afford to wear stripes in either direction. If you’re exceptionally short, fat, tall, or skinny, you need to be mindful of the direction of your stripes. You don’t want to accidentally accentuate an aspect of your body that you’re not happy with. Stripes can also have a corrective effect. While putting on a vertical striped shirt won’t suddenly make you look 8ft tall, it will make you appear slightly longer than you are.

Size matters

Also important is the width of your stripes. Thick stripes will make you look smaller, while thin stripes make you look bulkier simply because there are more of them. If the stripes are, say, thin and horizontal, the overall effect will make you look much wider than you are.

The striped shirt

A striped shirt is a fool-proof way to nail the look. Vertical stripes look best, especially if they are small stripes that are incorporated into the weave of the material rather than printed on.

The striped cardigan

Stripy cardigans can either be super trendy, or make you look like an old man. The key to getting it right is in keeping the rest of your outfit stylish and modern. This will make it clear that you are wearing the cardigan on purpose.

The striped sweater

A few simple stripes on a jumper can make an otherwise plain outfit so much more interesting and fashion-forward. The best aspect of striped sweaters is that it doesn’t matter as much what kind of stripes you are wearing, as a sweater is not tightly fitted.

The striped shorts

Get nautical with a pair of striped shorts. Stripes are a bit much for pants, but fortunately shorts don’t contain as much material. Pair it with boat shoes and a cotton tee shirt, and you’ll look like you’ve been relaxing on your private yacht all day.

Stripy accessories

A striped accessory is a perfect way to wear the trend without being too committed. Belts are particularly good, as they are uncommon and subtle but still make your outfit much more interesting. Fedoras, scarves, and even socks can all be improved with stripes.

How not to wear stripes

Too much of a good thing can be awful. Double stripes are never a good idea. It doesn’t matter if the patterns are completely different or perfectly matched; only ever wear one striped item at a time. That includes accessories. You might think that you’re being coordinated by pairing a stripy belt with a stripy shirt, but it rarely looks good.

It’s not a girl color!

Go to any toy store and you’ll spot the girls’ section a mile off from its overwhelming use of pink. Nowadays, pink is often associated with girl children. But did you know that pink was a boys’ color first? Children used to be dressed with no regard to gender, with pink and blue used interchangeably for either sex. By the late 1800s, male and female fashions began to split. There was no agreement on which sex gets pink and which gets blue, but pink was commonly used for male children up until around the 1930s. But by the middle of the twentieth century, pink had somehow become the girls’ color. The tradition of pink being for girls is much less well-established than is often thought. But the real question is; does this make it socially acceptable for men to wear pink?

Be prepared for stupid comments

It’s inevitable that some meathead will come up with a comment about your pink clothing. That doesn’t mean that it’s not okay for you to wear it. It just means that they have very rigid ideas about what people should do. As long as you look good and act like you know it, there’s no reason not to wear pink.

What kind of pink should you wear?

The shade of pink can make all the difference to how bold your look is. While it takes plenty of confidence to don bright pink, consider pastel pink to be the safer alternative. However, not all shades of pink suit everyone. If you have pale skin, stick to light shades of pink if any. Bright colors make you look sickly. If you have tanned or dark skin, you can wear any shade of pink from pastel shades to magenta.

A husky rose pink will suit most skin colors and is in favor this season. It looks good on all manner of garments from canvas shoes to trousers to sweaters.

What to wear it with

When wearing a block colored pink piece, don’t shy away from combining it with patterns. A patterned shirt with rose pink slacks is a modern look that’s stylish without being too flamboyant.
Neutral colors such as bone and tan provide a great basis for any outfit with pink in it. Avoid wearing too many bright, eye-catching colors at once.

Pink for the shy guy

If you’d like to adopt pink into your wardrobe but don’t have the confidence to carry it off, wear it in small doses. In a formal setting, a pink tie can be a classy but eye-catching accessory. Casually, try wearing a pink scarf or hat. Or, you can wear a pink top but conceal most of it by layering. You might want to wear a pink t-shirt underneath a hoodie, or show the collar of a pink shirt through your sweater.

Sleeveless jackets

A jacket is something you wear when you’re cold, while sleeveless garments are worn when you’re hot. One can only presume that the only context in which a sleeveless jacket could be useful is when your torso is freezing but your arms are steaming. Such a situation does not exist in nature. Sleeveless jackets are not so much ugly as a bad idea. They are also unflattering for most men. They draw attention to your upper arms, which is great if you’re overwhelmingly muscular but awful otherwise. The bulkiness of the jacket only adds to this effect, making your arms seem like twigs in comparison.

Floral

Flowery prints have sneaked their way into men’s fashion this year. With the possible exception of floral ties, I’ve yet to encounter an instance where floral looks good. The print has found its way onto all manner of garments including tops, shorts, pants and jackets. While it’s not hard to imagine a floral t-shirt or shirt looking stylish with a pair of fitted jeans and a dark colored jacket, this is not how the trend is being worn. There is never a good time for floral pants- if you must wear floral, restrict it to small garments and accessories.

No socks

Whether the models are wearing sneakers or dress shoes, it seems that designers did not budget for socks. Wearing socks, or not wearing socks, should be a matter of personal preference rather than a style statement. You look best when you’re comfortable, so listen to your feet rather than fashion when it comes to socks. Long socks or the wrong color socks tend to look daggy, but the solution is choosing more appropriate socks rather than eliminating them altogether.

Sportswear

Sporty attire is enjoying its time in the sun. While it is possible to look both stylish and sporty, it is more likely that you will look sloppy. Loose fitting and sports branded garments can be worn in a casual setting, but a line needs to be drawn somewhere. Contrary to this season’s trends, basketball shorts should really be on the wrong side of the aforementioned line.

Keep it skinny

Tightly fitted jeans are your best choice for a double denim outfit. A pair of skinny jeans has much less material than other cuts, so you won’t look like you’re swathed in a denim blanket. If you’re not a fan of skinny jeans, straight cut jeans are also an option.

It’s not a suit

You don’t want to match yourself with exactly the same wash for your jacket and jeans. The double denim look works best when the two pieces are in entirely different shades. The safest way to pull it off is to wear black jeans with a blue denim jacket. It is entirely acceptable for both pieces to be in blue denim, as long as they’re not the same shade of blue. A similar mistake which is just waiting to be made is wearing jeans and a jacket that both have prominent branding. It’s fine if just one of the pieces has its maker emblazoned on it, but both is overkill, particularly if they’re from the same place. When going with the double denim look, it’s best to obtain the jeans and the jacket from two different brands just to introduce a little more variation in your outfit.

Change up your colors

The last thing you need underneath your blue denim jacket is a blue top. You will look like you’re wearing a badly designed uniform, and your outfit will be drab rather than the bold statement it is intended to be. A black or a white top looks sharp and neutral, but you can also introduce other colors into your outfit for a more casual, fun look. Dark colors tend to work best, but what looks good will depend on the denim washes you’ve chosen. Particularly if you are wearing black jeans, there is plenty of room to bring in some color.

Accessorize your double denim

A leather belt is the only essential accessory with jeans, but there’s no reason to stop there. Look snazzy, Michael Jackson style, by pairing a fedora with your double denim outfit. If you’re partial to wearing jewelry, gold or silver chains work especially well with double denim as it is such an ostentatious outfit to start with. A pair of leather oxfords or brogues will finish off the look.

Know when the trend is over

Within a few months, double denim will once again become reminiscent of awful nineties boy bands. Wear the trend while it lasts, but know when to retire the look. The great thing about double denim is that even when the trend is over, you can still continue to wear your denim jacket and your jeans. Just don’t wear them at the same time anymore.

What’s a carrot cuff?

Carrot cuffs refers to a way of cuffing pants, particularly chinos. The fabric is gathered and elasticised around the ankle. However, unlike the much hated female equivalent of harem pants, the pants themselves are fitted rather than billowy. Some carrot cuffs have small zips on the side, these should only be worn unzipped when the shape of your shoes necessitates it.

They’re not track pants

Some track pants have a similarly elasticised ankle to carrot cuffs. However, carrot cuffed pants are a little less sloppy than trackies. If your supposedly carrot cuffed pants are made from fleece or nylon, they are track or sweat pants. Carrot cuffed pants are invariably made from stiffer materials, such as denim or cotton blends.

So your chinos don’t get confused with sweat pants gone wrong, don’t pair them with sporty attire. A basketball vest is rarely a good idea, but when combined with carrot cuffs, you will look like you’re going to the gym but are too stupid to wear pants you’re able to move in. It’s best to steer clear of sports branded clothing for the same reason, with the exception of Converse shoes.

Shoes to wear when you’re carrot cuffing

Being a trend most appropriate for casual wear and usually found on slim-fitting chinos, a pair of canvas shoes goes well with carrot cuffed pants. Dress shoes are too formal to combine with carrot cuffed pants.
You need to pick a slimline style of shoe- a pair of fat Air Force Ones, which normally look good when combined with chinos, do not suit carrot cuffs. As they are tight around the ankle, a pair of shoes which is too thick, particularly if they are high-top, will make your ankles look tiny and fragile.

The rest of your outfit

There isn’t a prescriptive outfit that needs to be worn with carrot cuff pants. Keep your outfit modern and streamlined. Anything that’s too puffy, for example a thick sweater or sneakers as mentioned above, will dwarf your ankles in carrot cuffs. Cardigans go well with carrot cuffs, but they are certainly not your only option for your top half. Anything from a patterned tee shirt to a turtleneck can look good with carrot cuff chinos. Don’t wear too much jewelry as it’s such a casual look.

They make you look short

The drawback to carrot cuffed pants is they cut off your leg line prematurely, making your legs look shorter than they are. By extension, the rest of you looks short as well. Some carrot cuff pants have a lowered crotch, making you look even shorter. If you’re an exceptionally short guy, carrot cuffs are not for you.

Trench coats

A heavy duty coat that will keep you toasty warm, there is a trench coat to suit every man. Double breasted trench coats give you an imposing figure and look more stylish than single breasted. Plenty of buttons- many of which are ornamental only- are one of the defining and eye-catching features of a good trench. They usually have a belt around the middle, but it’s up to you whether or not to wear your coat belted.

Trenches are long, sitting a few inches above the knees. However if you’re short, you’ll look ridiculous in a long coat. The longest you can go without looking like a kid playing dress-ups is mid-thigh length.

Trench coats were pioneered by Burberry, which still has a great range today. However there are plenty of more affordable options- just make sure that whatever you get fits well.

The beauty of a trench coat lies in its versatility- you can wear it over almost any outfit, from office wear to casual. Every man should own one.

Sport coats

A sturdy sport coat has the sophistication of a tailored blazer but the durability you need for wet weather. Sport coats are a little too smart looking to have a hood, so are best suited to overcast days when it’s not bucketing down. Pair one with straight cut jeans and a turtleneck top to look stylish when the weather is against you. Accessorise with a scarf and gloves for the finishing touches.

Bomber jackets

Bomber jackets are the perfect fit for guys of a smaller build. As they stop at the hip, they won’t make you look short; and the extra bulk they add to your torso won’t go astray either. Plenty of bomber jackets are actually waterproof, and they’re sufficiently warm, so a quality bomber jacket makes for a versatile trans-seasonal piece.

Rain jacket

One part functional and zero parts fashionable, rain jackets should be reserved for when you really need them. An abundance of drawstrings and pockets can never look good. If you’re really keen on them, a plasticy mac can be cool in a retro way- perhaps the best way to wear one is by choosing the shiniest, brightest yellow one you can find. At least that way you are in on the joke.

Get the fit right

A raincoat is meant to go over your entire outfit, on a cold day. That means it has to sit well over multiple, thick layers. It shouldn’t be a snug fit on your bare skin. Look for coats with plenty of give around the shoulders and under the arms, or you’ll look like a marshmallow in a coat too small to accommodate you and your heavy sweater under it.

Why velvet?

A wholly impractical material, you may well wonder why velvet is being suggested as an addition to your wardrobe. It doesn’t breathe well, it’s heavy, it looks disgusting if you spill anything on it and it’s expensive. Despite the drawbacks, velvet is one of those luxurious materials that you can’t help but fall in love with. The smooth texture is sexier than other heavy materials, and it just oozes royal connotations. Velvet is high maintenance, but if you can carry it off you’ll be onto a style winner.

Not just for winter

As it is a heavy material that doesn’t breathe well, heavy velvet pieces such as blazers are best suited to cooler weather. However, you can bring touches of velvet to your outfit almost all year round. A velvet bowtie or velvet boots is more appropriate to the warmer months. Velvet bowties are possibly one of the best uses of velvet; they have plenty of personality you don’t run the risk of looking lame rather than stylish.

The velvet jacket

The most versatile velvet piece you can own, a velvet jacket is a must for any fashionable guy who wants to deviate slightly out from mainstream fashion. A velvet jacket in a classic color such as burgundy or navy blue is a classy but different piece best paired with formal attire such as dress shoes, fitted slacks and a bowtie or tie. For a slightly more casual look, wear it with a scarf and you’ll look hot during cold weather.
If you want to experiment with velvet but aren’t prepared to make the jump and don a velvet blazer, try wearing a jacket in a different material with velvet accents. Velvet lapels lend a touch of class to any blazer and can easily be worn in a formal or casual setting.

The velvet suit

For the truly fashionably bold, a velvet suit is an out-there statement. Wearing velvet pants is a brave enough move on its own, but combining it with a velvet suit jacket is something else. Wear a velvet suit to formal events, where you will look stylish rather than ridiculous. Combine it with a sprinkling of gold or silver jewelry, but don’t go laden down with so much bling that you look like you think you’re a pimp.

When velvet goes wrong

Velvet was big in the seventies, a time not known for its aesthetic appeal. You don’t want to look like you’re taking far too much inspiration from the retro era. To that end, any velvet in burnt orange or bright blue should never be worn (with the possible exception of going to a seventies themed costume party). Also, don’t pair velvet with other seventies themed items, such as bellbottoms or a handlebar moustache.