I’ve become quite interested in fashion and menswear over the last several months. It’s been fun building a wardrobe, and trying to find my style, while also enjoying the thrill of the hunt when it comes to clothes shopping. While I have no clue what I’m doing, or really how to dress myself, and while I am in no position to be giving anyone fashion tips or advice, here are some of the “rules” I’m beginning to follow. Note that these points apply to me and me only, and if they’re considered wrong in the fashion world, well then I’m a raging idiot. Is this arrogant of me? Probably. Whatever. Here you go:

• The end of your tie should never pass or be short of the waist of your pants.
• Tie bars go between the third and fourth buttons of a shirt. I saw a dude on tv with one clipped at the bottom of the tie and I nearly lost my marbles.
• With a few exceptions, your tie should be darker than your shirt.
• Tuck your shirt in, you turkey. Though sometimes, like with a soft-denim oxford, or when it’s underneath a pull-over, you can work the un-tucked look. Personally I can only do un-tucked when it’s a denim shirt with a lighter pant, like a tan chino.
• Cardigans are the best item of clothing one can buy. Important tip though, never button that shit all the way; leave either the top button or the bottom button undone only. 
• Stacy Adams’ Madison cap-toe boot is the single greatest piece of footwear I’ve ever purchased. Squeaky as hell though.
• Try rolling up the cuffs of your pants a little. Show off some boot fer Pete’s sake.
• Checker patterned shirts with checker patterned ties is like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters. It’s hard to find a tie to work with a tight plaid or checkered patterned shirt. Try a knit textured  tie, or a small dot pattern tie.
• Embrace the bow tie. It takes some balls to wear one in public sometimes, but every single time I have it’s been met with a compliment. Although they’re hard to find, and while the clip-on style is still great, learn to actually tie one. It’s fun.
• Black suits are for weddings, funerals, and award shows. Try out a blue or a charcoal-grey if you want a dark look. 
• Add some darn color to your attire. Try and find one thing that pops. It could be shoelaces even. My good friend - the one that got me into style in the first place - wears bright blue laces with brown boots, and he looks like the king of Hotawesomeville, population: your face.
• Layer. Layer. Layer. Fool around with undershirts and socks, find something practical that also compliments the rest of your look. Instead of a tie, rock an unbuttoned white henley under a soft denim shirt. Or throw a white long-sleeved thermal under a cardigan to mix it up.
• Go nuts on socks. Stop being so boring with the socks, and kick it (pun fully intended). The best pair I own have this wild American flag print, and they’re always awesome. Sometimes they just peek out and scream fuck you, I did this.
• Go textured. Silk shirts with a shitty shiny sheen are simply shitty.
• Fit is almost everything. You could have an awesome outfit, but if the fit is off, not only does the outfit look like balls-ass, it makes your body look like poo-balls. Go snug with the pants and wear them higher.
• Try wearing a scarf differently. Not that wrapping it around your neck like a mummy is bad… necessarily… but there’s so many different ways. I prefer the parisian knot. 
• Blazers are awesome and look great with jeans. I would never button one further than the top button. For real.
• I’ve yet to find an outfit that worked with a black oxford shirt.
• Purchase any and every item I come across from Penguin.
• Lastly, and for the love of all that is holy, put those denim shorts down. 

That’s all I got for now. 

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3. pickledpennies reblogged this from rferrier and added:

   Okay so this is the best thing ever

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6. gingerbowtie reblogged this from rferrier and added:

   Perfection. I could not say it better myself. The only thing I would add would be to be adventurous. That combination...

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