All You Need: Master Interchangeability

 If selected carefully a man with only 2 suits, 4 dress shirts, 4 ties, and 2 pairs of shoes has 64 different combinations at his disposal (2×4x4×2=64 ). The key here is making sure your clothing is interchangeable; a core of classic colored suits and dress shirts complimented with time tested tie patterns will yield a higher return on investment than any trendy garment that only matches one other item in your wardrobe (Read More Here).

Via Artofmanliness.com

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Brand Loyalty: Polo Loco

Music producer 88-Keys crazy obsession with Ralph Lauren Polo.  Switch it up and check out some lessor known logos here.  Our if you are strictly a 'Lo Head, here's how you can get them for cheap.

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The Military Canvas Belt

Nice article spotted on ValetMag.com on the canvas military belt.  Why pay $60 bucks or more for some fancy designers version when you can get the original for $2.95 (here).  Military belts are also mentioned in GQ's 25 Rules to Dressing on a Budget listed (here).  I'll be making a trip to my local Army/Navy Surplus soon, I'll post what I find.

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That No-Sock Look

I recently tried the shoes with no socks look with my boat shoes and chinos and while I prefer the look the Sunshine state heat poses a problem: foot perspiration. It's almost bad hygiene attempting to pull off this look here. The best solution: The Loafer Sock - no show socks which give that barefoot appearance, cut perfectly for boat shoes and loafers. The problem with some of the loafer socks is that they look like ballerina shoes. The so-called men's loafer socks from well respected brand Gold Toe (shown below) is an example.

I recently ordered a couple of pair from Banana Reublic who make an acceptable looking loafer sock and not just a liner (2 pair for $14 in black or white) making this the best way to pull off the look and avoid looking like this.  Update: Mocc Sock & Co., is another great alternative.

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Miami Thrifting

 Here are the best of my finds from my trip last month to Miami.  Even thought I went to like 4 Salvation Armys, 3 Goodwills and 3 other local thrift spots one called Out of the Closet, and another called Douglas Thrift (Pictured Below) I didn't really clean up.  It just wasn't my day but below is what I got for under $20!

 Douglas Thrift, Miami

Levis 514's, and Brooks Brothers Polo,

Calvin Klein Shirt, Yet Another Christian Dior Tie.

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How and When to Wear the Short-Sleeved Button-Up

If you're like me you haven't quite mastered the Short Sleeved Button-Up Shirt.  The DC Image consultants at Image Granted (featured on CNN and in Time Magazine) answer all questions regarding the when and how on this topic in the post The Long & Short of It All.  Here are the highlights:

The short sleeve shirt has its place in a man's wardrobe.  It is a variation of its long sleeve brother who is the gold standard we are familiar with.  However, its usability is vastly different.  The majority of short sleeve shirts are designed for sport and play while the majority of long sleeve shirts are designed for work. If you're attending a BBQ, hanging out at the beach, or running errands on the weekend, by all means wear a short sleeve shirt and go about your merry way.

However, if you find your yourself behind a desk at work; your job title includes manager, supervisor, lead, CEO; or if you find yourself at restaurants with white table cloths, then you'll just look like a putz in short sleeve shirt.  The garment is inherently casual and sporty and should stay that way.

If you've decided to take the plunge and drop a few stones on a couple good short sleeve shirts you best know how and when to wear them. If the bottom of the shirt is curved it usually should be tucked in, but due to the relaxed nature of the shirt this is left up to the wearer.  Flat bottomed shirts are designed to be untucked.  If you leave it untucked it should not cover your bottom like a long sleeve shirt.  Similar to polo shirts the sleeves should hit mid bicep and while they should show off your arms they shouldn't be tight.  The collar can be regular turn down or button down.  Most short sleeve shirts will come without collar stays which lends itself to the casual wearer even further and they can have a pocket or no pocket with  a short placket or long.  Throw one on in gingham, plaid, or solid in cotton, chambray or linen with your chino shorts, boat shoes, straw fedora and aviator sunglasses and you're good to go.

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Fresh: Common Promoting 'Just Wright ' in Mister Cartoon Dunks

Rapper/Actor Common casually dapper with the black leather and the limited edition Mister Cartoon X Nike Dunk High AC designed by tattoo artist Mister Cartoon.

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4 Ways to Wear a Trench Coat

Mens Health magazine delivers 4 Fresh (sorry Humphrey) ways to wear a Trench Coat, check it out (here).  Click here for off-season sales on eBay!

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$25 Shopping Spree Lite: My Latest Finds

I cleaned up again this week at a 50% sale at Sunshine Thrift 3 Button-Ups, a Sweater, a pair of Jeans and a Polo for about $25...I may never go to the mall again!

Top to Bottom: Gap Shirt $2, Haggar Shirt $4.50, Yves Saint Laurent Shirt $2.

Express Sweater $1.50

 

Citizens for Humanity Jeans $4

Burberry Polo $12

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How to Choose a Tie

How To Find a Matching Tie For Your Suit on Howcast

• Combine Patterns with Solids.
• Pinstripe suits with Plan ties.
• Combine suits/ties with small Patterns with ties or suits with larger Patterns.
• Plain shirts with Patterned suits and ties.
• Patterned shirts with Plain suits and ties.
• For a challenge, wear Striped shirts with color-coordinating Paisley, Dots, or Box-patterned ties.

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The Beginner's Guide to Thrifting

Nice comprehensive Thrifting Guide from SethBrundle covering everything from being patient to sanitation.  Check out the post (here).

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The Sharpest PG in the Game Also Buys Used

Excerpt from the Baron Davis interview by GQ in the current issue. He made $12,150,000 this season and he still buys second hand and doesn't use a stylist like Wade, Melo, Kobe (Must Click!) and LeBrick.

The vintage route "Accessories are where you really get to present your creative spirit. I'm into hats, shoes, ties, scarves, and pocket squares. All that. I go to a lot of antique stores when I'm on the road just to find hidden gems."

Read More (here).

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What to Expect at the Tailor

Recently I made my first trip to the tailor, thinking it probably would be cheaper to get some ill-fitting pants (and 1 shirt) altered instead of buying new pairs of pants.

So I have 3 pairs of pants and a dress shirt to the tailor, try everything on let the tailor now what I wanted. When my total was tallied it came to $140! Granted I had a lot of alternations but I was still shocked, I thought I was being hustled.

Here's the Breakdown of the Alternations that I wanted and the cost:

Dress Shirt

Sleeves Narrowed/Tapered - $18

Sleeves Length/Taken up - $12

Pants #1

Waist Taken In - $13

Pants Hemmed/No Break - $12

Pants #2

Waist Taken In - $13

Pants Hemmed/No Break - $12

Pants Narrowed/Tapered - $16

Pants #3

Waist Taken In - $13

Pants Hemmed/No Break - $12

Pants Narrowed/Tapered - $16

Well I ended up getting alternations on Pant#1 (before and after pictures to come) and upon further review the tailor wasn't a hustler.  Using my recent experience, GQ, and other sources I compiled a pay scale with no wide price ranges but an average cost for several common alternations.

Jacket

Sleeves Narrowed $18

Jacket Sides Taken in $26

Shirts

Sides Narrowed/Tapered $16

Sleeves Narrowed $16

Pants

Hem Shortened $11

Pants $15

Waist $14

Turn Around time is about 5 days.

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