2010 MEN'S STYLE GUIDE

Admit it: You've got your fair share of oversized, outdated fashion relics gathering dust in the far recesses of your closet. It's time to weed out the old and ring in the new—and this month's Men's Style Guide can help. Our latest installment examines 'The New Standards'—those hard-working essentials that form the backbone of every guy's 21st-century wardrobe. Think your bases are covered? Before assuming you're totally up to date, you'd better measure your ties, check your denim, and take a second look at how your suit fits. We cover all this and more, with in-depth tips on seven style staples for work, weekend and beyond.

While you're there, check out other Men's Style Guide features, too-- that pinpoints your style type and suggests clothes tailored to your taste.

For 2010, resolve to reevaluate your wardrobe. Here are the pieces every new-millennium man needs—plus tips on exactly how they should fit:

DARK KNIGHT. 
Ditch your baggy, dated dad jeans. One clean-cut pair in dark blue will take you to work, weekend and beyond. Want to branch out? Try versatile neutrals like black, grey and white. My favorites: Buffalo by David Bitton, Straight Leg Jeans, Dresdon, $220. (Washed and whiskered for the look and feel of an old favorite, these Buffalo Jeans are a must-have look for a modern guy.)

JACK-ET OF ALL TRADES. 
One coat can keep you dry 24/7—from morning commute, to night out, to busy weekend. Find one that fuses function with fashion, complementing your look rather than covering it up. My favorite: G-Star Raw Outdoor Copeland Quilted Jacket, $160. (Multidirectional quilting emphasizes the slim fit of a stand-collar jacket with long, smooth sleeves. Embroidered logo details the color-blocked shoulders.)

MODERN MAN. 
Your new suit's narrower lapels, shorter jacket and flat-front trousers all work together to make you look taller and slimmer—no matter your shape or size. My favorites: Ralph Lauren Suit, Grey Herringbone, $350. (Expert tailoring and flawless attention to detail makes this well-constructed look from Lauren Ralph Lauren a great addition to your polished wardrobe.)

DRESS SHIRT WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS.
That billowy wad of fabric that balloons out the back of your pants? Put it behind you with shirts that actually fit. Streamlined but not skin-tight, they accentuate the positive on every guy's frame. My favorite: Thomas Pink Slim Fit Dress Shirt, $195. (Pink stripes on a black background distinguish a straight-collar shirt crafted in the tradition of classic British shirt-making. Contoured panels on each side perfect the slim fit.)

NARROW MINDED.

Today's universally accepted neckwear is not too fat, not too skinny, but a happy medium that syncs up nicely with slim suit lapels and smaller shirt collars. My favorite: Burberry Woven Silk Tie, $150. (Oversized check patterns an Italian-crafted tie with a modern, narrow width.)

STRAIGHT FORWARD.
With a new, sleeker fit, cotton khakis are no longer confined to casual Friday. They now look, feel and function more like high-minded jeans you can dress up or down. My favorite: BOSS Black 'Cagan' Flat Front Trouser, $155. (Subtly textured wool trousers cut with a hint of stretch offer a modern aesthetic.)

CASUAL KING.

Show some style initiative—even on the weekend. With a few low-key, fitted shirts on-hand, you'll look effortlessly with-it, whether you're headed to the art museum or the hardware store. My favorite: 7 Diamonds Zip Pocket Plaid Shirt, $99. (A horizontal zipper above one of the snap-flap chest pockets modernizes a spread-collar shirt patterned in classic plaid.)


   
       

THE MEN'S STYLE COMMANDMENTS

Here are several style tips that will help you earn the "best dressed" status symbol. There are some of the "commandments" for men's fashion to achieve this look:

1. Honor thy tailor. According to GQ, even the best suits need altering. In men's fashion this is probably the most important detail that is not always adhered to. Pants need to be shortened, jackets need to be brought in, sleeves need to be narrowed (yes, you can ask your tailor to slim down your sleeves), and buttons need to be realigned with buttonholes (most guys' shoulders aren't entirely even, meaning your jacket often sits a bit askew).

If you're going to buy off the rack, you should always buy your correct size, then have a tailor customize it to your body. GQ says that the chances are you're wearing your suit a size too large. Its shoulders should hug your shoulders (not jut out past them). Also, have your tailor size the sleeves so they stop at the hinge of your wrist (not halfway down your thumb) and to size the pants so they break once (not gather in a baggy mess at your heels). Having your tailor properly fit your suit is the difference between being appropriately dressed and being stylishly dressed.

Custom tailored suits and even dress shirts are another option. Custom tailoring means that everything will fit right - and if you need to have a lot of alterations done on ready-made clothes, it may be an economical alternative.

2. Thou shalt learn when to cuff 'em. If you're wearing a trim, modern suit with flat-front pants—the kind often shown in men's fashion magazines—you should not cuff your pants. However, if you're a guy who likes a classic suit with a single pleat, go for a cuff—but not more than one and a half inches deep.

3. Thou shalt match your socks with your suit. Another must in men's fashion. When choosing socks, the basic rule is to consider the suit instead of the shoe—in other words, if you're wearing a navy suit with black shoes, reach for navy socks. And when wearing a light suit, make sure the socks are darker than the suit but a shade or so lighter than the shoes.

4. Thou shalt not wear a tie that is too slim. Unless you're a hard-core men's fashion guy who favors a superskinny tie, stick with one that measures about three inches at its widest point. It will be narrower than traditional ties, but not by too much. Tie one on and you'll look modern and sophisticated. We assume that's the look you want to achieve!

5. Remember thy undershirt. This one's an interesting and tricky men's fashion tip. If you're wearing a conventional white broadcloth dress shirt (which means it's fairly see-through), you have two options: Skip the undershirt and you'll look clean and stylish. Or, if you're a hairy guy who perspires a lot and you feel safer in an undershirt, wear a crewneck. The lines of a V-neck or tank top will be visible beneath your shirt and tie and you'll look cheesy. GQ suggest that if you prefer a V-neck or tank top, you might consider other dress shirts. Go for ones with checks or stripes, which make an undershirt less visible. Or opt for hardier fabrics, like an oxford cloth, which make undershirts all but invisible.

6. Thou shalt put your wallet on a diet. Your wallet should not be as fat as a burrito. In fact, GQ says that you should get rid of your wallet and you should trash all the receipts, video cards, that's stuffed into it. Buy an elegant, slim leather credit card holder and stock it with your essential cards. Then, fold your cash in a money clip. All that other nonsense can go in your desk drawer. You don't need it.

7. Thou shalt wear brown shoes—with nearly everything. Black dress shoes are easy—they're understated and tasteful. In men's fashion, the GQ experts say that brown dress shoes up the style factor. People notice them. They go best with gray, khaki, or navy. Dark brown shoes are easier to pull off than light brown ones.

Other men's fashion tips worth noting are: • Buy a two-button suit. It will give you a slimmer, more streamlined look, and it will better show off your shirt and tie. According to the fashion experts, the days of three-button dominance are over.

• Put toe taps on your leather-soled dress shoes. They will significantly increase the shoes' life span.

• If you're going to own one sweater, make it a charcoal gray v-neck. It goes perfectly with a dark suit in fall or winter and with jeans or cords in spring.

• A black J.M. Weston belt works with khakis, jeans, suits, everything. It is the one belt every man should own.

• A dark, slim tie will instantly give any ensemble a younger, cooler feel. And unlike wider ties, it looks as good with a jean jacket as with a suit jacket.

• And, the last men's fashion tip is: Invest in a classic one- or two-button tuxedo with peak or notch lapels. It makes no sense (stylistically or fiscally) to rent a tuxedo each time you attend a black-tie event.

FASHION REWIND: AMA STYLE 2009

Los Angeles, CA Combination of sequins, shiny fabric, and vamp- OH MY! The American Music Awards had some big fashion chart toppers and some definite one-hit wonders. Who was the Best Dressed? Which male celeb strutted their style? Who needs to fire their stylist? Which female celeb should've taken another glimpse in the mirror?

Here are the 5 STYLISH SONGBIRDS:

1.BOOM. BOOM. POW. The always-sexy Fergie shines in Armani Prive black sparkly dress. Showing off her killer body, this dress hugged every single sensational curve. She definitely went more than halfway for this chic-look.

2. ORIGAMI-MAMI. RiRi made her triumphant debut to the AMA's since her horrific night Grammy weekend and she was STUNNING in Marchesa right off the runway. The intricate details and contrasting black and white colors are right on trend for 2010. Kudos to her style team!

3. RIGHT ON KEYS. Alicia Keys looked fresh, clean, and posh in a colorful Armani Prive cocktail dress on the red carpet. Alicia always knows how to pull off a sexy look with a New York state of mind--- did you see those killer heels??

4. ALWAYS THE YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN. NeYo knows how to dress. He always pulls the look together with such style and swagger. Grey suit is a must have this season MEN! Dapper to the extreme, he knows how to work the contrasting colors in his accessories too.

5. FASHION IDOL. Known for his typical over the top wardrobe choices, but at the AMA's American Idol alum, Adam Lambert kept it clean, polished, and perfect in a slim-fit suit with white dress shirt and black skinny tie. Classic and timeless, with Lambert's makeup and hair it has a rock'n'roll flair!











Ok, and now for the FASH-tastrophes, . . .the Wow! Why! Whoa! Whoops! And What were they thinking?

WOW. AERO-NO NO. Joe Perry may be able to hit some high notes on his guitar, but this Aerosmith bandmate looks like he got fashion advice from tenants of LA's SkidRow district. We love Joe's dress shirt, scarf and skinny jeans that we are use to, but the mixed textures look sloppy!

WHY. WON'T BE BETTER IN TIME. The usually lovely Leona Lewis hit a wrong fashion note at Sunday's AMA's, The black pointed bra-top cocktail dress was OMG-ami all wrong! The girl with the golden voice, has a great figure, would've loved to see her in a simple silhouette to show off her golden figure.

WHOA. SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE (must have been written about her STYLIST leaving her,) American Idol sweetheart, Kelly Clarkson usually looks phenomenal on the carpet with a cute and sweet ensemble. This time, it looks like Kelly was decorating a lil too early for Christmas. Sequins are in, but sparse Christmas colors on a black dress that isn't flattering is SOOO OUT!

WHOOPS. FASHION FALL OUT. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wenz continues to wear the same clothes over and over again. Someone call a stylist quick, haven't we seen this all black ensemble before? Is that a black straight jacket? Maybe his love life is in mourning, but his wardrobe should have a lil more pizazz, we've seen you dress better, Pete!

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING? WHENEVER. WHEREVER. WHATEVER. Latin hottie Shakira has made two fashion violations this year and we are so sad. First at the MTV VMA's when her and Pink decided to go as Twins for Halloween a lil early (wearing the same dress at an event- FASHION NO NO!) and then wearing this YELLOW minidress to the AMA's. Not sure if she tried to go so extreme that she could guarantee no one else would show up wearing it (because it's just not that fabulous, sorry!).