Black Or Brown Is Not A Black-Or-White Matter

I didn't really want to do back-to-back shoes posts but I think a lot of guys will find this little chart very helpful in deciding to wear black or brown dress shoes with different suit colours.

As a sidenote, I also love the shoes in this pic ... so simple and classy (unlike the ones in the post below).

Photo courtesy of Esquire

My Thoughts On Ugly Shoes

There are few things I hate more than ugly footwear. They are so painful to look at. And in the last few years we have had more than our fair share of them thanks to the growing popularity of brands like Crocs, Birkenstock (in the summer) and Uggs (in the winter) primarily among the North American consumers. I mean I get that they might be comfortable or whatever but sometimes it's worth it to scarify a little comfort for looking presentable in public. Comfort is a such an over-rated concept in North America.

My point of view is that you shouldn't be wearing Crocs if you are over 6 years of age and despite what some people might think, tucking your sweats into a pair of Uggs and putting on some lipsticks does NOT make you a stylish person - not even close!

Photos courtesy of NYmag

The Raw Denim Path

Jeans is probably one of the most popular and yet most difficult to buy items of clothing in most people's wardrobe. After a sad period of time in the late 1990s - early 2000s where people went all ridiculous with their falling-to-pieces ripped and over-designed jeans (Rock & Republic: I am talking to you!), the raw denim trend was a welcoming change where jeans return to their basic roots.

I personally have many pairs of jeans but only a few of them get worn very often. My favourite is still the raw denim Nudie Slim Jim I purchased 2 years ago. They are of great quality Japanese denim and have soften over time as they get worn. Other than Nudie, I also have tried Dr. Denim, Cheap Monday, Naked and Famous but none has fitted me as nicely as Nudie does.

Whatever brand of raw denim you buy though, there are few key things to remember. I came across this guide here that would be of great help if you want to get the most out of your raw denim. Give it a try and whatever you do, try to hold off from washing in the first 6 months (I was able to exceeded 6 months before my first wash - Don't judge me!).

Photo courtesy of ssense.com

A Lesson On Customer Service From Land's End

In case you haven't heard, Canvas is Lands' End's higher-end line. It has great classic and timeless casual clothes with a slimmer and slicker fit compared to their regular line. I recently put in an order for 2 button Heritage Poplin shirts. The shirts were of great quality but a little too big on me, so I passed them on to a friend who loves them.

I came home today to find this handwritten Thank-You note from Land's End in my mailbox complimenting my choice of items and asking how I like them. It's so wonderful, old-school and unexpected. I mean who handwrites Thank-You notes anymore? I have shopped at much higher-end stores and never got this kind of service before. This is customer service at its best. Amazing!

Classics Every Man Should Have

As a lot my friends are making the transition from the student to professional lifestyle, many have asked me about what to buy if they like to take that first step in upgrading their wardrobe. So if you are one of those people who like swap your Abercrombie/American Eagle polos and sweatshirts (no judgement - I used to wear them too) for a more professional and classic look, I got a simple solution to you.

Step 1: Print out this list below.

Step 2: Set a budget. This will dictate the brands and quality you will be looking at and buying. Remember you don't have to spend a lot of money right away. You can always upgrade these to ones of better quality and higher price points later.

Step 3: Know your SIZE. This might be the most important thing to watch out for. If you get the fit wrong, you might as well flush your money down the toilet.

Step 4: Buy EVERYTHING on this list unless you have them already.

You can also make slight modifications to better reflect your personal style and body shape as long as you know what you are doing. For example, I would probably go for slim fit jeans instead of straight legs, solid colour polos instead of stripe ones, etc.

Happy Shopping!

Photos courtesy of Details Men's Style Manual, Daniel Peres