Saturday, May 15, 2010

For Men... Fashion on a Budget.. or 'Booojay'


I have been neglecting men lately.. you know on the blog ;)
So here is a a few tips on Dressing for less... (These tips can actually be used for both Men & Women!) Dressing well doesn't have to mean spending a fortune. It's about combining old-school know-how (Yeah, you better have a skilled tailor) with the realization that there are now more affordable style-centric stores than ever. Here's where—and how—to shop, the items you should always buy for less, and the 10 rules that will make you a better-dressed, more cost-conscious man..

1. Taste is more important than money.

2. That's not to say you shouldn't invest in your clothes. But men with real style know when to splurge—and where to save.

3. Start at the best of the low-cost, high-style stores.
Big-name shops like H&M, J.Crew, and Uniqlo have never been so packed with legitimately cool stuff for men. But remember: Wear these labels
your way; it's all about how you mix, match, and style the clothes.

4. Beware of overpriced Sample Sales.
These fashion-showroom free-for-alls are a great place to spy pretty women half undressed. wooo-hoo! But if you buy some high-fashion leftover at 70% off and you never end up wearing it, you're not actually saving money. You're wasting it.
Unless you get a hell of a deal and you actually love the brand... then your money was put in the right place!

5. Speaking of sales, learn to navigate the outlet mall.
If you follow the money, it's clear that more shoppers than ever have become hip to the factory-outlet mall. At the end of 2009, U.S. outlet sales totaled $20 billion! Learn to Dig my friend!

6. Sometimes improving your look doesn't require buying anything new at all. It's about taking care of what's already in your closet. Clean out, re-organize, and you never know what is hidden in there that you haven't worn in 8 months... a new outfit!

7. Buy vintage without losing your shirt.

1. No matter how cool and cheap that leather jacket might be, if it's too big, don't buy it.

2. Certain brands increase in value as they age: Classic-era Levi's, Vuarnet, old-school Nike, supply-store-era Abercrombie & Fitch, and The North Face.

3. Unless you play in Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (and like wearing your trousers up by your belly button), think twice about those cool sharkskin suits from the '50s and '60s.

4. If it looks too stained to wear off the rack, don't buy it. Rather than making that splotch of RagĂș sauce from 1978 disappear, dry cleaning usually destroys the garment at the point of the stain.
5. Leather boots, flannels, and dress shirts with monogrammed initials (that aren't yours) are all excellent candidates for vintage. Western-style shirts, however, should be left behind. They're always cut long, to be tucked in. But these days, the only guys who tuck in western shirts are professional bull riders.

8. Shopping online can be a time- suck. Know where the deals are.

Start by signing up for GiltMan.com!

9.World of Bargains: Your Local Army-Navy Store

10. There's a whole year of savings out there. Learn when to take advantage.
The difference between paying full price and half-off all depends on when you walk into a store. You could be talking about a nationwide chain like Saks or a cool-kid emporium like Ron Herman in L.A. Hit sales right when they start and you can snag the best gear before it's off the shelves




















1 comment:

Sofia Nolan said...

my motto regarding fashion, style, whatever is that the most beautiful outfit anybody can ever wear is confidence :)