A: You’re in luck–you don’t need to spend a lot in order to look more mature.  In fact, you can often replicate a designer look at generic prices.  To me, the spirit of “young but mature” rests in taking staples of a man’s wardrobe and putting a contemporary twist on them.  The most common outfit you will see that captures this spirit is the classic t-shirt under the blazer look.  You may also see some guys pushing up the sleeves on blazers.  As for your specific question…

Pants: Ditch the cargo pants.  Those bulky pockets are just a bit too high school.  Instead, try some well-cut khakis in a lighter color.  They’re worth the investment.  I would look into a designer called Save Khaki; I like their cut and casualness. If you’re in New York, you can go to their boutique; otherwise you can find them at online at Barney’s Co-op, Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.  And if its prep you want, look no further than a pair of Nantucket Reds; these classics are the very definition of East coast prep.  You can also try Ralph Lauren or J. Crew, which always has some good chinos (and of course, their classic chambray shirt).  Or, if you want something new, you can explore Gant’s Rugger line.  And while we’re on the subject of pants, don’t be afraid to try jeans that aren’t blue.  Grey jeans look great.
   
Shorts: For those hot days, look into some clean cut Bermuda shorts; they’re like cargo pants without the bulky pockets.  Nantucket Reds can be pretty stylish, as seen on Michael Bastian (pictured top right). Also check out what Banana Republic has to offer.  Style tip?  Properly fitting shorts do not fall below the knee.

Tops: You can stick to polo shirts, but I have a feeling that if you look around, every 3rd guy will be sporting a polo.  How to differentiate yourself from these other guys?  Look for polos that deviate from the common styles and brands.  Try investing in some interesting buttondowns; they’ll come in handy for dates too.  Solids and stripes are always a safe bet, but if you feel like being bold, try some checks or plaid.  Whatever you do, leave the collar down; a polo with a popped color isn’t preppy, it’s pretentious.

Shoes: Don’t bash yourself too hard about wearing slip on Vans; they’re actually coming back in style.  Also, classics such as Jack Purcells probably won’t go out of style any time soon, so don’t worry about wearing sneakers every now and then.  You can find some alternatively preppy shoes without breaking the bank though: try some Sperry Top-Sider or L.L. Bean boat shoes.

Blazers/Suits: Also, now that you’re in college, it’s time to look into blazers and possibly a suit if you don’t have one.  You’ll definitely need a well-cut suit for your job interview, so it’s only a matter of time.  For about $500, you can get some pretty good suits at Banana Republic.

You could always try the plain t-shirt under the blazer (or layered tees), but you can take the outfit up a notch by layering a fitted polo shirt over a t-shirt.  Bonus points for a brightly colored tee–we love the splash of color this creates at the neckline. 

Wrinkle Test: A quick way to test the quality of the wool from the suit is to grab the cuff of a pant leg and firmly squeeze.  That’s right: I’m telling you to purposely try to wrinkle the wool.  If, after a minute or so, the wool remains wrinkled after you release the pant leg, we recommend you move on to a better quality wool suit.

This wrinkle test becomes important after a day at the office, during which you sit at your desk, elbows – and jacket – bent.  To all of the investment bankers out there: You may have stayed at the office overnight, but you don’t have to look like it.  Get a suit that passes the wrinkle test. Disclaimer: If you just throw your suit on your bedroom floor, even the best ones will become wrinkled.

Canvas Test: Between the exterior cloth and the lining of the jacket, every proper suit has a layer of cloth called a canvas.  High quality suits will have this canvas hand-sewn into the jacket.  Lesser quality jackets use a process called fusing, in which the lining is, essentially, glued to the jacket.  The canvas is entirely hidden, and you cannot see it unless you literally rip the jacket open.  Some designers will tell you that there are new innovations in fusing that make the fused jacket just as good as hand-stitched ones, but I’m not entirely sure if I believe them.  A jacket with a canvas will fit better, especially across the chest.  Plus, the canvas also gives the lapel its roll.  

A: Even though aftershave and cologne can smell the same, they’re two very different products.  Aftershave is meant to condition the skin after shaving, so while it is scented, it contains conditioners to heal your skin after a close shave.  Cologne, on the other hand, is purely for fragrance.  As such, cologne has a much stronger, longer-lasting scent than aftershave.

How much is too much?  While you can splash your face with aftershave, your coworkers will be able to smell you from across the office if you do so with cologne.  Cologne is best applied in small quantities—a dab here and a dab there is enough.

Picking a scent is really a personal process.  We would recommend going scent “window shopping” first to familiarize yourself with the variety of scents out there.    Spray the fragrance on the paper cards provided at the store—that way, you’ll be able to distinguish between the colognes.  (Plus, you’ll keep your wrists and arms scent-free.)  Give your nose a break in between sniffing each fragrance.  And take your time—the process of elimination to find the perfect scent doesn’t need to be done in a day.  

So if you want to stand out from the crowd, wear flannel–but do it right.  Here’s how:

Find a Great Flannel Shirt:
First off, you need to find a flannel shirt.  Well-made flannel shirts aren’t the floppy and flimsy pieces that you probably saw in the 90’s.  No, they have lines and form a great shoulder.  And while I said they aren’t floppy; I didn’t say they aren’t soft.  Here are three of the best flannel shirts

Steven Alan “SA Work Shirt” | $178 at Steven Alan
I really like this shirt in Red/Green (use the "choose a style" dropdown to view).  Bold and colorful, it’s slim fitting and has a great shoulder.  It also has a hint of rugged outdoorsman sex appeal.  The picture doesn’t quite do it justice.  Also be sure to check it out in White/Navy.

Cassette Flannel Shirt | $253 at Revolve Clothing
A little pricey, to be sure, but very stylish.  It has a hint of West Coast/Southern California fashion, but it doesn’t obnoxiously scream “Los Angeles” like those Ed Hardy graphic Ts do.  The slightly faded pattern gives it a worn-in (in a good way, like a pair of jeans) vibe. 

 Craft an Outfit around the Flannel Shirt
As always, fit is going to be key here.  If the shirt is big on you, it will look very sloppy.  Too small, and you’ll give off an emo rocker vibe.

Since these patterns are so bold, you want to let it be the focus of your outfit.  Whatever else you wear, make sure it’s subtle and, preferably, patternless.  Wear your flannel shirt with some dark denim with no fade (or a subtle one at the most).  Well-fitted khakis would also work—and they’d look especially good with the Steven Alan shirt.  The tan from the khaki complements the green and red, which immediately stand out, but it’s the subtle brownish base that really makes it work.  If it’s cold enough to wear a jacket, pick one that isn’t too busy and one that picks up or complements the base color of the flannel shirt.  As for shoes, sneakers should (as always) be low tops.  Shoes other than sneakers can also work, but this look is harder to pull off.

How you wear your hair is actually important here too.  Having medium or longer hair will give off kind of an indie rocker vibe.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t wear flannel with longer hair, but I’m not saying you should either.  I think shorter, more styled hair gives it a refreshingly sleek look.

Monochromatic Outfits: The simplest way to create an elongated vertical line is to craft an outfit in one color.  However, you needn’t be so strict—dressing in light and dark variations of one color creates much of the same effect. 

Vertical Lines: Instead of wearing garments with strong horizontal detailing, try ones with vertical details.  What kinds of details are we talking about?  Zippers, buttons, stripes, piping, pockets, and other embellishments.

Dark Colors: It’s no secret that dark colors tend to recede, and light colors tend to come forward.  Though wearing dark colors visually minimizes problem spots, wearing head-to-toe dark colors can be dreary.  Play up your best features by strategically adding lighter colors in those places.

Wearing Something You Love: To truly look amazing, you also have to feel amazing about yourself.   And there’s no better way to feel good about yourself than to be wearing something that you love.  Draw attention to your best features with a favorite sweater that shows off your amazing collarbone or an eye-catching necklace that frames your gorgeous face.

3.  TOP QUALITY FABRIC. Fabric is the foundation for a great jean, and just as good grapes make great wine, good fabric brings out great washes. Good denim will also be able to hold its shape throughout the day. Cheap denim will eventually stretch out within the first two hours of wearing.  

4.  THE DESIGN.  Design is what distinguishes between brands, and subtle details and innovative construction are what defines premium denim. Stay away from anything too loud that screams for attention; simple and clean is timeless. Also, buy brands made in USA.  Los Angeles is the capital of premium jeans, and you can’t go wrong if you stick to the right labels.

5.  And the last tip for looking for the best premium jean: Just look for the KASIL label. Everything I’ve mentioned is in our label :).

Lightweight, Breathable Fabrics: It goes without saying that lighter weight fabrics are generally going to be cooler than heavier weight fabrics.  However, consider how breathable the fabric is.  Natural fabrics like cotton and linen work especially well on hot days because they absorb and release moisture quickly, allowing fabric to “breathe.”

Simple Silhouettes: Simple, unfussy silhouettes—such as a well-cut suit or a shift dress—automatically give your look a polished feel, even when you’re sitting in the stifling heat.

Adding the Unexpected: Upon this simple foundation, add an unexpected color or detail to punch up your outfit.  A bright color, an oversized collar, or a special detail like pintucking or piping will take your outfit from simply work-appropriate to stunning.

Layering: Layering becomes more important than ever when alternating between the blisteringly warm outdoors and an ice-cold air-conditioned office.  Keep a fitted sweater on hand in the office to weather these temperature shifts.

Personal Grooming: Neat hair, manicured nails, and scuff free shoes—personal grooming essentials—are de rigeur.  Longhaired women can pull back their hair into a ponytail or a bun for a refined look.  Oil absorbing facial wipes work well to keep your skin fresh looking (and feeling) throughout the day.

We’ve used these principles to create a mini-series of heat-resistant and work-appropriate outfits for women and men.  Enjoy!