Posts filed under 'Men’s'
Q: My dad is one of those men who is still sporting his awful eighties-style men’s fanny packs. For Father’s Day, I could get him either a classy alternative to fanny pack, or better yet, (if possible), a classy looking leather fanny pack for him to wear instead. What do you think?
A:
The best gift is something that your dad will enjoy, but also something that you are proud to give your dad. While we don’t love the 80s fanny pack look, we like the utility of the idea. Our favorite men’s fanny pack combines both utility and style:
(Pictured) Sando Hip Pack | $125 at Tumi
This compact pack is updated for the 2000s with a retractable key leash.
Should your dad be more open to a fanny pack alternative, we have two more suggestions for you:
Sando Gadget Bag | $145 at Tumi
Perfect for day trips with dual interior compartments and multiple accessories pockets.
T-Tech Flow Sling | $175 at Tumi
Your dad can sling this roomy bag over his shoulder for a casually cool look.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
June 13th, 2007
Q: Dress socks. At the end of the day i want to rip them off my feet and throw them off the building. What are good dress socks that actually fit a certain foot size, not "Men’s 6-12"?
A:
The best I’ve seen are socks that are sized Medium, Large, and Extra Large–a step above the one size fits all sizing that most sock manufacturers use. For a comfortable, sized dress sock, we’d recommend the socks over at World’s Softest. Featuring patent-pending SoftSeam technology, the socks reduce rubbing and irritation from toe seams.
Pictured: World’s Softest Men’s Dress Crew | $4.99 at World’s Softest.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
June 6th, 2007
Q: How do you match a tie to a shirt?
Omiru is pleased to bring you the answer to this style question from Ryan Sovereign, one half of the design duo behind the quietly provocative neckwear line Sovereign Beck.
A: Generally, a tie should either totally match the shirt, like when you buy those tie/shirt combo’s at Kmart, or it shouldn’t match at all. I most often go with light pink, light blue or white…the safe route. My design partner, Will, is a bit more risqué with his tie/shirt combos. Truthfully, though, I really can’t lay down any hard and fast rules, since it all depends on what the wearer is capable of pulling off. And if you can match a patterned shirt with a patterned tie, you’re doing something right!
Want to learn how to match a patterned shirt with a patterned tie? Omiru shows you how to mix and match patterns.
Pictured: Beetles Tie | $90 at Sovereign Beck.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
May 30th, 2007
Q: Where can I go for cool jeans? I’m in my mid-thirties and have a mortgage, so I’m looking for a good style to value ratio. What are the different “fits†I need to be on the lookout for?
A: For a good style-to-value ratio, choose (1) a pair of jeans that fit you well and (2) a timeless style such as the original blue jean, slightly faded blue jeans, or dark denim. Really, the brand name is less important than how the jeans fit on you and how you feel in them.
As for the pricing of the "cool" denim brands, they run in several tiers. Here’s an approximate price breakdown of the men’s denim market:
Under $100: Cheap Monday
$100-$150: Lucky, Mavi, Paper Denim & Cloth
$150-$200: Kasil Jeans, Diesel, Joe’s Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, 7 for All Mankind, True Religion, AG Jeans, Chip & Pepper
$200+: Evisu, Rock & Republic, Earnest Sewn
As for the different denim fits, there are five major styles to look out for.
(1) Classic Fit jeans have a mid-level rise and an easy, loose fit.
(2) Relaxed Fit jeans have a loose, relaxed fit through the thigh and feature a low to mid-level rise.
(3) Straight Leg jeans, like their name implies, have a straight-cut leg and a low to mid-level rise.
(4) Boot Cut jeans also have a low to mid-level rise and have a leg that widens from the knee down to the ankle.
(5) Skinny jeans have an extra slim leg and generally a lower rise.
Pictured: Kasil Victory Jean in Midnight | $187 at Revolve Clothing.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
May 23rd, 2007
Q: I’ve got an interview at a software startup next week. What should I wear? I hear that the company is very informal, but I think I should dress up anyways.
A: Technology companies have a long history of casual dress. There, jeans and a t-shirt are everyday style–they aren’t reserved for Casual Fridays.
The ideal interview outfit not only makes you look like the professional you are, but also respects this casual dress tradition. Mix casual and formal elements–such as a button-down shirt (remember to iron it!) and jeans.
Feeling stuck? Here’s a foolproof interview outfit: Button-down Shirt + Colored Undershirt + Dark Rinse Jeans + Loafers. Bonus points for you if you choose a patterned–instead of striped–button-down shirt.
Here’s 2 extra tips for your interview:
(1) No Suits Allowed. Should you wear a suit to an engineering interview, don’t be surprised if you’re weeded out as a "poor culture fit."
(2) Wear Good Shoes: Even though your outfit may be casual in feel, dress it up with your Good shoes. If they need a pick-me-up, remember to shine them pre-interview.
Pictured: Fitted Dotted Diamond Dress Shirt | $78 at Banana Republic.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
May 16th, 2007
Q: I walked into the Gap because I saw one of their models on the display poster wearing a black skinny tie and white shirt combination. But as it turns out, Gap doesn’t sell the black skinny tie, the one thing that made me walk into the store. Where’s a good place to buy a skinny tie?
A: Chic and modern (and a Hollywood red carpet staple), skinny ties are surprisingly hard to find in mall-type stores. Luckily, they’re more readily accessible online. Here’s a few skinny ties to check out:
1.5" Woven Polyester Tie (Style 1523) | $15 at NarrowTies
A textured matte finish gives this uber-narrow tie it’s popularity. 56" long.
(Pictured) 2.75" Satin Finish Tie | $9.95 (sale) at Tieguys
With a widest width of 2.75" (one inch less than a standard tie) and a length of 57", this tie is narrow–but not too narrow.
1.5" Satin Finish Skinny Tie | $9.95 at Dancestore
Perfect for special occasions, this tie features a satin finish and a dramatically narrow width.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
May 2nd, 2007
Q: What’s the best way to keep new clothes looking new? Whenever I buy something, it looks great the first time I wear it, but then after the first or second wash, it starts looking older and older.
A: Clothes start to look older after washing for three main reasons: (1) Color Fading, (2) Pilling, and (3) Wrinkling. Here’s how to combat each:
Problem: Color Fading
Solution: Wash your clothes in cold water. Many clothing dyes aren’t color fast to begin with, and the tendency to "bleed" increases with the temperature of the water. Colors tend to become permanent after a few washes–and the garments under high heat accelerates the color setting process. Note: Always wash denim inside-out to prevent color loss.
I’ve found that using gentler detergents (like Woolite) helps to extend the "new" look of my clothes. Oh, and if the garment says "Dry Clean Only," do just that.
Problem: Pilling
Solution: Buy a fabric shaver to quickly and safely remove the "pills" (balled up fuzz) and lint from your clothes. Fabric shavers, like the model pictured, are especially useful to give new life to sweaters.
Pilling happens when your clothes rub up against something else. In the washing machine, this can happen when clothes rub up against the sides of the machine–or when they rub up against each other.
To minimize pilling, we recommend (1) placing items prone to pilling inside garment bags, (2) using the delicate cycle, and (3) not overloading your washing machine full of clothes.
Problem: Wrinkling
Solution: Fold or hang your clothes as soon as the dryer cycle ends. The longer clothes sit in the dryer after the dryer cycle ends, the more wrinkled they will become.
If you can’t take clothes out of the dryer right away, try moistening a hand towel and adding it to the load and then run the dryer for 10 minutes. The heat and moisture combination works much like a steamer and will help reduce wrinkling.
You can use a fabric steamer to remove wrinkles in your clothes. Steamers are less harsh than irons on your clothes–and will help to preserve their usable life span.
Pictured: Surround Air XJ-350 Electric Fabric Shaver | $29.99 at Target.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 25th, 2007
Q: How do I keep my shirt wrinkle-free while driving to work?
A: We hate the look of a wrinkled shirt too–and have three suggestions for you:
Wear a wrinkle-resistant shirt. Try wearing wrinkle-resistant shirts, which are chemically treated to keep wrinkles at bay. We like Brooks Brothers’ non-iron broadcloth shirts (pictured at left).
Take it off. Keep it on a hanger in the back of the car, and put on the shirt once you get to work.
Keep a hand steamer handy. Duck into the bathroom and freshen up your look in a snap with a portable steamer, such as this handheld model from Conair.
Pictured: Non-Iron Broadcloth Ground Stripe Forward Point Dress Shirt | $75 at Brooks Brothers.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 18th, 2007
Q: Where can I find khakis and jeans for guys who have very thick thighs? My husband played football and has a 44-46" waist & 30" inseam, but his thighs can not fit into many brands. Also, for some reason he thinks pleats look best on his body, but I have always heard pleats make you look bigger. Help!
A: Good instincts–pleated pants do make you look bigger. Flat front pants are visually slimming, while pleated pants create more volume exactly where you don’t want it.
For men with thick thighs, we have 3 recommendations:
1. Look for "Relaxed Fit" styles, which have added room in the seat and the thigh.
2. For a slimming look, try dark colored pants, a wide leg, and a slightly lower rise.
3. As for where to buy the pants, try brands like Dockers, Eddie Bauer, and St. John’s Bay (at JC Penney).
Pictured: Premium Never-Ironâ„¢ Cotton Khaki - Flat Front | $70 at Dockers.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
April 11th, 2007
Q: I’d like to buy a nice pair of khakis. I have a size 30 waist, and I’m slim and tall. I’d like khakis that aren’t super tight–but I want them fitted, not loose or baggy in any way. What and/or where would you recommend?
A: For mall-type stores, Club Monaco is probably going to be your best bet. They tend to cut their clothes slimmer than that of other stores. Banana Republic also tends to fit slim men well.
Depending on the how snug you want the fit to be, you may want to look into designer brands as well. Prada, in particular, is known to cut their garments extra slim–but they’re rather pricey.
Pictured: Straight Leg Cotton Dress Pant | $129 at Club Monaco.
Style question? We’ve got answers. E-mail us at tips at omiru dot com, or leave us a comment with your question.
March 28th, 2007
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