Keep It Fresh, Keep It Classy: Fasten Up

The belt. It holds up your pants, right? It’s an accessory, a utility. I put it on because I have to. If this is the way you think about your beloved belts, then shame on you. There are rules to the belt, and there are certain things you should know about these ever so useful contraptions. First, here’s the oldest rule in the book, in fact I’m sure most of you know it anyway: BELT AND SHOES MATCH! In general, I do brown belts with brown shoes, and then use black belts with all other color shoes. This is alright, since brown shoes tend to be a minority these days, it would be impossible to get a belt for every color shoe. Also, if you wear a watch with a leather strap, your belt should match the strap. Yes, it’s annoying to have change your watch/strap every time you change belt colors, and that’s why I wear a metal-strapped watch. But hey, it’s up to you if you wanna deal with the changing your watch around all the time. So, what belts should you own? Well, presumably, you have at least a pair of brown shoes and a pair of black shoes. That’s two belts right there. I also highly encourage investing in at least one high-quality, though not necessarily leather, belt. A bad belt can throw off a nice look pretty quickly. So, there you have your primer on belts. There are many kinds of belts, so go and experiment with what style, girth, material works best for you.

Keep It Fresh, Keep It Classy: What Lies Beneath

It’s cold outside, which means it’s time to layer up (obviously). So, you throw on your sweaters and jackets and gloves and whatnot. But, what are you wearing underneath all that? What’s the first layer of clothing? Probably a t-shirt on most days, I would imagine. That’s not the full answer, though. What KIND of t-shirt? Many people think the t-shirt they wear to the gym is the same t-shirt they can wear out is the same t-shirt they can wear under a sweater. Tsk tsk. The undershirt is SPECIFICALLY created for the third example. It is UNDERshirt, after all. Undershirts are usually simple: one solid color, usually white. Keep in mind: simple is, 99% of the time, classy. You don’t need slogans on your t-shirts, especially if they’re going under all those layers. The fit is mighty important as well. Normal t-shirts will make you look bulkier, whereas undershirts will fit snug and keep you warm. I have TONS of undershirts. These days, I literally wear one every single day. It’s easy, classy, and sensible, and those three rarely go together.

Keep It Fresh, Keep It Classy: Get Dressy

There is a certain misconception that pervades our fashion oriented thoughts. This is a misconception that, if believed, can seriously limit one’s ability to truly look great. Quite simply, people like to divide their clothes into formal and casual, for the most part. Bad! Bad, bad, bad! You’re severely limiting your dress options when you do this, and you invariably become somewhat predictable in your clothes. So, I’m going to address one specific instance that can be easily repaired. 99% of you kids wear jeans ALL THE TIME. Yes, you may be in class, at the Deec, or just with your buddies, and these are all casual environment. However, there are other options besides jeans that won’t make you look like you’re going to a ball. Get a nice pair of wool pants. They’re super-multi-purpose. I wear mine with a coat and tie, and I wear them with my hoodie, too. Khakis are another great alternative to jeans, and, I would argue, the MOST usable pants out there. Here’s a side benefit, besides looking good, that might come in handy during the spring and summer. A pair of light wool or khaki pants is going to be more airy than your stuffy jeans. And don’t tell me you never sweat in the summer with those things on. Let me just go on the record as saying, “I love jeans.” However, you have to change it up a bit to truly appreciate them. Having contrasting levels of formality between your top and bottom is an easy way to go from predictable to snazzy.

Keep It Fresh, Keep It Classy: You're Not the Michelin Man; Don't Dress Like Him

That time of the year is approaching. It’s the time when we like to bundle up, play in the snow, and, generally, throw all fashion sense out the window. Yes, winter is coming. It’s one of those seasons that’s filled with fashion opportunities, yet so many people choose to look at the cold as an excuse to look sloppy. But there is hope! Not all your rugged outerwear has to make you look like you just got off the ski slope. Personally, I say “no” to the puffy jacket. It makes you look like you’re wearing 7 times as many layers as you actually are, or it just makes you look 7 times as heavy as you actually are. I like to wear a good top coat over a sweater. Pair that with a nice scarf, gloves, and a hat (I'll talk about these at another time), and you’ll not only look great, but you’ll be toasty warm, too. When you’re looking for the right top coat, think pea coat but longer. Just because it doesn’t look thick on the outside doesn’t mean it isn’t snug and layered. Keep it fresh, keep it classy, and don’t look like a balloon.

Keep It Fresh, Keep It Classy: Go Bold

GQ

Ok kids, GQ’s latest blurb on this subject was the final confirmation of something I’ve been trying for quite some time now. Maybe it’s a rainy day, and you’re wearing some muted colors to match the weather. Maybe you just feel like sporting something simple and not too flashy (I know I do). Either way, we want to look good and be comfortable, a hard combination to pull off in any situation. What’s a good way to give our outfits a little “umph” without making it look like we’re trying too hard? Here’s a quick and easy one: go bold on the socks. I don’t mean buy those outrageous “toe-socks” that little twelve year olds wear or anything like that. Get some socks with some color. They could be plaid, striped, or polka dotted. The whole point is to break some rules. Barely any of my long socks are plain and boring (some are, but hey, there’s a time and a place for everything). But wait there’s more! Here’s the “not trying too hard” part. If you truly want to stay classy while going bold, make sure at least one color on your socks matches a color on something else you’re wearing. Do this, and you can break some fashion rules and never get called on it.  

--Mazi Kazemi

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Mazi's new column, Keep It Fresh, Keep It Classy, is the latest addition to the Contrast blog. He will write about trends in men's fashions. Please give him a warm welcome! --Ed.