Archive for January, 2008

Men’s Watches: Display Your Personality Through One Item

Few things say more about a man than his watch. Its character, look, and style give others a peek into a man’s background (and priorities) without having to ask a single question.”

Picture this:A stranger comes up to you and asks, “Excuse me, do you have the time?”

“Yeah sure, one sec.”

Checks cell phone*

Has this ever happened to you?

We live in a world where cell phones can almost be called extra appendages; rarely do we look at a watch to keep the time anymore.

When cell phones weren’t so easily obtainable, watches used to be highly convenient for time keeping. I feel that less people are wearing watches because of this; let’s not forget that more than just telling time, watches have a lot of value to offer.

Why Should I Wear A Watch?

I meet a lot of guys who say, “I don’t wear watches, I’m not really a watch guy.”

We all want to make a lasting first impression, and if you’re not going to display your personality through something that speaks as loud as a watch, you’re really missing out.

Men are limited to their choice of jewelry; an eye-catching watch is the only piece of jewelry that is acceptable for a man to splurge on. Even if you wear other types of jewelry, your watch should be the most noticeable accessory you own.

A man’s watch is just as important as his shoes to a women, and we all know how important shoes are.

If a man was naked besides having on amazing shoes and a quality watch, women will know more about that man than a clothed man without any shoes and a watch. Well, she’ll definitely know more than she probably wants to (I apologize for that picture) but you get the point.

The right watch will accentuate your outfits and make you look more confident. Women will look at what kind of watch you are wearing, and how it matches your outfit - gaining clues to your attention to style and detail.

If you take care of yourself, women will trust that you will take care of them.

Finding The Right Watch For You

Choosing a watch is very personal, so explore the community of watch connoisseurs and aficionados before you make a big purchase. Some of these guys are crazy, but it’s pretty darn fun talking to them about it.

A quality watch will last you a lifetime, so it can become well worth your investment. If you take care of your watch really well, you may be able to sell it for a good price later on - if you decide to.

A watch gives you one of the greatest ways of showcasing your personality. It can say that you’re a diver, a sailor, a pilot. It can show how successful, stylish, and refined you are. It can even show that you don’t care much about anything, and that you’re just out to have fun - for example, I used to wear a Tazmanian Devil watch with a hologram on it, and if you pressed the button on the side the face would open, and the inside part would pop up at you. People would be staring at the hologram up close, and then I would spring it up into their face - which freaked them out and made them laugh.

There are lots of ways to show personality through a watch.

Let’s take a look at some different watches and styles:

Here is an example of a classic watch:

The Omega Speedmaster Professional, this watch was the first watch worn on the moon! How awesome is that? You could tell people…”Pffft… yeah… you see this here? It’s the same watch worn by Buzz Aldrin when he stepped on the moon biatch.”

The Omega Seamaster Professional Diver was worn by Daniel Craig in his first Bond movie Casino Royale.

The one below is the Omega Seamaster James Bond Limited Edition.

Have you ever wondered what all those complicated numbers and words on the watch face meant?

Many watch aficionados will pay premium price for these type of collectible watches, as they are more value for their workmanship and aesthetic appeal than for simple timekeeping.

An example of a complicated watch is this IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar, retailing at almost $30,000. Wow.

IWC watches are highly respected within the watch community. It’s renowned for the elegance and engineering found in it’s “Flieger,” “Portugieser,” and “Aquatimer” lines.

The Italian luxury watch brand Panerai was founded in 1860, but it’s becoming a favorite with watch lovers on the strength of it’s “Radiomir” and “Luminor” series.

Pictured below is a Panerai Radiomir PAM 210. Simple, elegant. It looks cheap but you’re really paying for the craftmanship, and the quality of the watch, check out the mechanics in the back.

Franck Muller Evolution 3-1

Franck Muller’s slogan is “Master of Complications” - The watches are beautiful and some are really truly complicated like this “Evolution” watch.

Guess how much this watch retails at!? $1,000,000.oo. hahaha.

There are watch crazies out there. To these young guys, in their 20’s and 30’s, with large amounts of money, a watch is about owning a wonderful mechanism, and it is also a power thing. Because you can’t go into a business meeting with a Mercedes-Benz or a Rolls-Royce on your wrist. You can go into a meeting with a Breguet.”

Some history on the brand if you care: Abraham-Louis Breguet is considered by many as the father of watchmaking. Indeed, he is one of the greatest horologists of all time. Since 1775, clients have included Napoleon Bonaparte, Marie-Antoinette, Winston Churchill, Alexander Dumas, Princes, Dukes, Sultans and Kings. Breguet’s influence on watchmaking is unequalled. He perfected the self-winding watch, created the first oil-free escapement, incorporated the first shock absorber into a timepiece, developed perpetual date mechanisms, and invented and patented the Tourbillon. Signature Breguet styling is evident in today’s masterpieces; blue steel hands, guilloche engraving, and the fluted caseband.

Breitling is a brand of Swiss watches from the Canton of Jura. The watchmaker offers Certified Chronometers designed primarily for aviation use, though most frequently worn as high-end luxury watches. Breitling’s watches offer aviation functions, though their chronograph functions have become more of status symbols than practically applied tools.

My friend wears a Breitling, I’d have to say he looks pretty badass wearing it.Breitling Emergency - version contains a radio transmitter for civil aviation use which broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency and serves as a back-up for ELT-type airborne beacons. Pretty cool eh?

“In an incident that demonstrates how the Emergency can be used to save lives, Reuters reports that two British pilots, Squadron Leader Steve Brooks and Flight Lieutenant Hugh Quentin-Smith, crashed their helicopter in Antarctica and were rescued after activating their Breitling Emergency transmitter watches. The two pilots were in their lifeboat when a Chilean Otter aircraft found them after homing in on signals from their watches.”

I love this watch, looks very Secret Agent.Watches under 350 dollars:If you’re looking for something stylish and masculine at the same time, check out the leather bracelet watches such as this Nixon Rocker Watch.

It can be sporty, skater, punk, or just stylish casual. These type of watches are very versatile and says you’re laid back and masculine.

Fossil makes some great leather strap watches as well.

 D&G Dolce & Gabbana ‘Sandpiper’ Chronograph Watch

I love the simplicity of the this watch. It makes an elegant statement with the precise watch face and modern enamel buttons. The case and buckle are stainless steel. The black leather band really dresses it up.

Haurex Samoa Black Dial Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch

This is another great watch that has the styling of a watch 10 times its price. The black face with bold white numbers has separate dials to keep track of hours, minutes, and seconds and has a date calendar. Swiss quartz movement and water resistant.

LEATHER BAND OR METAL?

The thing about leather bands is that it enables to you match better with your clothing, and it has more sophistication to it when it’s thin.

For example, take a look at this watch below:

GUESS Men’s Steel Brown Multi-Function Watch

It looks sharp, and would match well with dressed up attire.

Victorinox Swiss Army® ‘Maverick II’ Alarm Watch

If you want a watch that looks like an Omega Seamaster (the James Bond watch) but don’t want the price tag that accompanies it, then this would be a great substitute. And it’s not like it’s an unreliable knock-off either.Check out some more watches in all sorts of different price ranges, here.

Damn! Some Watches Can Get Really Expensive! With watches, you really get what you pay for, so it’s not a bad idea to invest in a high quality timepiece. A quality watch is the quickest way to show a confident and successful image.

You can probably get away with a fake if the people around you know nothing about the watch other than the brand name, but people who know watches will usually spot that fake a mile away. If you were wearing an expensive Breguet, and shook the hand of a millionaire, he’d probably see you’re watch and say to himself, “wow…nice watch.” But unless you’re around people with money, most people won’t know what you’re wearing.

The most well-known brands are owned by a small group of companies, so you can get the same level of craftsmanship of a higher price watch by buying its lower priced cousin in the company product line. For example, if you can’t afford a Movado, you can buy its less expensive counterpart by Esquire.

Certain brand names will be more well known and bring status along with it, like the brand Rolex. Pretty much everyone and their mom know what a Rolex is.

The reason why a Rolex can be so expensive is because the Rolex corporation artificially inflates the price of its watches by limiting the yearly supply of some of its collections, leading to scarcity in the market. Many watch experts say that, for the cost of a Rolex, you can get a higher caliber mechanical watch from a different company.But the status and prestige it projects may be worth the price to some people. It’s an investment and a status symbol.

Begin the Search I wrote this article as an introduction into the world of watches, and why they’re an important piece of a man’s wardrobe. If you have never really looked into investing in a watch, start exploring. Take your time to really do some research and don’t rush. If you fall in love with a particular watch, it could be the greatest accessory you’ll ever own.

You’ll cherish it and every time you put it on you’ll feel that confidence, ready to take on the world.

Tips: Think about the scale of your watch in ratio to the size of your wrist. You don’t want a giant watch on a tiny chicken-bone wrist. Get bigger watches for bigger wrists, but think twice before buying anything bigger than a half dollar.

Buy a watch with a simple silver or stainless steel case and a removable band. You can have a brown leather band, a crocodile band, and even a fun multicolored grosgrain one for summer. It’s a great way to get many different looks out of one watch.

Color: Silver and gold frames are fashionable and classic. Silver watches match best with blacks, grays, silvers, and blues. Gold watches go with browns, beiges, tans, and other earth tones.Check out http://www.goldspeed.com/watches.html for some great prices.

Note: You might want to get a warranty on your watches so check outer online retailers or it may be better to go to an authorized dealer if you want to maybe sell your watch later on. This insures that it’s real and that the serial number and everything that is important is documented.

If you’re interested in learning the intricacies of a quality watch and all the lingo you’ve always wondered about like what “chronometer” means, check out this article on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watches

Share and discuss more on watches in our community forums - click here.

What Does A Stylish Man Look Like?

(Lenny Kravitz is one example of a man with his own unique style)

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.” - Gore Vidal

Imagine this. You read a couple of amazing articles on fashion, and now you’re convinced that you should go burn all your t-shirts and buy a few high-end suits at Bergdorf to become a man of style.

Careful, before you decide to go and do that, read the rest of this article.

What Does It Mean To Have Style?

“Fashion fades, style is eternal!” - Yves Saint Laurent

Think of style as doing your own thing, and convincing others that it’s cool. When I think style I also think timeless and classy no matter what is going on elsewhere.

When I think of fashion, I think of doing everyone else’s thing, and convincing myself that it’s cool. I also think trendy and it having a pretty short lifespan.

Style is more of a timeless representation of who you are, whereas fashion is generally comprised of many trends that come and go as fast as the seasons.

So how can one build this timeless representation of style?

It’s important to know what personality traits you want to display to the world, what type of woman you want to attract, and the type of people you want to surround yourself with because you should match your style of dress accordingly.

One of the quickest ways to do encompass all of these things is to…

Take Your Lifestyle Into Consideration

Dressing like the GQ model of the month isn’t very appropriate unless your days consist of you relaxing on your yacht, socializing at lavish dinner parties, or your name is James Bond.

It’s almost silly to walk around dressed up in a suit unless your work demands it or your life is full of events where it’s considered proper attire.

Think a year ahead to where you will be in life. Imagine how the way you dress now could influence the kind of people that you want to be in your life in the future. Believe it or not people judge each other a lot by looks. Gosh, a shock isn’t it? This affects the doors that it will open in certain areas of your life.

If you want to be taken more professionally, dressing up more often time would be appropriate. This doesn’t mean you always have to wear a suit, but keep it sophisticated and gentleman like. For example a dress shirt, a stand-out tie, and some flat front dress pants for a more casual date.

If your future is going to be more laid-back - like running your own business from home, then you could dress more casually. Here is a picture of a guy in wide leg pants - not every guy can pull this one off, but if it’s done right, it can look really good. Just casual and natural with a touch of style that stands out.

If you’re a party promoter, you’re going to have to dress like THE PARTY wherever you go. For example a white blazer will make any guy look confident and sharp.

Everyone will have their own casual style when they’re not working or just meeting some friends, so calibrate your attire to the occasion. For example, the professional would still go out in a dress shirt, just without the tie. You could wear jeans instead of dress pants - either take it down a notch or up a notch depending on the occasion.

After you have considered your lifestyle, and the kinds of people you want to attract, keep yourself inspired by the looks you can steal. If you like a certain look, it’s because a part of you can connect with it. If you find yourself liking a lot of looks, learn to build a wardrobe that enables you to express yourself with variety for many occasions - just make sure keep it “you” with your own touch.

Everyone knows that a picture speaks a thousand words.

These are examples of stylish men. You can steal some of these looks or just examine what makes them “stylish”:

Does Johnny Depp wear the latest trends in fashion? Hell no, he’s his own man and has his own signature style.

Justin Timberlake pulls off this look very well. He adds some sporty flair to a light colored suit with sneakers and keeps it more casual with his rolled up sleeves.

Here is Tommy Lee with friend Chris Angel. Tommy Lee is quite a character. He’s always in his own reality amusing himself. He really doesn’t care about anything. His shaggy long hair looks like he just got up from a long night. He shows off his fun inner child with his colorful yellow hat, and his jeans are wild like he just survived a crazy mosh pit. Both Tommy Lee and Chris Angel look like they’re wild and ready to rock and roll.

A lot of girls love Orlando Bloom. “It’s not all about being Mr. perfectly-groomed like David Beckham all the time…” says one girl on a celebrity blog. He gets points here for not wearing sneakers like most guys, and he pulls off a great outfit in a casual way. Steal this look with a t-shirt, sweater, and a sports coat over it.

Jude Law is a style icon. Always dressed classy and chic, almost never seen without a blazer or dress shoes. He is rarely pictured wearing bright colors, cleverly preferring the greys, whites and blacks which look classic and chic in nearly any season and nearly any climate.

What’s Your Style?

This week, ask yourself this question.

What do your clothes say about your lifestyle?

Are you a man who loves to party a lot and have fun? Do you want to attract hot party girls or sophisticated girls with class? Do you want to display an edgy bad boy look? Do you to be more clean cut, and professional?

What do the clothes you’re wearing now say about who you are? What can you change in order to display more of what you want?

Try this: Go out and buy one item this week that displays your lifestyle and character.

Share your thoughts, pictures, and get feedback from your peers at our community forums.

Jae

15 Quick Fashion Tips for Men

I’m sitting here sipping on my Yerba Mate Tea, trying to get the creative juices flowing and thinking about how else I could bring more value to everyone who visits this website.

I was pondering what my next article would be about, and then an idea came to me.

Everyone loves fashion tips - the dos and don’ts, rules, commandments, and suggestions.

Let’s have some fun with this.

Here are 15 quick fashion tips for you:

1. Never underestimate the power of details – The last thing on is usually the first thing noticed. So mind the details instead of throwing together the main parts of your outfit.

2. Keep it simple – You want a wardrobe that looks great on you but you don’t want to overdo it. If it’s not who you are don’t throw together too many flashy items. For example, a simpler but stylish look would be sporting a black striped dress shirt with a white blazer, coupled with a white belt and dark blue jeans, and dress shoes. You could also add a flashy watch or a simple accessory like an interesting necklace.

3. A garment should never be made of more than 25 percent of an unnatural fiber – You’re skin needs to breathe, don’t kill yourself. Cotton is the best fabric.

4. Experiment with style – The only way you’ll really learn, is if you go out there and try new things. If you make mistakes, life goes on.

5. Never go shopping alone – You can never really trust the sales people because they may just want to sell you something. Someone who really knows you will always give you an objective opinion.

6. Don’t overdo it – When you overdo it, you’ll not only look like a clown, but like you’re crying for attention.

7. Never wear anything sheer – Nobody wants to play peek-a-boo with your nipples.

8. Spend within reason – Shopping is highly encouraged, but if you’re digging yourself into major credit card debt, stop yourself before it becomes a costly addiction.

9. Fashion Tees with logos – When you’re going around with a big logo on your shirt, you risk looking like a walking billboard.

10. Disregard trends – You shouldn’t wear something just because it’s “in” right now. Find what looks good on you, and embrace it. Be yourself, don’t try to look like someone else just because it’s “in.”

11. Don’t be a sucker for brand names - Look at the item itself rather than be swayed by a brand name. Before you decide to purchase an item, ask yourself if you are buying it because it’s “in style” or because it genuinely suits you. Ask yourself if you would buy the garment if it didn’t have a logo on it.

12. Stay away from clogs and Crocs - They look good on nobody. Enough said.

13. An undershirt is an undershirt - An undershirt is meant to be worn underneath your dress shirt or sweater to absorb the sweat, dirt, and body oils that we all inevitable secrete. This way you might be able to get away with not having to launder the shirt every time you were it, and you shirt will be around for even longer. Please do not wear a wife beater, v-neck, or crew-neck undershirt alone with jeans.

14. Getting a manicure or waxing your eyebrows - doing these things does not make you gay. If you are in need of one of these, don’t think twice.

15. How to wear sweaters - Some sweaters are lean and other are big and chunky. The first rule of thumb is that your top and bottom haves need to match. If you’re wearing a big, chunky, rugged fisherman knit sweater, your bottom needs to be rugged, too. Don’t wear a fisherman’s sweater with a beautiful silk-and-wool suit pant, Instead, wear it with something as casual as cargoes or jeans, or dress it up with a Harris tweed blazer.

Need a total style makeover? I’m offering 1-on-1 consultations in New York City. If you’re interested in learning more about it (reading testimonials, seeing the phenomenal before/after pictures, pricing, etc.) don’t hesitate to contact me at Jae@kinowear.com.


Enjoyed this article?
For more articles like this, subscribe to Kinowear’s FREE Newsletter:

Name:
Email:

How To Choose Colors That Flatter Your Skin Tone

Many of you in the Kinowear community seem to want to know what your best colors are.

Most people are afraid of wearing color, mostly because they don’t know how to wear them.

This lack of knowledge must be addressed.

If the world is so clueless about color. What color do most people turn to? Is there anything left?

The absence of color: black

It’s the default safety net. I mean just take one good look around yourself the next time you’re in a crowded place, and note how many people are wearing black.

Don’t get me wrong, black can look great. Wear it. I love black too. But unless you’re Batman, keep the black minimal, and explore the world of color out there. Expand the number of choices you have in your wardrobe! Take some risks, you might even find a new favorite color.

In this article we’ll find out what some of your flattering colors are, and talk about how to bring vibrant colors into your outfit without looking over the top. We’ll also address why you should wear colors, and how you can go about incorporating them into your look.


Why You Should Wear Color

Learning how to use colors well in your outfit will give you loads of new room to be creative with your style. You can instantly brighten up a normally bland outfit through a commanding centerpiece, or add some flair to your outfit through colorful accessories, necktie, handkerchief, or scarf.

Learn how to use great colors to peacock. After all, when a peacock spreads it’s beautifully colored feathers it gains attention and admiration. Using the right colors can command attention — communicating style and confidence. I wish I could tell you that you can just go and wear any crazy colors you can find. But when searching for your best colors, you should first consider your skin tone and how well it work with certain shades and colors.

There is perfunctory peacocking, and then there is calculated peacocking.

It’s the difference between putting on random outrageous colors, and adding just the right amount of eye-popping color to a seamless outfit — oozing with personal style and taste.


Finding The Best Colors For Your Skin Tone

Color is very personal, and there is really so much out there, so go experiment with it and have fun.

Bring a friend to the store and try on lots of new colors outside of your comfort zone, and ask for their opinion on each one. Or my favorite, bring a camera and take a picture of yourself in lots of new outfits, experimenting with color. Then you can show lots of people and get multiple opinions, saving your money till you’re ready to buy.

Whether you’re dark-skinned, medium-toned, or pale-skinned, you can find appropriate colors for your complexion.

You really don’t need to have a color analysis done. Color analyses aren’t absolute, we shouldn’t be limited by them; find what you like through self-experimentation and expression.

The whole process is a lot more fun, rather than someone just telling you what you should wear.

However, there are definitely basic concepts out there to guide you. Here are some basic guidelines to start you off in the right direction:


Dark Skin tone

Dark-skinned men tend to have black or dark brown hair and eyes. If you fall into this category, the colors that you wear should contrast with your dark features. The contrast brightens up your look and catches the eye.

Some colors that flatter your skin tone:

White
Pink
Khaki
Gray
Baby blue

You should stay away from tropical colors and really dark shades. While black and navy blue are hard to avoid altogether because they basically make up the corporate uniform, try to keep them to a minimum and wear only when necessary.

Some colors that are NOT flattering on you:

Dark brown
Black
Magenta
Turquoise
Spring green


Medium Skin tone

Medium-toned men can have anything from blonde locks to jet-black manes, and their eye color can vary from baby blue to onyx black. If you’re lucky enough to fall into this category, it means that you can wear just about any color and still look sharp. Since light and dark colors both contrast nicely with your skin tone, you can go either way.

If you tan nicely, it could be an option for you to get a tan so that you can express yourself better through a wider range of colors.

Some colors that flatter your skin tone:

Black
Pink
Burgundy
Beige
Royal blue
Navy

The only colors that you should really avoid are those that might blend in too closely with your skin tone. For example, if you have an olive complexion, avoid wearing olive-colored or brown clothing.

Some colors that are NOT flattering on you:

Olive
Pistachio
Mauve
Red
Dark brown


Fair skin tone

Fair-skinned men will tend to have red, blonde, or dirty blonde hair. Their eye color is often just as fair, including green, blue, gray, or hazel. If you match this description, your best bet is to go with more subdued colors or pastels. These will blend well with your skin tone, and create a look that’s both appealing and relaxing to the eye.

Some colors that flatter your skin tone:

Off-white
Brown
Light blue
Beige
Bold blue

The key is to steer clear of harsh or bright colors since these will contrast with your skin in an unflattering way. Basically, your clothes will stand out while you fade into the background. That said, stay away from vibrant colors at all costs.

Some colors that are NOT flattering on you:

Purple
Red
Orange
Yellow


Summary

If you have dark skin, you generally look great in strong colors: Warm orange, aubergine (French for eggplant). The darker your skin, the more you can get away with wearing those bright reds and yellows and oranges.

If you’re stuck in the middle, with medium-tone skin, don’t be troubled. You can wear any color under the sun, including awesome earth tones like English khaki, taupe, loden green.

People with fair skin, light hair: blue eyes, and soft features look great in soft pastels: pale pink, pale blue, ivory, lavender. They don’t always look good in black. Don’t be afraid of pastels. Remember, wearing pink doesn’t make you gay. And if you have blue eyes, wearing bright blues just intensifies them.


How To Pull It All Together

Now that you know what some of you’re best colors are, you have no excuse not to go out there and add some color to your wardrobe. There are so many colors out there that you can look so great in, and it’s almost a crime not to have them in your wardrobe.

Colors don’t always have to limited to core pieces of your outfit. Colored accessories are a great way to show your playful side.

Don’t go too crazy with too many color pieces, you’ll only look like a clown. It’s best to keep it simple. One bold piece of color is really all you need.

Use a colorful tie to brighten up your outfit. A colored scarf in the winter time. A colorful cardigan over your dress shirt. A colorful polo or dress shirt alone will do the trick.

Avoid the colored pants. Brown, gray, black, blue, and white, are all acceptable. But wear those hot pink pants at your own risk.

Also, the more outrageous the color is, the more you should try to find it in higher quality fabric. It’s going to stand out and be noticed, so you should pay for good quality - which costs more. A cheap shirt or sweater will look 5 times cheaper when it’s in a bold color.


The Art of Peacocking With Color

A ladies man has to be able to handle the pressure of being able to stand out from the crowd.

If you’re not used to standing out and being noticed, keep these things in mind:

You’ll feel more eyes on you when you dress more peacocky, but this is normal. Just act normal, don’t feel pressured to do something that you wouldn’t normally do. But if what you usually do is nurse your beer in the corner of a party with that dumb blank stare on your face, the color you’re wearing will only attract eyes to you - the biggest loser in the place.

Attractive colors can be your best friend if you can be the life of the party because they amplify your fun personality and aura.

Picture the best version of yourself in a group:

You’re making them laugh, have fun, and you have the whole group’s attention. You’re style is impeccable, the color you’re wearing is brilliantly matched, and makes you stand out from the rest of the guys.

Women on the outside will wonder, “Who is that guy?” if they haven’t already been enraptured by your radiant presence.

Now take that same scenario but you’re wearing all black. These colors won’t amplify your presence but mute it. Black isn’t evil, if you’re going to wear a lot of it learn how to add some color like a rich aubergine tie or a colored cardigan.

The opposite is true with a guy who is not the center of a party but wearing colors. He’s noticed as the loser that he is.

So you have to back up your peacocking gear with your best personality.

Note: When wearing loud colors you don’t want to be obnoxiously loud, it just amplifies your obnoxiousness. You want to be fun and friendly to everyone. If you’re at a party say hi to everyone - ask people if they’re having fun with a smile and get them laughing with you. Once they realize how boring everyone else is it’ll be easier to find the guy with color on.

IMPORTANT:

All the ridiculous rules out there can be overwhelming. But most people need some direction. This is a very delicate matter because there are so many shades of skin tone. The last thing I want to do is to limit your choice of colors, so please go and experiment.

If you get compliments on a certain color there must be a good reason - keep what works and get rid of what doesn’t. But you have to put yourself out there and be willing to make mistakes. Building style is like anything else in life, either take risks and learn how to become your better self or stay safe and boring.Wear more of your BEST colors, and limit the less flattering colors to small parts of your outfit if you want to wear those colors.

Flattering colors -> higher percentage of your outfit
Non-flattering colors -> avoid or keep them minimal

More Tips:

Click here for some great examples on how to bring color into your outfit through one piece of clothing like a cardigan.

No matter who you are, stay clear of harvest gold and avocado, these colors are so boring that they’ll make a senior citizen look more hip than you – believe me, I know plenty that are more hip than most people, and they would never be caught dead wearing those colors.

Be careful of the colors you put around your face. If you have fair skin and you wear very bright colors, the clothes are going to suck the color right out of you. Looking sickly won’t go well with the ladies.

I’m not a huge fan of the color seasons and what have you, because it’s all about experimentation, it’s not a 100% absolute.

If you really want to find our your season: here is a great article on Wikipedia.

It can be a great guideline to start but don’t limit yourself to these colors, there are lots of colors you can look great in that may not be part of your season. Nowadays with hair dying products, color contacts, and the popularity of tanning, you really have to go experiment. Don’t limit yourself to the colors of your season because they might not be the best for you depending on many factors.

That’s it for now, till next time guys.

- Jae

P.S. Want to see one Kinowear reader’s style transformation? Check out his before & after pictures, as well as his testimonial of his 1-on-1 consultation with me in New York City. And for those who are interested, I’m offering 1-on-1 consultations in New York City for April & May 2008. For details, check out this page. If you have anymore questions, don’t hestitate to contact me at Jae@kinowear.com.


Enjoyed this article?
For more articles like this, subscribe to Kinowear’s FREE Newsletter on the upper right corner.

How Image Affects Emotional State

Happy New Years Guys. 2008 is going to be a great year. Wow…2008 already. Remember when we were fussing about the millennium?

I know many of you are making new years resolutions that deal with changing and transforming your overall image. In light of this, I’ve decided to write a little entry about why this is one resolution worth fulfilling.

Vanity of Vanities?

So image. Is it just something superficial? Or is it something that has a much deeper and powerful effects on one’s life?

It’s unfortunate how many people dismiss image & fashion as vanity, frowning upon it as something that is secondary. Image, just like everything else, can become a negative force when it becomes an all-consuming obsession; However, to neglect it completely is as foolish starving due to concerns of the potential extreme of obesity.

Forget the Red Bull

The reason why I go out of my way to dress my best every day is because I know just how much of an affect it will have on my psychology. If you have a favorite suit you like to wear, freshly dry-cleaned, you may know exactly what kind of state boost I’m talking about. You put on that suit, or your best outfit, and it just gives you that emotional pump–like a red bull. That state diffuses into every area, from your interactions to the way you perform your daily tasks.

A simple, but powerful experiment

If you’re doubting the effect that your image has on your psychology (and your life), try this little experiment. For one day, have a bad hair day — don’t shave, don’t fix your hair, and throw on some “bummy” casual clothes. Go about your day and see how this affects your mood (and prods at your insecurities), the quality of your work, your social interactions, and just your overall day.

On the next day, wake up a little earlier and dedicate a little more time to putting together your favorite, most empowering outfit - that kickass charcoal Zegna suit, a pair of your best designer jeans, or that leather pea coat you just picked up. Make sure your grooming is up to par, and look in the mirror as you really tie up your image, down to the folds. Notice how sharp you look. Notice how you feel. Bask in that state, but more importantly, go out there and see how it affects your day - the work you do, the interactions you have with others, and just your overall emotional state.

The beauty of this experiment is that it allows you to feel the sheer discrepancy of emotion that altering your image can create.

If you’ve seen extreme makeover, you see just how much of an impact these image makeovers have on these people’s lives. You may not be getting a cosmetic surgery, but make everyday a mini makeover. You’ll begin to respect getting your image in order a lot more, just like you respect that Starbucks coffee every morning.

To amp it up a little bit, approach some women while you’re at it. Notice how it affects your confidence and interaction.

Evidence: Strange days of being attracted to close girl friends

Now am I just being insecure? Or is there a reality to all this? Let’s examine this from the other side.

Did you ever have those days, when a girl friend of yours, one you see all the time, looks especially good? She’s well-dressed, well-groomed, her hair is up in such a way that is very stylish & attractive. Strangely, you find yourself giving her more attention, seeking her rapport more than usual, and maybe even flirting with her. It’s crazy, but I’m sure a lot of us have been there. Some may argue that your confidence or emotional state shouldn’t echo your outer appearance, but if you’ve experienced the aforementioned scenario, you know that your insecurities are not ill-rooted. There is truth to it. Take it as feedback.

In Practice

Sometimes we need to hear stuff that we already know to apply and feel the magnitude of that knowledge. So tomorrow morning, try the exercise, FEEL your image.

It’s more than vanity…It’s putting your best foot forward, altering your state, improving your social interactions, and infusing a new energy to life every day.

Damn it feels good to look good.

Theory

PS: Check out our forums for style critiques and great discussion on image

Enjoyed this article?
For more articles like this, subscribe to Kinowear’s
RSS feed

Or, subscribe via email:

-->