Man Fashion Tips: Best Jeans to Flatter Your Body Type

With numerous types of cuts and design, jeans can be one of the hardest clothing to buy. Trying on pair after pair of jeans unflattering to your body can be a rather deflating experience for your ego. However, if you know your body type and the styles that flatter it best, you can save loads of time and your self-esteem won't be so much on the rocks.

The basic is the straight-cut jeans. This kind of jeans typically sits at your natural waist and is slim through the seat and thighs, gradually tapering off and slightly at the ankle. Straight-cut jeans flatter the tall and lean body type best. Jeans with a flat front and straight leg will show off your body to its best advantage. People of slim and of average height look flattering in this kind of jeans too. If you have the body to wear them, the straight-cut jeans are the perfect choice as they can pretty much be paired with anything.

The flare cut, also known as boot-cut jeans was originally designed to be worn with cowboy boots. This cut is a good choice to as it is very flattering for many body types. Typically the flare-cut styles should sit just below your natural waist and should be slightly loose through the leg. A bonus about these jeans is that it will never go out of style and it is so easy to dress them up for occasions. The athletic and muscular types look best with flare-cut jeans as they will subtly show off all your hard-earned gym work. However, if you have larger frames, flare-cut jeans should be avoided like a plague as it will only make you appear larger.

The defining feature of the low-rise jeans is that it sits below your natural waistline, often on the hip bones. Low-rise jeans can be straight cut, slim fit, bootleg or wide leg. However, it is best to wear this kind of jeans with a longer shirt. As the jeans are low-rise, your midriff will be visible anytime you move your arms and it is never a good one for men. Those with larger frames should apt for wide-leg styles as they are really great for concealing physical flaws but avoid choosing styles that are too baggy.

Do not be afraid to but more than one pair once you find jeans that fit your perfectly. With this newfound knowledge, your next shopping trip should be much more efficient.

Men Fashion: Dress Shirts Back to Basic

Men's dress shirts come in many different styles, usually determined by the shirt's fit and what type of cuff or collar it has. A basic dress shirt is a collared shirt, traditionally with long sleeves ending in cuffs, that buttons up the front. Fit may be tailored or standardized if the garment is ready made. The two most common types of cuffs on a dress shirt are the button or barrel cuff and the French cuff, while the more common collar styles on dress shirts include the point collar, the spread collar, and the button down collar. Other elements that contribute to the individual style of a dress shirt include what type of fabric is used to make the shirt, whether or not the shirt has breast pockets, and what type of buttons are used to close the shirt.

Dress Shirt Cuff

The most common and least formal cuff to see on an off-the-rack dress shirt is referred to as a button or barrel cuff. This type of cuff wraps around the wrist and closes with either one or two buttons. Another common type of cuff is the French, or double, cuff, which is considered more formal. A French cuff is folded over and held in place with a cuff link rather than a button. The most formal type of cuff is the single cuff, which is fastened with cuff links like the French cuff.

Dress Shirt Collar

There are various different styles of collar, which is the primary indicator of the formality of a shirt and here are three common type of dress shirt collars that you can commonly find in the market.

• Spread collars measure from around 3½ to 6 inches between the collar points, and the wider collars are often referred to as cutaway or Windsor collars after the Duke of Windsor. This city style is more formal, though it is common in Europe, and predominant in the UK.

• Point, straight, or small collars are narrow, with 2½ to 3¼ inches between the points of the collar.

• Button-down collars have points fastened down by buttons on the front of the shirt. Introduced by Brooks Brothers in 1896, they were patterned after the shirts of polo players and were used exclusively on sports shirts until the 1950s in America. 

How you wear a dress shirt is almost as important as what it looks like. Depend on what occasions, while formal wear can be too stuffy for many occasions, casual but still dressed up is enough to make a good impression.

5 Men Fashion Tips to Camouflage Your Beer Belly

Look down and ask yourself this question – “Do I have a beer belly?” and yes, you have to be brutally honest. If you’re above the age of 35, chances are the answer to that question is a YES especially when you’ve enjoyed the occasional pint or two.  If it’s a no, well the years have been kind to you. But, fear not.

Here are some men fashion tips that we think can help to camouflage that beer belly so you can walk out in confidence.

1. “Maternity” wear

Now, before you think we are out of our mind and actually suggesting you put on pregnancy clothing, hear us out first. Maternity wear are generally tighter on the upper body and flare out at the mid section. So, what we are advocating here is a menswear equivalent of such cut. Believe it or not, many designers are slowly warming up to this style. Most notably, coats that are cinched at the waist hence, creating a silhouette that is forgiving on the beer belly.

2. Single Breasted Suit

There are many contradicting opinions in the fashion world with regards to the type of suit a man with, shall we say ample girth should wear. A double breasted suit with its double row of buttons is said to draw attention to the mid section thus creating a wider illusion. However, some other style experts claimed that double breasted suits tend to“cuts away thickness” in the eye of the viewer. Ultimately, what matters is a well tailored suit. If all else fails, you can always fall back on a good ol’ pinstriped suit that is sure to elongate the body.

3. Avoid Light Colors

In the world of women’s fashion, there is a reason why the LBD or little black dress is of such timeless appeal. Muted, dark colors such as your shades of black and brown virtually slims out all traces of belly fat, muffin tops and love handles. You might end up with a closet deem fitting for creatures of the night but until you lose that beer belly, you’ll just have to bear with it. While we’re at the topic of colours, also try to avoid the colour blocking trend. Instead, keep your outfit as monotonous as possible.

4. Low Rise Pants?

The last thing you want if you do have beer belly syndrome is to have your gut spilling out over your pants. Keep them in check with pants that are at least at belly button level. Do avoid the low rise pants trend that has infiltrated pop culture, a staple in hip-hop music. Zac Efron might be able to pull it off but have you seen his abs?

5. Body Sculpting Undergarments

Just like what Spanx have done for women, there are now undergarments designed to mould men’s figure into a deceivingly fit one. If you hadn’t disclose that you’re wearing body shaping trunks underneath, no women will be any the wiser. Forgive the unappealing photo above, but we just had to make sure we get our message  across. :)

In short, we always advocate wear what makes you feel comfortable, rather than following trends. However, we are pretty sure you don't like to show your beer belly either.

Top 25 Sneakers in 2009 - Part II

Continue from earlier post last week, here are the next 8 pairs of coolest sneakers designs ranked by Sneaker Freaker in 2009. Do give your comments whether these are also your choice.



Nike Supreme Bruin

After previously working with Nike on some successful, high-profile collaborations, New York-based retailer Supreme put its spin on the Bruin, Nike's first low-top basketball shoe, which debuted in 1972. The line comes in four basic colors, but the ultra-white model with metallic red pops is the one that ascends to the top 25.



Vans HUF Old Skool LX

Too often, classic is just another word for boring in the sneaker world. These kicks avoid that rap. Although the shoes are plain, intriguing details such as bricolage canvas, a suede upper, an embroidered Vans stripe, and repeating triangles on the foxing made the Old Skool one of the year's best.



Adidas Jeremy Scott Collection

Sometimes the sneaker lovin' community lacks humor, but no one would say that about designer Jeremy Scott. His collaboration with adidas this year (one in a long history) is a stunning four-model ensemble of lunacy and silliness. One shoe has three tongues; another, giant golden wings, while others have tassles, studs, and snakeskin.



Nike Presto

The '09 Presto remained true to its stylish roots, with the plastic-spined lace system once again taking center stage. Unlike its eye-popping, multitoned predecessors, the shoe's solid color schemes caught people's attention this go-around.



Converse UNDFTD Poorman's Weapon

Los Angeles store Undefeated has consistently styled sneakers with panache using a touch of military flavor. Released as part of its War Is Business campaign, the Poorman's Weapon featured a flight-jacket nylon upper, property tags, and removable Velcro logo patches. The black edition sold out in minutes, and the green wasn't around much longer.



Nike ACG Ashiko Boot

Named after a ninja's favorite weapon, the ACG Ashiko boot is made with Flywire, Nike's proprietary lightweight yet sturdy thread. Sneaker Freaker's editors were so impressed with the shoe after taking a pair hiking, they quickly plastered it on the magazine's cover.



Reebok Proper Dual Pump Runner

This pair of kicks represents the joint efforts of Reebok and Proper, a boutique in Long Beach, Calif. With PlayDry lining, memory foam, and a 100% synthetic upper, they are one of the world's first vegan runners. Even the glue was free of animal innards.



Adidas Kazuki ObyO Collection

Japan's Kazuki Kuraishi had worked for style dons such as clothing line A Bathing Ape and Fragment Design, a design house that has collaborated with such heavyweights as Rolex and Disney (DIS:US), but it was his adidas line that brought him international recognition. The line's KBALL mid-tops in rich black leather with eggplant laces are understated. Also, the slender Kazuki branding on the tongue is a tip-top top-off.



So again, stay tune with the last part of Top Sneakers in 2009 - Part III.