When fall finally starts coming around so does the cold, and we can already start feeling the heat fade away. You'll eventually need to find something to keep you warm, you can't wear a sweatshirt all the time, so the smart thing to do would seem to be buying a jacket. If there was one type of jacket you want to stay away from it would be the puffer jacket. 

Every now and then there's a person that might be able to pull it off, but they're few and far between. I personally have never seen somebody that made it look good so that should tell you something. While they do keep you very warm there are much better options to look good. Layering might take longer and more thought, but in the long run you won't look like somebody who has trouble dressing themselves. Any article you read about puffer jackets tells you the tricks to making them look good. You shouldn't need a guide to unlock the mysteries of your clothes, you should be able to figure it out on your own.

TL;DR There are a lot of different ways to stay warm when the weather gets colder, but puffer jackets shouldn't be one of them.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

Sometimes it can be tough to find the best clothes to wear to look your best. You have to take into account your body shape and size, colors that look good on you, what your spending limits are when you're buying clothes; there is a lot of thought that goes into it. An easier way to look at it sometimes is what you shouldn't wear, and there are a few things that pop to the top of my mind. You want to look like a man the ladies swoon over, and that just won't happen when you toss on certain things.

The first thing you should never wear is skinny jeans. If you have skinny jeans in your closet you should immediately light them on fire and head to the store to find something else to wear. If you're thinking about them, ask yourself if you wouldn't mind being seen in public with leggings, because that's basically what they are. You don't want people wondering if you accidentally tossed your girlfriend's jeans on when you woke up.

Something else you should never wear is non-prescription glasses. I'm not really sure who thought these were cool but they were 100 percent wrong. Glasses are for those who need them, and that's it. It's already bad enough if you own a pair of non-prescription glasses but if you own a pair that are over sized and look ridiculous you're a tool and everybody hates you.

The last thing I'll throw out is the deep V-neck T-shirt. Never in the history of mankind should this ever be worn on a man. The moment you put it on you look like one of the world's biggest douchebags, but if that's what you were going for have at it. That's not to say all V-necks are off limits, but the deep V-neck is something you need to steer clear of.

TL;DR If you're pondering what to buy for clothes some things you should avoid are skinny jeans, non-prescription glasses, and the deep V-neck T-shirt.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

Socks don't seem like the type of thing that you should be all too worried about but I often see guys wearing socks that will completely destroy whatever it is they're trying to accomplish with their look. There are simple rules to follow to keep women from laughing at you at every opportunity.

First off, one of the things I see happen time and time again is a guy wearing white socks with dress shoes. I'm not really sure how you didn't notice how dumb that looks when you left the house but you look like a loser if you do this. White socks should be worn when you're doing something like outdoor activities or are at the gym. Like running shoes there's a limited amount of instances when you should wear them, otherwise they just look ridiculous. Dress socks should always be worn with dress shoes.

Something new that I've learned lately is that you should also match your socks to your pants. With the exception of jeans your socks should match your khakis, dress pants, etc. instead of matching your shoes. This comes with a little discrepancy and should be used as more of a guideline instead of a rule that's set in stone. You should always go with your gut on what socks to wear (unless your gut is always wrong), but you just don't want your socks to clash with whatever you're wearing.

These are a couple of simple rules to follow but the most important point to make is simply to not overlook your socks. It might seem like something that nobody would really notice but it can stand out a lot.

TL;DR Wearing the right socks might not seem important but can completely throw an entire outfit off.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

There's a reason a tank top is called an undershirt, it's because it's supposed to always be worn under another shirt. There are no exceptions to this. If you go anywhere solely wearing a tank top you immediately look like trailer park trash, leaving the house to get your daily supply of beer to drink as fast as you can before you head home and beat your wife. Shirts should always have sleeves, that's an important thing to remember when you're looking for something to wear.

Personally I don't think I can pull off a light V-neck T-shirt but other guys can, so if it works for you that will work much better. Besides a lot of women like guys in simple jeans and a T-shirt, no woman likes a guy strutting around in a tank top. If you do find a woman who finds that attractive she's not the woman for you. There's never a reason why you can't wear a normal shirt instead of a tank top so the moral of the story is just don't do it.

TL;DR There's no instance when you should ever wear a tank top as a shirt.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

The first thing a lot of women notice (or anybody else for that matter) is what type of shoes you're wearing. Thus a poorly chosen pair of shoes can absolutely decimate the look of anything you're wearing if you choose the wrong pair. You don't have to own as many shoes as women do (and to be honest I don't understand why they own so many shoes) but you will need at least a few pairs to make it through any situation.

First things first, the only time you should ever wear running shoes is if you're running. If you're not and you're wearing them you look like you don't know how to dress yourself. Personally I have a pair of running shoes, boat shoes, dress shoes, casual sneakers and flip flops. For me, these get me through every type of situation that I need them to. My boat shoes get me through most situations since they are durable yet casual and I have my sneakers for when I really want a laid back look. Flip flops are only meant for excursions like going to the beach or a friend's house, that's about it. If you wear them out to any bar you look like a bro and that's not what you want to be going for.

If you're looking for a more diverse selection of shoes that go outside of what I mentioned you can always add to your collection. You can always buy Oxfords or loafers which will match anything casual, ankle boots if you're into that sort of thing (I feel as though I can't pull it off) or a really nice pair of sandals with antiqued, worn leather. Basically figure out what works best for you but always wear the right shoes for the right occasion and always match what you're wearing.

TL;DR Your shoes can be a deciding factor on how well your clothes are put together.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

During the summer it can be a little difficult to find the right clothes to wear all the time. Not every occasion calls for shorts and jeans don't work in every instance. You could go with khakis but if it's really hot outside you'll hate life in them, plus they can be a little rigid at times. This is where linen pants will come in as a great start to any summer outfit. They'll give you a laid back look for more social outings while keeping your entire appearance put together. With that you can couple it with a lot of other clothes that will make you much more comfortable such as a simple button-down or a polo with some stylish flip-flops.

Depending on where you go to get your pants will obviously dictate how expensive they are, but I have a pair that I bought for a cheap $20. Another thing you'll be looking into is whether to go with drawstring pants or belted. Personally I like to go with the drawstring because of the simplicity of it but it's really up to you. Belted pants will give off a bit more of a classy look while the drawstring pants will seem a little more laid back. At any given rate I've gotten a compliment every single time I've worn linen pants which makes me wonder why more guys don't own a pair.

TL;DR If you're looking for a classy summer look linen pants are always a great go-to.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

Here's something that I'm shocked still slips past a good amount of guys, not owning a pair of boat shoes. There's so many advantages that not owning them is a lot like shooting yourself in the foot. If you're looking for a great summer look you can wear these with literally anything. Whether you want to wear them with khakis, chinos, shorts or even jeans, these will cover all your bases while staying consistent with a classy look.

The absolute best part that I love about my boat shoes is that I never have to wear socks with them. If you're not used to it that may sound a little weird, but it makes everything during the summer easier. Not to mention you're always prepared for any situation you might encounter during your summer days of drinking. Besides I'm fairly sure that girls don't even talk to guys unless they're wearing boat shoes in the summer so there's always that. My one suggestion is to break them in well before you always wear them without socks. Having blisters on your heels is by far one of the worst feelings on the planet.

TL;DR For a consistently classy look that can be worn with pretty much anything, the go-to is always a nice pair of boat shoes.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys

In a new segment every day of the week I will be writing advice to have you dressing better, following trends, the latest gadgets and gear, and everything you'll need to be a better man all-around. I'll make you guys a little less homely every day.

This weekend I was down on the cape and made a terrible fashion faux pas that I'm fairly sure most guys make, the only difference was that I was fully aware of it. A lot of guys don't know that they're wearing the wrong swimwear but it's something that women will notice immediately, at least the ones that you want talking to you. Take what I was wearing for example: a pair of board shorts with a wild design on them. Not the worst in the world but completely wrong, unless you want to look like an asshole.

A good pair of swimwear should fit like your everyday shorts, although if you're wearing the wrong types of shorts anyway you won't know what I'm talking about. Your swimwear should be slim, fit just under the waist and end an inch or two above the knee. They also shouldn't be sporting a ridiculous design that may or may not have been drawn by a 16-year-old with ADD. Something simple; personally I prefer a striped or plaid design because it matches the rest of my clothes.

Now if you really love board shorts (which I do) because they dry instantaneously and are comfortable, a lot of stores still sell them in the styles that you're looking for. The most important part to remember is how you're wearing them so girls won't laugh at you, while you think you're a stud. There's a reason guys who look like they're from Jersey end up with trash.

TL;DR Wearing the right swimwear is key when heading to the beach so that people think you're a respectable person.

Posted by Atkins under Fashion, For Guys