I’ve been asked by tons of men to include some male fashion tips on Fashion HotBox. So–here it is: the first installment of a series of fashion tips for men by one of my trusted men’s fashion advisors, Bill Butler.  Enjoy.

DONT BE THAT GUY

Some epidemics induce violent coughing and dry heaving, but there’s one in particular that makes me want to vomit…when guys dust off their snorkeling gear and plunge head first into that bottle of Chanel No. 5 that mommy left out on the night-table like a beacon of hope for all those fake fops out there. If that’s not enough to make you exhale your triple shot of vanilla wheatgrass, these “rakes” step into their closet and say to themselves…”if each color were a country…how could I look like a UN Assembly today?”

I guarantee you these guys have never been busier (at work, in the gym, in bed, et al) than their outfits. When I spy these guys walking into the Conde Nast building looking like they bought their tie at Liberacci’s estate sale and their pants at the “Tight Enough To Tell Your Religion” Thrift Shop…I think to myself: man, if only I could capture their puzzled expressions when they walk home Hans Solo from the clubs downtown wondering “how did that line about the polar bear and ice breaking not secure that leggy blonde??”

DUDE, GET AN AURA.

Fellas, douchebaggery and tomfoolery aside, wear the clothes–don’t let the clothes wear you. Why does every girl secretly pine to bear the offspring of James Bond, Christian Bale (as Batman and Bateman, pats self on back), and Don Draper?? Sure, these guys are breeding material (genetic Egyptian cotton, if you will), but above all, they exude a low-key cool, a certain cultivated effortlessness that their manner of dress reflects. They create an aura about themselves, projecting a sense of mystery and latent power through simple, iconic pieces that take a backseat to their inner substance.

SIMPLICITY IS KEY

What’s a practical way to channel their style? Blues, grays and blacks…horizontal stripes, subtle patterns that you can only distinguish getting nose to nose with the fabric, trim (not suffocating) tailoring, and emphasis from only 1-2 components of the outfit.

For instance, if you’re wearing a gray, subdued plaid sport coat, go solid on the shirt (or super light stripe) and solid on the pants. Simplicity in your manner of dress can be the ultimate form of expressiveness. It says you’re not screaming for attention, but rather, commanding it.

THINK BAT CAVE, NOT AVICII CONCERT

Just remember fellas: don’t disqualify yourself before getting in the game….more is more at Arby’s,  but not in your closet. Think batcave, not Avicii concert ,and you’ll be getting more tail than a quail-hunter (okay neither myself nor Axe body spray can legally guarantee that, but I can assure you that you’ll be getting laughed out of a UMass sorority party for shotgunning appletinis and not for your look).

And on that note, here are some brands to point you in the right direction:

Theory, Vince, 7 For All Mankind, Joe’s Jeans, APC, Brooks Brothers, Rag and Bone, J. Crew, Boss Black Label, Citizens of Humanity, Hudson, and Splendid Mills.

Good luck out there, and stay tuned for the next installment of “A Word on Menswear”: Chapter 1.

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