GUY STYLE GUIDE: 6 REFRESHING WAYS TO TUNE UP YOUR WARDROBE FOR FALL

Now that Labor Day is over, it’s time to tune up! Do you have a wild guess what I’m talking about? So it’s not your iTunes, or your oil in your adult Hot Wheels, or the tune up in the line up for the final four in fantasy football, but I’m talking about a good old tune up with your fashion! Right now is the perfect time to take 20 percent of your attention towards tuning up 80 percent of your wardrobe. And man, do I have 6 refreshing ways to tune up your wardrobe this fall! Read on if you’re ready to give your style a new lease of life…

THROW ON A BLAZER OVER EVERYTHING

The quickest way to refresh your look from dab to fab in no time is to throw on a blazer over everything, and I mean everything, except a bare chest! This is not Chippendales so it’s important you’re using the blazer as a tool in  layering. Wear it with jeans and a t-shirt, or pop on a cashmere hoodie and pair with trousers, whatever dose of layering is required make sure you stick to classic color blazers like navy or charcoal grey because it will allow for more versatility.

INJECT COLOR

I don’t know about you, but I have always had a thing about color. From my early years of playing with finger paints, to colorful posters all over my college dorm to my favorite style technique of using color unexpectedly within a look to create that pop factor! Whether you prefer to go bolder with color or play it safe and stick with lighter shades of colors the best way to really figure out how to make a statement with color in your wardrobe is getting familiar with the color wheel. A rule of thumb that has helped me especially if you don’t have a color  wheel on hand is to go back to two concepts. The first is brushing up on basics such as the order of the colors in the rainbow which is pretty much like the color wheel when creating color combinations. Colors next to each other compliment and colors across each other if you were to draw a clockwise circle of the rainbow colors in correct order contrast. The second tip to remember that all neutral colors- grey, white, blue, black pair well with any other individual color.

LIGHT WASH DENIM

If you look around at any advertisement, blog, or editorial magazine the jean of choice for men’s fashion is a classic straight dark wash fit, however that doesn’t mean you always have to wear what everyone is doing. Sometimes it’s great to deviate from the norm. What if  I told you that adding lighter wash denim may be quite refreshing.  Expect to see a new breed of medium-to-light wash jeans that look perfectly worn as new upcoming trend from now and into 2015. But that doesn’t mean you need to store your dark denim just change it up!

GO BACK TO THE BASIC T-SHIRT

There is something to be said for a guy who looks good in jeans and a t-shirt.  T-shirts are classic, masculine, a bit rebellious, and are one of the only pieces of clothing that can be worn for any occasion, from under a shirt with a suit, to the gym, beach, bed, and out on the town!  Stick to your basic, white, grey, navy, or black t-shirt and combine it with your favorite dark wash jeans. Make sure it fits you perfectly, but don’t go too tight so you end up looking like the men from MTV's Jersey Shore! Remember the sleeves should finish mid bicep, while the body should be cut slim through the torso and end a couple of inches below the waist. For those of you who are more body conscious it’s best not to go bigger , but go for classic fit in your normal size (don’t oversize in attempt to conceal) and focus on color, neck, style, and fabric.

YIN AND YANG IT!

As a stylist I love to mix and match formal elements with casual ones. I often refer to this technique as the Yin and Yang It! . Yin and yang a term known in the Chinese Philosophy which are often shortened to "yin-yang" are concepts used to describe how opposite forces are actually complementary. This concept is seen everyday in fashion, where you can take a formal element and dress it down with casual elements, and vice versa. Take this concept to dressing your jeans up and I mean really dressing them up! Go with a fancy schmancy blazer, fine dress shirt, and tie, and fancy brogues. On the other hand, wearing casual summer suits in the fall with a t-shirt, long-sleeved henley, v-neck cotton shirt, going sockless, or suit up with a pair of snazzy sneakers to stroll around A-list style  will drive all the girls crazy!

ADD THAT EXTRA OOMPH!

I saved the best for last. The extra oomph is something that I often discuss as the “pop factor” to your look or an extra element that speaks who you are.  These are often seen unexpectedly but not limited to the accessories and shoes. Whether you want to wear a bright colored watch, color woven suede belt, a scarf, a color pocket square, a pair of multi-colored dress socks, or add fashion sneakers with a suit the choices are endless in how you want to add that extra oomph!  If your unsure of where to begin in creating the pop factor I recommend browsing online and taking notes of those celebrities, or editorial looks that have that extra oomph and then transfer those ideas and apply to your own look.  Remember try to take looks that you can wear into your everyday style.

HERE ARE RECOMMENDED LINKS TO TUNE UP YOUR WARDROBE *=Top picks

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=21men&Category=m_top-picks&ProductID=2000059900&VariantID=

Marled Raglan Sweatshirt at Forever 21 $17.80 *

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=21men&Category=m_top-picks&ProductID=2000085574&VariantID=

Heathered Ringer Tee at Forever 21 $5.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=21men&Category=m_top-picks&ProductID=2000104920&VariantID=

Colorblocked Hoodie at Forever 21 $19.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=21men&Category=m_top-picks&ProductID=2000107771&VariantID=

Classic Faux Leather Oxfords in Chestnut at Forever 21 $34.80 *

http://us.asos.com/River-Island-Pants-in-Slim-Fit/

River Island Pants in Slim Fit at $66.65 at ASOS

http://us.asos.com/ASOS-Skinny-Fit-Smart-Pants-In-Jersey/

ASOS Skinny Fit Smart Pants in Jersey $47.61

http://www.zara.com/us/en/man/blazers/basic-blazer-c269232p2009555.html

Basic Blazer at Zara $79.00

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=21men&Category=m_blazers-and-vests&ProductID=2055880131&VariantID=032

Two Button Knit Blazer at Forever 21 $39.80 *

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=21men&Category=m_blazers-and-vests&ProductID=2000073369&VariantID=024

Structured Twill Blazer at Forever 21 $54.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?Br=21MEN&Category=m_bottom&ProductID=2000064486&VariantID=

Distressed Light Wash jeans at Forever 21 $27.80

For more information go to www.frugalfashionite.com