CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET

You've graduated from college. You're out in the real world now and it's time to trade in your T-shirts and Tevas for a sophisticated, stylish, adult wardrobe. Yes, we know it's hard to let go of that worn-out flannel shirt you wore during finals in school, but what looked good in 1993 just doesn't cut it now, Cobain.

If you have a friend (male or female) who is fashion capable, have him/her help you go through your closet and toss out anything that is outdated and/or objectionable. Of course you can keep that trusty old flannel shirt for sentiment's sake, but refrain from wearing it out in public.

Just in case you need some additional help, we feel compelled to tell you that the following items in your closet must be burned immediately:

• Anything that is neon, stonewashed, or acid-washed
• T-shirts featuring the words "Big Johnson," "Co-ed Naked," "Whassup," or any popular catchphrases
• Tapered-leg high-waisted pants that are heavy on the pleats (Cavariccis, anyone?)
• Tie-dyed garments with dancing bears. [You're living in the past, man].

A word about fit

Stan, our fashion expert, preaches that one of the biggest fashion mistakes men make is wearing clothes that don't fit properly. From casual wear to suits, clothes that are too tight or too baggy are big fashion gaffes.

Even if you can bounce a quarter off of your stomach, wearing tight clothing just looks tacky. Some men think that if they wear pants that are too small, it'll make them look skinnier. Rather, it's just an effective method of damaging your intestines and gonads. So use the two-finger test: if you can't easily stick two fingers (sideways) into the waist of your pants, they're too tight.

Unless you're an extra in a Puff Daddy video, wearing big, baggy clothes looks sloppy and gives the impression that you don't care about your appearance. You know your clothes are too baggy when they continually get caught on doorknobs or small children. You should never have to continually hike your pants up throughout the day. Most retail and department stores will do alterations, so seek out a professional to make sure you're buying clothes that fit properly.

And if you don't already, you should consider subscribing to a men's fashion magazine such as MAXIM (not only do we plug ourselves, we plug our gurus). If you don't want to pay for a year's subscription, at least grab an issue off the rack at the start of each season just to see what's new in fashion. Don't forget to pay for it.

Buy some basics

You want to look good from head to toe, but there's a good chance that you're on a budget. So we're going to start you off with a few "must-have" basics to get your wardrobe rolling. Then, as your wallet expands, so can your wardrobe.

Where should you go to buy your fancy new duds? Department stores such as Bloomingdale's and Macy's offer one-stop shopping for those of you who loathe shopping. Trusty retail stores such as Banana Republic and J. Crew are always safe bets (especially if you don't mind the "preppy" look). If you prefer a hipper look, check out stores such as French Connection and Club Monaco.

Here's a big tip on how to save money: Everything at retail stores eventually goes on sale, usually at the end of a season. For example, summer clothes will go on sale in late August. Be careful though. Sales are good for items that are basic staples (e.g., khaki pants, dress shirts, T-shirts), but not for trendier items that were popular at the start of a season but not appropriate to wear the next year.

Once you've determined where you want to shop, it's time to start building your wardrobe with these basic items:

• Shirts
• Pants
• Shoes
• Accessories (belts, ties, watches, jewelry)

Shirts

Stan insists that you must own at least one crisp, white, high-quality, cotton shirt-you just can't go wrong with it. Buy one with a full-fashion collar that you can use with a collar stay and that can be worn with a tie. This way you can wear this shirt to work or out at night. Button-up dress shirts are generally good choices, as long as you buy one that is high-quality and a nice color. And since you're building the basics, stick with colors like blue and white.

You also can't go wrong with a high, V-neck sweater made of a quality material. Try Merino wool, or if you're really in the mood to splurge, cashmere says class and it feels great against the skin. V-neck sweaters look great for dates and dinners, and for casual dress days at work.

Also, be sure to wear a short-sleeve, white T-shirt under your shirts and sweaters. Not only does this protect your tops from sweat and deodorant stains, it makes you look adult-y and fashion-y.

Pants

If you're on a budget, there are three pairs of pants that you must purchase: a pair of dress pants, a pair of khakis and a pair of blue jeans.

Dress pants. Most men don't own dress pants unless they are suit pants, but even if you own suits, you need a separate pair of dress pants. You might be tempted to go for a standard black pair, but navy blue is very modern while still being non-flashy. Stan says, "Black is a safe bet." Exactly. A safe bet, but Stan also notes that navy says that you might know a little something about style.

If you wear suits to work, go ahead and splurge on a really nice (that is, expensive) pair of dress pants and get them professionally tailored. You will wear them all the time and it will be worth the investment. It's better to have one nice pair of pants instead of five cheap pairs.

Khakis. For a more casual look, you need to have a nice pair of khaki or light-colored pants. It's a good idea to have a couple pairs of these pants because you can just wash them and iron them at home (or if you're particularly lazy, get a pair of wrinkle-free khakis). Then if you're in a hurry, you will always have a clean pair to toss on.

Blue jeans. When purchasing jeans, Stan suggests buying a nice pair of dark wash jeans with a clean cut and style. Make sure they fit nicely (that is, don't buy ultra baggy jeans or jeans that aren't a standard length). Dark jeans will always look good and can be dressed up at night.

A general rule of thumb for any type of pants you purchase is not to buy pants with pleats-stick with flat front pants. They have cleaner lines and just look neater. Also avoid anything fancy, so that your pants can be stretched throughout your wardrobe without anybody noticing. For instance, if you only own one pair of khakis and they are really flashy, people will notice if you wear them all the time. The horror! However, if you buy a standard pair of plain khaki pants, no one will notice if you wear them all the time; they'll just assume that you have five pairs of khakis.

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