Shoes

Whereas women are required to have at least two dozen pairs of shoes, men usually own a measly two pairs: a pair of sneakers for bumming around and a pair of dress shoes for work. But, can you guess what one of the first things a woman notices about a man is? It's not your charming personality, it's your shoes.

If you want pointers on buying the perfect pair of sneakers, we've got you covered with an entire SYW on the subject.

Buying dress shoes is slightly more complicated. First off, you should be prepared to pay at least $125. Sounds hefty, but remember, quality over quantity. You can wear the best outfit in the world, but if your shoes suck, you might as well be wearing a potato sack.

Stan tells us - "There is absolutely no excuse for wearing shoes that are not polished or one where the heel has worn off or the leather looks worn." He also says, ideally, your shoes will match your belt which will match your briefcase. Nothing looks worse than a brown belt worn with a black pair of shoes and a tan briefcase. Except if all three are covered with hearts and unicorns.

A few dressy-ish options

Boots

If you can only afford to purchase one more pair of shoes, Stan prefers that you go with a black leather boot. We don't mean a cowboy boot or a pair of Doc Martens; we're talking about a boot that is an inch or two above your ankle with a nice heel and a conservative, round-capped toe. This way you can wear them both for work and for going out at night.

Slip-ons

If you are morally opposed to boots, Stan's suggested alternative is a pair of nice leather slip-on shoes. These shoes are sort of loafer-ish, and they have a high vamp that covers your socks.

Tied

If you prefer shoes that tie, look for a nice pair of leather shoes with a toe that is more square than round. Try to find a pair that is casual enough for khakis, but nice enough for dress pants. Avoid dress shoes with tassels or buckles.

Slides

Even if you practice good grooming, most men have unattractive feet. So, in the summer, while you might be tempted to wear sandals, it's best for men to keep their toes covered at all times unless you live in Rome and carry a shield. For the two men on this planet who have good-looking feet, you are allowed to purchase a nice pair of leather slides if you are dying to flaunt your toes.

Accessories (belts, ties, watches, jewelry)

While there isn't a lot of variety in men's clothing, accessories are an opportunity to individualize your look. Belts, ties, watches and jewelry can sometimes be even more expensive than the suit you are wearing, but you don't need many of them, and you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune. Here's the lowdown on how to put the finishing touches on your outfit:

Belts

You need two belts: one for dress pants and one for khakis and jeans (never wear your dress belt with your casual pants or vice versa). Also, your casual belt should be wider than your dress belt.

Ties

You can have fun with your tie collection, but keep up with the trends. If skinny ties are in, then take a gulp and go buy a skinny tie for that season-but that season only. Try to avoid cartoon ties or polyester. They're dorky.

Watches

Buy the nicest watch you can afford. If you only buy one watch, buy a simple, classy watch that will match with anything. Avoid bells and whistles. Don't buy a diving watch or a sports watch, unless you are a diving instructor or an athlete. In that case, buy a second watch.

Jewelry

Aside from wearing a watch and the occasional pair of cufflinks, jewelry should be kept to a minimum. Unless you are married, you shouldn't wear rings unless it's a class ring (and even that is questionable). If you wear a chain, keep it simple, and only wear one (or a group of rogue disco dancers may start to boogie around you).

STICK WITH A LOOK

OK, so you have your basic clothes. So now your job is to find a look that works, stick with it, and milk it for all it's worth. Stan recommends that the best way to take advantage of your new fashion savvy is to assemble a "uniform." This is a foolproof method:

Once you find a style of pants that work for you, buy five pairs. Buy them in colors such as black, navy and khaki that can be easily mixed and matched with a variety of tops.

Once you find a type of shirt and V-neck sweater that looks good on you, buy several of them in different colors.

If you have a business casual dress policy at work, assembling a uniform will make your life much easier in the morning. Plus, a business casual policy means you can stretch that work wardrobe into an evening wardrobe, which should encourage you to splurge a little (since you don't have to invest thousands of dollars on suits).

But what will people think if you wear the same type of outfit all the time? Consider this: What did Joe Co-worker wear last week? Can't remember, right? Men are lucky. They can get away with wearing the same suit all week with a different tie and no one will notice.

However, you DO remember the yellow suit Jane Co-Worker wore last week and wore again the following Tuesday. The slut. And besides, women won't care if you have a limited wardrobe; they're just happy you're presentable and not drooling on yourself. That comes later.
 

*Concludes*

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