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men's fashion: curating a tie collection

5/9/2015

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Although  I don't often talk about men's fashion on the blog, I do give a fair amount of style advice to my male friends. Earlier this week I went tie shopping with a friend who had recently lost his entire tie collection while travelling overseas. We hit up The Tie Bar, which is my favorite men's accessory shop because of the wide variety, good quality, and low prices. Plus, their flagship store is just a short walk from my apartment so it is the perfect outing on a sunny day! 

Men's fashion can often feel formulaic (though if you want to break out of that rut, be sure to check out my Pinterest board of men's style) and a great tie can make an outfit more fun to wear. Whether you are building a tie collection from scratch or simply adding to the ones already hanging in your closet, here are the four ties every man should have:
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The Tie Bar Wool Herringbone in Grey/Silver $19
Something Somber
Although it is generally more fun to shop for bright and bold ties, everyone should have a somber option in the wardrobe for funerals. I'm partial to a grey herringbone because it is versatile enough to be paired with a navy, black, or grey suit. 
Something Classic
Think of this as your interview tie. Choose a subdued color palette and a simple pattern, such as diagonal stripes. This is the tie you pull out when you need to look professional and want to err on the side of dressing conservatively. Your tie collection only needs one or two classic ties.
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The Tie Bar Silk Academy Stripe in Light Blue/Navy $19
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The Tie Bar Silk Moroccan Tile in Light Cornflower/Pink $19
Something Fun
"Patterned tie" might bring to mind novelty ties with patterns of tiny pumpkins or candy canes. However, there are lots of fun prints in bright colors that are modern and stylish. This is the part of your tie collection where you can really let your personality shine through. Break out your fun ties for dinner parties, weddings, and to add pizzazz to your work clothes.
Something for Summer
You have a lightweight suit (perhaps a linen-cotton blend in tan), so why wouldn't you also have a lightweight tie for the warm weather? Seersucker is a great investment because it screams summer and won't go out of style.
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The Tie Bar Cotton Seersucker in Blue $19
When you are choosing ties, be sure to think about what suits and shirts you have at home. If you only own or wear black suits, you don't want to buy only navy ties. (However, if you are consistently attracted to navy ties, you might want to think about investing in a navy blue or grey suit.) The same issue can arise if you only wear patterned shirts and also mostly buy patterned ties. While you definitely can mix patterns, you will want to be more discerning when buying your shirts and ties. It is always frustrating to buy an item of clothing that you love and then realize that it doesn't look good with anything you already have in your closet. 

Do you have a go-to tie pattern or color palette? Share your favorites in the comments!
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men's fashion: 3 ways to wear an oxford shirt

6/16/2014

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The oxford shirt is a staple for many men's wardrobes, especially since the options for shirt styles are much more limited than for women. Most often they are associated with and worn to work, but these versatile pieces also look great layered and with jeans. Here are three ways to switch up your look so that you get the most use out of your shirts (and for more men's style inspiration, check out my Pinterest board.)
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Banana Republic Snap-Placket Elbow-Patch Pullover $79.50
#1. Quarter-zip sweaters (like the one shown in the the photo) are all over the place these days and I love how easy they are to wear. They feel more casual than a blazer or a regular sweater, but the zip perfectly frames the layers underneath. Depending on your event's dress code, you can either wear just an oxford under the sweater or add the tie as well. Pair with dark denim and a great pair of shoes and you'll be ready to hit the town.

#2. For a casual weekend look, the key is in the shirt itself. Bold, bright colors and plaids immediately make the shirt feel less like work and more like play. Roll the sleeves and leave a button or two at the top undone to give a relaxed vibe. Pair with either denim or shorts and finish the look with sandals, sneakers or another casual shoe.

#3. When you do need to wear an oxford shirt with a suit, don't let that stifle your own personal style. Mix your patterns and textures and don't forget about the details! If you wear french cuff shirts, choose interesting cufflinks to swap out for the placeholders that might come with the shirt and don't forget to add a pocket square (the coordinates with, but doesn't match your tie)! Even your socks should offer an interesting pop of pattern. You might be wearing a suit like every other guy in the room, but you can be confident that you look one-of-a-kind.
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father's day fashion

6/14/2014

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It's Father's Day weekend so the next few days on practically stylish will be all about men's fashion! I have had a lot of fun prepping for this by creating a Pinterest board of great looks for men. The widget below shows a preview, but there are many more images when you click through as well as my comments on each pin. Banish the "dad jeans" this Father's Day and help get all the men in your life looking stylish. 
Follow Practically Stylish's board fashion for men on Pinterest.
What are your favorite men's fashion styles and what pieces do you want to burn? Share your thoughts in the comments and then pass this post onto a male in need of some clothing inspiration!
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