New Years Eve

Does dressing for New Years Eve parties stress any of you out? Never fear, I'm here to ease that stress. Unless you are going to a super formal party (we're talking tuxedos required here), I've got a great look for you that is easy and darn good looking. This post will be short and sweet. Consider it my holiday gift to you. Here we go,



1). Once again, dark jeans are your dressy/casual best friend. They can be your everyday casual jeans, but if you pair them with a dress shirt, belt, tie, and some great nice shoes, you've got a great evening out/party look. I put these jeans with a light blue classic dress shirt, but you could really pick any color you wanted to. Remember, your jeans need to hit the right around the laces of your shoes when you are standing up.

2). Finishing off this outfit with the black leather jacket and these light grey oxfords that coordinate with the grey in the tie helps to give you an extra ounce of style. You could easily go with black shoes as well with this outfit if you aren't quite brave enough to wear grey shoes yet.  Just remember, shoes and belt need to match or coordinate. Brown shoes/brown belt, black shoes/black belt, grey shoes/brown or black belt depending on the color of the rest of your accent pieces.

Look easy enough? Hopefully I took away some of the anxiety of looking your absolute best for New Years Eve this year and many years to come. Happy New Year guys!

Bow Ties, They’re Not Just for Clowns or Penguins Anymore

*** Hi Everyone! I am very excited to introduce to you the first of our guest writers here at Southern Creative Men. Chris is a good friend of mine, he has great style and happens to be the authority on bow-ties. When I wrote about how to tie a tie he wrote to me and said "Where are the bow-ties?!" So, I told him to write it and send it to me! He did, and it's great. I am confident you will enjoy what he has to say and you will definitely learn something new. So, thanks Chris for contributing a great post to Southern Creative Men! Enjoy!***

Good day, gentlemen! I want to start off by saying thank you to Ellie for inviting me to guest write on her blog. Today I’ll be writing about bow ties; why to wear them, how to wear them and when to wear them. I know bow ties are not the norm. Even if you wear a tie every day, bow ties can seem like a foreign concept, but they don’t have to be. So if you’ve ever been intrigued by a little bow around your neck read on!

The first thing to remember about bow ties is that you can apply all the same rules to bow ties as you would regular ties. But just for kicks I’ll run through some of the basics. 

1. Wear solid color ties with patterned shirts and vice-versa 
2. No crazy/loud patterns – less is more here, I’ll have some examples later
3. Not too thick or too skinny – Big floppy ties are for clowns!
4. Lastly, tie a real tie – Adults don’t clip on ties, 8 year olds do.

First things first! Let’s get you comfortable with tying one of these bad boys around your neck. It’s not as hard as you might think. Below you’ll see a nifty little instructional graphic to help.

One of the most difficult parts of tying a bow tie is getting it even, and this takes some practice. But as always, practice makes perfect, so don’t give up. Now don’t expect it to look perfect, that’s one of the things that gives a bow tie it’s look. It’s another reason why you don’t want to wear a clip-on; they have that “too perfect” look. See the comparison below.

You can see here how perfect it looks compared to the slightly off centered-ness of the real tie on the right.

Once you master tying a bow tie you’ve graduated into a new class of style. Next, let’s look at different ways to wear/show off your new skills!

It’s easy to first think of the most common way a bow tie is warn and that’s formal wear. If you have the opportunity to attend a black tie event that’s your chance to really show off, because most guys will be wearing a rental tux which means a clip-on tie. Wearing a real tie set you apart, and people will notice. But one of my favorite things you can do with a real tie is un-tie it as you move toward the end of the night.

One of the down sides to wearing any bow tie is you absolutely have to button your top button. You can’t do that cool “top button unbuttoned look” that you can with a regular tie. Having that top button buttoned can get uncomfortable, and when it does that’s when you bust out this look. Just un-tie your tie and let it hang around your neck. While all of the clip-on guys will have their tie tucked into their front pocket like it’s a High School Prom, you’ll still be looking good. Plus everyone will see that you had a real bow tie.

Now if going to black tie events isn’t on your calendar very often, do not fret! You can still wear a bow tie; it works for a casual look as well. Let’s look below.

In the first picture you can see a great casual outfit utilizing a bow tie. By simply wearing a v-neck sweater in place of a blazer or jacket, you can dress down a bow tie. Also, notice the tie is a solid color, just slightly darker than the shirt. He’s also wearing a darker wash jeans and a simple leather shoe.

Other options to dress down a bow tie are just as simple. For most people, your first bow tie will be a simple solid black one, which can seem hard to dress down, but it’s really not. Try wearing it with a patterned shirt like gingham, plaid, or even stripes. You can also wear a patterned tie with a solid or smaller/simpler patterned shirt. A third option is to wear a vest or cardigan in place of a blazer, and maybe don’t even tuck in your shirt. With all of these you can wear almost any pant. Jeans of course will be most casual and, depending on the style of slacks, you can dress them up or down.

When it comes to where and when to wear a bow tie, you can get away with it just about anywhere, as long as you feel comfortable. Just like anything, dress it up or down appropriately for your situation, but don’t be afraid to have some fun and experiment. A bow tie in any situation will get people’s attention, so be confident knowing that you look good.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed what I had to say. I also hope to see some more bow ties out there! 

• - Chris Stetson     -

Chris Stetson is a photographer, graphic designer and artist based in Temecula, Ca. See his work at www.stetsoncommachris.com

Just A Heads Up!

Later today I will be featuring the first of my guest writers here on Southern Creative Men! Make sure you stop by later and read it because it is going to be very beneficial to you all. Chris is a great writer and you'll have a lot of fun reading what he has to say. So, don't forget to check the site later today ok?

I'm Offering You A Way Out

Guys, here it is. I am handing you a way out. You no longer need to be confined to skinny jeans that do absolutely nothing for you. I know that for a lot of musicians it can feel like skinny jeans are what you need to wear to be current with musician style. However, the truth is... you don't. You can still look like a rock star and wear jeans that actually flatter your body.



1). Jeans: These are going to be your new best friend. They are Gap straight leg jeans. They have that same rocker look, but they don't make you look like Howard Wallowitz from The Big Bang Theory. Trust me guys, skinny jeans do nothing for you. If you have skinny legs already they only make them look skinnier, and if you don't have skinny legs they make you look heavier than you are. Also, they truncate your legs and make you look shorter. Now, is that what you want? Straight leg jeans will flatter your legs but still have that narrow look.

2). The Rest: Since this post is really a diatribe against skinny jeans, the rest of this outfit is up to you. I threw together a graphic t-shirt that has a vintage-y feel and this black faux leather jacket. They are all from target and totally affordable. Guys have it easy, you can throw on jeans and a t-shirt and look like a rock star. These sunglasses also give you a rocker edge without being too trendy or over the top. The shoes and belt that are with the jeans are great for this look too and really bring the look together. However, you could totally rock Vans, Converse, or boots with this look too.

So, do you think you can let go of the skinny jeans? Maybe at least try it? I promise you that you will look better... also, they really can't be that comfortable right? So, will any of you take me up on this and test what I've said? If you do let me know and you might just get featured on here!

Resources: How to Tie a Tie and When to Do It

Ok guys, I've told you over and over again how incredible the perfect suit makes you look. I know that a lot of you don't know how to tie a tie and the when I say "wear a suit!" you panic. Well, that's why I am here. Not to panic you... I'm here to make your life easier. The instructions below are from Men's Warehouse so you know they're good. This will give you an idea for the most popular knots and when to wear them. I'm also including a website that has instructional videos on a whole bunch of different knots. Good luck!

www.tie-a-tie.net

A Guide to Different Tie Knots

There’s more to a tie knot than meets the eye. At a glance, all knots may look the same. But incorporating different knots into your basic tie wardrobe is a great opportunity to inject some stylist personality.

Keep in mind that the size of the knot should increase as the spread (or the space between collar points) increases, and the different styles also connote various levels of formality. This article explores the three most popular styles.

The Windsor Knot
Named after the Duke of Windsor, the Windsor knot is the most traditional of knots. A great all-purpose option, the Windsor works well for those in the business world and for professional settings. Not the most ideal if time and simplicity are important factors, the Windsor produces a bigger triangular knot that’s best suited for dress shirts with wider spread collars.

The Half WindsorMore versatile and easier to produce, the half Windsor generates the great look of a Windsor with a smaller triangular knot. As a result, the half Windsor looks great with dress shirts that feature a regular spread collar. This style works well for various settings, from formal to business casual. Check out the step-by-step guide.

The Four-In-HandBy far the fastest and easiest to create, the smaller four-in-hand is perfect when you need to get ready in a hurry. This knot creates a smaller, narrower knot with a stylish, more fashion-forward edge. Give it a try with a dress shirt with a button-down collar or one with a narrower collar opening.

Casual Wear Doesn't Have to Have Holes In It

Today I decided to go super casual so you can see a very easy way to dress when you're just out and about doing whatever it is you do during the day when you're not working. This outfit is just as easy as throwing on gym shorts and a t-shirt but you'll look way hotter.



1). Shirt: Thermal shirts are awesome when paired with something other than overalls. They are easy and comfortable but can be made to look more presentable, especially when you throw an undershirt underneath them. Target has a version of this shirt that is great looking and comes in really good colors.

2). Jeans: I don't need to say much more about jeans than I already have, but I will say this... Dark wash! These have a little bit more of a casual look because they look a little worn in. A little worn in is fine, just try and avoid jeans with holes or tears in them. Remember, not to baggy and not to short.

3). Accessories: This belt is a really nice for a casual look because it doesn't look brand new. Belts are great things, don't underestimate their power to make you look better. These socks are just awesome. I know not everyone can (or is willing to) pull off argyle socks, but you should at least try. They are a fun way to put some color and style to a simple outfit.

4). Shoes: If you're wearing a brown belt, you are wearing brown or gray shoes. Ok? The color of this shirt works best with brown and gray accessories, so I would stick with those. These shoes may seem a little fancy for some of you, but they aren't. However, if you feel uncomfortable wearing shoes like this just during everyday life, then you could wear Vans or Converse with this look too (or if you are of the cowboy persuasion, embrace your boots!).

Sound good? Guys, I promise you if you start dressing like this when you are just hanging around or running errands, those of the female persuasion will notice.

Don Draper's Got Nothing on You

I know the thought of wearing a tie causes some of you to start convulsing, but knowing how to put together dress pants, a nice dress shirt, a tie, and a few other accessories is absolutely necessary to a man's life. If you are a grown up you should know how to put this outfit together. The basics are simple and you can stick with those until you're comfortable and then branch out a little bit if you want to.



This doesn't look to scary does it? Alright, here we go.

1). Dress pants: Make sure they fit! There is nothing that can ruin a good outfit faster than dress pants that are too baggy or too small. In my opinion the way these pants fit on our torso-less model here are perfect. You could go a little looser if you are uncomfortable and a little longer if you wanted but not too much. Definitely don't go tighter or shorter. There is one very important element of these pants... NO PLEATS! Pleated front pants are your enemy. Stay away from them. They make you look chubbier and older than you are. Colorwise, try and stick with black or a charcoal grey color like these.

2). Dress shirt: Dress shirts should be pretty simple to get a good fit. Once again, just don't go to baggy or too tight. Make sure your sleeves are long enough also, they should hit right at the base of your hand when your arms are straight down at your side. If you have more of a narrow build look for shirts that are slim cut so you can avoid the billowing affect that dress shirts have if they don't fit properly. As for color, if you are nervous about coordinating or not sure you can pull of a bold color than stick with the classics. This blue is a great color for almost any man, and it works with black or grey pants. Of course, there is always your classic white. If you want to try a bolder color but aren't quite confident enough for a saturated color stick with lighter colors and they won't seem so intense.

3). Shoes: Invest in a good pair of black dress shoes. These are one thing I will sort of leave up to your taste and style. However, please make sure they are not super chunky. Super chunky black shoes take your dapper look down about 10 notches. Whether you go with a pointy toe, square toe, more of a boot, or a loafer is really up to you and what you are comfortable with. It also has to do with your age. If you are 25, stay away from loafers. Oh, and remember our rule about belts and shoes (if you missed it, check out the post below).

4). Ties: I will be posting a tutorial on how to tie a tie, but for now let's just talk about prints and colors. Your tie does not need to be "matchy-matchy" but it does need to coordinate with your pants and shirt. I chose this tie because it has a fun pattern, but still incorporates the grey of the pants and the black of your shoes and belt. As far as I can tell there really isn't any blue in that tie, but because the blue of your shirt is a neutral color it's ok. Also, the grey in the tie is going to take on a little bit a blue sheen when it's up against the shirt. You can really have fun with ties, just don't get crazy. Also, make sure your tie hits right about your belt. There should be about 1/2 an inch to an inch between them. A tie that is too long will make you look like a little kid, and one that is too short will make you look chubby.

5). Accessories: Men's accessories are pretty basic but they add just an extra touch of "put togetherness". A nice watch that isn't made of rubber or that velcro-y fabric is a really nice extra touch. This is where your own preference comes in. If you don't wear watches normally, then don't worry about wearing one with this outfit. This is about taking your own unique style to the next level.

So what do you think? If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me and I'd love to help. Now, go impress your wives, girlfriends, or mothers, and show up wearing an outfit like this to your next wedding, funeral, or semi-formal event.

It's Amazing What A Sweater Can Do

I decided to start with something simple, easy, and darn good looking. Any guy can put this look together and pull it off. Invest in a good pair of dark wash jeans that fit perfectly and you will never regret it. Dark jeans that don't have holes in them can be dressed up or dressed down for any occasion and they look good all the time. V-neck sweaters like this blue one are a great look for any body type. They instantly make you look polished and put together but still casual and manly. You can wear just a simple white or black t-shirt underneath it or make it a little preppier and throw the sweater over a button down shirt allowing the collar and cuffs to show. I really liked the look of these black converse with this outfit, but you could do black or grey vans, or black or brown dress shoes or boots.

Here's a few simple rules to keep in mind:

1). Your shoes and your belt need to match. If you are wearing black shoes you need to wear a black belt, if you're wearing brown shoes you need to wear a brown belt. Grey shoes are a grey area (no pun intended). You could wear either a brown or black belt depending on your outfit. Still with me?

2). Your jeans need to hit right below the bridge of your foot (right where it starts to curve toward your toes). If more than an inch of your socks show when you sit down, your pants are too short. If your pants drag on the ground when you're wearing shoes they are too long, get them tailored or buy a size shorter.

3). Socks must coordinate with your shoes. You can have fun with socks if you want, but DO NOT WEAR WHITE SOCKS WITH BLACK SHOES! Did I say that strong enough?

This all seems doable right guys? Alright, that's all for now. Memorize the rules and your girl will love you for it.

Welcome Guys!

Welcome to Southern Creative Men! This section of my blog is devoted entirely to you guys. If you've ever wondered "Does this shirt go with these pants?" then this blog is for you. Here we will discuss all things related to men's fashion. If you're one of those guys that is scared of the words "Men's Fashion" please don't run away. I promise you that you will find tips and ideas that will help you look and feel your best. You can dress the way you are comfortable and still learn to look put together and confident. I won't make you wear cardigans if you don't want to. I promise.

Did I mention that girls dig guys that dress well?