• jcrew.com
    1 of 10

    By: Robert W. Ford

    Knowing what to wear and when to wear it is what’s going to set you apart from the herd.  Your dad knew this when he wore suits to the office and khakis on the weekend. The guy down the hall who just got a promotion and wears French cuffs understands this. The guy at the bar with his shirt tucked in, wearing an alligator belt gets it. The question is, do you? The right clothes at the right time aren’t going to get you the girl or the promotion, but they are going to give you an advantage you can’t list on your resume. Your clothes speak for you before you open your mouth; make sure they’re saying the right thing. Here are 10 updates to your wardrobe and accessories that will say all the right things about the man you are or want to be. 

    WEAR A GROWN-UP HOODIE

    Every guy has a hoodie. Okay, every guy probably has about eight hoodies. But not every guy has a cashmere hoodie, and that’s why you should. Until the dog days of summer hit, you need a warmer alternative for chilly spring nights, and it shouldn’t be emblazoned with your college’s name on the front. Those crafty folks over at J.Crew know your love for comfort and have combined your two favorite shirts, a henley and a hoodie, into one perfect piece made all the more luxe in cashmere. It’s a ridiculously good-looking sweater that goes with everything and travels well in your tote or gym bag. When the temperatures dip at night, slide this on over whatever you’re wearing. Better yet, be chivalrous and throw it over her shoulders for a late-night stroll on the beach or through the city. Just make sure you get it back.

  • filson.com
    2 of 10

    NOTHING SAYS MORE ABOUT YOU THAN THE BAG YOU CARRY

    There are a lot of places in your wardrobe where you can get something fun, cheap and trendy. You use it for awhile, and when the fun’s over, banish it to the back of your closet with no regrets. Your briefcase, laptop bag or messenger bag is not one of those items. More than your suit and tie, even more than your fine Italian shoes, your bag is going to get noticed by your boss, women, and even other guys, so you want to make sure it says the right things about you and your style.  
    Here’s the good news: you need to know only one name for any kind of bag or luggage you need, and that name is Filson. Filson has been making rugged outdoor clothes at their factory in Seattle for over 100 years. Outfitting hunters, fisherman and outdoorsmen for a century has taught them a thing or two about quality and workmanship, all of which are applied to their superior line of bags and luggage. No-fuss style with decidedly masculine details like tin cloth, leather pulls and brass zippers combine to make these bags something you’ll hold onto for years. It’s not unlikely they will outlast you, but hey, your kids will inherit them and love them just as much as you did. Not bad, considering the handsome Filson Original Briefcase costs a mere $215. The Passage Slim Laptop Briefcase is also a steal at $170. A Filson bag will never be trendy; it will always be a handsome, timeless classic that will last forever. Isn’t that exactly what you want your bag to say about you?
  • farfetch.com
    3 of 10

    CLASSIC CHINO TROUSERS IN OUTRAGEOUS COLORS

    No matter how expensive or well fitted they are, your classic, flat-front khaki chinos aren’t going to get you noticed. Everyone wears chinos, but they just don’t stand out. To show you’re a true man of style, you need a pair in bright yellow by Band of Outsiders, or a reimagined streamlined cargo pant/chino in turquoise by Gant by Michael Bastian, or hot pink chinos by Loden Dager. Yeah, hot pink. Nothing says a guy is more secure with himself than strutting down the street in neon pink chinos. As with the statement blazer, the trick to keeping this look more you and less Elton John is to keep the rest of the outfit simple. Pairing your neon pink with no socks, broken in Top Siders and a fitted T-shirt make this a great weekend look; tuck in a solid oxford and add a thin leather belt and it’s casual Friday done right, add a knit tie and you’re out to dinner. This look is most successful as a color-block look. Keep all the pieces solid colors, don’t mix in prints and you’ll be turning heads the right way.
  • kieljamespatrick.com
    4 of 10

    THE PERFECT BELT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

    What can take a really good outfit, (say, the perfect pair of summer wash jeans and a crisp, lightweight, white shirt) to the next level of style? The right belt. The right belt that looks just like that rope-knot bracelet you bought at the beach when you were a kid. That belt exists, and it’s handmade in Rhode Island by the preppy-obsessed folks at Kiel James Patrick. At KJP they make hand-knotted belts out of the highest quality nautical cord with names like JFK and Narragansett Lifeguard. Every belt is finished with vegetable-tanned leather end pieces, brass buckles, and backed with brightly colored, contrasting fabrics. Sure, the backing fabrics are a detail only you (and whoever takes off your belt) will see, but isn’t that what details are all about? KJP also has a wide range of handmade bracelets, bowties and women’s accessories as well. You need at least one of these belts in your summer style arsenal.
  • baldwindenim.com
    5 of 10

    GET THE RIGHT PAIR OF JEANS FOR SUMMER

    You’ve probably been wearing tight, dark blue skinny jeans all winter and that’s great. But summer's more casual vibe is going to demand an alternative that’s a little looser, a little more comfortable, a little more rakish. Do you think you’re really going to want to squeeze into those ball-crushers after a day at the beach? Keep the dark skinnies for summer nights out on the town. For a more relaxed look, you’re going to want a broken-in pair that looks like you’ve had them forever with a looser fit and feel. The trick is not dressing them down. Keep the outfit neat, even if it’s casual.  
    For the top of the line look, you’re going to want to get a pair of Baldwin jeans. Kansas-based Baldwin Denim is the current darling of the denim-obsessed. With their unique fabrics, intricate hand applied washes and superior fits, it’s easy to see why. Any of their styles will suit you well, but for a great, easy summer look, get the Henley-cut California wash. Yeah, any kind of wash is a little tricky, but the California wash is so meticulously realized you’ll just end up thinking you’ve broken them in over a dozen summers.  
    Maybe you’re not exactly ready to spend $232.00 on a pair of broken-in jeans just yet. Never fear. You can get the look for less over at your old friend Levi’s. Check out their Selvedge Goods Matchstick Jeans, a slightly relaxed skinny jean with a mellow, aged look that works just as well as the Baldwin, with a slightly nicer price of $148.00.
  • sunglasshut.com
    6 of 10

    SUNGLASSES THAT DON’T MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A DOUCHE

    A quick, easy way to update your style and really stand out from the crowd is to ditch the $5, neon, fake-Oakley, boardwalk sunglasses and really invest in a pair of big boy shades once and for all. Of course, you want your sunglasses to look cool. A good rule of thumb when you want to look cool is, if it was good enough for Steve McQueen, it’s good enough for you. Way back in 1968 Steve McQueen was rocking Persol sunglasses in the movie "The Thomas Crown Affair," wearing their iconic Persol PO 714 sunglasses on and off screen.  
    Persol wisely reissued the PO 714 in 2010, with a few modern updates, but did not change, thankfully, the original blue lenses. The frame is now available in three colors—black, tortoise, and amber—and is now equipped with a unique folding system so you can carry them in your shirt pocket when you’re indoors. (You’re not wearing your sunglasses indoors, right? Nor are you wearing them on top of your head, or behind your head on your neck? I know you’re not doing this, so I won’t even mention that you shouldn’t.)  
    Also highly recommended are Tom Ford sunglasses.  Tom Ford is a man who embodies Steve McQueen’s swagger in all his design. You can’t go wrong with the Tom Ford Cary TF 182 in tortoise shell.
  • ralphlauren.com
    7 of 10

    MAKE A STATEMENT BLAZERS

    Warmer weather affords you the opportunity to leave behind all of your solid navy, black and grey blazers for awhile. While most of your spring/summer blazers are still going to be solids in cotton & linen, take advantage and have at least one statement blazer in your repertoire. Go crazy with a madras print from Ralph Lauren, take it retro with a boldly striped mod look in seersucker by Thom Browne for Brooks Brothers, or go with that most summery of fabrics, gingham, by Gant Rugger.  
    Whenever you’re making a statement with a single piece, especially a blazer, keep the rest of your outfit simple, you want to look chic, not like a clown. Even more importantly with blazers, make sure it fits. Most guys buy their blazers a size too large. Don’t be most guys and don’t confuse tight with fitted. Still not quite ready to rock a print blazer? You can achieve the same bold statement with a solid in an unexpected bright color (think watermelon) from Mr. Turk. Pair that with a gingham shirt and a knit tie and you’re in preppy heaven.
  • dsquared2.com
    8 of 10

    A SWIMSUIT THAT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE YOU’RE AT LAKE HAVASU

    Unless you actually are still in college and going on Spring Break, it’s time to retire your knee-length, Hawaiian print, board shorts. Guys, the ladies want a man, not a boy in baggy shorts. Besides, if you’re actually swimming in them, do you really need all that extra material weighing you down? Don’t go skimpy. You’re not a competitive swimmer or European, so forget the crotch socks and Speedos. You want nylon, mesh-lined trunks with a 5-inch to 7-inch inseam. OK, you can go up to a 9-inch inseam, but not longer than that. Maybe that’s a little shorter than your walking-around shorts, but this is a swimsuit. There’s a difference.  
    Just because you’ve ditched the Hawaiian print doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. You can get great solid suits for a great price by Marc by Marc Jacobs or American Apparel, or you can break the bank with Prada swim in their signature, whimsical 2012 print or a camouflage number from DSquared. Just keep it fun. You’re going to the beach after all.
  • jackspade.com
    9 of 10

    TIME FOR A NEW WALLET

    The last time you went on a date, did you pull a three-inch-thick lump of frayed, 10-year-old leather out of your back pocket when it was time to pay the bill?  If so, you just cancelled out your $1,200 suit and the $300 dinner. Guys, your accessories—your belt, wallet and shoes—are the things that are really going to set you apart and show your personal style. With your wallet, the first step is to clean it out. It’s not a storage locker for old receipts and movie-ticket stubs. Keep only the essentials: license, insurance cards, credit cards and business cards (your own only). These are the only things you need in your wallet. I prefer to use a card-style wallet, which is smaller than a normal wallet and doesn’t have a flap for holding money.  

    So, where do you keep your cash? In your front pocket, of course, in a money clip, another great accessory to showcase your personal style. If you prefer an International style wallet, one with a flap for currency, that’s going to be fine too.  Either way, it’s hard to go wrong with a wallet from Jack Spade, the undisputed leader in combining masculine, high-quality goods with a sense of humor. For a neat style upgrade, try the Jack Spade Embossed Anchor International Wallet in rich, chocolate-brown leather for a sleek look with a wink and a nod.

  • miansai.com
    10 of 10
    Next: Street Style

    OR, JUST MAKE A BIG, BOLD STATEMENT NOBODY CAN IGNORE

    If all of that is a little too subtle for you and you still want to make a bigger, bolder statement ,you can always get a 14-karat solid-gold iPhone case by Miansai. It’s certainly something that will get you noticed, and it will set you back a cool $10,000. Sure you could spend that wad on a big splashy Rolex or Tag Heuer watch, but wouldn’t that just be a little too on the nose? Having a solid gold iPhone case is something you know not everyone on the block is going to have, and what better protection is there for a $600 chunk of glass you carry in your pocket?  
    If $10,000 is too much, but you still like the Miansai style, peruse the rest of their site and check out their more affordable hand-knotted, nautical-inspired bracelets.  A little more down-to-earth in price, and very high on bohemian style.