These are the top 7 common fashion mistakes that men make. They might sound like a good idea but trust me guys, there not!

1. Short Sleeve Shirt with a Tie: Short sleeved shirts are usually deemed casual while a tie makes things formal. Please, do not combine the two!
2. Shine Your Shoes: Most men do not take the time to prep there shoes. Shoes should still be shined prior to wearing and cleaned after being worn. Bottom line is, have a nice pair or two, and take care of them right. And no, ‘real nice’ sneakers don’t count!
3. Is it flooding?: Your pants should always be long enough that they cover your socks. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
4. Belts are Your Friend: Don’t let your pants sag low. Wear a belt! Real gentlemen don’t reveal their bottom to the world on a daily basis.
5. Sock It To Me: Please make sure socks match your pants. This ensures a more clean look from shoes, to socks, to trousers. Not that we have anything against socks, but please don’t ever wear them with sandals… ever.
6. Matchy matchy: The myth is true – your belt and shoes should match.
7. Is it flooding? Part 2: This time, we’re talking about your sleeves. Sleeves should fit properly and allow for about ½ an inch of your shirt sleeve to show.

I’ve never seen a guy with his pants hangin’ low with a hot significant other. Nor have I ever seen a man with his crack out or his pants flooding to his ankles as the CEO of a large company. Dress to impress. Reap the benefits.

Photo courtesy of Ivan Mitic.

You might not be into “bringing sexy back” however you must admit that with his looks, cool attitude and innate sense of style, JT is a fashion icon for men lately. I mean, how else would he get chicks like pre-meltdown Britney, hang ten Cameron and bootylicious Jessica?

Timberlake works a gentlemen’s style with a quirky twist. He might wear a stylish pinstriped suit with sneakers. Although this isn’t recommended, if you can pull it off like Justin, knock yourself out! In his “What Goes Around” video, he wears dress pants and a dress shirt yet in another scene he has on dress pants, a wifebeater and suspenders. He keeps his manly edge but incorporates his own funky sense into everything. Bottom line is, keep it the look 1/3 gentlemen, 1/3 southern comfort and 1/3 trendsetter, regardless of whether your trying to snag JT’s look or not.

You may not have Justin’s looks but rather the laid back tude and style sense. As the great Meatloaf once said, “Two out of three ain’t bad.”

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Tired of wearing the same old sports coat to the office? Well your co-workers are probably tired of looking at you in that tired coat too. It’s time to spice it up a little bit while you are warming up for winter.

First, to keep warm in the cold, you’ll want to dress in layers. We are not talking about the ‘fashionable’ layers that is trendy for women right now (if you even knew about that!). We are talking about wearing an undershirt beneath your button up shirt. Once you’ve got on your button up, if you aren’t a top dog, you can either throw on a tie or a jacket – yes, you can choose either or – put on your slacks and be out the door. In cooler months, opt for a sweater in lieu of a jacket. A tie underneath makes a sweater look a lot more pulled together so you strongly consider the tie/sweater combo especially if your boss is a hard headed on the dress code.

And if you are the boss, you might want to keep sweater wearing to a minimum and maximize the tie/jacket combo. As the pres, head exec or whatever your status is, it probably would not be wise to show up with the sleeves of your button up shirt rolled to your elbows and jeans on your bottom half. Having on a jacket and tie looks more professional and that is probably the look you are going for considering your head honcho status.

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Sometimes events hit us like a ton of bricks. One day we’re merrily strolling along, telling ourselves how much money we’re saving by not spending it on weddings and hoopla every weekend. The next minute, we wish we would’ve bitten our tongue when we get home to 5 invitations for parties over the course of the next 2 months. Darn! And decoding what to wear? Impossible!

Whenever you go anywhere it is better to be over dressed than under. Having said that, don’t go too crazy or you’ll look ridiculous. If you have something on and you feel uncomfortable or uneasy if it will match with the invitations criteria, then take it off and try again.

Now on to the deciphering part. There are so many different kinds of dress codes that it is difficult to keep track. Here’s a list of the most notorious invitation dress codes alike with a few suggestions on what type of clothing you can pick up that will adhere to almost everything on this list. And for the more formal stuff, you can pick up everything suggested right here at Decalo Fashion. No worries!

Casual: A simple ‘casual dress’ means anything goes. Pull out those old holey jeans and even holier Led Zeppelin concert tee and get to it!

Business Casual: Boss got you feeling like you aren’t “appropriate” again? Well he just might be the one who is wrong. Denim, cotton or corduroy pants fit under the business casual code as do knitwear (aka your favorite Polo shirt).

Informal: A business suit and tie will do. Depending on how informal the hosts are jeans and a jacket might also be okay.

Semi-Formal: In America, Semi-Formal sits between business casual and black tie. This usually calls for a suit for men but nice khakis, a button up shirt and a tie will suffice in certain situations.

Formal: Formal is big time. Get out your tuxedo and shine up your shoes.

Cocktail: Technically, like semi-formal, this means a suit for men. But again, rules have been lax on cocktail attire the last few years and jeans with a great blazer or jacket as well khakis, a nice button up and a tie will work too. Looking polished is key no matter what you wear here.

Black Tie: Yeah buddy, this means get out your best tux, lace up your best shoes and paste a smile on your face whether your happy about it or not!

White Tie: This is the best of the best. White Tie is often described in the way royalty would dress so act accordingly. This is the most formal dress code.

Photo courtesy of Sophie.

There are few men that other men will agree to liking and agree has style. Calvin Klein has accomplished this nod of approval from men around the world. He is slick and hardworking and best of all a brilliant fashion designer.

Bronx boy Klein knows how to dress’em – men and women alike. From his first line with child hood buddy Barry Schwartz in 1968 to his exceptional client list of gorgeous models and celebrities like Helen Christensen and Julia Roberts that he works with today, Klein’s minimalist style has always been a hit. Women love him for the sleek and sophisticated way his clothes fall over their bodies. Men love the cut of his suits but more so his business sense. Klein never went to marketing school but his ideas lead his brand to be one of the best known in the world. Using a young Brook Shield’s and catchy “Nothing gets in the way of me and my Calvin’s slogan,” and ads featuring a waif-ish, barely dressed Kate Moss years later the man knows how to rope clients in.

Calvin Klein suits are what we’re ultimately here to talk about. They range in cool neutral hues from black, brown, gray, tan, charcoal and beige to suit any mans skin tone. Pinstripes or no, he’s got anything a guy might fancy. Calvin Klein suit jackets often come with a simplistic 2 or 3 button scheme and more often than not they are single breasted to avoid a cluttered look. For those men who might be a little bit more sweat prone than the next, Klein has got you covered with side vents on some of his suit jackets. With a mixture of suit separates, it’s easy to take home the whole ensemble or just whatever you need. People flock to Calvin Klein and his suits. If you want to be the center of attention, looking chic and suave just like Mr. Klein, all you have to do is pick up a Calvin Klein suit and you’ll be the man of the hour.

The age old question at most weddings and other important events is: “Honey, is it okay if I take off my jacket? It’s getting a little hot in here and…” Queue either a hissy fit or an “I don’t give a damn” from the significant other. But still the question remains unanswered. Decalo Fashion is here to give you the answer and it is no. Unless you are suffering from heat exhaustion, it is more appropriate and respectful to leave your jacket on.

Decalo Fashion has some simpler solutions than becoming a sweaty mess. There are a good many suits and suit separates on our website which have ventilation to allow maximum air flow through the suit while you shake your groove thing or pound shots at the bar. While you’re on Decalo Fashion make sure that you check out a suit jacket that has side vents. It is your best bet at a formal event. No one will know they are there and you will be living it up in comfort.

When the hosting party is dancing on the tables, kicking off their shoes and setting up beer pong at the head table, it is probably okay if you take off your jacket now, honey.

Photo courtesy of Oliver Delgado.

Get a soft measuring tape, a full length mirror and let’s get to business. Oh yeah, and you might want to be undressed or lightly clothed. Now pull your head out of the gutter and let’s begin our lesson on finding your correct pants size so we never have to see your plumber’s crack or ankle length floods again.

First you want to measure your waist size. Measure where you would ideally wear your pants. Put one finger between your body and tape. This is your waist size so jot it down.

Next let’s get to your hips. Stand with your legs about 5 to 6 inches apart. Measure the broadest part.

Inseam is critical for menswear. You’ll need to find someone trustworthy to measure from your crotch to the top of your shoe and again at just above the back of the heel, which is the ideal places for your pants to end. If you only have buddies who are going to bust a gut when you ask them, find a pair of pants that already fits you correctly and measure them from the crotch to the seam to avoid embarrassment and harassment.

While we’re here, we might as well mention your belt size. Wrap the tape over that same pair of well fitted pants or you can just order the belt one size larger than your waist.

And there you have it. You should never have to deal with ill fitting clothes again.

Photo courtesy of Dora Mitsonia.

Always seeing men you think are stylish sporting scarves in the winter months but you just don’t know how to take on the task? Decalo Fashion is here to make it easy for you. We offer a selection of Bruno Piatelli designer unisex scarves. The 100% lambswool fabric is soft and flawless. They also come in a variety of colors such as black, white, navy, brown, maroon, camel, red and gray. If you are fashion challenged your best bet is to pick a neutral color – which 99% of ours are – so you are sure that it will match to anything you might wear it with.

Wear it with… right, onto that part! It’s easier than you think. If you want to look like a top level exec or you are one for that matter, hold both end in one hand and the rounded end in the other, put the scarf around your neck and loop the two loose ends through the rounded one. This is an easy, elegant look that any many can pull off. If you aren’t quite comfortable with a loop yet, wrap it around your neck the way you might your gym towel or even throw one half over your shoulder.

You can wear your scarf with anything but it looks chicest with a nice jacket or coat. Just make sure you are comfortable and confident. If your not, everyone will be able to tell. Hold your strapping head high, loop on that scarf and go! You’ll not only stay warmer but now you’ll be that stylish guy other guys wish they were!

Photo courtesy of Martin Walls.

So you’ve been browsing and you decided to buy some great designer ties. You’re unsure of the fabric or the care methods but you just know you’re going to be a lady killer when you add these to your usual, bland, white button up look. You get them home and think “These are great! But how to I keep them so they don’t wrinkle like my old ones?”

Problem solved. First things first, you are probably buying the wrong ties. Cheap silks and other fabrics tend to wrinkle and crease. You get what you pay for – no matter if it’s a house or a tie – and that’s a fact of life my friend. Check out DeCalo Fashion’s main website for some stylish designer ties. They are made of 100% imported silks and come with a wrinkle free stamp guaranteed by yours truly. While I am sure there exceptions to the rule, if you are buying fine ties they shouldn’t wrinkle. If they do, look at the way that you are storing them. They should be hung with care or laid flat out with nothing on top of them aside from another tie perhaps. If you are having wrinkle problems by traveling, try to lay the ties flat in the bottom of your suit case with as little folds as possible. This will leave a smaller margin for wrinkle errors. If they still crease, hang them in the bathroom while you take a shower or just steam up the bathroom. Leave the tie hanging for about 10 to 15 minutes and when you come back, poof, the tie is back in business.

And last but not least, don’t lay an iron on the tie. More than likely, if you aren’t a professional, you will ruin it since most good ties are dry clean only.

Photo courtesy of Päivi Rytivaara.

Sean John Suits

Sean Combs, best known as Diddy, Puff Daddy or P.Diddy, has made a solid name for himself in the fashion industry. Combs was first seen as the loyal sidekick of the late Notorious B.I.G. Always fashionable in a staple black or white combo, often accompanied by sunglasses and a sharp haircut, Combs was suddenly on the scene to be seen. Hooking up with fashionable ladies like Jennifer Lopez and model Kim Porter he soon became more stylish ever. His infamous “white party” instantly became one of the chicest soirees to happen to the Hamptons since Jackie O. Combs soon married his urban yet elegant sense of style with fashion by introducing the world to his Sean John line. These suits are made for a man who wants to stand out in a crowd as one part suave lady killer, one part class and refinement and one part edgy and urban.

For these reasons among others, Decalo Fashion has chosen to carry the Sean John line of suits. Our Sean John collection consists of suit separates with a single breasted jacket. The jacket comes together with two buttons for a chic look. The slacks are double pleated and comfortable to boot. These Sean John suits are available at Decalo Fashion today in solid black, black pinstripe, navy blue pinstripe and gray sharkskin. “Street” never looked so good!

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