Wellcultured - Well Cultured is a men’s online magazine with advice and reviews on fashion, dating, finances, health, music, movies and many other topics, as well as a robust message board and the Well Cultured Guide, a freely editable community wiki.

2009 is going to be a different year. For most of us in the West, the economy has gone to hell in a handbasket- leaving many of us without jobs or fighting for those we have. Socially, the world is changing- especially in the US, where the entire government has been handed over to the opposite party and subcultures are growing and growing. This year, seemingly moreso than 2009, is going to be a year about recovery and optimization- making ourselves more better than we were before to weather any kind of economic or social situation.

Frankly, there is very little room for error in the West anymore. Where a few years ago one may be able to survive (to some degree) without a job and with a lot of room for error schooling-wise, we are no longer going to have such freedom. Many college graduates are very quickly learning that there simply aren’t that many jobs anymore- and many budding entrepreneurs are learning there isn’t the money to hire anyone anyway.

In a world like this, the strongest and the most savvy will survive- and when it comes to this sort of competition, being a well cultured individual will save you every time. Knowing how to look professional, dress well, handle yourself in a pleasant way and how to excel at your job is crucial- and here are ten new years resolutions you should follow to do just that.

10- Clean your life “history” now.

Few people really realize how much information can be found out via the Internet, especially by employers. Personally, a variety of information can be found out about me- from my school to even some of my political affiliations, people I’ve worked for, old friends, and embarrassing overweight pictures of myself. The worst thing is, a savvy individual can find some horrible stuff on me- namely, some posts about me from an old stalker, and an accusation of me being a mentally deranged homosexual. These constitute what I call a life “history” online- and just like your internet browser history, they can be fairly normal or very embarrassing, depending on what you do and how much you make public.

If you can, “optimize” your history. Get rid of old forum accounts. Delete old blogs. Remove (or untag yourself from) old photos on Facebook. Make sure no-one is talking about you, if you can help it. There’s nothing wrong with having accounts on websites, just realize that if they connect with your real name, they can harm you- which is why people often joke your name on the internet is a “Power Word”.

Worst case scenario, there are “cleanup” companies that specialize in fixing issues like unsatisfactory posts and the like. Employ them if you must.

9- Build connections everywhere.

Connections are how most people become rich, not by pure savvy. Sure, having intelligence is important- but knowing the right people who can help you (and who you can help in return) is incredibly important.

One of the easiest ways you can build a connection is to make yourself an address book- be it online, written out, or even on your cell phone. Websites like Linkedin and Facebook help, but not everyone in the world is on there- find a somewhat neutral way of cateloging who you know, from where, and their contact info. Store business cards, if you have to.

Remember, though, you have to reciprocate the help you get. Be willing to help out friends- use your skills for their benefit. Really good business connections are made on mutual need, not necessarily on your ability to exploit the other person into getting you what you need.

8- Date more.

I’m very serious. This will help you.

Dating is marketing yourself, no matter what others may say- just, instead of asking the other person to hire you and give you money, you are asking the other person to like you. Dating lets you refine the skill of marketing yourself- both in the sense of getting to know others conversationally (understanding how to be social with near-strangers), but also understanding yourself a bit better- and how to explain yourself to others. You’ll also find yourself less nervous about interviews and other kinds of meetings- if you know how to woo women correctly, you shouldn’t be too worried about being causally friends with men.

As well, the bonus is you could always find an awesome girl- there’s nothing wrong with finding a girlfriend for 2009.

7- Optimize your computer to get things done.

This is the fun geeky part of the resolutions.

Optimize your computer for work. Sure, we all absolutely love to optimize our computers for play- cleaning up our harddrives and buying new parts for faster gaming- but there’s also a benefit to optimization to get things done.

First off, provide yourself simplified ways to manage your e-mail and calendar. Google provides a lot of these tools for free and in high quality- both Gmail and Google Calendar are excellent tools for management. Google Calendar, my personal favorite, allows you to not only make your own calendar, but share them with other users- synchronizing youself with everything from school schedules to football games.

As well, organize and back up your work. For both schoolwork and literal work, make an organization system that will allow you to store  your files safely and in a way where you will know where they are. I personally find that my best method is to have a separate hard drive in my PC devoted entirely to bulk storage- allowing me to reformat and play around on my main hard drive without worrying about where my other files are. This also often saves my rear when I destroy Windows in some way or other.

Oh yes, and if you do decide to optimize your computer, as one geek to another, keep or rollback to Windows XP if at all humanly possible. Despite recent advertisements, Vista is not a productivity system whatsoever. Worst case scenario, if you cannot find XP drivers for your system, consider some flavor of Linux.

6- Go to school- or get certificates for what you already know.

Unless you have already gone, if you are not currently in a form of College/University, you need to apply pronto. As I have often mentioned, High School educations simply do not cut it anymore for jobs- you need to specialize and be smarter. Some people can certainly find jobs after highschool because of their skill- but for the average joe, that sort of luck rarely comes. Get a degree in something- and study your ass off for a good GPA. There are many companies now that do not even briefly consider potential hires unless they have the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.

Some people are surprised at the ridiculous amounts of accrediation you can get for very little work. Many certifications- computer certifications such as the A+ Certification, various personal trainer certifications, and other similar certificates can be had for relatively cheap. These boost a resume for virtually any job, and always provide an extremely good way to make extra cash on the side.

5- Make more money- put your skills to work.

As I mentioned above, easy skills can be a great cash crop. Personally, I have found that basic tech support and design work provide me a steady stream of extra money for clothes, dates, and other kinds of frivolities- as well as a great way to augment rent if I need to.

Your “skill” doesn’t even have to be something incredibly complex- there are many party planning companies and restaurants that sometimes need extra hosts. If you have the looks for it (or the lack of self-respect to do horrible fetish photography), modeling is a very reasonable way to make cash.

What I will say, though, is to be careful. From the work I’ve done, as well as hearing stories from friends, there are many scams that exist for temps- not paying the right amount, expecting more than they listed, and that sort of thing. Always have something in writing- even an e-mail or two confirming the job and the pay- to back yourself up.

4- Eat healthier- no more junk food, period.

There have been countless articles posted online and published in newspapers/magazines about junk food and it’s bad effects, yet it still is purchased by the proverbial truckload by the average family. This is ridiculous. While sweets and chips are fine in moderation, you may not really realize how many calories, grams of fat and grams of sugar you are ingesting every day from a casual snack- and how much effect it has on your system.

Eating poorly makes you sluggish, irritable, sleepy (but often makes it harder to actually fall asleep), sexually weak, and it can give you horrible skin. Worst of all, it makes you fat. Why eat it?

Eat junk food in moderation. There’s nothing wrong with having a bag of chips or a soda every now and then- just don’t go overboard. If you eat a lot of junk food (say, during a Christmas party), exercise it off- don’t consider it a lost cause. Sometimes, the best way to ensure you don’t eat it is to simply not buy it- and, in the long run, it will save you money, too.

3- Dress better- buy clothes that are eternally stylish.

Of course, this being a fashion website, we always love talking about new fashions and how to wear them- it’s our “thing”. The problem is, with the economy going to hell, it’s hard to buy good fashions that are actually affordable.

The answer to this is twofold. First off, go for sales. With the economy as bad as it is, many clotheirs are cutting back their prices and holding sales like crazy- take advantage of them. I’ve seen $300 jackets go for $50 this Christmas- a bad thing for retailers but a good thing for you.

The second part of the answer is that you should buy long-lasting, not transient, fashions. Well-made suits, leather shoes, high quality jeans, and nice coats are all the kinds of clothing that will last you years- so buy them well and in fashions that are established, not extremely cutting-edge. Modernize your wardrobe with a few small pieces, but largely keep yourself traditional in fit and style- doing so will allow the clothing to truly last years, rather than look outdated in one or two.

2- Start a weekly exercise routine- preferably three times a week.

The reverse of junk food- exercising makes you look good and feel good. Beyond just being fit, exercising will make you look better (both in clothing and naked), it will give you more energy, allow you to focus more, and in general will make you a better person overall.

Of course, don’t get into a “rut” by focusing exclusively on weight lifting or running- branch out and make your routine encompass a little bit of everything. Fundamentally, you should try working on a little bit of the “big three”- strength, stamina, and flexibility- by finding activities and exercises to promote all three, rather than one or two. If you exclusively weight lift, try to build in some cardio as well- you’ll find it beneficial both to your weight lifting stamina and to help slim fat off your body- and if you do nothing but cardio, try weight lifting to blast away pudginess and show lean muscle off.

1- Manage your money.

Obviously, I’ve been mentioning money a lot this post, and number one is all about money.

No matter how old you are or what financial situation you are in, it is imperitive that you begin to manage your money closely. Know where your money is coming from and where it is going- and keep it from blasting away on ridiculous expenditures.

One very important thing all people over 18 should work on is building credit. Even if you do not need one, having a credit card (and using it for a small expenditure monthly) is a great way to build up a credit score and prove you can handle small term loans. This will help immensely in the future with larger loans- such as car loans or home loans- which often require you have a demonstrated history of, in colloquial terms, “trustability”.

Arguably the easiest way to manage your finances is to buy cheap and only when you must. Other than things you absolutely must have (groceries, a roof over your head, etc), there are many things you simply do not need to spend so much money on. If you can manage it, avoid paying monthly fees for video games, upper-tier cable channels, personal trainers, and other amenities, especially if you do not use them.

I’ve listed a ridiculous amount of pointers today, but my point is incredibly simple: manage yourself tightly this year. 2009 is going to be a year of tight funds and even tighter employers- so you will have to bend to avoid breaking, if you pardon the metaphor. I can guarantee that even if you pick up one of these resolutions, 2009 will be just a little bit simpler- and hopefully, we’ll all survive just a bit better than the next guy.

If you’ve made a trip to the mall recently, then you have probably seen guys wearing “skinny Jeans”. Now, let me say that this particular fit can be fashionable, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, skinny jeans are not for everyone, as the name implies, this particular fit is for skinny guys. Secondly, do not get a “boot cut” as this is better left for “strait leg” fit. Another detail to avoid is loud colours; if you want to be stylish, go for a nice indigo or sulphur black wash. Next, try them on if possible, different brands run different sizes and shrink or stretch differently too. Avoid getting a pair that is too tight, or you may end up with a pair that shrinks to an unbearable fit. If trying on a pair of jeans is not your thing, then wrap the waist of the jeans around your neck and if the two ends touch it should fit. Also, make sure you get the proper length, you want a little bit of play (about 2-4 inches) so you can achieve stacking which makes a stylish accentuation. Now that we’re covered the basics, here are some brands that make fashionable skinny jeans.

Nudie Jeans Co: A Swedish company specializing in raw and selvage denim which is made with the best Japanese, Italian, Turkish and U.S. denim fabrics. Nudie Jeans has a fantastic line of denim with a great look and fit.

Cheap Monday: Another Swedish company who offers affordable jeans that looks great and fit great too. An average pair of Cheap Mondays usually retail around $65 not going much higher than that and most styles extremely fitted so there are many choices.

Dry Bones: A Japanese denim company that is heavily 40’s and 50’s rock inspired with its timeless denim line. Dry Bones has flown under the radar for quite some time as this company is almost 20 years old, but with great looking and fitting jeans it’s hard to ignore such a great line.

Helmut Lang: Austrian clothing brand that is famous for their minimalist design and quality fabrics. Helmut Lang is a great label and has great denim.

Skinny jeans can be fashionable, but you got to know what to look for. Follow this guide and you too can pull off The Skinny Jean.

I need to get some good fashion on a budget. I live in a area without many stores. I may go travel to get some new stuff, what stores should I go to?

Unfortunately, I’ve lived in places like you have described, so allow me to help out where I can.

If you have the opportunity, try to build up your “core clothing” at stores like The Gap, H&M, J.Crew, and the like. These stores, while generally bland, provide basic clothing (t-shirts, button-downs, the like) that you can build off of. These stores also swap out inventory incredibly fast around this season, so you can find certain styles from last season for incredibly cheap. The nice thing about the aforementioned stores (more The Gap and J.Crew than H&M) is that their clothes are made to hold up for quite some time if you keep care of them- making them worth more than the average crap you find at various other stores.

When it comes to getting more expensive things (suits, coats, shoes), I recommend shopping around if at all possible, even online. For shoes, Zappos.com, an online shoe outlet, is virtually perfect for finding a good pair of shoes- and with a nice return policy, you can use (read: abuse) them until you find a pair you like. For coats and suits, it is generally best to try them on first- but if you know your sizes extremely well, check outlet websites like Overstock.com, which occasionally carry nice and well-made brands. When you are out shopping and if you can afford doing so, try coats/shoes on but do not buy them- go online and comparison shop. 9 times out of 10, you will find better prices.

When you do go shopping, no matter how much you spend, be paranoid about the quality of the clothes you buy. Stores like Old Navy may be cheap, but the quality (and the fit) of the clothes, frankly, suck. The same applies to Aeropostale. As well, to make the most of your money, avoid too-trendy clothing like Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch- those styles tend to last only 6 months at most before becoming tired (or falling apart, as the aforementioned companies suck just as bad as Old Navy at making good quality clothing).

If you are smart, you will wait until one or two weeks after Christmas. Watch how fast prices drop.

I occasionally wish I was a super-rich magazine writer that had a business account. That way, I could excuse virtually anything I did on “writing topics”- watching movies, going to shows, drinking exorbitant amounts at fancy bars, going to random foreign countries “just because”- the works. That isn’t happening (owning the place you write for negates the fun of handling the money), but recently I took the time to go see the new Bond film everyone is talking about- Quantum of Solace- and try to see what all of the self-proclaimed fashionistas on the internet are raving about.

The Movie

Quantum of Solace, as you more than likely already know, is the sequel to Casino Royale, the first in the new line of Bond films starring Daniel Craig, the guy most people know for starring opposite of Angelina Jolie in the absolutely horrible Lara Croft: Tomb Raider flick. The movie is essentially about Bond going somewhat (if not all the way) solo as he rages over the death of Vesper Lind (Eva Green) and fights to stop the wannabe environmentalist Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) from taking over the water supply of Bolivia. If this sounds like one of the most boring James Bond plots yet, you are entirely correct.

The first thing noticeable about the new Bond movies is that Daniel Craig has been outfitted in oldschool British tailoring, as opposed to his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan, who wore Italian cut suits (which were sometimes a bit ridiculous, admittedly). The big name in this new movie is Tom Ford, who did the design for Craig’s suits, glasses, and pretty much everything but his underwear- so you know it’s going to be stylish.

The “main uniform” of James Bond- the black suit- is back and better than ever. Well tailored and with a clear English cut (three pockets, two buttons, very tight tailoring)- it’s all essentially perfect. The lapels are relatively narrow (As are the shoulders, or as narrow as they can  get), but the waist is taken in very tightly, which gives the “skirt” part of the jacket a little bit of move. There are no belts whatsoever. The suit is apparently also made with old school mohair tonic fabric- an old 60s fabric that apparently was used to give a more “classic” look, reminiscing back to the Sean Connery days of James Bond.

Craig’s suit is not accented with much other than what you might expect- a pocket square and a nice crisp french cuff shirt with cufflinks. Nothing ostentatious at all- hell, even the ties are rather demure. The key theme of the new James Bond via Tom Ford seems to be keeping it low-key- and thus classy. This isn’t surprising, considering this seems to be a recurring theme nowadays- but it’s interesting to see James Bond, formerly known for heavy italian suits and big watches (and even bigger cell phones) now keeping it minimal.

Bond does change out of the standard black suit, which begins to show the real versatility of the costume designer, Louise Frogley. Bond is also seen in a nice full length double breasted topcoat with the lapels popped (or some form of long black coat, I was barely able to make out what it was), a rather large padded bomber of some sort, and even a dark blue polo with jeans.

One of the most notable changes to Bond’s wardrobe are the sunglasses, newly designed by Tom Ford. With a strange bridge bar running from both lenses and slightly turned eye drop style lenses, the silver aviators are anything but traditional. By all means, I personally liked the design, but even on Craig they seemed ever so slightly stupid looking. Too bad.

Overall, Quantum of Solace costume designer Louise Frogley did an incredible job doing what she did- and while the Tom Ford glasses were a bit strange, I felt that the movie all together did a very good job getting the “James Bond Feeling”- something the movie itself, outside of the fashion, kinda failed at doing. I’m still somewhat angry that not only did Bond not use a single useful gadget, but he also seemed to forget to visit Q, or do anything else useful other than go Peter-Parker-in-Spiderman 3 emo. But whatever.

So, what lessons can we learn from Quantum of Solace?

First, go without the belt. I know I’ve advised against it before, but it seems that it’s finally picking up in pop culture enough to go with it safely. Sure, it’s been the “correct” way to wear suits for quite some time, but I think it’s finally time for a miniature belt-less revolution.

Second off, keep it simple, stupid. Bond is dressed simply for a reason- minimalism is the new maximalism. Go understated, clean, and stylish, and you will always win.

Third off, ties that match your eyes are always good. Craig dons a gray-blue tie that matches his eyes, and you could do very well matching that. For brown eyes, a brown tie may be a bit silly, but a black tie could never hurt.

Finally, no-one can stress the importance of arm candy. Get one or two hot women and have them walk around you periodically. You will always look better.

How to Get the Look

The “Bond Suit”

• A Black Suit with a slight sheen (be it legitimate mohair tonic fabric or not)
• A crisp white french cuff (not barrel cuff) shirt
• A white handkerchief for a pocket square
• A gray-blue, gray, or light tan tie
• Black Oxfords(?)
• Simple metal cufflinks

Yep, that’s it. No belt, no tie clip, no expensive jewelry- nothing. The key here is all in the tailoring. Daniel Craig’s suit is so damned amazing because it is tailored incredibly well- tight in the stomach, slightly (but not too) loose in the coat skirt, and so well tailored in the pants that it needs neither belt nor pleats. If you want this kind of suit, it doesn’t matter too much what you buy so much as where you get it tailored- so start hunting for a good tailor.

The Tuxedo

• Peak Lapel Black Tuxedo
• Crisp white Tuxedo shirt (Or a standard white french cuff shirt, I can’t tell which he wears)
• Black bowtie
• Black Oxfords(?)
• Simple metal cufflinks

Again, very damned simple. The tailoring is the same as the “Bond Suit” above- it’s all about making it fit perfectly, so no matter where you get a tuxedo, you’re essentially forced to rely on the skill of your tailor to make this look right. Unfortunate, but true.

The Polo

• Dark blue fitted polo
• Dark wash jeans (Straight leg?)
• Tan leather (suede?)
• Aviator Sunglasses

Chances are, you probably have one or two of the above in your own wardrobe. This isn’t a very “James Bond” outfit, but it still can be rocked fairly easily.

It’s winter, lots of things are coming out, and lots of sales are going on- so we’ve compiled a list of some awesome Winter items you can pick up today for fairly cheap to improve your wardrobe.

V-Neck Wool/Cashmere Sweaters

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It's cold and you can't wear t-shirts and button-downs all year. Buy some nice, thin sweaters of decent quality (wool or cashmere, the former is generally cheaper). V-necks are much more stylish and work better with button-down shirts, so make sure to go for those if you can. Pictured: Eddie Bauer Merino V-Neck Sweater, $59.50

My buddies always make fun of what i wear. when I try to do something original or unique, they act like im going overboard, even when they just wear sweats and stuff. what do i do?

Fashion is fashion- that is, you shouldn’t feel guilty or otherwise lame because you are dressed well. However, the important thing to remember is simple: the difference between legitimate fashion and costume fashion.

I define “legitimate fashion” as fashion that you can wear for a clear purpose- that is, you have an “excuse” to wear it. Coats, shirts, pants, shoes- these are the kinds of things you are fully expected to wear. This also includes clothing that is accepted as the current fashion trend (like scarves)- basically, stuff that you can “get away with”.

“Costume fashion” is stuff that requires a lot more balls to get away with. This can include anything from trilbys, fedoras, ties, vests, necklaces, rings, etc. This is where you begin to get in trouble. Essentially, the idea here is that these are the things you wear for fashion only, and they rarely serve any form of other purpose other than making you look good.

Here’s the deal- being fashionable doesn’t require you go overboard. If you are walking around dressed like a clown, you are dressed too much. Fit your fashion to the circumstance- if you are in school, you can play around, but obviously you have no reason to walk around in a suit. Similarly, if you are working and expected to wear a suit, don’t run around with an ascot or something ridiculous like a bright pink suit- keep it classy. Fashion is generally best accepted when you take something traditional and give it a modern look, not when you try to become a walking Picasso painting.

Anyway, just ignore it. So long as you aren’t going overboard, you should not care.

As a “fashion writer”, I often task myself with trying to keep up with normal style. This is never a good idea. I don’t fit well in the culture of Fashion Week, nor am I ever invited, so I typically do what everyone else does and sit twiddling my thumbs at my nice little desk waiting for New York Magazine to show me runway styles. Again, this is never a good idea.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is a lot like E3 back in the “good old days” where the only people who show up are industry professionals and everyone tries to make a bigger deal of it than it really is. Of course, one could also say that just like E3, you never really see what you see there anywhere else- it’s a vast masturbatory session where the world tries to see who can come up with the most ridiculous fashion to make tiny little anorexic men walk around with.

So, with no further adieu, I present to you my thoughts regarding Fashion Week. As you can probably guess by now, the name of this article is the perfect tl;dr: I have very little idea what’s going on and I’m quite lost but watch how much I can write about it.

Part One: The Designers

The first thing coming off the runway of any importance is Perry Ellis, AKA that guy who makes clothes for the “working man” in his late 20s on. I think I have some Perry Ellis shirts, I’m not sure, but I get the resounding feel that this is my field- like I’m supposed to write about somthing here. That being said, everything from the Perry Ellis line is bright freaking baby blue- like, the color of a baby blanket. Nothing is necessarily bad, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is one big eloquent joke on my part. Nonetheless, as I have expected, everything is excellently tailored- I actually like this stuff (which is a rarity for runway shows). Somehow, I feel as if despite the bright Skype-logo color (which might mean something, I’m not sure), Perry Ellis has done something good, and I like it.

Next, Duckie Brown. Most of it is very 80s or something, everyone looks like Rick Astley, and I’m not even kidding. Wayfarers, strange haircuts, and slouchy sweaters(?) abound. Of course, the tailoring is not bad, I just can’t shake the Rick Astley songs from my head.

B. Michael. Something feels very southern, like a bunch of women and men who want to go on some sort of yachting expedition in the middle of Louisiana where they sip Mint Chulips and bitch about their tans. One guy looks like he came from a very gay Castlevania.

Academy of Art. VERY SERIOUS MODELS.

Lacoste. Proving again that you can get away with anything if your label is preppy enough. Everything feels like a really bad acid trip in an incredibly preppy country club filled with hyper-skinny people who do nothing but look cool and pretend to swing golf clubs.

Rock & Republic. You can tell they are trying hard, but somehow I just don’t see the “rock” anymore. Sure, they have the tight jeans, prominent belts and leather jackets down, but somehow the overuse of glossy satin fabric really looks strange. That is to say, there’s something that I don’t hate about this collection- it’s overdone, but hell, it’s Fashion Week.

DKNY. Putting what I used to wear when I was 12 on an overpaid model is not fashion, it’s creepy, if anything. Some random things stand out as being more tailored and of better quality, but overall, I feel slightly confused. Some of this reminds me of American Apparel, just add a little bit better pants.

Sergio Davila. Finally, another designer doing something for men. Unfortunately, I can’t shake the feeling that the dressing room got messed up in the process of dressing the models. Virtually everything Davila makes is good per se, but suffers horribly from a lack of a coherent theme or feel. His work is certainly interesting and breaks a lot of “rules”, but breaking the rules is not inherently fashionable. Long story short, I’d like to see more of his work, but he’s lacking coherence in a lot of his ensembles.

Z Zegna. There is something ridiculously interesting about Z Zegna’s work, and I say that fully well knowing it’s nothing that I could ever recommend. Other than a few strange outfit choices (shorts with a suit coat?), I like his experimentation, and a lot of stuff is so bold yet so interesting it really does define itself as “cutting edge”. Hopefully this is the only proverbial handjob I give a designer in this article.

Custo. Custo must be drunk.

YIGAL AZROUËL. Again, a person who I think is trying to screw with the collective fashion world- but at least in a more subtle way. His collection is a lot of what I would consider “American Apparel” redux, meaning a lot of skinny pants, big shirts, and strange textile/pattern choices. I don’t mind it by any means, and some of his work is interesting, but jeez. Also, he’s subtly trolling the entire fashion world by making one fine gentlemen wear what appear to be panties on his head.

Part Two: Impressions

Observation One: I am not cut out for fashion week. Either I just don’t understand what’s going on here or this is a big joke. A lot of “men’s fashion” nowadays is certainly arcane or bland, but jesus talk about going overboard to try to be original. I’ve always been of the opinion that good men’s fashion is a blend of the traditional and the radically new, not the equivelant of a bad acid trip.

Observation Two: I think some designers know they aren’t cut out for fashion week too. Notice how many designers who were at fashion week aren’t listed here (like you’d give a shit)? It’s because fashion week is evidently for women’s wear, for obvious reasons. Menswear is like that annoying half brother that you let follow you around but your patronize every chance you get to make up for the fact that you have to deal with his crap.

Observation Three: This won’t really change your wardrobe. Go figure. “Wearable fashion” and “Stuff they have out at fashion week” are two different things, so this really doesn’t matter to you in any way but in a “ha ha look what they make the skinny models wear today” sort of way.

Long story short? Designers scare me.

What do shoes say about a man? To your average man, they are nothing more than a comfortable way to get from point A to point B. Shoes are versatile and serve many purposes. Average people do not seem to notice or care about the fashion statement that shoes make. A well-cultured man is not an average man and this should be reflected in his wardrobe. Shoes mean so much more than a means of comfort, they can define a man. A man does not wear a suit with sneakers because a suite is not meant to go with sneakers; moreover, a man does not wear casual clothes with square-toed pennies. It simply sends the signal of bad taste or a complete lack of understanding how an outfit is put together.

The right kind of shoe can say so much about a person and conversely, the wrong kind of shoe can do exactly the same thing. There are essential shoes of every man’s wardrobe. Every man must have dress shoes, fashionable run-around shoes and then the athletic shoes. Every man must have these three pairs of shoes to be the basis of a simple but respectable wardrobe. I believe whole heartedly that fashion starts from the ground up.

Now that I’ve successfully broken down shoes into three fashion groups, I’ll take the time to expand on those groups and show the diversity that exists within this group. We will start with the ever dependable, casual and versatile fashion shoes, athletic shoes, and dress shoes.

Casual Fashion:

Fashion athletic shoes come from many different companies and many different price ranges. I will begin with an economy shoe, mid-range shoe and a high-end shoe.

Low Price: American Eagle, Magellan Sport Oxford, Payless Shoes $25 USD

American Eagle has always been known for their clean-cut college dorm look and these shoes epitomize that look. The AE Magellan is a classy, simple shoe with a clean off-white color with elegant brown highlights. The shoe itself is made of frayed canvas and has a protective rubber bumptoe. The sole of the shoe itself has extra padding which offers the best comfort when running errands around town.

Mid-range: American Eagle, Fusion Athletic, Payless Shoes $35

This is another ideal shoe for just running around town. This is another simple style that doesn’t stand out, but it can put an ensemble together. These go perfectly with the T-shirt and Jeans look or the summer barbeque look. These shoes just scream comfort and function and they are not overbearing on an already classic American style.

High-End: Adidas, Classic Vulcan $65 (www.shopadidas.com)

This is a shoe that takes the classic Adidas look and doesn’t do a whole lot to mess it up. This is the perfect shoe for a night on the town.

Asics, Mexico 66 $80 (www.urbanoutfitters.com)

This is another high-end model that can be daring if worn correctly. This shoe features a suede upper with leather highlights. The foot bed is contoured and very comfortable and textured rubber allows for a very heavenly experience for your feet.

Athletic Shoes:

Every well-cultured man has a certain fitness routine and the proper shoe makes all the difference. The key for these shoes is comfort above all. You aren’t at the gym to compare outfits, so get your mind right! There’s really no economy, mid-range, high-end shoes for this category. There are two shoes here, one I would recommend for anyone who is into running and another for those just beginning.

Asics: Gel-Evolution 4 $110 (www.asicsamerica.com)

This is the Gel-Evolution 4 from Asics, a brand that has always been at the forefront of the athletic training shoes industry. The GE-4 is “designed to provide maximum support, with an extra wide platform and toe box for superior stability.” Asics has been known for their gel support that really does more than just provide a cool gimmick. These shoes are at the top when it comes to overall flexibility and comfort.

New Balance: 587 $99 (www.nbwebexpress.com)

This shoe is perfect for the heavier set man because it provides cushioning where it is needed the most: in the heel.

Dress Shoes:

The dress shoe is the secret weapon of well-cultured men. While it might not occur to you at first, dress shoes can go a long way. People notice shoes more often than you think because they can make or break an outfit. Dress shoes come in many different styles and price ranges so I will offer the best variety that I can.

Low Price:

Concepts by Claiborne: Bronx $60 (www.jcpenney.com)

This is a very classy shoe for those with lighter pocket books. It doesn’t take a lot of money to look good and at sixty dollars, you really can’t go wrong with these. This shoe is made of soft nappa leather and has a comfortable and sturdy rubber sole.

Dockers: Bastille Oxford $70 (www.jcpenney.com)

This shoe has a more casual tone in terms of being a dress shoe meaning that this would be great for the office, out on the town or weekend getaways.

Mid-Range:

Banana Republic: ‘Asher’ Penny Loafer $138 (www.bananarepublic.com)

I’m a huge fan of Banana Republic. They always seem to have the right shoes that never go out of style. The penny loafer is a traditional shoe and it’s very hard to mess with tradition.

High-End

Allen Edmonds: Park Avenue $325 (www.allenedmonds.com)

Allen Edmonds is a domestic shoe manufacturer based out of Port Washington, Wisconsin. It is one of two American shoe companies that still make their shoes domestically. This shoe is a prime example of American style. The park avenue is the perennial best seller and there’s no questioning the appeal. When it comes to a shoe like this, no price is too high.

Alden: Leisure Slip on $ (on request) (www.aldenshoe.com)

Alden is the other company that makes their shoes domestically. Based out of Middleborough, Massachusetts, the company hand sews all their shoes and the quality and care is shown beautifully.

Zelli: Encore 503 Italian Black Calf $309 (www.suityourself.com)

The Zelli Encore 503 is a beautiful example of Italian Design. This slip on is made of nappa leather and features a super flex sole. This classic style is a testament to why Italian shoes are so coveted.