I’m not a regular Esquire reader; however, I did come across this article on their 50 New Laws of Fashion. I realize we’re–by and large–a casual society. But, there are times when we do need to know the rules. This list is straight-forward and helpful for men who need a little help sometimes. There are some rules that we need to follow (see my IMHO page for the eternal advice that tennis shoes aren’t for weddings and funerals). Some of the best offerings from the list:

3. BLUE JEANS ARE GOOD; DARK-BLUE JEANS ARE BETTER. Leave the boot cuts to cowgirls and black denim to ex-cons.

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8. THERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU SHOULD STORE YOUR TIE: 1) Lay it flat in a drawer. 2) Roll it up like a Swiss roll by folding it once and then rolling it from the narrow end. Both methods allow the tie to settle and regain its shape overnight.

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10. IT’S BETTER TO BE OVERDRESSED THAN UNDERDRESSED. Being thought eccentric for wearing a tux to a swim meet is preferable to wearing a T-shirt and jeans to a wedding.

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13. BUY THE SUIT THAT FITS, NOT THE ONE YOU WISH YOU COULD FIT INTO. A suit that’s too tight will make you look fat. And while an oversized suit may seem more comfortable, in reality you’ll just look like a ten-year-old playing dress-up. In between the two is the suit that fits.

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24. LOOK YE NOT TO RUSSELL CROWE FOR STYLE INSPIRATION.

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30. YOUR TIE’S TIP SHOULD JUST REACH YOUR WAISTBAND.

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45. NOTHING SAYS “JACKASS” QUITE AS WELL AS A CELL PHONE ON A BELT CLIP. You know who you are.

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47. SUNGLASSES SHOULD BE WORN ONLY AS SUNGLASSES. And never at night.

I share this list (read the full 50 on Esquire’s site) so that men can feel more comfortable, as we all do when we can be confident in the choices we make. I also offer them because there are some folks out there that offer advice that isn’t necessarily so. I once had a guy (who, by the way, thought IBM had it down for business attire) who was almost angry that men wear brown dress shoes. He was taught that all dress shoes should be black (with black socks). I don’t know if rules have changed or what, but brown shoes are certainly appropriate. I tend to wear black shoes with black or gray pants and brown or cordovan shoes with tan or navy blue pants. And, yes guys, your shoes and belt (or braces (that’s suspenders) should match. And by the way, belts and braces are mutually exclusive. I personally match my socks to my pants color rather than my shoes, which is perfectly appropriate, too.

Happy dressing…