Accessories, not just a girl’s best friend

I encourage all guys to be young men of style, and good style is about making a statement.

You want to make that statement with confidence. It can be strong or subtle. Adding accessories enables you to add personality to your look by using slight accents.

The first and probably most important accessory is the belt. Have you ever seen a man walk around in jeans or slacks without a belt? It looks pretty silly.

Women can pull this off, but as men, it’s not something we should do – ever. The right belt will help pull your outfit together. Make your belt count by matching it to your shoes, if at all possible. Your everyday belt should be black and not too wide.

If you’re going for the latest sophisticated trend this fall, pull out that woven leather, braided belt you wore in grade school. It’s making a comeback. It looks best if you wear it with straight-leg slacks and collared shirts.

Once it gets cold outside, don’t shy away from scarves. I can recall walking around last year during the fall and winter thinking, “My body is warm, but damn, my neck is cold.” This year I’m wising up by sporting a scarf. Believe me, the right scarf won’t make you look feminine.

Stay away from solid bright colors or scarves that are too bulky. Instead, go for darker, solid colors like gray, black, navy, crimson or dark plaid patterns. Occasional brighter colors could add some flare to a dark suit, but I wouldn’t make it a habit.

When it comes to the texture, cashmere is always the best, but it’s also the most expensive. A cotton scarf gets the job done nearly as well.

Wearing a hat as an accessory can also be stylish. You don’t always need to stick to the traditional baseball cap. For sophistication – which I’m always down for – try them in different fabrics and colors. Sport a snug, knit hat for the cold days. I’m not a huge fan of the droopy or floppy beanies, though I think they’re OK for “I really don’t care” days.

Two less popular hats for young men are fedoras and driving caps. I’m not a supporter of the fedora, but feel free to try it with dark shirts or suits. As for the driving cap, I’m down for that with thick, wool sweaters or coats.

As for sunglasses, take a cue from Sean “Diddy” Combs and feel free to wear them all year ‘round. But when purchasing them, be careful and consider the shape of your face. Stick with lightweight frames so you’re not always pushing them back up.

Lastly, if you’re like me, you like to wear a little jewelry. But please, whether you’re rocking a Jesus piece or a skinny chain, keep it more on the subtle side. We’re not Kanye West, and we can’t pull that off. Also, believe it or not, if your watch looks like it has a thousand diamonds in it, while they might or might not be real, it looks cheap.

Remember you’re not a rapper. Keep your jewelry simple and meaningful.