Step out of the box with flamboyant fashion

Baggy jeans: check. Tall white T-shirt: check. XXL hoodie: check. Scuffed sneakers: check.

If this is the process you find yourself going through each morning when you wake up, I urge you to change up your wardrobe routine. As young men, we often get much too used to the same ol’ thing, whether it’s clothing or the two-step.

I used to be in that same boat. I used to get clowned by my teammates for wearing old scuffed-up sneakers day after day. I’d rock an old pair of Shaq’s from Payless because I thought they looked like Air Force Ones, or some all black FUBU shoes (yes, FUBU) for the same reason – not that I’m knocking Payless; it has some pretty good shoes for great prices.

But there comes a time in every young man’s life when he needs to diversify his look and take a step out of the box. Hell, in this case, I’m going to help you take two or three steps.

The first step you need to take, if you haven’t already, is to become secure in your masculinity. Know that, as a man, it’s perfectly OK to be one of style and elegance. And believe me, most women would appreciate it. I’m sure you can already pull off the typical collared shirt and slacks look, but let’s take it a step further.

A real man knows how to wear pink. Yeah, I said it. Now, I’m not saying you need to go looking for the brightest, richest pink you can find, but a subtle version will do. Purchase a nice button-up, collared shirt to wear along with a pair of slacks. And you never have to pay a fortune. Just try Target or even Wal-Mart; they have plenty that will suit you just fine.

After looking around town for more outgoing styles, I stumbled upon ties made by Lilly Pulitzer. I own two ties from that line. My favorite is a bright lime green with small pink elephants sewn throughout the tie. It’s quite out there, but I call it ostentatiously chic because you can’t help but stare at it.

Most of these ties are in the $90 to $100 range, but you can find them for about $30 at T.J. Maxx. The ties are typically bright and flamboyant, but if you’re confident, you can pull them off. They come in every color you can imagine.

When it comes to shoes, I’m a simple type of guy. For the most part, I am akin to solid colors in black, white and different shades of brown. But that doesn’t mean you have to be. Check out Urban Outfitters on Kirkwood and purchase a pair of bold-colored sneakers. I’ve seen shoes that would actually match some of the ties you’ll see by Lilly Pulitzer. If you’re not into too much color, they have other shoes that are subtle in color, yet unique. I strongly encourage you to give each style a chance.

Lastly, when it comes to your jeans, instead of always wearing various shades of blue or black, try out a gray pair. For a long time, I was opposed to wearing gray jeans simply because they only came in skinny jeans (and I’ll never encourage skinny jeans), but now I’m beginning to see them in straight-leg styles as well. Capitalize on this availability and wear them with fitted T-shirts and unique sneakers. You’ll look like a skater boy with style. So be confident and embrace a new look for yourself.