Mens Fashion Tips - How To Combine Style With Function

Most men believe that fashion and function are mutually exclusive; you've got to either look good or be work ready, but never be both. That popular misconception leads you to miss out on one simple fact: fashion can be functional as well. Just because you've got a job to do doesn't mean you have to go at it with ugly clothes. Here's how to assemble your own style for the streets.

Find Good Fits
The world of men's fashion uses an extremely wide spectrum of fits and cuts running the gamut from asphyxiating tightness to elephant-wearable looseness. You can still be seen as 'fashionable' regardless of how closely fitted your clothes are. When you're dressing up to work, however, you'll want to don a happy medium in terms of size and fit.

Extremely tight clothes, while good for accentuating your ripped bod, are rarely useful in a work environment. They have a nasty tendency to restrict your movement and bunch up at the most inconvenient places of your body. On the other side of the fit spectrum, overly loose clothes mean a lot of excess fabric on your body. All this extra weight can make movement difficult, and the cloth can get unwieldy once you start working.

Aim for tees and shirts with seams that hit at your shoulders and a cut that falls slightly away from your front an important point if you've got man-boobs to hide. And unless you're proud of your six-pack, see to it that your tops reach at least to the middle of your fly. Look for straight, relaxed or boot-cut jeans and pants so that they'll move with you.

Sweat-Proof Style
Unless you're perpetually in an air-conditioned office, chances are good that you'll sweat. While perfectly acceptable in a gym, you can't exactly let the bigwigs in the boardroom see your sweat stains. The trick is to avoid sweating when you can, and hide it otherwise.

One trick to protecting yourself from perspiration is to create a layered look, starting with a basic item that's relatively thin and comfortable enough in warm environments. A nice tee or a good plain shirt work excellently. From there, build up with items like sweaters, jackets and coats according to the weather. Don't go with something warm like a thick sweater as your first layer because you can't take it off when it gets too hot.

Bag It
Whether you're trying to be a fashion plate or no, it's always awkward when your pockets are full and bulging. Not only do overstuffed pockets feel weird when you're walking, but they look equally weird to anyone who's looking at your pants. You could solve it some by getting a smaller cellphone and pen and wallet. Or you could simply get a bag.

Bags are some of the most underrated accessories in the world of men's fashion. While most men and retailers fuss about cuff links and expensive watches, a bag is the most practical and work-ready of the lot. A well-crafted and stylish bag doesn't just look good, but it keeps all your stuff in order too. You won't need to break the bank either; as little as $30 can already get you a respectable bag to lug to the office.

Consider getting a portfolio or a briefcase which are sensible options if all you're bringing is your laptop and a few documents. Irregularly shaped tools might call for a messenger, while bulky items are best kept in a tote or carry-all. Whatever bag you might need or get, just remember to keep it as simple as possible. Even when you grab a piece from the women's section, a plain enough bag can often pass as men's luggage when brought with attitude.