Reaching Friday means you made it; you powered through the week and achieved what you set out to do. Lose the stuffy Monday getup and go for a more casual, laid back look. Now, we don’t mean untidy - we’re talking an outfit that still says ‘I mean business’ during the day but is relaxed enough to take you to happy hour later. The right Friday outfit is an art; you want to look like you’re here to get things done, but you’re going somewhere better later. That means, in Laymans terms: contemporary, clean, and comfortable and never uptight.

The Casual Friday Look

When it comes to a regular day in the office, your colors of choice are usually limited. Neutrals and solid colors are rampant. But Fridays were made for cutting a little loose. Donning lighter colors such as light blue, yellows, or even white custom dress shirts and a dark pant; maybe even a dark blue jean, if your workplace allows it, can say you’re ready for the weekend. If your Friday is more about turning up that it is winding down, brighter colors and prints help wake up your wardrobe. A long sleeve plaid shirt and dark grey/black jeans says ‘I’ll see you at 2 for 1 drinks later’.

Contrast

The key to the casual Friday look is how well it can transition from day to night; success with a  transitional outfit is in contrast between formal and casual; so if your top half is casual, your bottom half should be dressy and vice versa. Sound weird? There’s a way to do this without looking mismatched. A good example is a polo shirt and dress pants. Polo shirts are short sleeve, but still give off a clean-cut look. A tailored blazer paired with a casual tee and jeans is always a good option. A tailored blazer is an essential because of its versatility  and timelessness that provides that “put-together effect”. If all else fails, you can always go back to basics with a white dress shirt and blue jeans or chino pants.

Friday Fabrics

Friday fabrics should be casual and comfortable fabrics. Cotton Chino pants will do the trick; their silhouette is dressy, but the material is casual, so it works either way; it’s all about what your top half is doing. Another good choice is chambray/denim - it’s a fabric traditionally regarded as casual but the silhouette is dressy.   Whatever look you decide on, make sure it matches the mood you’re feeling on everyone’s favorite day of the week and own it!  TGIF!

The world of menswear is quickly evolving and becoming more and more inventive. Yes, there are still great styled looks you can take right off the mannequin, but the more you personalize your attire, the more stand-out it becomes. The name of the game is customization and a signature style. And if your aim is to look like a true, new age gentleman, a cookie-cutter look just won’t do.

Finding a signature style might seem like a daunting task that takes thousands of dollars and hours to do, but it’s actually much simpler than that:

Start with the Right Pieces

The secret to nailing your unique look is securing a few key pieces that will combine well with a variety of looks and building on that. You start with neutrals and solids, start introducing prints, and work your way up to statement pieces. Before you know it, you’ll have a look for every occasion and NONE of your instagram or facebook photos will feature duplicate looks.

Tailor Made Suits & Custom Dress Shirts

Tailored everything is also the name of the game; wearing clothes that have an odd fit, are too large or too small will kill your look right off the bat. Menswear is all about silhouettes and lines, so if yours are off, it will make you look malformed, frumpy or unfit. Make sure you get measured correctly. If you want to be measured precisely, you’ll want to enlist the help of a travelling tailor to ensure accuracy.

Investing in a neutral colored Custom Dress Shirt, like a white, grey or black is a good way to lay the foundation. It’s the underlayer that will either complement or contrast the suit jacket. You’ll want to choose something that works well with a variety of looks. Once you’ve got the solids out of the way, you can start to get more adventurous, with plaid, stripes, herringbone or other, more exotic prints. You can play with different pops of unexpected colors, such as fuchsia and yellows; and of course, different fabrics for different looks; silk custom dress shirts look a bit more formal, denim dress shirts look trendy and casual while cotton dress shirts look classic and neat. Choosing about 3 neutrals and 3 -5 different prints should give you enough of a variety in your wardrobe to be versatile and unique.

Tailor made, 3 piece suits offer a cleaned up look that also give you options; you’re investing in the complete, formal look for weddings, galas, interviews, and other formal settings, but also getting the individual pieces to mix and match and integrate into your closet. Your color choices should follow the same principles discussed in finding appropriate dress shirts; neutrals first, then work your way to more adventurous options.Stick to these guidelines, and you’ll be well on your way to a versatile, unique closet full of signature style that is all your own!

As we settle into the new year, we’re already seeing marked styles on the runways, fashion magazines and online in the world of menswear. Here’s what we have to look forward to in the new year:

Casualwear = Athleisure

This is probably one of the more comfortable of all the trends; 2016’s foray into the world of athleisure isn’t over. In 2017, we’ll continue to see the integration of styles, colors and silhouettes traditionally seen in the gym. Blacks, whites and greys will be common. Jersey materials and layers will continue to reign and other fabrics will get stretchier and more slouchy in the right places, like the harem baggy pant that took over 2016 will continue to evolve. Not a trend we’re complaining about.

No More Off-the Rack Suits

By contrast, suits will be the ultimate in a polished, clean-cut look. The customized look is how you’ll maintain an edge, posing the biggest contrast against the uber-casual, athletic looks in this year’s streetwear. A made-to-measure suit with expertly tailored lines and an immaculate fit will have you standing out from the baggy crowd, looking like you just walked out of a GQ spread.

Adventurous Prints and Colors

What we’re noticing on the runways for Spring and Summer 2017 is more risks being taken with unconventional prints and colors. The navy suits and charcoal suits aren’t going anywhere, just joined by pops of bright color like turquoise suits, emerald green suits, paisley and plaid suits, and more. We’ll also see pops of festivity via the bespoke vests under the blazers and suit jackets as well as in the tailored dress shirts found underneath.

Blast from the Past

We’ll see nods to the 20th century in 2017, including sleek tuxedos, double breasted blazers and suit jackets and more.

Layers

3 piece suits with custom dress shirts underneath, overcoats and more - 2017 is all about rocking the layered look. Rocking prints, pops of color and complimentary tones will give your style life and a flair of your own, unique personality. 2017 is a year to get adventurous about your wardrobe. A great place to start is acquiring the right tailored suits and custom dress shirts to lay the foundation for a great wardrobe.

There’s more to great style than following the trends; actually, it’s the deviations, the details and the personal touches that really say “This is me.” It’s easy to wear a cookie-cutter look that was styled for you and an off-rack suit or generically sized button up.  The challenge is finding your own, signature style - which is why many men don’t even try.

But building your signature look doesn’t have to be complicated; it’s simply about knowing which staple pieces to have in your closet and where to embellish. While it may seem like men’s suits and shirts don’t have much room to get creative in, the truth is, there’s a whole lot of way to add your own mark. A signature look is crucial for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd. The idea is to collect pieces that will compliment you best and display who you are without saying a word.

Size Matters

You may have heard this before in other conversations, but in reference to your dress style, size is everything. Knowing your measurements can make the difference between looking like you just inherited your suit from an NBA basketball player who was clearly much bigger than you - or like you just came from a photoshoot for GQ Magazine. Get measured and know your sizes! You can have a friend or girlfriend measure you, but the best way to go is with an expert; you can go find a tailor or you can actually hire a travelling tailor to come to you!

When you are ready to have a made to measure suit created for you by expert tailors, you’ll see and feel the difference. Why is a precise fit so important in both tailored suits and custom dress shirts? Because a dress shirt is the closest layer to your body (with the exception of the undershirt.) If this is too big or too small, it will affect all the outer layers. With the tailored suit, this is the shell of your outfit. It’s the silhouette that everyone sees. If this isn’t fitted to your body correctly, there’s simply no way to hide bulkiness or blazer buttons that are bulging.

Trends aren't Bible 

Think of trends as guidelines, not rules. If the season is calling for darker tones, rock that dark grey, blue or black suit - but add a pop of color with a brightly colored or printed handkerchief, bow-tie or tie; switch up the vest color underneath, or lose the vest and go for a printed dress shirt. There are plenty of other details you can make your own; from custom cufflinks to etched initials on the inner fold of your suit jacket. If your style tends to be more vintage, add a an old school fedora and pocket watch.  The combinations are truly limitless, make your suit entirely your own by getting creative with the pops and flairs, don’t stick to the pre-determined looks you’ve seen online!

Colors and Fabrics

The 4 basic colors that tend to look good on most are black, grey, blues and khaki or white.When it comes to choosing a suit color that is a bit more adventurous, you’ll want to choose something that compliments your skin tone, hair color, eye color and overall look. Lighter shades tend to stand out on darker complexions and vice versa.

The last important factor of a signature look is the fabrics you choose. Having good taste in fabrics goes beyond just your look; you’ll want your dress shirts, blazers, dress pants and bespoke vests to last you. When choosing you cottons, Italian cotton is a highly reputable choice, featuring stronger, longer fibers. That means your dress shirt will retain its strength longer than those made from lesser grades of cotton. For a breathable yet durable suit, optimal for warmer weather, high quality linen is a great choice. Bottom line: whether purchasing wool, cotton, linen or silk dress shirts or suits, quality is key.

After a year like 2016, everyone has resolved to make 2017 a standout year. It’s time to suit up and turn things around for yourself; take control of the year and stand out from the crowd. A great way to do this is to start with your wardrobe. As you get dressed each morning, this will be the perfect reminder to take this year by the horns and go for whatever your goals are.

The casual look has had its run, but the fashion forecasts for the year are flooded with unique, custom made suits that scream personal style. There’s no reason to rock an off-rack suit, complete with the styling that was on the mannequin at the front of the men’s department. From Milan to Paris to London, countless name brand designers have set the tone for spring and summer 2017; trends like 3 piece suits, gradient colors, and plenty of layers are to be expected this year.

Colors & Prints

Daring and unique emerald green suits and blazers will make a noticeable cameo at the top of the year; We’ll also see a continuation in the popularity of grey men’s suits and blue men’s suits ( from turquoise to deep sapphire tones.) We also see a resurgence of the white suit, making a bold, refreshing statement. Bold plaid is also making a comeback in the world of bespoke tailored men’s suits.

Blazers and Overcoats

We mentioned layers, right? The catwalks were all about this. There’s no doubt that the number one trend for 2017 will be layers - and what better way to achieve this look than to rock a 3 piece-suit and an overcoat? Some of the variations we’ve seen on the runways have been made-to-measure 3 piece suits, suits with classic camel overcoats or classic grey overcoats, turtleneck sweaters under a tailored blazer, double-breasted suit jackets and more.

Start revamping your 2017 style by making sure your initial acquisitions include the following must-haves:

• Suits with hues of grey or blue
• Tailored 3 piece suits and blazers
• Quality Fabrics
• Overcoats with versatile color

Owning a variety of suits for every single event you ever attend or every occasion that requires one is really only realistic for celebrities and the super wealthy. If you focus on getting just 4 key suits, you’ve got the basics down, you’ll be good to go without breaking the bank:

Classic, Tailored Black Suit

This is a standard color, but it will never go out of style. It slims you down, dresses you up and gives you a flair of elegance and mystery. It’s perfect for everything from a red carpet event, to weddings, to funerals, to business meetings and so much more. If you’re looking to add a personal touch, this neutral lends itself to any combinations of color pops, whether it be in the bowtie, tie, handkerchief or in the under layers - the custom dress shirt or the bespoke vest. You can always rock the all black or white underlayers for a more formal feel, or downplay it. Every guy looks good in black, it’s an easy look that you just can’t go wrong with.

Slate or Charcoal Grey Suit

You might not need 50 shades of grey, perse, but a few different hues will do wonders. A crisp, charcoal gray suit still has you looking sharp, but offers a refreshing departure from the formal and slightly harsher black. A lighter shade of grey shows off a more approachable side, implying that you’re not too formal and adonis-like to talk to, but are still a classic man with impeccable taste.

Grey is seasonless, which offers a neutral background for any pop of color (handkerchief in the breast pocket, underlayers, tie or bow-tie, etc.) that will be more specific and relevant to the particular season and/or occasion. Grey, however, is not as slimming as black and, it won’t hide imperfections, if it isn’t well-made, so you’ll want to have a made to measure grey suit to put your best foot forward in.

Blue Suits

Nothing says dependability and trustworthiness like the color blue. It’s a great choice that offers a more colorful approach to suiting up, without going too far left. Blue is another seasonless color that looks great all year-round; what changes with the seasons is the shade of blue. Choose navy and sapphire for the colder months. You can get lighter and more adventurous (light blues, turquoise, teal) in Spring and Summer.

Summer Suit / Light colored Suit

Your essential neutrals don’t stop at dark colors; you’ll need a neutral at the other end of the color spectrum to complete your closet staples. Be sure to include a white suit, khaki suit or light blue in your repertoire. It’s a must-have for the summer and spring and will help with that hot sun on days when you wish you weren’t wearing one. The biggest factor in looking dapper in a white or khaki suit is fit; there’s nowhere to hide with light colors, so a made to measure fit is absolutely crucial to pulling the light colored suit off.

Keep these 4 main suits in your closet and you will be good to go year round. It’s the foundation to having a well rounded, well polished wardrobe for any event!

It's the year to look like a boss! Looking the part means a simple, clean cut style that accentuates your personal style and exudes confidence. It's 2017 and there's no reason not to upgrade your look. Everyone knows that looking the part of a boss makes that powerful first impression that gets your foot in door. Plus, no one wants to look like a generic copy of the next guy walking down the street. Impress yourself and those around you with a custom tailored suit that will have you looking and feeling like you just walked out of a GQ spread. It doesn't take a million bucks to look like a million bucks. While having a diverse wardrobe is always the goal, narrowing it down to the staples is a great starting point to build from. Lay the foundation of your boss style with these two essentials:

• Tailored Suits
• Custom Dress Shirts

Customizing your Tailored Suit

The beauty of a made to measure suit is in the capability to customize it. A boss always adds his own, signature style to everything he does, owns and wears. Make your suit your own by customizing these key elements:

• The style and color of the lapel and/or vest neck lining
• Suit Vents
• Suit buttons and vest buttons
• Suit pocket color and style
• The pattern of the suit lining and the vest lining- (this is where you add your most unique personal flare)
• Suit monograms
• Amount of pleats in the pant and the fit

The Right Fit is Everything

There's nothing worse than looking like you're wearing someone else's suit. Get the fitted look by making sure you have accurate measurements throughout. The bottom of your pants, which is called the break in your pants, should fall right above your shoes. The break shouldn't be too loose or to baggy, otherwise it tends to look unflattering and sloppy. As for the shoulder area of your suit, this is often the priciest part to have adjusted and the most noticeable when it comes to your silhouette, so be sure that it's an exact measurement for an exact fit. The rule of thumb for the sleeves on your suit is to make sure that it falls where the thumb connects to the rest of your hand.

The best way to ensure that the fit is right is by making sure your measurements are on point. It's always best to have someone else measure you. If you don't have anyone in mind, you can also hire a tailor to measure you. At Suits for Me, where you can find made to measure suits, dress shirts, pants and more, you can actually hire a travelling tailor to come to you. This ensures the most exact measurements and the best fit possible.

The Power of a Quality, Custom Dress Shirt

Because a dress shirt is what's closest to your body and sets the tone for any outer layers you put on top of it, this particular item is important to get right. A custom dress shirt can be tricky to pick out if you don't know the basics. You'll want to take your size and build into account - if you're muscular or thin and slender or more filled out, there's a different approach depending on your body type. For the well built, shoulders are normally wide and the gut area in the shirt needs more room for any potential weight gain. For the thin and slender this would be an easy job for your tailor, the custom dress shirt would be considered slim fit. Similar to the muscular fit, a regular or classic fit is for the compact individual. It would also be a safe bet to look at your waist measurements when going for a classic fit due to the yoke of the shirt aligning with your waist. Finally, the customization of the details is the finishing touch that will help put your personal touch and express your signature style in the best way. You'll be customizing the following elements:

• Shirt Collar
• Shirt Cuffs
• Shirt monograms
• Shirt pockets
• Cufflinks

There's plenty more that goes into a solid wardrobe, but with these elements, you're well on your way to an impeccably clean cut style that says SUCCESS.