GUEST POST: What does it take to be best dressed for 2011

The eagerly awaited GQ Best Dressed Men in Britain 2011 has been released and flicking through the list you get an idea of what it takes to become close to being named one of the top 50 best dressed men in Britain and how you can achieve the look for yourself.

For starters there doesn’t appear to be a cookie cutter approach to being the best dressed, there are different styles and interpretations in the list from the tailored smarter look to the more relaxed almost street wear approach to fashion. What is clear from the list is that the top 50 men have confidence, you can see from the way they hold themselves and wear their clothes to create their own individual style that they feel comfortable with.

Taking a closer look at the top 50 you see the names you may be familiar with for being well dressed such as Daniel Day Lewis, Nick Hart, Charles Finch and David Hockney. All well known for their sense of style and understanding of great tailoring. Other names that make it to the list include Alasdhair Willis who in a funny way wins twice with his own appearance and then for having styled David Beckham who also appears on the list. Luke Sweeney and Thom Whiddett are well known for styling others but appear on the list for their own style.

Looking at the list we can see that good tailoring has played its part in the majority of these men’s wardrobes, choosing good quality material and well finished clothes with that extra bit of detail that completes a look together with their own confidence.

So how do you go about creating this for yourself….

Choose clothes that you like and feel comfortable in
Understanding what you like and not just buying something because everyone else is wearing it is a good starting point. This is understanding your own style and what you naturally feel comfortable in.

Buy clothes that fit
If you don’t have the body shape to wear skinny jeans don’t buy them, buying clothes that work with your body shape and you easily fit in helps your confidence.

Choose key pieces
Buy key pieces for your wardrobe i.e. choose a mens winter coat that you will wear and wear, feel comfortable in and will look great with whatever you have on.

Understand what works
Understand what works for your lifestyle if you play a lot of sport having a wardrobe of suits may not be practical. A wardrobe of mens casual clothes would be more appropriate for your lifestyle.

...and what doesn’t
If you don’t feel comfortable in a shacket then it might not be for you, buy something that you are likely to wear.

Have something for every occasion
You may have a wardrobe that is completely casual but there will be those times when you need to be smart for a wedding or being in the top 50 for GQ Best Dressed Man 2012 in which case a suit would be ideal make sure you have something for most occasions.

After reading this I hope you have an idea of your own style and what you feel most comfortable and confident in and understand that all styles can be the Best Dressed for 2011.

Guest poster: Helen enjoys fashion and understanding how fashion impacts our life and how it makes people feel when they have their favourite outfit on.

STYLE - Styled at Oki-Ni

Want to be a bit more adventurous with your look but don't know where to start? Oki-Ni's 'Styled' sees some much loved stylists create looks and outfits for an editorial feature. The latest is by Andrew Davis who is known for his work on iconic magazine The Face. He now works with Japanese publication HUGE.

Working with the new season collections of Bernhard Wilhelm, Jil Sander, Rick Owens and Christopher Kane the outcome is a casual mix of tailoring and sportswear, with looks as wearable as they are vibrant.

Are you brave enough to try it yourself?

VIDEO - Train Hard Shave Easy With Bluebeard's Revenge

What should a manly man look like? Step forward, Sacha Harding. Sacha, 27, was recently awarded the title of ‘Britain’s Manliest Man’ by The Bluebeard's Revenge after over 250,000 people voted that his boxer’s jawline, and 6’3” toned torso was the perfect masculine physique. Which is useful, as Sacha needs every ounce of strength for his day job of professional rugby player, where he plays for Bedford Blues Rugby Club.

This week, Sacha’s debut photoshoot took place in a boxing gym, and the first-look pics reveal that he is the rightful winner of the title of ‘Britain’s Manliest Man’. Do you agree? What does it take to be 'manly'?

GROOMING - The New Gillette ProGlide

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to celebrate the latest launch from Gillette at 1 Marylebone in London. It started like any other event, and the heads of various departments chatted to us about how important this new product would be. Not being a male myself, I took along the boyfriend to get an expert opinion on the brand new Fusion ProGlide razor.

Gillette have done more than enough customer research to know that men can be sceptical about their claims of making an already great product like the fusion razor better. So much so that they had a bit of fun and released this spoof advert...

So instead of adding an extra blade what they've done is made the existing blades thinner and finer, enhanced the lubrastrip and improved the blade suspension system to reduce drag on the skin and in turn minimise discomfort. So did it measure up?

My boyfriend tried the new ProGlide razor at the launch event where Gillette had set up shaving stations for guys to give it a go. Initial feedback was all very positive and the thing that is most noticeable is that it takes less strokes to shave, especially around the neck area. Fewer strokes means less irritation on the skin. 

The razor also comes with a set of pre and post-shave products from a thermal scrub to moisturising balm. They've all been designed to enhance your shaving experience with the goal of the perfect smoothness and comfort. Out of all the products the boyfriend liked the moisturiser best - and he's in camp 'moisturiser is for girls' so that's an extra compliment coming from him.

If you fancy giving it a go you won't be able to miss the new razor. The marketing push is huge with stands in major chemists and supermarkets across the country. It comes in both the battery and non-battery versions. Do leave a comment if you've tried it and let us know your thoughts.

You can also take the Fusion ProGlide challenge on Facebook

GUEST POST - Fashion: Dress For Your Body Shape

Image via Flickr: Fazil Fuad 

Anyone can dress to impress, regardless of shape. This means, however, flattering one’s shape rather than hiding it.

First, you need to acknowledge your shape. You are what you are, and that’s fine. This article isn’t about dropping or adding pounds or wishing you were taller or shorter. Denying your shape will only hurt your style. So, take a deep breath, look in a full-length mirror, and exhale. Are you on the short side or tall side? On the bulky side or lean side?

The Long and Short of It, Through Thick and Thin

Sizes aside, men of varying heights need to tweak with their wardrobes to look their absolute best. What may work for someone who’s 5’6 may not work for someone who’s 6’6. In fact, rules for one may often simply just need to be reversed to work for the other. Here are examples.

For the Short Man

• Avoid big prints that will overwhelm smaller frames.
• Vertical stripes are your friend—as long as you’re not on the lean side, which will only make you look skinnier.
• Wear a small rise in pants (the rise being the distance between the waistband of the pants and the crotch). Going with a high rise will take away emphasis from your rear end. A short rise will also elongate your legs.
• Swallow your pride and wear short-length suits rather than letting them bunch up at your ankles. You don’t want to look 12.
• While we’re talking suits, show some cuff to lengthen your arms and keep an eye out for peak lapels, which will elongate your figure.
• Avoid belts, if you can. They split up your already small physique.

For the Tall Man

• You can pull of big prints, but avoid the vertical stripes, which will only serve to make you look like a beanstalk. Thick, horizontal stripes work if you’re on the slim side.
• Since you’re tall, you can afford to split your body up into sections by color and by accessories: a belt, quarter-folded pocket squares, horizontally striped ties, and the like. Even with accessories, wearing one color from head to toe makes you look thinner. Mix up colors and wear lighter colors to add bulk.
• Minimize the length of cuff you show when wearing suits. On the same note, choose a two-button suit with high-cut lapels to compliment, not deny, your shape.

For the Thick Man

• Avoid horizontal stripes, thick or thin, and opt for vertical stripes to slim you down. Pinstripe suits are a good option for dressing up. In the same vein, wear a pocket square to bring attention to your chest, not your gut, and wear simple, elegant shirts without plaids or checks. A tie is the inherent vertical assistant, but make sure it’s not too thin so it’s not overwhelmed by her larger frame.
• Go for monochromatic looks when you can to create a cleaner, slimmer impression. Breaking your body up with contrasting colors, especially if they clash near your belly, will make your frame stand out.
• I know I said avoid breaking up your body into sections, but a belt will make you appear trimmer as long as there’s not an overhanging belly nearby. Use suspenders so you don’t have to answer the above or below the gut question.

For the Thin Man

• Avoid monochromatic looks. Mix and match and wear lighter colors to add mass, like whites, creams, grays, pastels, and light blues.
• No one cares if you’re skinny enough to fit into skinny jeans—don’t.
• But don’t hide behind hanging fabric. Wear fitted shirts—fitted, not Latex—and use layering with jackets, sweaters, and the like to add bulk.

Guest poster: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education and performs research surrounding online degrees. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.