YOUR LOOK

UPGRADE

A man’s guide to style after graduation

TABLEOFCONTENTS

KEEP/PITCH 4–17Guidelines to help you re-evaluate your closet and decide what to keep and what to donate.

10 NEW PIECES 18–35 10 new pieces that will upgrade your look from college slob to functioning adult with a job for only $500(or less).

CONGRATULATIONS

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CONGRATULATIONSYou’ve just graduated college, and either have just gotten or are in search of your first “big boy” job. It’s finally time for you to look the part of a true grown up. So let’s completely gut your closet tossing out all cargo shorts, light wash boot cut jeans, old worn out polos, graphic tees, hoodies, and pretty much every piece that you’ve had since high school. It is no longer okay to be seen sporting gym wear anywhere but in the gym, that means no more gym shoes, gym shorts, or sweatpants out in public.

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It is possible that during your four (or six) years in college that you’ve acquired some valuable pieces to your new adult life. Here are some guidelines to help you reevaluate your closet and decide what to keep and what to donate.

KEEP/ PITCH

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KEEP/ PITCH

SHOES8

Shoes are one thing that can really set you apart from the crowd, and that can be good or bad. As already stated, please keep athletic shoes where they belong, the gym. Throw away any worn out shoes. A nice pair of street sneakers in good condition will get you by in many casual settings. Chances are to go along with your old dress pants and shirts you might have a prehistoric pair of

dress shoes. If these kicks have a fat and clunky rounded toe you should donate them, some other college kid might be able to get a good use out of them, but you’ve graduated far past that phase.

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POLOS

SHORTS

OUTERWEAR

JEANS

Alright, I’m just going to go ahead and put my foot down. If you have any polos with any sort of logo detail larger than 1” do yourself a favor and send it off to The Salvation Army. While you’re at it maybe get rid of the ones with any logo at all. Who wants to be an advertisement for some mall brand anyways?

Cargo anything needs to be permanently set free from your closet.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, NO MORE NORTH FACE JACKETS! That look is for the woods, not work.

My biggest advice is to get rid of every single pair of boot cut or holey jeans in your closet. Nothing else screams “I got this for Christmas from my Mom” than a loose fitting pair of light wash jeans from American Eagle. If you have nice dark straight leg denim still in good condition by all means keep them, but it’s more likely you don’t. Anything purchased from The Buckle should also be donated, unless you really want to look like a member of Nickelback.

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NOThe cotton T-shirt, is anything more comfortable? While T-shirts are a wonderful addition to your closet for layering during cold seasons and alone during the spring and summer, we need to set some ground rules for which ones get to live and which need to go see Dr. Kevorkian. Anything commemorating an event, such as “BEER FEST 2010” or “SENIORS 12” needs to go away, besides being tacky they also put a date on you and make you look old. While it may not even be 2015 yet, if you let a shirt with a 2012 date on it live, it’s probably going to stick around until 2020 and that certainly ain’t cute. T-shirts with misogynistic slogans

TEESare also on the purge list. All of your graphic tees really need to go as well, it may look alright now but in a few years you’ll just look like you’re trying to relive your youth. Imagine the 50 year old man with leathered skin from the tanning bed, bleached hair that has almost completely fallen out, rocking his AFFLICTION Tee with rhinestones thinking he looks bad ass. You may keep one Tee stating the name of your university but that is as much as I will condone in the printed T-shirt department. Any non-logo v-neck or crew-neck tees that are still in good condition may also stay. Also, stripes and pattern shirts can stay in your wardrobe.

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UNDERWEAR12

UNDERWEAR

If you’re still sporting FTL’s or Hanes your Mom bought you at Walmart freshman year it is really time to splurge and spend around $50 on some new underwear. You’ll be surprised how much better fitting slightly more expensive boxer briefs are than the cheap superstore ones. All of your future sexual partners will also be thrilled to not have to pull off stained, stretched out, faded, ugly underwear with holes from your bachelor’s degree ass.

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Most guys have their go-to pair of black dress pants, if yours are still in good condition (no holes, not faded, falling apart, and definitely not frayed on the bottom) and still fit (not too baggy or tight, check length too, and please no pleated pants) they can be an important item in your new life.

DRESS PANTS

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DRESS SHIRTSThis goes along with the dress pants, every man should have several but make sure you evaluate these dust collectors in your closet before deciding to keep them. First look at them and ask yourself “Would my Dad wear this?” If the answer is yes, add to the purge box immediately. Look at the quality of the shirt. Is it falling apart? Is it gross and dingy? Are there sweat stains? If you aren’t sure whether or not the shirt is passable try washing or taking to a dry cleaner and if the piece still looks old, get rid of it. There’s no need to keep something around that is going to make you look dirty and unprofessional.

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First and most importantly if it is a tie that your father would wear please give it to him, he needs it more than you do. If your current tie collection is looking more used car salesmen than young professional it is time to put it out to pasture. If you have ties that are a little stained or wrinkled send them to a dry cleaner for cleaning and they will come back looking brand new. Usually if a tie has rips or tears in the silk it can be very hard to repair and you might as well just say goodbye.

TIES17

10NEW PIECES

10 new pieces that will upgrade your look from college slob to functioning adult with a job for only $500(or less)!

TO UPGRADE YOUR LOOK FOR UNDER $500

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Choose a style with a more pointed toe. Look for styles that could go dressy or casual. Black or Brown will work, I generally recommend starting off with buying all accessories in one color of leather, this will save money so you don’t need a black and a brown belt/bag/watch. For beginners in getting a good wardrobe together I would highly suggest black, but for a guy with a

more advanced style I would advise brown. This is one item it is okay to spend over $100 on because you will be able to use these for years to come and will work for almost any wearing occasion. I have had the most luck at DSW finding great deals on fashionable shoes. If getting a good price isn’t an issue for you I would also recommend Nordstrom. $99 (H&M)

LEATHERBOOTS

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BELTSChoose the same color as whatever shoes you decide to buy. A leather belt will be able to be worn for any wearing situation and will complete your look. $17.95(H&M)–$40(Topman)

Grab several solid tees with little or no branding on them. Choose colors that you know you’ll wear, that will go with items already in your wardrobe. Think neutrals and muted colors (Navy, light blue, maroon, military green, eggplant). $5.95 Each (H&M) - $24.95 (Banana Republic)

I promise you will thank me for this advice. Head out and splurge on some nice underwear. Look for boxer briefs or sport trunks. My favorites are from Express and H&M. $17.95 3-pack (H&M) - $19.90 each (Express)

SOLID TEES

UNDERWEAR

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DARKDENIM

I recommend skinny or straight leg jeans. They should be a solid dark blue with no visible wash treatments. $19.95(H&M)-$150(J.Crew)

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BLACK WOOL

COATA great fitting black wool coat is really the only piece of outerwear you need. If you can wait until late January most retailers have deep discounts on these items. If you buy any other time of year expect to pay over $300 at most shops. $150 (H&M) - $170 (Topman)

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SHIRTSYou are going to need at least 10 of these in your closet, so depending on what you already have you may need to budget more or less money to stocking up on dress shirts. You need these colors: Solid White, Black, Grey, Sky Blue, French Blue, Navy, 2 pin stripe shirts in any of the previously listed colors, 2 gingham shirts in black/white and blue/white. $14.95 each (H&M) - $98(J.Crew)

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BLACK SKINNY TIE

DRESS PANTS

This is one of the most versatile accessories a man can own. Wear this to interview for your first job, wear it to a friends wedding, wear it going out, wear it on a first date, wear it to meet someone’s parents. $12.95 (H&M)-$39.90(Express)

Depending on what you are doing in your new job, you may need more or less of this staple item. Pay attention to fit, look for straight leg, and a slimmer fit. Stay away from anything that is cuffed or pleated. Every guy needs at least a solid black and grey pair to get himself started on the pathto living in style. If you’ve already got yourself covered on those branch out and check out navy, brown and khaki. For the guy looking for a more novelty item grab birds eye print. $24.95 (H&M)

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CARDIGAN

I cannot overstate the importance of having even one neutral colored cardigan. For your first one I would suggest getting a black or grey one. A cardigan instantly adds a layer to your look which gives you the appearance of being more put together and keeps you warm. $24.95 (H&M) - $118 (J.Crew)

CARDIGAN

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WRITTEN, PHOTOGRAPHED, & DESIGNED BY: MICHAEL REECE