Tais Elyse Designer. Stylist. Shopper

It is undeniable that Mad Men has influenced for the better men’s perception of how they should dress for the office. The show’s hot shot (in both the boardroom and the bedroom) Don Draper especially has inspired men to style their hair and attire themselves in tailored suits that practically brag about their buff physique. But it is also undeniable that after watching the male leads wear the same old black, gray, and blue structured suits for four seasons, their office wardrobe becomes hardly noticeable anymore. And this is something that men, whether you are the scrappy upstart or an executive in the firm, should not aspire to: being boring, predictable, and repetitive in your office dress (or any dress for that matter). Rather, men should personalize their suit and tie uniform to achieve their distinctive look. And one of the easiest ways to do so? Wear patterned garments. Play with conservative checks and stripes but also experiment with the more unconventional madras, polka dot, and floral prints. Incorporate a small dose of pattern into your suit with a printed pocket square and/or tie. Be a bit bolder by swapping out your white dress shirt for a microscopically-checked gingham shirt or a subtle floral shirt (like this one). Or take a risk by pairing several printed separates in one look, like the dotted tie, check shirt, and pinstripe suit combination above. Just make sure the pieces form a muted, monochromatic color scheme so you don’t look clownishly mismatched. A patterned look can still be conservative, respectable, and boardroom-ready, but the details will make you stand out.

Though accessories might seem to be extraneous and unnecessary adornments, there is no denying that the right accessories have the power to elevate any outfit. Take for example the myriads of ladies seen on street photographer Tommy Ton’s blog, Jak & Jildit. They prove that accessories can anchor an entire outfit, be it an impeccable, unremarkable, or even frumpy getup. One girl looped a simple brown leather belt around her elegant gray dress, taking advantage of even the most utilitarian of accessories to amplify an already chic outfit. 

Another woman paired neutral basics with a patterned scarf and canary yellow laptop case to inject refreshing flashes of personality into otherwise forgettable attire. She demonstrated that even women who have to look all business for the office can still look stylish. 

And one woman was spotted using her accessories to take her outfit from slouchy casual to bonafide hip by piling trendy tribal necklaces and chunky gold cuffs on top of her baggy military-green blouse. Accessories are versatile pieces: they come in all styles (subtle, functional, minimalistic or ornate accessories) and can add panache to any type of outfit (elegant, business, or casual). But once you find the right accessories for your wardrobe, they not only elevate your style, but also define your style. 

Not sure which are the right accessories for your wardrobe? Come to the upcoming Mini Accessories Workshop to find the accessories that suit your individual style and lifestyle.  

Last Friday night was windy, rainy, and freezing. But inside the Cotton Mills Studio? It was HOT - from the steam that emanated from many women listening to the men preach and rant about women’s fashion at the event, “10 Things Guy Need to Know about Fashion, but Women Will Never Tell.” Although the event was meant to give men styling tips, both men and women had the chance to speak their minds on the opposite sex’s fashion choices. And the men definitely had a thing or twenty to tell the ladies on how to dress.  

But first, let’s start with the ladies’ side. Their comments were of the “men are slobs” persuasion. The women powwowed about men who neglect to clean their fingernails; men who believe that they are the sex god from an Axe or Old Spice commercial and use their deodorant like it is their cologne; and men who sport chest hair resembling a “Brillo Pad”- the short, wiry hairs that sprout up after shaving (and apparently, have killed many a woman’s mood). 

Meanwhile, men seemed to reinforce the truism that they constantly have sex on their brain. On the floor, they took a united stand in guiding women on how to dress like the objects of their booty calls: wear sexy undergarments; wear sexy boots; dress in tight clothes; show more leg than bosom, or alternatively, show off your “best assets.” 

But the event left me wondering whether this was really the mainstream opinion among guys. Do men want their women oozing sex appeal any place, any time, as if they are juicy, medium-rare steaks? Are there any other ways to arouse a man’s interest without dressing like Blake Lively? (Or in other words, is my main dude, who gripes only about cropped dress pants on women, abnormal?)   

In order to gain some perspective on this question, I peeped at the note cards left behind by the guests at the end of the night. The fashion prescriptions written down but not voiced at the event ranged from the nitpicky “don’t wear painted eyebrows” and “avoid pointed shoes,” which were deemed “witch-like and intimidating,” to the bizarre and fetishistic, “wear welding masks.” On a basic level, these comments were subjective expressions of individual preferences and objections, making clear that it is nearly impossible for one person to satisfy everybody else’s standards of desirability. 

But on another level, the comments intimate that there should be a balance between dressing for one’s self and dressing to present one’s self to others. Clothes contain ideas about the kind of person the wearer might be. People think of women shod in pointed pumps not so much as unfashionable and unstylish but as severe, formidable, and yes, maybe even intimidating. 

So dress the way you want to dress, but also dress the way you want to be perceived. To quote one of the guests, “Dress with a purpose and anticipate how you will be treated according to the way you are dressed.”