Southern Tide was started by Allen Stephenson, who admittedly, did not get his inspiration from all the time he spent on the beach in South Carolina.  He got his inspiration for his company from a trip to Italy, where the traditions that he experienced there made  a lasting impact on his vision.  He became entranced by the italian dedication to style and form, classic design and a true sense of craftsmanship.  Out of this trip, Southern Tide was born.

The Skipjack Polo has been called the most comfortable polo in the world.  They engineered the fit, the yarn, the fabric, and the look all with the goal of giving this classic an updated look and feel.  Taking the dedication they put into one shirt, they translated it into a whole line of high end men’s clothing.    This quote from their website says it best, “Our way may not be the most conventional, and may take a little longer, but we want our clothing to make you look and feel your best. Superior fit, classic design and comfort are key elements of our effortless style.”

The styling of them are, of course, up to you.  The more current style right now is for them flat fronted and a little slimmer fitting through the legs.  This doesn’t look right on everyone (including me), so take a look at all the styles available and choose the most flattering for you.  These pants from Austin Reed will help you on the way from not so flattering to oh so flattering.

Even more than a blue blazer, the gray or charcoal pant is a staple in the well dressed man’s arsenal.  Most situations will not require a blazer or coat, but will still require you to be looking respectable.  Gray pants are a great way to anchor many a different outfit.

Depending on the season or the climate where you live, a wool pair might be more appropriate on the cooler days.  A much lighter fabric should be your choice on the warmer days to help you stay cool.

Whatever the style or weight of the pant you choose, take comfort in the knowledge that choosing a gray pant will always keep you looking like the well dressed man you are.

In terms of being the well dressed man that I feel all of you are or could be, this video speaks to something much deeper and central to the core of the well dressed man. What it speaks to is the idea of keeping ones appearance tip top. Making sure everything is in place. From the jacket to the shoes, watch to the hair. Being a well dressed man is far more than the clothes. It is a sense of being that makes women turn their heads. A sense of confidence that you have in your self because everything is where it should be. No beard fringe, no whispies and fly aways in your do. If you don’t have a consistent barber, find one. Now.

This can be a challenging question for all you aspiring well dressed men out there.  We know, staring at racks full of awesome looking clothes can sometimes be pretty daunting.  But fear not, you can do this.

On your search for the right blazer for the you of tomorrow, you need to know a few things about how you will use it.  Will it be used as a good all purpose suit good for boardroom meetings and the occasion wedding?  Will this be a statement suit?  Three button suits offer a more Mad Men look that can easily be taken seriously when you are trying to stand out from others in the style department.  The perfectly fitted two button can certainly be timeless.  This is a look that will be acceptable in a variety of situations, even when you need to take out the special woman in your life to that roof-top terrace restaurant with a waiting list two months long.

You will also need to pay attention to your build.  The three button coat will be much more suited to taller men who have a longer torso.  The three buttons stretch out your frame a bit and help to make the fit look right on a longer body.  The two button does a great job a complimenting a large amount of different body types.  The two button does a good job at making you look longer if you are not.

Thinking about how to actually wear the three button, one rule is key : NEVER BUTTON THE BOTTOM BUTTON.  If you have some confidence about you, then button the top two and go on your merry way.  Going with the middle only gives you an elegant look that will pass in most occasions.  With the two button look, go with just the top button when you stand and you will always be appropriate.

By the early 1900′s, no man was walking out his front door without a pocket square.  As much a part of his outfit as his pants or shoes, the pocket square was firmly entrenched in men’s fashion.  With a brief hiatus in the 1960′s, the pocket square has firmly taken a place again in the wardrobe of today’s gentleman.  But then again, what fashion standard didn’t really take a dive in the 60′s.

A couple of things to pay attention to when selecting a pocket square that fits you.  First, the construction.  Less expensive pocket squares will have edges that are machine hemmed or have loose irregular stitching with cheaply rolled edges.  These pocket squares will tend to be made of a fabric that really is nothing special, something with the look of a mass produced item.  A nicer pocket square will be made of a silk with hand stitched, even stitching.   These squares will have some sort of life to them in the print and will allow you to start to show your personality.  The finest in pocket squares will have a tight, hand rolled edge with about 5-6 stitches per inch.  Not to say that you need to carry a ruler around with you, but let’s all start to pay a little closer attention here, okay?

Second is the fold or the way that it sits in your pocket begging to be adored.  There are quite a few ways to fold your pocket square.  Your particular fold could easily be a reflection of you and your personality.  Some more traditional folds should be reserved for classier occasions, but more or less, the fold is up to you.  Here is a great resource for the many different types of folds that could adorn your chest.

One of the best pocket square manufacturer’s around is Robert Talbott.  Remember, make the pocket square fit you, your personality, and your personal fashion flair.  And most importantly, wear it with the confidence of a well dressed man.  

Ingredients
4 cups bourbon
2 bunches fresh spearmint
1 cup distilled water
1 cup granulated sugar
Powdered sugar

Directions
To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.

To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.

Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it’s right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to “marry” the flavors.

To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

A couple of things come to mind when we start thinking about fashion for Keeneland and spring time in general.  First, you must have a few staple polos.  These can’t just be any polos, mind you.  These need to show your excitement for a day spent with a beautiful girl on your arm, drink in hand, and the sound of horses racing near by.  These polos need to get your look across.  Pop your collar if you want, totally up to you.  Leave it down for a more traditional feel.  Your call.

These polos are from Southern Tide, more specifically the SkipJack Polo.  These were designed to be the most comfortable polo ever, which means not only will you think they are soft and comfortable, so will the girl on your arm.  And don’t we all want that?

Thinking in terms of the after Keeneland party, you need to be the best.  And being your best means looking your best.  The picture above may be a bit extreme, but it does embody the idea of what I am laying down.  Looking like you belong where ever you go is key and will give you confidence to make it through the evening with a smile on your face and a drink in your hand.

So let’s talk the tux.  This is a dirty word for a lot of guys.  Most of us refuse to wear this formal straight jacket out of the house, much less spend an evening in it.  But, guys listen up.  YOU WILL LOOK GOOD IN A FITTED TUX!  There, I said it.  And you heard me.  Hart Schaffner Marx make an excellent tux for just about any occasion.  

Imagine the evening spent in this.  Tailored to fit just right.  You would be able to not only be the life of the party, but look good while doing it.

If the atmosphere is a little more casual, you might go with something that gets away from the traditional black, while maintaining that well dressed appearance.  Still nice enough to attract a certain amount of attention from that someone special, but casual enough to attend the after Keeneland garden party at your friends.  This suit shown below is from Hart Schaffner Marx, maker of great tools for the well dressed man.