Guest Blogger: Fashionable Gifts for Men

I am often asked about men's fashion and then I have to kindly surrender that I know nothing about it. This is proven by all the clothes I buy my husband that are still sitting in his closet with the original tags. So to properly guide you women on men's fashion, I tapped into a man who seems to get it right. Jamie Cornett has a distinct sense of style that seamlessly blends an urban funk with a preppy polish, creating stylish ensembles that are never over the top or masculine compromising.

So here you go ... fashionable gift giving advice for the man in your life from a man who gets it:

Ok ladies, I feel like I need to start off with news you probably don’t want to hear…men don’t like getting clothes for Christmas. It’s not because we don’t trust you to find a pair of jeans or a polo shirt that would look good on us. It is because with each gift that is carefully wrapped and placed beneath the Christmas tree we immediately imagine ourselves rocking out with that new MP3 player, catching YouTube worthy video on our Flip Ultra HD camcorder, or staying cool with Dyson’s new Air Multiplier that we are convinced is inside those boxes. We want the latest gadget for Christmas. When we open that first package only to find another sweater vest we will of course be grateful…on the outside. Inside, however, we are already looking forward to that next box and hoping that whatever is inside either requires batteries or plugs in. I’m going to let you take a peek at my Christmas wish list and hopefully allow you to not only avoid this scenario completely but help you find some clothes that make your guy look great.

Jeans
Everyone knows that jeans are a staple in every guy’s wardrobe. When jeans become a gift they need to have a little more style than the 10 pairs of Levi’s that are already hanging up in the closet. Go for a darker wash and stick to either a straight leg or slim cut. This ensures that they are not overly casual and are perfectly acceptable for jean’s day at work.

Source: Gap

Cardigans
I had trouble with this one at first but you have to believe me. Take note the next time you are watching a primetime sit-com that includes young, professional men in the cast. One of them will be wearing a cardigan. Think Mr. Rogers Neighborhood! You can choose from standard colors like gray and black or if your guy is a little more courageous go out on a limb with purple or blue…and don’t forget about argyle and cable-knit styles. You might initially get a funny look once he realizes he’s holding a cardigan but insist he try it on with a dress shirt underneath and he will realize that it looks great.

Source: Banana Republic

Sneakers
While guys don’t have the obsession with shoes that plagues most females we undoubtedly feel a little better about ourselves when we’re wearing a nice new
pair of sneakers. And they go with everything! You can go super casual with jeans and a t-shirt or high-style when paired with a suit. Here the important thing is that they have something a little different about them. Maybe they are made of patent leather or have an odd mix of color (orange and turquoise perhaps). Some brands to look for are Nike, Diesel, Converse, and Puma.

Source: Puma

Half-zip Sweaters
Go to any office where the dress code is business casual and without question the majority of the guys there will be wearing long sleeve button down dress shirts. These are easy for us to buy on our own. They are either solid or striped and for the most part all look fairly similar. A great way to update this look is to add a half-zip sweater as a top layer. The color or print from the shirt is still visible and you get the added bonus of looking like you put some thought into your appearance. The good thing is that you can buy one or two half-zips and wear them over several of the dress shirts that are already in your closet. Don’t be afraid to branch out color-wise. Shades of blue, green, and purple are good choices. Also make sure the material is thin enough so that over-heating isn’t an issue.

Source: Banana Republic

Ok, there it is…my no-technology-allowed Christmas wish list. One more thing, don’t forget that there is plenty of room in your guy’s stocking to include some guy friendly fashion accessories. A pair of argyle or striped socks, a new brown or black belt, or even a black skinny tie (seriously, I still love the skinny tie) would be a great addition to the chocolate santa, chapstick, and Nerd rope that I usually find in mine.