Men have worn necklaces for thousands of years, looking powerful and masculine while doing it. You want to wear a necklace too and take your style up a notch – but how do men wear necklaces?
That’s the purpose of today’s article! In this article, you’ll find:
Necklaces for guys are different than women’s necklaces.
For one thing, men are never going to wear anything that could be considered ‘costume jewelry’ — the big, chunky stuff with rows of jewels women wear with evening gowns. That’s strictly a woman’s fashion.
It’s also not the case that a man’s jewelry should be the centerpiece of an outfit. Men’s jewelry is meant to complement, not to overwhelm.
That means necklaces for men are less showy and instead slightly rugged or rough around the edges. Good jewelry for men should look natural — like you’ve been wearing it for years and it was given to you by your grandfather who inherited from his father and so on.
You’ll see some bigger, shinier stuff available of course. There will be also some light and fragile designs here and there too. At either extreme though you’re talking about exceptions to the rule. These pieces draw eyes precisely because they go against norms.
The jewelry most men wear will be very subtle. You’ll just see them as stylish men and over time notice the accessories they use to create killer looks.
How Do Men Wear Necklaces: The 5 Essential Styles
There are five broad families of necklace styles worth knowing about. These have been traditional masculine styles for years and they naturally pair with classic men’s outfits.
Men’s Necklace Style #1 Dog Tags
Military-style dog tags are functionally just a specialized pendant, but they bear mention on their own, if only because increasingly jewelers offer upscale versions.
Your basic dog tags are a pair of tabs on a ball chain with text on them. Actual military tags usually list the wearer’s name and medical information plus their rank and religious preference sometimes.
Decorative takes on the style often replace this text with an image or raised design. The ball chain may also be replaced with something finer and flashier.
Understand that people are going to have different opinions on this style. Some people love the nod to military fashion style. Other people find it disrespectful to actual servicemen and servicewomen because it trivializes an official piece of identification.
As a former Marine, I say wear them if it’s really your style. Just be aware that not everyone’s going to love it. Don’t wear a flashy set into a VFW post if you didn’t serve!
Men’s Necklace Style #2 Chains
Plain, unornamented chains of metal are classic male jewelry. They can create any number of looks depending on the metal, chain length, style of links and method of fastening them.
The most classic style of chain necklace has relatively flat loops spaced close together. The chain almost looks like a solid ribbon of metal and is long enough to fall slightly below the collarbone.
These have been worn by men for the better part of a century and are a statement on their own whether they’re worn to dress up a T-shirt or a suit. The key to pulling off a chain is modesty. Keep the style understated and keep the chain underneath your shirt. The small amount that’s visible is enough to make your statement for you.
The metal defines the entire chain’s look so it’s worth spending more to get a higher-quality product here. Avoid cheap alternatives and go for solid stainless steel or precious metals like gold and silver.
Men’s Necklace Style #3 Religious Emblems
The various necklaces that denote religious affiliation or are tied to faith are also worth including. Some are required/encouraged by specific faiths or sects while others are personal displays of belief.
Most will be of the pendant style. Christian crosses, Stars of David, scapulars and other symbols can all be made into dangling ornaments easily enough. These are normally worn under the shirt against the body on a chain long enough that the ornament falls below the neckline.
My opinion is that these pieces should be understated and simple — fine to share with people in situations where you’re taking your shirt off. You don’t want it to be the first thing someone notices about you from the other side of a room though.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t large, metallic or jeweled cross pendants and things like that out there. They’re just not going to be the sort of quiet, stylish accent piece that a man’s jewelry ideally should be.
Men’s Necklace Style #4 Pendants
It’s an incredibly broad term, but a pendant-style necklace basically just means a single ornament on a long, thin chain or cord.
These are common, popular and versatile. The ornament can be anything from a shaped jewel to a tiny vial or scroll case. Anything will work as long as it’s small enough to rest comfortably below your neck and against your breastbone.
Pendants can be worn outside casual shirts like T-shirts but are usually tucked underneath any shirt with a turn-down collar. Something to be aware of is a deep V-neck may show enough of your chest for a pendant on a short cord to be seen. You might like this style or it might be a reason for you to avoid deep V’s.
Men’s Necklace Style #5 Chokers
A choker is a thick, solid band around the neck that doesn’t hang down, often broken with ornaments or designs at regular intervals.
Dog collars are a style of choker; so are the woven hemp necklaces popular in surfer and hippie culture.
Fashionable men have taken advantage of toned-down variations on both, so don’t be afraid to sport some leather or rope around your neck. Just make sure it’s not too over the top, and give yourself enough room in the fit that it’s comfortable.
Metal chokers are relatively uncommon. So are chokers with an ornament hanging from the front — that looks a bit too much like a pet with its tags hanging from its collar for most people’s taste, and not in a hardcore, military-style dog tag kind of way.
How Do Men Wear Necklaces: Chains & Cords
The truth is, how a man should wear jewelry and what jewelry men can wear are fluid concepts. The chain or cord of a necklace can take many, many forms.
Between the material used and the length, the chain is giving your necklace a lot of its character, so take the time to understand your options and the message you are sending.
What are men’s necklace chains made of?
Unless you’re wearing deep V-necks, the part of your necklace that people see the most of is probably going to be the chain or cord.
Here’s how some of the most common items will affect your outfits:
Precious metals are meant to be seen and noticed. Keep them slim especially if they’re supporting an ornament and be aware that they’re drawing a lot of attention. The rest of your outfit doesn’t have to be fancy — if you have too many items vying for someone’s attention your outfit becomes visually overwhelming. Simple is best with metal chains.
Steel ball chains are a slim, utilitarian style frequently used for long pendants. They’re relatively minimalist and won’t distract from the rest of your outfit. Wear them when you don’t want your necklace to stand out (especially if the ornament is hidden under a shirt).
Leather thongs are a little bigger than ball chains but less eye-catching than bright metal. They give you a relaxed, natural look that goes well with casual clothing and modern styles. However, they’re less ideal with collared shirts and men’s modern business attire.
Hemp and rope cord are most common in chokers, where they’re woven into larger arrangements. These have a casual, outdoorsy look that most people will associate with hippies, surfers and outdoorsy guys.
Ribbons or colored cords made from cloth such as velvet are generally reserved for medals, not for decorative jewelry. It’s a bit too feminine for most men’s style, no matter what the ornament is.
TIP: How do men wear necklaces without getting bored of them? The answer is versatility. Never forget you can always swap cords and chains. Once you have three or four pendants and a few extra chains or cords you’ll suddenly find yourself with over a dozen different necklace options.
What is the best chain length for men?
Where the ornament hangs on your chest (or the nadir of the chain, if you have no pendant) affects both the overall style of a necklace and the types of shirts it goes well with.
Short, choker-style necklaces can be worn with just about anything, short of a suit and tie. They look unusual underneath a men’s dress shirt any shirt with a turn-down collar. It’s not necessarily a bad thing though. On their own above a low collar, of course, they stand out on their own, and viewers can see the whole necklace.
Medium-length chains that end right around the base of the neck or the top of the breastbone are typical for unornamented metal chains. This leaves most of the links visible with an open shirt collar, or with a non-turndown collar like a T-shirt’s. On the other hand, it’s the most awkward length for a pendant, since the ornament will fall under the collar on some shirts, above it on others, and awkwardly halfway-covered on a few.
Long chains or cords are good for pendants, but often hide them underneath your shirt. The ornaments attached to them will generally only be worn outside very casual outfits, meaning you’ll need a V-neck or a few open buttons if you want the pendant to be visible.
As with the materials, remember that you can always swap chains and cords in and out. You can even have a jeweler shorten metal chains if your preference changes.
How Do Men Wear Necklaces: Conclusion
A good necklace can be a great accent piece for a well-dressed man just like a men’s ring, necktie or a good set of cufflinks. It just might not be something you wear every day or with every outfit (except in the case of religious necklaces, or something else kept under the shirt as a personal token).
You don’t want to be known for a specific piece of jewelry. Mix it up and enjoy expanding your collection from time to time. A few good pendants and a wide selection of cords and chains give you a huge number of possibilities once you start mixing and matching!
Lastly, wear your necklace with confidence. If you look good, you look good!
Click below to watch the video – 5 Men’s Necklace Styles
The post A Man’s Guide To Wearing Necklaces | How To Buy A Necklace For Men appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
By: Antonio Title: A Man’s Guide To Wearing Necklaces | How To Buy A Necklace For Men Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/necklace-guide-men/ Published Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:03:00 +0000
As much as you won’t like hearing this, you’re probably wearing your watch wrong.
It’s not your fault; you may have never been taught how to wear a watch properly. After all, there is more than one way to wear a watch.
But how do you know which way is the right way?
Don’t worry, gents; as always, I’ve got you covered. I’m here with the best way to wear your favorite timepiece properly and look as stylish as ever.
In today’s article, I’ll be covering:
Origins Of The Wrist Watch
What Wrist Do You Wear A Watch On?
Should You Wear Your Watch Facing Inward Or Outward?
The Stylish Way To Wear A Watch
#1 Origins Of The Wrist Watch
When it comes to wearing a watch correctly, it’s important to note why the wristwatch came about in the first place.
Dating back to the 1800s, the first watches modified to be worn on the wrist were primarily worn by women as accessories. One of the earliest was created by Patek Philippe as a fashion accessory.
At the start of the 20th century, watchmakers became intrigued about using a wrist-worn timepiece for men in the military. They believed it would help them tell time quickly while on the battlefield.
Watchmakers started modifying pocket watches to fit on a bracelet worn on the wrist. Men would not wear the first iteration of the modern wristwatch until well into the 20th century.
Then developed as a ‘trench watch’ for military use, the earliest wrist watches offered something the pocket watch didn’t have – convenience.
After the wristwatch became less of a fashion accessory and more of a functional tool, watchmakers would spend the next century modifying them into the modern wristwatches we enjoy today.
#2 What Wrist Do You Wear A Watch On?
The age-old question: what wrist to wear a watch on? The answer – it depends.
The reason it depends is that since the creation of the wristwatch, men have mostly worn their watch on their non-dominant wrist. And since most people are right-handed, you would wear your watch on your left wrist.
But this isn’t always the correct answer. You may want to wear your watch on the right wrist if you are left-handed. But you may also want to wear it on your dominant hand.
So how do you know for sure?
The most significant benefit of wearing your watch on your non-dominant hand is that you can quickly put the watch on and navigate the dial more efficiently than with your non-dominant hand.
Wearing your watch on your non-dominant hand is less likely to damage the watch as you tend to do more with your dominant hand. If you were to wear it on your dominant hand, you’re more likely to scratch or ding the watch than on your non-dominant hand.
So the rule of thumb here is to wear your watch on your non-dominant hand for the best way to navigate and protect your watch.
#3 Should You Wear Your Watch Facing Inward Or Outward?
The next question is, why would a man wear his watch facing inward on his wrist instead of outward?
This trend is seen primarily in individuals who need to check their watch frequently and in the most efficient way possible. Among the many reasons you should wear a watch, one of the most common is to support you in your profession.
You will see men in the military do this, as it’s easier and prevents sun glare better than when it’s on the outside of the wrist. It also offers faster convenience to other tools on the watch in addition to the time.
Another reason you may want to wear your watch facing inward is that it can help protect your watch from scratches and dings. Again, this is just a preference.
But you’re a stylish guy looking for the best way to wear his watch. What should you do?
The answer here is to wear it facing outward, as that is the most common way to wear a wristwatch. It shows off your timepiece that you love while also still being functional.
Unless you’re in a profession where you need to check your watch quickly while managing other tasks, the best way is to have your watch facing outward. After all, you probably didn’t spend money on that beautiful timepiece to hide its character.
#4 The Stylish Way To Wear A Watch
Now it’s time to find out exactly how to wear a watch in the most stylish way a guy can.
Assuming you’ve selected the right size watch for your wrist, the first thing you want to do is figure out if you’ll be wearing your watch on your right or left wrist.
As mentioned above, traditionally, the watch is worn on your non-dominant wrist. So if you’re right-handed, this means wearing your watch on your left wrist. For left-handed guys, this means your right wrist.
After you figure that out, it’s quite easy. The first thing you want to do is locate your wrist bone.
You want to wear your watch face up just above your wrist bone. If done correctly, your watch should slightly peek out from under the cuffs of your shirt when wearing long sleeves.
Next, you want to tighten the strap so it’s loose enough to be comfortable. You don’t want it so loose it can spin freely around your wrist. You also don’t want it too tight, or it will feel uncomfortable, especially when you bend your wrist.
After doing this correctly, you’ll be wearing a watch in the most stylish way possible.
There you have it, gents.
Now you no longer have to worry about wearing your watch incorrectly.
There is more than one way to wear a watch, so find what’s most comfortable for you personally, and rock your favorite timepiece accordingly.
If you want to take your watch knowledge to the next level, check out this article I wrote about the difference between quartz and mechanical watches.
The post How To Wear A Watch The Right Way appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
By: Antonio Title: How To Wear A Watch The Right Way Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/wear-watch-right-way/ Published Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2022 10:19:42 +0000
We’ve all been there – fall comes around, and you open your closet only to find you have nothing but polos and shorts.
So what’s a stylish guy to do? Pay a premium to build an entire fall wardrobe last minute? Sure, if you’re loaded. But not every guy is that lucky!
Don’t worry; as ever, I’ve got you covered. In today’s article, I’ll show you how to get the best bang for your buck when building your fall capsule wardrobe.
We’ll be covering:
What Are The Advantages Of A Capsule Wardrobe?
How Do You Build A Fall Capsule Wardrobe?
Where Can You Find Deals On Fall Clothing?
What Are The Best Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials?
#1 What Are The Advantages Of A Capsule Wardrobe?
One of the most common headaches guys run into in their closet is having too many clothing options to choose from but not enough of the right options.
While more options aren’t bad, they can be overwhelming, especially when you rarely wear most items. This is where building a capsule wardrobe comes into play.
A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of clothing items that complement each other. This means you can buy a smaller selection of items and create a larger number of outfits.
This is crucial to understand because most guys don’t have an unlimited budget for buying clothes. A capsule wardrobe allows you to purchase and use items frequently with little redundancy.
But where do you start in building your fall capsule wardrobe?
#2 How Do You Build A Fall Capsule Wardrobe?
After you have put together the perfect capsule wardrobe, you can start to add a few fall-specific items. This is done by adding a few staple pieces that complement what you already have.
For most, fall offers mild temperatures mixed with slightly warmer temperatures.
This means that layering will be of the utmost importance because you may leave the house needing a jacket, but it might be warm enough by midday to sport only the t-shirt underneath.
Start with the basics when building your fall capsule wardrobe and add pieces accordingly.
Keep It Simple
Fall is primetime for layering, so you only need a few outer layers and should focus more on the innermost layers.
You want to make sure that interchangeability is at the top of your list when it comes to your wardrobe. Everything should complement each other for ease of use.
With that said, having a few staples and adding additional items as you change seasons is essential.
For this reason, ensure you have the following items in your fall capsule wardrobe:
A dark three-piece suit
A light-colored tweed blazer
A leather bomber or biker jacket
An overcoat (dark or light)
A formal button-up shirt (white)
2 casual button-up shirts (flannel or chambray, you choose)
2 sweaters (1 shawl, 1 crew neck)
2 t-shirts (1 white, 1 black,)
2 pairs of Jeans (1 dark, 1 light)
2 pairs of slacks/chinos (1 dark, 1 light)
2 belts (1 black, 1 brown)
1 pair of black dress shoes
1 pair of brown oxfords (leather or suede, you decide)
1 pair ofsneakers (plain white or brown)
1 pair of military boots (black or brown)
When it comes to accessories like watches, scarves, or gloves, you can use what you have as most men won’t need all of them, so I won’t count them in.
#3 Where Can You Find Deals On Fall Clothing?
As it is the middle of summer, fall will be approaching quickly.
Now is a great time to snag up some of last year’s sale items at department stores as they usually have sales on previous season items. By now, most men aren’t thinking about what to wear in the fall.
While you still might be able to find good deals on last year’s fall items, it’s usually the most optimal time to purchase these items after the season has ended. This is when retailers try hard to clear space and make room for the next season’s clothing.
When they do this, it is a great time to get excellent deals on items that have just gone out of season.
Another great option to buy men’s clothing is online at your favorite retailers, as they will often have sales and discounts on items they have in their online inventory but are not yet in prime season.
The most expensive items in your fall capsule wardrobe are the ones you want to focus on, as you can often save a significant amount of money out of season for them.
These big ticket items include:
Your dark three-piece suit and blazer
Overcoats and jackets
Dress shoes and sneakers
Boots
These items will be some of the most expensive items and can be found discounted out of season. Put these at the forefront of your fall capsule wardrobe search.
#4 What Are The Best Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials?
You want to adhere to a few staples when building your fall capsule wardrobe.
Since fall weather can vary, layering will be essential. These few items are crucial as mainstays that can be layered with other items within your wardrobe.
For example, if you experience a rather chilly day in fall and need to wear a suit, an overcoat is essential as that outermost layer because you can simply remove it when you no longer need it.
When it comes to the concept of layering within your fall capsule wardrobe, you want to make sure you nail these following items.
Overcoats
Having a good overcoat to complement your fall capsule wardrobe is crucial.
The overcoat acts as the outermost layer and will be removed whenever you go indoors. This makes for a great option as you can wear it with anything as it offers excellent versatility.
When searching for the perfect overcoat, it’s essential to know your size as they usually come in sizes of suit jackets, not regular sizing. After you’ve nailed the size, focus on color.
Dark-colored overcoats tend to be the most versatile. However, a light camel color can work as well. Stay away from patterns with overcoats as the goal is to be as versatile as possible.
Leather Jackets
A good leather jacket goes a long way. You can choose a leather biker jacket or a leather bomber; it’s your call.
Biker jackets can be slightly harder to pull off as most of the time, they will have a larger and more aggressive collar, but they still look great.
A leather bomber jacket is an excellent option because it looks great on all body types and often has more options than biker jackets.
For color, opt for black or dark brown, as that gives you the most versatility with other items in your fall capsule wardrobe.
Sweaters
Sweaters are to fall, what t-shirts are for summer. This means they are a critical piece as they are season specific and offer great versatility when it comes to layering.
So how do you find the perfect sweater?
You want options, so have a couple of different collar choices to give yourself the most bang for your buck.
Having a shawl neck sweater and a crew neck sweater ensures you have all your bases covered.
Make sure you choose neutral tones such as greys, creams, and tans for color. This ensures maximum versatility with other items within your wardrobe and gives you the most options.
That’s it, gents.
To learn more about how versatile this concept of capsule wardrobes can be, check out how I turned 16 pieces of clothing into 256 outfits.
The post Preparing Your Fall Capsule Wardrobe (Buy Now And Save $$$) appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
By: Antonio Title: Preparing Your Fall Capsule Wardrobe (Buy Now And Save $$$) Sourced From: www.realmenrealstyle.com/fall-capsule-wardrobe/ Published Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2022 23:59:00 +0000
We all know of Zara and I’m pretty sure the majority of us own at least one piece from them, but I’m not here to talk about their reasonably priced clothing, I’m here for their fragrance.
Not quite a hidden gem but I don’t feel that they vast range and high quality fragrance that they create is given enough air time, I’m about to change that. The fragrance game is massive at the moment, everyone from the big fashion houses all the way to footballers have a scent on the market and they all carry a hefty price tag, with some of the bigger hitters asking in excess of
£100 for 50ml.
Zara clearly understand the need for a great fragrance but also appreciate not everything has to be overly expensive. I’ve been lucky enough to sample my fair share over the years and wanted to share with you what I feel are some of their strongest.
Tobacco Collective 100ml – £16.99
This is one of my absolute favourites, it works perfectly as an everyday scent. The initial smell is strong and masculine but with undertones of vanilla bourbon help to soften it slightly.
For Him 100ml – £22.99
My current daily spray, its warm, modern and intense. It just so happens to be the perfect blend of three of my favourite scents, bergamot, cardamom and sandalwood. It’s strong yet light, never over powering and leaves a wonderful trail.
Florence 100ml – £16.24
Summer calls for a fresh fragrance and I cannot recommend this highly enough, its light, fresh and citrus scent is perfectly for those warmer days. Notes of black pepper, strawberry and guaiac wood allow this scent to sit gently on the skin with offending the noses of those around you.
Written by Tom Loughran
The post The Best Of Zara Fragrances first appeared on Mens Fashion Magazine.
By: MFM Title: The Best Of Zara Fragrances Sourced From: www.mensfashionmagazine.com/the-best-of-zara-fragrances Published Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2022 09:57:00 +0000