Alex recently wrote about how dressing in style can be important.

It's easy to let things slip a bit when you've just had a baby, and my wife and I realize we've let our wardrobes go a bit stale. I tend to use a similar rotation, so to speak, of outfits each week, for a couple of reasons: I see other people at work do the same thing; things are tough and I don't want to spend a lot of extra money on new clothes; I interact with less than a dozen people per day in my office job.

Still, we're not kept up all night anymore, but we are moving so our focus is on packing and doing things that don't necessarily lend themselves to running out and getting some nice new clothes. The winter weather also allows one to leave the house without much of one's wardrobe showing. So we forced ourselves to treat each other and picked out some nice things recently.

The clothes aren't important, but it's one element of personal appearance. As a parent, you don't want people looking at you and your family, and thinking, "well, if these two ever had any style, they've long since given up when they had kids." We feel good and are in good health, so why not complement that with some new threads once in a while, and ensuring pants are pressed before wearing them, maybe cleaning those shoes up a bit?

I also noticed that when I had to go to a different office location this week, I subconsciously remembered to have my shirts and pants pressed, and wore my nicer clothes to that office, which are usually reserved for interviews or occasions. I knew I'd be meeting new people and seeing other people I hadn't seen in a while. So the new clothes aren't just about making a statement and ensuring I look respectable to the outside world, it's also about breaking routine and not falling back on the old, safe wardrobe which equates to comfort, but sometimes staleness.

Saving your best appearance for special occasions sometimes keeps you from realizing how much everyday life matters. I used to have a bunch of expensive shirts in the closet for parties, but the parties I attended were too informal for me to use a tie and buttoned shirt, so I rarely used my clothing collection. Until I simply began wearing those clothes every day.

Since this discovery I've had the custom of always wearing jeans/chinos, a buttoned shirt and a jacket. I change jacket once a year, mostly because of muscle growth, and add a tie if there's a special occasion like a formal dinner going on. At such occasions I use a finer jacket, often blue, of Italian style. Otherwise a grey jacket suits university life fine. I was at first stunned when I saw how other students often came wearing jogging dresses to formal university dinners. Today I know it does matter how you dress.

I bumped into a fellow journalist girl tonight at the pub. Naturally she was tipsy and spoke her mind freely. She explained in her slightly drunken language that I was a man of god damn style and that the other guys she knew dressed like idiots. I feel comfortable knowing that even if I mostly dress nice for my own sake, other people notice it and quietly take you in high regard. It signals respect and a good impression. You're not trash, you've got style. And style always matters.

If you are an open-minded progressive who wishes to dress up as a teenage boy and wear a pair of jeans, you have a problem. By buying jeans you're inevitably supporting a bunch of capitalist pigs controlling a corporate fascist oppression machine and/or wealthy designer who probably doesn't need your money anyway. Even China's numerous factories have gone all capitalist in recent decades. What's a progressive to do?

Some right-thinking people found a solution to your problem, fortunately, by marketing expensive designer jeans manufactured in a non-capitalist country with a truly progressive government. They're so authentic they're actually manufactured by a mining company. You can only buy them in Stockholm now, but hopefully this is only the beginning. You need some North Korean T-shirts too, don't you?

I hadn't posted in about a week because I was away on a small tour of Eastern Europe with one of my bands. Such trips are always an opportunity to learn something new, and on one of the stops I saw an Ed Hardy store across the street from the venue. I had never seen this clothing in person - it isn't popular in my part of the world - but I had read much hatred directed at it. After seeing this stuff up close, I finally understood where that hate comes from.

These clothes function in a very similar way to the mansions of wealthy Gypsy families with their imposing size, large balconies, bright paint, colorful metal roofs, turrets etc. They say two things about the owner. One is "I have enough money for this" and the other says "I care a lot about how people perceive me, but not at all about how middle-class people perceive me". That signal irritates your social betters immensely because it tells them that you enjoy freedom from their status games. We have our own status games with their own rules, of course, though we might be a little more free because our games have much simpler rules. What matters, though, is that your betters see immediately that all the subtle little ways in which they keep each other in line do not work on you. Unsubtle hatred is the only option they have left, and unlike brands such as Coogi or Crown Holder, Ed Hardy clothes are worn mostly by white guys so it's not "racist" to unleash that hatred.

I find that unsubtle hatred very appealing. I'm no good at subtlety anyway. Middle-class people don't like us, we don't like them, and it's good to get that out in the open sometimes. (Now, I play in one band with some middle-class people. They're not really bad people, just kinda weird. They know I'm not like them and we're all OK with that.) I didn't buy anything at that store, though. All the designs are tattoo-based and I don't like tattoos. Hey, I'm old...

I've recently found myself playing a completely new style of music, and one which is typically played by people half my age. That meant I had to do a little thinking about how to avoid looking like the boring old guy who doesn't belong there. That led to a general list of things that guys shouldn't wear on stage, or in many other situations where people will be looking at you and you're hoping they don't find you boring, such as clubbing. A few of them also apply to women, but only a few.

Hawaiian shirts
A lot of old and boring guys desperate to make people think they're not old and boring yet will grab the most colorful thing in their closet. All too often that is a Hawaiian shirt (or even worse one of those short-sleeved shirts with flames printed on it). Either instantly identifies you as an old and boring guy desperate to make people think you're not old and boring yet. People who aren't old and boring just don't have such things in their closets.
How it might work: It's part of some ridiculously incoherent getup - say you wear a basketball jersey over it, a cowboy hat, and tight purple jeans. Then you'll just look like a complete idiot.

Hard-to-see patterns
With distant stages and dim lighting, small or low-contrast patterns become practically invisible. I've definitely got too many shirts like this. Even a really loud but small plaid will just look like a blurry blob from the back. It won't really look bad, but what's the point? Large, high-contrast patterns are better.
How it might work: If it looks OK as a blob but really, really ridiculous up close. Some redneck-styled animal print shirts would qualify.

Brimmed hats
Even if you're young, as long as you're playing anything other than country any hat other than a ski cap or baseball cap makes people suspect you're balding and trying to hide it.
How it might work: You look like Indiana Jones' or Crocodile Dundee's more badass cousin.

Khaki trousers
Nothing says "I'm a boring guy with a boring job I hate" like trousers in any kind of khaki, tan or beige color. Most people just have that association in their mind, and there's no good reason for you to trigger it. Any other color is OK, though.
How it might work: If you're built well enough to look like a male stripper, are wearing nice dress shoes and no shirt, and are playing at a gay bar.

Shirt tucked into trousers
The only people who do this are boring old guys and young guys who are forced to by their job's dress code.
How it might work: You're wearing a suit or at least a sportscoat, and don't have the slightest hint of a gut. Generally the less casually you're dressed the more likely it is you can get away with this.

Leather trousers
Leather trousers might have been "rock'n'roll" once upon a time, but that was decades ago. I was going to write that only middle-aged women wear these nowadays, but then I realized that some homeless bums also wear them in the winter.
How it might work: You're constantly drunk, frequently piss yourself on stage, and want to be able to do it without people seeing anything.

Anything that makes you sweat a lot
Most people work up a pretty good sweat on stage, so plan accordingly. In other words, don't wear that tweed jacket unless you're playing outdoors or in an unheated church in the middle of winter.
How it might work: You've got a suit that needs a trip to the cleaners anyway and don't mind soaking it thoroughly in sweat.

Everyone all in black
It's boring, stereotypical and lazy. It's really a way for everyone in the band to half-assedly match without having to make any thought or effort.
How it might work: It's an amateur performance of classical music where looking boring is definitely better than attenition-whoring.

Looking like the average guy in the audience
The audience wants to think you're better than them in some way... otherwise why would you be worth paying any special attention to?
How it might work: If you look like the average guy in the audience but in a much better version. If your audience wears shorts and T-shirts you can do it too if you're taller, more muscular, and your clothes fit better.

I'm sure there could be countless other items added to the list, but this is a good list of stupid stuff I commonly see guys in bands do. What do you often see on stages that you wish people would stop doing?

The talk of hunting in my last post reminded me that I've been thinking about reviewing this jacket which I picked up a few months ago. It's a traditional English shooting jacket made from a not-so-traditional material. Being intended for horseback riding and hunting, it looks pretty much like a sportscoat except that it's got a somewhat different cut, hacking pockets and pleats behind the shoulders. The lapel buttonhole is functional and there is a button behind the other lapel, so you can button the jacket all the way up to the neck when it's windy or cold. Some styles shooting jackets also have bellows pockets, throat latches and belts, but not this one. Except for the back it looks like some boring old guy's casual sportscoat, really, unless you're one of those obsessive people who would notice things like button stance.

The material is the interesting part - it's a modernized tweed. Tweed is a very traditional material so the idea of modernizing it is pretty odd, but at least it looks and feels like a tweed should, though not quite as fuzzy as some very rough Harris tweed I have. The differences are that it's 5% nylon and the fibers are teflon-coated. I'll see how much the nylon improves durability over the years, but the teflon sure is great for shedding water in rain or snow. It's not really waterproof, but for walking around or biking in a drizzle it's great. I've also seen some Lambourne jackets made from DWR-coated tweed, but I haven't been able to see how well they work in real life.

A matching waistcoat and breeks are available, but I only got the jacket because I sure as hell got no use for breeks. I do have a use for the jacket's hunting-derived features. The horseback-friendly design also works well for biking and the shoulder pleats are great for both biking and playing bass. In retrospect bellows pockets would be good too, I could stick cables, microphones etc. in them.

This jacket works for me, though I don't imagine too many of our readers have much of a use for one like it. The material it's made from, though, is great. It looks and feels old-school but repels water. Complain all you want about abusing and ruining tradition, this stuff works.

Me and my friends used to make fun of rich guys from Stockholm wearing their pink shirts. What a bunch of fags, we thought, and prided ourselves with male colors like blue, red and black. Just recently I decided to try out a pink tie with a light blue shirt. Perfect match. So why aren't more men doing the same?

I think the answer is twofold. First, more men are actually starting to buy more pink clothes, not just shirts, but also ties. Probably not socks, maybe underwear (?!). But second and most importantly, most men have missed the point about why wearing girly colors matter. Women reading this already know the answer: contrasts create attraction.

When Arnold Schwarzenegger walks down the street, he's macho. If he wears a pink tie to a white shirt, he'll look even more like a brute, because the girly color starkly contrasts against his otherwise very manly features. It enhances his overall character. And, of course, no one would ever go up to Arnie and call his pink tie faggy. The truth is that you'll look even more manly if you disguise yourself in a softer package.

Here are other ways for men to create interesting contrasts that may create attraction:

• When working out at the gym or just running in the park, wear those really short sports tights. You show off more flesh and that kind of childishly short outfit will make you look raw.
• When dressing, never think of colors as separate from each other. This is where the pink tie or pink shirt come into the picture: feel free to pick a manly color, but contrast it against something more playful--"girly," if you so wish.
• Explain to people that you enjoy cooking. If someone says that's faggy, shrug and suggest eating right is important if you want to keep in shape. The whiny person will most likely not have anything concrete to say at this point.
• Keep one soft teddy bear in your bed when women visit your place. If they ask or comment (they will), say he lives there, but don't make a great fuss about it. You probably want something manly close to the bear, like a sword or knife. Placing the bear on top of a porn magazine will yield interesting results, I'm sure.
• Secret contrasts are more fun. Let some pink ribbon stick out somewhere from a drawer, and when some curious detective opens it, it's stacked with nails, philosophy books, or horror DVDs. I can't see any limits to fantasy here.
• You love dancing. You admit not doing it well, but you love to participate in it, especially if it's folk music. If you can play a folk instrument, it's a bonus. One professional folk player from my hometown got a tattoo on his arm displaying Death playing key harp. Bingo.
• I read poetry, you say to people when talking about literature, and have written some stuff on my own. Then scratch yourself in the crotch, look outside the window really bored, or pack open a huge sandwich and begin cramming it down.

The idea is simple: you have a manly character - so manly you're willing to live and appear playfully.

Then the teacher came to a little white kitten. “And what do you want to be when you grow up?” she asked the kitten.

“I want to be an empress,” the kitten answered.

“An empress?”

“Yes,” the kitten said. “I want to have absolute power and tell everybody what to do and no one can challenge me or I’ll chop all their heads off.”

Now that sounds good, doesn't it? When you have absolute power you can do all sorts of things that mere democratically elected leaders can't. For example, you don't have to look like a "man of the people". This means you can dress better than the unstylish masses, like a true leader should. Look at the below photo. Which one of these men looks like he's definitely not some minor bureaucrat who despises his dull job? Which one's got style?

If you're still not convinced, Vanity Fair provides plenty more evidence of the superiority of Col. Qaddafi's dictatorial style. As the old saying goes, "power corrupts and absolute power is kinda neat".

So you want to make the world a better place and you start a political movement. You are all for liberty and letting people make their own decisions. Conformity, oppression and authoritarianism seem like evil and despicable concepts. Then you get a few followers and see what they're like. As they salute, you suddenly and painfully realize that they are utterly incapable of thinking for themselves and if you give them freedom they will only use it to do really stupid shit. You cannot leave even the smallest and least significant decisions up to them. All your love of liberty and independence vanishes completely as you scream at your loyal minion:

Damn nonconformist! So you think you can make your own decisions, do your own thinking, and be responsible for your own life? Apparently you're not any good at this whole "thinking" thing! Please, for the sake of England, immediately stop all thinking and let someone else do your thinking for you! Especially when it comes to thinking about what trousers match this shirt!

Unfortunately all underground and fringe political movements veer inevitably towards totalitarianism because no matter how well-meaning and kind-hearted their leaders are when they set out to fix the world, they inevitably turn misanthropic when they realize they attract complete social retards who can't even dress themselves.

We mock, tease and pick on people mainly to reduce their social status relative to ourselves; let's not pretend otherwise. However, mockery also serves the positive function of transmitting useful information to our "victims". An assman gives us an example of one teenage girl teasing another in order to uphold traditional sexual morality which reminds me of a story from my youth.

Pretty much every musician needs to own some black clothes as once in a while you'll get a gig where you're asked to show up in black. I guess it's an easy way to make sure the whole band looks fairly consistent, and is especially common for amateur performances of classical music where you can't reasonably expect everyone to show up in proper white tie. So out of necessity I always had some black shirts, which I would occasionally wear even when I wasn't playing. When wearing a black shirt it made sense to wear black trousers and boots as well. Once upon a time in my early 20s I was walking across town dressed like that when a slightly older woman I knew called out across the street: "I see you're making a statement about society today, wearing black!" I responded with the usual "Oh, I just need to do laundry" joke, but I got her point. Wearing black makes a young guy look like a sensitive artist or a waiter. Now that I'm older and heavier it makes me look like an Eastern European mobster which is a huge improvement but still not great.

Even with my below-average social skills, I learned my lesson right there and then. I still keep one black shirt in my closet for those times when it's needed, but I never wear it unless I'm playing a gig and was specifically asked to show up in black. I'm glad that woman wasn't too nice to give me a little friendly public mockery.

Wladimir Klitschko foolishly showed up for a press conference wearing a suit and a white French-cuff shirt. Little did he know his opponent David Haye would go with the teenage boy look and show up in a T-shirt.

More pictures here.

Yup, that's a picture of Haye and both Klitschko brothers. Their heads are, naturally, ripped off in a bloody manner. Haye's fashion sense is so keen he ensured the T-shirt accurately communicated both his level of maturity and his respect for other people. Congratulations!

I'm cynical, rational and just plain old enough to avoid the obvious traps and money-drains like playing for exposure or polishing details which no one in the audience will notice; let those too passionate for their own good fall into those. There are still some things about the business which irritate me, though. Perhaps the worst irritant is the institution of the band shirt.

Though I am a heartless capitalist who likes being paid well for the service I provide, I can't quite get my head around the idea that someone would want to pay me for the privilege of advertising my product. That's just pretty damn undignified, though probably not quite as bad as those idiots who leave the sleeve tags on their (invariably ill-fitting) suits because otherwise "how would anyone know it's an Armani?" Why do people do this?

To make it worse, these are almost always T-shirts. In my mind T-shirts can be worn for three purposes: as underwear, while playing or training sports, and in order to dress up as a 12-year-old boy. (And if you are a woman over the age of 20 who thinks that dressing up as a 12-year-old boy will somehow make you look younger - no, it doesn't.)

I own two pairs of what might be considered "proper" handmade Western boots. One is Black Jack stingray in a Western style, and the other is Rios Of Mercedes hippopotamus buckaroo boots. Of course I don't really need boots made from such unusual skins, but aside from being much tougher than cowhide they do have other advantages. The best thing about wearing exotic boots in Europe (or, I suppose, in non-redneck parts of North America) is that it makes people used only to cow and goat hides to freak out. Yeah, young women will often be curious about them and sometimes even bend down to rub them, but that's not nearly as satisfying as a hippie calling you a murderer and asking if you've also got a lampshade made from the skin of a Jew because the vamps of your boots are made from fish instead of mammal.

The Black Jack boots have very traditional Western style and construction with the only "fancy" feature being that the shafts have a stingray inlay and cording instead of the more typical stitching. That means leather soles, slanted heels, somewhat pointed toes and tall shafts. The vamp is stingray hide and the shafts goatskin. There are lots of lemonwood pegs in the soles, of course. I can spot a few minor flaws in the workmanship but the boots have held up very well over the years. Stingray is as durable as hides get (though it is stiff, definitely too stiff for comfortably dancing all night), but the linings, soles, shafts etc. are also still in good shape. I did topy the soles after a few months because stingray's water-resistance makes it a good skin for wet weather, and leather soles wear out fast on wet concrete or asphalt. The shafts have developed deep creases as they broke in, but those creases somehow look much better than those on my cheaper boots. The bottom line is that these are great "LOOK AT ME I AM AN ATTENTION WHORE" exotic boots for casual wear, though of course they are available in less alien-looking skins as well. Black Jack makes most boots to order so you can select various options, though they seem to be geared mainly towards making nice-looking exotic boots.

The Rios of Mercedes boots are buckaroo style, that is to say they are modern boots designed for work with taller shafts and pull holes. Rios make quite a few boots only for particular stores, and this one is available only from a tiny store in Illinois. The Vibram outsoles and non-slanted heels make them more practical for working on the ground than horseback, which works well for me. I've driven horse-drawn carts in my youth but around here we leave riding horses to teenage girls from rich families. The workmanship is comparable to the Black Jack boots - very good but not perfect. A close inspection reveals things like minor asymmetry in the toe bug stitching, for example. The hippo hide is surprisingly soft for its thickness and heaviness, much softer than elephant. It did take about as long to break in, however. Its sueded texture and deep creases mean it needs to be brushed regularly to prevent accumulation of mud and dust, however, so it is somewhat high-maintenance, unless you really want it to look like the cracked mud at the bottom of a dried-out creek bed.

Not many bootmakers offer buckaroo boots in exotic hides, but I think it's an excellent idea in durable skins such as elephant, hippo or shark. I hope that my grandchildren will also be able to obtain boots made from elephant and hippo hide, as well as from currently unavailable skins such as sea turtle and anteater. That brings up a larger point - that environmentalism can be based on something other than hatred of humanity and/or civilization. As Gregg Easterbrook wrote in his call for an environmentalism more concerned with actual achievements than emotionally satisfying prophecies of doom, "To think that people should preserve salamanders or trout or eagles or forests or swamps or tundra simply because we like them is a value judgement many environmentalists reject, as it begins with a human perspective. But the strongest conservation policy will always be that which appeals first to self-interest, since that is the leading motivator in human affairs."

Even though incredibly damaged hair fits in at a Ratt show, it is usually more trouble than it is worth, and most likely - extremely unflattering. Not surprisingly, bad hair is caused by damaging chemicals in popular products, as well as ill-care. With a few modifications, you can spend much less money as well as time on your hair – effortlessly maintaining natural, healthy hair.

1. Skip Shampoo

Shampoo contains harsh sulfates that quickly dry out your hair. (Imagine submerging your head in acid.) They are designed to make washing as fast as possible, sacrificing your hair’s quality in the process. A Conditioner-Only washing method will dramatically improve the condition of your hair – as conditioner still contains cleaning agents, but are far less harsh and take longer to work.

2. Clarify

Remove build-up by washing hair with baking soda and water, 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 3 cups of water. I recommend doing this once every few months. (Doing this too often will defeat the purpose of Conditioner-Only washing.)

3. Purchase Conditioner

Purchase any conditioner that does not contain “paraben” or anything ending in “-cone” on the ingredients list. VO5 and White Rain are two brands in the U.S. that usually don’t contain either. They go for around $1.00 a bottle.

4. Wash

To wash with conditioner, apply a generous amount to the scalp and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse out thoroughly. (Skipping either of these steps will leave your hair feeling greasy.)

5. Purchase Coconut Oil

Coconut oil should be applied in very small amounts to wet or dry hair to restore protein. I buy a jar of this for around $9.00, and it lasts for about a year – it doubles as a skin moisturizer, and can be used for cooking.

Optional Step 6 – Henna

Henna is a natural herb that actually protects your hair from damage. However, it leaves a red tint to your natural color. For more information about this, see HennaForHair.com

Appearance matters. This is something my Grandmother always instilled in me, and, as a result, I have always enjoyed dressing well. Saying that appearance doesn’t matter either comes from those who don’t want to be judged by their sloppy appearance, though they should be, or those who think the statement only applies to formal dress. For example, many metalheads tend to decry the idea that appearance matters, yet they wear band shirts for social status, dye their hair to look evil, wear chains and leather to appear tough, and don a Thor’s Hammer, even if they aren’t really Pagans, because they like Black Metal. It’s all about their appearance, and, unfortunately, there is rarely anything of substance underneath the surface.

Anyone can wear a business suit or a nice shirt or sweater, some slacks, and nice leather shoes and still enjoy Darkthrone, Skinny Puppy, or Discharge. What is important is that you aren’t shoving into society’s face something as trivial as your musical preference; and those who tend to listen to such types of music are rejected by society and considered incompetent losers. The idea is to prove to society that some of us who like alternative styles of music, such as metal, industrial, or punk music aren’t all incompetent losers and that some of us may even be smarter than the average Joe. As my Father has always told me, “Discretion is key.”

The first image depicts me in my Metal Warrior Uniform. Yes, I said uniform, as Hessians (metalheads) adhere to a strict dress code, which consists of black t-shirts, preferably a band shirt, black jeans or work pants, combat boots, a chain wallet, and a leather jacket. While this uniform can make one look tough, it proves a detriment to them when non-metalheads behold them; as I have mentioned above, most people view metalheads as incompetent losers, not sincere intellectuals.

This image shows me in battle gear, barring a military uniform. This can also be added to the Metal Warrior Uniform, only it shows me with a weapon and a bandolier, proving I do not only hold allegiance to Satan’s Army, I also intend on serving in it. If one is to go to war, be it with foreign invaders, Christians, or domestic enemies, one must have weapons that are up to scratch with those the enemy will bear against them, so I bear a semi-automatic carbine. One must also have plenty of ammunition for one’s weapon(s), so the bandolier shown here contains 180 rounds, as well as a waterproof pouch for carrying bore solvent, gun oil, and cleaning patches for weapons maintenance. In other words, I’m ready to kick some ass.

In this image, I am wearing my business suit. This is a three-piece suit, a silk tie, which was my Grandfather’s, a white dress shirt, and black leather boots. This suit is a little too formal for going out in society, but perfect for formal occasions, conducting business or giving speeches. Though I am wearing boots with this suit, as I currently don’t own a pair of leather shoes, one would be advised to wear some polished leather shoes with a suit of this caliber, as shoes are the most important article of clothing in any outfit.

Here I am wearing a suit, which I find to be quite versatile, in that it is formal enough for public speaking, yet informal enough for wearing on a date or a night out, to a friend’s house or what have you. It consists of a black wool blazer, black dress slacks, a black leather belt, a navy dress shirt, black leather boots, and another silk tie, which was also my Grandfather’s; as you can see, my Grandfather had a flair for fashion as well.

Finally, I have donned my Prince of Darkness suit, which is formal enough yet shows that I also have a darker side. This is comprised of a black velvet jacket, a black leather vest, a black suede dress shirt, another of my Grandfather’s silk ties, a black leather belt, black dress slacks, and black leather boots. This outfit shows one’s aristocratic leanings while expressing one’s appreciation for the darker side of life. Also, a tip to the men: velvet and suede are nice to the touch, which the ladies absolutely adore.

”But I don’t have the money to dress well”

I have read and heard, here and elsewhere, that so and so doesn’t have enough money to dress in such finery, to which I say, that is a cop-out. The outfits I am wearing here were purchased almost exclusively from thrift stores, and even the nicest suit I own cost seven dollars, and the boots I am wearing in these images cost more than most of the suits combined. At such thrift stores, such as RAMS Rack and Goodwill, a full suit costs $11, a jacket costs around $5, a shirt $3, slacks $4, and ties are $1 each. I have never bought shoes from these establishments, but I do not believe they cost any more than $10. In effect, one can purchase at least three full suits, with shirts and ties, for under $50, which is well below the cost of a new pair of dress slacks. In conclusion, one doesn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to dress well, unless one insists on wearing only new clothing.

”Who cares about how you dress?”

To believe that appearance doesn’t matter is a testament of one’s immaturity and social dysfunction, as first impressions are very important, and first impressions are rarely based upon anything other than one’s appearance. If one intends to succeed in life, one will have to sacrifice some things in order to obtain his goals, such as abstaining from wearing a FUCK JESUS sleeveless T-shirt to a job interview or college course. These kinds of first impressions commonly serve as a detriment to the bearer of such blatant blasphemy and obscenity. Society does not have to conform to your ideals, yet, as we all know, you do have to conform to society’s ideals, of appearance if nothing else. This being said, one can easily infiltrate society and attempt to change it from within simply by changing one’s appearance. Don’t believe me? Look at our politicians.

Here we have two average metalheads. Their attire consists of faded band shirts, old jeans, and dirty combat boots/skate shoes. We’ve decided to give these metalheads simple make-overs, as well as share the tips we’ve picked up along the way.

For Females

The band shirt has been replaced with a sweater, and the torn jeans with a pinstripe pencil skirt. Basic black ballet flats replace the combat boots.

These pieces are versatile and can be matched with other pieces, creating multiple outfits without spending an enormous amount of money. Black is a neutral color choice for shoes, also offering the same versatility. Flat shoes are a better choice over high heels, as they can be worn for longer periods of time without killing your feet in the process. The silver
scorpion necklace adds a touch of personality without looking trashy.

For Males

Again, the band shirt has been replaced with a basic white long-sleeve dress shirt and a tie. Pinstripe dress pants and formal shoes complete the outfit. Pant length has been tailored to fall where the shoe heel begins. Similar to the female outfit, separate pieces are versatile and can form multiple outfits. The belt purchased is a reversible black/brown belt, also adding versatility. (Shoe color and belt color should match.) A belt is usually recommended to complete the outfit, even if it does not seem absolutely necessary. Longer hair can be put up in a sleek pony-tail as well.

Ultimately, a make-over should not cost an incredible amount of money, and should not be too difficult. Store employees offer helpful advice, as do tailors. Otherwise, a quick google search should suffice.

Living in a country ruled by a despot who faces no meaningful opposition, whether a dictator, a king or a president, can be problematic. One problem is the way most of these guys dress. Take a look at how they look - they risk being mistaken for a mere democratically elected ruler who holds power only at the whim of a few
million fools, or just a fish shop owner dressed up for church.

Hans Adam II

Anastasio Somoza

Rafael Trujillo

Josip Broz Tito

Should you find yourself ruling a small country with an iron grip, you want to make it obvious to everyone. There have been few good role models for good despotic dress in the past century, but we have had a few in Latin America and especially Africa. By far the best of them all was Jean-Bedel Bokassa. When he declared his country a monarchy and promoted himself from president-for-life to emperor, he made sure everyone who saw him knew it.

Now that's appropriate autocrat style!

The progress of democracy in recent centuries has been accompanied by a general degeneration of society's standards in areas as widespread as leadership, art, behavior and appearance. Although some of these trends are difficult to oppose on even the smallest of scales, appearance is one area in which an individual can still make a stand by merely refusing to dress like a pre-adolescent. Sure, it's not terribly important in the grand scheme of things, but anything which annoys hippies and nerds is worthwhile. Especially when someone asks why you're dressed up and you retort that it symbolizes your opposition to political freedoms.

I didn't even learn to tie a necktie until I was in my 30s and realized that dressing better has an upside quite accidentally. After I started lifting weights and quickly going up through the sizes, I started wearing some not-so-crappy stuff (long-sleeve shirts with buttons etc.) to work just because "saving" it for better occasions no longer made sense. Much of my life is spent on muddy construction sites so I'm obviously not going to wear a suit, leather-soled shoes and a long wool overcoat to work but I can still look more serious and mature than most computer programmers, and I can wear a coat and tie for evenings out, weekends, concerts etc.

I had started writing a longer essay about the decline of a society in which it is normal for grown men (and even grown women in some subcultures) to dress like prepubescent boys, but I realized that somebody else has already done a better job than I could.