Style Notes: Men's Summer Must-Haves

Here in Colorado, its seems to be a very regular fashion statement to wear flip flops after a snow storm. The pathways of the University of Colorado are not the only places in which guys don leather or rubber sandals and head out the door. This can only mean one thing. Summer is a desired time of year where many thrive on warm weather, summer flirting as well as an abundance of outdoor activities. Other seasons go green with envy over the privileges that summer has to offer us.

This list of the 7 must-haves is a sureshot to stay cool, look sharp and feel great over the year's hottest months.


1) Invest in a sensible wallet. Wallets are on you for a majority of the day and will be used more than any other item at any given time. From your driver's liscence to photos, credit cards to business cards, your wallet holds them all. It is important to have a sharp wallet that is sturdy, everything-resistant, and stylish. You will ultimately pay for an item that will last you decades without looking "old-fashioned" and understated.
Ken suggests: A Louis Vuitton Billfold with 6 Credit Card Slots at $260.

2) Wear a sharp watch. Nowadays, people feel they can leave their watches at home because they have a phone to which they can turn to for time. A contemporary or classic style watch, however, can add a break point in your outfit to integrate technology with fashion and style. Watches may tend to run in the upper thousands, yet there is no need to spend too much cheese to sport a flashy watch. Instead, try to find a simple or sporty classic style watch or a more modern and contemporary watch with a flashy flair. Try to avoid big, heavy watches for the sake of comfort or leather bands as they don't last as long while maintaining their original look. This will ensure a bolder statement, attract more compliments and at the same time will save you big bucks.
Ken suggests: The Nixon "Rotolog" at $200. This serves as an edgy statement filled with innovative design and quality performance.

3) Get Tan! A great tan is a method to avoid a dead-look and revives a more lively appearance. Once considered an underclass apearance, high class society viewed a deep tan as a thing for outdoor workers who are underpaid. These days, a tan can re-create anyone's image to an active, healthy and sexually-appealing image. All it takes to get the look is 10 minutes each day in the sun; front side and back side. Dermatologists will most likely suggest a 15spf moisturizer/sunblock to avoid harmful rays and to avoid skin-aging. If you have trouble getting the tan you want, try bronzers or moisturizers that have a tiny amount of self tanner to give your skin a summertime glow year round.
Ken suggests: Clinique for Men's Non-Streak Bronzer at $13.50 per tube. For sun protection, try Anthony Logistics for Men Facial Moisturizer (spf 15) at $30 per tube.

4) Smell Great. The key to a successful image can go beyond looking great. This summer, smells go wild as fresher, tastier and more attractive fragrances hit department stores. Instead of spritzing heavy cologne, opt for a lighter fragrance with more floral tones. This will not hinder your masculinity and at the same time will avoid headache-inducing fragrances in the hot summer weather. This will also keep your scent unobtrusive to everyday activities and at the same time will become an element that adds to a fresher summer image. An important thing to remember is that fragrances have life cycles in and out of the bottle. Find the scent that matches your own body scent, receive a tester and use it for a week straight to see if that fragrance is right for you when you first spray it on, an hour after you spray it and the smell of the fragrance after that hour. To keep bottles fresh, keep your cologne in a refridgerator or a cool space in your bathroom to make the scent last.
Ken suggests: Dior Homme starting at $45 a bottle.

5) Find a great-fitted T-Shirt. Ever since the T-shirt has been invented, style gurus have been going crazy with innovative ways to keep the T-shirt a staple style item in everyone's closet. From a simple Hanes to the elaborately- embroidered, the T-shirt can vary from casual to Haute Couture. Yet not any T-shirt will do. Try to find a T-shirt that not only compliments your outfit, but compliments your body type. There is no need for a leaner-bodied individual to purchase an XL because they don't offer his size. Try a smaller size that will fit your body, find T-shirts that allow flexibility and pick and choose colors that compliment your skin tone. Refrain from baggy arms or cropped Tee's.
Ken suggests: Urban Outfitters Heathered Tee's at $14 or American Apparel's Fine Jersey Short Sleeve Tee's at $15.

6) Invest in comfortable Flip Flops. It comes as no surprise to any girl (or guy for that matter) that one of the most attractive casual outfits that a man can wear involves jeans, a plain Tee and flip flops. Known for its throw-on-and-go style, flip flops can be very comfortable, easy to wear and wildly inexpensive. Not any flip flops will do, however. Many innovative styles of flip flops have sprung up over the years, creating new colors, unique fabrics, more comfortable rubber soles, crazier designs, etc. Although they seem like fun and something new, flip flops are at its best when maintaining its simplistic design. Leather or rubber, flip flops are simply better at a more basic style to compliment your look. Try to avoid bright colors, a mixture of two colors within a single pair, thick platform-esque (God forbid) flip flops or flip flops that are too small, too big, too narrow or too wide for your feet. All-Black flip flops are very standard and can add the finishing touches to any look. Other colors can add a different statement if so desired. Leather flip flops are just as acceptable too.
Ken suggests: Havaiana flip flops around $10 a pair or Rainbow Sandals at $48 a pair.

7) Your It-Jeans. However inexpensive the outfit, whatever accessories you decide to wear in any given look, a pair of designer-label jeans will turn your entire ensemble into an award-winning fashion choice. Designer jeans, not only known for its quality and celebrity-wearing reputation, is a style must-have for anyone in the market for turning heads and wow-ing passersbys. Jeans have gone through great lengths to become to number one item in every man and woman's closet. They range from colors to cuts, detailing to thickness. Jeans have it all, and with careful research, the right fit can offer you curves you've never seen, lengths you've dreamt of, and, of course, compliments (as an added bonus!). When choosing the right pair, prepare for a journey through many fitting rooms, as it is never easy to find the "right pair". Make your decision based on the style (slim fitting or bootcut), wash (dark denim or stone-washed), waist (low-cut or mid waisted), and Detailing (ranging from buttonfly to zipperfly to bleached whiskers by the zipper and behind the knees). These choices will help your decision flow much easier when finding the right pair. During the daytime in the summer, a more favored choice for wash tends to be a lighter color as well as a lighter denim to ease up on the sweating.
Ken suggests: True Religion Joey Jeans at $190 or Paper Denim & Cloth Jeans around $175.