Men's Business Fashion for the Frugal Professional

How to Dress to Impress Without Breaking the Bank

Whether we like it or not, we are judged by our appearance. Social standing, income, even intelligence are all implied by the clothes we wear. It is an instinct honed since man first learned to wrap himself in the skins of the animals he hunted. We can imagine a group of cavemen sitting around the fire, eating and grunting and bragging of their bravery. All of a sudden, in walks Grog, decked out in the skin of a panther, with a great bearskin cloak about his mighty shoulders. He wears a necklace made from the teeth of a sabertooth tiger; his club is fashioned from the tusk of a mammoth. The other men, perhaps looking down with shame at their own clothing, cobbled together from the pelts of deer and squirrel, deferentially offer Grog a place of honor at the fire, elevated from the muddy ground upon a large, flat rock. Grog is the clan chieftain because he is the best hunter, and his dress proves it.

Modern man, despite his many advancements, is little different. The CEO earns his position by being the best businessman. With his power comes money, and his money buys expensive and stylish clothes that set him apart from the office crowd. His wardrobe screams, "I am the alpha male!" Another example can be taken from the Shakespeare classic King Lear, in which the bard writes, "You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments." So said the king to Edgar, just before ordering him to change his clothes. The point is that you might be tolerated as useful, but if you really want the king's approval, you should dress like the king.

"But I'm not the king! I'm just an average working man. My boss wears Armani suits and Gucci shoes. I simply can't afford to dress like him!"

Fear not, Average Joe! You don't have to wear expensive designer clothing to project a powerful image. You just have to wear the clothing you can afford in the proper manner. It is a sad fact that most men do not know how to dress properly. This guide will not only help you create a great wardrobe, but tell you where to buy nice clothing at great prices. So, on to the guide!

The Basics