Men should stay away from all the latest trends! It's pretty funny going out to a club or a bar and seeing one or two guys that are wearing everything that is hot right now... You've got to find out what is right for you and what you're comfortable in as well.
Shirts - get what you like: short sleeves, long sleeves, but if you're getting back into the dating scene, stay away from the t-shirts. When picking out shirts, get ones that either accentuate your best assests while hiding any "flaws".
Colors - Once again, get what you like, but you can't go wrong with the basics: Black, white, blue, green, red. Personally, I stay away from bold colored stripes (because everyone wears them) and go for subdued patterens on my shirts, i.e., a black stripe on a black shirt.
Where to buy - Now, this can be tricky... I've boughten shirts everywhere from Target to Old Navy to Nordstroms. Some are casual types, some are "stylishly" casual.
If you've got a woman friend or relative that will be totally honest with you, take her shopping with you and get her opinion about what you are trying on. Don't go by just her words though, look at her expression and eyes when you come out of the dressing room.
Here's a trick that has been mentioned before around here... go to a Macy's or Nordstrom and start looking around the Men's department. Find a few shirts that you like the look and feel of and try them on. Ask the fitting room girl or sales attendant for their opinion... Once again, go by the non-verbal clues rather than words! And this is also a great time to strike up a conversation with the young lady!
Get some good jeans... find a couple styles that you like and look good on you and stick with them. You can never go wrong with Levis!
While nothing against the 'stocks and boots.... go get yourself a pair of good black "all around" shoes. Something stylish, but comfortable. Pair them up with a good black belt.
Couple of tips:
Never tuck your shirts in, unless you are wearing business attire. Long or short sleeved collared shirts (button up or polos) look just plain weird when tucked into jeans.
Wear socks that are the same shade as your shoes... no brown or white socks with black shoes!
Shop after the season for shirts... get your short sleeves in the early fall and your long sleeves in the early spring. Usually, they'll be on clearance as the stores are looking to clear out for the new season. Also, unless you have an undying need to be up on the latest fashions for the current year, clearance racks are a great place to get shirts. They may not be next years trend, but they will still look good!
Check out
www.askmen.com. They have a lot of great tips about not only fashion, but other things as well. Other websites are
www.gq.com or check out any mens magazine, like mens fitness, mens health, maxim, etc. They typically have articles and ads with fashion advice.
Good Luck!