The Best of GQ Endorses Trends on trends to follow

Back from the Dead: The Air Tie

Yes, we intentionally forgot the necktie, and so should you. Button your shirts all the way up this spring for a tweaked retro vibe (think '50s greasers, '80s new wavers, and '90s minimalists) that's every bit as dressed up as wearing a tie. We first saw this move simmering about a year ago on trendy streets and fashion runways, and now it's boiling over. Just remember that the no-tie look works best with a semispread-collar shirt and a killer suit or blazer. So go tie one on—without really tying one on at all.Click here to see more air tie looks.

Sports jacket, $2,595, and shirt, $1,375, by Prada.

Your Everyday Blue Jeans Are Now Black
February 2014

If you think black jeans are for guys who ride motorcycles, pomade their hair, or play in bands, you're pretty much right, historically speaking. But now that's changing, thanks to the new trend toward black selvage denim. It breaks in with as much character as your blue denim, it has the cool selvage seam detail when you turn up the cuffs, and most crucially, it's not as midnight black—read: not as aggressive and severe—as traditional black jeans. Which is exactly what makes this new black denim something everyone can pull off, including rockers, prepsters, golfers, fashion freaks, tech geeks, college English majors, international playboys, dads, and, well, you.

$285, by Simon Miller at Barneys New York, available at barneys.com

The Chuck Taylor of Boots
October 2013

How's this for heritage? The French bootmaker Palladium was founded in the '20s to make tires for aircraft; now you can find its handiwork on a different kind of runway. (Yes, we mean the ones where fashion takes off.) The brand's shockingly affordable boots pack all the visual heft of army-issue footwear—they will anchor any fall look, suits included—but weigh about as much as running sneakers. So choose from the ripstop, canvas, or leather options you see here. Then watch as they reboot your whole fall look—without making so much as a scuff on your wallet.

From top: $65, $110, $55, $110 available at palladiumboots.com

Rediscover the Windbreaker
April 2013

K-Way jackets have been protecting prepsters' oxfords, madras bow ties, and shawl-collar-cardigans for decades. The only thing cooler than the pedigree is the colors.

From left, $88 and $58, available atk-way.ca

The Return of the Cuff
September 2012

That's right, cuffs are back, and this season you should add them to every suit pant, flannel, cord, and khaki in your new fall wardrobe. Cuffs anchor your pants so they hang stylishly straight while also adding a subtle hit of character. Tell your tailor to give you an inch and a half of cuff, and get him to hem your pants a good half inch above your shoes to show some sock. If he says the average customer likes no cuff and a big break, look him in the eye and say, "I'm not the average customer."

Pants by Brunello Cucinelli. Shoes by O'Keeffe. Socks by Aeropostale.

The Denim Shirt That Just Got Promoted
August 2012

Over the past few years, we've been celebrating denim and chambray shirts for their cool workwear vibe, but you can't really wear either in the boardroom. Until now: Designers have hit upon this new indigo dress shirt. It's made of the finest cotton and marries up perfectly with a suit and tie. Whether the collar buttons down or is semispread, the shirt can hold its own at a power meeting or give you an edge over your fellow business buds in their pedestrian blues. Try it out first on a Friday, then work it into your everyday rotation. And if you take your jacket off, roll up the sleeves. That always says "man at work," whether you're riding a quarter horse or just your office Aeron.

Shirt, $190, by Bagutta. Tie by Boss Selection. Tie bar by the Tie Bar. Suit by J. Lindeberg. Pocket Square by Michael Bastian.

The Perfect $95 Glasses (Prescription Included)
July 2012

Warby Parker's mission is to blow up the established model by selling vintage-inspired eyeglasses—with prescription lenses—at crazy affordable prices. This is how it works: Go online and pick up to five frames, which they'll send you for a test run. Let 'em know which pair you like best, and in ten days it'll be back on your nose, with your scrip in place. And now the four-eyed founders of W.P. are doing prescription sunglasses, too. Just be sure to enlist a trusted second opinion before you commit to a frame. Even if you had 20/20 vision, you'd still be a dubious judge of what belongs on your face.

Sunglasses, $95 (each), prescription glasses, $150 (each), available at warbyparker.com

The New White Suit
June 2012

I know what you're thinking: Why the hell would I buy a white suit?! Well, for one, it's going to be a sticky summer, and you need a wardrobe boost to help you stay cool. The new white suit isn't a business suit—and it's definitely not the Colonel Sanders or the Saturday Night Fever. The idea is to dress it down, embrace the wrinkles, and let it get a bit dirty. When you treat it that way, you'll be surprised how versatile it becomes: For drinks by the beach, team it with a tee. For an alfresco dinner, ditch the pants and wear the jacket with jeans. Or pair the suit with a strong checked shirt like you see here for every summer wedding. Unlike the bride's dress, this suit won't imply you're a virgin.

See all the looks here—and get to know which style icons to emulate.

Suit jacket, $198, and pants, $80, by Express. Shirt, $285 by Bespoken. Loafers, $525 by Tod's. Pocket square by Brunello Cucinelli. Belt by Gucci. Watch by Cartier.

Red (Yes, Red!) Pants
April 2012

Face it: We're no longer living in an era when you can wear the same pair of blue jeans—or even different pairs of blue jeans—seven nights a week. That's why, right now, we're seeing red. Red skinny cargo pants, red five-pocket jeans, red tapered chinos. If you trust us and just go for it, you'll find that a pair of these pants instantaneously kicks up both your style and your confidence. One thing to remember: With pants this bold, the rest of your outfit needs to chill. So pair those loud legs with neutral standards like a light gray sports jacket (for a European vibe) or a dose of black (for a look that rocks harder than Jack White).

From left to right:
$231, available at jbrandjeans.com
$172, available at joesjeans.com
$219, available at closed.com

The High-End Belt That's Fifty Bucks 
February 2012

We know that your bleary-eyed morning belt decision can be weirdly crippling ("Do black shoesalways require a black belt?"), but let's put a stop to that now: Buy J.Crew's slide-buckle belt in brown or black and wear it with every pair of shoes you've got. The slide buckle has a one-size-fits-all system that accommodates a man's ever-changing waist. We think it adds class to any pant that you wear it with—from trousers to denim to Dockers—and guarantee it will only get better as it ages.

$50, available at jcrew.com

The Boots That Will Conquer Winter 
January 2012

Foul weather is no excuse for foul boots. Luckily, Sorel has been making hard-core blizzard footwear in the icecold tundra of Canada since the 1960s, so these Canucks feel your frozen-toed pain. We love the all-black styling of the Kitchner Frost boot, with its rubberized tread, sleek leather upper, and manly felt lining. A lot of the competition is heavy as a brick, but the Kitchner is light as snow—and affordable, too. It'll keep you feeling warm and looking, well, hot. So tuck a pair of tweed trousers or skinny jeans inside these boots—and head out into the urban tundra without fear.

$185, available at sorel.com

The Perfect Dress Shirt
November 2011

Ready to take the guesswork out of your mornings? Start with Black Label dress shirts by Ralph Lauren. While all the other office drones are in boring blues and stark whites, these shirts will show you're a man apart, thanks to a range of striking solids (like icy French blue) and patterns (lavender stripes). The smaller-than-normal collar won't swallow your slender ties, and even when you ditch the jacket, the silhouette will keep you looking lean and tucked in. It's the most off-the-hook off-the-rack shirt money can buy.

$295 each, at select Ralph Lauren stores and ralphlauren.com

The Incredibly Fly Bomber Jacket
October 2011

Run, don't walk, to your favorite style franchise and put down some cash for a black leather bomber jacket. This jacket has just the right bones: It was popularized by fighter pilots during World War II and given the Army-Navy specification number A-2. The 2011 version is all-black (ditch the Indiana Jones brown!) with just enough military details to keep the macho mojo going. Wear it in all the ways hip-hop head-turner J. Cole does here—and keep it on inside the club to drop a bomb on the competition.

$2,895 by Bally, available at Bally, Madison Ave., N.Y.C.

Plaid-as-Hell Scottish Ties
September 2011

The pattern that the Scottish call tartan and Americans call plaid originated a few thousand years ago and became globally cool by the nineteenth century. That was a long time ago. Today this most classic of menswear looks is getting a twenty-first-century jolt, thanks to a handful of creative tie designers. The color combinations are edgier and the tie width has shrunk, so you can feel meaner and leaner. The wool fabric stands up to your sturdier fall looks. Match one with a white oxford shirt and a flannel suit to get the boardroom buzzing, or team it with a chambray work shirt and a tweed jacket to get buzzed on the weekend. Either way, you'll be a little more rad in plaid.

Designer Camo
August 2011

Army-navy stores have been offering civilians a bit of wartime machismo at a fair price for decades. But in the style world, there's a new revolution going on right now: Inspired designers are reinterpreting camouflage by tweaking the patterns and splashing them across the most unlikely places. This Hamilton button-down, for example, combines the cut of a classic dress shirt with the mojo of a vintage print. Click through to find a new way to wrap your wrist, knot your tie, and lace up your kicks without ever blending into the background.

$245 by Hamilton 1883, available at hamilton1883.com

The Perfect Summer Shorts
June 2011

New York designer Eunice Lee is a guy's girl. Her Unis collection is filled with hip, dude-friendly pieces engineered to give her male friends a big dose of confidence. Let's face it, most men feel the need to hide their legs under baggy, shin-grazing cargos. Not anymore. Eunice designed her Emmett short to be trimmer and shorter than your clamdiggers and to sit on your hips, just like your favorite jeans. The tapered silhouette has a "dressed-up" vibe—perfect for a fitted-shirt-and-tie combo (or your raddest surfing tee). Try an Emmett in any one of five shades, from grass green to pool blue, and start building your summer confidence.—Jim Moore

$198, by Unis. Available atshop.unisnewyork.com

The Ray-Ban Clubmaster
May 2011

A pair of Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunglasses will instantly bring out your inner Don Draper, your talented (and stylish) Mr. Ripley, and your iconic Malcolm X. The best part about these retro-looking shades is that their throwback cool works on everyone, making you the movie star, the heartthrob, the rebel. Ray-Ban is best known for bringing back its notoriously hip Wayfarer style; now it's reissued the Clubmaster. Wear yours en route to the office to complement your trimmed-down business suit, or on the weekend to shade your distressed jeans. Either way, they'll make you the master of your own club.—Jim Moore

$145, by Ray-Ban. Available atsunglasshut.com

The Boating Sweater
April 2011

We Americans might be crazy for our heritage brands, but the French have heritage we can't touch. Take the Breton fisherman's sweater, which has been keeping the French navy warm since 1858. It eventually caught on among the unenlisted (Jean Seberg wore one in the indie classic Breathless) and even among the un-French (Picasso and Warhol favored them, too). The Breton is marked by graphic stripes, fitted sleeves, and a boatneck and comes in a range of weights, from thick sweaters to this heavy tee. Saint James has been making them since the 1950s and always cuts them trim for easy layering—which in turn gives you a modern fit. Perfect for a more stylish spring, on land or at sea.

$85, available at jcrew.com

The Return of the Club-Collar Shirt
February 2011

We're very vocal about our love for dress shirts with semispread collars. Hopefully that's what you wear to work. But now we'd like to turn your sights to a slightly rounder approach. It's called the club collar, and it's come in and out of fashion over the past hundred years. Like many things old and gentlemanly (pocket squares, bow ties), this style is back, thanks to designers like Patrik Ervell, Unis, and Bespoken. We suggest you wear it one of three ways: with a slim tie, without a tie yet still buttoned up, or unbuttoned at the neck with a cotton suit. It's a shirt with a little bit of nostalgia that packs a whole lot of cool.

$220, available at patrikervell.com

The Winterized Wingtip
November 2010

As a stylishly dressed gentleman, you'll need a serious pair of boots this fall. Not just the slush-kickers to help you on salty sidewalks and icy roads, but something a bit more refined. Enter the wingtip boot, the genius invention of the Brits, who created it before we Americans even existed. The boot's elegant profile resembles that of a sturdy-soled lace-up with punched-wing detailing, but when you cross your legs—voilà!—you've got winter protection. They're perfectly appropriate with a heavyweight suit made of brushed flannel or lofty tweed, and equally stylish when paired with rigid jeans. So go ahead, cross your legs and give 'em the boot.

$395, by Façonnable. Available atFaconnable.com.

The Punchier Pocket Square
October 2010

Now that you've channeled your inner Don Draper by mastering the art of the perfectly folded white pocket square, it's time to turn things around—literally. Try the unstudied approach by flipping over the handkerchief, allowing the seamed edges to fan out casually. The layering looks especially good when the edges contrast in color; it adds informality to a CEO pinstripe and dresses up a gutsy tweed. We like a cotton square—it holds its shape and doesn't sink into the pocket like a square made of silk. And if you go for a vibrant check or plaid, you'll achieve a nonchalant yet elegant look that even Don Draper might approve of.

Pocket square, $8, by The Tie Bar. Available at thetiebar.com.

The Original English Duffel Coat
September 2010

You may not care that the duffel coat was originally designed to keep British sailors warm and dry. Or that its wooden toggles, secured by industrial rope, were invented for ease of closure when sporting big-rig gloves. Or that the oversize hood easily accommodated a service cap, keeping a sailor's head dry. But all of this old-school know-how is still woven into every Gloverall duffel coat—and it's been that way since 1950. The fit has been modernized, keeping you snug and stylish, while the ultrathick and tightly woven wool continues to keep you warmer than most coats with linings. We suggest buying your Gloverall in navy blue or black and wearing it over durable fall staples like tweed trousers and a big hand-knit sweater. It's perfect for that stylishly salty vibe, whether on land or at sea.

$650, by Gloverall. Available at Barney's New York.

The Alexander Wang (Looser, Freer, Sexier) T-Shirt
August 2010

Alexander Wang is one of those buzzed-about designers you might not be hip to yet, but your girlfriend definitely is. His body-draping pieces, from his miniskirts to his plunging tops, bring out the sexy in any woman. But now it's your turn. Wang recently got into menswear, debuting simple "guy pieces," like this stretched-out, anti-fit T-shirt. Wang says his new basic has a "wilted, slept-in quality" that gives you less fashion and more style. We call it a welcome departure from tees that fit tightly when they really shouldn't. Try one on in gray and pair it with bleach-white jeans, then add a hoodie and cords when the weather drops. It may be the most expensive tee you've ever bought, but it'll also be the coolest. Just ask your girlfriend.

Suspenders: Not Just for Bankers Anymore
May 2010

Wearing suspenders used to be a practical move. Back in those Bogart days, you'd go about your business with your pants perfectly "suspended," rather than cinched by a belt. Now, like plenty of other midcentury essentials (tie bars, pocket squares, fedoras), suspenders feel in again after being out for so long. Thin clip-ons channel a punk-rock vibe, while wider, button versions deliver more of a neo-preppy message. Either way, keep your outfit simple for a custom—not costume—look, and turn the page for more on spring's must-have piece of gear.

Suspenders, $24, by Topman. Available at Topman, N.Y.C

The Shirt of the Summer (Get It Now)
April 2010

A pale blue chambray shirt is as timelessly American as, well, Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. But what if you're in the market for something a bit more timely? Enter the style-minded gray chambray. It makes for a perfect match with a cotton jacket and tie on a hot city day, or with swim trunks and flip-flops on a sandy beach. Lands' End has issued a version as part of its new Canvas collection. It features a trim fit and even trimmer price tag. The shirt comes washed and worn-in and arrives at your doorstep ready to throw on. The white stiching gives it authentic workwear detailing without looking like you picked it up at your local hardware store. Gray collar is the new blue collar.

$40, by Lands' End Canvas. Available at landsendcanvas.com.

The Revamped Rod Laver
March 2010

Maybe you're a die-hard fan of the original Rod Lavers, or maybe you're a guy who sees a pair and says, "Dude, are your sneakers...mesh?" Either way, it's hard not to love what Adidas has done to this forty-year-old virgin. The sneakers are now slimmer and more streamlined, and they're alarmingly light. Meaning they'll keep your feet dry during the steamy summer months ahead. These Lavers look great with cotton khakis, seersucker shorts, even suits. A perfect match, since 1970.

$75, by Rod Laver Vintage by Adidas Originals. Available at Adidas Originals stores.