Crocs in their natural habitat (and where they belong) in the water, NOT on your feet! After all shoes can make or break your outfit!

If He Only Knew’s Laura Schober spoke with Leah Morrigan, a men’s image consultant in Toronto, for tips on how men can improve their personal style.

Laura: What are some essential clothing items every man should have in his closet?

Leah: Every man needs a suit, at least one. It is probably best to have a suit on the darker end of things. But a dark suit does not mean a black suit. Dark colours can consist of navies, blues, charcoals, grays, and browns. Even if they wanted to be a little more daring, they could get into something like a darker berry colour. Dark wash denim is also a good item for a guy to have in his closet because he can go casual with it and wear it with a nice fitting t-shirt, or he can very easily dress it up and wear it with a sports jacket.

Laura: What are three tips you would suggest for a man who isn’t very style conscious?

Leah: Stand straight, wear properly fitting clothes, and keep an eye on the state of your shoes.

Laura: How can shoes complete a man’s style?

Leah: The thicker and rougher the material of the shoe, the more casual it is, and the thinner and shinier the material, the dressier it is. A slip-on loafer can be very elegant, with a nice, shaped toe. That would be considered more dressy than a canvas sneaker with laces. A lot of guys will also get confused about what shoes to wear with a suit to work. Generally, if the sole of the shoe is thick and chunky, it’s casual. If it’s thin and sleek, it’s dressier.

Laura: So, do shoes really make the man?

Leah: I don’t think they make the man, but clothes make the man! Shoes will make or break your outfit.

Laura: To what extent do men view fashion differently than women?

Leah: Men kind of see through “testosterone goggles.” They’re more interested in the technical aspects and how things work and the mechanism and the operation of the thing, while women are more interested in the little bits. That’s why women appreciate detail on clothing. Men won’t appreciate it because they don’t see it, that’s because of the testosterone in their bodies. It’s not their fault. If we point it out, they’ll see it. If you’re a men’s designer, you can’t get all fancy and small with the finite details on men’s clothing, because they won’t appreciate them.

Laura: That’s interesting. Do you have any additional style advice you would like to share with ifheonlyknew.com?

Leah: Be realistic with your body shape and body type and dress to suit it, not to suit what is on the runways.

If you want to learn more about Leah Morrigan CLICK HERE

Image courtesy of: John Robert Sheperd

Written by: Laura Schober – The TO Temptress

Tags: personal, style, TO, toronto