I remember being… we’ll say “less than thrilled” when I would get socks as a Christmas or birthday gift. And honestly, who can blame me. The last thing a  young boy wants is some cloth for his feet.

I still don’t get really pumped up about socks but they’re a necessary item in a man’s wardrobe and the white athletic variety gets way overplayed.

Thankfully we’re also starting to see an end to the trend of overly loud socks. Full disclaimer – as was as on board with this as anyone else, but it’s lost its luster for me.

One thing I do still enjoy though is a good, solid pair of marled socks. I probably picked these up at Target or H&M for a good, cheap price.

They do an excellent job of actually keeping my feet warmer in the colder months and serving a few style purposes.

They help make a suit look a bit more casual and dressed down – not by much, because they’re such a subtle piece – but they certainly contribute.

They also do an excellent job of helping make the transition in a high/low outfit like the one I’m wearing here. Dress shoes (even those with a cap toe and a ton of bragging) can easily look out-of-place when worn with a pair of jeans. This contrast is further exacerbated when traditional dress socks are worn. However, the marled, heavy wool pair make the transition smoother and make the overall look more cohesive.

This is an ideal look for a business casual outfit, a date, or any other time in which you’d find yourself wearing jeans and a sport coat.

Want more personalized advice on how to improve your wardrobe? I’m currently taking on new clients.

Yesterday I went directly from the shop to a hunting lodge for a night of firearms festivities with my in-laws.

I didn’t have time to change my clothes and needed something that would transition easily from one environment to the next. As much as I love suiting, I’m not about to wear one out in the desert

The trick to pulling the transition off is by leaning a bit more casual with my shop attire and more dressed-up for the range. I find the Refined archetype makes the transition easiest for me.

Rather than a full suit with brogues, I opted for a navy jacket, OCBD, chinos, and desert boots (all of which are staples). I still wore a wool tie and textured pocket square to the shop, which kept the ensemble professional and appropriate while working with clients.

When it was time to head to the range, I simply ditched the jacket, tie, and square, undid the top two buttons of my shirt, and threw on a quilted vest

The shirt, pants, and boots – the primary items of my outfit anchored both looks and I changed the extras as I needed.

This is one of the big benefits of menswear having large roots in military history. The chinos and boots started off in rough environments and gradually became acceptable casual wear in more genteel circumstances.

Knowing how to transition effectively made my life much easier than having to dress inappropriately in one environment or the other, or than having to pack and entire change of clothes.

Understanding the origins of one’s clothing isn’t a must, but it certainly makes it easier to make your clothing work for you in trickier circumstances.

Lastly, if you have any interest in stylish firearms accessories, I strongly encourage you to check out Galco Gun Leather. They made the bag I’m holding I this shot, along with the other bags, cases, and holsters I use. Their quality is top notch and their team is even better.

A common question I get from white-collar clients who wear suits daily is, “What should I get after I’ve picked up both a navy and grey suit?”

It’s a good question and not one with a definitive answer. For those who work in anything but the strictest environments, I recommend choosing a cloth that can be split into separates.

It may be a plain color (like the brown I have on) or something with a pattern to it ( for the most part, not a stripe).

The trick is to choose a color, pattern, weave, or any combination of the three that doesn’t look as if it should only be a suit. The more unique any of those three variables are, the easier it is to split up the ensemble.

The advantage of this is what it does to open your wardrobe. If you buy three suits this way, you have nine different combinations to choose from. It will make your wardrobe appear much fuller, more robust, and more versatile.

Plan new orders in combination with suits you already own to maximize the benefit and really open up your possibilities.

Want more personalized advice on how to improve your wardrobe? I’m currently taking on new clients.

Regardless of what it is a man does for a living, there are going to be parts of his job he hates. We deal with conflict, disappointment, and discouragement on almost a daily basis.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by this stuff, but at least we don’t have to fight or kill for our lives. From an historical perspective, the “conflict” we have to deal with is about as minor and as minimal as it gets.

That said, it still takes its toll and sometimes conflict can be intimidating.

One thing I try to do when I know I have to make a phone call or attend a meeting I don’t want to is put on my armor.

For me, that’s a three-piece suit. For you, it may be something entirely different.

The point is to wear something that makes you feel powerful, detached, and impervious. When I go into battle with my armor on, I don’t get as defensive – which means most of the men with whom I have any conflict end up acting less emotional and more detached themselves.

Those who don’t? They can butt against me all they want. I’m impenetrable.

The clothes don’t change my physical safety or their level of frustration. They change my attitude, and that makes all the difference.

Want some ideas on what can be your best piece of armor? How about 30?

As I’m walking clients through the design of their suits, we address details like cuffs, pleats, and brace buttons.

For some reason these will elicit an emotional response from a lot of men. I hear, “I’ll NEVER wear suspenders” about 80% of the time – as if they have some inherent evil that takes them beyond the sartorial world and into the moral realm.

I don’t think I would’ve worn braces three years ago, but “never” is a strong word that has almost no place in the world of menswear. It should be saved for the higher spheres of morals and ethics.

Just remind me of this the next time you hear me say I’ll never wear cargo shorts, flip-flops, an xxxl T-shirt with a logo, or a suit with skinny lapels.