Cloths that are made of animal hair have a lot of the same qualities as your own hair does.

Heat, moisture, and confined spaces all can impact the shape, drape, and feel of the cloth.

Whenever a garment spends significant time it tight spaces – like being shipped from Europe to the United States – it’s going to come out needing some time to breath.

Just like you’d be suffering from some pretty bad hair after 48 hours with a tight hat on and dealing with changing air pressure.

We lightly steam and can press out suits, but too much manipulation can ruin the shape.

You’re much better off wearing them a couple of times and letting the cloth breathe and settle.

If you buy a jacket with a floating canvas (as you should) it will need a couple of wears to memorize and adapt to the shape of your body.

As great as this brand new three-piece is, give it a few wears and it will be perfect.

PS. If you want to look like you care but don’t know where to start, check out my Staples – 30 items that work in any man’s wardrobe and help communicate a willingness to move beyond indifference.

Even if a man is working with a minimal wardrobe, there is a need for seasonal items. These are ideal in the warmer months and less so in the cooler seasons, or vice versa.

Because as much as I preach against prioritizing comfort, it does have a place in a man’s wardrobe, and there’s no reason to wear linen when cashmere keeps a man much warmer.

One of the extra responsibilities that comes with seasonal items is rotation. Since we’re coming into the cooler months here in the northern hemisphere, I figured this was the best time to show you my routine.

So here’s the breakdown:

• Suits and other items that aren’t normally washed should be stored either hanging up or lying out. This helps prevent unnecessary wrinkling and creasing for when they are reintroduced to the closet.
• Suits and coats should be stored in garment bags. These provide an extra layer of protection against insects, the elements, and anything else that can damage the cloth.
• Items that can be folded should be stored neatly in something that will protect them. Some choose a plastic storage container, I like to use an older suitcase.
• Shoes should be stored in their boxes and ideally with both shoe bags and trees. These will ensure extra protection and that items will keep their shape.
• Keep a sweater or two out in the summer months. There’s always an occasion that requires an additional layer.
• The same goes for a pair of swim trunks in the colder months. Just because they don’t see as much regular use doesn’t mean they don’t need easy access.
• By purchasing fewer items that are higher quality and more versatile, there is less storage that needs to be done.
• Use the off-season rotation as an opportunity take a closet inventory. This is the ideal time to evaluate items that are in the closet and need to be removed, or should be on rotation and are not.

That’s how I’ve been doing it for years and it’s served me well. Anything you think I’ve missed?

I’ve been spending the last month working on a new course I’ll be calling Style as Storytelling.

Those who attended the Man in Demand seminar in Vegas in September were my guinea pigs for this course and I’ve fleshed it out quite a bit since then.

The whole purpose of the program is to illustrate how men throughout history and across different cultures have used their clothing and appearance to signal their masculinity.

It goes over topics like the 4 Tactical Virtues, tribal and status signaling, and the hypocrisy of those who insist that real men don’t care about their clothes.

I’ll be putting the finishing touches on the videos and other exclusive content over the next couple of weeks and will be releasing the program on November 4th.

So mark your calendars and get ready for your entire perception of the relationship between masculinity and style to change.

If you want to establish the right foundation for your style’s story, check out the Staples.

I can’t help but laugh when I hear guys tell me they’d like to dress like I do, but it looks way too uncomfortable. My suits are just as comfortable as the sweats I sleep in.

Take this flannel suit as a perfect example. With no shoulders and hardly any structure in the jacket, it feels about like I’m wearing a sweatshirt. The pants are better than any jeans I’ve ever owned either.

What most men are really complaining about though is not the physical comfort of a particular piece of clothing or ensemble, but the social comfort that comes with presenting yourself as indifferent to your appearance.

If you don’t look like you care, no one will accuse you of caring.

And that’s about as easy and comfortable as a guy’s existence can get. Too bad there’s absolutely nothing masculine about a life dominated by indifference.

If you want to look like you care but don’t know where to start, check out my Staples – 30 items that work in any man’s wardrobe and help communicate a willingness to move beyond indifference.

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.