John asks: Do you have thoughts and/or resources for how the proper way jeans should fit? And should you buy jeans long(er) and get them tailored?

Answer: Oh boy, that's a big question to answer. First, let me address the length. If you can get jeans that are close to perfect of the rack, I say go for it. Most jeans these days, especially at the higher end are only offered in a standard 36" inseam which then have to be tailored. This is nice because you can get that perfect length and decide what sort of stitching you want on the hem. If you're taller than that, you'll have to look for special "Long" jeans.

Now, as for the perfect fit, this depends entirely on your style. Some guys are really into the skinny jeans look (I'll pass, thank you) and other guys like to wear their pants so loose they're falling off of them. I think a good middle of the road approach is to go with a clean, tailored fit that complements your body. Funny but true, girls seem to like it when guys wear good "ass" jeans (just like we like it when they do), so find jeans that fit close to your body, but not tight, and are easy to button/zip up. In darker colours this style of jean can be worn in slightly dressier circumstances (like out to a club). A good place to start is the Levi's 501, an icon in the industry. Try a pair on as a benchmark to start and see if you want to go more more tailored or more relaxed from there. 


Keller Asks: I apologize because I fear this question has been asked to death - but it refers to slim chinos. I've seen this link and heard a lot of advice about them, but still not sure what kind of consensus to arrive at. I'm 5'9'' and 137 pounds, basically very skinny. 484 jeans fit me great and I love the super slim cut, but I'm willing to throw down a good bit for a pair of excellent chinos. Basically these would be worn without creases and casually, optimally as a spring/fall piece. Perhaps I'm shooting into an unanswerable hole here, but I just wanted to see if you could offer your thoughts. Thanks!

Answer: Hi Keller, thanks for the question. It seems to me like you've done a good amount of research and now you just need to pull the trigger on something. Smartest thing to do is just go try a few pairs on. If you like the 484 jean, try them on before you head out shopping or bring them with you to make sure you get a similar fit. If you can't find a good brand nearby and you're buying online, then take the measurements of the 484 jeans and use those to compare to the measurements of good chinos online. You don't need to spend a fortune on chinos, just look for something of decent quality from a good name and don't pay a cent more. If you're looking for some more brands, check out a similar question I answered here. You might make a mistake the first time, but don't spend so much on them that it haunts you. Mistakes are normal when trying to develop your sense of style and fit (I've got more than a few suits I'm unhappy with to prove it). The bottom line is there's only so much I can do for you and you're definitely ready to get out there to find a good pair. Best of luck!



Kong Asks: Dear Mr. Sartorial, I'm 5'9 and 155 pounds I have a fit question. I recently bought this cardigan from Urban Outfitters in a medium. The medium fits me pretty well (a tad tight) but it looks good with a button down, really streamlined. But I'm afraid that it would shrink so maybe I should buy the large; which comes to my question how should a cardigan fit? Should it be tight or kinda slouchy look i see a lot of guys wear. Thank you and by the way love your blog!

Answer: Hi Kong, I'm glad you like the blog. Thanks for the question! Now, my initial reaction is to tell you that you should definitely be a medium. Large just seems like too much for you, but let me ask you a couple of questions to help you out. First, what's the cardigan made out of? If it's cotton, cashmere or wool, it is going to stretch and bag out over time. there might be some initial tightness after you wash it/dry clean it and just make sure you follow the instructions to avoid shrinking. After that it will continue to loosen up. Also make sure you're happy with the other elements of fit, not just the waist. For example, the medium probably has the best sleeves for you.

As for whether a cardigan should fit tight or slouchy, that's all about your own style. Personally, I like mine to fit very close to the body like a vest, but I know other guys who wear them slouchy too. Which category you fit into is up to you, because it can be done both ways. Based on the fact that you like to wear it with a button down, slimmer is probably better.

I hope that helps you out, but don't be afraid to follow up.

Thanks for all the questions guys! Looking forward to receiving more. Ask me anything about men's style or fashion here.

-Mr. S

Like most other style bloggers online, I get asked a lot of questions about different aspects of style, and a lot of them are questions about personal style. ie. "Which of these skinny chino should I get?" I always want to do my absolute best to answer these questions, and that's why I'm writing this. Hopefully it will allow us all to ask better questions and provide better answers online.



The different types of questions:

1) Where can I find "X"?

"X" being a brand or a specific type of item (eg. shaving kit). I don't personally have a problem with the way people ask these questions unless it's a really broad category and I can't provide a specific enough answer

2) Who makes a good "X"?

More or less the same as above, but when you ask please provide an idea of how much you are looking to spend on the item in question. Also, please let me know what your idea of "good" is. In the market there's a lot more levels of "good" than there used to be.

3) I'm trying to find a good "x" for myself

These are the toughest questions to answer. More specific than just a general item, it's a request for something specific, a combination of the above two questions. If you want a good answer, tell the person your relevant measurements (height and weight is always a good default), maybe one style detail about yourself (eg. I want something a bit more preppy), an idea of something you have now that fits the way you like, your budget for the item, and any fit issues you consistently have (eg. my thighs never fit into pants). In some circumstances it's a good choice to tell them your complexion as well (eg. I have fair skin, blue eyes, dark brown hair). All this info will get you the best answer.

4) How do I wear "x" style OR How do I wear "x" with "x"?

To answer these questions, it's another case where the more info you share the better. If you want to integrate a new style, share little bit about your existing wardrobe or maybe even some of the attempts you've made before If you want to wear "x" with "x", share a bit about your style, your measurements and your complexion. A lot of the same stuff as above.


In general, the more info you share when asking a style question, the better the answer you'll get. Every blogger I talk to is always happy to answer these questions, but often can't give the best answer because they don't have enough info. By sharing the info I talk about above, you'll be much happier with the responses you get.

If you want to ask me a question about style or fashion, you can ask me here.

If you have any other ideas for helping ask better questions, please share in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

-Mr. S

Travis asks:  I was surprised to see you're in Edmonton! 

As someone who hasn't been in the city that long and has yet to discover some of its better points, I was just wondering if you had any favorite or recommended stores/areas, especially for budget-minded shopping. 

Hi Travis,

Thanks for your question. I've lived in or near Edmonton most of my life, and it's definitely got some great stores, if you know where to look. The best place to start is Whyte Avenue near the University. I'll let you explore it yourself (it's gorgeous in the summer, go for a walk and try to find Gravity Pope), but draw your attention to Decadence and Divine for some budget-minded vintage clothes. It may surprise you, but one of my favourite places to check every couple of weeks is this Goodwill on the south side. They always seem to have designer clothes for a fraction of retail. Finally, a great area that is easy to miss is High Street on the West end of Jasper Avenue downtown. I like to stop by Red Ribbon when they're on sale and pick up something to eat at one of the many local cafes.

That should be more than enough to get you started. All the best and welcome to Edmonton!

-Mr. S

Ian asks: I'm trying to find skinny (like, really skinny; I wear Levi's 510s for my jeans) chinos, particularly in go-to-hell colors/patterns. I know I shouldn't expect to get something as skinny as my 510s, but I really don't want something with a significantly fuller cut. Do you have any advice on where I could find some?