His signature fashion accessory: the bowtie. This hotly contested men’s fashion accessory made its debut in the midst of the Prussian wars of the 17th century, and has gone in and out of style through the past few centuries. Apparently, it is yet again making its comeback, and is paired with outfits never before seen. Hotly debated by many fashion critics and amateur stylish (or lack thereof) young men, it remains undetermined whether this is the perfect preppy accessory, or a fashion catastrophe.

Warren St. John of the New York Times sums up the common conceptions associated with wearing a bowtie perfectly, “To its devotees the bow tie suggests…a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. … perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think.”

Professionals and intellectuals alike have worn the bowtie for ages as a sign of intelligence, professionalism, and often times to broadcast a “sense of superiority.” Yet, colorful bowties paired with classic and colorful button down shirts are appearing at social gatherings, street corners, and offices around America in 2012.

One of the most famous retailer of bowties in recent years is the Vineyard Vines Clothing Company based out of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. They carry designs from bright red with American flags, golf clubs set on a sea foam green background, and even whales set on an ocean blue. These ties pair well with the company’s brightly colored button down shirts, and they work for any social events from work parties to a night out with “the guys.” Running at $45 per bowtie, they can be fairly unaffordable to the average college student or young professional.

Some critics have gone so far as to claim that the bowtie suggests a general lack of fashion sense, attempting to be masked with a brightly colored, well-coordinated bowtie; however, other proponents like Goreski of Bravo believes it can be an essential piece in a man’s wardrobe, as it can suggest style, intelligence, and overall success. If a bowtie fits into your wardrobe, they can be found for much cheaper than $45. Although companies like Brooks Brothers carry ties for upwards of $55, online companies such as thetiebar.com and bowtieclub.com offer bowties for much more reasonable prices.

So, the judgment call definitely lands in the hands of the individual man. The bow tie has been around for centuries, and has a proven track record as a timeless accessory.

After being bombarded with expensive cardigans, spotless pea coats, and perfectly styled hair, I have decided to construct a similarly styled outfit for the college guy on a budget. Realistically, most college students cannot afford to go to Barney’s and buy all of the latest trends for men in fashion.  Because of this, I have come to the conclusion that the best place to purchase a classy outfit is at the H&M location nearest you. H&M is known for their financially accessible male fashions, as well as their low-key shopping atmosphere. Below I explain how to create the quintessential men’s winter outfit on a dime.

Let’s start with the shoes. H&M’s ménage canvas boots in dark beige are perfect for the entire winter season. They can be worn while walking around campus, the city, or even on an outdoors winter adventure in the snow. They are neutral enough to be paired with most outfits, and they are the perfect design to make a subtle, yet defined statement. These can be found for about $50, which is a great deal for high quality winter boots. If looking for a normal shoe, the Brogue-style sneaker with imitation leather with front laces is sturdy enough for winter weather, but they will also compliment any outfit.

Next come the pants. For an outfit that says stylish, yet serious, chinos are the best type to buy. They can be worn on formal occasions, as well as with a tee shirt, making them completely worth their $30 price tag. Slim legs and the neutral color are what really makes these pants perfect for the ensemble. Remember, every pair of pants you own should be fitting to your leg, as baggy pants are definitely out.

Sidenote: Although not seen on a typical winter walk across campus, underwear is still just as important as a shirt or pants. Buy yourself a three-pack of H&M boxer-briefs in some nice colors for only $17.95. It will be worth it.

Winter may not be known for its bright colored shirts, but they are definitely in this season. With all of the dreary grays, browns, and whites in nature, choose a bright-colored and patterned shirt. H&M has many brightly colored button-down shirts in attention-grabbing colors. For only around $10, the button-down with blue, red, and green plaid is my recommendation. Also, since it is so cold and layering is in, top off the ensemble with one of H&M’s classic cardigans. A form-fitting, dark blue cardigan will finish the outfit, bringing the total cost to just under $100.

In the short time I was inside, I saw most of the latest trends in men’s fashion. It was after my exit that I realized that I had basically just looked into the holy grail of men’s fashion…and survived. The experience left me with several pieces of advice for the men like me, who want the fashions offered by TOPMAN, but who cannot handle the crowds, rude workers, and overwhelming amount of clothes within the store.

Although TOPMAN has over 175 stores worldwide, in places like Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas in the United States, the best place to begin is the website. TOPMAN.com is surprisingly accessible, and will allow you to shop for hours without having to deal with the stress of the store. Keep in mind TOPMAN was one of the first stores to cater directly to high fashion for men, and one of the first stores to have a tangible presence on the fashion men in several nations. The clothes styles cover anything from formal suits, to “hipster” wear, to casual fashion, and even to men’s high fashion underwear. The best part of all is that TOPMAN is not extremely pricey to begin with, and they also offer generous discounts on fashionable items in the sales potion of the website.

On the United States version of the website, TOPMAN is currently offering sales up to 70% off! As I have said in my previous articles, later in the winter season is the optimum time to buy coats. Trench coats, herringbone wool coats, and the ever-fashionable wool bomber jacket are on sale for 30-50% off. Scarves are also 50-60% off, as the winter shopping rush is over, and now they are trying to get rid of all of these winter essentials. Denim skinny jeans, trousers, chinos, and regular jeans are all on sale with massive discounts. Classics such as cardigans, offered at around $35, and TOPMAN’s signature “raw edge tee” for around $8, will probably never be found for this cheap again.

TOPMAN sets itself apart from other men’s fashion in the way that it truly does bring the styles found in the world of high fashion down to a more accessible level. With the literally hundreds of styles of clothing that TOPMAN has to offer, along with its incredible sales, the store and its website are the perfect place to start shopping for a whole wardrobe, or simply looking for bargains. For the fashionable male at any age, TOPMAN is one leader.

Inspired recently by the men of the “best-dressed college students in America,” located at Brown University in Providence, RI (as voted in several surveys), I have listed below a few more pointers to remember this holiday season in order to maintain style, class, and a little bit of warmth. As I wrote in the previous article, winter is a perfect time for a guy to show off his best style, so use this opportunity to the fullest.

Socks. This often overlooked accessory is much more complicated than just choosing between high white and low white socks. In observing many young men walking around the northeast, I noticed that having trendy socks is definitely a major necessity for this season. Skip the boring white socks and replace them with crazy-colored or patterned ones. Stores like Urban Outfitters and H&M specialize in this area, and socks can be found for under $8.

Hat. The hat is perhaps the most important part of a winter ensemble, as it is one of the first things that people will notice about you. A solid colored wool hat is always classic, and tight, neutral-colored beenies also compliment most outfits. Avoid most other kinds of hats this season, including the dreaded ski mask.

Boots. It just simply is not socially acceptable to wear large, plastic winter boots while walking around campus, or while strolling down your nearest trendy street. While walking down the ever-hip Thayer Street in Providence, I noticed many high fashion men’s boots, ranging from Uggz, to traditional cowboy boots, to nice, leather and fur lined ones. Boots can be found on sale at nearly every store this year.

Coat. I have said it before, and I will say it again. The coat you choose for the winter will act as a constant fashion statement throughout the entire season. Pea coats are in high demand this season, as can be seen when people watching in most parts of the country. And now is the best time to buy, as the after-Christmas sales are pushing down the prices of coats by anywhere from 30-70%.

Sweaters. Having a nice sweater, or two, is essential to any closet. Although this may seem obvious, many young men do not have a quality sweater that can be worn out to formal gatherings, or simply around the house. Look for a higher end sweater, in a classic color such as white, grey, or black, that can be matched with corduroys, khakis, or jeans. It is ok to spend a little more to get the quality desired. Keep in mind that many stores are running great sales on sweaters this time of year as well.

It doesn’t have to cost a lot to have style; it just takes pre-planning!

Don’t wear shorts. You will stick out like a sore thumb, and passers-by may give you stern glances, because they know wearing shorts is only for attention. It’s cold; wear pants like the rest of us. Plus, you will surely stay warm!

Do layer. Layering is the trend again this season. A nice sweater over a button down is always a great look for the colder season. It looks classically handsome, but is still casual enough to fit in on campus. Layering really says, “I care about how I look.” During this season, there are also great deals on sweaters – especially button downs.

Don’t mismatch. All around campus I have seen fashion atrocities unfolding at every turn. Picture a pinstripe blue button-down shirt, paired with a tan, patterned wool sweater, capped off with jeans. The intentions of the outfit were correct, but if you mismatch, people will notice. Make sure your sweaters, pants, and even coat match to avoid such tragedies.

Do invest in some outdoor-use slippers. Perhaps the best investment I have made this season is a pair of dark brown, leather UGG slippers for men insulated with fur. They were worth every penny. They work inside of a cold dorm, but they can also match with outfits to be worn to class.

Don’t wear vests. Vests became increasingly popular in the earlier years of the decade, but simply should not be an item of choice any longer, at least for the college man. The puffy vest will attract attention, but the wrong kind. If a vest is already a major wardrobe piece, take extra caution when pairing with sweaters. Take any vest to the nearest consignment shop, and sell it for money to buy some trendy scarves.

Do own and wear plenty of scarves. Although I am all for saving money on winter clothes, scarves are one area that spending a little extra money can get you much better quality. Don’t pay $500 for a Burberry scarf, but do spend $40-$50 on one standby scarf for dress-up occasions. Otherwise, grandma’s knitted scarves can actually compliment even your trendiest of outfits. My best deal of the season so far was a long, grey, wool scarf at J. Crew for 25% off.

Winter is a time for college students to show off their fashion sense. Make conscious decisions when dressing in the morning, and most of all guys, allow your zany and experimental fashion side to shine.

Style. The style of the coat you want remains key. As opposed to summer clothing, men actually have a plethora of stylish options when it comes to the winter coat. A quick look at a few Internet sites will help every man find the style that is the best fit for them. If going for a classic professional, yet hip look, the peacoat is a timeless option. If looking for a very professional coat, the Coleman overcoat by Calvin Klein, accents any suit perfectly. If searching for the more relaxed, edgy style, a nice faux leather jacket with a knit hood is a must-have. In addition to looking online, take a trip this season to your local department store, and try on different styles of coats to find out which one fits you the best.

Fit. As a young professional or college student, the fit of your coat is important. The days of wearing an obscenely large and poofy coat are (or should be) long gone. A sleek, well-fitting coat will keep you warm, but it will also still show that you have style. Just because it is time to bundle up, doesn’t mean that fashion goes out the window for the sake of warmth. Even if you do settle on the most basic of coats, it is obligatory that it highlight your style and your shape.

Scarves. A trendy scarf is just as important as the coat itself. It will class up the coat, and a nice pattern, color, or texture will add some personality to an otherwise dark-colored outfit. Use a scarf to your advantage, and you will soon surely be one of the trendiest on campus. There is absolutely no need to pay more than $30 on a scarf. Head to either department store sales or to consignment shops to find some cheap, fashionable scarves.

Budget. This is the most important thing to remember when buying your coat this winter. Never, ever, pay full price for even the most luxurious of coats. Sales on winter coats can be found if you just put in the little extra effort looking. For example, J. Crew recently had a deal offering 25% off of purchases of $150 or more. Although this may not sound like a lot, it your winter coat is priced at $200, you will receive 25% off. Not too shabby!  Many large department stores, such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney, and even southern stores like Belk, have amazing deals on coats both before the holidays and after.

With a frigid and snowy winter predicted for most of the country, making sure that you are dressed warmly (and fashionably) is more important than ever. Although this makes keeping a budget increasingly more difficult, I am a living, stylish example that it can be done – if attention is given to the proper areas. Rather than compiling a list, I will briefly walk you through a shopping trip for clothes this winter.

To start, we will keep things simple. The first step to creating your manly winter outfit all comes down to the shirt. Yes, your grandmother’s knitted creations are nice and warm, but often are not the most stylish thing on the street. This winter is all about henley’s, anoraks, classy sweatshirts, and appropriate hoodies. To start your outfit off, a nice white, grey, or black fleece, shawl-collared sweatshirt will prove to be the best base. Although these upscale designs are often found at places like J. Crew (who offer a 20% student discount, by the way), many outlets like TJ Maxx and Steinmart are slowly catching on to these fashion trends. For the man on a budget, high-class design is not necessarily synonymous to expensive.

Next is the seemingly difficult task of picking out an appropriate undershirt. A design like the shawl-collared sweatshirt exposes the undershirt you decide to wear, so choose wisely. I see men walking around campus with undershirts with sports teams, or awkward patterns on them, but they are best left deep in your closet this winter.

As the sweatshirt you have picked out is an earthy tone, picking out an appropriate undershirt is a perfect way to add a splash of personality and color to the ensemble. A gray, a light blue, deep red, or even a pine green will accent the outfit nicely. I would also like to take this time to remind guys to go with a nice v-neck, rather than a less-flattering high-collar T-shirt. Also remember – never pay more than $10 for a T-shirt.

The jeans you pick out are just as important, and they must flatter the outfit. Nice dark or medium wash denim, with a snug fit will flatter not only the outfit, but will accentuate your shape. During mid-winter, jeans usually go on major discount. The shoes you pick will make or break the outfit, so choose wisely. Tennis shoes are a resounding mistake, and should not leave your shoe rack unless you are going for a run. A nice pair of brown leather shoes is both classy and casual, and comfortable enough for the long walks around the city.

In two weeks I will be tackling the issue of the young man’s quest to find an appropriate (and stylish) winter coat.

Clothing stores, both high and low end, debut some of their most stunning collections for men in the fall, and they use many bold, neutral colors making it easy to mix and match fall clothing items all year round. Fall is all about layered looks, and mixing and matching some otherwise contrasting color combinations. So, men, pull away from the mundane creams, blacks, and browns, and get your fall fashion on! I will build a sample fall casual outfit that is perfect for the college guy with expensive tastes, yet who is on a modest budget.

Cardigan. This is an absolute must. To complete the hip, young professional look, or even the casual student look, a cardigan is an absolute essential. Many stores offer a large variety of cardigans in plain colors to stripes, even to several different colors. The cardigan is versatile, and can be worn with shorts, jeans, corduroys, or even with khakis for a formal occasion. The Gap Skinny Birdseye cardigan is a perfect piece, but is around $70. Visit outlet stores or Urban Outfitters and a similar design can be found for under $20.

V-Neck. Yes, T-shirts are still a necessity even into the fall and winter. A maroon or mint colored v-neck T-shirt under a grey or black cardigan creates the absolute perfect combination, especially for the crisp school days of November. As I have said before, never pay more than $8.00 for a v-neck T-shirt.

Jeans. During fall and into the winter, a nice classy pair of dark wash, denim jeans rounds out any outfit. Jeans insulate well for the winter months, and they can also be paired with just about any other piece of clothing. Another important thing to remember when trying jeans on is to make sure they fit right, and accentuate your legs, rather than being too baggy and making for an unflattering look. In most major cities, upscale consignment shops sell nice jeans for under $25. While you are there, bring some of your old clothes to sell to earn discounts, store credit, or even cash!

Coat. The coat is the final piece of a fashionable fall outfit. As fall and winter outfits are all about the layers, what coat you decide to wear must compliment your other clothes, and become part of the outfit. Traditionally, many people do not consciously match the coat to the outfit, but for a young, professional look, this is an absolute must. I am a fan of the jet-black pea coats sold at places like Banana Republic and Express for Men. In mid-winter, coat prices fall to around 10-20% off original price.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks, as I put together a men’s formal winter outfit on a budget!

In addition to these finds, you can also purchase the hottest cold weather items on sale as well. Since it is just past the major rush of fall clothing debuts, many stores are having some great sales, especially on trendy men’s items for fall and winter.

Here is a quick list of websites ot check out for the best sales.

L.L. Bean – The exciting thing is that L.L. Bean is offering free shipping for all orders, with no end date in sight!  I found men’s chino’s on sale for $19.99. Remember, these make a perfect start to a crisp work wardrobe. They also have blazers and fleece jackets at great prices, which means a big bang for your buck. Although not super trendy, this brand “screams” reliability.

Gap – Gap is offering anywhere from $5-40 off anything from tailored shirts, to jeans, to inspired nylon jackets for the rainy days of fall. Also, if you order from the website, there is free shipping on any order after $50.

Banana Republic - Much like Gap, Banana Republic features great sales this time of year.  This is because the same parent company owns both chains. Sweaters, blazers, and even thermal pants, are all significantly marked down. Again, there is free shipping for any order over $50.

Nordstrom - Although notoriously expensive, even Nordstrom is having a significant sale. A John Varvatos blazer was marked 33% off , with a Michael Kors dress shirt marked down a significant 33% as well. These are men’s items that are rarely found on sale. If you are looking for dress clothes, check out Nordstrom.com immediately.

J.Crew - My personal favorite, J. Crew is having yet another purge of clothing items. This means great buys for the shopper who will take the extra couple of minutes to sift through the hundreds of enticing items on J. Crew’s sale page. It is worth the time and effort. Also, be sure to sign up for J. Crew’s emailing lists, as they frequently send out vouchers for free shipping on all orders. (Here is another friendly reminder of the 15% in-store discount for students with I.D.!!)

It is possible this fall to look trendy without spending a ton of cash.  All you need to do is simply take the time to shop around online for the best deals, including free shipping.

I have a history of haircutting issues – telling the stylist to make my bangs choppy, and the way she understood was to literally make them uneven. Or when I said I wanted to shape it up, and leave the bangs longer, and the stylist repeatedly taunted me, referring to me as “Justin Bieber” before, during, and after the haircut.

Needless to say, the last thing I wanted to do this week was go to the hair stylist, and I have a suspicion that many other college-age men feel the same; however, it must be done. Here is my list of tips for men to get the most out of their haircut, and do it within the tight college student budget.

Look for deals. There is nothing in the world that peeves me more than paying more than $15 for a haircut. Unless it is a super special, or trendy location, do not pay more than $15 for a men’s haircut. Most of the time, all you need is a trim, which in my book is not worth $26. The best way to find deals is to ask your local friends where they go, or simply Google where the nearest Cost Cutters location is. Other shops also regularly offer coupon specials, so be on the lookout for those.

Tell the stylist exactly what you want. Lack of communication, and of general knowledge of hairstyles for guys, can lead to disastrous things. Figure out how you want it cut before the appointment. Also, it always helps to bring a picture of yourself, or a celebrity with the haircut that you want, as this truly does help the stylist get a vision of how you would like style.

Never settle. This is always hardest for me. We are all familiar with the awkward moment where the stylist ask you, “Is this how you wanted it?” Well, college men, it is time to start sticking up for your hair, and simply saying “no,” if it is not what you wanted. The stylist will not be offended, as it is his or her job to please you.

Tip, tip, and tip more. If you get a cheaper haircut, that frees up an extra dollar or two for the tip. Always, always tip your hair stylist. Especially if you will be returning to the same location, tipping will show the stylist that you appreciate the work. And then next time you come in, the stylist will not be tempted to “accidentally” slip with the scissors, or give you a nice bowl cut.

Remember these cardinal rules, men, and try to find the best deal!

There were many thoughtful answers, and he chose three different winning ideas:

From Karen Tiede:

Light wool, navy blue. There’s no point in having any other color if you only have one. Perhaps dark grey.

Find an old copy of Dress for Success, and follow his recommendations. Although dated and the actual fashion recommendations may need to be updated, the basic logic hasn’t changed.

From Mirilee:

*Charcoal Gray beyond a doubt. Not only is it a totally sharp color when worn as a full ‘set’…but the separates (slacks and blazer) are great, too, because they pair well with navy, black, or even a dark chocolate brown.

(*My dad has to wear a suit and tie every day to work, and he swears by this color choice. He has 15 pairs of charcoal gray dress slacks and a number of charcoal gray blazers).

In terms of material, I would steer clear of wool (if he’s only going to own one suit, it should be all weather). A cotton poly blend would probably suit (pun intended) him best, since it’s rather low maintenance, can’t be ruined easily, and will stand up well to occasional wear.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck to your friend…

And from DBauman:

Black. Definitely black. Classic look. You can dress it up with a bow tie or fancy shirt. Or, you could dress it down with a t-shirt.

Have you ever gone shopping with your husband? Or have you ever thought of asking your husband to be your shopping buddy? I know when most women are asked, “Who’s your shopping buddy?” they surely would reply, “My girlfriends!”

Well, for me, it’s my husband. Ever since my sisters went abroad to work and stayed there for good, my husband became my shopping buddy. After our wedding, we settled down in his hometown, which is an hour and a half away from my hometown. My girlfriends, my gay friends, my aunt, my mom and my cousins, who were my shopping buddies before, are an hour and a half drive away. I also have friends in my new hometown, but they’re just acquaintances, and no one seemed to fit as a shopping buddy for me. So, I had no choice but my husband, and guess what? He’s a perfect shopping buddy!

He’s honest and frank and tells me if the dress I choose doesn’t look good on me. He’s also good in choosing something for me. When I went shopping with him last weekend, he was like, “Honey, these skinny jeans will look good on you, you wanna try them?”

At first, my husband felt awkward accompanying me to shop, but after some time he got used to it. The first time he accompanied me in buying lingerie, he was too shy to even choose something for me. But now, he’s the one who tells me which is best for me…after all, he knows my body better than my girlfriends do. My husband is my critic, my financier (of course), my best friend and my shopping buddy.

I now know that nobody can be a more perfect shopping buddy than he. Shopping with him is so much fun, and I thought only my friends could do that.

So, to other wives out there, try shopping with your husbands. Who knows, maybe you can be each other’s shopping buddies! Believe me.