A lot can be said about fashion and what is right or wrong. My simple suggestion: wear what you like and dare to try out new things. I am a shirt and tie guy… I have more shirts and ties than my wife has shoes and handbags… (and that’s not easy). I am no fashion guru but who’s to say that experience in wearing clothes does not make you qualified to have an opinion?

If you are a man like me who wears a shirt and tie everyday to work (uniform) than you have to try out different styles, collars, cuffs and colours. Only wearing the standard white Oxford shirt is sooo boring. Don’t get me wrong, it is a classic shirt and should be worn from time to time… However, mix and match and dare to be inventive. You must know your audience though… A meeting with a bunch of older bankers and you should probably stick to the more traditional style. An ordinary day at the office and a two tone pink shirt can be a refreshing choice.

I have all the collars possible (I imagine). The cut away, the spread, the semi-spread, the thin cut, the long cut, the two button high collar, the button down, the rounded etc… You have to try out different collars. The only thing you need to think about is what tie goes with which collar.

Cuffs are of great importance and should always be seen sticking out slightly under the jacket. I am a huge fan of French cuffs as I see the cuff links as one of the few ways for a man to accessorise. I prefer to match my cuff links with either the watch I am wearing or the tie I am wearing.

When it comes to shirt colours and patterns I say; try them all. The stripes, the plaids, the two tones, the single colours etc… You cannot go wrong with a grey suit to match. Just keep in mind that mixing a daring shirt with a colourful tie might be too much. I prefer a single coloured tie to match a plaid two tone shirt for instance.

The tie, it’s there to accentuate and complete the outfit. You want a tie that looks great but doesn’t conflict or stand apart from your outfit. You need to know only one knot. The four-in-hand! It works with every collar. Learn it, practice it and always use it.

Find a good tailor to help you get a better fitted shirt. Dry clean or hand-wash your shirts for a longer lasting experience.

My general advice is: Real Men Wear Pink! Be innovative, don’t be controlled by what others say is fashion. Wearing good clothes is an enjoyable experience – put some energy into it. It should be fun!