Go Gore-Tex – You don’t have to be James Bond to benefit from some high tech action in your in footwear. Gore-Tex is a thin, man-made membrane that when used as a lining in shoes and boots makes them impenetrable by water yet allows for air to flow out. Since it’s so thin, this Fort Knox protection doesn’t come at the cost of destroying a sleek shoe’s line. Now this may not help you disarm a bomb or win at high stakes poker against a one-eyed villain, but it will ensure that your feet stay comfy and dry in the wettest weather without suffering a case of elephantiasis shoe. Brands like Ecco and Johnston & Murphy are a couple of the shoemakers that carry Gore-Tex lined footwear.

Water resistant vs. water proof – What’s the difference? Well if you live in a place known for torrential conditions it’s the difference between wet socks and dry socks. We could go into all the scientific mumbo-jumbo about how the two differ but instead you can think of Batman as waterproof and Robin as water resistant, when you get into deep water which of the two would trust more to get the job done?

Rubber soles with grip – It used to be that beautifully crafted men’s footwear always had a leather sole. Great in concept but once the streets start icing over you’ll be spending more time with your face on the pavement than you did during your last trip to Vegas. So if you like the idea of staying stylish and upright this winter, opt for shoes with a rubber sole instead. Cole Haan does a masterful job of blending classic and modern dress shoe uppers with streamlined, sturdy, and gripping rubber soles. It’s a winning union of form and function and a wonderful reminder that man no longer has to choose between style or comfort.

If a blue shirt & khakis is the boring uniform of business casual, its Luke Wilson off-hours equivalent is the untucked dress shirt & jeans.

Here’s how to take this casual pairing from “Eh.” to “Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?” with some easy adjustments.

Button down – An untucked traditional dress shirt, especially if it’s a standard fit can look sloppy, opt instead for an actual casual button down; these really do exist I swear, it’s not like the virgins waiting for you in heaven thing.  Typically casual button downs posses a fit and print better suited for ‘hanging out’.

Jeans – Even though the typical sartorial rules for pant breaks don’t apply to jeans, there is such a thing as too long (no TWSS jokes please). If the denim starts to to buckle and bunch up to the knee or higher, that jagged silhouette is a sign your jeans have gone too far, literally.

Layer – Layering is the casual man’s secret weapon, well that and ordering off the dollar menu. Even a simple, non logo emblazoned sporty zip up like the one above adds visual interest and can eliminate suspicions that you just rolled out of bed in your t-shirt.

Noggin - Men tend to update above the neck at an even slower clip than below. Exhibits A and B, glasses and hair style. If you’ve been wearing the same glasses for a few years now consider upgrading frames or getting contacts. Lastly, when it comes to your hair, even small changes can make a big difference like brushing your bangs to the side rather than having them lay limply across your entire forehead.

These gentlemen wanted to update their business casual look for an upcoming sales pitch meeting. They’re two intelligent and talented guys but their exsisitng look wasn’t showcasing them as such.

Now, business casual only works with modern, form flattering pieces; yet too many guys grab an old boxy blazer toss it over some dad jeans or dockers, and then for the final nail in the “don’t hire me” coffin, their old and busted 90′s squared toe lace ups or, trail shoes. Never wear footwear sold at REI to a business meeting, unless you and Richard Branson are talking merger while scaling a cliff face. Let’s take a look at the upgrades we made from head to toe during one quick shopping trip to Lord & Taylor. 

Sport Coat: Blobby blazers were switched out with better tailored sport coats in colors that are more flattering to their skin tones. Now while darker colors assert more ‘authority’, it’s August in Boston and their pitch meeting was happening on a 90 degree day, so a tan herringbone jacket was completely appropriate.

Pants: Both guys wanted to wear jeans to the pitch rather than slacks so it was important to find jeans that had an even, dark wash with no embellishments, distressing, or whiskers (I swear I’m not making these terms up) and were cut like a trouser.

Shirt: We got button downs with tailored torso so they wouldn’t have flying squirrel side wings when they removed their jackets.

Shoes: Time and time again I hear from guys that they can’t wear better looking shoes because they have wide feet, or they’re on their feet all day. Both of these reasons accompanied us to the shoe department. Yet after fighting me that fugly was the only was to go, both men, in their new shoes stood proudly grining as content as a politician with an envelop of special interest money. Turns out both Born and Johnston & Murphy make shoes that are plenty wide, comfortable, and good looking on our guys.

Accessories: Don’t forget that your belt and socks count. They may not be visible all the time but at those moments when they are, a beat up belt or hole ridden sock won’t help your credibility.

We replaced each of their looks for under $300 and all of the pieces can be incorporated into an unending array of outfits bringing their cost per wear down to pennies. Now that’s good business cents. And, in case you’re curious, I got word that they ”killed it!” during their pitch meeting.

You’d like to wear the sneakers, they’re comfortable, but visually on par with orthopedics.  And this summer you made a commitment to yourself (oh okay, I may be making it for you now)- no more dressing like a Floridian retiree.

For your warm weather enjoyment here are eight Emmi-Approved casual summer shoe options from two quality shoemakers.  Most of these are every bit as comfy as a sneaker yet without any of the unsavory side effects such as, loss of desirability, increased frumpiness, and sustained eyesores.

Cole Haan Boat Shoe - Perfect for shorts even when your yacht is in the shop.

Cole Haan Penny Loafer - Don't let the name keep you from trying this updated classic.

Johnston & Murphy Venetian - Similar to a loafer but with a cleaner vamp, that's the top of the shoe. Don't worry, knowing that now doesn't make you any less manly.

Cole Haan Slip-On - A multi-color shoe pairs exceptionally well with neutrals like khaki or white.

Cole Haan Driving Moc - Feels like a slipper on but their specially designed gripper sole makes them much better for lounging then extended walking.

Johnston & Murphy Canvas Lace-Up - These have a lot of cushion and make for exceptionally comfortable summer strolling.

Johnston & Murphy Sandal - Mandals can be tricky, it's key is to stay away from anything clunky.

Johnston & Murphy Flip-Flop - The added design detail on these makes them appropriate for casual and dressier summer looks.

So how about you? Which shoes do you find comfortable and stylish for summer wear?

Emmi Versus the Spiderman from Todd Randolph on Vimeo.

Maintaining good style in the face of a New England winter can seem akin to staying afloat in a dingy during the perfect storm, and nowhere is the struggle more evident than with men’s sweaters. 

When the mercury drops, too many men with perfectly good bodies don potato-sack-shaped woollen body bags in the name of warmth. You know, the kind made for hearty sheep farmers herding flock on windy Irish hillsides- perfectly charming in that context, but out of place in a metropolitan city setting, especially for business.  

Plus, bulking up is not where it’s at;  in fact you’ll stay warmer, more attractive, and comfortable through indoor/outdoor temperature changes by layering clothing that fits closer to the body.

While previous seasons were favoring thin knits like cashmere and silk, this season the focus is on thicker knits like Fair Isle and cable knit.  But not all thick knit sweaters are created equal, and the cut and size you choose can make all the difference between looking ruggedly handsome and looking like a man with too many cats who collects figurines.

Look at the example above: On the left we have the afore mentioned sack-shaped sweater, which is doing no favors for that man’s body.  On the right is an equally thick wool sweater, yet it still maintains the desired, masculine V-shape of his upper body.  How?

1. Since bulky knits generally run large rather than true to size, try a size smaller than you usually wear and you may find it fits much better.

2. It’s got a front zipper, so the vertical line lengthens and slims the torso.

3. Coordination: The V-shape is emphasized by unzipping the sweater to the mid-chest revealing a darker brown T-shirt underneath which features a graphic in the same color as the sweater. 

Add a scarf and you’ll be equally, if not warmer,  than in the blob+turtleneck combo, and guess which one will fit better under your coat?

Q: I see plaid everywhere now and I like the look, but not sure if I can wear it to work even though our office is business casual. Ideas?

A: You don’t have to be a farmer to pull off wearing plaid to work, especially in a business casual setting.  The shirt Lebron James wore for his most recent appearance on the Daily Show is a perfect example of incorporating plaid into a casual yet professional look.  There are two keys to doing this successfully.  First,  choose a button down that is made from smooth dress shirt fabric rather than flannel.  Second, choose a tonal plaid (dark grey and light grey in this case) instead of bright contrasting (red and black) colors.  Bonus points for keeping the tonal coordination going, like Lebron (or his smart stylist) did by adding the slate grey vest.

A: Length and fit will determine that.  Below is an example of the right length for an untucked shirt.  What you want is for the shirt to hit you no more than an inch below your hip crease.  Proportionally, up to an inch and a half higher than the photo is good too but no lower or your legs will appear shorter than they are.

Also notice that the shirt’s fit is lean, also known as tailored, sport or European cut.  Traditional or American cut shirts that fit looser around the torso should really be tucked in.  

You can submit your men’s style question to AskEmmi on Twitter.