Vancouver Style Guide

This post is for all the men out there in their thirties or forties who are struggling with the dating scene. Now, I don't want to come across as an expert in this field because I'm obviously not. But I have been paying attention to some of the advice being past down by my friends, especially from the women I know.

One of things that stands out is the ability to maximize your physical potential. By physical potential I don't mean how ripped your abs are, but hitting the gym never hurt anyone's chances. What I mean by physical potential is spending a little bit of time and money on improving your look. The first thing a woman notices in a man is his physical appearance. Confidence is key, but so is a sense of style, personal grooming and the ability to accessorize. Sounds weird, I know, but if you give it a little thought, the payoff is an extended chance to flirt, which if you play it right, could lead to a phone number.

Sense of Style:

Most women are looking for a man who has a powerful job and the clothes to match. If you don't have the high paying office job, you can still acquire the clothes. A few simple dress shirts, one or two ties, a dark pair of pants and shoes that don't have an athletic or skate design on them is a good start. For fashion ideas, subscribe to GQ magazine. Another forum, if you want to save on the subscription cost, is Pinterest. Follow a few men's fashion pages and try to get an idea of what's trending. You don't have to buy the expensive brand names, you just need to find something similar.

If you're like me, you hate shopping. But if you go in with an idea of what you want, it makes the process easier. I find H&M is a good place to start.

If you already have a style that works for you, no reason to change.

Grooming:

Let's start at the top. Next time you need a haircut, pass on your local barber and make an appointment with a hair stylist. Again, it might sound weird, but these guys know what they're doing. Ask them to show you their tricks so you can replicate the style with product the next time you go out.

If you are rocking a bit of facial hair, spend some time tidying it up. While you're at it, take the tweezers to those few straggling eyebrow hairs and any nose hairs you might have.

Now, this is when it gets tricky. For those of us with man sweaters, you need to trim it back. If you want to go full monty, try a wax job. We've all seen the Forty-Year-Old Virgin, and yes it can be that painful.

Spend some time on your hands. One of the first things a girl notices is your hands. Trim your nails and make sure they're clean.

Then there is the below the belt region… Times have changed. Cut it back. Seriously. You know why...

Accessorize:

There are four personal items that every man needs to invest in: a watch, a belt, a leather wallet and sunglasses.

The watch needs to have a face, the digital Ironman won't do. It doesn't need to be encrusted in rapper bling, but it needs a little shine.

The belt should be simple but smart looking. No western style belt buckles, unless you're heading to the Bourbon for country night.

The wallet needs to be leather. No sense in arguing over this. You need a leather wallet.

Finally, you need a good pair of sunglasses. I don't want to push one brand, but Ray Bans are the most versatile and fashion friendly. You can still rock them on a clear winter day; just don't be that guy who keeps them on past sundown.