“Hi Chris! I just want to commend you for a nice blog you have and I need some help in choosing fashionable clothes for fat/chubby guy like me. I am wondering where can I buy fashionable clothes for myself. Because when I go to F&H, People are People, Refill, etc.. there are no clothes that fits me. Can you help me? Thanks in advance.”

-ASH

Thanks Ash for your email and for the compliment. As you wish, here is my response to you. I have provided here some tips to help you and the other big guys in choosing comfortable and stylish clothes.

1. Don’t buy too loose or too fit.

When chubby guys buy clothes, they have a tendency to buy either clothes which are too fit or too loose to prove that they are not too big. However, I think this is a wrong move in choosing clothes.

If you happen to be a chubby guy, go for clothes which are one size bigger than your actual size BUT choose a slim fit version.

Confused?

Let’s say you go shopping for a shirt. You know that you are a size XL. So what you need to do is to find nice clothes on size XXL which are SLIM FIT. Once again read: SLIM FIT! So what will happen is that you will end up buying clothes which are just about right for your size and since it is slim fit, it will make you look slimmer.


2. Vertical Patterns

If you have attended Psychology 101 you should remember a topic their called visual illusions. During my freshman year in college, I clearly remember my Psych professor teaching us how to wear good clothes which will make short guys appear taller, fat guys appear slimmer, skinny guys appear bigger and so on and so forth.

I will not go over all of them. But what I remember is that, if you are a chubby guy, you should avoid horizontal prints on clothes because it only will make you look bigger and yes, fatter. Instead, what you should do is to wear vertical prints because the length of the prints will produce an illusion that you are taller and slimmer than you actually are. Choose a variety of vertical prints and not just plain stripes. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to find your wardrobe full of vertically-striped clothes would you?


3. Buy from shops like…

…Jag, Lee, Penshoppe, Bench, Human, RRJ, Tribal etc. They have tons of stylish and inexpensive clothes available up to XL (and in some cases even XXL). I also recommend that you go shopping for clothes in department stores rather than stand-alone shops for variety and for size availability. And if you can find American and foreign brands like TopMan, Van Heusen, Izod and Von Dutch – it would be much better because American sizes are naturally bigger.

You mentioned in your email some brands that you like. However, People are People, Folded & Hung, Refill, Mint, Oxygen and other similar brands rarely have BIG sizes. Yes, their clothes are very modern and chic but their target market is for slim guys. So I suggest you go for the previous ones I have mentioned.


4. Try MaxWear at SM Department Store

If you have some time, try to drop by SM Department Store one of these days. They have a section there called MaxWear and they have a wide variety of inexpensive clothes for big men.  Check out a few photos below:

They have plenty of clothes for both casual and formal wear and most of the designs are the latest ones which you will also see from the other brands.


Anyway, I hope you and the other guys will find this post useful and helpful in a way. If the other readers have some tips also, please don’t hesitate to post a comment below.

Want more tips on men’s fashion? Subscribe to Pinoy Guy Guide by email or discuss more about style at the PGG Forums.

Marky wearing blue checkered polo from Penshoppe, white tailor-fitted jeans, brown sneakers from Rusty Lopez, stainless and black rubber bracelet, and Guess watch.

Marky wearing white polo from Blue Soda, checkered slim tie from Folded and Hung, red jacket and gray jeans from Jag.




Style Tip from Marky:

“I don’t necessarily go for branded and expensive clothes or accessories. Depende naman pag ok ang dating sa akin, mix and match lang and there you go. Mostly I’d go for polo and polo shirts tapos sa jeans semi or medium fit. Minsan kapag medyo malaki yung nabili ko (kasi I grab it na kahit XL ang size kapag SALE), I’d have it re-fitted by a nearby tailor which costs me 50-100 Pesos per piece so malaking tipid na rin!”

Learn more about men’s fashion by joining the PGG Forums.

Want to Show Your Style like Marky? Click here for details.

The year 2009 has been another fantastic year. So as the year comes to a close, let’s have a recap on Pinoy Guy Guide’s top posts for 2009.

1. Beware of gold-diggers in bars – this post created lots of talk over other blogs and even Plurk. It tells a true story of how some women are just after your wallet. Sad, but true.

2. Modern men’s formal trousers – after I got tired of the usual slacks, I bought this pair of formal trousers which actually look like jeans.

3. Why being a “torpe” will never work – I remember I wrote this before Valentine’s day this year. It’s an enlightening article for the guys out there who are still thinking whether or not to confess to the girl of their dreams.

4. Von Dutch super thin shirts – these thin shirts are really awesome. It feels so comfortable to wear and if you are a gym rat, these shirts will be a plus point to you towards the ladies.

5. Gym Guide – the three posts below are a series of posts talking about the most popular gyms in the country:

• Gym Guide (part 1): Gold’s Gym
• Gym Guide (part 2): Fitness First
• Gym Guide (part 3): Slimmers World

6. Sneak Peak – a PGG contributor talks about three of the best shoe finds.

7. Merrell Shoes – I’m telling you that these has to be one of the most durable shoes I’ve ever worn.

8. Who’s your Male Fashion Icon? – Jessie, a PGG contributor, wrote about three of the most popular icons today. So who’s your icon?

9. What should a Pinoy Guy be able to do? The two posts below discuss them in full.

• A Pinoy guy should be able to…
• 10 more skills a Pinoy guy should have

10. iPod and Creative have lots of competition on-going. This year we had iPod shuffle 3G as well as Nano 5G and Zen X-Fi2.

11. Ash Gray and Cloudy Gray Jeans for Men – if there is one type of jeans that became popular this year, it is none other than the gray jeans. I love them!

12. How to flash your killer smile – I always laugh when I remember this post. It’s something I learned from a workshop. It’s useful actually.

13. Bangs on guys rule – this type of haircut is popular. Thanks to Gatsby!

14. Korean Style Men’s Jacket – I sold some of these at the PGG Store. Until now, I’ve been receiving praises for this jacket.

15. Plaid Polo is still in and is good for any occasion – plaids are nice. They have been around for quite some time and they are still in.

16. Would you drive a vintage car? – ahhh vintage cars. They are expensive and they really catch people’s attention but would you want to drive one?

17. Speed Dating based on the experience of Tim – ever wondered what speed dating is like? Tim, a PGG contributor, shares his experience.

18. Is Megan Fox hotter than Angelina Jolie? – it looks like PGG readers had a debate on who’s hotter between the two. Check out the comments to the post.

19. PGG’s four picks on Men’s Scents – if you are still lost on what fragrance is best for you, check out this post and try these scents.

20. When boardshorts are not just for summer – if you find it strange to wear boardshorts when it is not summer, then think again. Guys are now wearing them to malls!

21. The Game of Buying – Kilo, a very active member of the PGG Forums,  gives us some advices when is the best time to buy.

22. Men’s Hair Wax with Hair Color – this new wax with hair color is a surefire hit especially if you want a new look.

23. Adidas Jeremy Scott: The shoe with wings – I haven’t seen this in the country yet, but once I see them in actual, I think my jaw will drop.

24. How to NOT get into the Friend Zone – some guys just fall into the friend zone. Here are some tips how to not get into that dreaded zone.

25. Folding it up – don’t know what to do with your old jeans? Check out this tip from PGG contributor Tim.

26. Nokia Booklet 3G: A netbook to drool for – this netbook is superb. I just wish it was a bit cheaper.

27. Multi-colored sleeves/cuffs and collar lines – these shirts from Topman and Mint MEN are the newest trend in shirts. Get yourself some.

28. Nike Free 5.0 v4 – the most stylish and most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve bought this year.

29. Pinoy Guy Guide and Adidas Christmas Giveaway – I’m very very happy that Adidas became a partner of Pinoy Guy Guide. This recently concluded giveaway helped boost the PGG Forums. I hope that many more sponsors will come so that there will be more giveaways!

30. Show Your Style Project – This project is one that I am very excited about. I wasn’t expecting people to really participate, but I was surprised when I received entries in my inbox. I’m very thankful to everyone for making it happen. There are more Show Your Style entries to be posted so keep visiting the blog and keep sending your entries.

If you want to check the posts related to Show Your Style check out this link.


Whew, that was quite a long list of posts for 2009! I hope you found them to be useful, informative and even entertaining. I also hope that you will continue to participate and support PGG Projects in the future.

This time, let me hear your feedback. What topics did you like or did you not like? And if you have suggestions on how to improve the blog, please leave a comment below or contact me here. I am also on the look out for write-up contributors. If interested, send me an email at  or use the form here.


Have a Happy New Year everyone! Cheers!


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Image credit: Here | License

When it comes to the dating arena, the last thing every guy would want is to find himself in the friend zone. Because when you get into the friend zone, it is almost impossible to get out of it. There is no turning back and it’s time to say goodbye to your prospect girlfriend because she is now just your ordinary girl friend (take note of the space).

What’s the friend zone anyway? If you aren’t familiar read this. You see, women classify every guy they meet into two. They group all guys who are a potential date and a potential boyfriend into the “dating zone”. And they group all those guys who are a good friend, a possible best friend or a brother to the so-called “friend zone” – somewhere you will never want to be in for the hottie you’re dating.

I’d like to share with you the things I have observed and learned so that you will not get into that dreadful friend zone.

1. Mystery is the keyword
Mystery is a turn-on. Don’t share too much information about yourself initially. My girlfriend tells me that when I was courting her there is really something in me that keeps her interested. She wants to know me better. Reason? I didn’t spill too much information during our first few dates. Guys who share too much on the first few meetings end up as just friends with the girl. But guys who preserve the mystery keeps the dating game exciting.

2. Don’t talk about relationships with her
This is a no-brainer, I’m sure. Why would you even talk about dating, relationships or even her ex with her? You see, these stories are reserved for her girl friends, not for you (that is, if you still want to fall into her “dating zone”). You should talk about topics involving the two of you, the places where you would want to take her and at least slowly give her hints that you like her.

3. Don’t always make yourself available
Don’t get me wrong on this one. Of course you should ALWAYS be there for her when you feel that she likes you already. But during the initial stages of getting-to-know each other, your availability can determine your fate. Remember, friends are the people who are always around. So if you are always around her you might just fall into the friend zone – so don’t overdo it. Be there when she least expects it and surprise her with chocolates at her desk and I promise you won’t regret it.

4. Don’t be a good puppy
A good puppy does everything their owner tells them. Guys who just say yes and yes to everything she says are wimps and she knows that they are boring to be with. Don’t forget that you have your own set of beliefs and mindset so stand for what you believe in and what you want. Learn when to agree and when to disagree. You’d be surprised that she will get more attracted to you because of your innate confidence.

5. Say how you feel but…
Not too early or you will freak her out. Saying how you feel is the most effective way to NOT fall into the friend zone. Want to know why? Because you have said clearly from the start what your intentions are and that is to be her boyfriend and not just friends. This is important so that she knows what to expect and won’t mistakenly place you in her circle of guy friends. Just make sure that the timing is right.

How about you? What have you learned about the friend zone? Share your own tips or experiences, I’m sure you can add more to the list.

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Tired of your old pair of jeans? Thinking of throwing away all your old straight cut denims in favor of skinny jeans? Or felt like your old pants are no longer of good use?

Recession in the economy can be a hinder in buying new clothes and it even makes some fashion savvy guys drive away from updating their fashion pieces. But who says that recession should make any Juan Dela Cruz stick back to their old 90’s high cut blue jeans and baggy white t-shirt?

We’ve read it in PGG that fashion need not to be expensive. It is how you put things together and how you carry it with machismo confidence. So how about taking out your old, outdated pair of jeans in the closet and bring it back to life with style?

I tried experimenting some of my old pair of straight cut denims, and tried folding it up until the knees (or below the knees, it depends on you) making it look like a new pair of Capri denims paired with rubber shoes, sneakers, or ordinary flip-flops. I find this idea brilliant and cost-saving by making an old pair of jeans useful again in one way or the other. I mean, if we do fold our shirt’s or polo shirt’s sleeves an inch or so to showcase our biceps and to feel fitter, then why not do the same with your bottoms?

So how about you? Has the recent recession affected the way you spend your money for style and fashion? What other possible ways can you think of to help us in maximizing our old clothes?

Tim is a 19-year-old Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management student, who considers himself as a modern Pinoy, and a great appreciator of male fashion. Tim hopes to share his experiences, and help the timid guys to get out of their old comfort zones in order to experience the zest that comes within a modern Pinoy.

Get updates on men’s style and fashion by Subscribing to Pinoy Guy Guide by email. Want to share your story with other PGG readers? Contribute an article now to PGG by contacting Chris

No, this is not a fake post. It’s an honest post of me seeking advice from you, my dear readers.

For the past few days I have been having trouble fitting all of my activities in just 24 hours. So maybe you’re wondering, what on earth am I doing that I couldn’t fit all my to-do list in 24 hours? OK, here’s a list of some of my day-to-day activities.

• Work – good for 8 hours and is necessary to make a living
• Exercise / Workout  – for health reasons of course and as a stress-reliever.
• Blogging – just can’t live without visiting and writing topics on PGG, monitoring the forums and reading as well as answering emails from readers.
• My Girl – hmmm… LOL.
• Reading – yeah, I do read books, other blogs and even Internet news.
• Sleeping/Eating – this is given
• Hangout with friends  -  I can’t live without socialization.
• Talking with family members – we’re really close, you know…
• Other hobbies and projects – they are just plenty.

They do appear to be only a few compared to others, but they totally add up a lot, so if you have some tips to help me (and possibly other readers who are in the same boat as I am), I’d really appreciate it.

Image credit: Mayeve | License

Lacoste Essential

This is highly recommended when you go out on a date or for formal occasions. The scent is elegant, refined and manly. What’s so good about it is that it is perfect for the Philippine climate because the more you sweat, the better it smells on you. I’m sure you know by now that women are turned-on by the pheromones in men’s sweat so this one is really a must-have. In my own experience, I have received several compliments after wearing this perfume.


Bulgari Aqua Pour Homme Marine

A refreshing high-end scent for men which is suitable for daily use. It stays on for long so you wouldn’t need to spray every now and then. It’s kind of difficult to describe the “aquatic” scent so I suggest that it would be best for you to smell it in the perfumery section of department stores.


Mossimo Fusion

If you are an athletic guy looking for an inexpensive body spray, this one is for you. Best for guys who are always out on sports or gimmicks, this one is surely a must-have since it also smells better as you sweat.


Memo Rush

Recently released as a men’s scent, Memo Rush is also an inexpensive cologne which is best for daily use in the office or in school. After trying it a few times, I have noticed that wherever I go, people seem to be guessing who is wearing that fresh-smelling scent. This one is definitely worth the try!


These are just some of the colognes and perfumes that I have for now and I’ll be posting more about fragrances as soon as I discover good ones. For the mean time, you can also suggest your own scents by posting your comments below.

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Image credit: Yourdon | License

Today, Kilo, a Pinoy Guy Guide contributor and member of the PGG Forums, shares with us how to make the most out of your money when shopping.

Shopping for good quality fashionable clothes is a skill on a game of getting the most out of your money. When buying for yourself, always think and sense but do not decide based on emotions. You should buy because it looks great and worth all of your money.

What retail stores want you to do is to purchase items through emotional needs. When you’re emotional, you leave your guard down and grab whatever matches your mood. You don’t look at the price tag and you barely criticize what you buy. Good salespeople will always trick on your emotions to get a sale. You only get to feel the empty pockets when your mood dies down.

Take for example a mother’s day gift. Everyone would like to express their love for their mother so they go for the best and most expensive gift for her. They won’t think much of the value for money aspect because they would like the “Best”. That is why stores get the most profit out of Valentine’s day, Mother’s and Father’s day, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.

Every item has a sale life cycle. At the start, new items are shown to be fresh and attractive and are not on sale. Since it’s new, stores hope that people will be attracted to it and buy it because it’s “New”. After a few days or weeks on the shelf and the items are not bought much, they start posting a fake “Sale”. These 10 to 15% off retail price are meant to attract you to their store. When items are sold 25 to 30% off, these are optimal sales where it catches the attention of more people to buy at the store while getting a considerable amount of revenue. When an item is considered old and needs to be eliminated, they post a 50% to 60% sale. 75% off is a break even so the store doesn’t have to pay for the disposal of their goods.

Merchandising or the way an item is being sold is a hidden communication tool from the store to the buyer. If there are a few items being displayed, it means that the item is expensive, rare, and exclusive. They want you to think that the item is running out and you need to buy it now or its too late. However, most likely there are more at the back. Items stacked by the dozen or massed means that the items are cheap, many and they want you to buy more.

Buying quality goods is a matter of timing. You have to know what you want and wait for it to dive down to the appropriate price. Appropriate means that there is a few left and you know this item is not coming back. Sometimes, I’ve had experiences of buying P1375 polo shirts costing P3750 originally by simply being vigilant.

People buy the expensive brands for the sensitive eyes of the designer on what looks good. They see the smallest of details on texture, color and look. Black is not just black, but screaming “BLACK!”. They dictate the trend while other lower stores attempt to follow their design like 6 months after.

There is a value on window-shopping of expensive items. You look at expensive stores not only as an eye candy but to steal ideas as well. You get to see and feel what the designers have and copy. You get to know what style will suit you best and what you feel will not work out for you. When you get the idea of what you really like, you go to a store with similar but cheaper goods and just mix and match.

THE POWER OF THE BUYER

The following are useful tools when buying items:

1. Ask when the sale started, when the sale is going to end, what’s the next sale going to be. You’ll be offered discounts and coupons if the sales people get annoyed. Sales are good indicators when the store is doing well or the item is running out.

2. Ask for the availability of the item, and their quantities from other stores. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a rare item from a different branch.

3. Always do a price check even if the price tag is shown. Some items are mis-tagged and might be on sale.

I hope that these tips will help you a lot on your next purchase! Happy buying!

Kilo is a former sales associate in the home decor and furniture industry and is currently pursuing a career in the medical field. He has a great interest in topics such as technology, health issues, economics and business.

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11. Tell if someone is lying.
- Everyone has his technique in catching a liar. Not all of them work. My favorites: Liars change the subject almost instantaneously. Liars look up and to their right when they speak. Liars will sometimes stare dead straight into your eyes and employ a dead face. Pick one, test it.

12. Not monopolize the conversation.
- Leave the excessive talking to women. Less talk, less trouble.

13. Swim.
- Doggy paddle won’t cut it. Learn two more strokes man, geesh.

Image credit: Coda | License

14. Throw a punch.
- We here at PGG are advocates of peace in our own right. But knowing how to throw a good punch when the situation calls for it wouldn’t blemish your reputation. Rule of thumb: Swing with your shoulders, not your arm. Forget about a roundhouse punch or a haymaker – you’re not Manny Pacquiao. If you can strike hard using the heel of your palm, go with it. It serves the same purpose.

15. Play chess with an old guy.
- Old men are designed to crush you. They’ll bore you in meaningless chit-chats, tell stories about how life was when he was a kid and how he survived the Japanese colonization etcetera. Just keep focused and beat him to earn his respect. Don’t worry, they can handle it.

16. Drive a car.
- Learn how to drive (safely, with no drama). You don’t want to end up being driven to a restaurant by your date and letting the whole world see how much she owns you. It’s a skill that can save you a lot of headaches in the future. So go out and borrow your uncle’s ride and practice.

17. Talk to a kid.
- See the child as a person of his own. Don’t even start the conversation by pretending to know a lot about Power Rangers or Ben 10 Alien Force. Use his first name and never use baby talk.

18. Cradle a baby.
- Newborns should always be held tightly against the chest. Wrap them up tightly (they like tight spaces, read: womb) and rythmic movements. Sway your hips in a 2-way/left and right motion. Rinse and repeat.

19. Know how to make a lay-up in basketball (even if its not really your sport).
- The ugliest image in the world is a guy who has an ugly form when taking a lay-up. It doesnt matter if you make it or not – what’s important is how you execute it. Don’t be a clown. You live in a country where basketball reigns supreme. Learn it, live with it.

20. Iron a shirt.
- My personal technique: Start rough, end gently.

Jessie is a full-time employee in Makati as a Technical and Billing Support Supervisor and also works as a Freelance Event Organizer. He has a strong passion in sports and urban lifestyle. In his spare time, he reads books and magazines, surfs the Internet and plays video games.

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Image credit: Swamibu | License

It’s really easy. First inhale, then as you exhale, begin to flash your smile. Your smile would look better, especially in photos.

Yeah, I know it seems a bit awkward but it does work. Just don’t overdo the inhaling and exhaling or else you will look like you’re suffocating.

Get similar tips by Subscribing to Pinoy Guy Guide or by joining the discussions at the PGG Forums.