Men, look hot without sweating it

BY MADELEINE MARR
Miami Herald

Clean shirt, new shoes
And I don't know where I am goin' to
Silk suit, black tie
I don't need a reason why
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
'Cause every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man
-- ZZ Top

These lyrics may be close to the truth -- that guys can nab gals with their keen fashion sense. But many dudes on this end of the state are less interested in ties than thighs (those would be Shaq's). That's why it's nice to have people like Nick Graham, the creator of Joe Boxer and a new line of men's clothing, nick (it), on hand for some easy, DIY wardrobe tips:

1. A leg-up: Be prepared for when the heat is on -- and we're not talking the beloved b-ball team. The weather's gonna be Hades-esque here in a matter of weeks.

''Khakis are a safe bet,'' says Graham. ''They look good at that 10 a.m. budget review meeting and look even better rolled up in bare feet walking on the beach at 10 p.m. with someone who wants to review you.'' You can't miss with cargoes, either, says Graham. Dress 'em up with a linen blazer, graphic screen print tee and white sneakers, no socks.

2. Blue, period: Is denim ever a don't? Rarely, says Graham. ``Jeans shouldn't be worn when one has to do a lot of cartwheels or gymnastic competitions. They aren't very flexible. Other than that, they're good anytime, except at the prom, but you can always wear them under your tuxedo.''

But seriously . . . ''Jeans look best with some plain white Converse shoes and a sport coat,'' he says.

3. Lighten up: ''Happy and up to date,'' white linen jackets are the ones to covet. Make sure it has two buttons and notched lapels; long set-in sleeves, two front pockets and a curved back vent. ''A great jacket can make a casual outfit look kind of like you mean business, but not so much that you look boring,'' Graham says.

If you opt for an entirely white suit, Graham suggests breaking up the bleached-out ensemble with a complementary hue, say a blue polka-dotted pocket square, navy striped belt and navy loafers or Topsiders. ''It's nouveau preppy,'' he says.

4. The time is stripe: Nick, burning minds want the 411 on the chic summer man's must-have. ''At the very least, one seersucker suit'' should be hanging in your closet, he says. Be it blue, beige or for the adventurous, even pink, worn with a plain or witty T-shirt underneath. ''Seersucker lasts forever and is classic,'' says Graham. ``This is the kind of material that can also look great even after you've fallen into the pool at a trendy South Beach hotel.''

5. In or out? What is the shirt edict nowadays, anyway? ''Untucked is preferable,'' Graham explains. ``It's kind of like the boxers-or-briefs discussion. Tucked is like briefs, untucked is like boxers.''

The whole nick (it) line can be found at JCPenney stores and jcpenney.com.