FOR SUNDAY"S FOCUS ISSUE -- FASION -- FEB .15

Conservative models popular among men

For the discerning male, choosing clothes and accessories matters -- it helps him build a positive, professional image and enhances his self-confidence.

Commonly, men take several things into account when clothes shopping -- style, brand and colors are all important when deciding which shirts, trousers, shoes, ties or belts most suit them.

Most Indonesian men in general prefer "classical and conservative" models over youthful adventurous ones because they don't want to appear strange or odd, fashion analyst Muara Bagja says.

Although many varied garments and foreign brands are available on the market, Indonesian men prefer the ones with simple motifs and patterns. "The important things for them is to feel 'safe' with the clothes they wear," Muara says.

Formal shirts, plain or with stripes and geometrical patterns, remain a favorite among professionals in a corporate setting. "Wearing a shirt allows them to have a professional look at work," he said.

The variety of clothes men wear is also determined by their habits and lifestyle. There is a growing trend towards going out in the evening after office hours among men of the middle-and- upper classes. "They will either get together in a club, hang out in a cafe for fun or watch a concert. On such occasions, many wear T-shirts covered by a jacket. And they wear sport shoes to give them a sporty, casual look," he said.

With T-shirts, jackets and sneakers, men can feel cool and trendy, he says.

But a group of more flamboyant men prefer to wear shirts with colorful and flowery motifs on informal occasions, such as a party. "These shirts reflect that they are joyful men."

The favorite colors of shirts for men include blue, cream, dark red and black.

"Most men prefer the darker shades, between navy and royal blue. The medium shades represent friendship and sincerity; the darker blues, strength and vibrancy."

Most men don't want to bother considering skin color when choosing their apparel but wearing clothes that match their skin color will make them look good, Muara says.

A fashion expert from website www.fashionabout.com explained the effect of color on one's appearance. Wearing the right colors made a man look healthier, more powerful and more energetic. "The wrong colors can make you look older and sticky, out-of-sync with yourself," the expert said.

Below are some tips on choosing complimentary colors that might be useful for you. The tips are taken from www.fashionabout.com.

-Select colors that complement your natural body coloring. -Select color based on what response you want to elicit from people or a particular situation. -To make "everything work together", you have to know what colors work well with the colors of your hair, eyes, and skin. -Think about the temperature, the depth, and the intensity of color when choosing color. Temperature means how "warm" or "cool" your skin, eyes, and hair are. Warm tones are more yellow-based; cool tones are blue-based. -Stand in front of a mirror in daylight and hold up some produce next to your skin. If you look better next to a raspberry (contains more blue), you're cool. If, on the other hand, you look peachy next to a tomato (more yellow), you're warm. -Light hair and skin will pair well with powder blue, while dark features match navy blue. Royal blue would work for someone in between. -Men with muted or softer coloring look better in "dusty or hazy" colors that have a touch of gray or are faded. -Men with darker complexions and hair look better in bright colors-crisp, clear, rich colors that pop out. -Wear white shirts if you are a "cool" man. "Warm" men should stick to the ivory or cream variations of white. -Take command of high contrasts. Wear a crisp, white shirt and a dark jacket or suit when making a presentation to potential clients. The high contrast sets off your face and frames you in an authoritative way. -- Sudibyo M. Wiradji