It’s the Gen Y dilemma, but is bristly best?

Beards are back, and have been for a while now. Whether it’s a straggly goatee or a full-on Joaquin Phoenix-type do, facial hair is a an important part of male fashion from Newtown to New York and all places in between.

But, while growing a beard is a rite of passage for a new generation of adolescent boys, the jury remains out on whether or not their efforts are actually worth it. Is a long, straggly hair or two on the upper lip, chin and/or cheek stylish or, well, silly?

Of course, it could simply be a case of faking it until you make it – and since entire religions, …

Fashion meets air conditioning in the perfect clothes combo for heat-stressed office workers

Is the day coming when offices will no longer be air conditioned, mass comfort legislated against in the interests of saving the planet? Well, if it is, at least you can be prepared for it.

A quick Internet search reveals that it is possible to kit yourself out in what is literally the coolest clothing going around – a complete air conditioned suit. Granted, the various components (hat, tie, pants and shoes) are not all made by the same people, but that merely adds to the mix ’n’ match style appeal of the ensemble.

Each item works differently – the hat has fans on …

Fashion experts have recently predicted that a new hair craze will be sweeping the male population in 2010: the Clooney combover. So take a long hard look at the picture on this page – you may even want to download it, enlarge and print out – because some experts are claiming that if you are a bloke, you’re going to be asking the hairdresser for this look next year.

Why, though? Is it as a result of Clooney’s small- and big-screen success in ER and Ocean’s 11, or his Oscar-winning pedigree, or the fact that he’s not afraid to speak out on humanitarian issues, or simply because of his rugged good looks? We’ll let you answer that one. But just as …

How to be funny, look good and save money…

Look good, be funny and save money? All at once? That’s got to be a con, right? Not if you check out this great site that specialises in a whole heap of funny and just plain awesome shirts. It’s perfect for anyone who’s sick of desperately trying to make a fashion statement and is far more interested in getting a laugh.

In the interests of political correctness, we can’t go into details here (and nor should you go looking if you’re easily offended), but they do make a range of hilariously offensive shirts that satirises everything from politics to religion. Best of the …

Smart will be sexy in 2010

If anyone’s ever told you to smarten up, chances are they weren’t talking about your dress sense. And if they were, you’d probably have told them – politely, of course – to please refrain from criticising you when it’s clear from looking at them that they wouldn’t know style even if it was a nubile 19-year-old pop starlet dancing naked in front of them.

But here’s the thing. They would actually have a point, particularly where next year’s fashion trends are concerned. Because in 2010, smart will most definitely equal sexy.

For starters, military-style jackets and coats are going to be making a comeback. Current trends like black skinny jeans and …