real guy
Are you, or do you know, a real guy? If so, you most likely understand the frustration involved in finding stylish pants that fit. Even tougher is finding stylish pants that fit at an affordable price. It ain't easy.

Brian Spaly felt this pain, too. In fact, it bothered him so much that he decided to do something about it. He started making his own pants. He started making his own AWESOME pants.

Brian started to create pants for real guys. He developed a curved waist band to better accommodate the body, "a slight bootcut to flatter the figure, and less fabric in the thighs so they weren't so baggy and boxy."

Other real guys noticed. He started selling the pants out of his trunk to fellow college students and soon had professors investing in his promise. Bonobos was born.

Formal events are often the events for which we want to look our very best. You might be seeing people you haven't seen for a while, or meeting new people you'd like to impress. Either way, you want to look absolutely amazing.

The thing is, formal gowns often show body parts we normally keep covered, like our backs, shoulders, and arms, and they sometimes cling to our stomachs and hips in ways that are unflattering -- not exactly what we're going for on a big night out, right?

Here are some tips for working with your figure when finding a dress for a formal event:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is fun and action-packed. Total summertime fun. Plus, it brings back Karen Allen as the feisty Marion Ravenwood, our favorite heroine from the films. Are you aware that she has the best action figure of all time from the original film? Also, she's an innovative knitwear designer.

Karen went to FIT when she was 17, and returned in 2002 to study machine kitting technology. In 2003 she opened her own studio in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where she produces beautiful sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and more, all made of Italian and Scottish cashmere.

Whit Honea is a slacker, a borderline degenerate, and a daydream believer. He's also our resident expert on casual chic. If it's comfortable, and not heinous, he's all over it. He's quite charming, really.

Forty is apparently a big deal for women. Men, widely accepted to become distinguished with age, don't really notice 40 or the subsequent years known has the "40 somethings." They only notice things like how suddenly there aren't any professional athletes their age or that movies they love start issuing 25th Anniversary specials. These are the signs of aging for men. However, such things are more likely to raise a forty than cause much grief.

Giorgio Armani is hot stuff in fashion right now. Well, he's always been hot stuff, that's nothing new. So it's no surprise that when it came time to name the first ever FIT Couture Council Award for Global Fashion Leadership, he was an obvious choice.

Some girls are born with a delicate, slight build. Others go through life with shoulders like a linebacker. And, while broad shoulders can make shopping for tops, dresses, jackets, and bathing suits a little more frustrating, we want to take a moment to point out that strong shoulders are sexy. So, the first thing you need to do with those broad shoulders is hold them up and back. Good posture, regardless of figure flaws, is always flattering.

Now that you know that, we can discuss specific bathing suit styles. Take a look through the gallery for suggestions of what to look for and, just as importantly, what to avoid. Happy shopping!

After a recent post on how to flatter various figures, I received comments from two girls with the same issues -- they're quite tall (about six feet tall), and curvy, but not overweight.

At about 5'8" with broad shoulders, I run into issues with fit, often having to find long lengths in pants or letting hems out when long lengths aren't offered, and sometimes having to go up a size in jackets to accommodate my shoulders. These girls have it worse because they'll run into problems like that nearly every time they go shopping.


For girls in this predicament, I offer the following advice:

If you've ever watched an episode of TLC's What Not to Wear, you have seen the importance of dressing to accommodate your body type. It seems like people should know this instinctively -- choose clothes that accentuate the positive and disguise the negative aspects of our bodies. However, in an era of skinny jeans and cap-sleeve tees, it's hard for women (and men, too, I'm sure) to sort through the trends and find pieces that flatter their body but look like they're still from this season.

Well, ladies, I -- er, I mean iVillage -- has a fabulous tool (thanks for bringing it to my attention, Chatterbox). It's called the Figure Flatterer (clever, I know), and it gives you tips on what to wear (or avoid) if you dislike certain body parts. For example, if you have Big Arms, it gives you a rundown of the best jackets, dresses, and accessories, as well as examples of shirts and necklines you should not wear, EVER.

Regardless of what you're trying to show off or hide, keep this in mind -- if it's not the right size, it will look wrong. You can follow the Figure Flatterer's advice to a T, but if you insist on wearing a size 6 and you need to bump up to an 8 or a 10 for certain styles, swallow your pride and do it, because wearing something that fits properly is the quickest way to flatter any figure.

Don't you hate how much sizes range from store to store and brand to brand? I know I do. In one store I am doing a happy dance because I am swimming in a size 2, however in the next store I am planning my next cardio session after busting out of a size 4. What gives?

Vanity sizing is blame mostly and varying fit models can also be at fault but wherever you point the finger ... it sucks. The New York Daily News wrote a great article giving the rundown on common stores and their fit issues. How do your favorite stores line up, let's break it down:

• BANANA REPUBLIC: Mostly true to sizes. Size 2: Too big Size 6: Just right Size 8: Just right Size 10: Just right
• OLD NAVY: Get a size smaller. Size 2: Too big Size 6: Too big Size 8: Too big Size 10: Too big
• J.CREW: Better safe than sorry - grab your size and a size down. Size 2: Too big Size 6: Just right Size 8: Too big Size 10: Just right
• CLUB MONACO: Smaller sizes true to fit, but size 10 and up, watch out for wacky fits. Size 2: Just right Size 6: Just right Size 8: Just right Size 10: Too big
• FOREVER 21:Go bigger or go home. Size 2: Just right Size 6: Too small Size 8: Too small Size 10: Too small
• GAP: Straight-forward, but a less predictable fit for larger sizes. Size 2: Just right Size 6: Just right Size 8: Just right Size 10: Too big
• H & M: Suck it up and grab a size larger. Size 2: Too small Size 6: Too small Size 8: Just right Size 10: Too small

Unfortunately I can't vouch for any of those brands because I don't wear any of them but can you?

It's nearly impossible for me to find jeans that fit, so I can only assume that, for women, this is an exercise in futility. However, if you are on a quest for the perfect pair, maybe the ladies at Zafu.com can help. In this video segment, they give some basic information about the different cuts you'll find -- skinny jeans, boot cut, flare, etc -- and at their website, they go incredibly in-depth in helping your find the right jeans for you.

Want to know the best jeans for your body type? Where should the pockets be to make your butt look good? The Zafu team answers questions like these, and even has a "Jean Finder" that uses mathematical calculations to help you figure out why your current pair don't fit right, and what should you look for next time you go shopping.

Will someone please make a sight like this for guys?

[via Hip Candy]

Imagine for a moment, the lure of the perfect fit. Of never having to wonder if the new jeans you ordered in your usual size will be too big, too small or just right. That's the appeal of Bodymetrics, a system that scans your body to make a perfect 3D computer copy of you. From there, the folks at Bodymetrics can create your perfect jeans. A recent article in the IHT breaks down the process. The Bodymetrics system uses a futuristic space pod, you step in and 200 different personal dimension points are calculated. The measurements are turned into a 2D pattern. It's tailoring on a uniquely personal level.

So far the Bodymetrics boutiques are only available in Selfridges and Harrod's in England. While other brands including Levi Strauss have offered similar products, the Bodymetrics jeans offer more options. They also cost more $482 per pair. The plan for the company is to eventually be able to use the Bodymetrics measurements with a variety of companies especially with online fashion companies. As much as I dread the horror of seeing my form rendered in 3D on a computer, I would so love to never have to wrestle my hard-to-fit form (smallish waist, giant behind) into an unfamiliar pair of jeans ever again. Not to mention never having to think of myself in terms of a size and all the self censure that entails.

Now that would be bliss.