Some sartorial advice for the men of D.M.

I'm sure you're just begging for unsolicited advice, especially on your personal style. You're probably perfectly content with your current "fashion" sense, consisting of boot-cut jeans, square-toed hard bottom shoes and a paisley button-down shirt. Trust me, I am all for your personal happiness, but this city is silently weeping with the lack of style, and we can easily turn that around.

What is "style," you ask? Style is swagger. Style is effortless, but can be acquired with a little effort. Style is calculated. There are tons of definitions, but this column will focus on the aspect of style that is sartorial self-expression.

A friend of mine once said fashion is something anybody can pick up, but style is timeless. Yes, style is also subjective and it isn't all about outward appearance, either. Plus, if you're comfortable in what you wear, who is anyone else to judge?

It is all based on how you perceive yourself and how you think others perceive you. This is where I think there is a major disconnect. With the constant growth of our state's capital, Des Moines deserves for its male inhabitants to care about how they present themselves on any given day. And I don't mean by following trends you may find in the NYCs and the LAs of the world, because those trend-hoppers (or "swaggerjackers" as I like to call them) are no better. But it is about knowing what looks good on you.

So how can you achieve this? First, make sure you have a good tailor on speed dial. Shirts and pants from J. Crew and Von Maur are made to fit a general population, and let's face it, 2 percent of us fit this description. I know I hate when I purchase a shirt with the perfect length, but a width that could fit two of me. A tailor can fix any garment to your exact specifications, so tailoring a shirt will only cost you about $20, but will add to your style quota tenfold. And you could always shop at a specialty shop (like Badowers) that will do its damndest to make sure your clothes fit the second you walk out the door.

Next, find clothes that you wear, not that wear you. It's easy to play dress up with your best John Wayne get-up on Friday, then switch it up for that tubular Justin Bieber look on Saturday. If you don't feel comfortable in what you're wearing, what kind of vibe do you think that gives off? I repeat: Fashion trends are only for the moment, style lasts forever. Find a style that fits you and only you, and stick with it.

You can widen your style spectrum, but don't try and cover all the bases with your wardrobe. Find some items that will be staples to build off, whether it's an oxford shirt, m-65 field jacket, chino pants and Clarks desert boots, or slim-fit raw denim, madras shirt, an unconstructed blazer and dirty bucks.

Lastly, the overall conception of your style should be done for your own self-gratification. Style is an expression of self. Don't do it to fit others' expectations or in an attempt to attract a mate. Hell, don't listen to some guy writing a column. (OK, maybe listen to me a little.) Obtaining the look you feel most comfortable in will increase your swagger, and others will recognize that.

The effervescent and all-knowing Deion Sanders has a motto he lives by, and it definitely hits home: "You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good. You play good, they pay good." Truer words have never been spoken.