To cull or to keep: 5 pieces that men should keep in 2013

CEBU, Philippines - Okay, so perhaps the last thing on any man’s mind would be what key fashion pieces to cull or to keep this year.  It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that a lot of guys out there leave this quotidian task to the most important women in his life—the mother or the better half. 

But sometimes, even the most important women in a man’s life have better things to do than to indulge in segregating his wardrobe.  Here, we give you a quick cheat sheet straight from renowned fashion blogger, Tania Braukamper on which pieces to hold on to and which pieces to dump pronto.

Prints. Prints made it big in 2012 and will make an even bigger statement this year.  It’s a big trend on the runways, ranging from minor details to an all-out head-to-foot print explosion.  Men’s fashion is about to get bolder making it absolutely no reason for the fashionable gent to follow suit.  With Sinulog season on the way, it’s hardly the time to get all stoic and serious.  Roll out the prints and inject some festive fun into that look.

The Blues. If the blues you are thinking about pertain to emotional baggage then by all means, throw them all away.  But if we’re on the same plane talking about fashion, then it’s black that you’d like to trade in for some rich dark blue because in 2013, blue will be the new black for the gents.  It’s time to wear your blues on your sleeves, guys.

The Bomber Jacket. This is a piece that simply transcends seasons and trends.  The bomber jacket is a nifty tool if you decide to spend your summer in the colder parts of the country or the more frigid parts of the world.  Layer it over your suit or anything casual and don’t limit yourself to the usual blah colors.  Okay, maybe it’s safe to stay away from the metallics but going for lighter shades of gray or camel will just be sexy.

Military Prints. Camo or military prints will hardly make a permanent exit so keep those camo prints ready when you’re feeling a bit tough.  Camo adds a tough yet interesting twist on menswear and goes well with lighter fabrics.  Whether you don it at the height of summer or show it off at a nice dinner party, make sure you’ve got anything but a faint heart to make sure this look doesn’t blow up on your face.  Talk about the art of war.

Velvet. Besides sangfroid, what you probably need in the midst of a difficult dinner situation is a touch of velvet to soften things a bit.  Velvet is tricky.  It can either make you look sexy and confident or just downright tawdry.  What draws the line between rakish and tawdry would probably be the cut of the fabric and your confidence.  Get either one totally wrong and you’re totally out. — (Source: fashionising.com)  (FREEMAN)