The Man Who’s Neat and Trim Pares Down to Essentials and Pockets the Change

Whereas women have problems with overflowing purses, guys have one with fat pockets. Thousands of great slacks are ruined every day by key rings, pocket knives, coins, clips, pens and wallets packed with business cards.

The solution is to not stuff those pockets.

“If you wear a jacket, that’s where the wallet, checkbook and papers are supposed to go,” says John Shaw of the Alex Sebastian store at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa. “And make sure you use the breast and not the outer side pockets. If you’re without a jacket, it’s fine to use your slacks pockets, but don’t let what you carry ruin the way you look.”

To keep that slim-line look, you may want to grab the traveling business card holder that’s been gathering dust on your vanity. Inside you can neatly fit your driver’s license and a credit card. Combine that with a simple key ring to get into the car and house and a money clip with a few bills for valet parking and your slacks should fall neatly. If you’re in the habit of balling up a handkerchief in your pocket, get out of the habit; start using Kleenex.

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The short of it: It’s really hard to comment on the fashion of pregnant women. After all they go through to have a baby, they should be able to wear whatever they like. But other pregnant women are talking . . . .

Around the seventh or eighth month, many expectant mothers will cut their hair short--short as in boy’s-first-haircut short. They do this because they feel their faces look fat and they think short hair will make them look a little slimmer.

“I try to guide them to a style that’s off their face but isn’t too short,” says hairstylist Brenda Borman of Huntington Beach. “When your hair’s real short, it often makes your features look bigger.”

If hair is the last thing you want to think about in the final months and you don’t want to cut it off, try using scrunchies or rubber bands to keep it up. That’s stylish and will keep your locks out of the way.

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Closet shoes: If you only wear your dress shoes a couple of times a month, they may have Closet Shoe Syndrome. That’s the fine coat of dust you don’t see until you’re at the office. You frantically rub them with a paper napkin, then find small scratches in the surface a few weeks later.

“In those times between shines, you can use a shine sponge,” says Gregory Sermabeikian of Anthony’s Custom Shoe Repair in Santa Ana and Newport Beach. “These are great for traveling, since they’re easy to pack, and you can keep one at the office for touch-ups.”

The shine sponge comes in neutral and black and can be used on all leather shoes. If you don’t have the sponge, try going over the shoe with a soft cotton cloth, taking care not to rub the dust in.