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Tip Of The Week: Short Pants

Wearing shorts isn’t the only way to stay cool in hot weather. Ankle skimming pants and 3/4-length capris that stop at the calf can both be viable alternatives, but only if you know how to rock ’em right. Just because they’re as casual as a pair of jeans doesn’t mean you won’t have to put some thought into it. To avoid the “man capri” chuckles, follow our simple guide to short pants below.

Popularity: 61% [?]

Tip Of The Week: Introducing Cotton Pants

Regardless of the style of jeans you wear, once they’ve been broken in past that hard texture, they’ll inevitably run their course. If you’re looking to break up the monotony of your daily denim wear, softer options are out there in the form of cotton pants. Especially during these sticky summer dog days, nothing beats the light-weight comfort offered by brands like Energie, who blends linen (this season’s essential) with their take on cotton trousers. See three options for getting into the the lightweight style below.

Popularity: 77% [?]

Tip Of The Week: Waist Deep In Belts

Owning more than one belt might seem a little unnecessary when your main goal is just to keep your pants on. But even if you’re not one of the flashy types sporting a gaudy belt buckle, you might want to consider an alternative to your everyday strap. Diversity in your collection can be a good look in case you want to match with a pair of plaid shorts, brown khakis, or that occasional pair of high-beaming red denim. Take a look at five sound choices below.

Popularity: 88% [?]

Trendhumper: Cropped Trousers

The fashion world just can’t find a happy medium with pants. The tough choice of baggy, fitted, or tight is getting tougher with ankle-length trousers becoming more popular. Take a look around—down to be exact—most of the fancy boys showing off their exposed ankles are prancing around your city, not just the runway.

This new formal look is best put together with suit jackets, a pair of pointy leather shoes with no socks on. Sounds pretty absurd if you ask us, what with the potential of sweating out your best (and probably only pair) of hard-bottoms you save for weddings and funerals. But at least your naked ankles are prepared in case SoHo is ground zero for another Katrina. Will you be preparing for the flood with cropped trousers this season? “HUMP” or “DUMP” this budding trend after the jump.

Popularity: 89% [?]

Tip Of The Week: Organic Denim 101

Sweatshop-free clothing was a good start, but what about Mother Earth’s pain and suffering? Nowadays, brands like Loomstate are becoming more globally conscious of the way they manufacture their premium denim. In the ongoing battle of conventional methods versus organic, Complex asked Loomstate to break down for our readers the real reasons why going green with their jeans is the way to go. Do the knowledge after the jump.

Popularity: 89% [?]

Trendhumper: Suspenders

original photo taken from rogues’s gallery

With the exception of cummerbunds, most formal attire isn’t just for swanky events. Take suspenders, for example. When it comes down to it, the double-strapped pant fixture is just an alternative to belts, aimed at keep your trousers waist-high. Lately, they’ve been flexing their diversity, showing up on fashion-minded folks outside of black-tie affairs.

Unlike some trends, suspenders have no color or age barrier. Black and white folks alike—from pop stars like Chris Brown down to the PBR-drinking fancy boys—are starting to look like they’ve hopped straight out of a Charlie Chaplain movie. Think of them as a grown-up alternative to your Osh Kosh overalls. Will this style hold up? Vote whether to “hump” or “dump” this trend after the jump.

Popularity: 89% [?]

Tip of the Week: Twill Power

When jeans get boring, there’s always a plain pair of pants. Depending on your choice, Chinos can be the diversity you need in your trouser game. But unlike denim, you should wear them—don’t let them wear you. Follow these simple rules after the jump.

Popularity: 89% [?]

Tip Of The Week: Denim-Proof Your Kicks

Illustration by Mike Davis

Don’t let your kicks look like Papa Smurf slipped in his blue ankles for a ride. With this week’s handy-dandy trick, keep the dye on your jeans, and keep that pearly white on your sneakers in tact.

HOW TO…PROTECT YOUR KICKS FROM RAW DENIM.

If you want to avoid blue stains from dyed indigo jeans on your crispy white kicks, pick a fabric pattern you like and instruct your cleaner to sew it as a lining. It will save your sneaks and makes for a fancy cuff.

Check back each week and read the new issue of Complex for more style tips.

Popularity: 91% [?]

Tip Of The Week: Go Tuck Yourself

Illustration by Brosmind Studio

There’s a right way and wrong way to everything. But when shirts fall under into that ambiguous zone of tuck, or un-tuck, just follow these simple steps…

Popularity: 88% [?]