10 Signs You Need to Go Shopping

Most guys are content to not ever worry about clothes, but the advent of online shopping, style blogs, and of course, magazines like us, have made it much easier for men to put more effort into their appearance and their closets. Yet still, guys simply aren't into the whole idea of going out and stepping into stores on the weekend.

That's because guys still shop differently than women. Chances are, unless you're a super nerd about menswear, you couldn't give a rat's ass about when spring or fall collections hit stores... you just want to look good for all the times you don't have to drop cash on clothing. Don't worry, we've got you covered. This isn't a guide about what to buy, so much as it is when to buy. Start counting those pennies, here are 10 Signs You Need to Go Shopping.

Despite your many clothes, you find yourself drawn to only a few things that you wear the hell out of. The idea is that you should have a well-edited closet of versatile gear that you want to keep rocking, so if you have a lot of stuff, and wear less than half of it, get rid of the clothing that's collecting dust (better yet, donate it for a totally sweet tax write-off), and take a look at the pieces you're rocking on the regular.

You'll probably notice a pattern, maybe you tend to flock towards navy blue, always wear Jordans (like Drizzy up there) with everything, or button-down oxford shirts are your thing. Don't go overboard in bulking up on these items, but it gives you a good idea of your personal style: the kind of stuff you put on for any old day, without thinking too much about it. Build the rest out from there, and you'll have a few cool outfits in your rotation.

There are plenty of things that can be mended, but time and fabric aren't really the best of friends. No matter how many times you patch up that pair of jeans, or sew up the pockets coming apart on that jacket, you just have to learn to let go. Time is the ultimate test of a quality garment, and unfortunately, no matter the sentimental value, there's a lot of clothing that just isn't up to snuff.

You've heard "buy less but buy better" before, and after months, or even years, of wear, the difference between shoddy construction and well-made pieces become self-evident. It's a no-brainer that if a particular piece of clothing looks more suited for a homeless person, it's time for it to get replaced.

Pretty much all guys who start learning more about clothing go through this epiphany. They go to a tailor, get measured, and find out they're actually a 38-inch chest when they've been buying a 40 for decades — and usually that means stuff you once thought was "too small" actually fit the way it's supposed to — slim but not suffocating.

Sure, you can take some things to a tailor and get fixed up, but for items like knitwear, jeans, and basics like T-shirts, those have all gotta be re-upped... this time in the right size.

Whether you've been hitting the gym hard or simply letting yourself go, bodily changes happen, and when they do — your wardrobe has to adjust accordingly. This can be a costly problem when it comes to tailored clothing, since it's no problem for it to be taken in, but having it let out can be costly, and sometimes not even possible.

So the lesson here is probably just lay off the carbs and hit the gym a little bit more. After all, if you're gonna drop serious dough on a good wardrobe, you should at least make sure your body can still fit into it.

College was fun because you first discovered MF Doom and Broken Social Scene, and dressed accordingly. Skinny jeans, graphic tees, and hoodies were your go-to kit, and there was absolutely zero reason for you to change that. Now, you've been thrust headfirst into the real world, and you no longer like the angsty indie rock or underground hip-hop you're into.

Sometimes you can just tell the types of people who never really left a certain era because of their style. You don't want to be one of those people. The older you get, the less your outfit should say about the shit you're into. It's time to invest in some quality basics and grow up a little.

If you think you need to go shopping because you read that no one wears graphic tees anymore, and threw out all your graphic tees and replaced them with crisp, oxford shirts, well, you're wrong. Sure, things fade in and out of popularity, but you should know your taste well enough to gauge what you will and won't buy into.

That said, if you dictate your wardrobe based on every new thing you see in a blog or a magazine, you'll probably go broke quickly. Not to mention, if you keep buying into things other people tell you are cool, rather than what you think is dope, isn't it time you figured out what you actually like?

If you wake up in the morning, look in your closet, and think "I hate all of this." You probably need to figure out how you want to look. It goes back to examining your favorite pieces, looking at other things from those designers, or similar collections, and then deciding the kinds of stuff actually worth dropping cash on.

Think about the notion of cost-per-wear. Sure, you might be feeling that leopard-print button down right now, but could you see yourself wearing it six months down the line? Or even more than once a week?

Your boy's getting hitched in a month. You rifle through your wardrobe full of limited-edition graphic tees, ill M-65 jackets, and Jordans upon Jordans. What you don't have, however, is a proper suit. Even if you're streetwear down to your boxers, that doesn't mean you shouldn't skimp when it comes to tailored gear, either.

Brands like SuitSupply and J. Crew offer well-cut suits that are slim without being skinny, and they're reasonably priced. There's no reason any guy shouldn't be able to throw on a nice, versatile navy or gray suit when the time comes for it. Keep it on ice for those times you need to really stunt, and please, please, please, get a pair of hardbottoms that aren't square-toed.

Does your girl comment on how well dressed other dudes and celebs are? Does she compliment you when you're wearing certain outfits and say things like "I wish you dressed like that more." For most guys, wives and girlfriends are usually your main conduit into what's hot.

But on the real, you're a grown man, so you should give a shit about how you want to be presented. Think of your girl's advice more as feedback as to how you look now, and not an end-all be-all of how you should dress. By all means, take her to the store with you to get her input, but in the end, make sure you're the one dressing yourself.

Ok, so you don't know a damn thing about clothes. All the more reason to actually hit the stores and talk to people that do. Sales associates are your best friends, and for higher-end department stores and boutiques, will do a good job of teaching you the basics about how stuff should fit.

Don't be scared to learn about clothes. You really don't need to know much. You learn about all your big investments before making that big splurge right? You can mouth off the stats of the latest Apple product, the car you wanna buy, and the TV you're lusting after, so why should the luxury gear you cop be any different?