My New York: Sid & Nancy
Dear Alan: Please prove that Sid did not kill Nancy. That was one of the last requests of Anne Beverley — mother of Sex Pistols bassist and punk icon Sid Vicious — before committing suicide in 1996. She wrote to British rock journalist Alan G. Parker, asking him to investigate her enduring...

As a guy who is most comfortable when in the shed using a power tool of some kind, or restoring an old classic car, fashion is not something that I used to think a lot about. If I'm honest I probably spent about 80% of my teenage years wearing strikingly similar combinations of jeans, t-shirts and hoodies. The years came and went, and the only thing that really changed about my attire was the colour of the hoodie!

This trend continued throughout my early twenties until something happened; I got married to an amazing woman who happens to be very well versed in the art of style and fashion, having worked for many years as a sales assistant in men's apparel. Today she is a successful Personal Stylist and she has helped me to change the way I look at style, and to think outside the realm of jeans and hoodies.

Don't worry, I have by no means become a mocha decaf skinny soy latte swilling fashionista, not that there is anything wrong with that. I am still most comfortable when I am holding a chainsaw or using a MIG welder, but I have started to see that guys don't have to be fashion experts to look good. Neither do you need to be overly wealthy, you just have to choose carefully and accept advice from the experts. You also need to be willing to step just slightly out of your normal comfort zone, and be willing to try wearing something other than just a t-shirt and jeans. Don't worry, nobody is going to make you wear a salmon coloured skin tight v-neck if that's not your thing, it's definitely not for me! There are however some really simple ways to spruce up your look as a guy, without feeling like you're out of your depth.

One of the simplest things you can do is to get yourself a nice leather jacket. The right leather jacket on a guy looks fantastic, and they are simply brilliant in cold weather - completely blocking out the icy winter gales. However, it is important to choose the right one - finding the right leather jacket is like finding the right partner, you need to find the one that is right for you. A good leather jacket will often outlast its owner, and for a lot of guys it becomes part of their signature look. So choose wisely! There are a huge range of leather jackets available, in all colours, shapes and styles. Once you start looking around for one you will also be startled at how they range in price. You can pick up a reasonable quality jacket on sale for around $250, and the price soars from there all the way up to $2000 and more.

My tips for choosing a leather jacket are simple;

Take Your Time

As I said, choosing a leather jacket is like choosing your life partner, it is not something you are advised to do on the spur of the moment! Do your research, shop around until you have found the colour and style that suits you. Get some advice from someone who has good fashion sense, and listen to what they have to say. If you don't know anyone who can help you in this regard, get some advice from a Personal Stylist - they will be able to pick out the style that suits you very quickly.

Don't Be Cheap

While you can easily get your hands on a leather jacket for under $112, it is not really something that I would advise. Remember, if you choose well this jacket is going to last for a long, long time. Rather than buying a cheap one that wears out after a year or so and then buying another one, bite the bullet and buy a good quality jacket to start with. The cost of a good jacket can range from $250 anywhere up to and above $2000, and how much you should spend on yours is really down to your budget. But I implore you, don't be cheap; if you buy a high quality jacket it will be a friend to you for life.

Ben Guilford is the administrator for Styled With Love, a Melbourne based Personal Stylist business dedicated to providing the best possible service in Image Consulting, Wardrobe Editing and Personal Shopping.