Q&A: Seasonal Scents, Purging The Pompadour & More

I've opened up the ol' AskMen.com mailbag and tackled eight great fashion queries for your styling pleasure. Learn about everything from which cologne to wear in each season to how to deal with unruly hair in unwanted areas.

a scent for every season

During the spring and summer months, I wear Eternity and Polo Blue. During fall and winter, I wear Obsession. Could you suggest a few other colognes for these seasons?

P.S. My wife wants to know if my "Brandon" (Jason Priestley of 90210 fame) hairdo is still in style. I say yes!

Tyler C. -- Annapolis, OH

For winter, I'm fond of Kenneth Cole Black and White Moss by Acca Kappa. You're definitely thinking like me (and many other guys) when it comes to Polo Blue in the summer. You also might try Christian Dior's Fahrenheit for Men. It's been around since the late '80s, but it still does the trick in hot weather.

As for the infamous "Brandon" -- long on top, short on the sides, sideburns, and a slight pompadour -- I know it well. Unfortunately, it's not "in" these days. If you're unhappy with the idea of getting a full makeover or a new hairstyle, I recommend bringing the sideburns under control, losing the pompadour, and combing the top straight back and using mousse. When dry, this will allow for a more timeless cut.

keeping up with the time

Are gold- and silver-toned watches fashionable?

James P. -- Clark, NJ

I assume that by gold- and silver-toned you are referring to the watch's case or frame. If so, silver and gold are not simply fashionable, but they are the classic watchcase shades. As I wrote in a previous article on watches: "Silver watches match best with blacks, grays, silvers, and blues -- and ideally, you should wear them at night. Gold watches go with browns, beiges, tans, and other earth tones. They are best worn during the day."

crewnecks and collared shirts

I have a bunch of wool crewneck sweaters and was wondering if I can wear a collared shirt underneath? I know this is not a problem with V-neck sweaters, but what about crews?

Gur F. -- Chicago, IL

Yes, you can wear crewneck sweaters with collared shirts. V-necks do fit better over shirts and look a bit better, but otherwise, crews are a go.

chanel is the new bling

I'm a young metropolitan woman, and I'm very open-minded about most things. That being said, I saw a guy on campus today wearing a pair of rhinestone Coco Chanel logo earrings. I love the earrings (I even have a pair), but is it cool for men to wear them? Is that the new hip-hop "bling?"

Marianne -- Boston, MA

These are rather popular, although their allure escapes me. Traditional men's fashion rules dictate that earrings are an enormous gamble, and gaudy ones are to be avoided like the plague. Something to remember, though, is that on college campuses, fashion rules generally go out the window. So yes, relative to the guy's location, it's an original look.

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