While watching Raiders of the Lost Ark for the umpteenth time last weekend, a couple of things dawned on me. First, that nobody looks better in a Fedora than Harrison Ford. And second, that in my lifetime, I’ve never actually seen a man wear a Fedora (or any other dressy hat) except my grandfather who looked just like his hero, Vince Lombardi on the days when he wore his stingy-brimmed casual hat.

I got to work the following Monday and asked a friend of mine why men didn’t dress up anymore. Or at least, why it took a very special occasion (weddings & funerals, if that) to put away the Gap button-down Oxford and pull out the crisp French cuff shirt. His answer not only surprised me, but it also made me question the validity of every theory on dating, courting, hitting-on, survival-of-the-fittest and getting-her-digits: “Most men want to fit in,” he said. “They want to dress in an average way.” Oh my, what’s going on here?

It was time to get to the bottom of this. So I asked another guy. Oddly enough, this one passed the buck, defending his kind, and blamed a little more globally: “Society has gotten lazy. Life has just become informal.” Agreed. In fact, this gentleman used to wear three-piece suits with all the trimmings to work until he was interviewing for a job and was told that he was overdressed and was intimidating prospective employers. So much for putting your best foot forward, strutting your stuff and dressing for success! Casual Fridays have turned into a lazy habit.

Well, here’s the deal: we (my kind) love to see men dress up sometimes! It’s sexy. True, nothing beats Springsteen’s bronze-worthy backside in thrashed jeans, but I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to stand out—in fact, you should! I have actually heard men say that they perform better at work when they’re dressed up: “If I dress sloppy, I work sloppy!” Not that you should wear the following accessories all the time and everywhere—you shouldn’t. But here are some items every man should own and dust off every once in awhile:

• High-End Watch: Or at least one that you wouldn’t want to use at the gym and sweat all over. Or for something more unusual, a pocket watch. You might think it impractical since we’ve also lost that archaic essential: the vest. But I’m seeing more and more men just slipping them into their front pants pocket. The watch you wear speaks more to who you are than any other accessory.

• Cuff Links: There are so many classy, prestigious styles out there, why not have a few different ones on hand? Honestly, the only thing sexier than a man wearing a white French cuff shirt with cuff links is the shirt coming off! While you’re at it, pick up some button studs, too! TIP: You can also “dress down dress-up”—simply untuck that dressy shirt and let it hang over some nice jeans or pants. Skip the tie and don’t button up.

• Wedding Band: Ok, so I take back the previous statement—there’s nothing sexier than a man who proudly wears his wedding band. Better yet, one who cares what it looks like.

• A few great ties (and yes, maybe a bit expensive): A watch says who you are; a few different ties speak to your personality, your mood, your interests. A tie tac is a nice addition and reflects your individuality. How well you tie your tie is just as important. WARNING: dorky clip-ons will spontaneously combust!

• One classy hat: You won’t wear it often, but you should have one for special occasions, just in case. And you’ll find yourself walking a little taller…literally!

• Belt: Two dressy belts (one black, one brown) to match two classy pairs of...

• Dress Shoes: Two pairs (one black, one brown) that are to be worn ONLY when you dress up. Your shoes suffer wear and tear, and there’s nothing more cringe-worthy than a man dressed to the nines...but wearing his dirty, flimsy work shoes.

Honorable Mentions:
• A nice chain or bracelet
• An expensive pen
• Suspenders
• A leather wallet

Click here to find a jeweler who has the accessories to make you stand out!