Racing these days is as much about the fashion as it is about the horse betting and with the Autumn Racing Carnival just around the corner, men all over the country are getting ready to dress to the nines (and have an excuse to do so). The answer to what to wear to the races is pretty standard - a suit, a shirt, a tie and leather shoes - but it's the details that will make it an appropriate outfit that stands out from the crowd.

The Suit

The most important thing about the suit is that it fits perfectly. There's nothing worse than an ill-fitting suit and even more so when you're amongst a sea of men who actually know a thing or two about a well-fitted suit. Make sure the shoulders sit correctly on your shoulder blades and that it's not hanging off you otherwise you'll end up looking like a man lost in his clothes. In terms of style, skinny suits are in fashion but that doesn't mean that a regular fit one or two-button suit in classic shades like navy or charcoal won't look just as dapper. Three-piece suits are also quite popular at the races and add a touch of old fashioned charm to the outfit.

The Shirt

A simple, well cut white shirt will go well with any bold tie or waistcoat if you're going for the classic look. However, the most popular fashion statement to make with the men's racing getup in recent years has been to wear a bold coloured or patterned shirt with an equally bold tie. This look has been extremely popular especially with the younger men. If you're going for a bold colour like bright pink or purple, keep it solid. Otherwise, going for something like navy or blue checks is fashionable but still classy. If you're wearing a pinstripe suit, keep the shirt and tie simple so that your outfit doesn't look messy. As the races is traditionally a formal event, it's always a good idea to go with French cuffs and nice polished cufflinks. Ensure that your sleeve is the right length - that is, about 1/2 an inch of sleeve should be exposed below your jacket cuff. Similarly, about half an inch of collar should show above your suit jacket.

The Shoes

The most fundamental rule about shoes is that they match with your belt. Avoid wearing a brown belt and black shoes and vice versa! If you're game wear a pair of tan or brown shoes and belt, otherwise, stick to black or even patent black. Make sure that your shoes are lace up and well polished.

And now for the essential list of basic Do's & Don'ts:

• With pocket squares, opt for silk instead of cotton
• Make sure your pocket squares are neatly folded and pressed
• Don't untuck your shirt, especially beneath a waistcoat if you're wearing one
• When doing up your waistcoat, make sure to leave the bottom button undone
• Avoid slip-on shoes
• Make sure your suits and shirts are pressed and shoes are polished
• Keep ties tightly knotted

If you've got a Valentine's Day date coming up and you're a girl, you probably figured out what you were going to wear by the 1st of January and if you're a guy, you still have no idea by the 13th of February. Part of this is attributable to the fact that guys don't particularly care what they wear and think their dates also don't (first misconception) and then on top of that, girls seem to have a million more options than guys (second misconception). Today, we're going to give you the low-down on what to wear on your Valentine's Day date with photo inspirations from Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Enjoy!!

Valentine's Day First Date

Girls like to over-analyze and disect things (read: everything), especially on first dates so regardless of whether it's a day date or night date, don't over-do it. Try and not suit up if you're going for a picnic or a walk in the park because she won't want to be seen walking next to some rigid zombie or even worse, she won't like the fact that your getup is making her feel underdressed. Go for a casual shirt, top button undone, vest (if you can pull it off), rolled up sleeves, fitted pants - see below.

Still in the honeymoon period Valentine's Day date

This is the one where you could probably get away with wearing whatever you want because if she's really that into you, she probably wouldn't even notice if you were wearing a purple Barney outfit. BUT it is precisely because she's so into you that she will have gone to the effort of picking out a nice outfit for herself, so you better pick something suitable or you'll end up looking like the loser who scored a chick too hot for him. Go for a loosely tied skinny tie, fitted shirt with a button-down collar (it's more casual) and forget about the suit jacket - see below.

Dating for forever but still doing a Valentine's Day date

She's seen you at your worst - on too many ocassions - so try and surprise her by looking dapper to surprise her. Put on a suit jacket, do up all your shirt buttons, wear a tie and take her to somewhere nice that's not your lounge room couch - see below.

Hate Valentine's Day non-date

Stay in bed and just wear your pyjamas - see below.

Happy Valentine's Day !

Today we're doing the first post in a new "What to wear to..." series so that our readers are appropriately dressed for all the festivities of the holiday season and well, just life in general.

So it's that time of the year again when we stuff our faces with turkey (personal preference for turducken), stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoe pies, cranberry jelly, creamed corn and the list goes on - but what is the appropriate dress code for Thanksgiving dinner? The answer to that depends entirely on the type of household that's hosting your dinner.

The we're here to impress Thanksgiving

Go for the button-down shirt + wool vest / wool blazer look. You don't want to look like you're going to work so make sure that either your shirt is patterned or if you're wearing a solid shirt, that you add something fun (like a bowtie) to your outfit. Don't forget that a suit jacket is not a replacement for a blazer!

Grandma's Thanksgiving

You may not care what you wear around your parents but the extended family who only get to see you once a year don't want to see you in your college sweatpants and favorite t-shirt with holes. Try going for a light colored solid shirt, cardigan, brown leather belt and chinos so that it's casual but not casual enough to be your pyjamas.

In front of the TV watching football Thanksgiving

Yes, no one cares how you look because everyone's in a state of food coma or football madness and yes, your pants might be too tight but everyone would appreciate it if you still kept them on.

And for the girls? We're pretty sure drawstring and elastic waistbands were created solely for Thanksgiving so don't even bother wearing anything else. Unless it's a kaftan or a big sheet.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!