With so many obvious fash­ion don’ts on campus, it is time that someone with an ounce of fashion sanity step in and create a bible of fashion for all.

While Monroe may not be a fashion capital, that does not mean you have to settle for camo and mud boots.

In these grueling winter months, it’s easy to throw a baggy sweat shirt on and call it a day.

But I come bearing gifts that can turn Joe blow into Mr. GQ.

Here are some staple pieces that I believe every man should have in his closet to brace the winter cold in style.

The pea coat: an absolute ne­cessity. When in doubt always look to the pea coat as your wardrobe’s savior.

It is a style icon that always makes a recurring appearance during these winter months.

The pea coat is a versatile must that can easily go from day to night, office to cocktail party with incredible ease.

You can dress a pea coat up or down and instantly look like a fashion maven.

Next is the always simple white shirt, simplistic in na­ture while still offering a bevy of looks when styled appropriately.

This is another timeless piece that can truly be worn with any­thing

Dress it up with a tie and nice dress pants and your trusty pea coat for a business look.

You can also dress it down with a nice pair of jeans, un­tucked, for that “I’m trying but not really trying look”.

The white button down is a blank canvas and you hold the paintbrush to make that outfit a masterpiece. That’s when you go scarf crazy.

A scarf is a simple way to add that much needed pop of color to a sometimes drab winter out­fit.

Plain, plaid checkered scarves are always safe.

However, do not match your scarf exactly to your outfit.

Matchy matchy is fashion re­versal, too much of a good thing can go terribly wrong.

Another must is a pair of nicely tailored pants: remember fitted is your best friend.

Sagging is a trend that should have never been in style unless you prefer the fresh out of pris­on look.

A pant should be slim versus baggy and fit appropriate to your body type.

Fit does not always mean skinny jeans, but rather a clean cut look.

Dress pants in particular should fit comfortably at the waist and get just a little slim­mer as you go down to the an­kle.

A good pant is important because it has the possibility to make or break an other wise perfect look.

And last but not least are the shoes.

Drivers or loafers are a must have staple piece all year round.

They add just the right amount of modern elegance to your outfit and are certainly not your dad’s penny loafer.

I prefer drivers because of the flat look, their ease and comfort.

I am not a heels man but to those that do prefer a slight heel for that added height advantage, a loafer is the way to go.

A small heel is an easy way to add a hint of edge to your outfit

One black pair and one brown of loafer/ driver is a must that can go with just about any outfit in any color.

Let’s not limit ourselves to matching our outfit to our shoes; that can be more of a hassle than a help and terribly cliché.

In the ridiculously cold weather, style may be the fur­thest thing from your mind.

But with a little guidance, we can turn ULM sidewalks into catwalks.