Wearing clothing accessories right: it's all about the image

Today's fashion world might be fast paced, but there's no excuse for men to slip up in the trendiness stakes. The age-old adage that women should spend more time on their appearance than men is now practically obsolete. But forget about the cult of the metrosexual: it doesn't have to take time or money to look good in men's clothes. All you need is the choice items in your existing wardrobe and a few of this season's must-have clothing accessories, and you'll be well on your way to adopting your own distinct sense of fashion.

For starters, choose the right men's bag. A functional, yet stylish, bag is a clothing accessory in which many men will do well to invest: for instance, choose a large canvas or leather hold-all and you'll have the perfect bag to take on business trips or weekend breaks away with your partner. Moreover, a canvas hold-all is a trendier alternative to a rucksack and a preferable alternative for many men who'd rather not carry a tote or a camera bag.

It's equally important to choose the right hat with which to accessorise your clothes. A plain white visor or printed cap, for instance, could be perfect additions to a simple t-shirt and jeans combo, while a jet black trilby would be the ideal way to finish off an outfit on a big night out. Make sure you establish which hats look best on which face-shapes before making a purchase, however: if you're simply not a hat-person then it's best to steer clear of them. Similarly, watch which hats you pair with which items of clothing: a trucker cap worn with an oversize white t-shirt and baggy jeans will likely look more K-Fed than drop dead.

Jewellery - the ultimate feature in men's clothing accessories - can also be chosen carefully to create the right impression. For instance, if you want to support a charity but aren't too sure how the image of coloured rubber charity bands will go with your look, there are many other ways to show the world that you care through your choice of clothing. This year, for example, Topman has produced 'Everyman' yellow and black badges - metallic pins in the shape of smiley faces - for sale in stores, with 100 per cent of the profits from these accessories going to the Everyman charity, which battles the spread of testicular cancer.

However you decide to accessorise your clothing, ensure that you don't go overboard and that they remain functional. Sunglasses are summer accessories: wearing them in winter will look exaggerated and will certainly detract from your natural style. Simply make sure you follow the basic rules of men's clothing: if it doesn't feel right, it won't work. After all, women might put themselves through a world of pain for a few glorious hours in a pair of killer heels, but that doesn't mean men have to share the grief to look good!

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist