Lots of guys need LOTS of help when it comes to clothes.

I look around. It's as if guys have given up on looking good. As if 'looking good' is simply too complicated, out of reach for the average guy. Too much work, too much expense. So they're content wearing jeans or sweats and a shirt with their favorite team/rock band, and that's that.

I'm often complimented on my attire, even when I go out casual. It's something I take pride in, to wear clothing that looks great, and looks great on me.

Let's go in a bit deeper now to discuss specific colors for the seasons. A great shirt may not look quite so great out of season.

While it's true that there are classic, traditional styles that last all year long, they can also subcommunicate a lack of risk taking.

You know what? A little fashion sense goes a long way. Women will take notice. You will set yourself apart in any social settings. Yep, even outside the nightclub scene.

And today there are incredible clothes designed for men that don't cost that much. Most, just a click away.

A good place to start is to have a basic awareness of what colors are 'in' and 'out' over the course of the year. More than just 'sweaters in winter, shorts in summer,' wearing just the right color, and being simply aware of what colors are in style this year can make your life a whole lot easier.

Let's have at it. This article breaks it down, season-by-season, timelines, and the colors that go with them. Use this as a reference guide, something to look back to when the new season pops up.

The Summer Palette.

Summer: (Memorial Weekend/Late May through Labor Day Weekend/Mid September)

Colors should come alive in the summer. Light, bright, cool and comfortable. You dont want your color or materials to appear too heavy.

White: Bright white, no ivory.

Black: Limited only to coordinate, evening accents.

Tan: No browns should be worn, unless its a light brown (shoes/belts)

Red: Deep reds are too overpowering at this time of year, however pinks, magentas, lighter colors are appropriate and very diverse in the Summer.

Green: Lime green, true greens are in at this time of year. Keep away from Earth tones.

Blue: Very limited, around waterways (lakes/oceans), light/bright blues work well. Turquoise will work especially well.

Yellow/Orange: Bright, light yellows and oranges, artificial patterns/colors work very well at this time of year.

Grey/Navy Blue: Tan suits are appropriate at this time of year, much more so the greys or blues, especially in the daytime.

The Fall Palette.

Fall: (Labor Day Weekend/Mid-September through Thanksgiving)

You like wearing darker, warmer colors? Nows the time. Pull out those deep tans, browns, orange/rust colored shirts and accoutrements.

Halloween time through Thanksgiving (but not much later, when youll want to pull out the pale blues) is the ideal time to wear these deeper colors.

Warm colors in the Fall are very different than Spring. In the Fall, you will not want to be wearing yellows, pinks, anything too electric (sort of the opposite of Earth tones.)

Earth-toned colors look great at this time of year even deep or olive greens work well.

Since the weather turns cooler, you can wear heavier material sweaters and shirts with heavy knits look great and are entirely appropriate.

The Winter Palette.

Winter: (After Thanksgiving through Valentine's Day; St. Patrick's Day in cooler climates)

Winter: when you shop, think - Contrast, sharp, true or blue undertone, vivid, ICY.

Winter colors are intense. Your Winter image depends on sharp contrast and clear colors. A clear color looks pure and 'clean.' Never wear anything dull or muted, especially in ties. Look for sharp navies and reds rather than the muted tones.

In general you wear dark colors, vivid colors, or very light, icy colors - no pastels for you.

White: Winter is the only season with pure white. A Winter man is never boring in a white shirt! You can also wear Summer's soft white (but not ivory or yellow-white), though it will not be quite as dashing on you as the bright white.

Black: Winter is the only season to wear black. You look great in dark colors, and any of your colors may get darker and darker until they almost look black.

Gray: Your grays range from charcoal to icy gray. They must be true grays, not yellowish of blue. Once your hair has turned completely gray, you may add blue grays to your palette.

Taupe (Gray-Beige): Your beige is not tan-toned but gray-beige (taupe). When worn near the face, it must be light and clear. You may choose a darker shade in pants, shoes and leather goods. Beige in general is a difficult color for a Winter to wear.

Blue: Navy blue is excellent on you. You may wear any shade of navy near the face except grayed navy. Your otherblues are true, royal, Chinese, and turquoise, all deep or bright.

Red: Winter's reds are either true red or blue-reds, including burgundy. Your burgundy must be clear, sharp, and bright, rather than a muted or brownish tone.

Green: Your greends range from a true green to emerald to pine. Pine is similar to Autumn's forest green except that it has a blue cast rather than a yellow tone. You can see this difference by comparing the two colors side by side. Winter men who previously never liked green often discover that they love their greens.

Pink and Purple: Winter's pinks and purples are deep colors. The shocking and deep hot pink are less conservative, while magenta and fuchsia are quite sophisticated colors.

Icy colors: Icy colors are unique to the Winter palette. You can wear any of your colors in any icy version, including taupe and gray. An icy color is clear and sharp, like wearing white with a hint of color added. Your icy colors are blue, violet, pink, green, yellow and aqua. Be careful not to accidentally buy a Summer's pastel shirt instead of your icy tone. You will lose the sharp contrast that brightens your face and makes your Winter image so effective.

(Gold/Yellow): Metallic/glistening gold material is really in style at this time of year - from ties, to shirts and vests under jackets. Especially for more formal, holiday events. Pure yellow is a difficult color to wear at this time of year, better to stay clear of it.

The Spring Palette Spring: (Valentine's Day/St. Patrick's Day through Mid May/Memorial Weekend.)

When you shop, think: Warm, Yellow undertones, clear, light to bright, alive.

The Spring palette is warm and energetic.

The Spring man's colors are friendly and extroverted, as are most Spring personalities. You do not wear dark or heavy colors well, so strive for medium-dark to light shades. All your colors must be clear, which means they look pure and clean. Avoid muted (grayed down) colors, as you will look washed out in them.

A light clear blue is good on a Spring man. Avoid any blue that is too pale or powdered. You look best in blues with depth or brightness.

Ivory (white): The Spring man's best white is ivory, a creamy white. He may also wear Summer's soft white, but not Winter's pure white, which will make him look pale.

Black: Spring has no black, as it overpowers his coloring.

Gray: Your grays must be clear and warm, (yellow undertones) and have a bright, crisp quality. Even in wintertime you should avoid dark grays. Light grays are your very best. A medium gray will look darkish on you because of your lighter coloring.

Blue: You rmost flattering navy is a light, bright one. The next best is a darker but still bright and clear navy.

Your other blues range from a light true blue to periwinkle blues, which are blues with a violet tone. Your aquas and turquoises are plentiful, ranging from medium to bright.

These are good, solid tips to help you throughout the year. Dont know what to wear? Look at the calendar!