Bobby Newman from 'My Boys'

Except for the word "the," "dude" is likely the most used word on TBS' buddy comedy My Boys, airing Tuesdays. And who better defines dude than Bobby (Kyle Howard)?

Bobby, a sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune, covers baseball, and this season he acknowledges his feelings for P.J. (Jordana Spiro), his poker buddy and rival at the Chicago Sun-Times. Though Bobby is a study in casual chic, much goes into making him look that nonchalantly good.

"He's casually conservative," Howard says. "It's nothing too crazy. Jeans, a lot of polos, a lot of Penguins."

Keri Smith, the show's costume designer, describes Bobby's look as "pretty preppy; a mixture between a preppy, boyish skater kid. He comes from a super wealthy family, and the idea is that it's a secret. He wears what he considers normal guys would wear. But because he is so Bobby, he is so cute and there is this light around him, his normal winds up being just a little bit cooler than normal should be.

"If he puts on a polo shirt, it's a little hipper, a little cooler than it should be," she continues. "He went to prep school. He wears a lot of button-downs under a sweater. And there is something to be said about that look.

"Outlining his boyish charm is what we do, and it doesn't take much," Smith says.

Smith dresses Bobby in Penguin shirts and Volcom shirts and shorts.

When she shops in surfer or skater shops, she stocks up on Ben Sherman longer skate shorts. He also wears Dickies shorts and pants. Dress shirts are from Penguin, Ben Sherman, J. Crew, Calvin Klein and Banana Republic. His sweaters are from H&M.

"They take something and add a tiny little twist on it and makes it more individual. And they do good colors, too," Smith says.

Pants are from Diesel jeans, Levis and an Urban Outfitter brand, BDG.

"If he is going to work or on a date, we have dressed him up," she says. "Last season he dressed up for his bachelor party in cool plaid slacks."

He wears a lot of sneakers, usually Saucony, and has a pair of DVS shoes.

"His big boy shoes, when he dresses up, which is adorable, are beautiful brown leather Cole Hahn lace-ups," she says.

This season, the boys are bundled up, bracing against a Chicago winter. Though Bobby has other jackets, he spent most of his time in a heavy jacket from We Are the Superlative Conspiracy.

It's not how Howard dresses in real life.

"I am pretty much a jeans and T-shirt guy," he says. "I live at the beach. On occasion I sneak into Keri's office and ask her if I can borrow something, one pair of shorts, and shirts."

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