In this complicated world, where fashion faux pas and style slip-ups lie around every corner, the modern man needs some help.

A guide. A sage. An icon.

Someone to tell him when to wear white and how not to embarrass himself at a wine and cheese evening. To explain the difference between a romantic Mediterranean mezze for two and a kebab in the taxi queue after a dozen Bacardi Breezers down the local.

Fear not, mythical Man in the Street who struggles with phenomena like metrosexuality and friends who post pictures of their dinner on Facebook: Your champion has arrived.

From today, STV's John MacKay will be writing a weekly advice column to resolve all your dilemmas. You can submit your questions using the email address below.

As a taster, John sat down with STV's Stephen Daisley to talk fashion, hairstyles, and tasteful nudity.

Yes, if you're James Bond. Or if there's Scotch in it. That’s about it. There are strict rules, though, which one must observe to avoid falling into the trap of not drinking as a gentleman of style should. Never drink a coloured cocktail, unless it's a rusty nail. Never, but never have fruit in it. Maraschino cherries might seem sophisticated, but they're not. Especially not on a cocktail stick. And if you even think of decorating it with a parasol then you are dead to me and gentlemen of style everywhere. As for sparklers, that can be a severe fire risk next to your generously applied cologne.

That is the subtlety of what I do. There is no miracle hair growth product. Think about it. Your hair is your headsuit. You don’t let a suit grow. You go to a style emporium or summon your tailor. You look, you consider the texture and the cut, you have it altered to your needs and you buy. Simply substitute hair for suit and the process is the same. It has the added convenience of sitting on a stand by your bed and being slipped on in the morning. Anchormen cannot have bad hair days and this ensures I don’t.

If the scarf is white – or even red on special occasions – and silk then it is acceptable. However, only if you are attending an award ceremony or the opening night of a show or club. Some even continue to wear their silk scarves inside after they have removed their coats, but I find that interferes with one’s grooving. On a bitterly cold evening, it might be acceptable to wear a scarf that follows the collar outline of a splendidly tailored coat, but the tie must remain in view at all times. These long multi-coloured pythons which require mighty sweeps to get round the neck are, I hesitate to say, for those desperately seeking a personality.

Fashion is fleeting and usually inexcusable. Style is forever. An Anchorman recognises that fact. So whether it be a greased DA, a moptop, hippy, punk, mullet, new romantic, grunge, hip hop or the rest, the Anchorman wears short hair with a sharp parting. The only allowance one might make is allowing it to whiten to provide gravitas. Even facial hair, especially sideburns and beards, are too much. A finely trimmed moustache is acceptable if has been cultivated for many years. It is against this approach that it is clear how any hairstyle beyond the classic is foolish. Mullets were a particular abomination, especially popular with Australians and people trapped behind the Berlin Wall.

There is a fundamental problem with posing nude. By its very meaning, such a pose would mean that an Anchorman could not wear a shirt and tie with a proper Windsor knot. However, it could be a moot point because it was reported recently that Playboy will no longer carry nude images, but instead tasteful shots of beautiful people in their underwear. Doubtless Playgirl will follow suit. If they are thinking in terms of artful photos with people in their striped boxers and fibre-mix socks, and not forgetting the collar and tie, then that is something I might consider.

John MacKay is presenter of the STV News at Six and Scotland Tonight. He is author of Notes of a Newsman, which are his notes about being a man in news. He is renowned for his style, charisma and knee-weakening charm. He totally didn't write this bio himself.