25 Most Stylish Bostonians of 2009 -- Ricardo Rodriguez

Age: 38

Occupation: Broker, Coldwell Banker; local contributor to HGTV’s “My House Is Worth What?’’

What are you spending money on these days? We’re all so stressed out, and I think socializing, spending time with friends, and having a good time is important. I go out to dinner almost every night. I’m a huge fan of Toro; the food is excellent, the space is great, and you get to see everyone. I also love Scampo.

What’s your biggest criticism of the way most men dress? More than women, men feel there are rules for dressing. They’re afraid of taking risks. But there are no rules. Sometimes I wear polka dots with stripes.

What’s the iPhone app you can’t live without? I have a love/hate relationship with my iPhone. It’s not a very good business phone - sometimes I feel like I’m walking around with a toy. But it’s good-looking. I’d say my favorite application is [streaming music app] Pandora. It’s saved a couple of parties at my house.

What’s your number one rule for getting dressed? A man’s shoes should always be impeccable. Mine get shined every single day. I say invest in your shoes and your suits - the rest you can wing.

Is dressing well important to succeeding in business? It’s not how you dress, but how you present yourself, and if dressing well can help you act with more confidence, then that’s how it can help you succeed.

Anything in your closet you couldn’t part with? A beautiful pair of sapphire and diamond Lanvin cuff links. I’m obsessed with them. They’re shiny and pretty.

You wear quite a lot of suits. Are you always working? Well, yes, but I actually love suits and feel strange when I’m in anything else. During the day, I wear suits with a more comfortable American cut, like John Varvatos and Paul Smith. For evening, I wear much slimmer styles, like Dior or Alexander McQueen. And I love ties. Three or four years ago, it was pocket squares, but now it’s skinny ties, with prints and a lot of detail.