This article is not meant to teach you how to dress or be a gentleman; it will instead show you the very basics that we all seem to forget from time to time. Style is not about trends and fashion; it’s about being yourself at your best.
1: Make the most out of “I have nothing to wear”
We usually associate this phrase with shopaholic women or people who simply want to raise some attention, but let’s be honest: It has happened to all of us. As human beings, we have a wide range of emotions that need to be expressed in any way. Sometimes an emoticon will do, sometimes not even shouting at your mom will. That’s why most of the times we choose our outfits unconsciously to express ourselves but sometimes we don’t find the right words to say shoes to wear. Overcome this by pushing yourself to try things that you wouldn’t usually wear but actually like. Variety is the key to a successful wardrobe.
2: The world might not be prepared for you.
Sometimes we feel the need to stand out, but it’s difficult with men’s fashion as the possibilities are limited compared to women’s fashion. In this case, please make sure that you don’t go too far and ask yourself and your friends if it’s too much. If it is, then change and start working on your best smile because personality and confidence are your best suit!
3: Accessories are more basic than basics.
Many men are scared of wearing accessories (I admit that I was one of them), but the truth is that they are awesome. You can pimp up basic looks just with the right use of some jewelry, bags or sunglasses. We all have difficulties finding jewelry for men that is not ugly, or bags that are not super-girly, for which I would recommend go to the women’s section! There are many options that are manlier than you’d expect, and no one will realize.
4: Stop trying to make trends happen!
We all love how Jared Leto or Justin Bieber dress but their entire look is the work of professionals and specialists in fashion and styling. Do not take quick decisions about your haircut because you are simply not like them. Find your own personality and if you want to look like a celebrity, do so by getting inspired by them because we are all different and who knows? You might invent something awesome without copy-pasting!
5: It’s not about how thick, it’s about how pretty!
Studies have shown that when hiring people that are required to have a good presentation, (e.g. field sales people) not only do recruiters pay attention to the skills, experience and grooming, but also to smaller items like wallet, watch and shoes as well. A well groomed face and hair are not enough for giving a good impression. Either for job hunting or dating, keep this tip in mind to always look dapper.
6: It’s called underwear for a reason.
This tip is strongly connected to tip number 4. It might be trendy to show your Calvins, but it will never be classy.
7: Finish the bottle, before you start a new one.
It is amazing how the human brain works, but even more amazing how after thousands of years of evolution we still react like sniffing dogs. Smell is one of the most valued, yet underestimated senses we have. When wearing cologne, make sure that you wear it constantly. This will make people remember you immediately and instinctively whenever they smell something similar. Changing often between several colognes will only create confusion in the sensorial memory.
8: When in doubt, don’t buy it!
When buying new clothes make sure that not only do you feel like yourself, but that you are also sure that you want it. At the shop, you feel this little rush of adrenaline caused by the lights, the arrangement, and even the smell of the shop but if something doesn’t really appeal to you in the dressing room, don’t expect it to be exciting in your wardrobe.
9: Fitting rooms are your best friends.
There are several type of cuts that are flattering for you, depending on your type of body (Yes, it applies to men too). Make sure that what you buy fits. There’s nothing more tragic than good clothes in the wrong size. Also take into account that some styles may be oversized or undersized and it does show when it’s meant to be like that.
10: No excuse not to be prepared
It doesn’t really matter that you don’t wear formal clothes for work, always have them at hand. I’ve come across some people that don’t own a suit or a nice pair of dress shirts and shoes because they don’t wear them on a daily basis. Invest in a nice suit and you will find yourself wanting to wear it more often. Either to go to the Opera, to a wedding, or to a job interview, a suit will always be fashionable.
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