Some people would argue dressing well is subjective; And to be honest, I kind of agree.
Style is very much based on personal preference. I’m not Always going to like the suit a chap wears to a wedding, however I would Never slate them for it. Their choice, their funeral. Kidding…
Regardless of the above, there are ways you can enhance your personal wardrobe and style, not necessarily through garment choice, but through the way you wear clothes and enriching the way they’re styled.
Here are my eight simple rules to dressing well. No matter how much importance you place on your personal style, I hope these can be of assistance to you.
Always get sartorial pieces tailored
When it comes to maintaining a sharp aesthetic, you have a number of best friends. Your barber, dry cleaner and tailor. Sometimes the latter two can be combined.
Unless you buy a Made-to-measure suit, jacket, or pair of trousers, which by the way can be rather pricey, an off-the-peg purchase will Never offer the perfect fit. And it's all about the fit.
The suit is the contemporary man’s suit of armour. It was essential for medieval knights to don a well-oiled and perfectly fitted suit of armour to win the hearts of their fair maiden (and to protect themselves from flailing swords). Tailoring is also essential to achieve a sleek silhouette – and let me tell you that’s what you want.
Do your research, understand how you want your suit to look, and get it altered accordingly.
Always Invest in your shoes – don’t look at them as a disposable item
Shoe choice is pretty fundamental. They're one of the first aspect most people will clock (and judge you on).
It's definitely a numbers game; quality > quantity. My advice; invest in your shoes and spend money on pairs you envisage wearing for years to come. If soles become worn, visit a cobbler and have them fixed - cheap shoes are a false economy.
It’s Always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed; And if there’s a dress code, Always follow it.
I’m not sure if you’ve seen the film ‘That Awkward Moment,’ featuring Zac Efron? There’s a scene where he’s invited to a party with a ‘dress-up’ theme.
He creatively equips himself with a bandana, white vest and massive strap-on – ‘Rock out, with my cock out.’
Unfortunately, everyone else is dressed to the nines – a classic mix up in in the definition of a dress-up party. (Ironically, this isn’t even the awkward moment the film refers to).
In summary; Always double-check the dress code and Never be the person to arrive underdressed – E.g. if you’re debating whether a tie is required, wear one – you can Always take it off.
Never over-accessorize
Too many cooks spoil the broth and too many accessories can spoil a look.
Accessories are used to offer a few, subtle touch points for the eyes.
By wearing ten rings, ample bracelets and an extremely loud pair of sunglasses, you’re defeating the purpose of accessorising and will drown out the rest of your outfit.
Always try and wear clothes that instil self-confidence
Never underestimate the power of looking good (or at least believing you do). Typically, men feel at their best when in a suit – it offers a sense of power and responsibility, like the aforementioned suit of armour.
The majority of us don’t want to don a suit 365 days a year, yet we definitely want to feel confident. Putting thought into your outfit choices and feeling comfortable and assured in your clothes is great for a positive mindset - or so I've found anyway.
Never wear graphic or slogan tops after your pubescent years
A grown man wearing a t-shirt with Homer Simpson chinning a can of Duff beer, is Never a good look. In my eyes, you appear like a 13-year-old boy who wants to express himself but doesn’t know quite how.
Cut it out.
Never try and deceive your own body
The easiest way to ensure your clothes look good on you, is to be honest with yourself and understand the optimal sizes for you.
Ill-fitting clothes Never look good.
Take the classic work shirt for example – if you’re slightly rotund, a slim-fit shirt isn’t likely to suit your body type. Another example are cuffs being far too long - in some severe cases, they can reach the centre of the palms.
Sadly, you give off the impressions you can't dress yourself, which actually leads me on to my next point...
Never rely on your mother or spouse
How old were you when mum stopped dressing you? And if you say when my other half took over the role, then allow me to say this simply; choose your own f-ing clothes!
Privy to the above, and how dressing well can instil confidence, I feel that’s very difficult to achieve when you’re wearing someone else’s perception of what looks good on you.
Take some responsibility. Please.
Hope these rules help, and if it's been a bit of a rude awakening, then good.
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