To live and function in a society, we must have rules we mostly all agree upon. Sometimes these rules are informal rules, for example, fashion rules. For the gentleman who is willing to make a fashion statement with his dressing, he needs to be guided to avoid making major fashion faux pas. The following rules serve as a guide to dressing well:
1.Get a fitted suit
The key to a suit looking good is fit. Invest in details. Classic is best and most useful – dark, two-button, single-breasted, moderate would be ideal. A suit is a uniform. The idea is to think of this suit as a canvas to build different ideas of personality around. Understand that it is the way you wear it, not the label inside, that impresses people.
2. Invest in a good watch
A watch does not tell the time, it is like a piece of art- a fashion accessory. Choose it because you love it, not because you think it might make money. Watches tell a lot about a person’s personality as they mark the passage through time. When choosing a watch, ensure it feels comfortable and be right in terms of size and depth relative to your wrist.
3. Don’t be too predictable, go for colours
Whether it’s on casualwear or formalwear, indulge in dash of colour. Many men shy away from colours, they would rather play safe and stick to navy or grey. However, colours can be timeless too. A pink suit, for example, would not be out of place. Dark greens, mustard and brighter shades of blue are also versatile year-round shades that will lift your entire outfit. Remember when it comes to colour, less is still more.
4. Invest in jeans too
Jeans are fashion staples. They are the best year-round, can be worn with anything whether you dress up or down style. Play safe with dark, raw denim too and give the pre-distressed a wide berth. The whole pleasure of denim is that it ages with constant wearing.
5. Pay attention to your appearance
Don’t just invest in clothing, take care of how you look, Use wooden hangers for shirts and shoe trees for your best shoes; have your suit dry-cleaned and pressed; wash your clothes regularly and, ideally, don’t tumble dry them (it can degrade the fabric); and polish your shoes. Equally, it’s not just the skin of your leather jacket that you need to care for, the same goes for the one you wear every day.
6. Keep your underwear simple
Style isn’t about what can be seen, it is also about what is inside. Your underwear gives a boost of confidence, if they are nothing to write home about, you shouldn’t cover up with outer garments. One style that has best stood the test of time, of course, is the cotton boxer short, likely because (as is the case with linen) they take repeated washing, breathe well and are comfortable against your skin.
7. Shoes! Shoe! Shoes!
Someone said you can tell where a man is headed to by the kind and quality of shoes he wears. Opt for classic styles such as brogues, loafers, or a plain, dark, five-eyelet Derby. According to fashion experts, It is usually the shape of the toe that really counts – and round never goes out of fashion.
8. Keep accessories low
Accessories like ties and pocket squares bring individuality to classic clothing, use them wisely and stylishly. When it comes to curating shirt and tie combinations, wear your tie or pocket square in a darker shade than your jacket. And don’t overdo the accessories either – keep them minimal. Less is always more.
9. Know thyself
There is no point in dressing up if you doubt yourself and your abilities. The first rule of fashion is confidence. There’s are few things less stylish than a man dressed as he thinks he should dress rather than in what he genuinely feels suits who he is. Genuine style icons go their own way with self-confidence that comes from their clothes being a second skin, not a costume.
10. Dress for the occasion
Always know what is expected for each occasion so you never dress out of place. Style is not merely about self-expression; it’s also about being dressed appropriately for your environment. Think of clothes as being codes: you need the right combination to work with the setting you’re in. The worst style is one that when is out of place. However, to feel comfortable in your skin, whenever you are in doubt, overdressing is allowed.
11. Stick to classic shirts
Do you know any men’s shirt can be made to look expensive if it’s well-pressed? Fashion experts say avoid bold styles unless you think you can carry it off, and, for a collar that works with or without a tie, and that always sits properly under a jacket, opt for a semi-cutaway.
12. Know when to break rules
Rules can be broken. Understanding when to break rules is key. Know when to adhere to dress codes such as black tie and know when to break them. Some are there for a good reason, typically because the occasion demands it or some higher authority – your boss, perhaps – expects it.