So you’ve decided you’re going to make a change in your life. Bravo, my man!
So what's the problem?
You have no idea how to dress sharp without giving in a headache!
Every style search you do comes back with thousands of results. Every store has hundreds of options.
Feels like drinking water from a fire hose, right? Where do you even begin?
We’ve all been there. If you're new to style, making a habit out of dressing well can seem overwhelming. Fear not, my friend. I've got you covered. One of my goals is to make menswear simple. That’s why today we’re going to talk about how to do just that.
Dressing sharp doesn't have to be complicated, gentlemen. Read on to find out how to make it easy. Before you know it, you'll be dressing like you just walked off Savile Row. No headaches, I promise.
1. Avoid The Deadly Sins of Men's Style
Gents, the foundation of your style should be based on avoiding a few deadly men's style sins which could make or break your image.
Always make sure your clothes fit you and your body type. Whenever you shop, try on what you consider purchasing. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror to make sure you’ll be happy with your investment.
If you own clothing that doesn’t fit you, consider visiting a tailor to get it adjusted. If the piece can’t be tailored, consider getting rid of it. Either way, it’s an expense you want to avoid if you can help it – buy your menswear fitted.
Always abide by the dress code. Even if one isn’t written down, you can bet it’s there. A man’s judgment is key for this.
Knowing the situation is key to dressing sharp. If you’re attending a business meeting, consider a classic black or navy suit. If you’re just going to dinner with friends and want to stay stylish, consider upping your casual look with something like Chinos and a quality button-down shirt.
Speaking of quality, it’s critical that you invest in menswear you know you’re going to love. Don’t bother spending less money on a ton of badly-made shoes or jackets. It might sting at first when you buy those expensive shoes or pricey jacket, but if you know the quality matches the price tag then you’re going to have pieces that will last.
Most importantly, you’ll be proud of every single garment in your closet.
2. Building A Routine
There’s nothing worse than chaos, and trying to be stylish amidst disorder will make dressing sharp harder than it needs to be.
If you integrate style into your routine and stick to it, it will be as much a part of your day as brushing your teeth. Make a habit out of prepping the day’s outfit the night before so you don’t waste time the next day. Do this as soon as you've completed your daily skincare routine.
Additionally, assign specific days for things like haircuts at regular intervals with the same barber. Doing this eliminates any unpreparedness – you’ll never be surprised or caught unprepared when you come across a last-minute networking opportunity, a job interview or a date.
3. Practice Dressing Like Your Future Successful Self
We’ve all heard the phrase “dress for the job you want” and it definitely applies.
It doesn’t matter where you fall in the totem pole, whether you’re an office assistant or manager – dress like you’re looking to be the VP of that company.
Confidence is key. If you stick to this philosophy you might encounter some negativity. Some people might be jealous of your style or might wonder if you’re trying to act superior. Don't let them get to you.
If you’ve done the research and know you look good, that’s what matters.
4. Design Your Uniform
What do you dress sharp for? Being a businessman, scholar, or artist?
Regardless of how you identify, you can simplify your style game and look even better if you zero in on those key characteristics you want to emulate. These can stem from a number of factors – be it your job or your hobbies.
Dress according to the message you want to send to others, whether you’re a lawyer at a construction firm or a university professor. Make go-to outfits based on the principles you draw from that identification.
It takes some effort to establish those guidelines, but they’ll do wonders to make your style journey easier for years to come.
5. Seek Inspiration From Other Men
Do you have a hero you look to? Who's your men's style icon?
There’s a lot of inspiration to be drawn by iconic men, whether you take it from Vito Corleone, James Bond or the Kingsmen. Take the time to delve into the wardrobe of your heroes and consider how they look during various occasions.
Timelessness is key. Classic men’s style hasn’t changed drastically in the last century. Pick and choose those elements in your heroes’ outfits that still hold up and apply them to your own. Be bold.
6. Starting Out? Try These Color Combinations For Men
If you just started on your style journey and want to keep things simple, a great tip is to focus on dressing in solid, classic colors.
Consolidate your wardrobe by sticking your navies, blacks, light blues and whites. The beauty of it all is that all these colors match, so your wardrobe is interchangeable.
Building a versatile men's wardrobe is essential.
Once you build a solid foundation to dress in out of the classic and simple colors, you can then go on to experiment with bolder patterns and colors.
No matter what though, you always have that base to fall back on.
7. Dressing Sharp By Owning Multiples
Is there a store that always has your fit?
Is there a brand that nails your favorite color?
Make a habit out of going to those same stores and brands to build your wardrobe. Invest in multiple sets of jackets, trousers, undershirts and socks from reliable sources that you’ve come to know and always keep you dressing sharp. You can’t be overwhelmed if you know you can’t go wrong.
8. Upgrade The Weakest Link
So you’ve invested in $600 jackets and a $500 watch, but there’s one problem…
You have the same shoes you bought two years ago for $30.
Gents, one thing to keep in mind about simplicity in style is to keep as much of your outfit as you can in a similar quality range. Identify the weakest link in your outfits and look to invest in a quality upgrade. Just like we talked about with the sins – It may hurt your wallet at first, but it’s an investment for the long haul.
9. Invest In Style Education
Some say ignorance is bliss, but those people don’t know how to dress sharp.
As you build your wardrobe, establish your message and keep your routine, it’s essential that you stay up to date and knowledgeable about how to keep that style going.
Do the research that'll keep you dressing sharp.
Whether it’s in a book or from a blog, there are thousands of resources to gather the essential knowledge you need to streamline your style. Whether it be with us here in RMRS or from other men's style sites, it’s up to you to find sources that resonate best with you.
Use that information to empower yourself and help you become the man you know yourself to be.
10. Work With A Professional Men's Stylist
We talked a little about getting your clothing tailored if it doesn’t fit and sticking to the same barber. Always rely on the pros.
Develop a habit of consulting with your local tailor, shoemaker, and barber about how you can take your style to the next level. These individuals have dedicated their professional lives to mastering these techniques. They can introduce you to aspects you would have otherwise never noticed.
By deferring to the experts, you can take a considerable weight off your shoulders. It’s their job to bring options to you and better your style.
It’s worth the investment to have decades of expertise at your fingertips.
The world of men's style can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
By integrating these principles with your daily routine, you can dress sharp while taking your style game to the next level without losing your mind over it.
You can look the part of the better man, and have the sanity to keep it up.
