For a lot of men, style doesn't come about naturally. For some of us, it takes a little bit of elbow grease and tutelage to get the hang of it. But thankfully, you don't need to hobble along unaided as you figure out your personal style. One of the many wonders of the internet is unprecedented access to style bloggers who can give you a wealth of wisdom, guidance, knowledge and advice, imparting on you the tenets of style free of charge. What a great time to be alive, right?
If you're looking for an easy to follow guide to upgrading your style, we've got your answer. Here are the basics of everything you need to know to cultivating a personal style that fits just right, from head to toe. Prepare to have all your questions answered because that guide is right here:
Starting from the top, hats are tricky to master and tough to pull off well unless you've been wearing them for years. Our best advice for style novices? Don't bother with them. If you really need protection from the sun, invest in some sunscreen, but your Indiana Jones hat isn't going to look as cool as you think it will.
As far as accessories for that head that we do endorse, sunglasses and facial hair are a good way to make yourself more attractive. Like leather jackets, sunglasses are always going to be a beacon of cool in an uncool world. Stick to a simple design with tortoise or black frames. Avoid brightly colored lenses unless you want to look like Bono and don't skimp on the price. It's obvious when your sunglasses are cheap, and that's not a good look on anybody. If you need guidance on choosing a brand, go with Oliver Peoples or Warby Parker.
For facial hair, keep it short and neat. If it comes in spotty, keep it shaved. Facial hair is pretty simple. Women like a bit of scruff, but reel it in before you reach Grizzly Adams status. You don't want to look like you have an animal on your face.
For outerwear, find one good piece for each climate. One solid cold weather parka, one moderate jacket, one jacket that you can wear to a bar, and one lightweight jacket for summer nights. That's really all you need. Try to build out a variety so you're not always wearing the same color or material, but always go for subtle. With outerwear, you're going to be wearing it a lot, so don't pick something highly patterned that looks ridiculous.
The place where you have the most flexibility is with your shirts. You need the biggest variety of them and they vary wildly from occasion to occasion, making it a bit tough to make generalizations. The one thing that remains consistent for all of them is that they need to fit properly. If you're wearing a baggy shirt or something that's too tight, it's going to look awkward. Always.
Newsflash, your underwear matters. As much as you think it doesn't because the smallest number of people see it, you should pick out some better underwear. While there is room for personal preference in this category, it is 2015, and that means it's time to say goodbye to grandpa underwear. Look to brands like VK Nagrani, with men's designer underwear that is going to a) flatter you and b) feel great. If there's one article of clothing worth using fine materials, it's this one.
Pants are tricky because it largely depends on your body type. If you're on the thinner side, you should pick out pants that are tighter to avoid looking like you're wearing your dad's trousers. If you're a bigger guy, skinny jeans are going to make you look like you're about to explode, and that's really a look worth avoiding. Don't go for JNCO Jeans, but find something with a moderate cut in a dark wash. Our rule of thumb? The darker the better, they'll look sharper and last longer. For non-denim, head to a tailor to adjust your pants so they actually fit. It's worth the money and you'll look significantly better in them.
Ending with the always important footwear, it's important to note these, like your shirts, are going to vary wildly from occasion to occasion. Pick out a good pair of brown leather and a good pair of black leather. Everything else is up to you. As long as you have two pairs of staple shoes, you should be fine. And remember, it's better to rotate these sooner than later. Contrary to what some might believe, shoes rarely look better with age. They usually just look worn out. Catch the problem early and pick out a new pair before the old pair start looking sloppy.
