An Easy Way To Step Up Your Style
Me in Kyiv at the Golden Gate
Recently, I've been using a new method to drastically simplify my wardrobe, and getting more compliments than ever. It's the easiest system I've found so far to make fashion (or more accurately, style) easy.
But first, why is the way you dress even important?
Why should you even care or listen to our style advice?
A lot of men have the misconception that the clothing they wear only matters to “shallow” women, and the women they want to date aren’t “superficial.”
They're mistaken for a variety of reasons.
If you don’t know how to dress, it immediately sends out a signal you’re not dynamic. Your appearance is the easiest and fastest way to communicate a message to others as to whether or not you’re worth spending time with. Humans make social judgments about others subconsciously. While it’s tempting to say your clothes and appearance shouldn’t matter because it’s a superficial judgement, the reality is, we all judge each other based on appearance. Your smile is a big portion of your appearance.
It’s important to remember this happens subconsciously.
Women aren’t into your clothes per se. They’re into what your fashion sense conveys about your personality.
Your fashion sense conveys your lifestyle, profession, passion and character traits. Everything you put on is a billboard advertising to women who you are as a person. This is why it’s crucial to send the right signals through the way you dress, and why this isn’t about superficiality.Now that we've gotten that out of the way, what's the new strategy I've been using?
Easy Hack - Dress in all blacks and greys.
I switched to this wardrobe about a month ago. This is a basic strategy for someone who travels a lot, wants to make their life as easy as possible and still look good without knowing much about fashion. I started using this method based on the advice of one of our community fashion consultants.
It means traveling with less stuff.
Blue jeans are ugly. Brown shoes are pointless.
It simplifies your life.
It doesn’t get dirty.
It's money and so much easier than maintaining my previous wardrobe. I pretty much do only black and grey. Grey is a good addition to all blacks as described in the article because it also goes with everything and gives you a bit more variation.
You can play around with different textures of grey clothing too. What if people notice you're wearing the same close every day? They won't. Dark colors are a classic look. You just need some variety with your shirts, pants, jackets, and shoes.
Getting more advanced with your personal style and fashion sense.
Not everyone wants to use this strategy, and I get that. I'm more nomadic and more minimalist than the average guy.
Fashion tips to simplify a more advanced wardrobe?
The number one rule that covers 80% of the way is to always buy classic garments in neutral colors with a somewhat modern fit where applicable.
This means you don't attempt going fashion forward based on a single piece, but on the full combination (from "nice jacket" to "you look great!").
There's only a handful of classic garments you need. With the basics covered, picking them in neutral colors like navy, khaki, charcoal, olive, etc., you can pick up some colors and patterns, like pastel colored v-necks and tees, a colored chino or two in pastel or dark hue for maximum flexibility, or some buttoned-down shirt patterns. Depending on where you live, you may need winter/summer specific garments. Or just get more grey and black layers for the winter.
For style inspiration, go to Target, Zara, H&M, Nordstrom or wherever, and look at what the mannequins are wearing.
Most of the time, you can simply buy those clothes. Get 7 or so outfits, and cycle through them in your day-to-day life. It’s not difficult, and it’s a great way to get started.
If you want, pick a fashion piece every six months. This is something that follows a current trend that will sooner than later fade (e.g. the bright colored chino or crazy pattern shirts crazes) and deepen your seasonal game.
Fit is crucial.
Your shirt should gently hug your rib cage; your jeans should angle slightly down toward the floor and lightly hug your quads. Style is more important than fashion so you don't have to read GQ every season, but know the general trends. Baggy jeans are done. Throw them away. They’ve been done forever, and they make you look like an idiot. Black, shiny, square-toed dress shoes aren’t a great look, either. Your Kenneth Cole Reactions should go in the garbage.
The lesson: Women don’t date guys who dress poorly, unless they’re rock stars in some other area of their lives. But don't worry, you don't need to be a fashionista or one of the Hollywood style icons either. Go buy some clothes that fit your body and are in style to give off a more dynamic vibe, and wear blacks and greys for maximum simplicity and to accomplish your style goals.
Need more help? Check out our fashion guide.
