“A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.”
- Hardy Amies
For many men who work in a business casual environment, getting ready each day is about nothing more than meeting the requirements of a dress/grooming code. While they're technically within the parameters set forth by management, they look as though they've given little or no thought to their appearance. I regularly encounter intelligent guys from various fields - Finance, IT, Marketing, etc. who seem to give little attention to their clothes and grooming. Ill-fitting shirts, saggy pants, generic shoes and unkempt hair might be acceptable, but they're not doing you any favors. Your appearance is a form of communication, and you could unintentionally be sending the wrong message to those around you. Neglecting the details of your appearance might be misinterpreted as general sloppiness. That's not the image you want to project to anyone whether it's your boss, a client, or a potential romantic interest. You'll even feel better about yourself when you take the time to look better.
So...where do you begin? Below are some brief pointers with links to detailed articles. They're a good starting point for basic rules of style. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we've also listed some relevant Pinterest boards for quick reference. Check them out to see where you can make improvements and start sending the right message.
Fit is probably the most often overlooked aspect of style. Just because a particular article of clothing is your size, doesn't mean it fits. Below are some some tips on finding the right fit:
Color coordination is usually the primary concern when dressing for any occasion. It's a skill that comes more naturally to some than it does for others. The following tutorials should provide guidance for those who find it a bit challenging:
Some guys also have a tough time knowing the right haircut/style for their face shape. This is made even more difficult by the multitude of blogs/articles that which insist that you must know whether your face is oval, heart-shaped, triangular, oblong, rhombus, or tesseract. Ok, I got carried away with the last two. But according to this article, it's simple: is your face longer than it is wide, or wider than it is long?
Of course hairstyle isn't the only important aspect of grooming. We don't recommend spending as much time gazing at the mirror as Cristiano Ronaldo probably does, but you should definitely put in the effort to get a good shave or groom your beard properly. And please...use a high quality aftershave!
Whether you need a complete style overhaul or just some freshening up, we hope these resources have you off to a good start.
