How do you want to be remembered by people? So many factors determine how one is perceived by the audience on hand in life, from the office meeting to the coffee shop, from the gym to the grocery store, from the barbecue to the barbershop, from walking the street to walking the red carpet. The way you carry yourself, your company, your grooming, your style. Some components are more challenging to perfect than others. The way you carry yourself is similar to a life end-goal. You cannot stop improving.
One thing that is actually pretty easy to master is that of personal style. Too many times in my adult life, I have seen just simple lazy-mindedness when it comes to personal style. To even think of yourself as having a personal style preference, I feel that some thought/work should be put into how you look. Yet that work does not seem like work, once you get the hang of it. You could look like a hobo, or look like your mom still buys your clothes and be suit-less and hopeless when you get a wedding invite, or you could step up, learn a few basic things, and put yourself into another league.
I strive to "always be on," in terms of the way I dress and present myself visually to the world. How does one even learn this, if at 5'09 and 160lbs you are still buying cargo pants, size Large shirts and wearing cross trainers? The solution is easy: basics. Leave the dandy pieces to either experienced fashion people, or trend followers. Remember, the loudest person in the room is the weakest. One can command respect in such mind-bogglingly simple pieces. Jeans/pants that fit your body-type and do not hang off of you as if they could have you set sail with a strong wind, boots or dress shoes both for the week at work and then for the weekend as well, properly fitted solid colored dress shirts (which can be purchased on the cheap), a jacket or blazer and a real tie (limiting the shining geometric designs from decades past). You will be surprised by how much your eye can become trained in the area of fashion and style, once you toss the old habits and create a new you.
Some initial pointers for those who want to look as if they put a little thought into dressing in the morning:
- Wear a collared shirt most days of the week.
- When in doubt, tuck the shirt in.
- Truly learn your suit jacket size. Your view of jackets can be as if someone from Italy were tailoring your clothes. If you have a baggy jacket, you will look like a slouch. Don't be that guy.
- Learn your proper pants size, both width and length.
- Try clothes on and check for proper fit. Fit.Is.Everything.
- Learn how to tie a tie in more than one style. Also, learn how to tie a bowtie. Seriously. You will be that mother%$^#er who seemingly has the answers to everything, in a good way.
- Shop on the cheap. Logo hunting was such a 1990's concept, and I'd rather not stay trapped in that decade. You are your own logo in 2014. Your brand is what you are selling.
- Research style, and also trends. Soon enough, with enough research, you can spot trends BEFORE they hit mainstream. A $12 (or less) annual membership to GQ, Details and Esquire can be the style gift that keeps on giving. Help your friends out once you've read an issue and pass on the knowledge.
- Stay fit. This way, you'll have clothes to last a decade or two.
- Buy white shirts.
- Use V-Neck T-shirts or A shirts. Leave the crewnecks alone. Under a top button unbuttoned collared shirt, it is a visual eyesore.
- Always wear a belt. And buy a few, so that you give yourself choices.
- Match your belt to your shoes.
- Black shoes are what men desiring power wear Monday-Friday. Weekends can be for brown shoes. Again, avoid being a dandy. Brown shoes are stylish, but there is a time and place for everything.
- Never second guess your choices. Make a decision about your attire, then own it. Every thread of it. The time for owning the ill fitted everything wardrobe is over though.
- Leave the sneakers to the gym, the track and the ball field. Don't sacrifice "presence" for "comfort."
Do you remember thinking that you don't even know where to start in terms of finding your personal style? Every journey begins with a single step. Start out that journey with a footprint in the dirt from a dress shoe, and you'll be preparing yourself for a life of appreciation.
One thing that is actually pretty easy to master is that of personal style. Too many times in my adult life, I have seen just simple lazy-mindedness when it comes to personal style. To even think of yourself as having a personal style preference, I feel that some thought/work should be put into how you look. Yet that work does not seem like work, once you get the hang of it. You could look like a hobo, or look like your mom still buys your clothes and be suit-less and hopeless when you get a wedding invite, or you could step up, learn a few basic things, and put yourself into another league.
I strive to "always be on," in terms of the way I dress and present myself visually to the world. How does one even learn this, if at 5'09 and 160lbs you are still buying cargo pants, size Large shirts and wearing cross trainers? The solution is easy: basics. Leave the dandy pieces to either experienced fashion people, or trend followers. Remember, the loudest person in the room is the weakest. One can command respect in such mind-bogglingly simple pieces. Jeans/pants that fit your body-type and do not hang off of you as if they could have you set sail with a strong wind, boots or dress shoes both for the week at work and then for the weekend as well, properly fitted solid colored dress shirts (which can be purchased on the cheap), a jacket or blazer and a real tie (limiting the shining geometric designs from decades past). You will be surprised by how much your eye can become trained in the area of fashion and style, once you toss the old habits and create a new you.
Some initial pointers for those who want to look as if they put a little thought into dressing in the morning:
- Wear a collared shirt most days of the week.
- When in doubt, tuck the shirt in.
- Truly learn your suit jacket size. Your view of jackets can be as if someone from Italy were tailoring your clothes. If you have a baggy jacket, you will look like a slouch. Don't be that guy.
- Learn your proper pants size, both width and length.
- Try clothes on and check for proper fit. Fit.Is.Everything.
- Learn how to tie a tie in more than one style. Also, learn how to tie a bowtie. Seriously. You will be that mother%$^#er who seemingly has the answers to everything, in a good way.
- Shop on the cheap. Logo hunting was such a 1990's concept, and I'd rather not stay trapped in that decade. You are your own logo in 2014. Your brand is what you are selling.
- Research style, and also trends. Soon enough, with enough research, you can spot trends BEFORE they hit mainstream. A $12 (or less) annual membership to GQ, Details and Esquire can be the style gift that keeps on giving. Help your friends out once you've read an issue and pass on the knowledge.
- Stay fit. This way, you'll have clothes to last a decade or two.
- Buy white shirts.
- Use V-Neck T-shirts or A shirts. Leave the crewnecks alone. Under a top button unbuttoned collared shirt, it is a visual eyesore.
- Always wear a belt. And buy a few, so that you give yourself choices.
- Match your belt to your shoes.
- Black shoes are what men desiring power wear Monday-Friday. Weekends can be for brown shoes. Again, avoid being a dandy. Brown shoes are stylish, but there is a time and place for everything.
- Never second guess your choices. Make a decision about your attire, then own it. Every thread of it. The time for owning the ill fitted everything wardrobe is over though.
- Leave the sneakers to the gym, the track and the ball field. Don't sacrifice "presence" for "comfort."
Do you remember thinking that you don't even know where to start in terms of finding your personal style? Every journey begins with a single step. Start out that journey with a footprint in the dirt from a dress shoe, and you'll be preparing yourself for a life of appreciation.