“Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose.”
—Lauren Hutton
Category: Men’s Style
Style Rule 6: Love Everything You Have
Actually, I should rephrase that and instead say: only buy clothes and accessories that you absolutely loooove. Like, OK, why not? are not really a deal maker. Only loooove is. And if you are not loving a piece, then don’t buy it in the first place.
And yes, sometimes you have an event coming and you may not have a proper shoe or an outfit for it and eventually you end up buying something that will follow in one of those categories. Because that was what you could find at that particular time. OK. Sometimes it is the way it goes. But even in those cases, try the best you can buying something you actually loved. Or at least consider renting, borrowing…
And if you still couldn’t find anything and buying is the only solution, always remember that you can sell the piece afterwards if you are not going to need it for other occasions. This way you can keep your wardrobe on the love vibe.
And speaking of it… keeping your entire wardrobe committed to a love only vibe will help to make you shop wisely and make you save some serious bucks but also this little detail will help to build a wardrobe that you are more likely to wear it all as you should, frequently and happily. Because when we only have pieces that we love available that is the tendency. Just think for a moment in that piece in your wardrobe that you absolutely love the most. That piece that sparks joy (hello, Marie Kondo!), a piece that if you could you would wear it all the time. See? That can actually happen for real if you ONLY have in your wardrobe pieces that makes you feel that way.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful? It would, right?
Then consider this every time you go shopping for something. Only buy pieces that you loooove.
Style Rule 5: Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Details
Details are key to maximize your looks. In order to do that you have to understand that details can make (or break) a look, they can differentiate a look so you don’t get bored when repeating an outfit, they can communicate your style or who you are when you have no or little opportunity to do so. Or just don’t want to use words for that.
Image by Juan Carlos García Menezo from Pixabay 
Image by Mater Miliano from Pixabay
What do I mean by details? Details can be literally a detail on your top like something sparkling, it can be a message on your t-shirt, it can be how you wear your sweater, your belt, your scarf, your cuffs, your hem, your tucked shirt or even just an accessory per se.
To illustrate that, think about wearing your cuffs undone at its on place, a half tucked, half untucked shirt, a belt buckle a little off its place, a different scarf knot, a bracelet or any kind of so you jewelry,
If you master that you can easily wear to the most everything you have, you can pack lighter because you will get that you don’t need a lot of pieces to have something to wear, you just need the right pieces and the right details.
For inspiration on details you can check my boards on Pinterest Details For Her and Details For Him. I will update them frequently-ish.
Style Rule 4: Be A Smart Shopper
And in order to be a smart shopper always go shopping (online or in person) with a list and stick to it. And every time you make your shopping list consider this:
- Do I really, really need this? You do if you answer yes to one or all of these questions —> Is it a piece that will bring joy to you and your wardrobe? Is it gonna help you to refresh it for a new season? Is it a piece you have but need a replacement because yours is worn out? Is there a special occasion coming and you don’t really really have something to wear?
- Can I afford it without compromise my finances? —> If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. Or first, get the money and then buy it. I know it is way easier to say than do it, but hey, deep inside you know it is the right thing to do.
- How often am I gonna wear this piece? —> If you are gonna wear very rarely, then why are you buying it? If it is for a special occasion, that you are gonna wear just once or every now and then, than consider not spending that much in that piece or even renting it. Because a piece only pays off your investment on it if you are gonna wear it a bunch of times.
- Do I have at least 7 whole different looks to wear that piece with? —> Because you need to have a few different looks to wear your purchased piece and don’t get bored that easily. Otherwise you are not gonna wear that piece that often and as we see above, frequency it is paramount to actually make your investment worths.
- Does the piece suit me, my body type, my taste, my style, my lifestyle? —> Because if it doesn’t, then why on earth you are gonna get it?
- Do you looooooove the piece? Or is it just cute or Ok? —> You gotta looooove everything you purchase. That is what will make you want to wear it frequently: the joy of loving it. And that will show. Besides that, why buying something that you only like if you could save the money for something you really love it? Why? Why?
With those things in mind, if answered honestly, you will be in the route to be a smart shopper. Guaranteed.
Do Socks Match Shoes Or Pants?
Well, it depends. It depends on which fashion rulers you decide to follow. Someone believe that socks should match your pants. Full stop. Others believe that your socks should match your shoes. Full stop. And others believe that your socks could match your shoes or your pants.
If you want my two cents on that: match your socks with your pants. This is a better bet that will work most of the time. And it is the most elegant one as well. If you can, do this match.
Style Rule 3: Invest In Quality Over Quantity
Because first, you don’t need a wardrobe full of clothes. You need a wardrobe with the right clothes for you, your lifestyle, your taste, body type and style. And for that you don’t need 100 tops for 1 trousers. Secondly, if you want to look your best, your clothes have to look good. Not only on you, but on their own. They don’t need to be highly expensive but they need to look expensive, to have some quality degree. That can upgrade your wardrobe and your look way more than a 100 options to 1 trouser. Way more.
Plus when you invest in quality you will have a piece that will last longer, so you will need to buy less clothes. In theory at least, you will. This will be a good investment.
So always go for quality over quantity. Always.
The Right Way To Button Up Your Suit’s Jacket, Blazer Or Sports Coat
Here we go:
If your blazer, suit’s jacket or sports coat/jacket is an one-button piece then button up that button.
If it is a two-button one then only fast the top button.
If it is a three-button piece then the middle button should always be fasten. The bottom button always left unbuttoned. The top button could be left unbuttoned or be buttoned up. It is up to you.
Having said that if your jacket, blazer or sport’s coat is a rolled up into a lapel (like the photo above), then this is a strong suggestion to leave it unbuttoned.
If it is a four or five-button piece (seriously?), always leave the bottom button unbuttoned. The top button may be fasten or not.
If it is a double-breasted one, then usually you keep all the buttons fasten.
Another possibility: the bottom button from the outside is left unbuttoned. Look at the photo for a better understanding.
For single-button pieces, no matter the configuration (one-button, two-button, three-button etc) it is better to keep it buttoned up properly as it is illustrated above while standing and unbuttoned completely while sat.
Of course that if you are wearing a jacket’s suit, a blazer or a sports coat/jacket casually, it is an option to leave it unbuttoned while standing. But if it is a black-tie, formal or business event, keep it buttoned up properly at all times while standing. Or at least at pivotal moments, like in an Oscar ceremony during the red carpet and on stage if presenting an award or receiving it.
Got it?
For double-breasted button pieces it is better to keep it buttoned up even while sat. Having said that, since the introduction of the slim fit suit, sometimes in this case it is totally doable to leave it unbuttoned while sat. And it is because with a slim fit suit there are less fabric hanging. But still…
Style Rule 2: Being OverDressed Is Way Better Than Being UnderDressed
And it is indeed. Having said that, the ideal is always to nail the dress code. And there is one good trick to accomplish it: ask. There is no problem in asking about the dress code when you are going to any social event you were invited to. You can ask if it is not stated on the invitation or if it is but you are not so sure what the dress code means exactly. There is no shame on it. Trust me.
If by any real chance you cannot ask anyone about the dress code, you can do a research on it. And this is particular good to do when you have a job interview in your way.
And if this is not a possibility as well, then dress up a little bit for the occasion. Besides the fact that is better to be overdressed than underdressed, it is also easier to relax your dress code when you are overdressed. In most cases.
Men At The Oscars: How To Black-Tie Differently
This year at the Oscars there were a great variety of men’s looks to illustrate how a men could still wear a tuxedo and yet be a little different than the black pants, black tux jacket, black bow-tie and white shirt combo. Have a look at those gentlemen to get a great cue:
Photos: Getty Images
Yes, you can bet in a splash of color to do that. And this could be applied just for the jacket (with or without a mismatched lapel) or for the whole suit, including the waistcoat/vest. Dark green is a more discreet option than red but it will all depend on your personality.
Other details to notice to take your tuxedo slightly out of its comfort zone: details… Like a colorful bow-tie, a brooch, a chain instead of a button to button up your jacket, a detailed shoes… Or even a boot. Ok, a white boot is something a bit (too much) fashion forward but for the dude above worked pretty well. A black or dark brown boot would have been a more men next door alternative.
And yes, velvet is always a classic alternative for the jacket. But for the whole suit is something trendy. But still an option. That could work pretty well as those gentlemen illustrate.
Photos: Getty Images.
Again, you can bet in details to be less tuxedo obvious like a white waistcoat and a white bow-tie. Or little white frames here and there in your jacket.
Other shlightly different option is a collarless shirt with obviously no bow-tie.
Photos: Getty Images.
For those who want to kind of reinvent the tuxedo look here are two great options: a wrap jacket instead of a regular buttoned up jacket and no bow-tie in an all-black look. By the way, I loved Nicholas Hout alternative tuxedo. He totally owned the look.
And speaking of owning the look… oh-my-Fashion-God! Billy Porter! He totally rocked his ballgown tuxedo. And everything that is part of the look just made the look even more interesting like the waistcoat/corset, the ruffled cuffs, the velvet, the bow-tie in a high collar… Loved it. loved it, loved it.
Of course that not everyone would look this good with those both options, but if you are one of those who can rock those tuxedo looks, go for it, man. We appreciate that!
Style Rule 1: Fit Is Paramount
If you want to be always well-dressed then you have to understand that perfect fit is paramount. And by fit, I mean:
Photo: @victoriabeckham 
Photo: @vacinityreynolds 
Photo: @sterlingkbrown
- An outfit that is never too tight neither too loose, that just follows the body silhouette with no extra volume neither any bulkiness.
- A shirt, coat or even a jacket that has the shoulder’s break at the person’s shoulder’s break and the cuff that never swallows the hand.
- Trousers that have the proper length without adding any volume over the shoes and stays put at the waist (wherever the waist for that model is if low, mid or high rise) with no belt assistance.
- The belt thing could be said to skirts as well.
Things like that.
Having said that, of course that from time to time trends will incite you into breaking this style rule. Baggy clothes, oversized pieces are all around to prove it, but yet, it is always a good idea to know how clothes should fit properly in you so when those “trendinites” show up you can break the rule with property. Because that is how you break the rules and get elegantly away with it.
And yes, I will post a guide to how clothes should fit for her and for him. And yes, this post is for both. Because both should mantra this rule. Fit is paramount to anyone.
The only difference here is that, usually man tends to make a mistake regarding fit because he bets in pieces that are bigger than he is, whereas woman get it wrong because she goes for pieces too tight for her.
Go figure.
And besides all that, a perfect fitted outfit looks expensive; one that is not looks cheap, regardless the price tag. So, it does worth invest on it.
Been Caught Styling 