When it comes to dressing well and looking sharp, it’s all about the details. Forget designer labels, expensive watches and posh suits, these are all secondary to the important stuff: what really matters when styling an outfit is the fit, colour and the accessories you choose to set it all off. In this article, we show you how to get these basics right.
1. The Fit (Knowing Your Body Shape)
One of the most invaluable pieces of info you can have when choosing clothes is to know which styles suit your body shape. This is not always easy and tends to be something most people learn through experience and time. Start by doing a little bit of research on different types of male body shapes and which one best resembles yours. Our article on
dressing for your body shape is a good place to start! Once you get familiar with your shape you can start to look into which clothing styles best suit you. It’s surprising how much of a difference this can make; the right clothes can help to make you look taller, slimmer, more muscular and most importantly more confident.
2. Colour and Texture (Understanding your Skin Tone)
Colour and texture play an important role in getting the overall look just right. Just like our tip above on knowing which fits suit your body shape, it also pays off to know which colours suit your skin tone. Some colours can make paler skin look washed out and darker skin look dull. If in doubt, go for colours similar to your eyes or natural hair colour: these are bound to suit you.
Believe it or not, texture is just as important as colour when it comes to dressing. A little bit of texture here and there can work wonders to add some interest to an outfit but it can also help to complement your shape. If you have slimmer legs and carry most of your weight around your middle, try corduroy
trousers instead of
jeans. Narrow shoulders can be broadened with a little textured detailing on the shoulder pads. Leather is a great way to add an edge to an outfit while more feminine considered fabrics like silk and velvet can soften a look that feels too ‘macho’.
3. Accessories (Knowing when too Much is too Much)
Some people think that adding designer items to a plain outfit can make it look more expensive. In reality, too many ‘designer’ labels and flashy jewellery can actually cheapen the look of an outfit. Unless you can afford the help of a personal stylist, try to select items based on their look rather than their label. Having said that, expensive accessories can be great but you shouldn’t expect them to carry your entire outfit, otherwise you’re bordering on tacky territory. Accessories should complement and lift an outfit that is already well styled.
If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to accessories then try starting off small. Socks for example should always complement your shoes. Avoid ankle socks with trainers and if in doubt, match the colour of your socks to your shoes and whatever you do, leave the socks at home if you’re going to wear sandals.
Overloading with accessories is never a good look so keep things simple and clean with one to two pieces of jewellery at a time, be it a necklace, a ring (in addition to a wedding band) or a watch.
.png)