Cover picture: @_ulfho_
When you check how you look before you leave the house this is the check list you should run through with regards to the outfit.
For a much more in-depth guide grab my Style Starter Kit (you can get this for free by signing up to my email list at the bottom of this page)
Best practice (B) vs deal breakers (D)
Some of these are suggestions towards optimising your style (best practice), others are rules that if broken I hope strangers throw eggs at you before even you get 5 foot from your house (deal breakers).
If you are new to improving your style then just assume all of these are deal breakers.
Checklist:
Does everything fit to your measurements? (D)
Are the trousers slim or skinny fit? (B)
Is there too much excess trouser length? (D)
Less than 3 colours total? (D)
Have you built the outfit around neutral colours? (B)
Do the colours you’ve picked suit your complexion/hair colour? (D)
No more than 3 accessories? (B)
Does your style of hat match the overall style of the outfit? (D)
Do your shoes match the overall style of the outfit? (D)
Are your shoes clean? (D)
Is everything else you are wearing clean? (D)
Are you wearing more than one heavily branded item? (D)
Does anything you’re wearing have oversized branding that makes you a walking billboard? Remove if so (B)
Explanations:
Does everything fit to your measurements?
If you ignore everything else on the list bar one, please let it be this question. Fit is the most important thing about pulling off any style. As per my style guide get some tape and take you measurements. This way you have no excuse for owning anything that doesn’t fit you.
Are the trousers slim or skinny fit?
These are the big two acceptable fits to be wearing per current trends. Straight fit can work but will look better on you if you have bigger legs (for those of you reading that train leg days). Most guys are better off sticking to slim and skinny though.
Is there too much excess trouser length? (D)
This is already kind of covered by question one, but I’m including it because of how many guys I see make this mistake. The trousers need to stop at your ankles, not bunch up around them.
Less than 3 colours total? (D)
Fairly well-known rule of fashion for both men and women. Keep it simple and down to as few colours as you can get away with.
Have you built the outfit around neutral colours? (B)
Essential for men that you stick to neutral colours. These are black, white, grey, navy, or dark blue, browns and olive. They are versatile and easily mixable which is why they should make up the bulk of your wardrobe.
Do the colours you’ve picked suit your complexion/hair colour? (D)
This can be a tricky thing to work out. I have this in here primarily for those of use with light complexion. White doesn’t look great when you have pale skin for instance. Typically, the darker your complexion the more colours you can pull off.
No more than 3 accessories? (B)
Don’t clutter yourself with too much jewellery. You see this a lot from famous musicians, and they can carry it off to some extent. You can’t though. Keep the accessories down to 3 and below to be safe.
Does your style of hat match the overall style of the outfit? (D)
Something I stress on this blog with regards to hats is getting the pairing right. The most extreme example for getting this wrong would be wearing a baseball cap with a suit. This look can only be pulled off by an NFL hopeful at the draft ceremony.
Do your shoes match the overall style of the outfit? (D)
Same as the above hat question. Make sure you pair your smart shoes with smart outfits and casual footwear with casual outfits. Straightforward and yet somehow guys do get this wrong a lot, probably due to laziness.
Are your shoes clean? (D)
Self-explanatory.
Is everything else you are wearing clean? (D)
Or this one. Take yourself seriously and don’t wear dirty clothing, even by accident.
Are you wearing more than one heavily branded item? (D)
Branding is a complex issue. It can work in the right circumstance, but I recommend inexperienced guys steer clear of too much branding. If you are going to wear clothing with branding, then keep it to one item.
Does anything you’re wearing have oversized branding that makes you a walking billboard? Remove if so (B)
If you are going for branded items try to avoid those with oversized branding.
Final Thoughts
This is intended as a supplement to my Starter Kit Style Guide. I recommend you download that if you want a greater idea of how to build a wardrobe.
When you are inexperienced, I understand the choices available can be overwhelming – especially with something like improving your style. My guide fixes this issue by laying out exactly what you should buy if you don’t know what you are doing.
Thanks for reading,
The Hatfish
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