There's a saying that says you must first learn the rules of style before you can break them. It's kind of true--it's helpful to know the rules of style so you can make informed decisions if and when you decide to go against the grain. However, in general, I like to view most of these "canonized" rules of style as guidelines, not gospel.
However, there are six principles that, in my opinion, are nonnegotiable when you are thinking about how to dress better. Whether you're just starting out on your menswear journey, you've got a good foundation, or you consider yourself a bespoke menswear sartorial expert, these six keys/tenets/pillars should always be underpin every single decision you make. If you internalize them, they will help you unlock the secrets of men's style. Let's discuss...
In this video, we're gonna talk about the six key things,
the six core values that you need to keep in mind
as you begin or continue your journey
to dress better and develop your wardrobe.
So we all have our own reasons for making the decision,
for making the commitment to dressing better
and putting some time and effort into our appearance
and how we present ourselves to the world.
For some of us, it's a means of self-respect.
And on the other hand, it can be a way you
are showing respect to the people around you.
It could have a sentimental value like maybe your father
and your grandfather dressed well
and you want to continue that legacy.
Maybe you do it for confidence.
Maybe you do it to show people that you are the type
of person who cares about doing the absolute best
they possibly can.
Whatever your reason is, these next six principles
will ensure that you are always making
the most informed decisions possible
while you are building and developing your wardrobe.
And they all really kind of tie together and work in sync.
Number one, first and foremost is versatility.
We talk about this all the time.
Versatility means being able to do more with less.
Having a closet full of clothes does not mean
that you have more options, it probably just means
that you have a lot of clothes that you don't wear.
And I bet if that's you, that when you go to get dressed
in the morning or pick out an outfit for whatever
you're doing or wherever you're going,
that you often feel overwhelmed and that you've probably
said at some point, I have nothing to wear.
And then that starts this vicious cycle
of accumulating more and not doing enough with it.
So before you buy anything, ask yourself this question.
How many different ways can I wear this?
And if the answer is less than three or more maybe,
less than five, seriously consider whether
you should actually buy that piece.
Which brings us to number two, timelessness.
Now there's a reason we call certain pieces classic.
Navy suit, classic.
Mid-gray flannel suit, classic.
These are classics because they always look good
and they never go out of style.
Trying to keep up with trends is exhausting,
draining on the wallet, and I would even say
that it leaves you less fulfilled long-term
than dressing in a more classic and timeless way.
It feels good when I look in my closet
at a suit or something and say,
I've had that for seven years and I could still wear it.
Still looks good today, still looks relevant,
and like it belongs.
Number three is quality.
Now I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for.
My father taught me that and I really think he was right.
This has played out many, many times in my life personally
when I was trying to decide between a higher priced option
and something less expensive and cheaper
in terms of quality.
Every single time I went for the latter,
the cheaper thing, I regretted it immediately.
Now sometimes I could return it,
sometimes I had to live and learn from the consequences.
So I'm always willing to spend a little more
for something that is well-made and that I know will last.
Consider that a sound investment.
That brings us to number four, affordability.
Now being a stickler for quality does not always mean
having to lay out a lot of cash.
There are always multiple tiers of options
and price points for specific products
and I encourage you to always buy the absolute best
that you can afford and that makes sense for your budget.
If money's no object and you want to commission
an entire bespoke wardrobe,
I'm definitely not gonna stop you,
but for the rest of us, choosing the highest quality items
within our own economic comfort zone
will get you the biggest bang for your buck,
which is what we're all looking for.
And one other thing that I will add
is that if it looks cheap, it probably is.
Number five is fit.
If we're talking about menswear here,
which last time I checked we were,
fit is one of the most important elements
as well as one that guys often get wrong.
Wearing a suit coat that's two sizes too big
or maybe the hem of your jeans gets frayed
because it's too long and gets caught under your heel,
you've all likely been there at some point.
What you need to understand though is fit takes time.
So buying off the rack unless you are blessed
with a sample size model body is never going to be perfect.
It might get you in the ballpark,
but remember, one size does not fit all.
And one of the best things you can do to fix this
is to find a good tailor
and develop a relationship with him or her.
Getting correct fit takes time.
So be patient as you consider this aspect of menswear.
Number six, confidence.
If you don't believe in what you're wearing,
if you don't feel good wearing it,
people will be able to tell.
Now, the other side to that is that dressing well,
dressing timeless, wearing the best quality
that you can afford and pieces that fit you,
see, I told you everything kind of all work together here.
All of that stuff can make you have more confidence.
I hear this over and over and over again from guys
that have made the commitment to dress better
that they just feel so much more confident
and have more self-respect.
And a lot of people say that confidence
is the most stylish thing a guy can have in his wardrobe.
It's not hard to put simple classic outfits together
if you have the right pieces.
If you've got the basics, you've got a great start.
And this playlist right over here
will show you some very simple and easy outfits
that literally anyone can pull off.
So click there to get inspired.
And always remember, stay tailored.
