I'm often asked if I have any style tips for men.
What does it mean to “upgrade” your style? Does it require a massive wardrobe? Plenty of cash? Drastic changes?
Actually… no!
In fact, when it comes to style tips for men, big things come in small packages. You can level-up your style through simple and easy-to-do tricks while spending LESS – and more WISELY.
In this article I give 10 simple style tips for men that you can use to upgrade your wardrobe, improve fashion sense and become the best-dressed man in the room.
1. Purge Your Closet
My first style tip for men is the simplest: Declutter your closet and throw out the “trash” – as in ANTI-STYLISH clothes that:
• Are overstretched or worn out
• Have holes or tears all over
• Lost their original color
• Have unwashable stains
This helps you identify the good stuff in your closet to work with. And what types of clothing you might lack. As for the decent-looking clothes you hardly use – put them in a box and write the current date on it.
The idea behind that box is to donate everything that stays in it one year after the marked date. So nothing will remain in your closet as “junk” forever.
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2. Get Your Clothes Tailored
There's one kind of “trash” that's still worth salvaging – your oversized clothes. Especially casual shirts, jackets or jeans that still look pretty good.
You'll want to take those clothes to a tailor and have them altered. Remember when it comes to your tailor, communication is key to getting the best results.
Get to know your tailor and call them by their name. Make sure you specify your needs for each item. Provide exact measurements or wear the item so they can measure the required adjustment.
You're not just putting in money for their service – you're also putting on the line all that good money you spent on the clothing itself! So do take the whole thing seriously.
Bonus Style Tip For Men: Leverage A Nice Watch
What's the advantage of a watch? Don't we use our phones to keep track of time?
Well – a classic men's watch is more than just a device. It's a great accessory that shows your relationship with time. It shows you're a man who values time and the small details.
If you want a watch that will step up your style, there are plenty of budget watch companies out there that offer bold timepieces with sleek designs for a fraction of the price of designer names.
The watch you wear sends a message. These stylish & affordable watches send the message of being bold and refined.
3. Buy Core Wardrobe Pieces
When you've got a post-purge closet – check if you're lacking certain “core” items of clothing. It might be a pair of dark-colored jeans or casual counterparts of the dress shirt like chambrays or button-downs. Those are examples of ESSENTIAL items you're going to need at some point in any given week.
It's important that you know which pieces make up your “core” wardrobe. They are the building blocks of your personal style. They have to be pretty dependable with great QUALITY. So finding the right brand of basic clothes also matters because your image will be influenced by it.
But how do you choose the BEST “core” clothing? A good strategy here is to build an interchangeable wardrobe. It's the kind of wardrobe where you can mix and match almost anything in terms of color, pattern or texture. If it's successfully built – you'll end up buying much less clothing for years to come.
4. Be A “Sports Jacket” Guy
Ever tried on a sports jacket but didn't like it? Did it feel uncomfortable?
Trust me: it only takes practice.
Sports jackets are a fantastic way of upgrading your style. Simply putting a sports jacket on upgrades your style x10. It's one of the easiest style tips for men.
Start by just wearing the jacket at home. Soon you'll gain much more confidence in it. You'll enjoy how it trims you up, makes you look taller and manlier.
You can also try pairing up your sports jacket with jeans for future events. That combination does wonders for stylish gentlemen! Remember – fit is king. You must make sure your sport jacket fits on the shoulders. Ideally you want it to taper slightly at the sides to create a flattering look. If it's slightly too loose here, your tailor can take care of this.
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5. Use A Signature Piece
Many times, one extra detail can transform your style. So take advantage of that. Use an accessory to add a dose of “uniqueness” to your outfit.
There are lots of accessories that can function as your signature piece. The trick is to find something that (1) you love wearing and (2) provides a nice contrast with the stuff you normally wear (like your usual dress shirt or casual shirt).
Vests are a perfect example. If you've got the time – you may discover a good vest from the thrift store in your area. Or even a classic hat or a good pair of boots for the colder months. You may also consider one or two “accent” pieces (besides a watch) in menswear stores such as:
- Knit ties
- Solid color or polka-dot bow ties
- Tie accessories (pins, clips, etc.)
- Decorative folds (flowers, multiple peaks, etc.)
- Jewelry (cufflinks, necklaces, rings, etc.)
- Colored pocket squares
6. Embrace Monochrome
One thing most men underestimate is just how important color and contrast are. So certain monochromatic looks are kickass options.
Monochrome means one predominant color for both the top and bottom layers. Your best bet is to have 2-3 monochromatic outfits in any of these colors:
- Dark blues – To give off a youthful vibe
- Darker grays – For professional settings
- Medium grays – Most attractive on low-contrast (fair-skinned) guys
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7. Learn To Take Care Of Your Clothes
Knowledge is power. And you'll gain a lot of power in terms of freedom – to buy more quality clothing – by learning how to:
- Polish your shoes on a regular basis
- Treat any clothing stains immediately
- Wash expensive clothes properly and know when your suit needs dry cleaning
When you can handle those procedures, you'll be far more comfortable spending on high-end items. Because you'll make sure they last a long time without getting ruined.
8. Wear Running Shoes & Sneakers Less Often
As far as style tips for men go, this one is easy and very effective. Simply make this a rule of thumb:
• Running shoes – use only for running
• Sneakers – for other physical activities
So when you're doing neither of those – that's the time to bring in some nice casual leather shoes – like men's Oxford dress shoes. Let them be your go-to shoes for strolling around the city or meeting up with friends for dinner.
Casual leather shoes can really level-up your casual style on weekends – and people will notice that quickly.
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9. Save Up For New Items
This one is all about discipline in the bank.
Take it from me. I have 25 savings accounts that automatically take in money from my checking account. That allows me to save up for stuff in the near future. I don't have to think about specific items – but I'll end up “earning” the chance to buy whatever it is I might like.
And you should do the same. Who knows? Maybe in a year, you'll save enough to get that amazing designer leather jacket which you randomly saw not too long ago. Why not reward yourself?
10. Make Your Style A Responsibility
Find a way to hold yourself accountable for changing your style – and improving yourself all the time. You can do it by:
- Speaking at talks or other events (such as Toastmasters gatherings)
- Teaching people in your company or appearing in instructional videos
Those situations will push you to keep working on your image and presentation.
Click below to watch the video – 10 Simple Men's Style Upgrades – Quick & Easy
Use these style tips for men to upgrade your style and become the best dressed man in the room. But if you want some advice or direct feedback from other men, you can join the RMRS Facebook group. It's a community of like-minded guys that is 100% supportive. And membership is open to everyone.
