If you're reading this…
Chances are you're not new here.
You've probably browsed this site…
Read articles, watched my videos…
Now let me ask…how stylish are you?
- A style wiz?
- Still a beginner?
- Somewhere in between?
Whatever your level is on the “stylish” scale…
Knowledge is power.
And what's the best way to validate your knowledge…or to expand it further?
By taking a test.
So try your hand at this quiz – 10 questions to test your style knowledge.
Good luck!
Take the style quiz below.
Use a pen and paper to write down your answers. Then you can scroll down further to find out the correct answers (and explanations for each). No cheating!
1. What Should Be More Important To A Man: Style or Fashion?
2. What's More Important: Clothing Fit or Clothing Brand?
3. Does Clothing Brand Actually Matter? Yes or No?
4. Which Shoe Is The Most Formal? Shoe A, Shoe B or Shoe C?
5. Which Sunglasses Work For The Majority Of Face Shapes: Classic Aviators or Classic Wayfarers?
6. Is There A Distinct Difference Between Dress Shirts & Casual Button Downs? Yes or No?
7. Which Razor Type Will Give You The Best Shave?
- Straight Razor
- Safety Razor
- Cartridge Razor
- Disposable Razor
- Electric Razor
- It's a trick question
8. Is There A Distinct Difference Between A Suit Jacket, Sports Jacket & Blazer Jacket? Yes or No?
9. If A Man Could Buy One Suit, What Color Should It Be?
- Black
- Charcoal Gray
- Navy Blue
- It's a trick question
10. Should Everything You Wear Match? Yes or No?
Bonus: Do You Need To Spend $1,000 On A Watch To Be Stylish? Yes or No?
Now it's time to discuss the answers…
Question #1 – What Should Be More Important To A Man: Style or Fashion?
Answer: Style
In case you're not clear on how style and fashion are different…I'm going to break it down for you.
Style is the scheme of putting your clothes together. It's basically the “genre” of whatever set of clothes you choose to wear.
Meanwhile, fashion covers the trends and clothing combinations that are popular for a certain time. Any outfit that's ever come out is a form of fashion (whether it's seen on TV, magazines or dressed-up mannequins in a clothing store). Fashion calls for experiments.
But style narrows down those experiments to a select few with true lasting power. They're the ones that work toward expressing a person's individuality. As the designer Yves Saint Laurent put it: “Fashion fades, style is eternal.”
Style is indeed eternal. It sends a controlled message that may describe your career, personality, values, background, etc. So it can take a while to develop and curate one's own style. That's why it should be important than fashion.
#2 – What's More Important: Clothing Fit or Clothing Brand?
Answer: Clothing Fit
You can buy a high-end clothing item, made of extremely fine materials. But if it doesn't fit you right (as in tailored to your body type) then what's the point?
Fit is king. It's a core component of the men's style pyramid
. Without a proper fit – you'd end up letting the clothing “wear you” when it's supposed to be the opposite.So it helps to find a good tailor in your area who can adjust the fit of your clothes. Remember to treat them like a friend…and they'll provide you with their best services.
#3 – Does Clothing Brand Actually Matter?
Answer: Yes
The reality is clothing brands aren't interchangeable. Each brand does its own thing when it comes to the types of clothing, the target market, sizes available, etc.
If you can find one brand which matches up perfectly with your body type…and has the appropriate stuff for your personal style…bingo! Stay loyal to it. It's worth paying extra for.
The ideal clothing brand makes your life easier. It has a variety of off-the-rack items you'd enjoy wearing (without taking to the tailor every time). It's even better if the brand's messages resonate with your values – like caring for the environment or helping others.
Bonus Question: Do You Need To Spend $1,000 On A Watch To Be Stylish?
Answer: No
Spending a fortune has nothing to do with your style…and it never should.
If that were the case…RMRS wouldn't exist. I wouldn't be here teaching everyday guys how to be stylish.
As question #1 points out, style taps into the messages you signal through the things you wear (not the ability to buy the most expensive products). That includes watches.
We see all these high-end watches that cost $1K, $10K, and beyond. But they're not the only watches that can enhance your outfit. If you're careful and do your research, you can find plenty of great watches for under $500.
The trick is to look for classic watch designs that don't compromise quality. In fact, if you look hard enough, you can find budget watches that appear to cost 5-10X more than they actually do!
So if you're one of those modern men looking to get noticed and stand out… budget watches can help you look stylish and refined without breaking the bank.
#4 – Which Of The Shoes Below Is The Most Formal?
Answer: Shoe C (Rightmost)
This one's pretty interesting. We've got three dress shoe types with varying colors. But Shoe C ranks as most formal since it's an Oxford with a closed-laced system. Although there are two tones to the shoe, the contrast is low enough that it doesn't really matter.
The other two are pretty neck and neck. Shoe A has an open-laced system while Shoe B has the relatively modern monk straps. But Shoe B gets the edge in terms of formal wear because of the color. The darker brown color makes up for the lack of shoelaces – and it would work slightly better for business settings than Shoe A.
#5 – Which Sunglasses Work For The Majority Of Face Shapes: Classic Aviators or Classic Wayfarers?
Answer: Classic Aviators
Don't we all love a nice pair of shades to use whenever appropriate? They're an easy way to amp up your style.
However, it is quite hard to pick one. We've all got different faces. But then again…let's not forget about aviators.
The original 1930s aviators had teardrop-shaped lenses joined by a double bridge. They were made to mimic the human face for pilots while flying high altitudes (to protect their eyes from the glare of the sun).
Aviators rose to mainstream popularity in the 80s thanks to films like Top Gun. You'll see more round and squarish versions available these days…but the classic type remains iconic.
Classic wayfarers are more attention-grabbing by comparison. Hollywood and the Blues Brothers helped them become a trend of their own…but they're not as versatile as classic aviators. You'd need a bit more confidence to pull them off.
#6 – Is There A Distinct Difference Between Dress Shirts & Casual Button Downs?
Answer: Yes
Dress shirts are historically a form of underwear. This means they were supposed to be worn under a jacket – hardly exposed. The early dress shirt designs were simplistic. They had no pockets or fancy cuffs/collars. They usually came in light solid colors.
Casual button downs have their origins in the work shirt. They came in a variety of colors, patterns, designs for the pockets and epaulets. They were also made of casual fabrics such as Oxford or linen.
The problem now? The line is kind of blurred. Some button downs resemble dress shirts, while some dress shirts have French cuffs and additional details that feel more casual. You can thank the clothing manufacturing industry for this.
#7 – Which Razor Type Will Give You The Best Shave?
Answer: It's A Trick Question
There's no single best type of razor for any man. It depends on his lifestyle, his daily needs, and personal preferences.
Some guys want accuracy while shaving…and they're willing to take their time with it. They might want to try a straight or safety razor (both of which require some practice).
Other guys are normally on-the go and don't even want to think about shaving. Electric razors would suit them well.
Some guys might be traveling a lot (myself included) and there's no better razor to carry through airports than the cartridge type.
In other words: “best shave” is subjective. Only you can decide the right razor for yourself.
#8 – Is There A Distinct Difference Between A Suit Jacket, Sports Jacket & Blazer Jacket?
Answer: Yes
There's one thing about a suit jacket that sets it apart from the others. It has a partner pair of trousers (made of the same material).
The other two are called “odd jackets” since they come on their own. But if you happen to wear trousers which have an identical type of material…an odd jacket becomes a suit.
To differentiate the odd jackets:
- Sports jackets are designed for sport (originally hunting) with distinct patches for the shoulders and elbows
- Blazers typically come in a dark navy color (due to their nautical history) and fabrics like hopsack, linens or worsted wools
#9 – If A Man Could Buy One Suit, What Color Should It Be?
Answer: It's A Trick Question
The problem with this question is you have to first know the person before you pick a color.
The ideal suit color should contrast nicely with his complexion…while taking into account his purpose as well.
Navy blue is a great choice for older men who want to look younger. It's also very popular in the US. But charcoal gray is more versatile. It can signal a little more maturity if you're a young guy.
The color that men should watch out for is black. It's rather dark which means it can show a stark contrast with your skin, necktie or shoes. Black suits are only practical for black tie functions and funerals.
#10 – Should Everything You Wear Match?
Answer: No
Matching is helpful…but by no means is it always an end goal.
The real concept you should focus on is complementing. You want to prioritize harmony in your clothing instead of going by the book.
Therefore, you're free to bring in a pocket square that's opposite from your necktie. You're free to wear shoes that aren't the same color as your belt.
There are many cases where unique clothing combinations actually turn out better than standard matching. So don't be afraid to explore this area more.
How Did You Do?
Here are the possible test scores…
• 0-4 pts – Repeat after me: “Thank goodness Antonio loves me and has hundreds of videos for me to watch…so I can come back to ace his next test!”
• 5-7 pts – Good start, but you still have much to learn. A diet of 3 RMRS videos daily should have you acing the test next time.
• 8 pts – You've got potential, kid! But keep watching.
• 9 pts – I wouldn't be embarrassed to hang out with you in public.
• 10 pts – The force is strong with you…are we related?
• 11 pts – When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I have found you, Sensei!
