Style secrets I've never shared?
Is that possible?
This article was deceptively difficult.
Why?
I had to go through 2000 published articles…
and 1000 published videos…
to make sure I wasn't rehashing the same information.
I wanted to make sure I stuck to the title…
and actually provided style tips I've never shared.
I included bonus tips (which you've probably heard before) just to reiterate their importance…
but for the most part – I was able to come up with 5 tips I've never shared before.
Style Secret #1 – Wear Your Best Fitting Clothes When Shopping
You know how it gets tedious trying on different shirts and pants in the changing room? Not only is it a vicious cycle of putting on and taking off, but it also creates a lot of mess. And let's be honest – how many of us guys are big shoppers in the first place?
That's where it really helps to walk into a store wearing clothes that fit you perfectly. In a way, they are the answer key to this little shopping test you're taking.
Just take a minute to picture yourself as a 4th-grade History teacher – and let's say you've prepared a pop quiz for your students with 5 multiple-choice questions.
Since you have to mark 25 papers after class, which of these 2 options would make your life easier?
- Option A: Use the textbook to check each individual answer on each student's paper.
- Option B: Refer to the answer key (such as “CBDCA”) for each paper.
There's no doubt that Option B is better. Option A isn't wrong, but it wastes unnecessary time and energy because all 25 students have been given the exact same quiz with the same Q&A structure. So this is one technique you can apply whenever you go shopping.
Once you've entered the dressing room with the stuff to try on, you simply have to take off your well-fitted shirt and lay a test shirt over it. This is about comparing shirts directly – where you can quickly determine if Test Shirt #1 will be tight around the sleeves or slightly loose on the torso.
In a similar way, you can lay different test trousers over your well-fitted pants – and that will indicate whether something is too large or small for your waistline. This is a shortcut approach to shopping for basic wardrobe items. You'll be able to compare apples to apples – and find the gold – more efficiently.
Bonus Style Tip (Not One I've Never Shared) – Wear A Unique Accessory
I've been in tons of situations where every guy in the room looks like they're auditioning for the next James Bond film. Power suit, classy tie, gelled up hair – you get the idea.
The image of Bond is so iconic that it seems like men think that's the only benchmark. What they tend to forget is the fact that everyone knows how and wants to resemble Bond.
And if all the guys in an event look like 007 clones – who's going to stand out? Who's going to start the most conversations?
The answer – men with a subtle but powerful twist to their wardrobe. A unique accessory. It's that very thing that when people see it, they're in awe and ask you about it.
It's that very thing that when people see it, they're in awe and ask you about it. I've found elegant watches for men to be the best example of these.
I know of one fantastic company – Original Grain – which specializes in “minimalist” styles of watches. They combine exotic hardwood with 316L stainless steel to make products that outshine other similar-priced, cookie cutter watches.
Their craftsmanship is state of the art. You should definitely check out their 4 unique collections. Prices are very affordable, and no ounce of quality is sacrificed because of it.
Style Secret #2 – Use Layering To Hide Imperfections
Let's say you wake up to a manic Monday – following a weekend spent out of town. You're running behind schedule and there's no time to waste.
But whoops – you've got none of your best dress shirts in your closet. They're all buried in that pile of dirty laundry that you couldn't take care of during the weekend. All that's left is one “adequate” dress shirt that you haven't touched in ages.
Before you think about calling in sick – remember that this dress shirt can still work. Does the collar still look decent? Are the cuffs good to go?
If the answer to those is yes, you're in luck. No matter how many wrinkles you see or how much adjustment this shirt needs – you can still get away with it in the office…
All you need is an extra layer in the form of a well-fitted V-neck sweater. Boom. The look of excess material vanishes. The bad fit suddenly becomes a good fit. And the whole thing takes 2 minutes. You can go about your day at work – and then worry about seeing a tailor or doing your laundry later on.
Style Secret #3 – Go For The Stretch
Don't feel bad about parts or areas of your body that are harder to fit. There's nothing wrong with a naturally large chest, torso, waist, thighs or buttocks. As long as you're healthy and active – you've got no reason to feel guilty about them.
You shouldn't let any slight disproportions get in the way of looking your sharpest. That's exactly why a bit of stretch fabric – Spandex, Lycra or elastane – goes a long way in helping your clothes conform to your body.
These materials provide your clothing with the necessary resistance, especially when it comes to maintaining shape after multiple washes. As for the ideal stretch amount, stick to a range of 2-5 percent for your T-shirts and jeans. It makes a big enough difference in terms of style and comfort.
Style Secret #4 – Check The Build Quality Inside The Garment
Back to the world of shopping, here's a trick that allows you to separate 2 nearly identical versions of the same clothing item. Everything on the outside may look the same and the price difference may be small – but it's the smallest details on the inside that can sway you towards one direction.
What you're looking for are little indicators of craftsmanship within the garments. You can turn them inside out and notice that one has a much better, carefully done stitching than the other. You can judge them by any excess threads coming off – then go with the cleaner-looking option since it's a sign of higher quality. And this perceived quality is a designer's calling card.
Ultimately, those factors only matter if (1) you've got a good eye for detail, (2) you're patient enough to examine the insides of clothes and (3) you're keen on making the best choice between 2 or more options.
Style Secret #5 – Try An Item You Wouldn't Normally Wear
The next time you're heading to the dressing room, look around first and take along 1 item that's you don't have or typically wear. Push the envelope here and go for something a bit edgy – whether it's a unique texture or a color you're not so fond of.
It can also be a different style of jeans, jackets or footwear (like boots instead of the usual loafers). The point is you should try out a fashionable piece that has a big question mark on how it looks on you. Why not? It'll only take an additional minute or two.
And who knows – you may find out later that a certain style outside your “comfort zone” works amazingly well! So experiment, learn about various styles every now and then.
Shave Your Sweater
I'm not kidding you on this one. I've tried it myself. Keep a disposable razor around – and once your sweater starts peeling and looking worn, you can use it to remove any fabric that's coming off. It's pretty much like giving your sweater a real shave. In just 5 minutes, you'll see how “rejuvenated” it has become (and almost looks brand new!).
