“Am I well-dressed today? Do I look good?”
A man who's working on his wardrobe is probably going to stop at some point and ask himself those questions.
Being well-dressed is not an easily-defined concept.
Trend-based fashion is all about temporarily defining a specific look as “good”. which, in a way, takes the guesswork out of things — so long as a fashionable look can be agreed upon.
In a way, this takes out the guesswork — so long as a fashionable look can be agreed upon.
A man can theoretically be well-dressed as long as his outfit matches the current standard.
This approach quickly runs into trouble as fashion change.
Men may find themselves better served with an understanding of the visual cues that make up our impression of “well-dressed”.
The Dangers Of Trends
There are two big problems with following fashionable definitions of appropriate dress.
The first is cost: the fashion industry thrives on rapidly-changing trends that require consumers to purchase clothes as frequently as possible.
If the only thing you have going for you visually is adherence to a trend, your wardrobe becomes worthless when the trend shifts.
That means replacing it or modifying it at no small personal cost.
The other problem is that a lot of men's style trends are just plain bad. They're thinking of something new every few months; there are going to be some hits and some misses.
You don't want to end up the proud owner of a bright pink suit, no matter how prestigious the label:
So there are good reasons for a man to avoid popular fashion advice when he looks in the mirror.
No one look is going to work for every man, making it hard to learn from a book or an article anyway — the best that a writer can do (and what we've done here) is lay out the principles that make a man look well-dressed at a glance, and the easiest ways to keep every outfit sharp-looking.
Good Fit: A Well-Dressed Must-Have
A good fit all over is the cornerstone of a well-dressed appearance.
A bad fit immediately makes a man look less sharply-dressed. It also tends to make clothes uncomfortable, and no one looks good fiddling with his clothes.
A comfortable fit lets you stand at ease, in your natural posture, unconstricted and without any unsightly sagging.
Know your measurements as a man before you buy, and ensure your clothing is made to accommodate your build.
Your best guide for fit is the way it feels on your body. If a piece of clothing hangs or folds loosely while you're wearing it, or if it constricts your movement, the fit is wrong.
A good tailor can adjust most clothing within reason, but even off the rack clothes should be as well fitted as possible to start with.
If your budget permits, custom tailoring will help you avoid fit problems right from the start.
Certain problem areas can be hard to adjust, including the shoulders of a shirt jacket and the distance between the waist of a pair of pants and the place where its legs join.
Too much sag in either place gives a man a seriously slumped look, so keep an eye on your fit.
Colors & Patterns In Personal Style
A lot of men shy away from distinctive patterns or bright colors when they dress up in fear of an accidental clash. The effect tends to be safe but boring — not the immediately-recognizable style of a really sharp dresser.
A little experimentation with color and pattern will go a long way toward making your style seem deliberate and knowledgeable rather than a sort of default mode.
Use neckties and pocket squares to introduce smaller swatches of bright color, and don't be afraid to wear both patterned suits or jackets and patterned shirts.
So long as the patterns are distinctly different from one another — small checks with wide pinstriping, for example — there won't be any clash.
So long as the patterns are distinctly different from one another — small checks with wide pinstriping, for example — there won't be any clash.
Deliberate Details For A Sharp Look
The key to looking well-dressed is to seem as if your appearance is deliberate, not accidental.
Nothing should look forced (avoiding a tight fit can go a long way here), but a few details will make it clear that you know what you're about when you put your clothes on in the morning.
Pocket squares create variety between one suit and the next, making them a vital part of every man's wardrobe.
A good watch (nothing too gaudy) gives a little visual brightness to an outfit. But the real key is to maintain the details that, left alone, will mar the image of a well-dressed man: keep the shoes shined, the hair neat; the nails and beard (if any) evenly trimmed.
Appearing “well-dressed' or “good-looking” at a glance is nothing more than attention to these basic details.
The clothes you wear are up to you. Looking good in them takes confidence, attention to detail, and certainly a good fit.
Leave the trend magazines on the waiting room tables where they belong…
Are you looking for a compact guide to dress well and look good?
