So today, let’s have a discussion about a few simple things you can start doing to give yourself a boost of confidence so that you can use that momentum to keep going. And, keep in mind, gradually improving your style shouldn’t be complicated, or a pain in the ass to do. And also… there’s no finish line. You’ll always be a work in progress, but you will become viewed as stylish by other people, even when you’re not trying.
Chill out and Relax.
The first thing I’d like to say, is to take it slow. Chill out and relax. You do not have to go from 0-100 right away. In fact, you shouldn’t. People around you will freak out and you might get some unwanted feedback. It’s actually best to start small… and sort of creep up on it. Oh, and one more thing since I mentioned people freaking out.
People around you will notice once you start doing things differently. For example, if you wear black every day and everyone knows you as the guy who wears black… if you pop in that day wearing a bright yellow Hawaiian shirt, people are gonna be a little shocked and they WILL say something. Starting small with subtle changes will also get you noticed, but in a much more positive way.
Eliminate things that no longer fit.
The first thing I’d like you to do, is to get rid of things in your closet that you don’t like or that don’t fit. Even if you think you “might” wear it some day. I’ve talked about this a lot but if you haven’t worn something in a year, you’re not going to, so put it in the “donate” pile and stop staring at it. Because, here’s what happens…. You have those 3-4 shirts that you really like, but if you only lost 10 pounds they’d fit again.
The problem is, you’ve been staring at those same shirts for over two years and it sends a negative signal to your brain every time you look at them that you still haven’t lost the 10 pounds. Why do that to yourself every day? Compare THAT to the feeling of looking in your closet every day knowing that everything in there fits and looks great. I’m guilty just like you of doing the same thing, so I always have to catch myself and reevaluate my clothes every so often.
Start tucking in your shirt.
The next super simple thing you can start doing TODAY is tucking in your shirt. Now, I like wearing my shirts untucked just like the next guy, but if you’re trying to gain some style points, there might not be any easier way to do that, than by simply, tucking in your shirt. Because as you’re probably aware, most casual and dress button up shirts are designed to be tucked in. They’re made longer so they won’t easily come untucked throughout the day. Wearing these shirts untucked, where the shirt tails fall below your crotch, is not a stylish look.
Start wearing nicer shoes.
The next thing you can do is to start wearing nicer shoes. So look, If you’re a sneaker guy, you can still wear sneakers, but just get some in a minimal design aesthetic without all the flashy stripes and logos. Because at this age, it’s not important that other people know what brand of shoe you’re wearing from across the street… Well, at least in my opinion it’s not important. This is still a casual shoe, because it’s a sneaker after all, but it just looks a little more refined and grown up.
If you’re still a casual guy, but want to try something different that’s not too dressy, try some driving mocks. This is a great shoe for the summer and it’s an easy slip on, slip off. They’re very comfortable and they come in tons of different colors so you can get something that suits you. One step up from that would be a loafer. Still casual, but this is a little more elevated. And, if you don’t have a nice pair of boots, now’s the time to grab a pair. Everyone looks great in boots, and as a bonus, the heel gives you a few inches of extra height.
Work towards finding better fitting items.
Another thing you can do is to dial in the fit of the clothes you already have. I’ve talked about this before. You can take two identical guys, wearing the same exact things, but one of them has clothes that fit well and the other one has baggy clothes. The guy with fitted clothes instantly looks more stylish. It’s 100% true. If you have pants in your closet that are too long and they puddle down on top of your shoes, you can absolutely take them to a local tailor and have them altered to fit you and your proportions.
Same goes for shirts. I just made a video talking about this a few days ago, but if you have a shirt that fits you in the shoulders, but it billows out at the waist, especially when you tuck it in, take that thing to a tailor and have them add darts to the back. All this is doing is trimming out the excess fabric that you don’t need. Now you essentially have a custom fit shirt just for you.
Try a new hair style.
Another thing is to try a new hairstyle, or incorporate a new facial hair situation. I’ve got a few friends here locally, and one of ‘em was clean shaven, but now he started growing a beard. From what I’ve seen, it looks awesome. The other guy always had a crew cut. He’s got a full head of hair just like mine, so he’s now growing it out to see what happens. He’s trimming the sides in every few weeks, but he’s letting the top grow so he can actually have a hair style.
Add more color.
Another thing you can do is to bring in some color. If you’re always wearing blue, gray and black, why not bring in some burgundy? Or some green? What about pattern? I’ve talked about patterns a lot and in my opinion, a great place to start with pattern is something small and tight. Don’t go all crazy at first and get something super bold. Try a small dot pattern. Or a subtle check pattern or glenn plaid. This helps you creep up on it without wasting your money.
If you do decide to go for something a little bolder, find a small, micro-floral pattern. This will have about 2-3 different colors and you can use those subtle colors to match up with something else you’re wearing. For example, this shirt has green, red, blue and orange. Think Olive green chinos,….. blue jeans……, or a burgundy sweater layered over the top with brown shoes. This is when things start getting really fun because once you know and understand what you have in your closet, you can add new pieces knowing that it’ll pair up nicely with a lot of what you already have. And with that, live well my friends, and I’ll see you in the next one.
