Fashion Basics for Men

T he world of fashion is much easier on men than women. This means that we can get away with having a few choice pieces and matching them well, day by day. Before we go on and acquaint you with some fashion basics for men, you must first decide what kind of wardrobe you are reinventing: is it casual, formal, or semi-formal? Every occasion demands a different kind of a staple in your cupboard and a different mindset to go with it.

To make this guide useful for all, let’s discuss some basics you should keep in mind when reimagining your style and what it could be.

Individuality

Clothes are not just rags that we put on to hide our bodies in the right places. In today’s culture, clothes signify who you are, but most importantly, they express how you feel. When dressing for going out with friends or on a date, it is ideal to not try to look like somebody else. See how you feel in the outfit you have on, and be ready to even change it if it doesn’t feel right!

What you choose to wear communicates a deeper truth about yourself to the world. Treat it as such and you will come closer to dressing intuitively, rather than off of a guide from the internet. But since you have only started developing this instinct, read on and let us help you.

Building a Foundation

Every year there is a bombardment of ads about the ‘classics’ men should have in their wardrobe. Let us tell you, you don’t need to buy your t-shirts from Calvin Klein to look good. For casual looks, start with getting an amazing pair of jeans. For full measure, try them on in the store and make sure you feel and look good in them. No matter your size, jeans make people look sleek and stylish. Get one in ice blue and one in a darker shade, so you have something to mix and match with.

Once you have your jeans, start looking at some button-downs in classic colors. White button-down shirts are especially fashionable with blue jeans. You can buy some in interesting colors such as navy blue or dark green based on what you think looks good on you. 

The Fit Matters

This cannot be overemphasized: the fit matters more than anything else. Even if you’re wearing something extremely expensive and well-tailored, if it doesn’t fit right, there is no way that it could look fashionable. The best way to get a good fit is to always try on clothes before buying them, or even better get your button-downs tailored to your size. Trust us on this, the right fit can make anyone feel confident and comfortable in their body.

Plain is Better!

For the most part, it is best to wear plain t-shirts rather than printed ones. You can never go wrong with a plain white or a plain black one. It can look very stylish if worn well and paired with jeans. These work especially well if you are going for layered fashion and need to wear a white or black shirt as an inner layer.

 Remember that patterns on pants are never in fashion (at least for the mainstream), and if you do decide to add patterns to your outfit, only choose one pattern at a time. Two patterns clashing together is Satan's favorite sight.

Classic Patterns and Colors

If you do end up choosing some patterns to wear, pick ones that have been vetted by many a fashionista over the years. Stripes, checkered, plaid, argyle– any of these look great if the right colors are chosen. For instance, a checkered shirt with a white base and dark blue lines looks great with khakis and navy blue pants. Consider getting minimalistic patterns over noisy ones so you can use them in more ways than one.

Roll Up Your Sleeves

Instead of buying short-sleeved button-downs, consider choosing a full-sleeved one. Short sleeves look off and unappealing. A full-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, on the other hand? Sexy and lumberjack-y. Just go for it.

Along with all these tips, we encourage you to remember that outfits are only as good as the person wearing them. So, once you have your fashion basics for men in the bag, walk with confidence and love yourself before anyone else does!