Add & Swap for 2015
It is a new year, and there is no shortage of “New Year, New You!” articles out there. Feel free to read those articles, but take them with a grain of salt – there’s no guarantee you’ll get a flatter belly, a better job, or a proposal in 2015.
What we can guarantee, is that by reading and living this article, you can easily be one of, if not THE, best dressed guy in the room. We’re not going to focus this time on suiting up—we’ve talked about that plenty of times before. If you want help there, check out our Instagram page (@KingBrosClothiers) for some insta-inspiration!
As you kick off the year, here are 5 simple things to change, switch, or swap – to step up your 2015.
SWAP the chunky sweater* for a thinner, more fitted V-neck, crew neck, or cardigan; ADD a collared shirt underneath said swapped-in sweater. For those of you who are nervous about matching the collared shirt to the sweater, start with white and grow bolder from there.
ADD sportcoats to your regular rotation. This will not only help create an effortless look…it will add another layer of warmth during these cold winter months. One of the most frequent questions we get, as it relates to sportcoats, is the type(s) one should own. What colors? What fabrics? How many buttons? The most important requirement for any and every sportcoat is FIT. It should fit your body. The rest is just details. Again, our Instagram should help un-muddy these waters.
ADD pocket squares to your newly added sportcoats. This brings an additional interest element to your look, and ensures there won’t be a scenario (social, business, or otherwise) at which you will be severely under-dressed. If you’re having a hard time embracing the pocket square, get over yourself. They’ve been here for years, they’re here to stay, and you WILL look better. ADD a high-quality pair of shoes, and keep them well-maintained. Keep them shined. Wear galoshes in sloppy weather (about 7 months out of a Minnesota year). Much like a watch, shoes can make or break any and everything else you are wearing.
SWAP any square-toed shoes for a rounder look.
CHANGE your mindset. We’ve said it before: most guys who care about the way they present themselves are not self-centered or superficial. They simply have realized the impact of image. There is a lot of power in being able to control that for yourself. These are ways to begin to take control.
*Not ALL chunky sweaters are bad….but chances are, if you’re a chunky sweater enthusiast, you look like Fumpty Dumpty. Dump it.
The Truth About Men & Style
Here are some truths about men:
#1- Most guys want to be great at what they do.
#2- Most guys aren’t stylish, especially in the Midwest.
#3- Most of those guys who aren’t stylish will tell you they don’t care about style.
#4- Most of those men actually do care about style, but act like they don’t because they know style is not something they’re particularly good at. It’s a viscous circle where men want to be stylish, know they aren’t, so act as if they don’t care about the thing they know they’re not great at.
Here is a truth about style:
Some of it can be learned, and some of it cannot be. There are some extremely important aspects of men’s style that can be taught or learned through studying photos, reading blogs, or just being intentional about things. There are some other aspects involving risk-taking and guideline breaking, that certain guys just know how to do, and they do it well. Another thing about guys is that we’re extremely hesitant about trying something that we “don’t think we can pull off.” This stems, somewhere deep, from the same insecurity or inherent male characteristic that the “I don’t care about style” mentality does. It’s a pride thing. Here’s how we often respond to the “can I pull that off?” question: Yes. As long as you wear it unapologetically, and with the utmost confidence, you can totally pull that off. Styles and trends, as long as they “work,” can be “pulled off” by whomever takes it upon themselves to confidently dress, utilizing them. With this being said, how can guys know what “works?” Some of it truly does come down to guys’ individual “style.” Certain colors, patterns, jeans vs. chinos, etc. Some things are just personal preference. Having said that, though, we do want to address the issue of balance, as it relates to what you’re wearing.
Balance starts with your body. No matter what, your jacket lapel and your tie, need to be balanced. Slender guys have the option to wear a narrower lapel and tie. If you’re a big guy with broad shoulders, you should never be wearing a skinny tie or lapel.
Balance is one of things most commonly asked about when we’re meeting with clients: “Oh, but I’ve chosen a window pane suit with this pinstriped shirt…I probably shouldn’t get a patterned tie!” WRONG! It’s not about pattern-mixing…it’s about balance.
Here’s the thing: when you’re looking at different patterns within the same outfit, you’ve got to make sure the patterns work together. If the shirt you’re working with has a big, thick, bold pattern…finding a tie with the same width of a pattern is not going to work – too busy. What you must think of, instead, is finding a shirt/tie combo that offsets the other element. Bold shirt?
*Tamed-down tie. Sublte shirt? Bold tie. Never wear the same color shirt and tie. Ties are meant to be a contrast.
A more modern look is a narrower jacket lapel width. Again, this look really is reserved for guys with a trimmer build. If you’re a big, or broad, guy…don’t think you can’t have a tailored look, just pay attention to the lapel width. A big guy in a suit with a narrow lapel looks even bigger, and not in a good way.
For us, we tend to do more standard widths for our garments – as it gives us more room to err on either side…modern and traditional. Also, standard widths never look outdated. If you’re having a hard time picturing what we’re talking about, a visit to our Instagram (@kingbrosclothiers) should fix that.
We know, it’s a lot to think about…but the good news is once you’ve solidified the balancing act in your mind, it will come naturally. It’s like learning to drive a manual transmission. It seems daunting – until you finally “get it.” Drive in style, gents. *When we say “tamed-down,” we’re not saying a solid color. Although it can be. We’re just saying it needs to be a tighter pattern, and more subdued tie than your bold shirt. This ensures that no matter what you’re wearing (even stripes with stripes, or dots with checks), you’ll have a cohesive look, that works perfectly.
Some of it can be learned, and some of it cannot be. There are some extremely important aspects of men’s style that can be taught or learned through studying photos, reading blogs, or just being intentional about things. There are some other aspects involving risk-taking and guideline breaking, that certain guys just know how to do, and they do it well. Another thing about guys is that we’re extremely hesitant about trying something that we “don’t think we can pull off.” This stems, somewhere deep, from the same insecurity or inherent male characteristic that the “I don’t care about style” mentality does. It’s a pride thing. Here’s how we often respond to the “can I pull that off?” question: Yes. As long as you wear it unapologetically, and with the utmost confidence, you can totally pull that off. Styles and trends, as long as they “work,” can be “pulled off” by whomever takes it upon themselves to confidently dress, utilizing them. With this being said, how can guys know what “works?” Some of it truly does come down to guys’ individual “style.” Certain colors, patterns, jeans vs. chinos, etc. Some things are just personal preference. Having said that, though, we do want to address the issue of balance, as it relates to what you’re wearing.
Balance starts with your body. No matter what, your jacket lapel and your tie, need to be balanced. Slender guys have the option to wear a narrower lapel and tie. If you’re a big guy with broad shoulders, you should never be wearing a skinny tie or lapel.
Balance is one of things most commonly asked about when we’re meeting with clients: “Oh, but I’ve chosen a window pane suit with this pinstriped shirt…I probably shouldn’t get a patterned tie!” WRONG! It’s not about pattern-mixing…it’s about balance.
Here’s the thing: when you’re looking at different patterns within the same outfit, you’ve got to make sure the patterns work together. If the shirt you’re working with has a big, thick, bold pattern…finding a tie with the same width of a pattern is not going to work – too busy. What you must think of, instead, is finding a shirt/tie combo that offsets the other element. Bold shirt?
*Tamed-down tie. Sublte shirt? Bold tie. Never wear the same color shirt and tie. Ties are meant to be a contrast.
A more modern look is a narrower jacket lapel width. Again, this look really is reserved for guys with a trimmer build. If you’re a big, or broad, guy…don’t think you can’t have a tailored look, just pay attention to the lapel width. A big guy in a suit with a narrow lapel looks even bigger, and not in a good way.
For us, we tend to do more standard widths for our garments – as it gives us more room to err on either side…modern and traditional. Also, standard widths never look outdated. If you’re having a hard time picturing what we’re talking about, a visit to our Instagram (@kingbrosclothiers) should fix that.
We know, it’s a lot to think about…but the good news is once you’ve solidified the balancing act in your mind, it will come naturally. It’s like learning to drive a manual transmission. It seems daunting – until you finally “get it.” Drive in style, gents. *When we say “tamed-down,” we’re not saying a solid color. Although it can be. We’re just saying it needs to be a tighter pattern, and more subdued tie than your bold shirt. This ensures that no matter what you’re wearing (even stripes with stripes, or dots with checks), you’ll have a cohesive look, that works perfectly.
Danny King and Kenny King are owners of King Brothers Clothiers in Minneapolis. Follow them on their very popular Instagram here.
© 2015 Haven Style.