Male fashion can be a complex industry for the uninitiated to navigate. Many men feel absolutely lost when it comes to choosing what and what not to wear. However, despite how complex it seems, male fashion is actually very simple. There are some very basic steps you can follow if you are a man and have no idea what looks good on you. This post plans to tell you what they are so that you can find the perfect business look. Turning up looking less than perfect can negatively impact your reputation and performance at work, so keep reading to find out how you can look great.
Finding the Perfect Footwear
If you don’t know much about fashion, you probably don’t know how important the perfect footwear is. For work, you need some really comfortable dress shoes, otherwise, your outfits are not going to look finished, nor are you going to feel good walking around at work. Comfort is very important as it relates to dress shoes because most leather shoes are notoriously uncomfortable, making wearing them an unpleasant experience. More and more retailers are understanding the importance of footwear that is nice to wear, however, which is why they are doing everything that they can to ensure that you are comfortable. The reason comfort is important is that if you are not comfortable wearing shoes to work, you are never going to look good. You will always be walking funny, hobbling, limping, or just doing something to show the world that you are not relaxed, and being relaxed is an important part of looking fashionable and stylish.
However, comfort alone isn’t all you need to think about. You obviously also need to spend some time thinking about how the shoes you wear make you look. To do this, you need to spend some time learning about and researching the different types of men’s dress shoes and when they are supposed to be worn. For example, many men wear loafers with suits, but from a traditionalist perspective, loafers should only be worn with odd sports coats and trousers or more casual fits. With suits, you should wear a shoe like an Oxford. Of course, it is possible to break these conventions and traditions, but only if your outfit looks great.
Searching for A Good Fit
Finding a good fit when it comes to the clothes that you wear is very important. Many men make the mistake of buying clothes that are either too big or too small. They do this because they are not buying bespoke clothing. Bespoke clothing is clothing made entirely to a person’s body. Having your own bespoke suit is perhaps one of the best things you can do if you have a new job. This is because you will turn up in a suit that fits your body in every single way. The problem with bespoke clothing is that it can be extremely expensive. A bespoke suit could cost you thousands of dollars.
If you do not have enough money to commission a bespoke suit, an alternative is buying one off of the rack and then taking it to a tailor who can adjust it and make it fit a little better. Of course, when you take a suit to a tailor to have it adjusted, it’s not going to drape or fit the way a bespoke one would, but it can fit better. Make sure that if you are buying an off-the-rack suit and nothing fits, there are only suits that are too big and too small, buy the bigger size so that you can get it tailored and taken in. It’s easier to make a suit that’s too big fit than one that’s too small.
Understanding Different Colors
Different colors suit different skin tones. A lot of people who’re new to male fashion completely overlook colors when they are selecting items of clothing for the first time. If you do not take the time to learn about the importance of finding colors that suit you, your outfits could either wash you out, or they could just clash with your skin tone. A good way to determine if a color suits your skin color is to use an online chart. There are literally thousands of color charts available on the internet, most of them for free.
An alternative to using a color chart is to go into a men’s clothing store in your area and try things on, checking yourself out in the mirror. You should be able to find your color by doing this. The good thing about going into a men’s clothing store is that you can ask the people working there for their support if you are not able to figure out which colors suit your skin tone. They will do this for you for free and you are not obliged to buy anything, even if they do give you assistance.
Don’t Underdress to Work
The worst mistake you can make when you are trying to find the perfect outfit to wear to work is underdressing. Overdressing can also look foolish, but isn’t a capital fashion offense. Overdressing just makes you look like you take things too seriously, which is actually a good thing in some situations. Underdressing on the other hand makes you look like you don’t care about the way that people perceive you.
A good way to determine what the right thing to wear to work is to look at what your managers wear, then dress one level of formality higher than them. Managers are in positions of power, meaning they can take liberties that ordinary employees are not able to. If your manager only wears a shirt, tie, and pair of slacks to work, you should wear a full suit. Of course, if you are truly unsure what to wear, outright ask your manager what kind of workplace it is prior to starting. If they say it is a business-casual workplace, you can dress accordingly.
Knowing what to wear to work as a man can be very difficult. For women, it is a lot easier. If you are new to men’s fashion, use the guidance given above to find outfits that suit you, and are suitable for your workplace.