How to Get a Live Person at Fashion Nova
"I'k just non naturally fashionable."
Does that audio familiar?
Here's the truth. Dressing well is a skill. And like whatever other skill, you can acquire it and better. Don't believe me?
Yep, that'southward me in high school rocking a terrible ponytail, forth with spectacles that were mode besides pocket-sized for my head.
And to mankind out the image, my daily outfit in loftier school consisted of:
- Plaid button up shirts
- Baggy jeans with ripped hems considering they were too long and I kept stepping on them
- Clunky Rockabilly shoes I found at the mall
It wasn't until college did I kickoff paying attention to my style in a serious way. And if that kid higher up could learn, then can you.
In fact, you have a huge reward as an Essential Man reader. I didn't have a real resource, and had to get through years of trial and error earlier I've truly learned what great manner was.
Today I'thousand sharing with you essential mode tips for guys who want to dress better.
Whether you're a complete beginner, or have been working on your style for a while and need a refresher, I've refined these concepts and tips over the last 11 years to help you look your all-time in no time.
Heads upward! I put together a special beginner's bonus for this post to assistance you lot kickstart your new fashion in less than ten mins!
Download my "How Dress Should Fit You lot" Cheatsheets. You'll learn "clothing fit" hacks that'll assist y'all find dress that fit, cut your shopping time in half, and brand you lot look really fucking good – even if you lot have a "weird" body type.
Yous can learn these unproblematic tricks in 10 minutes. And best of all, it'southward complimentary! Just enter your info below and I'll send it to you!
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1. REALIZE THAT DRESSING WELL IS A SKILL
Just like cooking or shooting free throws, dressing well is a skill that tin actually be learned.
My job equally a personal stylist isn't to purchase apparel for guys and ship them on their mode. I teach men how to choose apparel that enhance them so they can practise information technology on their own. If dressing well wasn't a skill that could be taught, I'd be out of a job!
With all skills, y'all get better the more you do. And unless you alive in some weirdo nudist colony (I would apologize here, simply if you're a nudist reading this blog, you lot're in the wrong identify), you demand to get dressed everyday. That ways y'all have an opportunity to practice and nurture the skill of dressing well every single twenty-four hours.
WHAT YOU CAN Practice TODAY: Nobody is born in a perfectly tailored 3-piece accommodate, or with some magical intuition on how to dress well. (If you need a reminder, roll support and look at my high school picture once more.) Realize that dressing well is a skill that can exist developed through practice.
2. DEVELOP YOUR "Heart" BY IDENTIFYING STYLE Y'all Similar
Right after guys tell me that they're just not "naturally fashionable", information technology's ofttimes followed up with:
"I merely don't have an eye for putting together outfits or knowing what looks proficient"
Here'south what I tell them:
"Ok. Is there anyone who's style you think looks practiced? Something you think 'I'd like to dress like that', even if you don't think yous could pull it off. Maybe it'south a celebrity, a musician, an athlete? Even a fictional character. Some of my clients have mentioned James Bond or Tony Stark before."
The guy volition so list off a ton of men he thinks dresses cool. Then I like to point out that he just debunked his own supposition that he doesn't have an "eye". He only showed me he tin can run into and recognize groovy style!
At present, he might not know the why nevertheless, and that'southward oft the reason why guys tell me they don't have an eye. Understanding why is learnable.
But whenever you lot're working on a goal, it's important to identify and claiming stories you lot tell yourself. Whether it'southward that you lot don't have an center for fashion, y'all're likewise busy to piece of work out, or you're just a shy person. The stories we tell ourselves are ofttimes invisible barriers to keep united states in our condolement zone.
WHAT Yous CAN DO TODAY: Accept 5 minutes. List out 3 or more guys who mode you think looks not bad and that is in the management you'd like to go. Even if y'all don't think you tin can pull it off, list it. Information technology could be someone yous know, a glory, or even a fictional character from a movie.
3. SOLVE 90% OF YOUR STYLE PROBLEMS BY GETTING THE Right FIT
"F*@1000 Ryan Gosling!"
This is something an bodily client said to me in one case afterward seeing the picture of Ryan Gosling higher up.
"How the hell does he look so cool wearing only a t-shirt and jeans?"
The answer, my friend, is fit.
Fit is the about important thing when information technology comes to great fashion. It's so important, in fact, that I tell every i of my clients "wearing dress that fit properly will solve xc% of your way problems."
When clothes don't fit properly, they throw off your body proportions. Because of the excess fabric, clothes that are too big make you non only look sloppy, merely fatter and shorter than you are.
Men have the tendency to wear clothes that are too large for them considering it either "feels more comfortable", or they merely don't know how dress are supposed to fit in the get-go identify.
The right fit is how someone like Ryan Gosling (or me, or you) can look effortlessly stylish rocking a plain white t-shirt and jeans, and how someone can await terrible in a "dainty arrange" that probably cost 20x more.
This also means if you call up you need a accommodate in order to expect fashionable, you don't!
If you're more leather jacket and jeans like me, yous can be leather jacket and jeans and expect great, as long every bit you're wearing wearing apparel that fit right.
WHAT You Tin can Practice TODAY: "How Clothes Should Fit You lot" Cheatsheets which shows you my trick to mastering the perfect fit for your shirts and pants in 10 minutes.
four. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH Fashionable PEOPLE (EVEN IF IT'S ONLINE)
When making any change in your life, especially something that's physical like your style, the biggest roadblock is going to be the well-nigh surprising.
When it comes to the people around you now, your friends and family, your girlfriend, your coworkers, at that place is a loftier likelihood that they won't all have a positive reaction to your change.
If you lot want to work with me 1 on ane every bit a customer, you accept to concord to work with me solo. That means your girlfriend or wife is non allowed to sit in to any of our sessions or shopping trips.
I created this dominion after working with a customer whose wife insisted she sit in in our styling sessions. She would give me feedback on every single slice of advice I'd give. Her notes and comments amounted to "He doesn't like that, he prefers to article of clothing this." Substantially negating any communication I would give.
She was enabling his bad style.
Subsequently a couple of weeks, I promptly refunded his coin and created this rule.
Change is uncomfortable for people. It makes them face up the reality that someone is working hard to improve, and information technology challenges what they're doing for themselves.
I of my favorite quotes of all fourth dimension is "You are the boilerplate of 5 people around yous." Who nosotros surround ourselves with has an extremely important touch on our actions, behaviors, and mindsets.
This is why wealthy successful businessmen tend to be friends with each other. It's why fit bonny Crossfitters are surrounded past fit attractive Crossfitters in Instagram pics. And information technology's why obese parents are more than likely to take obese kids.
When it comes to your mode, that'due south exactly what you need if you want to improve. You need to surround yourself with people with the same goals as you lot.
WHAT YOU CAN Practice TODAY: The simplest change you lot tin can make is to start following stylish people on places like Instagram. It'll requite y'all a double whammy: Information technology'll betrayal y'all to great style and give you lot some inspiration, but it'll besides create an surround where dressing well is "normal". Demand some stylish Instagram recommendations? Bank check out this post I wrote about my favorite stylish Instagrams here.
v. FOCUS ON A CLASSIC STYLE Beginning BEFORE TRYING TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL STYLE
A mistake people make when trying to amend their style is thinking they demand to create an original, 100% unique personal style.
This is a classic example of what's called "Extreme thinking".
Want to lose 20lbs?
"Ugh. I accept to give up breadstuff, rice, beer, booze, candy, meat AND have to do some crazy crossfit workout, and spend 2 hours at the gym. Forget it"
Want to save money for a vacation?
"That ways I have to cancel my Netflix account, stop going out on weekends, defer my educatee loans. I probably had to miss some credit card payments if I always want to have fun. That'due south going to ruin my credit. I'g never gonna be able to relax on vacation now."
When you're starting to amend your manner, think of it like how chefs learn to cook:
They don't get into the kitchen thinking they need to create some amazing and original dish never seen earlier.
They larn the archetype recipes and techniques starting time. Then they outset adding bits and pieces of their personality and interests in to put a spin on them.
You lot're going to do the exact same thing with your manner.
Focus on classic styles first, then slowly add your own personal spin later.
WHAT YOU Tin DO TODAY: I write about archetype styles in my "Essentials" series, you can see all the Essentials I've written about so far by clicking hither.
half dozen. THIS Likewise MEANS Buy Classic STYLES FIRST Before DABBLING INTO TRENDS
Tell me if this sounds familiar:
Yous open your closet. It'southward filled with clothes.
You sift through all the hangers squeezed into your cramped cupboard and call back to yourself "I have goose egg to wearable."
So you lot become to the mall and buy fifty-fifty more clothes.
And then a month later, the same thing happens. You have "cipher" to wear.
You're non going crazy.
This is what I call "Panic mode shopping". Yous open your closet and freak out because things are outdated, they're hard to mix, and there are so many choices. So you go out and buy more wearing apparel and add to the trouble.
It's a barbarous bike. And one of the biggest reasons for this problem is trendy apparel.
Trendy translates to what'due south cool now. It's what all the blogs and magazines are talking about. It'southward what'southward in the stores. And considering information technology'southward new and fresh, it'southward a little exciting.
Simply the big problem with any trend is that it eventually dies down.
Remember how leather sweatpants were really popular a couple years ago? And what about double monk shoes before that? Or if you're old like me, trucker hats?
Trendy clothes are like that big Summertime blockbuster that you lot can't escape.
The actors are on every talk show. Commercials are playing not-stop. Posters are everywhere. Just, come Fall, nosotros've moved on.
Classics styles are like classic movies. The Godfather. Back to the Future. Taxi Driver. They're not going anywhere.
That's the advantage of classic styles of clothes. They're time tested to expect good. A leather jacket, dark blueish jeans, boots? Looked groovy in the 1950s, nonetheless looks expert today.
WHAT YOU CAN Do TODAY: Commencement shifting your shopping habits to look for and buy archetype styles. What's the divergence between something that's classic and trendy? How practise you balance classics and trends in your wardrobe? Cheque out this mail service I wrote that answers that question.
7. STAY CLEAR OF GRAPHICS, LOGOS, AND WILD PRINTS (FOR At present)
Many Essential Homo readers are older professionals (30+), and I often get asked "How can I look older/more mature/get taken more than seriously?"
One of the means is to stay articulate of graphics, logos, and wild prints on any kind of article of clothing, whether it'south a t-shirt, sweater, or god forbid, pants.
Whenever you lot habiliment a logo or graphic t-shirt, you lot either expect like yous're in college, or are you're on your fashion to a UFC fight. (Don't go me wrong, I'grand a HUGE MMA fan. Only there is a certain style that goes with it.)
I'thou not opposed to logos and graphic t-shirts equally part of a solid wardrobe, only when you're starting out, going solid colors is going to brand you wait 10x more than mature and serious.
WHAT Yous Can DO TODAY: Solid colors and graphic/logo-less dress brand you expect more refined and mature. The not bad thing is that this change is a elementary bandy. Replace your graphic t-shirts and apparel with solid versions, like with the examples in a higher place.
8. STICK TO SOLID NEUTRAL COLORS
Every man's wardrobe should be based around neutral colors.
What are neutral colors?
They're colors that aren't overpowering. Because they're not overpowering they easily mix with each other. Powerful colors similar a neon greenish and orange? Pretty hard to work with.
If your wardrobe is all neutral colors, you don't need to know "how to mix and lucifer colors". A neutral color wardrobe is essentially self-working!
Here'south the other thing: You've probably already been dressing in by and large neutral colors without fifty-fifty knowing it.
Neutral colors are white, black, navy, olive, grey, khaki, brown
What I dearest about neutral colors, aside from it being cocky working, is that it's a very masculine color palette. It makes you look refined, serious, and put together. It also provides the perfect backdrop when you want to start introducing more than colour to your wardrobe.
WHAT YOU CAN Practise TODAY: I recommend a ratio of 3:1 when it comes to solid neutrals and not-neutral colors. Have ten minutes check your closet. Practise you have more non-neutrals, graphics and design wearing apparel than solid neutrals? Make a note to start balancing information technology out to hit a 3:1 ratio.
9. TO Apace Empathise QUALITY, GET Easily ON
Why are some cashmere sweaters $100, and other $1,500? Is the $1,500 one really 15x better?
Are college quality apparel "worth it"?
No doubt these questions have crossed your mind. And my answer is…
Information technology depends.
It'south difficult to makeanything expert for a low price. Whether that'southward a pair of jeans, a laptop, or a steak dinner at home. When you have a express upkeep to work with, there has to exist some compromises.
In that location'southward an assumption that considering higher quality or designer clothes are expensive, "yous're getting ripped off" every bit a client. You'll sometimes read guys on blogs and forums proclaim you lot're just "paying for the marketing costs"
I can tell you having worked 11 years as a menswear designer, it'south just non really true.
Ameliorate materials, amend structure, and better design cost more than to brand, so it costs more for you to buy.
A perfect case: Cheap jacket zippers tin can be low as $0.50 a zipper. They're light, tin be frustrating to use and, of course, break hands.
When I was making leather jackets, I was using high end RiRi zippers. They're heftier and nearly impossible to break. When you zip up your jacket, it was buttery smooth.
The downside? They can sometimes toll equally much every bit $twenty per zipper for me as a designer. That means by the time the jacket hits you lot in the stores, that single $20 zipper adds $60 to the price of the jacket thanks to a standard 3x markup.
That's not marketing, that's math.
But information technology'due south hard for yous to grasp how much better that zipper or $1,500 cashmere sweater is without trying information technology. The same way I can tell y'all one of the best meals I've always had price $220, per person ,no matter how well I describe it, you can't truly sympathize until you take a bite.
WHAT You Tin DO TODAY:Go to a store that you would consider out of your budget. A identify that might fifty-fifty be uncomfortably expensive for you. You don't have to buy annihilation. Just walk around, touch the clothes. Perhaps even endeavor something on. Brand mental annotation of how things fit, feel, and how you experience wearing it. Then get to a fast fashion store like Zara or H&Thou and endeavour similar items on. Make note of what's different and what's like. Annihilation surprising?
ten. BUY THE BEST QUALITY You lot CAN FOR YOUR BUDGET
This leads u.s.a. to the question, how much should you spend on wearing apparel?
Uncomplicated: My recommendation to all my clients is to buy the best quality that fits in their budget.
If you lot're making mid 6-figures a year, so a $200 pair of jeans might not exist a big deal. Just if $200 is barely what yous brand a twenty-four hour period, there are plenty of great options at lower prices.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY:To first, I always recommend J.Crew. They're in about every major urban center, are archetype with a touch of trend, and they have solid prices. For more store recommendations, check out my post "Where I personally shop (and what I become there)"
11. Salve TIME IN THE DRESSING ROOM USING THE "PULL three" Play a trick on
Whenever I'yard out shopping, I always see people pulling 1 size, then going back and forth from the showroom to the dressing room.
Information technology drives me crazy! It'southward such a waste of time.
Imagine cooking a meal at home where yous took out one ingredient at a time from the fridge.
I'm going to prove you how to cut your shopping time in one-half with one trick.
When you're pulling clothes to attempt on in the dressing room, "Pull 3" of the aforementioned item:
- One in the size y'all think you are
- One size up
- One size down
Then if you're shopping for jeans and you call up you're a 33, pull a 32 and a 34 and accept all three to the dressing room. It saves you a couple trips, and is a bit of insurance in case it's a new cut or the brand changed their sizing.
WHAT YOU Tin Do TODAY:Employ the "Pull three" trick when you lot're out shopping
12. USE "THE Swap TRICK" TO GRADUALLY Pace OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
In that location's no change without stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Just it doesn't accept to be terrifying.
I teach my clients what I call "The Swap Trick". It's a way of introducing something into your wardrobe – a new trendy piece, a new colour they thought they could never habiliment, or an item of clothing they never considered before – gradually.
Here'due south how it works.
Think of it like trying out hot sauces. You wouldn't get from a mild hotsauce directly to a super hot ghost pepper sauce. You would endeavor something slightly hotter than the last and work your fashion up.
It's the same thing when you're trying something new with your mode. Y'all probably don't desire to leap from a black leather jacket to a neon green one. The next footstep up would probably be a brown leather jacket.
Here's some other example:
You want to showtime wearing more colors and patterns for summer.
I'll starting time with an easy outfit: linen oxford shirt, navy lounge pants, sunglasses, white sneakers. The colour palette,while perfectly fine, feels a trivial boring and safe. So let's bandy out the shirt for something a little more colorful. We can go 2 ways, a brighter color, or a pattern/print.
Even though the pick of a calorie-free blueish shirt isn't and so crazy, you tin already meet it feels a lot more than colorful than the outfit we started with. With the print, it's even meliorate and more than in the spirit of summer.
But notice how one simple swap can change the entire mood of the outfit! This is really the cardinal to starting to wear more than colour. You don't have to wear a lot to brighten up your look.
As a starting recommendation, I always advise to get-go with simply one swap per phase. When y'all go more comfortable with wearing some color and patterns, accept information technology a step further.
Each time, swap out i more item in your look for something a bit brighter and colorful. The great matter is, if you feel similar yous went overboard, you tin always pull information technology back a level or two and still accept a great outfit.
WHAT YOU Can DO TODAY: Call back about something you wanted to add to your style that you're nervous about. How could y'all break it down and gradually introduce it into your wardrobe using "The Bandy Trick"? If you need a specific instance on how to use The Bandy Trick for something similar trends, bank check out this mail I wrote on Effortless Gent.
13. Yous DON'T Offset WITH Conviction, YOU BUILD IT
Think well-nigh when y'all first started learning how to bulldoze a motorcar.
You were probably terrified.
You were pretty sure within the first 10 seconds of hitting the road, you were going to crash.
Yous weren't confident. Still, as you kept driving, your conviction grew. Driving got easier. Now you illegally Snapchat on your phone while sipping your coffee and playing with the radio as you steer with your knee, and nonetheless go work in ane slice.
It's the same with your style.
You don't demand to start with confidence to improve your style. Your confidence grows as you work to meliorate your mode.
Just like with driving, the more you do it, the easier it gets.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY: Start with one outfit. Simply one. Utilise the communication in the previous tips – stick with neutral colored, archetype styles that fit well. You're going to await and feel great. That quick win is of import. At present utilise that feeling to proceed going. Then, read the next tip to acquire my favorite play a joke on to help you build confidence even faster.
xiv. USE MY FAVORITE TECHNIQUE TO FEEL More CONFIDENT IN A NEW OUTFIT
This is a not bad technique to employ in conjunction with The Swap Trick, and is a KILLER hack for a showtime date. In fact, it's something I used when I beginning started dating my current girlfriend.
Whenever you have a engagement (or a briefing, interview, or speaking effect): Habiliment the outfit you're going to clothing to engagement for an unabridged day before the date.
Even if it'due south a dressy outfit. Go about your day like it's any other solar day. Go java. Go grocery shopping. Go to work.
What you're essentially doing is "breaking in" the outfit. Getting yourself used to wearing it.
I started doing this because I noticed that when I would clothes up for a engagement, even if it's apparel I've had for years, I would always feel uncomfortable during the date. I'd feel self-conscious. I'd fidget a lot.
And then ane day I had schedule a date correct later on work, since I had no fourth dimension to go abode and change, I wore my date outfit to piece of work. By the fourth dimension the date rolled around, I had spent an entire mean solar day in my appointment outfit and felt relaxed.
WHAT YOU CAN Do TODAY: Whether information technology'south a new jacket you got or an entire outfit for a date, intermission it in by wearing it around to exercise errands. Got a last minute appointment or event and can't spare an entire twenty-four hours? I've found even wearing the outfit for a few hours before helps.
Need some date outfit ideas? Check out this mail service: "A beautiful woman lets you know how to dress (and what to do) on a first date"
15. SEEK THE Assistance AND Advice OF EXPERTS
According to Mint, I spent $7,360 last yr on books, courses, and consultants to assist me improve my business, my skills like writing, and general noesis in topics I'g interested in similar philosophy.
It sounds like a lot, but ask yourself this question: What'south the price of bad communication?
Imagine y'all're a CEO of a company and you lot take a marketing upkeep of $25k. Y'all read some advice from marketing forums filled with anonymous writers. You make up one's mind to take some of the communication and it turns out to exist bad. Now you're out $25k. Suddenly, a $7k investment in an top expert seems like a steal.
How many months, even years, will you waste product following bad advice when it comes to your fitness routine? Your finances? Your style?
This tweet from Amy Hoy sums it upwardly perfectly:
When it comes to learning how to apparel, at that place are TONS of options. From style blogs, Instagrams, Reddit, and Youtube channels.
Some dish out great advice. Most are filled with guys who like to shop and like to talk about it online.
When information technology comes to mode advice, it can be catchy to filter out the skillful from the bad.
As someone that's been doing this for over xi years, I know how mode advice can be challenging to teach. Telling someone what to buy isn't the same as educational activity them how to have not bad manner. The aforementioned fashion a cook telling you lot to buy ingredients doesn't help you learn the technique.
WHAT YOU Can Exercise TODAY: Whenever you read advice online, e'er consider the source. Do they dress well? More than important, is information technology a mode you desire to adopt? If they are a stylist or have products, how practice their clients and readers expect? Good, or terrible? Do they have a background in way or fashion, or are they "a regular guy just similar you!"
Once you observe an expert you've vetted. Yous have two options:
- Pay for their advice
This is the fastest way to learn. Whether that's a book they've written, a grade they've created, or hiring them for one-on-one time. And while this is the fastest, this is likewise the more than plush option. This is my personal preferred way to learn considering my time is limited. I can always make money back, but one matter I can't brand dorsum is my time. - Attain out to them via eastward-mail for advice
On the flip side, this option is "free", simply is going to have more than fourth dimension on your end. Before you achieve out to an skillful for communication, make sure you practice your homework. Experts are oftentimes decorated people. Brand certain you search if they answered the questions you want to ask before. Skim through their blogs, Twitter, bank check if they've been interviewed on a podcast or magazine. If you can't observe the respond you're looking for, only and so should you consider reaching out to them. For that, I highly recommend reading this mail service: "How to get the attention of your favorite expert"
16. LEARN TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY Enough Not TO TAKE IT Likewise SERIOUSLY (AKA HAVE FUN, It'S Just Clothes)
I take a confession to make: I don't read fashion blogs.
Shocker, right?
Sure, I skim sites similar Hypebeast and Gear Patrol to run across what's new, but when it comes to blogs, forums, news about the industry, I stay clear. Why?
Well, for one thing, a lot of it's actually boring. It also doesn't assist me with my job.
I practice a lot of research when information technology comes to learning the pains men take when it comes to their manner. I often come up beyond forums where guys are endlessly debating selvedge denim vs non-selvedge, having long discussions about the "death of original style", and share their theories on what "DESIGNER X" was trying to say with his latest drove.
One thing I realized afterward I went from designing menswear to becoming a private personal stylist: I've learned to accept it seriously plenty not to take it too seriously.
Aye, great style can truly impact your life. I've seen it first hand.
Better mode tin make you get taken more than seriously in your task. It can make you an unforgettable brand. And yes! It volition make you more attractive! (What woman doesn't want a well dressed, successful man?)
Merely the last thing I want you to exercise is spend hours on forums debating about wearing apparel. I'd rather you put on an amazing new outfit (you lot learned thanks to me, of course), exit and alive your life. Crush information technology at your job. Keep an amazing date.
Accept fun.
Because if you lot aren't having fun dressing meliorate, it's not going to last very long.
HAVING Astonishing Fashion IS EASIER THAN YOU Retrieve
To sum information technology up, make certain y'all:
- Purchase wearing apparel that fit – It will solve 90% of your style problems
- Focus on the classics outset – classics are classics for a reason. They're fourth dimension tested essentials that look good on every guy.
- Stick to a neutral color palette – Neutrals automatically mix with each other, so you don't take to worry about mixing colors. They make you look professional person and masculine, and when y'all're fix to introduce more color into your wardrobe, they serve as the perfect properties
- Accept fun
Desire to kickstart your new style in the adjacent 10 mins?
Download my "How Clothes Should Fit Yous" Cheatsheets. You'll learn "clothing fit" hacks that'll assistance you find dress that fit, cutting your shopping time in half, and make you look really fucking good – even if y'all accept a "weird" body type
Y'all can learn these elementary tricks in 10 minutes. And all-time of all, it's complimentary! But enter your info beneath and I'll transport it to yous.
Success! Check your email for your bonus!
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