Good Dressing 101. A Basic Men’s Dressing Style Guide.

The Foundation

Fit. It’s the most important thing and trumps everything else. Good fitting is generally defined as not too tight, not too loose and the right measurement for your body type and shape. Everything just looks better with a good fit. 

What to wear. Dress according to the occasion, weather and your age. This is a classic style guide that goes back centuries.

Classic fashion staples. There are many different sub-categories and varieties of each but this can be summarized into a few basic elements: a navy suit, white shirt, polo shirt, round neck shirt, dark wash jeans, chino pants, chino shorts, a minimalist watch, a black leather belt, black leather shoes and white sneakers. All good-fitting, of course. And none of these items have to be overly expensive - just good quality knowing that fashion staples are called staples for a reason: they never go out of style. Everything else is icing on the cake.  

Colors. Navy blue, white, greys, black and brown. This ought to be your foundational palette with the occasional color pop.

Dress up or down. Generally speaking and when in doubt, it’s always better to dress up than to dress down.

Fast fashion. Fashion fads are ok occasionally, but they’re called fads for a reason.  A classic outfit built with staples goes far.

Some Basic “Guidelines” on Everyday Wear

Shirts. Go for white, spread collar, and well pressed shirts. It goes with most outfits and occasions.

T Shirts or Polo Shirts. The sleeves should fall between your elbow and shoulder.

Undershirt. Go for a slim fitting V neck instead of a round deck. You look better without your undershirt neck showing.

Pants. Dark wash denim jeans will never go out of style

Shorts. Ditch baggy and overly long cargo shorts. Choose shorts with the hems a few inches above your knees.

Shoes. Black dress shoes go with everything. It’s ok to wear white sneakers with a suit as long as your dress code is business casual. Keep your sneakers clean.

Socks. Pick a color that’s a similar shade to your pants. Low socks are ok for casual but not for formal. Don’t wear socks with sandals, and white socks never go with black pants!

Perfume. Understand whether your perfume is for daytime (fresh and clean) or evening (sweet and sexy). Use accordingly.

Dress Codes Defined

Formal. Elegant and refined. Appropriate for special events (weddings, cocktail parties, gala events) or as office attire. Dark suits, shirts, neck ties and formal shoes. Certain formal or black tie events require a black tie, barong or even a tuxedo. Do not wear sneakers.

Business Casual. A balance between professional and comfortable. Could be a dressed down office attire or any dressed up event. You’re not required to wear a dark color suit and can even opt for a sports jacket. Lost the neck tie. You’re allowed to wear more comfortable pants and, depending on the dress code, even jeans and sneakers.

Casual. Comfort and ease of movement. Jackets are optional. While a shirt or polo shirt is recommended, a T-shirt is perfectly fine. Jeans are ok, as well as sneakers. Do not wear shorts (unless specifically stated) or sandals.

To Round Things Out

While fashion may last a season or two, style is classic. 

Style follows just a few basic guidelines that puts fit, quality and timeless dress staples at the center.

Every man goes through a style journey - you will develop your own style over time. It's ok to break the rules sometimes.

Lastly, dress to feel good and ready to face the world. It’s about showing up for moments and people that matter.