Break up the monotony: important tips to remember when mixing and matching your business shirts
photo by antwerpenR
When woman shop for clothes, their tastes are often going to be as fickle as the market changes rapidly every year. However, the great thing with men’s fashion doesn’t vary as often. The general components of men’s closets consist of the business shirts, the pants and the jacket. So with fewer items to work with how can a man mix up his outfit from time to time if he is stuck with the same clothes?
How to break up the monotony of wearing the same style of clothes
Look at the details
Take a step back and look at your closet. What is the overwhelming colour in that closet? More than likely, you’re going to go, “Wow! I have a lot of white.” With so many different colours of business shirts on offer, you don’t have to have just white business shirts lining your closet.
Consider having shirts of different colours, pattern and cut. Switching from a standard cuff to a French Cuff for example can make a big difference on your looks. Little changes can make a huge difference in your outfit and keep you looking trendy all year long.
You can also stop looking the same way all the time by mixing the colours and patterns of your ties, business shirts and suits.
Standard shirts
When you want a change, consider going for a bold looking tie to go against your white business shirt. You can also go for an ordinary coloured shirt with a discreet coloured tie that will contrast with the shirt. Try a tie with patterns or shapes with a plain shirt.
Patterned shirts
Add some mixture to your shirts such as herringbones, stripes or checks. Make sure to stay with toned down colours even with the stripes and their thickness; this is especially important for your workplace. If you have narrow stripes, the shirt can be a bit more discreet. If you wear a patterned shirt, go with a plain tie.
Warning about patterned shirts
Patterned shirts with patterned ties are no-no’s since there are just too many things going on; it can hurt the eyes (not literally). You should never wear a striped suit and striped business shirt, as they don’t mix well together. It’s just too many stripes for a person’s eye. You either do pattered shirt or suit with a plain shirt or plain suit. Make sure to get your outfit right if you’re going on a date.
Now that you know what kinds of men’s business shirts, suits and ties there are, you should be able to stop wearing the same outfit constantly. The one good thing about being a man is that you need only a few general items for your attire and you can come off looking the money!
Making a lasting impression with business shirts and suits
photo by Richard Thomas
When people talk fashion these days, it’s not uncommon to have the subject turn towards men’s fashion. The term fashion doesn’t always relate to your clothes; it can also relate to your style or attitude. Regardless of your profession, having a good sense of fashion and dressing the part is always a motto to live by.
When you meet someone for the first time, your impression of them is going to last a long while. Guess what? The same can be said about them about you. Thus, you should always do what you can to look good when meeting someone for the first time. This is especially true if you’re going to a job interview, want a promotion from your current employer or are trying to woo a lucky lady.
Here are a couple of things you should know when trying to look good
First, you need to understand what are the ‘now’ looks… while at the same being careful to not be too much of a fashion victim. Flick through some men’s fashion mags, or if you’re working in advertising or marketing, your company may have a subscription to WGSN http://www.wgsn.com/ – the world’s leading fashion and style forecaster. There’s a portion of WGSN that’s open to the public without subscription where you can pick up some key themes on men’s style.
Second, always have a think about what you can do to mix up your outfit. Details are everything so think about accessories as part of your wardrobe, such as watches, ties, belts and cufflinks. Cufflinks for example can be great in turning crummy old business shirts into a stylish look.
It could be said that men have been lagging in the fashion area for many years. However, there are many reasons to step it up to make an impact on your boss and your significant other. Fashion isn’t just for women anymore. You don’t have to be heavily into fashion to get the most from it but remember it’s a complex part of life so it doesn’t hurt to focus on being a bit fashionable to get ahead. Just keep in mind – little bit of fashion knowledge can go a long way.
Gear your business wardrobe toward quality over quantity
photo by KB35
When you’re thinking about purchasing business shirts and suits, it’s important to consider quality rather than quantity. Think back to a time when you might have been studying at uni, and were hitting the clubs or bars every weekend. If you felt like you were wearing the same outfits repeatedly, you probably went out shopping.
You probably now see this act as money wasted, as you are older and realise that while the designer items were nice for a time, you need clothes that are actually going to last while not breaking the bank. Wouldn’t you want to pay for quality and have them last you for a good long while instead of maybe two or three seasons at most?
With the GFC in full force, this is the time to get crafty with your clothes and shoes and buy things that you know is going to last and still fit your personality. If you think you can pull it off, try shopping at vintage stores, as you’ll find all kinds of garments that are from the last several decades. You’ll find these garments are rather inexpensive as well. Consider mixing up your business shirts and suits with the vintage clothing you buy.
Look at your current wardrobe and put some thought into how you’re going to shape it up. If you have doubts about how you should coordinate, resort back to the threes-rule: never have more than three colours on an outfit.
Remember, it’s important to dress the part and be well-groomed if you’re going to keep up your gentleman-like appearance, even if you’ve been affected by the GFC.
Six must have closet essentials for any formal or semi-formal occasion
formal semi-formal occasion
There are several basic pieces of clothing that must be in a man’s wardrobe; items that will work across a semi-formal or formal occasion including a date, interview or wedding.
Six articles of clothing that should be in a man’s closet
Suit
Every single man should have one tailored suit in the closet in case of special occasions… regardless of how many times a year that special occasion occurs. When you have a suit on hand, you won’t feel embarrassed or cheap (which can be the case when you go to some occasions without wearing a suit)
It’s always best to stick with the common suit colours such as dark grey and black; it should also be single-breasted. Make sure you pick a medium weight wool because it’ll last longer, maintain its shape and is versatile in any season. Steer clear from the trendy cuts and stick with the classic style, which can be used for many years. Sticking with basic suits allow you to only change your business shirt and tie so that you keep your fashion sense current.
Slacks / pants
You’re going to need pants in that closet so why not make it a well-made pair of dress slacks? Make sure that the pants are in a black/navy blue. These slacks are versatile when you have an event that doesn’t necessitate the wearing of a suit but needs something more than just jeans. Make sure you choose medium weight wool so it lasts longer; it can also be used in every season and keeps its shape.
Classic sweater/jumper
Make sure you have a favourite woollen jumper in the closet… v-neck, cardigan or crew. Always wear a flattering colour and a fit. Sweaters are perfect when you’re going to a function that’s not very formal.
White or plain blue business shirt – This shirt type is a must have for your suits and dressy pants. Remember that white shirts will always be stylish and look good with pretty much anything. You can wear them underneath a sweater with only the cuffs and collar showing.
Several ties
It’s a necessity to have ties in your closet as they need to be worn with suits at more formal events eg Spring Racing Carnival, job interviews etc. However, they can also be worn with a shirt or underneath the sweater. Make sure to have several kinds of ties available, as you can mix and match them with different outfits or with your overall mood. Purchase new ties every year since styles can often change – skinny ties for example seem to be doing the rounds a bit at the moment. If you’re the type of person to always wear suits, then you’ll want to purchase ties every season that way you can change them up more often and mix up your wardrobe attire.
Black shoes and belt
A big fashion blunder when it comes to men’s attire is not to have colour matching belt and the shoes. If you’re wearing black shoes, you should also be wearing a black belt, as it will serve you on all kinds of occasions, formal or informal. Be sure you always have black leather shoes and a black leather belt in your closet. We like the range of men’s shoes at Aquila, there’s a lot of choice on offer and they’re reasonably priced.
Good quality shoes should last for a long time… depending of course on how much you’ll be wearing them. You’ll still need to take good care of them; belts can last just as long. Whatever you do, don’t spoil the look with the socks you wear. Go with the common black pair of socks made of wool, as these tend to keep their colour and shape.