On Simple Style Hacks That Make You Look Mature
I just want to share with you what I have learnt (and still learning) about men's style and image from my experience.
Wait!! Before you go and drown yourself in expensive mismatched brands to stay trendy, hear me out. I'm here as a graduate of the highly reputable University Of Style to show you some tricks to look... Actually no, such a University doesn't exist and I'm just a guy who has an interest in men's image and presentation.
I just want to share with you, my gents out there, what I have learnt (and still learning) about men's style and image from my experience. In this article I will discuss 5 basic style hacks, what to do and what to avoid in order to present yourself as a mature person. In this first part of the blog, I'll discuss branded clothes, basic clothes, and appropriateness.
'Mature' is a word I've used to loosely mean 'someone who looks responsible and focused enough to be taken seriously by others.' Indeed, you have to work from within yourself to be truly mature but we'll come to that another day. Today let's discuss how to present yourself as the ideal you.
1. Avoid huge logos.
We all want to show the next person how stylish we are and what brand we identify with, but overdoing this actually just makes you look like a "showoff." If you like that look then fair enough, but if you want to maintain a mature image, avoid big logos and graphics on your t-shirts, jeans, shoes etc. An alternative to wearing clothes with big logos is to just find clothes with smaller subtle logos/graphics or wear plain clothes all together.
2. Replace your chunky sneakers with low profile sneakers.
You remember the good old days we used to wear hi top Supras to those crazy high school raves? Sadly, those days are gone. You can replace your big bulky sneakers with some slim profile sneakers, preferably white leather or canvas ones. Some examples of slim profile sneakers are low Converse, Vans authentic or any other shoe with basically the same clean, simple and versatile silhouette. See image three above
3. Wear boots.
Yes, wear slim profile boots. Skip your pair of Timberlands or any other chunky boot on this one. Instead, some of the boots you can try are wingtip boots, Chelsea and chukka boots. When it comes to material, you can go for what you think is easier for you to maintain. For example leather is easier to maintain for someone who is not very keen on cleaning and detailing his shoes every often. Leather shoes can be simply kept clean with a shoe brush and are more durable even in the rainy weather. Suede boots on the other hand are more stylish but come with extra cleaning responsibilities. You will need to buy suede cleaner and to protect them from rain. However, if you can handle the cleaning, suede boots will make you look even more mature. See image one and two above.
4. Observe the occasion.
You don't want to be that guy who pulls up in a three piece suit to a house party or the one who attends a board meeting in a t-shirt and shorts. Oh, what's that? You'll never need to attend a board meeting? Well, you get the point, I can't think of a better example. You should consider the place where you're going and dress accordingly. Consider the formality of the location, the activities you'll participate in and who you'll be with. Remember, 'how you dress is how you will be addressed,' so make the appropriate communication with your clothes. I will be posting articles on examples of combinations of clothes you can put together for specific occasions.
5. Don't follow fashion.
Finally, we have the classic rule of style. To argue out why you should not follow fashion I'll give you an economic reason. Fast fashion, AKA trends, come and go very quickly, hence the name 'fast'. To keep up with these trends you should have a significant amount of money to spare, and if that is your case then feel free to indulge but for the majority of us, I know how tough it can get. In that case, it is my opinion that you should save the money you budget for clothes and buy a few neutral clothes that will never go out of style, rather than buy an expensive piece that you'll wear for one or two months. For example jeans, you just need four shades, dark blue, medium, light wash and black.
Bonus tip: Invest in basics first.
Yes, clothes are an investment that also needs strategy. You should consider replacing your 'trendy' clothes with basic pieces such as; plain white, black, navy blue and grey t-shirt, clean deep blue, light wash and black jeans (not distressed) and a pair of all white or black leather or canvas sneakers. In this tight economy, you will get the most wear out of the basics because you can match them with any other cloth you own.
In conclusion, as the saying goes "Less is more." To look mature you would want to avoid big logos and graphics on t-shirts, wear boots or simple low profile sneakers with one colour, avoid extremely ripped jeans, and invest in simple basic clothes in neutral colours.
Stay tuned for the second part of mature style hacks
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