Summary: I write "Attraction Basics" series (you can find other posts via my profile) about things we all need to fix before we even hit the streets. I've already covered posture, eyes and smile. Now: to the fashion! Your clothes might be good enough if you've put any thought into them. Sadly, many guys just don't think at all before they put anything on them.
I'm not into fashion as a hobby. However every now and then girls noticed that I dress good. Not great, no one will stop me on the street to compliment my choices but then definitely no one will slap their foreheads when they see me. I've made over my wardrobe at least few times in the last two years so I won't give you advice like "wear this" or "wear that". I'll however point out few things that many guys are doing wrong and finish with few styles that are good starting points.
Let's start with the most important thing: you have to have a style. Your style. Don't just "buy nice clothes". Have your target image in mind. Imagine yourself arriving to a new city where no one knows you or shooting a music video where you can appear as cool as you'd like. What would you wear? What would be comfortable for you? Leathers? A three piece suit? There should always be a target image even if you're not exactly there yet.
Also remember that clothes should emphasize your good traits. Don't think you can hide yourself behind them. Big wooly sweater made by a loving grandma is comfy but it doesn't look good. M-65 jacket in woodland camouflage won't help you with your daygame too. The same goes for tracksuit. And those clothes that were cool 10 years ago. And also your favorite t-shirt. And those 5-years old shoes.
The most common mistakes that I see over and over again:
- clothes too big for you; number one on my list and without a doubt the most common mistake; clothes should be fitted - buy slim variants of most things (avoid skinny pants though); get used to the feel of material on your skin;
- too informal; rock band t-shirt, jeans and military boots might be comfortable but these are far from best options;
- too formal; if you're wearing a shirt - unbutton top few buttons and roll up your sleeves; don't wear a three piece suit (it reeks "provider");
- bad shoes; it took me far too long to realize that my favorite brand produces the most comfortable but bland footwear; do not wear indistinct sport shoes or trekking shoes, or heavy boots;
- focusing on brands; you will be better focusing on what's looking and feeling good, clothes are consumables and buying a $100 t-shirt is just stupid;
- backpacks, manbags; just... don't;
- dirty and/or old clothes; wash them goddamit, clean your shoes, make your mother proud.
What I've found (more like blatantly copied from London daygamers) is that few outfits feel great and seem to do their part of the job. If you have absolutely no concept for yourself then don't worry - just copy others. In time you'll buy more things that you like and slowly develop your own personal style. It's a constant evolution. Today I've felt that I have to redo most of the pictures which were taken few weeks ago (I will do a follow up instead).
As to the starting points that can work and are good bases for later development:
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smart casual - neutral shoes (don't do dress shoes), jeans/pants, shirt or t-shirt and a jacket; I don't use that style anymore, it's not "me";
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rock and roll look; we're not talking heavy metal or shock rock - think leather shoes, leather jacket, jeans/pants, some accessories and/or jewelry, t-shirt and/or shirt would be fine;
- basic & bright - I don't have a smart name but it seems to work nice too; this is my summer look - basically just a t-shirt and pants in bright colors with matched sneakers.
Your options of course aren't limited to that. Read great article on Rugged, Refined, Rakish on Masculine Style which describes various styles from completely different angles. You can also lean more into the rockish look or maybe borrow something from motorbike guys (e.g. cafe racer style) and of course you can always just wear fitted shirt (roll up your sleeves! don't button up to the neck!) with matched pants. Fitted and coherent is the absolute minimum of what you should wear. You'd be surprised how far you can get when you just pick your wardrobe consciously. And as to "coherent" let me introduce you to the color wheel.
So many guys that I know (including me until a while ago) have no idea how to match colors. You can learn it really fast and it gives you plenty of safe choices. Looking at the color wheel: you can dress in complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel, e.g. blue and orange), triad colors (equidistant from one another; e.g. green, orange and violet), analogous colors (directly adjacent on the color wheel, e.g. orange and red) or different shades of one color (e.g. dark blue pants with light blue t-shirt). Also: whites, blacks and grays can go with anything. Check out the basics of color wheel anywhere on the Internet.
Really wise thing to do would be to throw out all your oversized boring clothes and start with something that works. If you're on a budget buy only complementary clothes - those that always work with each other. When you limit yourself to one pair of shoes and two pairs of pants and then buy only clothes that match those things you'll never risk mismatching anything. I on the other hand like my trousers orange, blue or red and my shoes brown. That gives me some cool opportunities but not everything will match with all of my wardrobe.
That's about enough fashion advice for an introductory post. Doing all this should stop you from dressing really bad. The goal is to have wardrobe that at least don't get in the way of picking up girls and maybe - just maybe - will be the foundation of your own cool style. There's one more thing that you can do to really make your clothes work for you and that's accessorize. I heavily underestimated that part of fashion and thanks to hanging out with sharkk I'm having an accelerated course on that. I already see that accessories work in many ways and I'll write about it soon.
If you're looking for more fashion articles I can recommend Masculine Style, Well Built Style and Mr Vintage (a Polish one!). They're a little bit too much focused on formal clothes but I'm sure you will find plenty of good advice in there (including basics: to match your belt to your shoes; how to know if you can wear that shirt outside your trousers; how to dress when it's hot - that's a big one!). If you now have a lot of reading and even more of shopping to do then enjoy the process. And remember: fashion is fun.
Lessons learned:
- You have to have a style. Your style.
- What do you look like? What's the archetype that your clothes suggest?
- Clothes should be fitted - buy slim variants of most things.
- Spend a lot of time choosing shoes. Girls really check them out.
- Avoid looking providerish. It's not about the money.
- Learn how to match colors.
- Experiment, be brave. Don't be like everyone else.
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DoubleTappp 7y ago
Goddamn there is a lot of silly shit getting said here.
I'm gonna go ahead and plug malefashionadvice sub because it's got a few decent starting points for guys who truthfully have no idea how to dress themselves at an above average level.
Take some simple ideas and run with them to test out what you like, what looks good on you, and what you can actually afford.
I have some designers I have come to enjoy over the years but this shit didn't happen overnight. Start small and build up a wardrobe that represents you as a person.
And lastly, always spend good money on shoes. Fuck.
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ToSeeAndToHear 7y ago
I've regretted shoe purchases only when I cheap out. Every expensive pair of shoes I've bought have been 100% worth.
Dronitto 7y ago
Any tips on glasses? I need glasses to see anything, any ideas for frames or how to fit them with your face? btw, you look like Polish or Czech
ToSeeAndToHear 7y ago
If you have a strong prescription, go for contacts. Small eyes aren't sexy.
Dronitto 7y ago
Luckily, not that strong that they cause small eyes
tddaygame 7y ago
Contact lenses or laser surgery. There are some very good frames out there with brand names (think Ray Ban for example) but in the end still think most guys would be better without glasses.
Ps. I'm Polish.
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DRMMR76 7y ago
I would like to see more posts like this. There are a lot of us (I believe) that aren't really tapped into the latest fashions and likely never were. I think a lot of men who find their way to TRP were probably not the most popular in high school or college, or don't have a group of friends who are always hitting the clubs, parties, cocktail lounges etc. Fashion is definitely one of my weak points. I've been hitting the Concept 2 like a madman for months now, so it will soon be time for another wardrobe upgrade, but frankly I don't really know much outside of matching brown/black shoes to brown/black belts and don't wear cargo shorts. Fashion magazines and websites aren't much help since everything they list either costs $115 for one t-shirt or just looks really homosexual.
TNNRR 7y ago
There are a lot of resources online regarding style for men. Stay away from stuff like "askmen.com" and all that noise.
Look for blogs like: primermagazine.com
dappered.com
realmenrealstyle.com
mademan.com
ironandtweed.com
NietzscheExplosion 7y ago
These posts are useful but even in this internet world, style preferences vary A LOT. In rural Alberta you literally just need nice fitting wranglers (yup get em used if you have to) and strange women literally sexually assault you.
This post works for your average cosmo-metro city for 2million+ people.
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[deleted] 7y ago
In regards to cost, places like value village and blue notes have great fashion for the prices.
bokehnikon 7y ago
First step to getting a sense of classic yet casual style: do a Google Image search of "Steve McQueen"
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Leostylee 7y ago
These kind of articles kill me. If you read a post like this and follow it step by step you're just going to look like everyone else. I wear "heavy metal t-shirts", jeans, and beat up vans every day and its never hindered me from getting pussy.
I'd say wear clothes that you like and that compliments your personality. At least in my situation, chicks like it when you can rock whatever you want and don't need to hop online to figure out what to wear.
beachbloke 7y ago
As I mentioned in one of my posts, experimenting with clothes is a good way to see the ways people stereotype you.
In terms of the most effective clothes for women, IMO the two most important elements are fit and appropriateness.
Fit is crucial. Know your size for each kind of clothing. For instance, different types of shirts require different sizes for appropriate fit. Do not compromise on fit. A well fitting walmart shirt is better than a poor fitting designer shirt.
Appropriateness is also crucial. Underdressed or overdressed is the same. My opinion is if in doubt, underdress.
One of my goto shirts is a 2-3 button thermal with all the buttons unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up. Like this: http://www.jcpenney.com/st-johns-bay-long-sleeve-legacy-thermal-henley/prod.jump?ppId=pp5005141851&selectedSKUId=51315570075&selectedLotId=5131557&fromBag=true&quantity=1&cm_mmc=ShoppingFeed-_-GooglePLA-_-Thermal%20Tops-_-51315570075&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=thermal%20tops&utm_content=51315570075&gclid=CIX41PrXmc0CFcYlgQodYwoHBg&kwid=productads-adid^45810122978-device^c-plaid^76121677538-sku^51315570075-adType^PLA
I've had several colors and for me the best color is dark brown, but I like the beige colors as well. I pair it with light colored generic jeans.
If you want to change your wardrobe, experiment with inexpensive clothes before dropping benjamins on designer clothes. I got 4 numbers today and my clothes were all from walmart -- orange fitted V-neck T-shirt, dark colored jeans, and cheap flipflops. Total of $40 or $50. Focus on fit and your personal style.
edit: I wanted to mention, one of my favorite pairs of shoes for cold approach is the pair of $10 all-white sneakers I have that have grass stains from mowing. Those with a fitted white T and the jeans that have oil stains from working on my car is great. Instant 'guy next door' familiarity.
FrameWalker 7y ago
Great post id also recommend the sidebar of malefashion advice for basics and frugalmalefashion
bornredd 7y ago
MFA is crap. I've never seen a style guide of more fruity recommendations. Even their "Goth Ninja" recommendations are awful.
If you are going to go preppy, check out realmenrealstyle or dappered.
I'll check out frugalmalefashion though.
enadelb 7y ago
Not a fan of the bright pants in the photos. Too eccentric looking imo
tddaygame 7y ago
I'm overcompensating for wearing a lot of blacks in childhood. But jokes aside - just wear jeans. Jeans are universal.
Koen_of_Mook 7y ago
Good criticism, good response.
RageLionRising 7y ago
If you live in a warmer climate sometimes it's best to go with just a t-shirt, a properly fitted pair of jeans, and a high quality pair of shoes ($400+). But going beyond just fashion it should be pointed out that the real social status comes from lifting weights. Muscle makes a t-shirt and jeans look good. It's instant social status. The guy with muscle generally beats out the stylish metro-sexual guy every time.
But I do agree, a nice pair of shoes goes a long way.
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knightSwolaire 7y ago
If you lift weights and are in shape... You can slay with just a t shirt and jeans
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[deleted] 7y ago
I've bought two boots, one dark brown and another a bege color, almost yellow. The only doubt now is which color of jeans pants I'll use them with. Any help is welcome.
StoicCrane 7y ago
Beige and blues. Pops particularly with faded light blues. Brown is neutral so it goes with anything though Black is universal and goes with anything for every occasion.
[deleted] 7y ago
Thanks. What about dark blue jeans, black jeans and a light khaki? Will those be a simple combination to keep to match with the boots?
StoicCrane 7y ago
Dark blue is a default. Black with beige Tims are tricky. The usually go well with neutrals like white, brown, and grey. Wear well fitted charcoal or slate grey with black bottoms and those Tims will pop! Avoid beige on beige khakis unless you plan on wearing distinctly a white shirt and maybe a beige jacket to tie it in. Though iffy with beige/yellow Tims that outfit's the sht with brown ones.
Most of all LIFT! Can't tell you how many IOIs from good looking chicks I've gotten from being more built. Makes well fitted apparel that much more attractive.
[deleted] 7y ago
Yeah, I'm a built guy as well. Not huge but model type. I have been blessed with nordic genes in a tropical country so the amount of IOIs I get is good lol. Much appreciated on the help, even though I must say fashion is tricky still lol. Take care.
StoicCrane 7y ago
With a little research it can be simple. I'm sure what you're skin tone is like but with a little reading you can see what colors make you look better overall. Neutrals like grey, black, white, and brown are always in style but to bring out you're unique fashion sense find out what colors bring out your best. For general info on dressing I recommend this. Keep in mind that this site is only useful for fashion, though. For Red Pill like articles I recommend Return of Kings instead. Unfiltered masculine truth at it's finest. Best of luck and take care.
LaRedPill 7y ago
LOL I have almost the same outfits, seems like red pill minds think alike.
Advice though, don't spend too much on clothes until you have something similar to his body, dont waste money
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MAWL_SC 7y ago
Another point to add regarding inappropriately sized clothing; get rid of the undersized tees that make you think you are more buff then you actually are. Everyone sees this as pathetic and you should too. If you are in shape it will show, no amount of small/tight clothing will trick anyone; it's the same as when fat chicks wear tight clothes and just look ridiculous.
The sleeve seam should line up with your shoulder, the sleeve itself should rest near your elbow, the lower part should fall two inches below your belt. You are only fooling yourself.
aewiggin 7y ago
I've never seen a well-fitting t-shirt that has sleeves down to the elbow.
Half-way down the bicep is acceptable
bornredd 7y ago
1/3 to 2/3 of the bicep is the best range, IMO.
DoubleTappp 7y ago
Sleeve to elbow bro? Are you fucking daft?
MAWL_SC 7y ago
I said rest near the elbow.
DoubleTappp 7y ago
Sure, and I still say "Are you fucking daft?"
MAWL_SC 7y ago
W/e I don't care to argue. Pat yourself on the back you won internet points.
LaRedPill 7y ago
Guilty of some of that, correcting it now tho.
WildmanThaGod 7y ago
Ok stuff like this is retarded. Wear whatever you want and be confident in it. I dress like a homeless metal head and I have no problem with girls. Why? Because I'm confident in myself and people know me this way so it's nothing out of the ordinary. Don't dress like everyone else, dress unique, you'll get much more attention that way
Battle-Scars 7y ago
You're giving fashion advice in your comment but you're calling OP retarded for giving fashion advice?
[deleted] 7y ago
I think his comment actually make sense.
His points are:
Sounds solid advice and RP concept to me. He was just giving example how he dress like a metal head.
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EdwardTivrusky 7y ago
Sounds strangely similar to just be yourself. This kind of advice is stupid and your backup argument (that you have no problem with girls) just reaffirms that you did not thought this through. We don't care about single data points. They are irrelevant, you are irrelevant. What is important are numbers – in numbers we trust. Average guy will get better results with better style. Not to mention that, like any endeavour, developing style changes not only style but way of thinking about various things.
So my question is – how do you know that you get as many chicks as you could get if you would dress well? Have you developed proper style before, then gathered data, then concluded 'no, I get same amount of chicks so won't bother' and came back to enlighten us? I doubt that.
[deleted] 7y ago
Both you and his points are correct. Because you two are talking two different level of concepts.
Girls are OK with his outfit, not nerdy, not like the liberal 70s. Also because he is confident about himself, he has no problem with girls.
Your concept is more focus on statistics, compare between poor dress and well dress man.
Here is my individual example about well dressed. I suit up everyday, blazer or sport coat is for casual weekend. Drive cars that people will stare at me from rear-view mirror or snap photos when he pass by. Neighbors' house often goes on newspaper. At this point, I need to filter those chicks out. The problem you mentioned:
Became: How do I avoid as many chicks as possible.
Chicks will try to get your attention as much as possible. They want to know your phone number, your user name of various chat app, take photos with you and post to Facebook, they will snapshot your car license number in order to figure who you are.
I once wrote:
Get chicks is extreme for me, what is difficult is to get someone at my(your) level.
WildmanThaGod 7y ago
Pretty sure "just be yourself" is solid advice when it's actually taken seriously. Giving fashion advice is like telling someone what kind of music to like, it's subjective and people will like or wear whatever they want.
EdwardTivrusky 7y ago
No. Be yourself advice is always bad. You acquire knowledge and with time, energy & experience comes wisdom but at the end you're completely different person that you were at the beginning. If you would hold yourself true to be yourself advice you would oppose change – why change if you want to just be yourself. I get your other meaning, i.e. be confident in your own skin regardless of circumstances but then again I will backfall to my previous assessment – you're giving advice through your own narrow lenses which makes it useless. If person X is not confident she will not become confident overnight so your advice is a waste of time. You lack introspection into your own progress, do you really think you always were confident? I myself am pretty confident person and I always have been but I'm pretty sure that I developed it very early in life, probably in time I cannot even remember that's why I (like you) have given advice to others just be yourself but with observation I came to conclusion that it doesn't work like that.
Your view on fashion advice is skewed. It's not about telling someone to strictly adhere to style XYZ. Bottom line is this – everyone should develop fashion style that suits them. Take what you think is good for you, disregard rest but general advice about style (i.e. that you should have it) is always solid.
Also, you seem to completely miss the concept of growing/evolution of one's taste. I listen to different music than I did when I was teenager and I'm glad that some people pointed me in certain directions.
Last but not least, let me guess – you're teenager or in your early twenties?
PS. Become the strongest version of yourself.
WildmanThaGod 7y ago
Yes I'm a teenager, but "be yourself" means to be YOU, why waste yourself trying to be someone that isn't you? There'd be no point in being you. Being yourself doesn't oppose growth, it embraces is while keeping a solid foundation of yourself. So yeah... Be yourself
EdwardTivrusky 7y ago
Tell me, if my true self likes the taste of lamb but I have never eaten a lamb how would I know that I really like lamb before trying it out? Getting out of your comfort zone is exactly training you to be someone else. Anyway by now you either grasp it or you will go with your pointless advice, EOT.
WildmanThaGod 7y ago
Not training you to become someone else, you're just trying something else. But ok man, you do you.
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bornredd 7y ago
While you are technically correct, being confident in your style also helps hit that confident face.
And really, hair can make a HUGE difference:
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Whatthefuck
AskYouEverything 7y ago
Clothes convey a lot about a person though. If you dress nice (not fashionable, but nice) then people will know that you have a reason to dress nice. If you're the best dressed man in the room and you know it, it's one more step to being the most alpha man in the room
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thebaldbear 7y ago
What's the consensus on wearing the same thing all the time?
Eg. having 5 different versions of the same shirt but in different colours. Would the repetition hurt your SMV or is it fine once you look great in that particular shirt?
tddaygame 7y ago
As long as it doesn't look like you're wearing the same things over and over again you'll be fine.
[deleted] 7y ago
No one notices if you wear the same stuff in different colors, they notice the look you portray and categorize you by that look. Eg. If you wear loose T and baggy jeans as your look, you are thought of as super casual can't let go of the 90s etc.
It's great to have the same stuff or style of stuff in different colors. It makes dressing so much easier because everything fits with almost everything else without compromising your look and feel.
Think of your everyday wear as a uniform that represents you.
Too much stuff makes you less stylish, and makes it too hard to decide what goes with what and what to wear. It's a mess.
You are a man, things like dressing must be as easy as possible.
StoicCrane 7y ago
For guys in their mid 20s V-necks, V-Sweaters and Polos can go a long way as a lifter. Not only do they so off your physique but they are versatile for most occasions. Add a casusual pair of black loafers and you'll always look good style-wise. Jeans for casuual settings colored dress slacks, grey; beige etc for more formal ones.
In casual settings a normal tank with a solid colored V is excellent whereas for normal add an undershirt layer to show a measure of sophistication and perhaps glasses if you wear them.
For Polos in uncasual settings wear without an undershirt and latch the lowest button. In formal arenas an undershirt is a must but make sure to clasp only 2 buttons. The 3rd reeks of BB and just looks awkward and nerdy. So remember, V-necks are for versatility and show virility. Polo is more casual.
TheAloofCat 7y ago
Hey, anybody got any tips on finding decent clothes at a reasonable price? Where I live virtually all men's clothes are overpriced shit. Dress shirts cost over 50 bucks with regular fit and can't find slim ones. Suit jackets cost 150+ and they have the same problems.
It doesn't help that 9/10 stores are for women only.
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[deleted] 7y ago
If you're on a budget hit up a few thrift shops in your town for any casual shirts, ties, and formal suit jackets if that's your style because if you find a decent fit you can get it tailored to perfect it. Don't buy it obviously if people can tell you got it at a thrift store. You're not going to be finding the $1000 suits that all these Alpha Chad lawyers are wearing on here, but you'll be getting the best bang for your buck. No shame in rocking something sold at Sears brand new for $200+ if that's what you can afford, especially since you got it for only 10 bucks. What matters most is how you look in it. I don't dress formal unless I'm attending a wedding, funeral, or something like that. No sense in spending a lot on something new that you'll wear once a year anyway.
For jeans and shoes though, buy new, but you can get good deals at places like Nordstrom Rack and the like. For underwear, t-shirts, and socks, no need to buy fancy obviously. Slowly but surely your wardrobe will get bigger and you'll need little maintenance during the year because you'll have mostly everything you need. It seems expensive at first, but like buying furniture in a house you stop needing more because you have it already. You'll know you've hit that point when you realize you have quite a few different pairs of shoes... and you actually wear almost all of them each week.
PS: Get two different style watches if you can.
ToSeeAndToHear 7y ago
That's just the floor price for suits man. Compare online, maybe you'll find some deals there, but good staple clothes ain't cheap.
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RageLionRising 7y ago
Head to your nearest mall. Levi's has a bunch of different fitting jeans. Levi's 501, 502, 503, etc., etc. Set aside an entire Saturday to do a jean fitting. You'll only have to do it once, but it pays off long term.
whomthebellrings 7y ago
Great post OP. A great resource for male style, not fashion, is Dressing the Man by Alan Flusser. Guy created the Wall St look seen in the film by the same name. His focus is developing timeless style irregardless of ever changing fashion trends. An invaluable skill nowadays
bokehnikon 7y ago
Thanks for the "avoid looking providerish" tip. Too many guys don't realize that "Mr GQ suit game" can snare the wrong type of girl.
About not wearing heavy boots, I think good stylish boots such as Red Wings convey masculinity because it's a look women can't copy without looking "butch." It's like lifting: it's masculine and even if a woman can do it, she looks ridiculous.
BoyWhoreWithASword 7y ago
To add to this, if you already have "edge" to your look, facial piercings, crazy hairstyle, or tons of tattoos, you can look "providerish" just a little bit. If you're already looking a bit unorthodox and edgy the "providerish" vibe can balance out your look and add juxtaposition. This goes double for black guys especially in white areas because if you're black and in even decent shape, you'll look edgy to the average white person in even a plain fitted white shirt and some jeans.
I'm a buff black guy with 3 ear piercings a full sleeve tattoo, and more tattoos on my chest that come up slightly above my neckline. I'm shaved bald with a full beard. I also usually wear a big sterling silver wolf head ring on my hand.
I'm going to look a lot different in chinos, vans, and a polo shirt than a skinny fat white guy with a plain haircut.
TNNRR 7y ago
This is a pretty good example of how the man fits the clothes, instead of the other way around. I'm a slim white dude that looks like a bitch in a polo and chinos.
You're doing everything right by being buff and having a style with some edge (bald/beard).
Right now I'm lifting and growing my hair out to a Jax Teller style. I already have a beard. I'll be looking a bit more edgy in a few months.
And yeah, I'm not really sure how to say it without being racist, but white folks can be scared of black folks, so you'll definitely look bad ass in a polo and chinos, with a solid body, tats, and the bald beard combo. I remember when I was a boxer, white boxers were always intimidated by black boxers, and the black dudes were really excited to beat up the white dudes. Anyways, you're probably using that racial tension to your benefit, which is what you should be doing. Its really about just using what you've got.
[deleted] 7y ago
Looking back on past mistakes I've made, I think I came across as provider in a number of different ways, and a lot of my suits made me come across as a beta bux. I think I had a "good guy" purple pill mentality.
When you are bringing an AF game in many ways but mix in holding doors, pulling out chairs and wearing ties and cufflinks most girls don't know what to make of you. They only understand AF/BB, for the most part.
el_superbeastooo 7y ago
Goddamn Red Wings boots were the best purchase I've ever made. They were way out of my budget at the time and the most I've ever spent on shoes. That being said, they're incredibly comfortable, and give me a little boost to height and posture due to their shape. I've got the Iron Rangers, highly recommended.
TNNRR 7y ago
I've worn cowboy boots for the last decade or so. Mine finally wore out and I had to buy a new pair. My old pair were beat up, stained, and scratched from working on cars, hiking, literally worn through a hurricane in Florida AND a blizzard in Chicago. I live in the South, so cowboy boots are not common, but they are completely acceptable.
They added about three quarters of an inch to my height and I frequently had girls approach me and say "I like your shoes" or, "where did you get those boots?"
I typically paired them with dark jeans and a button-down (read:collar) button up shirt. I went on dates wearing them with a sports coat. I always wore them under the pants, never outside the jeans.
A good, worn in masculine item seems to be irresistible if the rest of your style is in line. A beat up leather jacket, or (naturally) roughed up jeans could have the same effect. It adds history to your style. If you don't think you can pull off a leather jacket or cowboy boots, you probably can't. But hell yes - boots are a great item for a man to own, cowboy or otherwise. It will always be more masculine than flip-flops, sneakers, or even boat-shoes. All of which have their place.
A man with beat up boots or a jacket looks like a man with a story behind him, and men and women find it intriguing.
EDIT: Just for the sake of any young guys out there looking to learn about style: dappered.com is a very good resource for clothing advice, although I tend to dress on the more rugged side than Joe does. Realmenrealstyle.com is another good one. I believe the owner of that page is a former marine, so he's no dandy.
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StoicCrane 7y ago
Tims are kinda played out now. Black loafers are like the new Tims in my opinion. Chicks wear Tims but look dumb in men's loafers.
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TNNRR 7y ago
Boat shoes are great in the heat with some good shorts. I like Sebagos. They're hard to break in but they look and feel great once they do. Boat shoes are the dress shoes for shorts.
NaughtyFred 7y ago
Have you read "The Kinowear Bible"? If so what do you think?
Sarcasticus 7y ago
So what do you suggest, then? Briefcase? There comes a point where if you're carrying too much stuff, it'll weigh down your pockets, and make you look sloppy. (Not to mention wear out your clothes faster.)
Dookiestain_LaFlair 7y ago
I recommend the Jack Bauer assault satchel
verify_account 7y ago
messenger bag. Check out Mission Workshop.
tddaygame 7y ago
Call me lucky but I don't need anything more than a wallet, keys and my smartphone. I used to carry a lot of shit with me but I've realized that I don't need it day to day.
Pewdielockz 7y ago
There are times you gonna need it. Some days I go to a local starbucks to work with my laptop or reading a book. Especially for work-things you sometimes need to carry something.
destiny_dude 7y ago
Can't avoid a bag/backpack/satchel/whatever when you have a laptop.
-LiterallyHitler 7y ago
I sit here in my m65 thinking "at least it's not woodland"
TheEagleAndTheSnake 7y ago
I would like to point out the importance of materials. Wool, cotton, linen, leather, silk over polyester, polyamides (such as nylon), acrylic fiber, leatherette, faux anything. Natural over synthetic 100% of the time. Also, pro tip: if you are really jacked and look really dangerous, wear clothing that contrasts this, e.g. nice touchy feely velvet. Soft clothing is an excuse for the HB to touch you.
GaiusScaevolus 7y ago
When in doubt, go with a clean black t-shirt that fits properly and a pair of darker blue jeans. It's a look that works for virtually any guy.
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EdwardTivrusky 7y ago
Disregard OP's opinion. Backpacks & bags are tools, and men use tools. Good advice should be – find a backpack / bag that goes well with your style.
MeiFriend 7y ago
I guess it depends, are these things you carry necessary? Then use it. I think this goes more along the line of what you wear to go out and socialize. If your job requires you to carry a lot of stuff, fashion is way below in priorities.
ToSeeAndToHear 7y ago
It depends on the style you're going for. If you're more dressy, maybe a briefcase would be good. Middle of the road, messenger bag. Dressed down, backpack is fine.
Just don't wear a backpack with anything you would wear dress shoes with.
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StoicCrane 7y ago
They're some trendy sleek looking brown leather backpacks around but at the price of $200+ for their size it hardly seems worth it
mattizie 7y ago
I agree too, mate.
My advice would be to change to a smaller wallet that takes up very little space in your pants (that shouldn't be tight or skinny).
Failing that. Well, i happen to ride a motorcycle everywhere and always have my leather jacket with me. A leather jacket seems to look ok, and you can fit lots of crap in the pockets without looking buldgey or distorting the shape.
But I'm the last person you want to talk about regarding fashion lol. If anyone else has a better solution I'd be glad to hear it.
ChadThundercockII 7y ago
You can't carry a laptop, phone, and regular EDC item in your pocket or a jacket. A nice backpack can go a long way.
Benny757 7y ago
I'm an older guy, but back when I was in college (and yes, I believe even as a senior in high school) I went to the library and started reading Esquire and GQ (Gentleman's Quarterly). These magazines changed the way I saw style, and allowed me to develop my own.
Now, you can go to the library, and view an entire years worth of these magazines and get a feel for style throughout the seasons.
No, you don't need to spend great sums of money on clothing. But you can develop a style for yourself with some core purchases.
And go to the thrift shops and consignment shops. buy cheap and used if you must. Make it fun.
As OP expertly mentions, I love the Rugged, Refined, Rakish style. this works for me, and boosts my confidence.
Only wear the three piece if your work/career requires it. Be yourself, not Donald Trump.
dasparton0007 7y ago
Let me tell you something boys, I used to be a brand whore. If it had a G-Star logo, it was mine, if it was Gucci, I bought it, if it had the Prada name, consider it sold. Yea, I was getting compliments cause people knew the brand, but like OP said, it wasn't me.
I was a high school kid working as a waiter and basically spent my whole check on 1 product, every week. The thing is, you can only wear something really nice once before it gets boring. I had a super nice G-Star shirt that cost me $80 and the second time I wore it a friend called me out on it.
After reading a ton on fashion, I concluded that the best outfits are the most simple ones, but with ONE extravagant detail. For example, a pair of jeans, grey crew neck t, brown belt, white shoes (Stan Smith Adidas), and as the detail, a red bracelet. Although you look super basic, that 1 red bracelet will pull all the hoes.
Here are my tips for a successful chick-magnet closet:
3 Pairs of Premium denim: 1 Light wash, 1 normal blue, and 1 dark wash. Best Denim to consider is Diesel. Yes, they run for almost $150 a pair, but they will last you like 3 years.
5 Pairs of prima cotton t-shirts. Go for neutral tones in grey, light blue, and white. The heavier the cotton, the better the fit, and the longer it will last.
2 Pairs of sneakers. 1 all white, 1 black. For white shoes, think Adidas Stan Smiths. For Black, Nike Cortez
2 Pairs of Dress shoes. Easy: 1 Oak Brown pair, and one black pair with a different tone sole
Gentlemen, at the end of the day, OP's advice of having fitted clothing is the key to fashion. Don't buy that 1k Armani suit if it fits you bought it 50lbs ago.
jason-funk 7y ago
I'm gonna be THAT guy.
I'd swap out the colors. Light blue is okay for summer, but I'd swap out the medium blue and 'dark wash' for black and raw indigo (google it if you're scratching your head). Also, Diesel? That's like the Ed Hardy shirt of jeans. Depending on budget, you can either go Levi's or if you want lower end, Naked & Famous, or Gustin for mid-tier, or for those wanting to spend $200 plus, there's a litany of wacky Japanese brands. The rawdenim sub should be able to help.
Don't forget black. Also, 50/50 and tri-blend shirts will hug you better if you're in shape and work good for multiple seasons. Heavy cotton makes me think of the ill fitting Gildan and Hanes shirts that billow at the sleeves/midsection. Surprisingly, H&M's stretch shirts work surprisingly well, but they seem to be cut specifically for guys in the 5'10-6'1 range
Nothing wrong with Stans. Common Projects Achilles Low if you're rich. For black shoes, GATs (the sneakers the German military wear) are surprisingly good looking and easy to get off ebay.
If you're getting brown, get wingtip or cap toe. For black, get a round toe. Slim profile for both, but NEVER pointed or square toed.
I guess you must have gotten tired of writing by this point. There are all kinds of boots, so be aware of everything out there. Personally I'd suggest a brown chukka boot (Clarks Desert Boots is a popular example), a black cap-toe boot. Don't go too military, or plasticy looking Doc Martens but a little edge is fine. Red Wings' iron ranger in black are great, a little cheaper would be something like Stafford from JC Penny. Lastly, a suede (black, grey, or brown) chelsea boot is a very modern, dressy style.
Majesty_of_Nothing 7y ago
Matching your leathers; shoes, belt, watch band, wallet makes me feel like a billion bucks.
Dookiestain_LaFlair 7y ago
Big clothes are comfortable. Look at these guys meeting with the president and a probable CIA operative. Who looks like they are wearing more comfortable pants, The Gipper or the heroes of Rambo III? Say what you want about the backwards religion, but those pants look fucking comfortable.
fasthandssam 7y ago
Adam Carolla had an insightful bit on fashion. His point was: pick a direction, and go for it. It's much more important to get into something and make it part of your identity than trying for any specific style.
Girls like rockers. Girls like bikers with leather jackets. They like sharp-looking dudes with suits. They like men with tank tops and big muscles. They like guys who are really into tattoos, and they like guys that are into piercings. Some even like bearded hipsters.
The only thing they can't stand is a middle-of-the-road, sensibly dressed man who has no personality in his style. Sensible is boring and weak.
Pick a direction and go for it. Don't sit in the middle, and you should be fine. Dress like you live: with INTENT
After all, style is never the actual thing itself that women are attracted to.
TNNRR 7y ago
Don't forget that you don't always have to be edgy or tattoo-ed. Its not my personal preference - but there's a lot to be said about the Don Draper-Corporate Alpha look, too.If you lift, and have a good job, and you're over 30, you can probably pull that shit off well. I just wanted to add that to your list.
One thing that look is not, and your post is absolutely right about this - is that the middle of the road, awful "safe-guy" look.
I like your comment though - do you and be a little unique. Don't look just like everyone else.
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RageLionRising 7y ago
Many guys especially young college kids with no cash and older married men who've been depleted of their wealth either do not have an awareness or have just forgotten that high quality clothing is important to getting laid. The OP is a good reminder.
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