Dressing well at any stage of life is about knowing what works best for your current phase. Your wardrobe should naturally evolve as you step into new roles. Here is a simple guide to adapting your personal style and building a solid closet that looks great no matter how old you get.
Young Guys Need to Pick One Theme
It is tempting to wear many different clothing styles when you are young. You really need a single look that people can easily describe. Putting a fancy button shirt with crazy pants does not work well. Pick your favorite style and stick with it completely.
Experiment With Your Casual Looks
Being young means you have the perfect excuse to step outside your comfort zone and try out different casual styles. You should definitely play around with bright colored shirts and jackets but just try not to wear them all at the exact same time. Having a good variety of tops and bottoms keeps you from being stuck in one boring look every single day.
Fit Is Everything for Young Professionals
Ready to wear suits are usually made pretty big and wearing a baggy jacket is the absolute easiest way to look like a kid wearing his dads clothes. You should always shop at places that offer alterations or take your stuff to a tailor so it fits closer to your body. Just make sure it is not so tight that it pinches you when you move around the office.
Keep Your First Suits Simple
You are always going to be better off looking like you try a bit too hard instead of looking completely sloppy. A basic single breasted suit in a dark solid color is a timeless choice that works for almost any business meeting or interview. You should leave the crazy pinstripes and three piece suits for the older guys who actually have the gray hair to pull them off.
Professionals Must Raise Their Casual Standard
Once you hit your thirties you really need to start upgrading your everyday casual clothes because you never know who you might run into. It is time to leave the graphic tees behind for the gym and start wearing shirts with collars when you go out. Having some nice dark fitted jeans and a few casual jackets shows everyone that you can afford to dress well just for fun.
Moderate Your Colors for a Mature Vibe
Neon orange pants are definitely a young guys game so you will want to tone things down a bit as you settle into your career. You can still wear rich colors like burgundy or dark green which look amazing and keep your work clothes from feeling like a boring uniform. Trying out muted pastel tones is also a really smart way to make a basic chinos and shirt combo look super unique.
Professionals Layer Up for a Complex Look
A sports jacket and a collared shirt is a good basic outfit. To look even better you should buy turtlenecks and warm cardigans. Clothes with bumpy textures will make your plain outfits look very cool. You wear these items for fun so go ahead and try new shapes and layers.
Mature Men Should Embrace Casual Suits
As you age you can wear a suit just for fun and everyone thinks you look great. Pick up a light linen suit for your weekend lunch dates. If a whole suit is too much just put on a sharp sports jacket and some clean pants to look your absolute best.
Incorporate Classic Accessories Daily
It is actually surprising how many great accessories most men completely ignore as they get older. Things like colored leather gloves and nice hats are perfect details that an older gentleman can easily pull off everyday. Adding small touches like a classic pocket square or casual cufflinks shows people that you have the time and skill to outshine everyone else.
Invest in the Best Materials
You can wear similar styles to younger men but your fabric choice needs to be much better. Buy suits made from rich thick wool and get them adjusted for your exact size. True luxury comes from a perfect fit. It reflects your success and gives the youth a standard to admire.
About the Author
