How clueless men can learn how to dress better. How to start inspiring a better fashion sense, styling and wardrobe choices for gents.
Most men do care about their appearance, regardless of what they might tell you, but if they feel totally clueless about their own fashion sense or how gents should dress, they may not know how to start upgrading their wardrobe.
Fortunately, it’s not hard for even the most fashion-blind men to upgrade their choices – if they’re willing to do it.
The Plight of Fashionless Men
It’s hard to deny that there are millions of men who have no fashion sense whatsoever, and possibly have no interest in dressing any better. The why behind this is a bit of a mystery, though there are several potentially explanatory factors.
It could be that societal expectations for men and women are different, leading to different perceptions of the value of appearances. It could be because men are, generally, less socially invested than women. It could also be attributable to differences in thinking and problem solving between genders.
In any case, there are men (and partners of men) who acknowledge a kind of fashion deficit and proactively want to correct it. So how do you learn how to dress better if you have no foundations to start with?
How Clueless Men Can Learn How to Dress Better
For men who are totally clueless about how to dress better, these are some of the best strategies to start with:
- Make it interesting. Men are sometimes disinterested in fashion from the outset. Trying to force yourself to enjoy fashion when you don’t is an exercise in futility, but there are ways that you can make this exercise more interesting on a personal level. For example, you could turn it into a competitive challenge with your friends if you have a stereotypical type A personality. Or you could make fashion more relevant to your interests, such as by studying the fashion choices of celebrities in an area that interests you, like sports or film. If you can cultivate even a semi-natural interest in dress and fashion, you’ll find it much easier to learn and improve.
- Start with some basics. No one becomes a fashion guru overnight. Starting with even a few essentials is going to provide a measurable improvement to your wardrobe and help you feel more confident in your fashion boosting journey. A good pair of leather shoes, for example, can go with most outfits and suit a wide variety of occasions; if you find a nice looking pair of leather shoes that you truly love, they could last you for decades.
- Look for positive examples and inspiration. Next, look for positive examples of good dress and highlights that inspire you. It doesn’t matter where these come from; you can browse through social media, conduct independent searches, or even just look at strangers walking on the street. What do you like about what they’re wearing? What could you see on yourself? Simple fashion awareness is a key to building a better fashion sense.
- Cater to your uniqueness. You don’t need to conform to someone else’s standards or expectations. Instead, cater to your own uniqueness. Your body type, the shape of your face, and even your personality should play major roles in dictating what types of clothes and accessories you choose. It’s sometimes hard to get a grasp on this, especially if you don’t have much practice. But you can get better by paying attention to the features and qualities that make you unique, so you can better complement them.
How Clueless Men Can Learn How to Dress Better - Try things. Even if you feel lost, and even if you know you don’t know what you’re doing, you need to try things. Try on new clothes. Experiment with new accessories. Dabble in new styles or pairings. You never know what you might discover, and each new trial is going to teach you something about yourself and the world of fashion. Spend enough time doing this and you’ll become an expert in your own right.
- Focus on elimination. If you’re feeling reluctant or skeptical about buying new pieces for your wardrobe, shift your mentality and focus on elimination instead. In other words, get rid of things that no longer fit you or suit you. You can start with things that are obvious, such as the way-too-old socks at the bottom of your sock drawer that look like they could crumble to dust at any moment. Sometimes, the very act of getting rid of things you don’t like reveals important takeaways about the things you keep – and could lead you to better acquisitions in the future.
- Improve the fit. One of the most important aspects of looking good is having clothes that perfectly fit you. In many ways, a cheap suit that fits perfectly is going to look better than an expensive suit that doesn’t fit you at all. Don’t be afraid to spend money on custom tailoring to ensure that perfect fit.
- Start being bolder. At this point, you should have a decent foundation on which you can grow. But if you want to continue to cultivate a better fashion sense, it’s important to experiment with bolder strategies. Don’t hesitate to push the boundaries of your comfort zone!
If you’re part of the 81 percent of men who claim to have trouble getting dressed for an occasion, or if you simply feel that it’s time for a wardrobe upgrade, now is the time to start learning about fashion and finding your personal style.
