fit is king

Contrast Style: Blue-Collar Edition

17 September, 2012

One of the best ways to use your style to get some positive attention – that being the attraction of women and the respect of other men – is to have a little contrast. When most people think of a profession there is an associated image that automatically pops into their mind. Doctors wear white coats, bankers wear pin-striped suits, and auto-mechanics wear greasy coveralls. On top of the clothing, there is a grooming and overall appearance association. Most doctors and lawyers are clean-shaven with short, trim haircuts. Most auto mechanics are seen as relatively greasy and sloppy.

A good way to stand out is by defying those stereotypes in certain ways while still holding onto them in others. For you blue-collar guys who get dirty all day, this means taking advantage of some of the clean-cut aspects from the white-collar world.

Whether you work construction, framing, an oil rig, or under the hood of a car, you’re going to get grimy. It would be a waste of your time to be overly concerned about the cleanliness of your work uniform as it’s made to get dirty. It’s part of the job. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a little contrast to go against that griminess.

Buy clothing that fits. I’ll beat this dead horse until there isn’t a corpse left – the most important aspect of dressing well is finding clothes that fit. If that means having your coveralls tailored so they flatter you, then that’s what you need to do. This will make you look healthier, more professional, and therefore, more respectable. It may mean an approach from a female customer or it may mean that you’re getting more positive attention from your boss. Either way, it’s worth the investment.

The next thing you can do is take care of your grooming. This is where you’ll get some good contrast. Most people associate a certain roughness with blue-collar laborers and you can contrast this by having a clean haircut and keeping clean-shaven. If you look at the picture above, this guy looks good all around and it’s mostly due to his grooming. I’m not advocating you become a pretty boy who’s afraid to get a little grease under his nails, but I am saying the contrast of a traditional haircut and a clean face will have the same positive effects as well-fitting clothes. A man who respects his appearance commands the respect of others.

You’ll probably start to get grief from your coworkers about your change in looks. It’s because it makes them uncomfortable. Those who advocate the lowest common denominator will always try to pull down men who want to exceed it. If they start to rib you, go with the tried-and-true Agree and Amplify technique. It works as well on other men as it does on women. Internalize their discomfort as a sign that you’re moving in the right direction.

PS. Did you know I do private style consultations? I can help you dress better according to your budget and your needs.

Casual Friday: Summer Sweater

31 August, 2012

Like:

The sweater – it’s light and a bit looser than what you would want to wear under a suit but still fits well. Makes it a perfect casual sweater. The light blue is a summer color but contrasting it against the darker pants helps make this whole outfit look like a seasonably-transitional ensemble.
The pants – They’re colored but they’re not too loud. Not only does this work better with his complexion, it helps them have more of an Autumn appearance. The fact that he still has them rolled up means it’s still summer and he’s not jumping too quickly into cooler-weather wear.
The shoes – saddle shoes are the epitome of High/Low in footwear. They’re traditional and they’re dress shoes, but they’re so loud that they have to be casual. The off white color against the red means these can be worn well into fall and the red itself picks up on the red in his skin to make it look healthier.
The bracelet – The red has the same effect as the red in his shoes. It’s also there and casual but still minimal.

Fence:

The shirt – It looks good matched with this but I can’t tell much about the pattern and whether or not it would flatter him on its own.

Don’t Like:

The hair – It’s a bit boyish and needs to be longer on the top.
The beard/scruff – I like the scruff look but his is too long to be scruff and too thin to be a good beard. He should trim it down a bit.

PS. Today is the last day to get the discount on Basic Consultations. Jump on it.

Proper Fit

27 August, 2012

Check this guy out.

I’m not a fan of the polo being buttoned up all the way, nor do I like his tattoos. Everything else is almost perfect though. The fit is flattering without being too tight. Notice also where he wears his pants. This makes his torso and legs look proportionate and actually helps make his chest look larger.

The principles of fit apply whether you’re skinny like this kid, built like Mr. Atlast himself, or have a beer belly you’re working on.

PS. The month is more than halfway over so take advantage of the reduced price on Basic Consultations before they go back up.

Casual Friday: Marooned

17 August, 2012

Like:

The color balance – Loud pants need a muted shirt to avoid looking clownish. Balance here is perfect.
The seasonal transition – Maroon is an Autumn color but the rest of his outfit is still very summer appropriate. One of the most difficult things about transition from Summer to Fall is the tendency to put on clothes that are too warm too quickly.
The belt – That’s a perfect walnut color.
The fit of the pants – These are neither too skinny nor too baggy. They look like he can still move in them but they follow the shape of his body.

Fence:

He has three different shades of brown between the belt, the watch, and his shoes. If they were all the same it would be too uniform for a casual look but three might be pushing it. Two would have been better.
The small collar – It comes across as more casual and dresses his shirt down, but it’s too small for his neck.

Don’t Like:

The rise – Pay attention to the visual proportions on this guy. Because he wears his pants so low and his shirt is tucked in, it makes it look like his torso is too long for his legs. This is balanced out a bit by having the pants rolled but it still looks sloppy overall.
The sleeve roll – Sleeves should be rolled past your elbows.
The button – The beach is arguably the best place to undo even a third button so the fact that he only has one undone makes this look more stuffy than it needs to.

PS. The month is more than halfway over so take advantage of the reduced price on Basic Consultations before they go back up.

Why Fit is so Important

29 February, 2012

Look at this guy. Seriously. Look at him.

Everything he’s wearing should look awful. His hair is slicked back with way too much pomade. He’s wearing a tacky, printed Hawaiian shirt and it’s untucked. The articles of clothing themselves should be bad. The combination should be even worse. But because of the way everything fits matched up with his devil-may-care attitude it looks suprisingly and frustratingly good. I don’t like admitting it, but it’s true.

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