All right guys, I’m no metrosexual, I don’t read GQ or run out to Banana Republic when it releases its new fall lineup (unless it’s 50 percent off), but I like to think I have my own personal style.
Picture this, right now I’m wearing a yellow Polo, faded blue jeans, a brown belt (silver clasp) and gray New Balances.
I’m classic.
Everyone has his or her own sense of fashion – it promotes individuality and self-esteem. I don’t particularly consider myself a big fashion trendsetter, but I like to think I know a little bit about classic fashion.
Yes, classic fashion – not frat-boy wear or prep style but classic style. Because being in fashion doesn’t have to mean wearing that new $200 leather jacket that won’t be in style next year.
It’s more than that.
Fashion includes everything from speech to remembering to take off your hat when you’re in your girlfriend’s house meeting her parents for the first time.
Some things, like proper manners, can get you in the door. But half the battle is looking the part, and I have recently discovered the key to always being in style.
My own personal wardrobe includes more than just collared shirts and khakis. I follow a few trends, but when they’re over those clothes are just space in the closet.
A good wardrobe is adaptable. Having a backup or a base of classic fashion is perfect because some things never grow old.
In a world of changing fashion trends, one of the only things that have remained constant is that a collared shirt and pants is casual enough yet classy enough to fit any occasion.
Think of all the trends Americans have seen come and go: black leather, bell bottoms, the Macarena. Transcending all those there were styles that never got old.
So here are a few refresher tips for those of you interested in being classic. Load up on classic collared shirts, mostly solid colors (nothing too fast).
These never go out of style, and you can wear them as long as they last. Some stripes are OK, but like blue jean shirts, some colors tend to go in and out of style (blue is usually a good bet).
However, everyone is a victim of trends. It’s having the classics to fall back on that’s important.
Here’s an example, I recently inherited a bunch of old (though good) shirts, one of which is light blue with a green and light orange striped pattern. Right now that same shirt is probably on sale at Hollister and in fashion, but five years ago I wouldn’t have been caught dead in such a shirt (and I probably won’t wear it too much longer, either).
Have a few pairs of khakis, one pair in particular that you dry clean and only wear on more dressy occasions.
Having different shades of khaki is often good to coordinate with your shirt. Your shoes should match your belt, and your socks match your pants, not your shoes. If you wear an undershirt, wear one that is tight on the neck, not stretched out below your buttons.
All this is physical – keeping your hair in style and your beard trimmed or shaved is personal and can pretty much fit any type of style. But there’s a part of classic fashion that you can’t buy in a store.
Guys, it’s all about being a gentleman. Have a firm handshake – it’s a sign of confidence and power. Wear a slight fragrance, not too much. When walking with a girl, walk between her and the street, walk behind her up stairs and in front of her down stairs (in case she falls). A gentlemen lets a woman into the car first and out last, and remember to always hold the door.
You can look the part but there’s a difference between putting on the clothes and really wearing the clothes. For the full “classic” package, you’ve got to have the style and the demeanor.
Relying on classic fashion, traditional styles and being a gentleman will earn you a reputation and fill your closet with a selection of clothes you can wear now and not be ashamed of in years to come.