Tips on How to Dress Well for Men
The trick to making sure your clothes look and fit well is to buy what is appropriate for your body size, not what is popular and trendy at the moment. When choosing well-suited clothes for men's wardrobes, it is often more important to consider the person's height and weight than what current trends happen to be.
Do's and Don'ts
The basis of your wardrobe should be timeless basics. Even if your job does not require a suit, you should have at least one tailored, dark colored suit in a fabric suitable for all seasons. When in doubt, keep in mind that two and three button suit jackets never go out of style. You should also have a sports coat or blazer that can be worn with trousers, khakis and jeans; it, too, should be tailored to fit.
Your wardrobe should have both fitted dress shirts and casual button down shirts. Casual does not mean big and baggy so much as informal.
You may regard ties with disdain, but they are important to the well-rounded wardrobe. A few good silk ties should be in your closet. Judge a proper fit by whether it hits the top of your waistband. Also, ties should be worn with long sleeve shirts only.
Make sure your shoes are clean and polished. You don't need many pairs of shoes, but the ones you do have should be attractive.
If you must have some of the latest styles of the season, buy only a few at a time and don't spend too much money on them. Chances are that you will get rid of them next year.
Tall Men's Clothing
Many of the above tips also apply to taller men. However, keep the following additional tips in mind:
- If you are tall and thin, do not wear clingy fabrics or vertical stripes (including pin stripes). Choose horizontal stripes which are more flattering. Clothing should be slightly fitted and trousers should have a straight, not tapered, leg. Cuffs are very flattering on a tall, thin man.
- If you find an item you like, and the length is good but the item is too loose, consider having it tailored to fit. It's often worth the price.
- Many upscale department stores have personal shoppers who are usually free of charge. Working with one can make your search for tall men's clothing much less frustrating.
Avoid cuffs on trousers. A longer line will be created by having a regular hem. Suit jackets should not be too long and should have two or three buttons. Pinstripes and vertical stripes help to elongate; avoid vertical stripes, which create a widening effect. Dark, solid colors also tend to have a lengthening effect. If your pants or sleeves are too long, have a tailor shorten them.
