There are many unspoken rules in life — one of them being that we have to be able to properly dress ourselves. Here, we don’t mean just pulling some clothes up without a care. Instead, we mean dressing well — dressing stylishly. After all, as social creatures, we need to fit the part and develop our style.

The most important thing is to build your “fashion foundation,” so to speak. Fashion is meant to be experimented with, but once you have a foundation for your style, you should be able to work around it. So, here are a few tips for you to become a more stylish type of man!

Get a Well-Fitting Suit

Every man who wants to be stylish has at least one suit in their closet. However, in order for that suit to look great on you, it needs to fit properly. It shouldn’t be too loose, too tight, too short, or too long. For this reason, you might want to consider having one specially made at the tailor. This way, you will know for certain that the suit you get is perfect for you.

Know Your Lifestyle

Not everyone has the same lifestyle — and in most cases, your personal style foundation is moulded on your lifestyle. Banker boys with traditional suits and silk ties will have different styles as compared to the agency boy that can easily rock a pair of jeans and button-up shirts to work. Moreover, some men might like a hipster or jock style, whereas others are surrounded by people in motor or goth clothing and even men’s Indian clothing. You just need to determine which type you are, and you can create your own style from that point on. Your hairstyle also defines who you are, so experiment and find the right men’s hairstyle for you.

Get a Good Watch

Not many people invest in a nice watch, but it’s something that usually stands out. When you see someone wearing a nice horology piece, you are practically able to read that person based on that choice of watch. You will see whether the person is more on the elegant or casual side, what he likes, how he conducts himself through time, etc. A watch tells other people a lot about who you are.

Colour Coordinate

A stylish man will always wear clothes that are colour coordinated. One should not be afraid to bring some colour in their wardrobe — in fact, it is recommended that you colour it up a notch. However, to be “easy on the eyes,” you need to colour-coordinate. When you wear a colourful shirt – wear neutral bottoms. Similarly, when you wear colourful bottoms — wear a neutral shirt. Too much colour can be an eyesore, and that’s something you want to avoid when creating your style for the day. To keep your look fresh and stylish, explore the trendy shirts for men, which offer a variety of colourful options that can be perfectly paired with neutral pieces.

Get the Right Perfume

You can tell a lot about a person by getting a whiff of their perfume. Therefore, to create a solid foundation, cologne is something you need to add. Different types of perfumes tell a different story, so before making your choice, you first need to consult a guide to fragrances. Different times, places, and personalities will require you to wear a different cologne, so make your choice wisely. An EDT or EDP is a must-have for every man wanting to achieve a very stylish look.

Invest in the Staples

If you don’t have the men’s fashion staples down, it’s like you’re trying to drive a car while having the handbrake on. Some fashion articles will never go out of style and have always been present in every man’s wardrobe. A neutral-hue chino, a knitted sweater, plain white Oxford shirts or tees — these have to be present in everyone’s life if you wish to create a solid style. It’s like the canvas to which you add the other accessories that make you, well… you.

Get Appropriate Underwear

You can’t complete a look without looking into menswear. Here, you may choose any style you want, as long as it brings you comfort. If you want to have more freedom, then boxers are the most appropriate choice. However, if you are looking for more support, then briefs or boxer briefs might be a better option. Make sure that you go for something that works well with your overall clothing. For example, if you tend to wear tighter pants, then briefs (or boxer briefs) could be the best solution for you. They won’t bunch up or show any awkward lines underneath the clothing as regular briefs would.

Style to Your Body Type

Yes, style can be applied to everyone — but at the same time, you need to create your style foundation by using your body type as a starting point. For example, if you have a triangular body shape, it means you have the chest and middle a bit bigger compared to your shoulders. In this case, your style purpose is to add dimension to the shoulder area. Vertical stripes should be part of your style — and the only place that is allowed to have horizontal stripes is your shoulder area. Choose clothing that compliments your body type and makes you look well-proportioned.

Invest in Good Shoes

You may have the best-looking clothing — but if your shoes don’t look the part, then all the styling you’ve done was for nothing. Shoes may be in the lower part of your outfit, but they’re one of the first things that people tend to see. Some may even say that the shoes are a mirror of the people themselves. This is why, if you wish to create a solid style foundation, then you’ll need to invest in some high-quality shoes. Go for the classic type that will never go out of style, as you can easily match those with some tasteful clothing and classy accessories.

Don’t Over-Accessorise

Accessories are an important part of your style — but it is very easy for you to over-accessorise. For example, things such as pocket squares, ties, or messenger bags add a touch of individuality to classic clothes, but you need to know how to use them. Make sure that you keep them to a minimum, and that you are also harmonising them with what you’re wearing. You could use this simple stylish messenger bag made of leather that matches all clothing styles. A good pair of stud earrings at Adina’s Jewels could probably be the key to elevate your style and bring the classic look that you want to achieve. Don’t necessarily match them up, but instead, you can harmonise or juxtapose them. An air of tasteful nonchalance is what you are looking at here, so make sure that you are only creating a single point of interest. Anything else will be too much.

The Bottom Line

To create a solid style foundation, you must have all the basics down — and once you have your “canvas,” you can begin to add your personal touches. In the end, style is something that defines every person differently, so you need to create the one that represents you the most.

This article was contributed by Sara Law.