The world of men’s fashion can be a daunting place, especially if you’re just starting down the path to becoming a stylish man. In a world of endless choice, there are some items which transcend the latest trends and forever remain timeless. If you own everything on this list you can be confident in your ability to handle any sartorial situation.
There is no more versatile pair of pants than the chino. Made from comfortable fabric, very flattering when worn slim-fit, and light enough to wear in summer without sweating (unlike jeans), there are a multitude of reasons to buy a few pairs.
Fashion is subjective. One man’s fashion ‘mistake’ is another’s ‘brave choice’. That being said, there are some well-known cardinal sins which you should just avoid at all costs. If you eliminate every item on the following list, you’re well on your way to looking sharp. In no particular order, let’s begin:
Don’t take those clothes to the charity shop or put them on eBay just yet! Follow these simple tips and you’ll be wearing those items until you’re old and grey.
There is a lot of passion for football shirts. Grown men have been known to wrestle shirts thrown in their general direction from the hands of small children. The right shirt can be sold for thousands at auction. It’s become a multi-billion pound industry.
We’re not saying you can’t wear any of these items. But if you do, you’re going to die alone.
The trick to buying new clothes is not to think about how good an item looks, but how the item will look within an outfit. The colour combinations below are bulletproof and provide a solid foundation for any outfits you want to put together.
Whenever you buy clothes off eBay you can’t help but think ‘Who died in this?’ But amongst the dead peoples’ clothes and cheap counterfeit junk there are bargains to be found. Follow these tips and you’ll find them.
Maybe you are just out of college, or hunting for your first professional job and don’t have a ton of money to spend. Either way, spending money you don’t have on clothes sometimes just isn’t an option.
But there are ways to dress sharp and not blow your life savings. Take into consideration a few of these tips and you will be on the fast track to saving money and dressing sharper.
Whether you’re looking to impress the opposite/same sex or simply have a good time with like-minded people, it’s important to always leave the house feeling impeccable.
Being confident in the way you look means you can leave all insecurities at the door and enjoy your night to its fullest. And, who knows, you might even return home at the end of the night with your dignity slightly intact.
You don’t realise it, but all men tread the same fashion path. There may be slight deviations along the way, but, ultimately, we all go through these stages.
Some brands just leave a bad taste in your mouth. This could be for a number of reasons: sometimes the company has questionable ethics; sometimes they become over saturated in the marketplace; sometimes they just produce crap clothes.
As with all my lists, this is not definitive, and I’m not saying that these brands don’t produce the odd quality garment now and then. But when they do it’s almost as if by some bizarre fluke – like when you buy a player pack on FIFA and inexplicably get a Messi amongst all the Tom Cleverleys.
It turns out that ex-girlfriend who dumped you as a result of your supposed ‘inadequacies’ was right – size does matter. But what we’re talking about here is all that spare material pooling around your shoulders and ankles, not in your underwear.
You’ll notice it says shouldn’t, not can’t, in the title. If you have the youthful looks and/or physique to pull off any of these items, by all means wear them (at your peril). Some people have a strong sense of style and know what works for them*. That being said, I think when you cross the 30 threshold you should take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror and think: ‘I’m a man’.
All items of clothing were not created equal. If your wardrobe contains any of the below, hang thy head in shame.
The first in a new series where we look at some of the most common questions men ask about fashion.
Don’t be the guy who has one multipurpose suit. That shabby thing you wear to weddings, funerals, job interviews, court dates and god knows what else. Weddings are for the suave man about town in his tailored three-piece – not the guy in square toed shoes and a shiny polyester jacket. Follow these tips and you’ll be the best dressed guest there.
Polo shirts can be a tricky thing to get right. Do it well and you can effortlessly pull off the ‘smart casual’ look by pairing with some chinos and brogues; wear them wrong and you’ll look like your dad.
Office etiquette is different all over the world, if not in different parts of your country. However, if there’s one thing that prevails across the islands that make up Great Britain (albeit among the minority nowadays) it’s understated British elegance. And nowhere is this more apparent than on your morning commute or during your daily desk grind.
I briefly touched upon Ryan Gosling in the last article, and it got me thinking: has he always had impeccable style, or was he once a schlub like the rest of us mortals? This is the first in a new series on celebrity style evolutions, where we’ll delve into the murky depths of celebrity culture to find the best, and worst, celebrity sartorial moments.
You’ve just seen Ryan Gosling wearing exactly the same shirt as you. But why does it look amazing on him and like a sack of potatoes on you? Admittedly, he did win the genetic lottery in life (and probably has an amazing stylist), but you can guarantee he ticks the boxes on the following points.
Over the years you’ll accumulate a lot of clothes. This is just a fact of life. But, as I’ve said previously, a big wardrobe doesn’t necessarily make a good wardrobe. You should periodically go through everything you own and do a cull.
The first in a new series, where I break down some of the more popular outfit grid combinations from TheNorthernGent Instagram account, and the influences behind the choices. First up is the classic boat shoes and Breton striped tee selection.
So, you know the basics – your clothes fit well, you have a varied wardrobe, and a damn fine collection of shoes. What the next step? You need to start paying attention to the little details which set apart the stylish man from Joe public on the high street.
The Northern Gent 