Post by mrlouis on Oct 11, 2012 23:44:36 GMT -5
This going to be my comprehensive guide to dressing well and using that to get girls. In my opinion, being well dressed can bump you up two whole points on the 1-10 scale. So if you're an 8 you can become a 10 by being really, REALLY well dressed and well taken care of. I mean, most people in the world will judge you by how you look, and if you care about what girls think then you should care about what you wear. I know looks aren't everything and all, but if you've got the whole package (good personality, good style, smart, etc.) and perfect it, then you'll be UNSTOPPABLE in the game world. I feel like there's a lot of good style guides/blogs out there, but none adequately address us as high-schoolers/college students. Blazers and oxford shoes just aren't practical for us, especially when they're $200! So this is what this post about, hopefully it will help some out and be a guide to being the best dressed person in every room. Enjoy! 
To start, here are some tips/tricks that are pretty much to live by:
1) Find a style icon. Go to google and type in their name and find tons of outfits that you can imitate. David Beckham and Kanye West are some great ones.
2) Pick out your own clothes. Don't let mom or anyone else go out and buy you clothes, what she thinks looks good on you is probably not what the babe at schools thinks looks good. Sorry mom.
3) Always look well put together. You don't have to plan out your outfit or try hard for every occasion, but at least meet the minimum standard. And you'll find that this is easier than you think.
4) Don't overthink it. With the right look, a guy can look good in a just a plain tee, jeans, and a great pair of shoes.
5) Break form the norm. Ditch the abercrombie, Hollister, Aeropstale getups that every kid in the grade wears. It will pay off.
6) Fit is EVERYTHING. Get the right sized clothes. Try things on in the store to find your right size. A t-shirt that's too big looks just dumb, and one that is too small looks even dumber. I like a slim fit for my clothes, but just find whatever looks best for your body type and you'll be set.
7) Don't look like you're trying too hard. Effortless style is what attracts people the most. So don't go around trying to rock all the suits that are in GQ and Details, high-school girls probably aren't into that very much.
8) Find affordable brands and stores. Most of us don't have a ton of money to spend so in order to build a good wardrobe we need to find the right brands and stores. Some big ones are H&M and urban Outfitters for trendier pieces and Kohl's or Target for your basics.
9) Master the basics. Make sure you have the basics all covered, like simple tees in various colors, v-necks, good pairs of jeans, etc. (More on this later).
10) Find yourself. Develop your own personal style. Don't completely, 100% copy someone else's style. Find what looks best on YOU.
11) Don't match EVERYTHING. This is a big mistake that I say kids our age make. While it is good to match, you don't need to match shoes to shirt or shoes to belt with every outfit. Find better ways to tie your outfit together while still matching colors a little more subtly (like shoes to an undershirt or shoes to an accent on your shirt or pants).
12) Zip your fly. Always.
T-SHIRTS
The Basics: It's good to have a bunch of different crew neck plain t-shirts in various colors as these will be the base for any outfit and are great for subtle matching. Some colors to have are white, black, red, green, blue, orange, grey, and pink. Brighter colors are especially good for summer/spring time when the weather is too warm for additional clothing beyond a tee.
It's also really good to have some basic v-neck t-shirts in a few different colors like white, black, and grey because girls absolutely LOVE these. Just don't get the ones that cut all the down to the belly button ;D
Another basic t-shirt I really like is the henley t-shirt. Like the v-neck it adds a little bit extra to a plain t-shirt. I like neutral colors for these so whites, tans, and blacks work great.
HOODIES & SWEATSHIRTS
The Basics: I think it's good to have a couple basic zipper-up hoodies in black and grey, other than that it's really up to you.
Extras: The hoodies & sweatshirts area is usually where most people have their favorite team/school apparel, and that's fine so I'll just leave it at that.
KNITWEAR
The Basics: Some basic crew-neck and v-neck sweaters are always good to have. I started out with black and grey and then ventured out into bolder colors from there such as red, navy, purple, yellow, green, etc.
Outside of sweaters there are also cardigans. I really like these because they're extremely versatile (can be worn with practically anything) and are an item that will make you look really stylish and most guys in high school and college really haven't discovered these. I recommend getting one in navy, black, or grey to start off with.
Extras: Patterned sweaters are great to have for many different occasions. The argyle (diamond) pattern sweater is a classic. Holiday/festive sweaters are a great way to show off some style during the holidays (just avoid the reindeer and santa sweaters that your grandma would wear).
There's also a ton of other knitwear with different styling elements out there that can really make you look stylish. There's everything from cut off sleeve hoodies to various different textures and collar styles. Some brands that have a ton of different knits are: Topman, H&M, Asos, and River Island.
JACKETS & OUTWEWEAR
The Basics: This is where the big style magazines and websites do us over. They just go on about blazers and trench coats, which are clearly not practical for us high-schoolers and college students.
For us, if you have a North Face then most people will dig that but they can get pretty expensive and there are better options out there, but a North Face can work. Personally, I like to use knitwear as my outerwear. So like cardigans and sweaters are great but if you want to rock some outerwear as well then I recommend starting off with a simple bomber jacket (usually a zipper-up jacket with a stand up collar). Black, beige/tan, or grey are good colors to start off with but bold colors like red, blue, or orange can also work really well if you can pull them off.
Extras: There are millions of different types of outwear but I recommend keeping it to the basics here simply because outerwear is one of the most expensive items of clothing and for a high-schooler's budget it's just not worth it, especially because you can only wear it for like half of the year.
If you'd really like to explore outwear & jackets then check out Topman, they always have some unique pieces at a fairly good price.
JEANS
Jeans are essential pieces to a guy's wardrobe. A good pair of jeans can make or break an outfit IMO.
The Basics: A guy should at the very least have a pair of blue jeans, but I recommend having more. Some different washes that I think are good to have are medium blue, black, grey, and dark blue.
As far as the fit, I like slimmer jeans that have some bagginess to them. Not in the sense of looseness but in that they are a little bit longer so that they bag up at the bottom but I'm pretty tall and slim so this helps in not making me look too tall and skinny. Just avoid the super loose, baggy type of jeans and the skin tight type also (leave those to for the girls).
Extras: There's not much beyond the basic washes that every guy should own. I like jeans that are a little distressed, but not to the point that they actually have holes in them, just enough so that they pop a little. Most of this can be done with just picking the right wash (one that looks a little worn) and with a little fraying in the right places. Levi's is the go to place for jeans but there are other places that can be just as good. It all depends on personal taste. Pacsun, H&M, Topman, or Hollister or AE (both only for their jeans) are other stores worth checking out.
PANTS
The Basics: Every guy should own a pair of khaki colored pants. These are extremely versatile so they can be paired with almost any top or pair of shoes.
Extras: Having a pair of chinos in navy, mustard yellow, or burgundy can add some versatility to a wardrobe and are great for the fall/winter seasons. H&M has a bunch of these at really good prices. Levi's also has great pairs of pants but they will cost a little bit more.
SHORTS
Shorts definitely aren't items that should be worn all the time but during the hot summer months a guy could have no other choice.
The Basics: Flat-front shorts (non-cargo shorts) are the way to go here. Tan is a must have color and navy, grey, white, and a light red are all good to have as well especially during the fall/winter seasons.
Extras: Outside of the basics I don't wear much else. Sometimes I'll wear a pair of camo cargo shorts when I want a rugged look and I'm feeling it but this isn't something that should be done often. And athletic shorts should be kept in the gym.
SHOES
Let me start by saying the shoes are the anchor of an outfit and of a guy's wardrobe. They are often the first item looked at in an outfit so they should be paid very special attention. With a great pair of shoes a guy can look good in a simple white tee and a pair of jeans, it's that simple.
The Basics: There are a few types of shoes that every guy should have. Without going into dress shoes, every guy should have a pair of plain white sneakers. Not as in a pair of Asics but an actual pair of fashionable sneakers. Next is a pair of high-tops. These can be any pair that you like, really. High-tops usually look good with jeans or pants but can also work with some pairs of shorts so they're pretty versatile. Every guy should also have a pair of minimalist/low-profile shoes. Most pairs of vans are a good example of this type of shoe. They are simple and understated by can add a lot to an outfit.
Extras: Outside of these staples there are some other good types of shoes to have. Some I recommend are: a pair of boots (not the huge kind of boots but just a simple pair, TOMS has some good examples), a pair of chukkas or a similar style (Vans OTW collection is a good example and again, TOMS also has some good examples), a pair of Timberlands (I think these can look great with the right look and from my experience girls like these a lot. They don't actually have to be Timberlands, any brand that has a similar type of boot will work, I recommend getting the slimmer version of these instead of the bigger, clunky ones), and a pair of shoes in a bold color (they're great for adding a pop of color and will usually get compliments if worn right).
HEADWEAR
I don't wear much headwear as I like to spend my money on other clothing items and for us in high-school we can't even wear anything on our head most of the time. But it can work really well for other people so go for it if it works for you.
The Basics: A popular item in the headwear department is the fitted hat. Most guys have one of these for their favorite team, not much to say outside of that.
Extras: The snapback hat is making a comeback so if you want to try something different and stay on trend then go for a snapback. 5-panel hats are also coming on strong. A lot of these come in vibrant prints and designs so if you want a bold pick then this is the way to go.
JEWELERY
Man jewelery is completely up to the guy wearing it. The only advice I have here is to NOT OVERDO IT. Keeping it simple is the way to go.
The Basics: Simple bracelets and necklaces are good accessories if the fit in with your personal style. Watches are also great items that can boost a guy's style a ton when worn right. Watches are really about personal style and taste as there are so many different types available. Some types that I would recommend looking at if you're just beginning to look at watches are a watch with a basic leather strap, a silver or gold watch, or a g-shock type watch. I own a g-shock and get compliments on it all the time.
Extras: There isn't much extra information for this one. The only thing I can say is to avoid looking like a douchebag and again, to not over do it.
BELTS
My advice here is to always wear a belt when you can. Even if you don't need it to hold up your pants it's still good to wear one, it just looks better.
The Basics: Every guy should have a brown leather belt, it goes with practically anything and looks great at it.
Extras: There are other types of belts and ultimately it's up to the guy to pick whatever belt he likes best. Belts are great for adding a little accenting to an outfit and in most cases it should not be a huge part of the outfit, just a subtle accent. Also, avoid massive the massive novelty belt buckles at all costs. They just look bad.
SUNGLASSES
Sunglasses are an awesome accessory. Girls love LOVE them on guys.
The Basics: The only type of sunglasses that I think are a must have for guys are the classic Ray Ban Wayfarer type sunglasses. You can get a basic pair for like $20.
Extras: With all the different types of sunglasses out there it's really up to personal taste.
UNDERWEAR
I'm a boxer briefs guy. They don't bunch up with pants and they give more coverage than briefs. As far as styling I've learn that girls do think it's hot when a guy has on a cool pair of boxer briefs. Some good places to buy them are from Express, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren.
OUTFITS
As far as outfits, the best thing that I've done for my style so far is just picking someone's style that I really like and then just looking at pictures of their style/fashion on google. This way you can see exactly what they're wearing and sometimes even find where to get it. For me, it's David Beckham. His style is simple but it still looks great and well put together.
The other part to creating good outfits is having the clothes to it and that comes from shopping at the right stores and brands. The clothes need to be cool and stylish, but they also need to be affordable. This is key to building a great wardrobe and being able to make the outfits that you want. Some of my favorite stores/brands are cool but still cheap are: H&M, Zara, Gap, Topman, River Island, Urban Outfitters, Zara, Forever21 (they have mens clothing now), Asos, and American Apparel.
******************************************************
I hope you all find my style guide as useful as it is for me! Sorry for letting it get so long but I wanted to cover all aspects of style! Let me know what you think of it! Thanks!!
Also, if you're looking for dope clothes that are still affordable check out my men's clothing/style website: [a href="www.frun7.com"]www.frun7.com[/a]!
Also, shout out to Shogun for inspiring me to make my own bio on style and make this guide!
To start, here are some tips/tricks that are pretty much to live by:
1) Find a style icon. Go to google and type in their name and find tons of outfits that you can imitate. David Beckham and Kanye West are some great ones.
2) Pick out your own clothes. Don't let mom or anyone else go out and buy you clothes, what she thinks looks good on you is probably not what the babe at schools thinks looks good. Sorry mom.
3) Always look well put together. You don't have to plan out your outfit or try hard for every occasion, but at least meet the minimum standard. And you'll find that this is easier than you think.
4) Don't overthink it. With the right look, a guy can look good in a just a plain tee, jeans, and a great pair of shoes.
5) Break form the norm. Ditch the abercrombie, Hollister, Aeropstale getups that every kid in the grade wears. It will pay off.
6) Fit is EVERYTHING. Get the right sized clothes. Try things on in the store to find your right size. A t-shirt that's too big looks just dumb, and one that is too small looks even dumber. I like a slim fit for my clothes, but just find whatever looks best for your body type and you'll be set.
7) Don't look like you're trying too hard. Effortless style is what attracts people the most. So don't go around trying to rock all the suits that are in GQ and Details, high-school girls probably aren't into that very much.
8) Find affordable brands and stores. Most of us don't have a ton of money to spend so in order to build a good wardrobe we need to find the right brands and stores. Some big ones are H&M and urban Outfitters for trendier pieces and Kohl's or Target for your basics.
9) Master the basics. Make sure you have the basics all covered, like simple tees in various colors, v-necks, good pairs of jeans, etc. (More on this later).
10) Find yourself. Develop your own personal style. Don't completely, 100% copy someone else's style. Find what looks best on YOU.
11) Don't match EVERYTHING. This is a big mistake that I say kids our age make. While it is good to match, you don't need to match shoes to shirt or shoes to belt with every outfit. Find better ways to tie your outfit together while still matching colors a little more subtly (like shoes to an undershirt or shoes to an accent on your shirt or pants).
12) Zip your fly. Always.
T-SHIRTS
The Basics: It's good to have a bunch of different crew neck plain t-shirts in various colors as these will be the base for any outfit and are great for subtle matching. Some colors to have are white, black, red, green, blue, orange, grey, and pink. Brighter colors are especially good for summer/spring time when the weather is too warm for additional clothing beyond a tee.
It's also really good to have some basic v-neck t-shirts in a few different colors like white, black, and grey because girls absolutely LOVE these. Just don't get the ones that cut all the down to the belly button ;D
Another basic t-shirt I really like is the henley t-shirt. Like the v-neck it adds a little bit extra to a plain t-shirt. I like neutral colors for these so whites, tans, and blacks work great.
HOODIES & SWEATSHIRTS
The Basics: I think it's good to have a couple basic zipper-up hoodies in black and grey, other than that it's really up to you.
Extras: The hoodies & sweatshirts area is usually where most people have their favorite team/school apparel, and that's fine so I'll just leave it at that.
KNITWEAR
The Basics: Some basic crew-neck and v-neck sweaters are always good to have. I started out with black and grey and then ventured out into bolder colors from there such as red, navy, purple, yellow, green, etc.
Outside of sweaters there are also cardigans. I really like these because they're extremely versatile (can be worn with practically anything) and are an item that will make you look really stylish and most guys in high school and college really haven't discovered these. I recommend getting one in navy, black, or grey to start off with.
Extras: Patterned sweaters are great to have for many different occasions. The argyle (diamond) pattern sweater is a classic. Holiday/festive sweaters are a great way to show off some style during the holidays (just avoid the reindeer and santa sweaters that your grandma would wear).
There's also a ton of other knitwear with different styling elements out there that can really make you look stylish. There's everything from cut off sleeve hoodies to various different textures and collar styles. Some brands that have a ton of different knits are: Topman, H&M, Asos, and River Island.
JACKETS & OUTWEWEAR
The Basics: This is where the big style magazines and websites do us over. They just go on about blazers and trench coats, which are clearly not practical for us high-schoolers and college students.
For us, if you have a North Face then most people will dig that but they can get pretty expensive and there are better options out there, but a North Face can work. Personally, I like to use knitwear as my outerwear. So like cardigans and sweaters are great but if you want to rock some outerwear as well then I recommend starting off with a simple bomber jacket (usually a zipper-up jacket with a stand up collar). Black, beige/tan, or grey are good colors to start off with but bold colors like red, blue, or orange can also work really well if you can pull them off.
Extras: There are millions of different types of outwear but I recommend keeping it to the basics here simply because outerwear is one of the most expensive items of clothing and for a high-schooler's budget it's just not worth it, especially because you can only wear it for like half of the year.
If you'd really like to explore outwear & jackets then check out Topman, they always have some unique pieces at a fairly good price.
JEANS
Jeans are essential pieces to a guy's wardrobe. A good pair of jeans can make or break an outfit IMO.
The Basics: A guy should at the very least have a pair of blue jeans, but I recommend having more. Some different washes that I think are good to have are medium blue, black, grey, and dark blue.
As far as the fit, I like slimmer jeans that have some bagginess to them. Not in the sense of looseness but in that they are a little bit longer so that they bag up at the bottom but I'm pretty tall and slim so this helps in not making me look too tall and skinny. Just avoid the super loose, baggy type of jeans and the skin tight type also (leave those to for the girls).
Extras: There's not much beyond the basic washes that every guy should own. I like jeans that are a little distressed, but not to the point that they actually have holes in them, just enough so that they pop a little. Most of this can be done with just picking the right wash (one that looks a little worn) and with a little fraying in the right places. Levi's is the go to place for jeans but there are other places that can be just as good. It all depends on personal taste. Pacsun, H&M, Topman, or Hollister or AE (both only for their jeans) are other stores worth checking out.
PANTS
The Basics: Every guy should own a pair of khaki colored pants. These are extremely versatile so they can be paired with almost any top or pair of shoes.
Extras: Having a pair of chinos in navy, mustard yellow, or burgundy can add some versatility to a wardrobe and are great for the fall/winter seasons. H&M has a bunch of these at really good prices. Levi's also has great pairs of pants but they will cost a little bit more.
SHORTS
Shorts definitely aren't items that should be worn all the time but during the hot summer months a guy could have no other choice.
The Basics: Flat-front shorts (non-cargo shorts) are the way to go here. Tan is a must have color and navy, grey, white, and a light red are all good to have as well especially during the fall/winter seasons.
Extras: Outside of the basics I don't wear much else. Sometimes I'll wear a pair of camo cargo shorts when I want a rugged look and I'm feeling it but this isn't something that should be done often. And athletic shorts should be kept in the gym.
SHOES
Let me start by saying the shoes are the anchor of an outfit and of a guy's wardrobe. They are often the first item looked at in an outfit so they should be paid very special attention. With a great pair of shoes a guy can look good in a simple white tee and a pair of jeans, it's that simple.
The Basics: There are a few types of shoes that every guy should have. Without going into dress shoes, every guy should have a pair of plain white sneakers. Not as in a pair of Asics but an actual pair of fashionable sneakers. Next is a pair of high-tops. These can be any pair that you like, really. High-tops usually look good with jeans or pants but can also work with some pairs of shorts so they're pretty versatile. Every guy should also have a pair of minimalist/low-profile shoes. Most pairs of vans are a good example of this type of shoe. They are simple and understated by can add a lot to an outfit.
Extras: Outside of these staples there are some other good types of shoes to have. Some I recommend are: a pair of boots (not the huge kind of boots but just a simple pair, TOMS has some good examples), a pair of chukkas or a similar style (Vans OTW collection is a good example and again, TOMS also has some good examples), a pair of Timberlands (I think these can look great with the right look and from my experience girls like these a lot. They don't actually have to be Timberlands, any brand that has a similar type of boot will work, I recommend getting the slimmer version of these instead of the bigger, clunky ones), and a pair of shoes in a bold color (they're great for adding a pop of color and will usually get compliments if worn right).
HEADWEAR
I don't wear much headwear as I like to spend my money on other clothing items and for us in high-school we can't even wear anything on our head most of the time. But it can work really well for other people so go for it if it works for you.
The Basics: A popular item in the headwear department is the fitted hat. Most guys have one of these for their favorite team, not much to say outside of that.
Extras: The snapback hat is making a comeback so if you want to try something different and stay on trend then go for a snapback. 5-panel hats are also coming on strong. A lot of these come in vibrant prints and designs so if you want a bold pick then this is the way to go.
JEWELERY
Man jewelery is completely up to the guy wearing it. The only advice I have here is to NOT OVERDO IT. Keeping it simple is the way to go.
The Basics: Simple bracelets and necklaces are good accessories if the fit in with your personal style. Watches are also great items that can boost a guy's style a ton when worn right. Watches are really about personal style and taste as there are so many different types available. Some types that I would recommend looking at if you're just beginning to look at watches are a watch with a basic leather strap, a silver or gold watch, or a g-shock type watch. I own a g-shock and get compliments on it all the time.
Extras: There isn't much extra information for this one. The only thing I can say is to avoid looking like a douchebag and again, to not over do it.
BELTS
My advice here is to always wear a belt when you can. Even if you don't need it to hold up your pants it's still good to wear one, it just looks better.
The Basics: Every guy should have a brown leather belt, it goes with practically anything and looks great at it.
Extras: There are other types of belts and ultimately it's up to the guy to pick whatever belt he likes best. Belts are great for adding a little accenting to an outfit and in most cases it should not be a huge part of the outfit, just a subtle accent. Also, avoid massive the massive novelty belt buckles at all costs. They just look bad.
SUNGLASSES
Sunglasses are an awesome accessory. Girls love LOVE them on guys.
The Basics: The only type of sunglasses that I think are a must have for guys are the classic Ray Ban Wayfarer type sunglasses. You can get a basic pair for like $20.
Extras: With all the different types of sunglasses out there it's really up to personal taste.
UNDERWEAR
I'm a boxer briefs guy.
They don't bunch up with pants and they give more coverage than briefs. As far as styling I've learn that girls do think it's hot when a guy has on a cool pair of boxer briefs. Some good places to buy them are from Express, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren.OUTFITS
As far as outfits, the best thing that I've done for my style so far is just picking someone's style that I really like and then just looking at pictures of their style/fashion on google. This way you can see exactly what they're wearing and sometimes even find where to get it. For me, it's David Beckham. His style is simple but it still looks great and well put together.
The other part to creating good outfits is having the clothes to it and that comes from shopping at the right stores and brands. The clothes need to be cool and stylish, but they also need to be affordable. This is key to building a great wardrobe and being able to make the outfits that you want. Some of my favorite stores/brands are cool but still cheap are: H&M, Zara, Gap, Topman, River Island, Urban Outfitters, Zara, Forever21 (they have mens clothing now), Asos, and American Apparel.
******************************************************
I hope you all find my style guide as useful as it is for me! Sorry for letting it get so long but I wanted to cover all aspects of style! Let me know what you think of it! Thanks!!
Also, if you're looking for dope clothes that are still affordable check out my men's clothing/style website: [a href="www.frun7.com"]www.frun7.com[/a]!
Also, shout out to Shogun for inspiring me to make my own bio on style and make this guide!