First Published: 30th November 2022, written by Olivia Doonan | Last Updated on 6th January 2024 | Reviewed and Edited by Chloe Safilo
If you are a guy who wants to look and feel smarter overall, whether you’re picking out an outfit for work, going on a date, or going on casual outings with your friends, there are lots of things that you can do to level your outfits up and give yourself a new look. You’re not alone if you are struggling with styling yourself and feel like something is missing from your outfits and overall appearance but just aren’t sure what it is.
If you want to see something different when you look in the mirror and wow others with your sense of style, then it doesn’t matter how plain you might feel right now – there are lots of tips that you can put into practice to improve your style and start looking suaver, no matter the occasion.
Whether you’re not sure that your current fashion choices are on-trend, or have been told in the past by people in your life that you could be more fashionable, or simply want to make a better impression, either when meeting new people or when spending time with people that you already know, the way you dress, carry yourself, and even look after your skin and body can make all the difference.
And the best part is that even though paying more attention to what you wear and being more fashionable can help you make a better impression on others, the confidence boost that you’ll get from it and the way that you feel about yourself as a result can be amazing.
Build Your Confidence
First of all, let’s work on building your confidence, not only when it comes to making the right fashion choices for you, but also within yourself in general. For a lot of guys, it’s simply a lack of confidence in themselves that holds them back when it comes to dressing the way that they would like to.
When it comes to upgrading your style and looking amazing, building your self-confidence is key as the way you carry yourself will make a huge difference to how you look in pretty much anything.
When you know that you look good in certain clothes and have that air of confidence about yourself, you will notice that you feel better about making more daring fashion choices or perhaps wearing outfits that you may not have considered in the past.
You may feel bolder to experiment with your fashion choices and go for looks that you might have overlooked in the past. And the best part is that when you start dressing with confidence, you’ll get more compliments and positive comments, which in turn will help you build your confidence further and feel even better about yourself.
Becoming more confident when it comes to fashion is a great first step, so you may want to check out resources for men’s style. You can get more men’s style tips including guides on choosing different fashion items and more by following the link.
Always Go for High Quality
Making a good impression when it comes to your fashion choices and dressing in a way that is suave and makes you look handsome so you turn heads, isn’t always about having plenty of clothing in your wardrobe.
In fact, you can turn your style around with just a couple of fashion items as long as they are of high quality. Of course, there is no shortage of fast fashion items available these days that you can buy to put together a new outfit in minutes – and often on a very tight budget.
However, while filling your wardrobe with fashion items is easier than ever to do these days, it’s not always the best idea if you want to look great. Cheap fast fashion items are often made poorly and simply won’t hang well when you wear them, which means that no matter how nice the item might look on the hanger, it’s just not going to look great on you.
Instead, it’s always a better idea to have a smaller, more pared-down wardrobe – but make sure that every item in there is a high-quality option that will serve you well over time and help you put together outfits that fit and look amazing. Rather than buying several fast fashion items and spending your money on a lot of different options, you may want to consider simply buying one or two more expensive, but higher quality pieces instead.
Clear Out Old Clothes
If you want to give yourself a new look and upgrade your fashion sense, then it’s time to be out with the old and in with the new. Before you go shopping and start thinking about all the new outfits that you are going to wear, it’s a good idea to go through your current wardrobe and decide what fits in with the new look you want for yourself and what needs to go. Otherwise, it’s going to be all too easy to fall back into your old fashion habits and end up not feeling great about the way you look again.
Whether it’s a pair of worn jeans that you have had since 2010 or the hoody collection that you’ve had since uni, sometimes, going for a new look means saying goodbye to things that you’ve had a while. And truthfully, sometimes it’s the best thing to do – you might find clothing in there that was the top trend back when you were 19 but looks silly when you’re 30 and wearing it still.
Get the Fit Right
No matter how plain and simple a certain fashion piece might be, it’s definitely all about the fit. Making sure that all your items of clothing fit you correctly is the best way to take your style to the next level and look amazing. Even a basic outfit like a pair of jeans and a t-shirt will look a hundred times better when it fits you correctly compared to when it’s ill-fitting.
Tailor-made is always a good option to consider whether you are purchasing everyday clothing to wear for work or looking for something special to wear for an event. In fact, if you are planning to add a suit or two to your wardrobe and your new sense of fashion, then spending more on tailor-made is always the best way to go.
While there are certainly lots of options to choose from when it comes to off-the-rack suits you can buy on a budget and wear straight away, they simply won’t be designed to fit your body style like one that’s been custom-made for you will.
Choose Versatile Pieces
When it comes to picking new items of clothing for your wardrobe, versatility is a good factor to keep at the forefront of your mind. Whenever you are interested in buying a new item of clothing, think about what you already own that you will be able to pair it with, and how many different outfits you will be able to get out of it.
This is especially true if you are applying the rule of only going for high-quality items of clothing, as if you are going to be spending a decent amount of money on a fashion piece that fits well and is well-made, then you’ll want to make sure that you can get plenty of use out of it.
It’s a good idea to go for mostly fashion items that will go with pretty much anything, and then a few special stand-out ones. For everyday, think plain shirts and jeans, t-shirts and polo shirts, and a coat that works well for both casual and more formal events. That way, you can look and feel amazing in your fashion choices without the need to spend a huge amount of money.
Choose Shoes and Accessories Carefully
Once you have the basics of your outfits down, the next thing to think about is how you are going to accessorise them. The finishing touches can make all the difference to the outfits that you wear, so spend some time thinking about what you’re going to buy and how you are going to wear them.
Shoes are an important accessory to think about when it comes to levelling up your fashion game, as they’re often the first thing that people will notice about you. So, while comfort is a crucial thing to think about when buying a pair of shoes, how they look is just as important too.
A pair of high-quality, leather shoes is one of the best fashion investments you can make, as with the right care they are sure to last you a long time. For more casual outfits, consider investing in some high-quality, versatile sneakers from a reputable brand that you can pair with pretty much anything. Go for a versatile colour like grey, black, or white.
Dress for Your Body Type
Dressing for your body type isn’t just for the girls – guys can also benefit from understanding their body type and shape and making the best fashion decisions for themselves personally. No matter whether you are tall or short, muscular or average, skinny or well-built, you can look amazing in your clothes when you figure out what works best for your body type.
For example, if you have an athletic build, straight-leg jeans with a low to mid-rise waistline is a good option for showing off all the hard work you’ve put in building those muscles. On the other hand, if your legs are quite long and slim, it’s probably best to avoid wide-leg jeans as these will simply make you look shapeless.
You can experiment with different types of clothing to see what looks best on your body. Don’t forget that there are no set rules, and ultimately, it is all about choosing fashion items that you feel great in. So even if something isn’t conventionally the ‘best’ option for your body type, but you feel amazing in it, that will show through with your confidence, and you’ll be able to pull it off.
Skincare and Haircare
No matter how well you dress or the quality of the fashion items that you choose, the truth is that if you’re not looking after yourself in terms of haircare and skincare, for example, then you are selling yourself short. It’s a good idea to get into a good skincare routine – this doesn’t have to be too complicated, either.
Something as simple as applying a good night cream each night before you go to bed, and a moisturiser in the morning after washing your face containing SPF to protect you from the sun can make a massive difference to your overall look. You may also want to consider experimenting with some makeup items like concealer or foundation to enhance your look.
Haircare is another crucial part of looking and feeling good, and one to consider when you want to elevate your overall appearance and be more fashionable. The good news is that you don’t have to do anything elaborate with your hair to look amazing. Even if you don’t have a huge amount of hair, the right care and maintenance can make all the difference.
If you are not sure where to start, you can get a lot of advice and ideas from a barber or a good men’s hairdresser who can help you find the right cut and colour if you want to change it, for your face shape, skin tone, and other features.
If so far, the extent of your fashion choices has been to throw on the nearest pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but you know that you want to elevate your look and be more fashionable, then don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start – there are lots of guys in the same boat as you.
While it’s important to get quality clothing, pick items that work well with each other, and make sure that your clothing fits you correctly, the most important thing you can do to look amazing in any outfit is build your confidence in yourself.