As A Man, Finding A Personal Style Should Be Simple
What will I wear? It seems like a simple question and, to an extent, it is. However, the clothes we choose and wear out into the world are part of the masks and costumes that represent who we are on the inside, or at least, they should be.
In the world of fashion women are given carte blanche to experiment and embrace trends as they’re presented at the fall and spring fashion shows. Men are encouraged to be prudent in embracing styles, at least adult men are.
Teenage boys in their jean skinny styles and long greased hair or slouching extra-large jeans held up with narrow belts well below the butts of hip hoppers are declarations of what these boys are into. As adults, men should find a personal style to suit them that doesn’t adhere to any particular trends.
Once the overly flamboyant fashions of the Victorian era passed, men’s clothing styles have followed similar and fundamental rules that look fresh and stylish decade after decade. Three piece suits, vests, dress shirts, polo shirts, slacks, cashmere and even leather jackets are all timeless pieces that any man can adopt. The most important facet of these pieces is their fit- it cannot be overstressed that the defining characteristic of a great outfit is the tailoring involved fitting an individual’s body.
Like Kathryn and Audrey Hepburn being held aloft as female style icons, there are a number of inspirations from the past that men can acquire ideas from. The reason that the Hepburn women remain stylish to this day was because they found clothing that worked for them and their bodies without falling prey to any strange fashions of the day. The leather brown boots of Johnny Depp or the impeccable suits of Cary Grant all work to add to the sum total of these men’s parts.
Allow your clothes to speak with you and your personality, rather than broadcasting messages that don’t apply to who you are. A man who knows himself and doesn’t fawn over being fashion forward is extremely attractive.
Accessorizing with a hat, a men’s sport watch, or even the fabric of a well-cut blazer can add something to any outfit. For men, the goal is to keep fashion simple and clean, nodding to the past and finding in it the keys a personal style that will last lifetime. Playing with trends is encouraged but should be thought of as gilding the lily of your everyday established sartorial identity.
Giving: Paul Newman
