A beginner’s guide: How can a man dress for an accomplished look

 “Clothes don’t make a man, but clothes have got many a man a good job” -Herbert Harold Vreeland

‘Never judge a man by his appearance’ is something we all learn from the very beginning of our lives. How true is that though? The above-mentioned quote changes our take on the way we dress, and why should it not?

The first impression may not be the last one in many of the cases, but we are not here to deny the fact that first impressions matter. They matter a lot! From interviews to blind dates, from the first day at the office to meeting your future in-laws for the first time.

The way we dress is the way we present ourselves to the world. Amidst a bustle of things happening during an important day, nobody would like to be taken as a person who is too lethargic to even dress up in accordance with the event.

We are here to guide you and shatter common myths about fashion (ahemmmm…. semi-formal shoes) and open up an all-new world of the trend for you. Stick along for a little while and learn about refreshing options you have to make your mark on any occasion.

Before we begin you must know a few things. First, elegance never goes out of fashion. Second, vouch for a personal style, for, fashion will eventually fade away. Third, this one is rather a quote by Lauren Hutton, and it speaks for the first two points.

It says “Fashion is what you are offered four times a year by designers and, style is what you choose”

So, let's not think too much about how fashionable you are or how sober you dress up. Instead, focus on developing a personal style. Here we go…

What’s in a shirt?

Pieces of evidence suggest that the earliest shirts date back to 3000 BC. Many men say that there are not many options to choose from when it comes to shirts. All shirts seem to be the same, they’d say. That’s not the case. Think of how many transfigurations, in an ever-changing world, must have the primitive shirt gone through.

Let the style discover you

Practice makes a man perfect and every practice involves trial and error. The more you experiment with your style, the more you evolve as a charismatic person. Men’s shirt come in a variety of styles and designs. So, the next time you shop for a shirt, don’t be ignorant. Open your heart to vivid styles of shirts and do not hold yourselves from making new choices.

Let’s break the myths

There exists a plethora of myths around men’s shirt. Some suggest that men are not supposed to wear pink shirts, some others are blunt enough to tell you that floral prints are feminine.

A myth like ‘a man’s belt must match his shoes’ is true, it is a clean practice which elevates a man’s personality but, the idea of men not wearing pink or florals is rather absurd.

Pink denotes romance and charm, it also determines a strong feeling of self-love. So, why hold on to rules that prevent us from expressing self-love and being a romantic charmer? As far as florals go these quotes should clear the air:

 “The way we dress affects the way we think, the way we feel, the way we act, and the way others react to us” - Julie Rasband

 “To wear a floral shirt is an experience” -Brian Wilson

It’s 21st century and men must take no humiliation in wearing the ‘so called’ feminine hues. Shrug off the weight of worthless rules and discover styles that make you feel zestful.

Src: http://bit.ly/2DA1DPN 

So, what’s your style?

Alright! There are a handful of different styles when we talk about shirt designs for men.  Some designs are such that they bring forth the endless summer residing within you, while, some designs will give you a lasting suave. Albeit, office shirts, and casual shirts are a staple in any man’s closet.

Hereafter, when you go on online clothes shopping hike, or visit a store, take your sweet time and look for perfect fit shirts. JUMP USA has an ultra-fine collection of casual shirts for men, feel free to dive in.

Say hello to Trousers

There may never- ever come a time when ants wear pants, however, the first records of men wearing trousers date back to sixth century BC.  Since then trousers for men have gone through a meticulous transformation.

The only thing that time could not change is the rationale behind the invention of trousers. Thank god, for nobody dared to mess with the comfort they provide to the wearer.

Are men monotonous? Of course not! Men are vibrant beings, they have strong emotions and steadfast decisions. (well, most of them!) So, why on earth should men’s trousers be monotonous? We are glad that thoughtful inventors and designers have invented trousers that offer a variety of silhouettes and designs.

The options are quite sensible. For instance, men’s trousers come in front-pleated design as well as plain-front designs. The pockets may be straight down and seamless or slanted.  They may or may not have ankle cuffs, speak about colors and there are plenty of possibilities. You will find VIBGYOR trousers and all that jazz!

Dressing up a trouser is the least dilly-dally task you would do! Stick by a few good-old rules and you are good to go.

4 Golden Rules you must follow that would perfectly blend your trousers with your attire

Rule no. one, the trousers should have no overflowing fabric at the end.

Rule no. two, your trouser should neither be too tight nor should they be baggy.

Rule no. three, your trousers should always redirect attentive eyes to your face.

Rule no. four, bottoms and tops should be in complementary colors. (break this rule, if you wish).

How should I dress up for Office?

• Front- pleated trousers are best for the office, pair them with a well-fitted shirt to achieve a formal look.
• Club plain-front trousers with casual shirts for a casually-formal look.
• All your grey flannel trousers will look neat and classic with plain white shirts.
• Pair khakis and chinos with polo t-shirts or semi-formal shirts to achieve a laid- back yet dressed-up look.
• Accessorize your attire with a compatible tie.
• Last, do not forget to put on your shoes!

Look 1

Look 2

Look 3

Cheers to the good-old jeans

Jacob W. Davis and Levi Strauss patented the first ever riveted jeans in 1873. They were first made to meet the expectations of a hard-worker. They were made out of sturdy denim cloth and rivets were placed at the points from where trousers are prone to tear easily.

“Jeans represent democracy in fashion”- Giorgio Armani

After jeans appeared as a sturdy piece of clothing, it quickly became famous among factory workers. Its popularity among hard-workers made the elite look upon it as a cheap garment. Fast forward, many years later jeans become the go-to bottoms for people from all walks of life.

It would not be an overstatement if we say that jeans are the Abraham Lincoln or A.P.J Abdul Kalam of the fashion industry. It came out of nowhere to meet the need only to conquer the world!

People everywhere own at least one pair of blue jeans. This ‘one blue jeans’ is plenty if you know what to wear with it. A washed or faded blue denim looks dapper with a top-wear of many colors and styles.

To get a glimpse of it, try clubbing your jeans with a polo t-shirt, there you have a suave! Wear the same pair of jeans with a chequered shirt and you’ll look effortlessly stylish.

Not only shirts and polo t-shirts, but, turtle necks and t-shirts of vivid neck designs go with a decent pair of jeans. There are not many rules that imply on jeans, just that, you must always feel confident about your outfit! To complete the look pair your jeans with sneakers for a casual look or put on a pair of bouges to perfect a semi-formal look.

Jacket on, game on…

Men feel cold too!

Although, there is a thick air all over the world that men are tough beings. In the movies, it is the man who takes off the jacket and offers it to his lady, on a cold winter night. He does so because he is a gentleman, not because he ain’t feeling no cold!

Winter hits us all the same. Jackets for men have been around in the form of insulating coats for as long as the humans learned to dress up. Albeit, the coat transfigured into the jacket roughly around the 19th century.

A man must own a few good jackets to keep him from the cold, meanwhile, keeping his style game on. Jackets come in different silhouettes and designs, some for a casual day out and some for a power-packed business day.

The jackets that fall into the casual category are

• Bomber jackets
• Biker jackets
• Tucker jackets
• Hooded jackets
• Denim jackets

Speaking of formal or regular jackets in the fashion world, yet again, has much to offer. There are-

• Blouson jackets
• Overcoats
• Trench coats

Which make a man look a fashionably professional.

Bomber jackets look great with a pair of non-pleated trousers or a pair of chinos along with semi-formal shirts. They look equally charming when paired with a pair of jeans along with a t-shirt. Biker jackets will offer you a stylish and tough look, wearing combat boots will only enhance the toughness of your persona.

Tucker jackets, hooded jackets, and denim jackets are all going to get you to a casual appearance. They complement semi-formal shirts, t-shirts, trousers, and jeans.

When going to the office or to attend a business meeting, you can wear a blouson jack in solid navy or deep gray color. Blouson jackets are sleek, you can relate them as a distant cousin to the bomber jacket. On days that do not favor an outdoor trip, you can put a trenchcoat on, and look a professional man with a great deal of style.

Overcoats are everything, yes, everything! They have the power to make you stand out from the crowd. You can pair an overcoat with formal attire as well as a casual pair of jeans. Make sure that you pick the right overcoat for your body type or you will stand out from the crowd. (for a different reason!)

A sweater is for the smartypants

Why should you ditch sweatshirts for a sweater?

There are good reasons to step out of your sweatshirt zone! A fit-to-measure sweater will impart an illusion of a leaner body for men with a larger built and vice-versa.

A sweater does to a man what shapewear would do to a woman. (of-sorts!) Wearing a quality sweater will a man look poised. (no offends to the sweatshirt though!).

Sweaters make a man look elegant while keeping warm enough during the bitter cold months. They offer so many designs and yes women love a man dressed in a gentlemanly sweater!

Make a quick guess, how many sweater styles and designs do you recall? If you can recall anything above three you sure are a sweater-philic.

Well, if not, you will be into sweaters once you embrace the idea of charm and macho that sweaters have to offer. There are-

• Cardigans
• V-necks
• Crewnecks
• Shawl- collar sweaters
• Mock necks
• Athletic-half zip sweaters
• Turtle necks

Any day and you can pick one of these styles and have all eyes to you!

Cardigans and v-neck sweaters make the perfect office wear when paired with the go-to office look. One thing to take note of is that you do not have to try too hard with the sweater design.

Let simplicity of the design be the mystery of your nature! Shawl- collar sweaters, mock neck sweaters and turtleneck sweaters will impart a perfect semi casual look. All you gotta do is to pick the right ensemble of top and bottom wear for them.

Turtlenecks give a great layered appearance when you wear them with cardigans, jackets or coats. Mock neck sweaters are a great choice for men who have no strings attached with the turtleneck sweaters.

These sweaters give an almost equal appearance to a turtleneck with engulfing a man’s entire neck! When shopping for sweaters preserve in your mind that you should not buy a sweater that fits tightly. Sweaters tend to shrink down after multiple washes.

With that said, guys who have a colossal love for sweatshirts should not be disheartened. You can always sport a sweatshirt to the places where a sweater does not belong. Such places include a gym for instance. (you will not like to wear a cashmere sweater to the gym, or would you?)

What’s your Shoe?

“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally”- Christian Louboutin

A man’s shoes speak for him. Harishankar Parsai (he was a cult Indian author, in case you didn’t know!) narrates the importance of a nice pair of shoes in his story “Premchand ke fatey joote”. Every man who wishes to leave his mark on the world must own a pair of shoes with timeless class and elegance.

A shoe for an attire will please the eye!

There are several different categories of shoes for men, we will stick with the basics for now. There happen to be two varieties of basic shoes that a man must own, sneakers and formals.

Sneakers are the right match for your casual outfits. Choose sneakers in basic colors devoid of flashy designs and prints (for a start) and for formal, you should own at least one pair of tan, brown or black oxfords.

Wrapping it up

Looking attractive is as important as maintaining good health. Although, you should not waste a thought on what perceptions others make out of your appearance, sometimes, you must. (unless you want to go to the Himalayas and become a hermit!).

Your appearance has an impact on your day-to-day productivity, when you dress up nicely, you will feel wonderful, and receive compliments. This wonderful feeling will attract positive vibrations, ultimately, you will be happy at the workplace.

Happiness in the workplace will eventually increase your productivity. The result? You can finish your work early and head home, or you may get a chance to say hello to increments :D!!

While there's so much more to say, we will be around in-case you want to learn in detail about each section that we discussed. As of now, we will quote Luaren Huttons Words.

“Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers and style is what you choose”.

Find out your own style, start with subtle choices and later on you can go all crazy with colors, prints, silhouettes, and designs!