10 Men’s Casual Fashion Tips

Here is a list of 10 modern gentlemen style tips that will greatly improve how you look.

Style is a way of saying  who you are without saying any words.  It’s your first impression.  Master the basics, great fitting clothes and appropriate accessories, and you will be more stylish than 95% of men in the world today.

The first step in improving your style is to find out who you are and how you want to be perceived by others.  Be genuine to your true self.  If you want to be perceived as a rock star, powerful business professional, or technology geek, your cloths and outward appearance will present that image to others.  When you lack a style, you confuse people and give the wrong impression.

The second step in improving your style is to find a role model that fits who you are and how you want to be perceived.  Once you find one, mimic their style, but remember to add in things to make it your own.  Your role model should be just your guide but not take over your personality.  Make adjustments along the way and always be yourself.

How to Improve Your Style?

There are easily hundreds of ways to improve your modern gentlemen style.  A list of 10 will not even dent the topic but I believe in taking small steps everyday to make large improvements over time.  Lets start with this list of 10, and then we can add more things later for additional improvements.

It is critical that you care about how you look.  So many guys today don’t give a damn and just wear anything they grab first in their closet.  This is not the impression you want to give the world so put some thought into your selections.  Plan ahead if you need to and use this list as a guide.

Fit First

Your clothing must fit you properly!  I am not talking about getting all your clothes tailored, but what you wear should fit you correctly.  Your body is unique and changes  over time (for better or for worse) and your clothes should also change.

Lets get started today.  Go to your closet and dresser and get ride of anything that doesn’t fit you properly.  Remove anything that is ragged and distressed.  Remove anything that is not age appropriate or does not fit the style you want to present.  For most people, this should be the majority of their closet.

Before you go out and buy new clothes, first take your body measurements.  There are plenty of video’s that will show you how to do this properly (see below).  Go to the mall and try on age appropriated clothes.  If you are also trying to lose weight, take that into account. If you plan to lose a lot of weight, then only buy items that will fit the future you, or better, wait to buy new clothes until after you lose the weight.  Feel free to buy stuff that will not depend on your weight like shoes, belts (braided), socks, and other accessories.

If you are already at your ideal body weight, then find clothes that fit you properly.  This means buy the correct cut (slim, skinny, regular, athletic) and remember that one store or brand sizes will not be the same for another.  For example, Gap jeans are 4 inches larger then their recorded size.  If your actual measurements are 36, then you would fit into Gap jeans sized 32.  Vanity sizing will be different for each brand so you must try on your clothes before you buy them!

Clothes need to be contoured to your body, but not tight.

I recommend watching a few videos about how clothes are supposed to fit and the difference between tight and contoured.  Each video will be a little different so search for Ashley Weston’s YouTube series on how different items should fit you.  This knowledge and a trip to the mall will make a great improvement in your modern gentlemen style.

Stick to the Basic Colors

When you rebuild your wardrobe, it is important to get clothes that will be able to go together easily.  This means keeping color to a minimal (at least for now).  Black, gray, brown, blue, white are your friends.

Spring and Summer fashions tend to have a lot more bright colors and finding your basics this time of year will be harder.  Plus, wearing dark in the Summer is never a good idea.  The rule here is simple, keep your lower half plain and if you need to venture into color, then allow your shirt to have some.  The more color you have, the harder it will be to match correctly and look good so keep it simple.

Remember also that basic colors do not standout which is the goal of a modern gentlemen.  A modern gentlemen style will be classic and timeless.  Stick to the fundamentals.  All you need to be prepared for anything are:

• Plain tee shirts
• Button down shirts (Dress and Casual)
• Polo shirts
• Dark jeans
• Chinos
• Sport jackets
• Plain shorts
• Black Leather Jacket (Every Guy needs one)
• Dress shoes, casual boots, street sneakers
• Dark suit
• Varies accessories

Dress Code

Always dress to the expect dress code or slightly better.  A modern gentlemen style is not way over dressing but always dressing well.  In other words, you don’t need to wear a suit and tie everywhere but just be well dressed and coordinated.

What you wear must be in perfect condition.  It needs to be clean, wrinkle free, and in good condition.

I’ve read that  95% of American men do not dress well so it is clear you cannot gauge your success by comparing yourself to your friends.  You need to seek guidance somewhere else.  You lady can often be a good gauge to bring you up from a slob to someone decent but they cannot bring you to modern gentlemen status.  For this, you need professional help.

There are plenty of places to get professional help and most will not cost you a penny.  Check out these online sources and see who matches your personality best.  It is key to match your personality with your style.  Some of these professionals are more suited for different types of people so make sure you are following the right advice.  The last thing you want to do is fit into a style that is not age appropriate.

• Alpha M.  (Website) (YouTube)
• RealMenRealStyle  (Website) (YouTube)
• Ashley Weston (Website) (YouTube)
• Alex Costa (Website) (YouTube)
• Gentleman’s Gazette (Website) (YouTube)

If you are working around the house, painting, or doing something where you do not want to ruin your new clothes, then feel free to dress down.  For all other occasions, make sure you are on the top of your style game.

Shoes Matter

Every modern gentlemen knows your shoes matter.  Quality shoes that are properly cared for can last a lifetime.  If you buy quality, the leather will last and the rest can be taken care of by a good cobbler.  Quality shoes also look much nicer and people will notice.

There are times to buy “cheap” shoes.  For example, white canvas shoes will not stay clean for long so you spend $40 on a pair, wear them for a few months, then get a new pair.  Same with your gym sneakers.  BTW, only wear your gym sneakers to the gym and never around town.  They are not stylish!

You will need a few pairs of shoes so plan to invest in them over time.  Always buy your shoes new and the best you can afford.  Quality doesn’t always mean crazy expensive.  Quality shoes are in the material and the craftsmanship, not in the brand name.  Lastly but most importantly, keep your shoes in great shape by cleaning and polishing them often.  Buy a shoe kit, shoe trees, and learn how to use them.

When you buy shoes, always make sure you have a belt that will match the leather perfectly.  A modern gentlemen style requires matching your leathers and metals so buy them together.  This is pretty easy to do and should not be missed.

The best way to find great shoes and a great price is to talk to a cobbler and ask their opinion on what shoe they would recommend in your price range.  This way you can buy a quality shoe and build a relationship with someone who can properly care for your shoes.  Win-Win!

Quality over Quantity

Modern gentlemen style always involves investing in quality items.  Make sure you are buying real quality leather products and not the low end stuff.  Gentlemen buy classical items made to last a lifetime.  For example, make sure you have a quality umbrella, nice leather jacket, and a great watch.  You will be surprised how much you take care of those items and wear them with pride.  People will notice quality.

You do not need to be rich to buy quality items.  You just need to know what quality is and recognize it when you see it.  Learn to spot the different types of leather or the quality features of a good watch, then grab it when you find a good deal.

For example, in my opinion, a quality gentleman’s watch will have:

• Swiss Movement (Best) or Japanese Movement (acceptable)
• Analog display, never digital
• Sapphire crystal (Best) or mineral crystal (acceptable)
• Made in Switzerland (Best) or Japan (Acceptable) – never China
• Quality leather band (Best) or stainless steel (acceptable for casual) – never rubber or plastic

I have plenty of watches and 90% fall inside these guidelines.  For example, my article where I talk about the Best Budget Watches for Gentlemen under $50, you will rarely find these features in that price range but I have managed to get very close.

In fact, on this list, 2 of the 3 watches have these quality features and the one that doesn’t is designed to be a fun “trendy” watch.  When you can afford to buy something better, increase the budget to around $200 and you will be able to get these high end features and a watch that will last a lifetime.

Clean Your Car/House/Office

A gentleman’s car and house are an extension of himself.  Keep your car, house, and office clean.  Visit the car wash a fewcouple of times a month.  If you do not have the time or desire to clean it yourself, hire someone to do it for you.  You cannot be a modern gentleman and live like a slob.

A modern gentleman is also well organized and never late.  You need to feel comfortable in your surroundings and keeping things organized will help.  I am not recommending being anal in your approach to the point of making guests feel uncomfortable, but having a tidy, clean, and organized environment will make you and your guests feel welcome and that is at the heart of a gentleman.

This care extends to your clothes.  Buy a clothing brush to make sure you are looking your best.  A gentleman understands a clothing brush will look after his clothes better than a dry cleaner.  I recently bought a few for the house and they are not expensive.  This one was under $8 delivered and is quality and functional.  There is no reason not to have one at home, office, and one in the car.

Fitness, Health, and Grooming

I cannot say enough about personal grooming and exercise.  If you are not clean, people will know by your smell and appearance.  If you are over weight, you cannot hide it with your clothes.

Take care of yourself.  It will be obvious to everyone regardless of your style and this is a great first impression.

This one is very easy to fix.  Eat healthy, exercise, and attend to your grooming needs.  You daily habits create long term affects.  If you want to be healthier, more fit, and well groomed, then start taking steps today to reach these goals.  Clean your self and your surroundings, exercise and lose weight, and visit your doctor and barber often.

In a world where no one has time to exercise, we need a new approach to staying fit and healthy.  I wrote an article on how I lost a lot of weight in a short time.  I had more energy and was able to focus more and my productivity increased.  This is not a fad diet, it is simply adjusting my habits to be healthier.

I created an article called Intermittent Fasting where I talked about how I did it and I have had great results.  If you are serious and committed, you can do it too.

Black Umbrella

There are just a few accessories a modern gentlemen needs.  Less is more.  This is where you can focus on quality since you do not need quantity.

A nice watch, umbrella, and a pair of sunglasses are a perfect start to your accessory collection.  I talked about my recommendation for a watch above, sunglasses below, so now lets talk about a quality black umbrella.

Umbrella’s come in many different styles and functions.  We are looking for a classic style to go along with your modern gentlemen style.  This means black with a curved handle, and something that will last.  Gentlemen are always prepared so make sure you always have one ready.

I have almost 20 umbrellas in the house and several in every car.  You never need to spend a lot of money for a high quality umbrella and most of mine cost under $20.  My favorite 3 are below.  The 3rd one is not a curved handle but is so compact I keep it in my bag when I go out.

Recommended Umbrellas

• G4Free Wooden J Handle Classic Umbrella
• COLLAR AND CUFFS LONDON – Compact Folding Umbrella
• Rain Guard Windproof Umbrella, Compact Auto Open/Close

Sunglasses

Sunglasses come in many different styles and designs.  In this area, you should focus on the classic styles.  Sport glasses are only worn while playing sports so stick to the basics.  The standards are the Wayfarer, the Clubmaster, and the Aviator to name a few.  These are available from most brands and not to sound like a broken record, but make sure you buy a quality pair.  Sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes from damaging UV radiation.  Protect your vision and get a good pair.

I have said it hundreds of times, quality doesn’t need to be expensive and expensive doesn’t mean quality.  The features you should be looking for in a quality pair are:

Quality Features in Sunglasses

• Look for UV protection
  • Always choose sunglasses that are labeled as blocking 99-100% of UV rays. Some manufacturers’ labels say “UV absorption up to 400nm.” which is the same as blocking 100%.
• Ensure they block enough light
  • Sunglasses should screen out 75-90% of visible light. To determine if a pair is dark enough, try the glasses on in front of a mirror. If you can see your eyes easily through the lenses, they probably are too light.
• Check lenses for quality
  • Look for easy to clean lens and scratch resistance.  There is little difference between glass or plastic lens.  Look for imperfections or differences in the tint to determine the quality of the lens.
• Polarized lenses cut glare, not UV
  • Polarization reduces glare coming off reflective surfaces like water or pavement. This does not offer more protection from the sun, but can make activities like driving or being on the water safer or more enjoyable.
• Frame Material
  • The frame could be made of plastic, acetate, metal, or wood just to name a few.  You can buy quality glasses in any of these materials but I try to avoid plastic as they tend to be used in lower quality models.

Recommend Brands

This is my list of extremely low cost quality sunglasses brands and there are hundreds you can choose from.  I have bought all these brands and they are a very good value.  Check them out at Amazon and see if you agree with the quality and reliability of these brands.  I also have a lot of high end sunglasses but tend to wear my value ones everyday.  These are:

• Foster Grants
• Woodies
• AEVOGUE

Cologne

It is often said a modern gentleman looks good but smells better. Never underestimate the power of an appealing scent.  Cologne should be discovered and not advertised so make sure you are wearing the correct amount.  There are thousands of different types out there and picking the right scent for you will be very hard.  In this area, you need the help of a lady.

Your wife or girlfriend (or borrow one if you need to) will be able to help you in this area.  She will know what she likes and what smells good on you so let her take the lead in picking a scent that is right for you.  You will have final say and you must have an idea of what you like and dislike.  Let her guide you but the decision is yours.

Cologne is a very complicated topic and rarely given the right amount of focus in America.  Look for future articles to fully cover the topic.  To get you start in the right direction, use this as a guide:

1. Trial versions are great for testing different brands and scents.  Try some today!
2. Change your scent and surprise your lady.  Different seasons and occasions call for different scents too.
3. Quality Cologne lasts longer on your body so buy the good stuff.
4. Never over do it, 2 squirts usually does it.
5. Spray on your body, never on your clothes, and don’t rub it in.
6. Buy cologne with a high oil content so it will last longer.

Confidence

Last but most important, you need to be confident and show it!  You need to have pride in yourself, your modern gentlemen style, and your possessions.  If you do, you will take better care it all and it will show.  Self-Confidence is the most attractive quality a person can have.  How can anyone see how great you are if you cannot see it yourself!

Conclusion

There are many other men’s casual fashion tips you will need to follow but if you focus on a few and do it consistently, you will impress and be noticed.  The goal here is to be happy with yourself, live a quality life, and focus on the important things in life.  Having  modern gentlemen style will help you in all 3 areas and improve your life today

What do you think of these men’s casual fashion tips?  What you you add or remove from the list?  Let me know in the comment section or send me a message on the contact me page.  Congratulations on taking your first steps and good luck in your style journey.