Kami Gray is a personal stylist in Portland, Oregon. She has worked with an impressive client list, including Nike and Audi. We asked Kami to tell us the three things that every guy should know about his style, and this is what she had to say:
1. Do Denim Right: Men should ditch the Dad jeans, and the trying too hard jeans.
“Dad” jeans come up too high on your waist; they are too light in color; they are too baggy, and they taper too much at the ankle. “Trying-too-hard” jeans are easy to avoid. These are black jeans (unless you’re under 30 or in a rock band), skinny jeans (unless you’re skinny, under 30 and in a rock band), and jeans with pocket bling, whisker washing, stone-washing, and fade spots (unless you’re a night club owner/manager, or you live in Las Vegas).
What does this leave you with? We like the timeless look of the classic Rag & Bone Standard Issue (above). These offer a dark rinse and a straight “fitted” cut that is neither too baggy nor too skinny. Goldy Locks might even say they are just right.
If you prefer a slightly more relaxed jean with the same classic appeal of Rag & Bone, AG Jeans offers a Protégé style (above) that provides approximately two extra inches of room in the thighs. The contrast stitching gives these jeans a personal touch without ‘trying too hard’.
2. Wear Clothes That Fit: The majority of men wear their clothes too big.
This is especially true for dress (or any collared) shirts. Men that are on the slim/fit side should try slim-fitted shirts. They make a man look a million times more in shape. Most men have a wardrobe full of clothes that have a relaxed fit. Roomy clothes make men look bigger, sloppier, and less stylish. That goes for dress shirts, t-shirts, polos, jeans, chinos, dress slacks — everything. And pant hems need to be long enough, but not too long. Too short makes you appear shorter, but bagging at the ankle does too, and it makes a man look sloppy.
Finding clothes that fit is as easy as taking a few measurements of yourself and buying clothes that are within a couple inches of your true size. When in doubt, you could always buy bigger, but you will only end up looking sloppier. Every man needs at least one ‘go to’ slim fit white dress shirt for all occasions, like the one above by Mr. Start.
Another staple in your wardrobe should be a fitted polo. Rag and Bone offers their Standard Issue Polo (above). It features a classic slim cut, split hem, and bold navy color that will never go out of style.
3. Layer Up: Layering is the secret to having good style.
Men should consider adding some lightweight pullover sweaters (be bold and get a striped one!) and a casual, everyday blazer to their existing wardrobe of tees and plaid shirts. Men shouldn’t be afraid to try the untucked look under a sweater or blazer. It looks sexy and stylish!
Wanna be bold, Marc By Marc Jacobs offers a slick Combo Stripe Sweater that looks classic under a blazer, and then gets a little more funky cool once the blazer comes off. Its ribbed hem will ensure that it wont take away from the sleek silhouette of a properly fitted blazer/jacket.
A lightweight wool navy blazer is one of the most versatile pieces in any man’s closet. It can be topped with a heavy long coat for the coldest part of winter. It also holds its own as a classic casual jacket in the Spring or Fall, and can be dressed either up or down depending on how you layer the underside. The Marc By Marc Jacobs Tropical Wool Jacket (above) has you covered for just about all occasions.
Thanks for the tips Kami!
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About Pamela Causfield
I'm a digital nomad and story teller that writes for Urbasm and a few other websites on men's interests, style, relationships and whatever tickles my fancy. In my spare time I like to play the field in search of my prince, travel, and consider myself an artisan of sarcasm at times.