Je ne sais quoi

Developing a mindful and considered approach to dressing

What does it mean to have a more mindful approach to our style and dress? Is it important? Why does it matter?

It’s easy to look at the iconic people, people of the past, and believe that a signature style is something one is born with; that one can never achieve. But I believe that we can all learn to dress with a style that articulates who we are and where we want to go in life. It is possible to explore a deeper, mindful and sensitive approach to style, as well as, address the basic blocks to dress for success. To portray ourselves and our personalities through the clothes we wear, very simply, we need to have a better understanding of ourselves.

Gentleman, Rebel — There aren't many dudes we know who have more gritty, personal style than Philip Crangi. His rugged, weathered rings, bracelets, and necklaces are tough enough to silence even the fiercest of anti-man-jewelry advocates.

If ‘clothes maketh the man’ it is important that we explore our own inhibitions, attitudes and motivations before creating a more thoughtful wardrobe. I use a two-step approach for perfecting my style from head to toe — pointers that help fine tune my ‘style identity’ and curate a mindful closet that helps me stand out from the crowd with confidence.

Increase the confidence in your life and your wardrobe decisions.
Increase your ability to build a versatile wardrobe. Bring depth to your closet instead of continuing to go for breadth. We all have clothes that we only know how to wear one way. Mix them around and get more mileage out of them. Streamline your wardrobe and avoid decision-fatigue.

Develop a more mindful and considered approach to your dress.
Create a style that speaks to your values and works effortlessly for you, and a wardrobe that delivers the right first impression. Your clothes are your assets for future success; hone your manifesto for successful dressing.

One-Man Brand — Nick Wooster is an Instagram idol, an object of veneration across social media platforms, the sole focus of blogs consecrated to charting his individual style. That style, which the fashion retailer and savant Nickelson Wooster spent decades retooling, has lately become influential enough in the age of image obsession that a cadre of street photographers tracks him wherever he goes.

Style Matters

Your personal style is a reflection of who you are. Developing a signature style will help you gravitate towards clothes that speak your values, and increase your confidence. It’ll help you understand what works for you and moves you beyond the noisy, uninspiring and endless fashion trends. It helps craft your own style and puts the joy and fun back into getting dressed your way. At the very least, it’ll help you become a shopping maverick and push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Clockwise — David Beckham, Tom Ford, Steve McQueen, Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Yves St Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, James Dean

I constantly catch myself assessing the emotional health of my wardrobe and I’m sometimes forced to navigate through the perils of shopping. I have also started acknowledging and discouraging my inner style critic, taking only constructive cues, and discarding the negativity surrounding my body and my vestment. I look at people who have boldly blurred the fashion lines and created looks that challenges our perception of style and what it means to have a considered approach, and I’m inspired.

I seem to have three main passions in life: teasing solutions out of matted problems, being a catalyst for great ideas, and encouraging inspiring individuals to dress their best. I think I am working towards being a Style Philosopher.

What?! That can be a real job!