The Man “Glow Up”
All Eyes Are On You
As we are finding our way back to “normal,” now may be an excellent time to consider how we will present the new version of ourselves to the rest of the world through our apparel, through a men’s makeover, a man’s style “level up”; The Man’s Glow Up.
This does not mean going out to buy a whole new wardrobe. This does not mean recreating your wardrobe to mimic James Bond. It can mean slowly introducing new items to it that reflects your personal style. Some of us have no choice to buy new clothes because we have picked up a few quarantine pounds and need to size up. While shopping for that size up, we can also shop for designs and brands that we have never worn before and change clothes. We can gradually change the style of clothes we buy to match our new vibe. We need to be confident in how we present ourselves to the rest of the world.
There is nothing sexier or more attractive than confidence. — Tom Ford
Shopping does not need to be a task. We should be strategic, or else we can waste our hard-earned money. You can start by learning the basics from the best here:
Fellas, here is how to style and re-invent yourself strategically:
STEP 1: Assign yourself a style.
We can start by looking inside and understanding ourselves. What is your personality? Are you classic and reserved, artistic, sporty, casual, business-like, a logo-lover? Once we know our personality, we can look to stylists and fashion designers who align with our style for inspiration. Masterclass assigns eight general categories to style (Sporty, Bohemian, Preppy, Grunge, Punk, Streetwear, Classic, and Casual). Do your research to understand your fit.
STEP 2: Be realistic about your budget.
The fashion goal should not be to look like a billboard full of expensive designer logos, but rather to express your personality and look “well put together,” clean and neat, according to your version of “style.” You can be well put together in luxury/expensive, midrange, or inexpensive clothing. You can look well put together in casual, streetwear, sportswear, or a suit. Just be neat and clean. Expression of individuality is what makes style and fashion fun. Buy items that help express your unique personality and that are in your price range.
Men’s fashion budgets will fall into three (3) categories:
(1) Luxury Fashion (Hugo Boss, Brunello Cucinelli, Ralph Lauren (Purple Label), Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermes, Bottega Veneta), (2) Midrange (J Crew, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Brooks Brothers, Under Armour, Nike, Banana Republic), and (3) Fast Fashion (Men’s Warehouse, Express, Zara, H&M).
Looking for Luxury at Discount?: Shop Saks Off 5th
STEP 3: Align your style to a brand and influencer to stay current.
Each brand caters to a specific consumer personality. For example, Hermes and Banana are “classic,” Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss are “elegant,” J Crew and Brooks Brothers may be seen as “preppy,” and Kenneth Cole and Under Armour or Nike may be seen as “casual” or “sporty.” Bottega and Zara are more “artistic/edgy” may be viewed as “bohemian,” and Gucci may be seen as disco and “street style.” Note that “bespoke” means custom and tailor-made.
Choosing a brand or designer that speaks your style and shopping on-brand streamline your fashion research. Pick a brand from each price range that suits your style, and voila! Each season, refresh. The brand evolves with you.
Stylists and influencers also do the work of researching trends and staying on top of developments in style. Some are celebrities that are mailed items by brands to promote. Others, stylists by trade, attend the men’s fashion shows in New York (or, in the case of Italy, Pitti Uomo) and report on what they see in their social media posts.
A personal favorite of menswear designers is Georgio Armani. In the show below, Armani takes us through all styles from streetwear (0–2:22), Casual (2:23 —4:03) elegant (4:04–4:25) bohemian and sporty (4:26–5:12), to classic suit wear (5:13). Watch and ask yourself: Can I see myself in any of these? Which style fits you best? Depending on which style you associate with most: That is your “vibe.”
For more on Pitti Uomo, the world’s leading men’s clothing trade show held in Italy, for dapper men who love clothes, watch here:
Quick and Easy Men’s Fashion 101:
Men, if you do not want to focus so much effort and time on fashion but still want to look good, revamping your wardrobe is simple: Buy the basics (tops and bottoms) in quality fabrics such as 100% cashmere sweaters, sweatshirts, and tee shirts (yes, they do make tee and sweatshirts shirts in cashmere). Buy 100% linen pants and button-downs to look great in the summer. Buy wool and silk for the winter. To look expensive, buy neutral/natural colors such as black, gray, navy, ivory, camel, burgundy. Unless it is sportswear or streetwear, artificial colors cheapen a suit. (i.e., a bright orange suit or yellow suit, etc.) While your clothes do not need to be full of logos, we recommend that your accessories are expensive and authentic materials (Real Leather/suede): Watch, shoes, belt.
Dress appropriately for the occasion. There is no need to wear a tux to a ballgame or a sweatsuit or overalls to a business meeting. A man should have a combination of casual/sporty clothes, business clothes, and classic items suitable for both occasions. Have a variety of clothes for different occasions and dress appropriately to show that you are well rounded, cultured, have been exposed to, and can adapt to different environments.
If all of this seems overwhelming, or you do not have the time, go to a department store (Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman), talk, and meet with a sales associate (stylist) face-to-face get a feel for their vibe. This will help you build a relationship and have your stylist on speed dial for special events or wardrobe refreshes. Make sure they understand you and your vibe/style. Make sure you like their vibe. Get their business card. Then, call the sales associate later, tell them your budget, and ask them to pick a few items out for you. They will be excited to help. After they have done the work, head to the store and choose which items you want from what they have already selected. Simple.
Note: Mid-range and Luxury sales associates are more likely to help you with your wardrobe. The fast-fashion associates are less likely to help because they are often hourly paid teenagers with no commission/bonus.
So here we have a strategy. As we crawl out of our quarantine caves, men show up and show off. All eyes are on you. It is your time to shine!
