The purpose of this page is to provide a centralized hosting spot for basic information about men’s style. These are all articles I’ve used and vouch for personally, gathered from a wide variety of blogs and other places. They cover all levels clothing: hats, shirts, coats, blazers, pants, shoes, accessories, and detail things like how to select a well fitting shirt, how to match a tie to a shirt, and how to tie a scarf. Dive in.
Let’s start with dress codes. The rest of the tips listed here are ultimately irrelevant if you don’t know when to wear certain outfits so I’ll start with pieces that outline the dress codes for common social situations. Here are definitions for:
Now, let’s move on to individual articles of clothing, beginning with your shirt:
- This piece presents an illustrated guide to how a dress shirt should fit.
- This one builds on the previous piece by detailing how other types of shirts should fit, t-shirts, polos, etc.
- While we’re at it, this one defines the difference in a dress shirt and a sport shirt.
- And just in case, here is how to iron a dress shirt.
We should also get you some pants to go with that shirt:
- This piece goes into detail about how various types of pants should fit.
- This elaborates on the previous piece by explaining the concept of “rise.”
Next up? Shoes:
- Here is a great overview of types of men’s shoes and when to wear them.
- But caring for shoes is just as important as purchasing the right ones so:
And to top it off, add a nice blazer or sport coat:
- This piece details how to buy a blazer.
- Here are some common mistakes to avoid when purchasing a sport coat.
But if a suit is more appropriate for the occasion:
- Here are some things to look for when buying a new suit.
- And if you’re going to buy one, you have to know how to care for it.
Don’t forget that it sometimes gets cold:
- This piece offers a guide to overcoats.
- Here is a guide to winter coats more generally.
- And a detailed discussion of how outerwear should fit.
Accessories are also important, lest you risk looking plain. I like to divide my accessories into “essential” and “non-essential.”
Let’s start with essential accessories: ties and pocket squares:
- Start with how to match a tie.
- Also vital to know how to tie a tie,
- how to tie a bowtie,
- and how to care for a tie.
- Next is how to choose a pocket square.
- Then, a peek at the many ways of folding a pocket square.
And on to the non-essential accessories: scarves, hats, sunglasses, and bags:
- This piece gives a good overview on the types of men’s scarves and how to tie them.
- This piece gives an overview of the types of men’s hats and when to wear them.
- Here is a more detailed look at which hats fit certain head shapes.
- But if you’re going to buy hats, you must know how to care for them.
- This piece describes types of men’s sunglasses and how to match them to your face shape.
- Here is a short primer on men’s bags, types and appropriateness.
But it’s important to remember with non-essentially accessories that the rules are flexible. Don’t feel beholden to the rules about face shape.
Finally, here a few pieces with miscellaneous tips:
- Primer’s Definitive Guide to Proper Sleeve Length details the appropriate length of sleeves of various garments.
- And Nine Patterns Every Man Should Know.
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