Things To Avoid
- Looking like a walking cliche. You do not want to look clichéd. Do not dress in a way where people can easily stereotype you. Don't try to dress like a basket-baller (baggy shorts, baggy shirt, sweat bands. Leave it to the pros) or a hip hop artist (ditto, minus the sweat bands, plus the bling). I repeat, do not dress like a basket-baller or a hiphop artist unless you are a basket-baller/hiphop artist.
- Dressing like a gay man. It is true, gay men have style that can match no other man, but this does not mean you have to dress like one. Dress stylishly, but masculinely.
- Wearing bright neon colours. No one wants a flashling neon sign as a boyfriend.
- Wearing clothes that are too tight/too baggy. Do not wear skinny jeans AND a tight top. And do not wear a huge baggy shirt and huge baggy pants. Girls have a general rule that guys should follow too: if you wear fitted pants, wear a bigger top. If you're wearing a tight-ish, or fitted top, wear looser pants.
- Chucking on the same outfit every time you go out. I assure you: girls notice. So next time you go out, try to remember what you wore last time, and avoid it.
- A man who can pull things off. Try new things, and look confident in your outfits.
- Polished boys. Look well groomed, clean your clothes properly, and remember to change your underwear (I know that's obvious, but you never know with guys...)
- Individuality. Do not go around dressing like everyone else. This means not wearing a giant t-shirt or a baggy hoodie with jeans everywhere you go. Mix it up a bit. Try a shirt for a change. You've heard the word before right? S.H.I.R.T. They're cotton-y and they have buttons and collars. Iron crisply, do not do the buttons all the way up. Guys underestimate the convenience of shirts. Going out with your mates? Wear a shirt with jeans. Going out for dinner? Add a tie, change the jeans for proper pants. Going to a formal? Add a blazer! Amazing, right?
- Hilarious t-shirts. Well, not all girls, but most girls with a sense of humour would either like those really witty smart-joke shirts, or the lame-but-hilarious shirts. If you're insistent on not wearing an actual shirt, then a hilarious t-shirt is for you. But do make sure the shirt is actually funny. Lame-funny shirts are fine, but lame-lame shirts are not.
- Guys who know how to pull together a flattering outfit. If you're on the big side, do not try super-duper skinny jeans or turtlenecks. Again, if you're tall and skinny, try to pick clothes that actually fit you. You don't want to look like you're about to burst out/drown in your clothes. And when you go shopping, actually try on the clothes before you buy them. When you do, check for things that look good on you: colours that accent your eyes or hair, cuts that make you look more toned, things that make your arms appear larger, your stomach appear smaller, etc. If a shirt makes you look like a fatty, then don't buy it no matter how attached to it you may be.
- WhoWhatWear. The blog is usually for females, but they occasionally feature guy-celebs. For example, in this article.
- Lookbook.nu. A website where young people from 15 to 25 share their daily outfits. Again, mostly female-dominated, but the occasional guys who post their looks are uber-stylish. This website provides excellent examples.
- The Satorialist. Features people from the streets of Paris, Milan and New York. The website is more gender-balanced, and features people of all ages.
- Jak&Jil: Includes images of the chicest people in the fashion industry, including male designers, models and photographers.
- Look through catalogues or websites of clothing stores for ideas.
