Style

Seven Secrets of Dressing Well

Personal style is something you can build with a very simple toolbox. Get some quality basics that fit well, and you're there

Styling by: Don Sumada
[ Updated: Jul 14, 2008 - 4:59:43 PM ]

"Learning how to dress well is not as difficult as it may seem. [Like golf,] it is an acquired skill that can be honed and improved with correct practice." — Alan Flusser

The sad truth about men and fashion: The bar simply isn't very high. Conversely, it's also good news for you. Look around your office. Go to a party. Most men dress like their women dressed them. That makes looking smart and stylish pretty easy for you to pull off with minimal hand-wringing. Let us be frank: You are going to have to go shopping. You are going to have to spend some green — probably more than you've ever spent on clothes.

But there's not a whole lot to buy. You need good shoes and a well-made suit for important occasions. You need a golf outfit that won't embarrass you. You need casual clothes that aren't jeans and something to wear to cocktails at the CEO's house. Here are seven intelligent style ideas that'll help you upgrade your wardrobe instantly. You can't go wrong with this basic uniform if it fits you well.


One: A New Suit
The easiest way to upgrade your office look instantly is to add a suit that isn't corporate gray. Example: this light-brown glen plaid from Canali. When having it tailored, be sure the jacket covers your butt completely. Don't trust the tailor; look in the mirror. Rules: A wider-striped tie accents the solid shirt. A pocket square is a subtle addition that says you pay attention to detail.

Suit ( $2,950) by Canali Exclusive Collection, shirt ( $125) by Thomas Pink, tie ( $130) by Ermenegildo Zegna, belt ( $150) by Giorgio Armani


Two: Leather Carry-On
Let's banish our black-canvas wheeled carry-ons to the far corner of the attic and forget them. We are not pilots or flight attendants. We are businessmen who travel light. And if we pack right, we can carry a 2-day-trip's worth of clothing in one hand. This bag looks good against the knee of a suit or jeans. Two zippered compartments separate dirty clothes from clean.

Handmade Italian leather bag ( $2,400) by Tod's