What’s the best way to improve your style? (Master the basics)

We are often asked what is the best way to improve your style. And the answer may surprise you – focus on the basics and do them really well.

It’s easy to think that good style is all about complex matching and playing with colors. After all, that’s what we see on Pinterest and Instagram, right? (At least, we do!) But it doesn’t need to be that complicated. The single best way to improve your style is to focus on the basics and do them, really, really well.

A great example is Brett’s style in the following images. He’s dressed in black tie attire, which may seem pretty standard and straightforward, but let’s look closer.

Fit is super important

The first thing you probably notice is that he’s wearing a perfectly fitted suit. If you read this blog regularly, then you know that fit is the most important thing when it comes to clothing.

And a pocket square is an easy boost

Brett’s also wearing a pocket square. As opposed to a bright color, it’s just a basic white. However, it’s crisply pressed – yes, that means ironed. There’s just about a quarter to half an inch showing and with his white dress shirt, it helps to frame the overall look.

So is a tie bar

Then there’s the tie bar. It’s appropriately sized for his neck tie, meaning it doesn’t cover the entire tie, and it’s nice and horizontal. Yet it’s not showy or bold in any way, it’s very basic.

Bespoke details

And then there are two details of his suit that are very bespoke – the contrast button hole stitching in grey and the working button holes on the sleeves. These are relatively subtle, but very much nods to bespoke suiting. Also, Brett has a great lining. The rich purple pattern is very elegant. Perhaps you think it’s very bold (you obviously haven’t seen our other linings!), but the reality is that this lining is very versatile for dressy occasions – it’s a very sophisticated look.

The jacket lining, the contrast stitching, and the surgeon cuffs all work together to reinforce the black tie look.

Wrap up

Are you starting to see how easy it is to boost your style? There’s plenty of time to get down into the weeds with complex matching and clever layering, but if you’re just starting out, focus on a couple of the basics and ace them!

As always, let us know if you have any questions and don’t forget to subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter if you haven’t already. And here’s a link to our ever growing YouTube channel!

By the way, if you really want to improve on your cool factor, go out and buy some driving gloves.