How to Create a Sense of Personal Style: 5 Essential Tips for Men

For most men, fashion is simple; you open your closet ten minutes before leaving the house and opt for a simple t-shirt to match with a pair of jeans and some white sneakers, but since summer is here, the choices get more limited, and you might feel inspired about the multiple colours and patterns you see when walking on the street, and feel like there is something missing in your wardrobe. And it’s not specifically about the clothing pieces themselves, but more about a sense of personal style. Fashion is a way of self-expression that enables you to show who you are and gives society a glimpse of your personality. Colours, patterns and textiles are just words that can become meaningful once you give them a purpose. So, if you are ready to dare, in this article, you can find 5 essential tips to create a sense of personal style to gain confidence and be unique: 

1. Remember that fashion has no rules 

The nr. 1 rule in fashion is that there are no rules. Too many people follow trends blindly, and with the latest crazes running online, it gets difficult to really express who you are while looking too closely at what’s happening in the industry. Still, Fashion is about inspiration, so it’s crucial to research the types of textiles, colours that might be appealing, patterns that scream your name and so on, but you should not rely just on what you see on the runways. Remember that clothes are just pieces of textile until you wear them to add personality and meaning, so you should not be afraid to do more and dare to be you. Even if there are no rules, you should still make the most of your outfits by understanding your body type and highlighting or hiding what you need so that you can feel comfortable and confident in your clothes. Regarding your wardrobe purchases, you need to create balance, opting for basic pieces and gradually adding more fearless clothes to build outfits that represent your personality and, of course, make you unique in the crowd. 

2. Understand your body type

Suppose you get inspired by an outfit you see online and want to replicate it, but once you give it a try, you see that you look nothing like the picture; your shoulders are too small or your legs too short, and it surely doesn’t do you justice. So, the first thing you should consider to make the most of your outfits is understanding your body type. For instance, these are the main types of men’s bodies: 

• Triangle: You are larger around the waist and hips in relation to the upper part of your body. Bright colours suit you best, and patterns like stripes and mixed prints can hide the asymmetry. 
• Inverted triangle: Your shoulders are large and the waist smaller. You can wear slim-fit shirts, straight-leg trousers, and horizontal stripes to broaden your narrow waist. 
• Rectangle: Your shoulders are the same width as the waist and hips. To create an illusion of structure, consider layered looks and colour pops and prioritise details to play with dimension. 
• Oval: The centre of your torso is wider than the hips. To slim your figure, it would be best to opt for darker hues, wide collar spreads for shirts and loosen trousers. 
• Trapezoid: It’s considered an average build in the fashion industry, and experts recommend avoiding loose clothing so that you can highlight the shape of your body. 

3. Start with basic pieces 

To build a perfect wardrobe, you should start with minimalist, basic pieces. Monochromatic clothes with simple features are versatile, and they can be the starting point to create a unique outfit. Consider integrating into your closet a few plain white and black t-shirts and blouses, as well as straight-leg trousers. It’s also essential to focus on neutral hues that mainly work with everything. For instance, white, black, grey, beige, navy, olive, khaki, and brown are the core of every man’s closet, and they work amazingly together with various textures and patterns and can easily be integrated into any style. Also, simple suits should not be missed from your wardrobe either, but make sure you find a tailor that understands your body type so that you can wear your formal outfits in a flattering way. 

4. Don’t be afraid to dare

Now that you have the base of your wardrobe with simple clothing pieces, it’s time to make some fearless choices to showcase your personality. Get inspiration from social media, nature and seasons, and don’t be afraid to dare. Starting from simple pieces, you can create a focus point with a splash of bright colour, layer textures and experiment with multiple patterns. Also, to really stand apart, you can create some clothes yourself, purchasing a qualitative African fabric that comes in beautiful colours and unique prints that you can use for shirts or just to accessorise your outfit with a beautiful cultural touch. Of course, to make the heads turn with admiration, your lover could also wear an amazing headwrap to recall the African beauty and match with your style. 

5. Accessories to make a difference 

Details make a difference, and accessories play a crucial role in your personal style. Watches, bracelets, necklaces and berets are just some examples of how a simple outfit can be completely transformed. You can opt for bigger accessories that catch the eye to express yourself. 

The bottom line 

Fashion is not about trends, but it’s a way to express yourself and give the world a glimpse of your personality. So, in order to make sense of your personal style, you should not blindly follow specific trends, but you need to discover what represents you and choose to wear it. “Style is something that each of us already has; all we need to do is find it” Diane Von Furstenburg.