Dressing for Success

From LoveToKnow Men's Fashion

"Dressing for success" is most often heard in relation to business, but what about the other areas of your life? You can't just walk around in an old Beavis and Butthead t-shirt from the 90s and a pair of ratty blue jeans between button-ups and suits. You can look your best not only in the office, but on dates and days off, too.

Look your best.

The Art of Dressing for Success

Dressing for success comes from truly knowing what works for your body, your style, and what you need your attire to say about you. Sound complicated? It doesn't have to be. The best bet is to keep classic standbys around. If they're classic, you won't have to replace them because the trends changed.

If you're always following trends, you're wasting valuable time analyzing whether or not a certain look works for you. Chances are, you'll have some "off" decisions. Why risk it on those occasions when your appearance is so important?

Success at Work

So how do you coordinate your business clothes? The suit, the tie, the shirt, the shoes…how can a man make so many of these decisions so early in the morning (or, if you plan to sleep in as late as possible, so late at night before bed)? There are a few tips to follow:

Choose suits in dark, neutral colors (Jack Mackenroth from Project Runway's Season 4 suggests flat-front pants—always). Charcoal, navy, and black are easier to coordinate than tan, rust, and other colors (plus you'll look a lot more professional). If you want to play with patterns, keep them small. Pinstripes are good. Plaid is bad, no matter what you sell.
To make a lasting impression, for a job interview, for example, pair a bold-colored shirt in a power color, like red or blue, with a conservative suit.
Small prints are best on ties. Loud colors and large prints are best left on the rack. The brighter the shirt, the simpler the pattern should be. You don’t want pieces of your attire to compete for attention.
This is a no-brainer, really, but have your suits tailored. They'll look ten times better! They'll fit better, presenting a more professional image. You'll also be more comfortable, which is another important part of dressing to get the job, the sale, or the promotion.
Color coordinating is critical.

Romantic Success

Want to make that special someone certain you're the guy for them? Skip the jeans that don't really fit, the t-shirts you've had since '95, and the flip-flops that saw you through your last beach trip. Here's what you should wear:

For casual days, jeans that fit well are crucial. Pair them with a clean, unwrinkled t-shirt and a seasonally appropriate pair of shoes. It's that simple. Your best bet is to leave the cap at home unless you're going somewhere that's conducive to hat-wearing. If you're balding, let them know. It's really shocking to get to date three, four, or five and then see the hat come off by accident. Don't be embarrassed; be yourself.
Taking your date to a nice restaurant? Khakis and a button-up with nice brown shoes will win hearts. You could opt for black pants and shoes over khakis and brown shoes.

If you think you'll be especially nervous (proposing?) and prone to knocking over your drink, black will be the better choice so that you successfully avert a staining crisis (and no one will see the damage if you aren't going home right away to change). Planning is a huge factor in successful dressing.

Daily Wear

What you wear on a daily basis when you're not working or dating is very similar to what you'd wear on a casual "romantic success" day. Jeans and a good-looking, unwrinkled t-shirt will take you just about anywhere.

The Bottom Line

When you are dressing for success in any realm of your life, remember to wear classic pieces that fit you well, even if that means you have to take them to a tailor. They can make an inexpensive suit look like a million bucks. Even an inseam length can make or break a pair of blue jeans.

Skip the trends to save yourself a lot of fuss when it comes to getting ready. Choose trusty neutral tones, add pops of color via your shirt, and tie.