So I've finally given in to the
innumerable demand to also incorporate menswear services in my portfolio.
I did my first menswear look book and it felt soooo good and I knew it was
good. The client who is a very particular person also liked what I'd done.
So I've received several queries and
requests from men to either update their looks or shop for them. Most of my
posts here have been on women's wear as that is my natural inclination but
seeing as there is a market gap and I love a good challenge, I'm taking it up.
My only disclaimer I will not do those overly flamboyant feminine looks some
men favour. I firmly believe that a man should be a man with no confusion
allowed.
Men can find building a basic wardrobe
scary. But with easy steps, you can do it quite easily. But be careful because
being preppy is quite hard to maintain
Clothes
make the man. This mantra has been drilled into your head time and time again,
but many of you out there are still not listening.
When
it comes to fashion know-how, most men are
1)
too cheap,
2)
too clueless, or
3) simply
don't care (these are the men whose mommies laid their clothes out for them).
You can no
longer continue walking around looking like a mess,
"I
think that women recognize a man who dresses well - they can pick that guy out
of the crowd. He's not necessarily dressed expensively or crazily, he's a guy
who's dressed well and looks neat. If a man cares about the way he looks, it is
obvious to other people that he's got something going on for himself and that
he will probably be a better date."
-Stan
Williams, Fashion Maven
Basically, hair is easy: don't be
afraid to get haircuts, and make sure you comb it before you leave your house.
Most men don't get haircuts frequently enough, which contributes to an overall
sloppy look. So after you get one, ask your cutter when you should come in
next, and make an appointment. (Our recommendation is once every three weeks.)
I'm not a fan of dreadlocks on men but if that's your personal style ensure you
get them relocked frequently to avoid the homeless man look. It's very
unattractive.For men who use styling products in their hair, they are often
fall victim to SFS, or Shiny Forehead Syndrome. This is when the styling product
you are using in your hair gets all over your forehead leaving a shiny film.
The solution is simple. Wash your forehead after you are finished styling your
hair.
Unwashed or greasy hair is a huge
turn-off for women, especially if the hair is long or tangled. Even if the plan
is simply to throw a hat on, having unwashed hair can both feel, and smell,
unpleasant. Fortunately, many companies such as Gillette are now making 2 in 1
shampoos and conditioners for men, which will easily take care of this little
chore.
Two of the commonly missed areas of
men's grooming are the hands and nails. Many men will condition and style their
hair, shave well and then completely disregard their hands, even after a long
day of work. Step one is to invest in a decent set of nail clippers. The small
clippers which most women use will not do the job here – the larger version is
preferable, especially for clipping toenails.Once the nails have been clipped
the next step is to clean the hands. A simple soap will do for the bulk of the
dirt, but one often-missed area is under a man's nails, even if they are short.
Most nail clippers will come with a small tool that can be used to remove any
excess dirt under the nails, just be careful not to dig too deeply. Lastly, it
can again be worthwhile to apply a small amount of lotion to the hands when
coming out of the shower. This will allow the lotion to penetrate the skin
while it is moist and will have a longer-lasting effect
In the wild, animals are able to
identify others by scent. But they also smell each other's asses to sniff said
scent. The moral: be careful when selecting and applying cologne. First,
don’t rely on cologne to cover up poor grooming habits, that’s not the purpose
for which it was made. Cologne is supposed to be an accent, not the basis of
your hygiene routine. A man’s cologne isn’t meant to mark his territory
as he roams from place to place, it should only be noticed by those in intimate
proximity.
It is recommended to put cologne on
pulse points such as the wrists, the base of the throat, and behind the ears as
the heat produced in these areas will help activate the scent. Do not spray
cologne on your clothes, as it won’t last nearly as long. Finally, don’t settle
for a cheap bottle of cologne. You don’t have to go over the century mark, but
investing in a quality cologne should serve you for at least couple years
(storing your bottle in a dark, cool place will help prolong its lifespan).
I will be doing a series of posts on
grooming for men but for now that is a basic. These
days, to dress well is to stand out. People look for effortless distinction.
This means clothes that fit, in the right colours and with a splash of charisma
in the details.
The next step is getting an idea of
who you are, what you want to portray to the world and your lifestyle. This
will help in establishing your current style and where you want to be. Once
this has been achieved hopefully with the help of a personal stylist then the
next step is a wardrobe edit. I will do a different blog post on wardrobe edits
and transforming a man's wardrobe on a budget.
So hopefully I've piqued your
interest to call me and we can have a discussion
