Transcript for:
Six Core Values for Dressing Better

  • In this video, we're going to talk about the six key things, the six core values that you need to keep in mind as you begin or continue your journey to dress better and develop your wardrobe. So we all have our own reasons for making the decision, for making the commitment to dressing better and putting some time and effort into our appearance, and how we present ourselves to the world. For some of us, it's a means of self-respect. And on the other hand, it can be a way you are showing respect to the people around you. It could have a sentimental value, like maybe your father and your grandfather dressed well, and you want to continue that legacy. Maybe you do it for confidence. Maybe you do it to show people that you are the type of person who cares about doing the absolute best they possibly can. Whatever your reason is, these next six principles will ensure that you are always making the most informed decisions possible, while you are building and developing your wardrobe. And they all really kind of tie together and work in sync. Number one, first and foremost, is versatility. We talk about this all the time. Versatility means being able to do more with less. Having a closet full of clothes does not mean that you have more options. It probably just means that you have a lot of clothes that you don't wear. And I bet if that's you, that when you go to get dressed in the morning or pick out an outfit for whatever you're doing or wherever you're going, that you often feel overwhelmed. And that you've probably said at some point, "I have nothing to wear." And then that starts this vicious cycle of accumulating more and not doing enough with it. So before you buy anything, ask yourself this question, how many different ways can I wear this? And if the answer is less than three or more maybe, less than five, seriously consider whether you should actually buy that piece. Which brings us to number two, timelessness. Now there's a reason we call certain pieces classic. A navy suit, classic. Mid-gray flannel suit, classic. These are classics because they always look good, and they never go out of style. Trying to keep up with trends is exhausting, draining on the wallet, and I would even say that it leaves you less fulfilled longterm than dressing in a more classic and timeless way. It feels good when I look in my closet at a suit or something and say, I've had that for seven years and I could still wear it. Still looks good today. Still looks relevant and like it belongs. Number three is quality. Now I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. My father taught me that and I really think he was right. This has played out many, many times in my life personally, when I was trying to decide between a higher priced option, and something less expensive and cheaper in terms of quality. Every single time I went for the latter, the cheaper thing, I regretted it immediately. Now sometimes I could return it. Sometimes I had to live and learn from the consequences. So I'm always willing to spend a little more for something that is well made, and that I know will last. Consider that a sound investment. That brings us to number four, affordability. Now being a stickler for quality does not always mean having to lay out a lot of cash. There are always multiple tiers of options and price points for specific products. And I encourage you to always buy the absolute best that you can afford, and that makes sense for your budget. If money's no object, and you want to commission an entire bespoke wardrobe, I'm definitely not gonna stop you. But for the rest of us, choosing the highest quality items within our own economic comfort zone, will get you the biggest bang for your buck, which is what we're all looking for. And one other thing that I will add is that if it looks cheap, it probably is. Number five, is fit. If we're talking about men's wear here, which last time I checked we were, fit is one of the most important elements, as well as one that guys often get wrong. Wearing a suit coat that's two sizes too big, or maybe the hem of your jeans gets frayed because it's too long and gets caught under your heel, we've all likely been there at some point. What you need to understand though is fit takes time. So buying off the rack, unless you are blessed with a sample size model body, is never going to be perfect. It might get you in the ballpark, but remember, one size does not fit all. And one of the best things you can do to fix this is to find a good tailor and develop a relationship with him or her. Getting correct fit takes time, so be patient as you consider this aspect of men's wear. Number six, confidence. If you don't believe in what you're wearing, if you don't feel good wearing it, people will be able to tell. Now the other side to that is that dressing well, dressing timeless, wearing the best quality that you can afford and pieces that fit you. See, I told you everything kind of all worked together here. All of that stuff can make you have more confidence. I hear this over and over and over again from guys that have made the commitment to dress better, that they just feel so much more confident, and have more self-respect. People say that confidence is the most stylish thing a guy can have in his wardrobe. It's not hard to put simple classic outfits together if you have the right pieces. If you've got the basics, you've got a great start. And this playlist right over here, we'll show you some very simple and easy outfits that anyone, literally anyone, can pull off. So click there to get inspired. And always remember, stay tailored.