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Style is a difficult thing to define. It’s easy to see but hard to achieve – how many times have you noticed an excellent outfit on a friend, or even in the street? And then, how many times have you found yourself frustratedly cycling through shirts, trousers, jackets and accessories in vain hope of finding an outfit you feel proud in?
There’s a lot to developing a personal style, particularly if you want to know what makes outfits tick. Menswear influencer Derek Guy has experienced incredible demand on the social media platform X in recent years, in part for his measured takedowns of antagonists with poor fashion choices, but also for his deep dives into the culture behind clothes, and how that cultural knowledge can help you find your own ideal looks.
If this teaches us anything, it’s that the appetite is there for dressing well; as for your own style, what are some key ways you can uplift your tired wardrobe, and feel better in your clothes?
Embrace Elevated Casualwear
A common mistake people make when attempting to elevate their style is to go full-formal: suit jackets, three-piece suits, well-shined shoes and so forth. But a poor eye for formal fashion can still lead to cheap-looking end results, to say nothing of the impracticality of formal looks for everyday life.
Casualwear has experienced a sartorial renaissance in recent years, and with the right cultural knowledge to speak its language, you can create sophisticated looks without breaking the bank or breaking a sweat. Chinos and linens might sound a bit 2008, but worn high-waisted and with some tasteful leather accoutrement, you can achieve a phenomenal silhouette.
Update Your Timepiece Collection
Speaking of accoutrement, your accessories can do a great deal to elevate your look by themselves. Again, exercise some caution here; expensive watches and bracelets are not a shortcut to a great look, and could even be detrimental to the point of gauche-ness.
A well-chosen watch, though, can do a great deal for your personal style. Rolex watches never go out of fashion, and having one or two on the dresser could be gamechanging for a timeless everyday wear – whether you’re wearing casual or formal.
Master the Art of Layering
As for a real secret in the world of outfit-building – try layers. Layering is what makes your silhouette interesting, and what enables you to play the positive qualities of different materials off of one another. A personal favourite is to use overshirts with simple white tees; the overshirt provides intrigue, and always plays better off a blank canvas than another noisy visual element.
There are many ways to approach layers, though. Try pairing an off-white Cuban shirt with a pastel linen jacket, for the textural differences and the benefit of that extended collar. Try a bulky leather jacket over a loose-fitting patterned shirt. Experimentation yields rewards – as long as you have some context to back up your choices.