20 Easy Ways to Elevate Your Style Game Instantly
Tissot
As men, we can get stuck in our ways. Often, this steadfast commitment to tradition manifests itself beneficially: a sworn-by steak-grilling technique, say, or a perfected parallel parking trick. But there’s one area where refusing to change means you’ll quickly fall by the wayside: Your style.
Yes, if you’re still rocking neat-pressed chinos and faded blue button-downs from eras past, you’ve a lot of catching up to do. Luckily, instantly upgrading your style to magazine-worthy quality isn’t a slog. In fact, all it takes is a few tweaks. For instance: slide into a double-breasted suit, and you’ll suddenly find yourself one step closer to Bond status (as in James). Or try swapping out your 40mm wristwatch for a colossal timepiece; you’ll immediately command the attention of any room you enter—in a good way.
Herein, we’ve rounded up low-effort, high-impact ways to transform your style from the ground up. Master just one of these and you’ll never feel sartorially left behind again.
Tissot
Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80, by Tissot
…with your watch, that is. Springing for a blue-leather timepiece is a notable departure from your trusty classic colors. And if your new timepiece happens to be a veritable piece of art, too, like the intricately detailed Chemin des Tourelles, pictured here, well, that’s all the better.
Dune London
Mercer, by Dune
Step up your shoe game by forgoing the traditional Oxford in favor of something with a little more spunk: a monk strap. Whether you’re one-strapping or two-strapping, whether you’re rocking black leather or brown (or tan!), a spit-shined monk is an easy way to inject some newfound style into any outfit.
R.M. Williams
Classic RM, by R.M. Williams
On the boot front, consider swapping out any clodhoppers for an architecturally streamlined Chelsea boot. The clean lines will elongate your silhouette, instantly making you look more elegant and princely.
Allen Edmonds
Leather Care Kit, by Allen edmonds
Ask yourself when the last time you gave your shoe collection a spiffing up was. If it’s longer than 60 days, step to it. Remember: Even the nicest pair looks like garbage if it’s not properly taken care of.
Burberry
Large Rucksack, by Burberry
Inject some burgundy into your repertoire for a serious level-up. The sumptuous tone is the rare hue that’s equal parts trendy and timeless—and as versatile as black and white when it comes to matching. For best results, slate it into your wardrobe with a nice bag, one that goes with you everywhere, so your style becomes synonymous with the color.
Rag & Bone
Fit 1 in Montauk, by Rag & Bone
Light-washed is the type of trend that’s not going anywhere. It’s a color of denim—not quite as bright as the acid-washed denim from decades past, nor quite as boring as the prototypical “dad” jean hue—that works with too many outfits to disappear from racks any time soon. Stay ahead of the game by picking up a pair before they go mass-market.
Tissot
Wearing a 45mm watch is like treading a thin line between ostentatious and confident. By picking up a refined, timeless option—like the blue-faced, clean-lined Chrono XL, here—you’ll land squarely in confident territory.
Hugo Boss
Shawn, by BOSS Hugo Boss
Everyone loves a good top coat. And although camel-hair tans and mafia grays are nice, those tones are also, at this point, a little staid. Venture outside of the tried-and-true with a vividly patterned, mildly psychedelic coat.
MR PORTER
Dinosaur socks, by Paul Smith
Justin Trudeau scored the all-but-official “world’s best-dressed politician” championship for one reason: his vivacious, loud-and-proud socks. No, you don’t have to follow the guy’s lead on everything. But you should on this one. When it comes to your socks, turn the volume up to 11.
MR PORTER
Invisible Touch Five-Pack, by Marcoliani
Or, if you’re in the throes of summer, turn it down to 0. With a good pair of no-show socks, you can wear balmy-weather footwear (loafers, boat shoes, leather sneakers) at maximum laissez faire style—without running the risk of committing capital sensory offenses.
Want les Essentiels
Marti, by Want les Essentiels
A duffel is often too much. A brief or messenger is often not enough. And a backpack can often be childish, depending on your work environment. Enter: the tote, a functional, stylish breed of bag that neatly rests smack in the middle circle of this Venn-diagram trifecta.
Reiss
Miami B, by Reiss
Suits, blazers, sport coats. Every guy since time immemorial has a trusty two-button jacket. Stand out, by getting a Bond-level double-breasted one, whether it’s part of a suit or just a day-in-day-out blazer. Oh, the cut will make your shoulders look more jacked, too.
Bonobos
Jetsetter, by Bonobos
If you don’t want to switch up your cuts, consider switching up your patterns. A tonal plaid is a low-impact way to neatly swerve away from your standard grays and blues and into more courageous territory.
Neiman Marcus
Textured tie bar, by Tateossian
Of course, no suit is truly complete without a suite of accoutrements. If you’re wearing a tie, never, ever go sans tie clip. For a true level-up get one in oxidized silver (bottom, pictured); it’s the type of rugged material that mitigates the “dandy” factor that comes innate with wearing jewelry.
Neiman Marcus
Solid-edge pocket square, by Brioni
Next up: the pocket square. If you’re wearing a tie, match the coloring to your tie. If you’re forgoing neckwear, match it to your shirt. Style it however you please; the mere existence of a pocket square on your person is enough of a style upgrade that no one—save maybe Tom Ford himself—would judge you for improper form.
Neiman Marcus
Whittier Lapel Flower, by hook + Albert
Round out your suit’s accessorizing with a reserved lapel pin. Steer clear of flashy. For maximum points, get one in oxidized silver, to match the tie clip.
Hermès
Tie 7 Chapeau Bas, by Hermès
If you regularly update your wardrobe, it’s a good bet you don’t need to do this. But, if it’s been a decade or so since you’ve updated your ties, get thee to a clothier, stat. Purge any ’80s-era shiny, wide power ties. Opt for slimmer neckwear (no larger than 2.76 inches) in muted colors.
Bloomingdale’s
Floral Party, by The Kooples
Breathe some life into your shirting by picking up some wild-child-inspired button-ups. The more vivid you go, the more points you get. And when you’re done work for the week, shrug off the blazer and untuck—you’ll be ready to hit the town—without having to head home and change first.
James Perse
Melange Tech Tee, by James Perse
By muscling up your t-shirt game, you can turn a rote base layer into a powerful primary one. Get a well-structured shirt—one that will keep its shape for wash cycle after wash cycle—in a stylish, heather fabric. It’ll work with everything, from your sharpest tailoring to your most rugged leather jacket.
Shutterstock
Make sure not a hair is out of place. Get a cut every six weeks. (Pre-schedule the appointments, to ensure you stick to them.) If you’re growing facial hair, never grow a neckbeard. (The rule: measure two fingers from your jawline, and fade to there.) And above all, wash regularly. (But you didn’t need us to tell you that, right?)
