gentleman's style — his modern suit of armour as it were — needn't be overcomplicated, overtly ostentatious, nor a fickle entity solely driven by the aimless pursuit of modern fashionability and subsequent experimental mass consumption; Likewise, it should also not be explicitly dictated or strictly moulded by the creative will or purported tastes of others (read: fashion publications) nor by the tidal transience of the ever-evolving (trend laden + driven) fashion industry itself.
On the contrary, it should come from within and feel organic, comforting and personal as it is a unique entity as well as an empowering tool that each of us has full creative liberty in fashioning as we see fit on a daily basis — ideally in a form that best suits both our lifestyle/professional needs as well as discerning tastes. Be that as it may, it is indeed truly life-altering in application, having a domino effect (as it were) that essentially touches upon nearly all other facets that come to define our lives in one manner or another — be it our hobbies, career aspirations, personal pursuits, level of self-respect and confidence, et al. It is, as such, a fluid entity whose initial guiding compass point, or rather founding principles, ideally emanate from within en route to only thereafter being further tinkered with, refined upon, and properly curated over time to the extent of one's personal aesthetic becoming an immediate signifier — personal business card if you will — that you are not only proud of but also a reflectively genteel mark of good taste and tastefully cultivated character that is decidedly timeless in its universal appeal, endearing in its fastidious attention to detail , and uniquely orchestrated in all its enduring sartorial glory and merit.
To such an affectation, should you be of a peculiar ilk who fancies (or simply aspires to) cutting the dashing figure of an eminently charming, sartorially refined, and unshakeably confident (+ well-mannered and regarded) modern gentleman then my stern advice would be to take to heart the following four evergreen pillars of permanent style — those of which will most assuredly — to differing degrees — instantly catapult your style (not to mention confidence levels) through the moon (or simply to the next level). For you see, for many being stylish (rather then fashionable) is not something that happens overnight nor by no mere coincidence or lucky mistake (unless he is amongst those gifted few who are seemingly bred with an innate sense of style and impeccable taste) but is rather something that must he must endeavour to put effort into in due course of discovering what works for him and what does not before thereafter learning, nurturing and eventually earning his sartorial stripes (and accolades) by means of putting in the proper time, due diligence and care required to accomplish any such sartorial feat or aspirational goal. All that having been said, I could not more whole-heartedly recommend proscribing to the following four style philosophies and utilizing them as a veritable launch board to a greener sartorial pasture marked by a heightened level of personal style… |
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Clothing that fits properly — in proportion, cut, drape, and style — has the formatively commendable and peerless habit (and power) of always (without exception) making a man look more characteristically astute, sartorially dashing, and charmingly cultivated. And that is why "fit is king". Nothing is as more critical (nor crucial) to the ultimate success of a man's style then that of a proper fit (of all the pieces within his curated wardrobe) — from his formal (suiting) to his leisure/casual (leather jackets, jeans, chinos) wears. Which, as it were, is why a timeless slim ( but not too skinny) cut and a great tailor are two nonnegotiable tools that should be in every gent's sartorial arsenal; they both actively work wonders for not only his personal style but also his relentless confidence. That said, the significance of a proper fitting (or a navy suit for the matter) can consequently never be overstated or under-appreciated seeing as it is what distinguishes the men from the boys and the stylish from the unkempt — it is also what can make a $100 suit look like a $10,000 one (with a proper fit) or a $1000 suit (with a poor fit) look like you picked it up from the thrift shop and never bothered getting it tailored. So aim to nail the fit and comfort of all your wardrobe essentials, with quality and precision (proportion) being tantamount over the wearing of ill-fitting garments or the fashionably deplorable seasonal investment into garishly fickle trends that are in and out of vogue in the blink of an eye. Your clothing should naturally feel and move like a second skin and not like a billowing and tasteless burden that physically — as well as emotionally — restricts, restrains, and limits your natural and professional mobility and progression. Point being: Remember that looking like you belong in, and that your clothes were made with the sole purpose of conforming to your body, always trumps looking flashy (ie. throwing money at trends or luxury brands), aimless, or worse yet, downright slothful in appearance. Money cannot buy confidence nor heightened style, only a tailored (ie. perfect) personal fit affords you those revered luxuries. |
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When crafting your signature style there are two matters that stand formatively (and influentially) paramount above all else: First would be that of purposefully tailoring your look to best befit the detailed lifestyle parameters that define your personal life (work, hobbies, career/personal aspirations); and second would be that of fulfilling the creative calling of your innate sartorial desires. Meaning that, you can't truly fake passion or personal comfort, nor should you attempt to betray yourself (morals, standards, fabricated lifestyle) in regards to what you truly value and desire in life or in how you live it. Taking that to heart, you should not attempt to build your signature style around personal lifestyle deception, by merely copying others (although a style muse/icon can be beneficial and point you in the right direction), or in order to either simply conform to any popular cultural more (ie. trends) or to satiate the irrelevant postulations of casual bystanders and (financially driven and industry founded) experts alike. Why? Because there is no common style template/mould out there that will universally satiate the variable needs, tastes and desires of every type of discerning gentleman gracing our planet's terra firma. For you see, what we do, how we spend our leisure time (hobbies + pursuits), the company we keep, and where we choose to live out our lives all differentiate immensely and collectively demand a specially curated wardrobe + style that not only satisfies but also balances the (distinctly unique) lines between every such aspect of our lives whilst also catering to our unique outlook of the world and ourselves as a whole. As such, your style should mirror what you do and who you aspire to be. Whether your chosen vocation finds you in a (formal) professional setting or outside in the actual jungle, always try to build your style around your real life activities and the people and desires that fulfill it. Sartorially speaking, that is the hotspot – a style that is truly yours, playing to your strengths and the life you actually live. And regardless of the manner of your situation, striving to always be consistent, calculating, and purposeful in your appearance and intentions will never lead you astray. |
|| M+E Style Philosophy ||
:: …The 4 Tenets… ::
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Being truly stylish entails extending one's active pursuit of cultivated refinement beyond the sole restrictive confines of his wardrobe, with characteristic matters such as those pertaining to a man's overall health and fitness, his wit and mentality, and his genteel decorum and mannerisms taking special precedent.
Together they, alongside those purely aesthetic and sartorial in nature, ideally should all organically synthesize into what would be considered the perfect gentleman: a man who is fit, has impeccable taste and authentically unique style, and has an unshakable constitution and a set of unquestionable moral tenets. Collectively, all these characteristic intangibles have profound effects on how a man looks, feels, interacts, and carries himself — both physically and mentally. So, take it upon yourself to get into shape and further educate yourself. Why? Because there is no investment more worthwhile in life then that of one that directly relates to personal development! You will not only look and feel better, but will be more confident individual whose clothes will fit more flatteringly and whose productivity levels will skyrocket. Simply put: It will change your life immensely on a personal, stylish, and professional planes. This pursuit of perpetual refinement also should be carried over into all other aspects of your life as well. For example, this means not only hitting the gym but also grooming like a grown man (skin, hair, etc), actively exercising your mind with puzzles and further education, and feeding your soul and passions (with hobbies & loved ones) on a daily basis. Also, educate yourself in matters that interest and inspire you everyday; take chances, don't be afraid to fail. It is amazing what you accomplish by just simply taking ACTION. At the end of the day, competence, dependability, and consistency always trump laziness, negligence, and perfection. Aim to putting the finest, most refined and cultured version of yourself out there physically, mentally and emotionally, and people will respond positively and remember you for the right reasons...and you will just simply feel (and look) better in your own skin (and style)! |
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Having a signature personal uniform that you can count on is something that is both a sartorial prerogative and a gentlemanly prerequisite — it is the fashionable equivalent of comfort food. To that effect, it is essentially a reliable trump card you can fall back upon with an unwavering confidence in knowing that you will always look and feel your best whilst sporting it. And yet in spite of that enticing style safety net, a gent should never discount the notion that with each passing day arrives an opportunity to start anew, to hit the refresh button on not only his wardrobe but of nearly everything that defines and encapsulates his life. In a sartorial capacity, this entails being open-minded to either further refining upon, editing, or (less likely) fully reinventing your own personal style wheel. Creatively, this needn't be a difficult task to administer as we are all -- deep down -- artists in our own right who (often alone) actively utiize our bodies as the blank canvas that it is from which we endeavour to uniquely "paint by numbers" as we see fit — which ultimately means that are the gatekeepers who can (whenever we fancy) openly experiment with it to our hearts content in due course of enlivening its spirit, buoying it foundation, or completely changing its characteristic course. Yves St. Laurent once said, "Fashions fade & style is eternal." And in doing so, he managed to hit the relative sartorial nail on the head. For you see, one should not endeavour to masking insecurities or discomforts with poorly fitted clothing nor should he resort to simply adopting the latest (fickle) trend to blend in. We are all — after all and in the grander scheme of things — our own brand ambassadors, and as such should always be unshakably confident in what we opt to wear in addition to being discernably conscientious as well as profoundly astute and driven when it comes to what type of image we choose to project upon the world. That being said, and in coming full circle, don't carelessly give in nor resort to adhering to any given status quo on accepted uniformity, tasteless/trendy gimmickry or false personal misappropriation at any moment in time. Contrarily, while one's style should indeed always be purposefully cultivated, tastefully sartorial, and eminently comfortable (as well as built upon a foundation of evergreen wardobe staples and characteristicconsistency) in creative essence, it must also be readily open and ably adaptable to the fanciful whims and desires of its bearer. To that account, a gent will certainly never be led stylishly astray when opting for any of the many gilded menswear classics (ie. navy blazer, button-down shirts, white canvas sneakers, etc.) nor will he be judged upon relying upon the tried-and-true of what makes him feel untouchable (with both being safe + advisable fallbacks at any time), but he should also not be afraid to experiment with the "intangibles" of his wardrobe for you see you never know what you may chance or land upon in the process (perhaps a new personal favourite) it is how his signature style becomes unique and his to lay claim to alone… unquestionably unique. So, every so often don't be afraid to (at the least attempt to) broaden your sartorial horizons by venturing to trying on a new piece or by substituting something in (say a new leather jacket or a chunky knit) to switch your look up and keep to it fresh. Why? Because personal style operates at its optimal level when given creative freedom to either explore new avenues OR to simply stick to its stylish laurels. Either or works, its the open mind and creative will that makes the difference in the end…and it could pay of in a big way! |
