Dress for success

One topic that I enjoy reading about and keeping a handle on is fashion and styles.  Keeping with the times and trends can be a seriously hard thing to do.  However it is worth the effort.  And keeping up with what is happening in the wolrd today need not be so hard.

I have a few blogs and websites that I keep an eye on to watch what is coming up.  Here in New Zealand we are fortunate in it that we have the polar opposite seasons to the Northern Hemisphere and we are generally 6 months behind when it comes to the average fashion trend.

Clothing styles from the US don't tend to take off too quickly here mainly due to the famboyance and OTT of some styles.  What NZ does do however is a real good job of watching what England, and in particular London, fashion trends are.

So here are the pages and people that I like to keep an eye on from time to time.

http://www.theartofdressingwell.com/

gq magazine

http://thetransformedmale.tumblr.com/

http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/

http://stylesalvage.blogspot.com/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/mens-fashion

You don't need to spend a fortune to keep it.  Watch what trends are upcoming, buy in advance, and buy in the off seasons.  Works for me.

7 tips for a great work wardrobe

First impressions last.  Lasting impressions aren't always the first impressions that you make.

The most obvious way to impress or not impress as the case may be is the way you dress.  Dressing well need not break the bank nor be that hard to accomplish.

Here are my recommendations for keeping in step with fashion and how not to break the bank while you are at it -

1. Watch what is happening as far as clothing trends go.  I recommend http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/dresser/galleries as the best place to start.  Knowing what trends are happening now and are coming shortly is important to know.
2. Start with black.  This is the easiest colour to wear clothes with.  Simple.  Don't get stuck with black or wear it too often.  Vary the colours that you wear with black and begin to expand your choice of colours.
3. Buy a great coat or jacket.  A great jacket can cover a multitude of shirts and tops.  In fact it may be a better idea to invest in two jackets.  that way you can easily alternate them.
4. Get shoes that are simple and go with everything.  One great pair of shoes looked after well can last a long time.
5. Shop online at auction sites.  Often times business people (especially real estate people) turn over the clothes in their wardrobe quite often.  So you can pick up clothes that aren't that old and still have plenty of life in them - cheap as chips! 
6. Spend good money on buying a suit.  Nothing looks quite as good as a man in a suit!
7. Accessories make a big difference. An interesting cheat that some managers use is they have a base shirt or top and then they simply vary the accessory such as the tie.  So you could invest in a swag of white shirts (e.g. 5) and then have 15 or 20 ties and you will appear to have a different look every day of the working week.

Pair up the latest style trends with what's going cheap on your favourite auction site and you can leave an impression on people that will last longer than your wardrobe does.

5 tips for a great work wardrobe

First impressions last.  Lasting impressions aren't always the first impressions that you make.
The most obvious way to impress or not impress as the case may be is the way you dress.  Dressing well need not break the bank nor be that hard to accomplish.
Here are my recommendations for keeping in step with fashion and how not to break the bank while you are at it -

1. Watch what is happening as far as clothing trends go.  I recommend http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/dresser/galleries as the best place to start.  Knowing what trends are happening now and are coming shortly is important to know.
2. Start with black.  This is the easiest colour to wear clothes with.  Simple.  Don't get stuck with black or wear it too often.  Vary the colours that you wear with black and begin to expand your choice of colours.
3. Buy a great coat or jacket.  A great jacket can cover a multitude of shirts and tops.  In fact it may be a better idea to invest in two jackets.  that way you can easily alternate them.
4. Get shoes that are simple and go with everything.  One great pair of shoes looked after well can last a long time.
5. Shop online at auction sites.  Often times business people (especially real estate people) turn over the clothes in their wardrobe quite often.  So you can pick up clothes that aren't that old and still have plenty of life in them - cheap as chips! 

Pair up the latest style trends with what's going cheap on your favourite auction site and you can leave an impression on people that will last longer than your wardrobe does.

Dress For Success

Come on guys keep up with the play! GQ outlines the latest trends for the office here.

It seems the tie is back! Personally I like the one shirt on the left from Gieves & Hawkes!

And if you're stuck for ideas for combination of what to wear Tarocash has a great tool to help you out.

My latest addition to the work wardrobe is the humble vest.

Dress For Success

Guys - you've got to get your dress style right.

Have a look here at AskMen.com for some tips on how to get the right suit for you. Some trends and styles just don't change.

Yes - I do still have a suit jacket that I bought 12 years ago. Yes - it is old.

BUT - it still looks great because (accidentally) I bought a style of jacket that does not age.

That is one rule to go by for staple items for your wardrobe - get solid staples that will not age and add the funky trendy clothes around those.