Clever Clothing Styling Can Do Wonders for Confidence
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Clever Clothing Styling Can Do Wonders for Confidence
The biggest styling lessons I've learned over the past year.
👋 Hi, Sabir here. Welcome to this week’s issue of Chino - simplifying Men’s fashion to help you dress well & look dapper!
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What I have always thought to be good fashion styling has officially been thrown out of the window!
In the fall of 2020, I stumbled across a youtube channel discussing styling advice for men's fashion.
A year on, my styling has changed dramatically. It’s also had a profound positive impact on my all-round confidence.
Here are the biggest styling lessons I’ve learned over the past year.
The Colour Symmetry Rule
For years, I thought “good styling” was simply in the choice of individual pieces of clothing. Previously, I’d wear a pair of jeans (often, in black or blue) and combine it with any sweater/shirt/tee, jacket and boots/sneakers.
An example of my poor styling in 2018! 👇
As the above shows, I’d choose individual colours that appealed to me, but I had no idea of how to use colour to complete any outfit. Learning how to do this has been the ultimate game-changer!
If you are as baffled as I was about what this means in practice, don’t worry, it’s a lot simpler than it sounds.
It’s all to do with using one colour twice in the outfit to create colour symmetry. Essentially, having two pieces of clothing/accessories that match in colour.
Why is colour symmetry key to completing an outfit? Because it’s easy and attractive to the eye.
Here’s an example below.
The above outfit creates colour symmetry with two colours; off-white & black. The off-white is picked up both in the tee and sneakers, the black in the belt & sneakers. Both create colour symmetry.
TOP TIP 👉 Next time you’re out and about, think about why you are attracted to certain outfits that people are wearing. More often than not, it will be colour symmetry that catches your attention. Not the actual pieces of clothing themselves.
Here’s another example of colour symmetry done well.
Here, brown is the main colour of symmetry (hat, cardigan, & boots). The second colour is not so obvious, it’s discreet. Notice how the outfit’s white bottoms create symmetry with the white tee underneath the cardigan.
TOP TIP 👉 Being discreet with colour symmetry can be just as effective as the less subtle choices. There is also no right or wrong when choosing which colour to create symmetry with.
Below is an example of an outfit I wore the other week. 👇
I’m using white & black for colour symmetry here. The black in my sweater & jacket is being picked up by the black in my sneakers. The white in my chinos are being picked up by the white in my sneakers.
Also, my black & grey socks are being picked up by the identical colours in my jacket & sweater.
The Smart & Casual Fusion
Finally, I’d like to share with you one of my favourite styling techniques. This is all to do with fusing a majority smart outfit with a casual piece.
Here’s a great example of this.
The above outfit works well. The smart navy suit & tee is combined with the casual sneakers. What this outfit does with the tee is clever; by tucking it in, it transforms a usually casual piece of clothing into a smarter one.
This outfit also goes one step further with colour symmetry. Notice how the white tee is being picked up by the white sneakers.
Simple Modifications
By adopting these styling ideas, my wardrobe has transformed over the past 12 months.
I now find myself consciously choosing a piece of clothing with the intended outfit in mind. A stark contrast to my previous styling habits.
In 2019, I was extremely overweight and went through a successful weight-loss regime. Hand on heart, the satisfaction I got from it has been matched by the satisfaction I now have from dressing more consciously. I feel great!
I do not doubt that clever clothing styling can do wonders for our self-confidence.
See you next time,
Sabir 👋
If you found this read helpful, sharing it would mean a lot to me.
In case you’ve missed any of the previous issues:
Hot to Impress on a First Date
The Best Colours to Wear Right Now
Why Boots Are a Must for Your Wardrobe