Five Quick and Easy Style Upgrades

If you look good you’ll feel good. And if you feel good, you’re better equipped to make others around you feel good. If you can do that, you can own the world.

Looking good isn’t about out-dressing everyone by wearing designer brands and dandyish levels of clothing. Far from it. Looking good is about wearing clothes that are appropriate, fit your body well, and make you feel confident. The key to looking great is to add one or two unique pieces that reflect your personality, but at the same time won’t make you the center of attention. Personal style is a finesse game. If you show up to a BBQ looking like Karl Lagerfeld, you’re worse off than the guy in jean shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.

Here’s five quick ways to upgrade your style without going too far.

1. Wear something other than Jeans – A lot of us have an addiction to denim, even for work. Medium blue for our down time, dark denim for when we’re dressing up. Chinos don’t have to feel like dress pants if you buy heavier pairs with a little more room in the legs. Try the Banana Republic washed boot cut chino.

2. But if you do wear jeans, consider a knit tie – Square ended knit tie’s look great with jeans. This one from Alfani Red is perfect. The knit is small enough that it’s smooth but still has texture, and the trimness is perfect without being too trendy.

3. Sport a white pocket square – It almost seems unfair that something so small can make such a massive difference. That sliver of white contrast is like steroids for your suit, with none of those pesky negative drawbacks. Your suit will go from warning track power to home run distance with zero testicle shrinkage.

4. Buy a few casual, lightly structured blazers – I’m not talking about those blue wool numbers with the gold sailor buttons. Cotton blazers. From Old Navy, or Gap, or the Macy’s brand INC even makes a few good ones. Get them tailored and every time you wear one you’ll have that athletic V-shape. They keep your oxfords under control and streamline your look easily. Plus they just look cool.

5. Don’t Dress like a Slob, even when you can – Just because you can dress like a slob on your down time, doesn’t mean you should dress like a slob on your downtime. Dressing decent builds on itself, and the perfect time to try something new is when you’re at home taking a load off. See if you like it. This 2009 GQ slideshow featuring Dennis Quaid shows it’s completely possible to be totally relaxed yet look great.

Men usually fall into three categories when it comes to how they dress. They either don’t care, they care too much and don’t know what they’re doing… or, they actually look pretty damn good. These five upgrades prove it doesn’t take much time or money to be a guy that looks pretty damn good.