Men - learn how to style your outfits
I’m always going on about how to wear things in different ways to my personal shopping and styling clients. Plus telling them how much of a difference accessories can make, so I thought it’d be good to give you a demonstration of how to do it in here.
As I’d bought loads of clothes for the photo shoot I did for my new website (did you notice how fresh it looked?!) I put them to good use after we’d done it, and used them as an example of how I’d create different looks.
This is exactly what I’d do if I came and did a Wardrobe Edit for you…..though usually you’d try them on too. I did this last week with a client, and afterwards I sent him around 50 photos of the outfits we’d made up with the clothes he had.
Below, I’ve talked through how I’ve put the outfits together, and the things I’ve thought about to create the look. If you click on each photo you can see it in more detail (and you’ll notice most of the pieces are on my website too).
Multiple looks with blue jeans and a cream jumper
Top row:
Left: This is the jeans and sweater base.
Middle: I’ve layered a chambray shirt under it, with the camo jacket on top. The jacket has a bit of brown in it so the leather bag goes well, the grey/blue flecked socks go with the neutral colours. The plimsolls are quite light so it’d be a Spring or Autumn outfit and the light colour brings in the cream in the jacket.
Chambray shirt: Officine Générale, Woodland camo jacket: Liberty, Plimsolls: Novesta, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe, Sunglasses: Cubitts, Socks: Kapital
Right: I’ve switched out the bag for a navy backpack, and the grey blue trainers replace the plimsolls. A nice tonal look with some interest going on with the layering and patterns. You could leave the bottom of the shirt coming out from the sweater to enhance that layered feel.
Chambray shirt: Officine Générale, Woodland camo jacket: Liberty, Sunglasses: Cubitts, Socks: Kapital Trainers: Maison Margiela, Backpack: Sanqvist, Socks: Uniqlo
Second row:
Left: Same outfit with the addition of some bright socks and back to the plimsolls. I like a pair of colourful socks on a casual look - it just gives an unexpected flash of colour to your outfit.
Chambray shirt: Officine Générale, Woodland camo jacket: Liberty, Sunglasses: Cubitts, Socks: Kapital Trainers: Maison Margiela, Backpack: Sanqvist, Socks: Uniqlo
Middle: I’ve added a raincoat and some more wintery accessories to this one. The hat, socks, shoes and scarf are all shades of burgundies and pinks - not matching exactly which would be too much, but they tone well together. I’ve also added a burgundy t-shirt under it which could be worn so you have a little sliver of it coming out beneath the hem of the sweater. I often suggest this using a white t-shirt - it’s a great way to break up blues and add a bit of a layered feel which gives the look more interest.
Raincoat: Sandro, Beanie hat: Paul Smith, Scarf: Paul Smith, Leather gloves: Dents, Burgundy t-shirt: Comme des Garçons Play, Socks: Uniqlo, Burgundy brogues: Paul Smith
Right: Same outfit, I’ve just replaced the t-shirt with a pale blue shirt. A collared shirt always makes things a little smarter.
Raincoat: Sandro, Scarf: Paul Smith, Leather gloves: Dents, Socks: Uniqlo, Burgundy brogues: Paul Smith Pale blue shirt: Samsøe & Samsøe
Third row:
Left: I’ve replaced the raincoat with a textured over-shirt which is a shade or two darker than the cream sweater. And put a lilacy-pink shirt under it…..the socks pick up that colour really well, and also tone with the burgundy shoes. The navy backpack is smart enough to go with the slightly more formal shoes and the navy looks great with denim, and feels a bit more considered than black.
Burgundy brogues: Paul Smith Beige over-shirt: Samsøe & Samsøe, Lilac shirt: Barena, Socks: John Lewis, Backpack: Sanqvist,
Middle: I’ve just added a scarf here and changed the shoes and socks. It still all tones together well and you could wear the raincoat or overshirt with it too.
Sweater: L.E.J Jeans: Levi’s Lilac shirt: Barena Scarf: Altea Chukka boots: Drakes, Smiley face socks: Kapital
Right: We’ve gone for more blues and greens here. This scarf is great (a client I was shopping with bought it the other day) as it has loads of different colours in it so goes with multiple outfits. Sometimes people are afraid to buy patterns but if it has a few different colours in it, that you like wearing, it can be more versatile than something plain.
Raincoat: Sandro, Scarf: Paul Smith, Hat: Arket, Socks: Uniqlo, Pale blue shirt: Samsøe & Samsøe, Leather gloves: Dents,
Fourth row:
Left: Introducing a different colour again with the tans and greens of the scarf. I’ve added the green fleck socks to go with the green in the scarf, and the tan bag also picks out the colours. Brown shoes are a darker shade of the same colours.
Scarf: Toast, Socks: Anonymous Ism Canvas bag: Cubitts, Chukka boots: Drakes
Middle: I’ve just switched the accessories on this one and added the multicoloured woven belt and then picked out the colours in it with the trainers, socks and bag.
Socks: Uniqlo, Belt: Andersons, Trainers: Maison Margiela, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe
Outfits with ecru jeans
First row:
Left: I love the ecru jeans with the chambray shirt, and the camo jacket. Lighter colour jeans can really lift an outfit. I also like the small details - the selvedge pocket on the shirt, and the interesting stitching detail on the belt. The blue socks go with the blue of the shirt, and the brown Chukkas go with the brown belt + there’s a bit of brown in the woodland camo jacket.
Chambray shirt: Officine Générale, Woodland camo jacket: Liberty, Ecru jeans: Drakes, Leather belt: Mr P, Socks: Uniqlo, Chukka boots: Drakes
Middle: This is instantly elevated into a smarter look with the addition of the blazer. I added the pinky toned pocket square for a bit of fun and detail, and toned the socks in with that to bring it all together.
Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Pocket square: Paul Smith, Socks: Uniqlo, Chambray shirt: Officine Générale, Ecru jeans: Drakes, Leather belt: Mr P, Chukka boots: Drakes
Right: I’ve switched out the shirt for the sweater (or I could have just added the sweater as an extra layer). The texture of the brushed Shetland wool makes it more casual than a smooth fine knit sweater in merino wool. I’ve changed the socks for the purple fleck ones to tone, and the great thing about Chukka boots is they can be smart or casual.
Purple sweater: Drakes, Socks: John Lewis, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Chukka boots: Drakes
Second row:
Left: Same outfit as before but instantly made even more casual by swapping the Chukka boots for trainers. The blazer still goes though as it’s unstructured, has a denim look to the fabric, and has the shirt cuff detail that’s Oliver Spencer’s signature style.
Purple sweater: Drakes, Socks: John Lewis, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Trainers: Maison Margiela, Ecru jeans: Drakes
Middle: If you add a shirt it makes it a bit smarter as you have 2 things that are smarter in your outfit - the shirt and blazer, and 2 things that are more casual - jeans and trainers. The scarf brings all the colours together really well and also makes you stand out as a well dressed guy!
Lilac shirt: Barena, Scarf: Paul Smith, Socks: John Lewis, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Trainers: Maison Margiela, Ecru jeans: Drakes
Right: And now I’ve changed it into quite a summery look with the striped t-shirt, and white plimsolls. The hat is a great (and practical, especially if you don’t have much hair) accessory and I put the yellow socks as they’re summery and go with one of the stripes in the hat.
Striped t-shirt: John Lewis, Hat: Paul Smith, Socks: Uniqlo, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Plimsolls: Novesta, Ecru jeans: Drakes
Third row:
Left: Continuing with the summery look but made a touch smarter with the addition of the boots (suede is great for summer) and spot pocket square. The pocket square has the same colours in as the t-shirt and spots and stripes are a great combo! You could do it with a shirt and tie as well - as long as one is a bigger print and one smaller.
Ecru jeans: Drakes, Pocket square: Drakes, Striped t-shirt: John Lewis, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Chukka boots: Drakes, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe, Socks: Uniqlo
Middle: Back to a warmer winter look, with a burnt orange jumper and big check scarf and dark green beanie hat. I’ve put the boots back in here and the green fleck socks to go with the sweater. This could also go with blue jeans or the green chinos below, and the other scarf would go well too.
Burnt orange sweater: YMC, Scarf: Toast, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe, Socks: Anonymous Ism, Ecru jeans: Drakes, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe, Chukka boots: Drakes
Right: And back to a mid season outfit with this brushed cotton shirt with some interesting but not over the top patch detailing (my client this week loved this shirt!). The belt I’ve put with it, is navy canvas with a burgundy leather running through it - which goes perfectly with the burgundy shoes and toning socks.
Shirt: Paul Smith, Scarf: Paul Smith, Burgundy brogues: Paul Smith, Socks: John Lewis, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Navy belt: Mr P
Outfits with green chinos
Top row:
Left: The denim blues go really well with these green chinos. The blue trainers balance out the top half of the outfit, and the lighter green socks also have a little blue in them so work well. I’ve added the blue belt again which tones in with the shoes.
Green chinos: Arket, Shirt: Paul Smith, Blue blazer: Oliver Spencer, Trainers: Maison Margiela, Socks: Anonymous Ism, Navy belt: Mr P
Middle: This jacket was one of the starting points for buying my outfits - I love the colours in it and it can be worn over a t-shirt or a sweater or even a shirt or a hoody (see this post on styling an overshirt). I’ve gone with the purple jumper which picks out the bit of purple that’s in the jacket. The brown boots and gloves tone in well and I put these reddish socks, which don’t match exactly but are in similar tones.
Green chinos: Arket, Check overshirt: Wax London, Chukka boots: Drakes, Socks: John Lewis, Purple sweater: Drakes, Leather gloves: Dents
Right: These trousers are a mid weight so could be used for summer or winter - here they look great with this cream short sleeved shirt which has a crocheted back. You could wear it open with a white t-shirt (or even the striped one) under it, or on its own. I’ve gone for the more summery white plimsolls, and added the bright yellow socks again and the striped detail hat. The tortoiseshell rim of the sunglasses goes well with the brown in the hat.
Green chinos: Arket, Sunglasses: Cubitts, Shirt: Che, Socks: Uniqlo, Hat: Paul Smith, Plimsolls: Novesta
Second row:
Left: Same outfit with different accessories - if you prefer a more neutral look this is great with the neutral straw hat and brown leather bag. Maybe go sockless with this outfit and roll up the trousers for a casual Talented Mr Ripley vibe. For other tips on styling your outfits, check out this post.
Green chinos: Arket, Sunglasses: Cubitts, Shirt: Che, Hat: John Lewis, Plimsolls: Novesta, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe
Middle: I’ve added a mustard t-shirt underneath the beige textured overshirt - it gives a bit of colour but you could just as easily go for a plain white or the striped one. The fleck socks and boots make this a good mid season outfit or you could put the white plimsolls for a more summery look. The tan canvas bag tones in with all the warm colours.
T-shirt: Toast, Beige over-shirt: Samsøe & Samsøe, Chukka boots: Drakes, Socks: Anonymous Ism, Green chinos: Arket, Canvas bag: Cubitts
Right: It’s all neutral colours here and yet it doesn’t look boring because it has the addition of lots of texture - the weave of the overshirt, the straw of the hat, the leather bag, and suede Birkenstocks. It’s also fun, to have a bit of pattern in the spotted bandana knotted at the neck with the white t-shirt.
Green chinos: Arket, Sunglasses: Cubitts, T-shirt: Arket Hat: John Lewis, Sandals: Birkenstock, Brown leather bag: Bleu de Chaffe, Hat: John Lewis, Pocket square: Drakes
There’d be unlimited options to created tons more outfits with these 3 x trousers and all the different tops and accessories, but I just wanted to give an idea of how you can create the various looks.
Sometimes it just takes some playing around with your own clothes and accessories, and it opens up your mind as to how you can style them. Then you can use what you’ve learnt on other outfits too.
Styling outfits in your own wardrobe
Here are some things to think about when you’re styling your own outfits:
Can you layer things on top of it or underneath it? It’s easiest to layer with the lightest colour at the bottom and getting darker towards the top. And the lightest weight at the bottom, getting thicker on the top.
Can you wear it in summer and winter? This is especially useful if you’re getting together a capsule wardrobe as you need mid weight things that can be worn for most of the year. Although I’m not a fan of wearing season specific fabrics (eg: linen or tweed) in the wrong season, there are some exceptions to the rules and it’s worth thinking about.
Do the colours go together? You don’t want it to be too “matchy, matchy” but think about whether shoes and belts tone together, you’ve got enough contrast and balance, as well as if the colours suit you.
What can you add to make the outfit more interesting? Some colour? An accessory? An item with some texture? The addition of one thing can sometimes make all the difference!
Or if:
You have lots of clothes but always wear the same combinations.
You’re sure there’s more scope with how to wear things but you don’t feel confident putting together outfits on your own.
You don’t know where to start and would love me to come and do it for you
Then click the button below, and I’ll come and do it for you!
I’ll create as many outfits as I can from the clothes you have and make suggestions on any items I think you’re missing, that will enhance your outfits and take them from good to great!
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