S4S | Look the Part. Get Ahead.

Guys: Is your style stuck in a rut? Have you thought about your clothing recently?

Putting together a proper casual wardrobe takes time, effort, patience, and the willingness to experiment. Your evening and weekend attire should not consist of old college shorts and T’s. Instead, it should define who you are. But what if you don’t know what your style identity is? Here are three ways to find out:

Read Magazines, Visit Websites, and Watch Movies

You need to be exposed to different styles to see what you might like. If you’ve hardly given a thought to your clothes before, this is an inexpensive way to dip your toes in the fashion world. GQ is the quintessential men’s style magazine. Invest in a subscription (a year of GQ and Details goes for around $20, combined). It not only has great clothing advice, but will help you with choosing wine and spirits and see what the latest designer trends are. GQ’s website is also highly informative and easy to navigate.

Movies and cinema provide interesting views on clothing as well. I remember the movie Blow really made me want to take my clothing to another level. Johnny Depp appears well-dressed, charismatic and the life of the party. The airport scene, with Depp in an all-white suit matched with aviators, screams style.

Visit Three Clothing Stores You Have Never Explored

Maybe what your wardrobe needs is to be expanded. Shopping at the same stores, over and over, won’t bring your style to the next level. Think of that friend or classmate who wears a polo shirt 6 out of 7 days. Is that you? That’s a problem. It says you want to look nice, but have no clue where to begin.

New stores are a great way to upgrade. It doesn’t necessarily mean cutting the cord with your old stores, but it does mean you will be exposed to new styles and influences. Don’t feel inclined to buy an item on your virgin shopping trips. It may be too soon.

Remember: just because you are at a new store doesn’t mean your style has been altered. Many stores sell polo shirts, so paying twice as much for one at a more trendy store won’t make any difference in what’s in your closet. Think outside your norm.

Take a Few Risks Upfront

You won’t see any fashion transformations without eventually making purchases. Once you have a general idea of what you want your style to be, or what you don’t want it to be, buy a handful of garments or accessories that move you into that direction. A slim fit pair of blue jeans in a different shade, a pair of sneakers, new sunglasses, or a graphic tee. After a few times of donning your new clothes, you can gauge how others respond, and more importantly how you feel wearing them.

Do you see more passers-by noticing you as you strut the sidewalk? Do you find yourself wanting to wear those new jeans everyday and wanting to donate your old ones ASAP? Has this prompted you to want to update more, such as a new hair style or a more trendy pad?

There are many aspects that define your style, and clothes are only one. Knowing where to buy, what to buy, and reason for buying are crucial in developing your personal style.

How did you find your personal style? Share your tips in the comments section.